My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 80
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 80
I now understand why Artberry has been so keen to introduce her brother to the Crown Prince at the tea party.
Come to think of it, she also said something like this.
“My brother will surely become the head of the Imperial Knights one day.”
“The next time there's a promotion, please remember my brother!”
It wasn't all for nothing.
Due to a promise made by the previous Emperor and Count Vrans, the next Imperial Knight has to come from the Countdom.
The people of Count Vrans, including Artberry, seem to firmly believe that Carberry will be the one to lead the Imperial Knights.
This must be true for Carbery as well.
That's why he had the nerve to stay at home and ignore the Imperial Knights when they called everyone for a special drill.
Now it's all starting to make sense.
"Kicking Carberry out is one thing, but to deny him the promised position in the Imperial Knights is another. Count Vrans will not be pleased."
The Crown Prince makes a bitter face.
"Count Vrans is one of the leading families in the West. If they were to turn a blind eye to the trades of the merchants in the West out of spite for the imperial family, we would suffer huge economic losses."
As I listen, I remember why I have heard of Count Vrans.
Count Vrans was a provincial aristocratic family that kept the economic flow of the West within easy reach of the imperial court.
The current Count Vrans was responsible for trading with the small nations on the periphery and then meticulously accounting for incoming revenues and taxes to be paid back to the Empire.
What would happen if the Imperial family didn't make Carberry an imperial knight and sent him back to Count Vrans?
He wouldn't be at all pleased, as his son would be returning in disgrace.
Perhaps he'd be resentful of the Emperor's failure to honour his promise to his ancestors, and he'd manipulate the accountings, or allow his merchants to trade on the black market.
This would significantly reduce the amount of taxes from western merchants coming to the imperial court, and hurt the imperial budget.
The Crown Prince is probably afraid of that.
The previous emperor was wrong.
If he hadn't made that promise in the first place, there would be no reason for the Crown Prince to be so troubled now.
"Still, it's a high crime to disobey the Emperor, and that should be a good enough reason to kick Lord Carberry out of the Imperial Knights," I say as we sit down on a bench by the lake. We have walked across and are resting on this bench at the halfway point.
Although man-made, the lake has a fairly natural ecosystem. Lush water plants reflect light off the deep blue-violet water like a saturated blue sapphire, while swans stroll lazily across the lake. Fish would spring occasionally and disappear just as quickly.
It's a peaceful scene under the blazing sun and cool autumn breeze.
"He defied the Emperor?"
"I heard from Lady Artberry that he refused to obey the order for a special drill."
I didn't hear it from her, I just 'happened' to overhear her inner thoughts.
The Crown Prince disagrees, "That was an order from the Imperial Knights, so technically he didn't disobey the Emperor."
‘I gave the order, but it was the Imperial Knights who made it known.’
Hmm. I didn't think you'd say that with such a straight face.
"But you're the one who gave the Imperial Knights that order, aren't you, Ryan?" I question, gazing out at the lake's surface, which sparkles like stardust.
I can feel him flinch beside me at my point, but I continue, deliberately ignoring him. "This is a golden opportunity, Ryan. Remove Lord Carberry from the Imperial Knights for disobeying a muster order, and send him down to Count Vrans."
"But what about the ancestral promise the Emperor made to Count Vrans?"
"His Majesty the Late Emperor said that he would make a member of Count Vrans the head of the Imperial Knights, so why not make the man who will be the husband of Lady Artberry the head of the Knights?"
My eyes are still fixed on the lake as I speak. The small splashes of water shallowly stirred by the wind are mesmerising. The strong reflections strain my eyes a bit, but it's still a beautiful sight that I don't want to take my eyes off.
"Does that mean you're asking me to appoint Lord Hubert as the head of the Imperial Knights?" The Crown Prince's voice has a mischievous tone to it.
…Hmm?
Taken aback by the unexpected remark, I turn to face him. "Of course not!"
He shrugs. “Why are you so surprised, Kayla? Weren't you and Lord Lancer setting up Lord Hubert with Lady Artberry?”
"I've explained to you before, that was Lancer's idea. I'm not interested in anyone else's love life!"
Despite my vigorous denial, the Crown Prince merely laughs but says nothing else.
Afterwards, we walk the rest of the way around the lake, chatting back and forth.
I give him a brief account of what has happened to Lancer over the past week. I emphasise the progress he has made in communicating with others and explain that if he continues on this path, he will be able to control his emotions better.
Regardless of what happens, in order to regulate emotions, you have to experience a range of emotions, go through the emotional process, and learn to let go of them.
After listening to me in silence for a while, the Crown Prince finally speaks up. "That's enough about Lord Lancer. I can trust your word that you are making progress."
‘Now I want to hear about Kayla.’
I don't know how to react to the subtext that accompanies his words.
He wants to hear about me?
"Now that Duke Kaerun has taken over your duties, I'm sure you've had more time to relax."
"Yes, it's getting to be too much and I'm getting bored," I confess.
Since becoming deputy duke of Kaerun Duchy, I had spent much of my day working. I liked working.
Or, more accurately, I liked to show myself working hard.
I wanted the people of the Duchy to see that I was investing this much time and effort into the Kaerun Duchy, which would one day be mine.
I was an only child. My parents had no other heirs except me. Because of this, when I was at the Academy, other noble lords and ladies would gossip that I would inherit the title of Kaerun Duchy simply because I was the only heir.
I don't want to hear such rumours that I'm only the heir to the Duchy just because I was their only child.
Maybe that's why I was more desperate.
I worked so hard because I didn't want to feel like I took my life for granted. If I happened to waste even one day of my time, I felt a tremendous amount of guilt.
No one ever scolded me or laughed at me, but those uncomfortable feelings were always there.
Someday, if I work hard enough, I'll be able to relax. That's what I've always thought.
But now that the Crown Prince had forcibly taken away my work, instead of resting, I was bored out of my mind, not knowing what to do.
"So, what else did you do when you were alone, besides reading?"
"I took walks in the garden, looked up records in the library, and… I guess I drank a lot of tea."
"Do you like tea?"
"I drink it when I need it, but I don't seek it out and enjoy it."
The Crown Prince chuckles slightly at my ambivalent assessment.
‘That's cute.’
…Cute? In what way?
"I suppose you don't meet other nobles."
"I don't have anybody I normally interact with." I shrug.
There's no point in hiding that fact when the Crown Prince can do all the research he wants on me anyway.
He's a little surprised. "Now that you have more time on your hands, I thought you'd be more focused on socialising."
"Even if I had time, I don't have anyone to see."
"Then you don't have anything else planned for next week?"
I nod without thinking.
Sure, I had a few tea party invitations, but they're not anything I'd take Lancer to. The hosts there and the nobles who were invited to attend are all known for their gossipy reputations in society.
I don't want to be the centre of attention. No matter how important it is to meet people, I have to cover my tracks.
"That's great, then.” The Crown Prince smiles. "Why don't you come with me to see a play next week?"
"A play?"
There are many theatres here in the imperial capital, where the nobles lived. These theatres encompass many genres of plays, from comedies to tragedies, from tender love stories to rousing courtly drama. Audiences can move from theatre to theatre, picking and choosing what they want to see.
Although I grew up in the capital, I hadn't seen many plays. As a child, I wasn't allowed in due to age restrictions, and when I was a little older, I didn't go as often because of the academy and private classes. Then later, as an adult, I was so busy that I completely lost touch with theatre.
I don't think it's a bad idea to see a play.
I nod in agreement. "Okay, Ryan, is there a play you'd like to see?"
"I heard the play ‘My Husband and His Childhood Friend’s Wedding as a Funeral’ is interesting."
I've only heard the title, yet I can already smell the chaos and destruction.
