My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 53
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 53
The crown prince looks at me in bewilderment.
"Lord Lancer was the one to cause an accident, but why are you following him to the north? Are you saying that you're willing to give up the Kaerun Duchy you so desperately wanted simply for the sake of him?"
"Of course, I have no intention of going to the north," I say flatly. "I said that to show my determination. Within a year, I will make sure that Lancer is well trained so that he does no more harm to the imperial family."
"Yes. I like your confidence, but by what means?" He crosses his arms and stares at me, his expression not very positive.
I'm well aware of how little my words seemed. How could I, a mere outsider, accomplish what Lancer's parents had failed to do all these years?
I have to convince the crown prince with something plausible. Something logical, something practical, something with some chance of success….
My brain got to work and I have a pretty good idea now.
"As you may know, Lancer is not the only archmage in the world. Her Highness Princess Bliss of the Hebnia Kingdom, our neighbour, was also an archmage."
"I do know that. Princess Bliss was unfortunately buried at a young age."
"Yes, it is as you say." I raised my voice slowly.
I can't be intimidated here. If I don't be confident in what I say, the other person will think I'm full of sh*t and not worth listening to.
Slightly biting my lower lip, I continue to speak with conviction. "Throughout history, some archmages died without living their life, while some others were able to properly learn to manage their emotions and live normally."
Having said all that, I exhale. That made me unintentionally show him how nervous I was, but I couldn't help it. I was much more rigid than this.
"I will study every archmage ever recorded in history. I will analyse those who have learned to control their emotions properly, and I'll use that knowledge to educate the Lancer."
"...." After listening to me, the crown prince remains silent. He only stares at me, deep in thought.
And I don't avert his gaze.
I'm already screwed anyway. nothing more to f*ck up, so let's just end this.
I have nothing else to lose. If I don't do something, Lancer would be banished to the north.
It's better to fight until the end than to do nothing and lose him.
You never know.
I swallowed my nerves and waited for the crown prince's answer.
I don't know how much time passes before he slowly says, "...I will suggest to the Emperor."
It worked!
"Thank you, Ryan!"
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask of me?"
"Ah… if you don't mind, can I meet Lancer now?"
I remembered him telling me that Lancer was being held. I wanted to see him now, while I still had the chance.
The crown prince looks at me for a moment when he suddenly giggles.
Why is he laughing?
"Lord Lancer said the same thing."
"...What do you mean?"
"A few hours ago, after I saw that you were awake, I went to where he was, since I ordered for him to be locked up until you woke up."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to increase the severity of the punishment inflicted on him if you don't wake up. For he dared to endanger the woman who would become my fiancée." The crown prince said in a relaxed voice.
"Fortunately, you woke up. I was about to send Lord Lancer home, but then he asked me if he could see you first."
"Ah…."
"Kayla, aren't you putting me aside to get a little too close to Lord Lancer? If you're trying to make me jealous, you've succeeded."
The crown prince playfully smirks. Although his tone was trying to mock me, it came off more serious.
"There is no need to be jealous," I say firmly, trying to convince him. "I swear, Lancer and I don't have the type of relationship Your Highness would envy."
As if trying to read my mind, he stares intently into my eyes.
After a while, he smiles in satisfaction.
"Yes. I hope you keep it that way." Imperatively, he adds.
* * *
The crown prince said that he would convey my suggestions to the Emperor. However, he also emphasised that there was no guarantee that he would accept my plan.
Still, it was good. For now, I feel a little lighter at the thought that Lancer might not be exiled.
With our conversation more or less settled, I left the palace.
The crown prince offered for me to spend some more time resting in the palace before leaving, but I politely declined, not wanting to be stuck in a place that wasn't my home for much longer.
Though he was kind enough to send me an imperial coachman and carriage.
"Shall we make our way to the Kaerun Duchy?" The imperial coachman asks me politely after seeing me and Phoebe.
"Yes, plea-"
"Wait." I interrupted her, "Phoebe before we return, let's make a quick stop at the Soli Duchy."
"Soli Duchy…?"
Her eyebrows furrow. She doesn't like my idea very much.
"My lady, the Duke and Duchess of Kaerun are waiting for you. Not just them, but all the servants are worried about you. Yet all of a sudden you're going to the Soli Duchy fi-"
"Ten minutes." I stop her nagging. "I'm only going to see Lancer no longer than that. I promise."
"...Alright." After a moment of silence, Phoebe finally lowers her head in obedience.
As she informs the coachman of the new destination, her inner thoughts are heard.
'I wanted to take you to the Kaerun Duchy to bathe you in warm water, feed you a nutritious dinner, and put you in a fragrant bed! This is all because of that gnome of Soli Duchy!'
Gnome is now Lancer's new nickname, it seems.
I lean against the window and set my jaw on my palm.
In principle, I should go to the Kaerun Duchy first, where my father and mother were waiting for me. But I was worried about Lancer. He must be thinking that he's being banished to the North without a second thought.
I wonder if he's grieving the thought of being separated from me and his family forever. Or maybe he's losing control again and is about to be caught up in another rampage.
My mind races in concern. My chest feels tight. If I go straight home, I wouldn't be able to rest easily. It's a good idea to see Lancer first.
Just for a second, really…
I just, for some reason, want to see Lancer.
Before I knew it, we arrived. We confirmed our identities with the gatekeepers, and they opened the gate.
The gate had been repaired. As if Phoebe didn't smash it the other day.
I'm glad I sent the Duchy money the other day to apologise for the damage.
'Tsk, tsk, Jeff, that brat. How could he not recognise the noble Princess Skyla…'
As the carriage slowly passed the gates, I could hear the gatekeeper's inner thoughts from outside of us.
Who's Jeff?
Intrigued by a new name, my ears perked up.
Unlike me, Phoebe, who cannot hear other people's thoughts, was spacing out.
Outside, the gatekeeper's inner thoughts drift along the wind.
'When the youngest master found out about what he did to Princess Skyla, the gate that was already broken was broken again.'
Aha, so the gatekeeper who mistook me for a commoner was named Jeff. I wonder what happened to him.
Curious, I lean close to the carriage window to hear the gatekeeper's thoughts coming outside.
Sure enough, his thoughts began to be heard in my ears.
'Ah, it was a real furore then. The head butler and head maid of the mansion summoned all the servants to show them Lady Skyla's portrait and conducted a safety briefing.'
…Where the hell did my portrait come from? Why is there one in someone else's house when it's mine?
'What did they say then? Oh, right. 'Whenever you see the person in this portrait, bow down. She insisted that if you don't bend over, you'll end up with a crumpled waist.' …Ugh, scary.'
What the hell did she teach with someone else's precious daughter's face?!
I'm urged to open the carriage window and ask the gatekeeper what exactly the butler and maid had said. But at least there wouldn't be more incidents of Soli Duchy's servants not recognising me in the future.
Consoled by that fact, I entered the mansion.
Rachel greets me with a bright face. "The youngest master is in the dining room!"
I haven't even asked where Lancer was, but she instantly informs me that she's been waiting.
I know the layout of the mansion well as if it was my own home since I'd been a frequent visitor here since childhood.
I refused Rachel's kind offer to escort me to the dining room and began to walk alone.
When I reached there, a very rare scene awaited me.