My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 81
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 81
It's a play with an impressionable title.
‘My Husband and His Childhood Friend's Wedding as a Funeral.’
It's reminiscent of bad food with all sorts of horrible seasonings. I begin to wonder what the play is going to be about.
"What day of the week are you free next week?"
"Wednesday. What about you?"
"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are no different for me."
"Very well, then we'll make it Wednesday. I'll send a messenger to you tomorrow after I get tickets for the play and give you the details."
So I somehow made an appointment to go to the theatre with the Crown Prince.
We chat for a while before heading back to his palace.
The sun is slowly setting. The air was getting chilly.
Winter will be here soon.
Time flies. It was summer when the Imperial Ball was held.
As I lose track of time, the Crown Prince's thoughts ring in my ears.
‘I'd like to go inside and talk to Kayla more.’
Oh.
He seems eager to spend more time with me.
This puts me in a bit of a predicament.
Of course, it's not that I don't want to talk to him. He's quite pleasant to be around.
He's a good listener, and he will often add his own thoughts to my talking to keep the conversation flowing.
But I have other things on my mind.
I gotta go and see if Lancer is treating Lady Artberry well….
It's reassuring to know that Lancer has shown himself to be responsible before I left.
But human nature is what it is. Looking back now, I begin to wonder if he's gotten into trouble again.
No. I'm sure he's doing great.
Lancer has made remarkable progress. If there's one thing he hasn't worked on, he tends to take people's words literally.
I'm sure he's got Rachel looking after him, so I don't have to worry too much.
Because he's not a child.
Having convinced myself of this, I'm willing to comply if the Prince asks me to stay a little longer at the Lion Palace.
But the moment we arrive there, I'm forced to change my plans.
"Your Highness, I beg your pardon, but I have some papers that require a reply by today!"
"I need access to the books to make some purchases, and they won't let me unless it's under Your Highness’ seal."
"Your Highness, if you don't mind, I need to send these documents now to…."
Upon entering, the scribes waiting immediately sought out the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince turns to me with disappointment.
"I suppose I'll have to do some work," he says, "I’ll see you off."
‘I have to call it a day. I can't just ask Kayla to wait around for me….'
I nod in understanding.
As it turns out, the Crown Prince has some business to attend for Princess Julia's birthday party next week. He's fond of his sister, and has volunteered to host her birthday party this year. And it's because of that he can easily invite Lancer and me.
Ryan must really care about Princess Julia.
I think, glancing at him as he walks me to the carriage.
"I'm sorry to send you off early."
"No, thank you for taking the time out of your day to see me."
"No, thank you. Don't show gratitude for something you deserve."
"I'm more grateful because of that," I say, turning to the Crown Prince. "Thank you for having me take it for granted that we're spending time together."
With those words, I climb into the carriage.
"Wait a minute."
Just as the Ticef is about to close the carriage door, the Crown Prince reaches for me.
My eyes widen at the suddenness.
"I'm sorry I didn't spend enough time with you today, so please…," he trails off
But being able to hear other people's thoughts, I know what he's trying to say.
‘How do I tell you… to spend more time with me on our date?’
Date?
I froze for a moment.
I know what he meant by going to the theatre with just the two of us, but it feels weird to hear it put directly.
"...."
Taking a deep breath, I cover the back of his hand with mine, which is hovering awkwardly in midair.
He pauses for a moment, expecting me to take his hand.
But I thoroughly betray his expectations.
"I enjoyed your company today."
I slide my hand down him with a faint smile.
His hand stiffens in the air, not knowing where to go. It meekly returns to its place.
"I hope you don't have too many duties to attend to, Ryan."
The Crown Prince looks sorry to part with me like this.
But he doesn't put off his job to put me first.
"Very well. I'll see you next time. Oh, and give my regards to Viscount Artisina."
‘Cade, that bastard, I don't know how he's doing. I haven't heard from him in a while.’
"Yes, I will, goodbye."
With those words, I gesture for Ticef to close the carriage door.
Click.
After it slams shut, I let out a sigh.
You've got a strong sense of right and wrong, Ryan. And a tendency to choose the former over the latter.
He had the makings of an emperor, after all.
"Shall we return to the Kaerun Duchy?"
Ticef asks me through the small window in the carriage as he moves to the coachman's seat.
"Sol… no. Let's go straight back to the duchy like you said."
I was going to say Soli Duchy but changed my mind.
As curious as I am about the situation with Lancer and Lady Artberry, I shouldn't go there.
Now that I think about it, I've been overprotective of Lancer.
He's another person, different from me.
He can make his own judgments, he can think for himself.
So I'll give him some credit.
* * *
Back at the Kaerun Duchy, I have a feeling something is off.
...Something seems to be missing.
It's as if something hasn't happened as it should have.
As I head to the dining room to eat with my parents, I think back to what has happened since I set foot in the mansion.
After entering, Phoebe hands me a shawl. She heard the carriage was arriving and waited by the door.
Austin gives a short report that the letter addressed to me has been placed in my room.
The maids ask me if I'd like to bathe after dinner.
Nothing different at all.
So, what is this empty feeling?
Dinner tonight is split pea ham soup. It has a thick texture, made by simmering dried peas. With the savoury aroma of the beans mixed with the richness of the ham.
As soon as I take a sip of the soup, my whole body immediately starts to warm up.
I'm happy to be able to eat something delicious every day….
I don't show it on my face, but I feel like I'm in heaven. I don't want the others to see that the Princess is happy for nothing more than food.
"My sweet girl, would you like another piece of bread?" My father offers me a piece of baguette.
But I'm well aware that he's not simply offering me bread out of the goodness of his heart.
‘Hoho, at this rate, my Skyla will be more than friends with the Crown Prince. And then I'll retire and go see the mysterious ice caves of the north with my dear wife!’
This is echoed by my mother.
“Skyla, I hear you went to the palace today, how is His Highness doing?"
‘I hope His Highness falls in love with Skyla and announces their engagement soon, so I can head to the sunny beaches of the South with my beloved Duke!’
Oh dear, a match made in heaven, and for the first time, they have different expectations.
"The Crown Prince didn't ask me to marry him," I blurt out, turning against them first.
Of course, in the scheme of things, the Crown Prince is going to propose to me at some point. He's just waiting for the right time.
My parents frown.
"Oh, come on. Back in our day, a boy and a girl would marry as soon as their eyes met. Kids these days have no romance."
It's not romance, it's a plan.
"Skyla, why don't you go and encourage His Highness?" My mother says, chastising me.
"Encourage what?"
"You know, show him your left hand and tell him your ring finger is a little light. If His Highness is too stupid to understand, emphasise that other ladies your age have a diamond ring on their ring finger."
No, that's too blatant.
"I think it would be less embarrassing to pull him down on one knee and force him to propose." I stare at them as I pick up another piece of bread.
We're talking about the Crown Prince of this empire, yet they're talking about his business and mine so easily.
"First you want me to marry Lancer, and now the Crown Prince. Soon you're going to tell me to marry Viscount Artisina."
My parents stutter in embarrassment at my sharpness.
"No, it's not that, it's that you seem to be on good terms with the Crown Prince!"
"Yes! We don't care who you marry, Skyla, as long as you're happy! Also, why are you bringing Viscount Artisina into this?!"
"Because the Viscount is staying at the mansion right now."
I just mention any man who's close to me now, and he's an example. But my parents scratch their heads. "What do you mean? Viscount Artisina is not at the mansion."
"What?" I halt with the bread in my mouth.
What? He's not at the mansion?
"Yes. He left the mansion a few days ago. His Highness summoned him so he went back to the Imperial Palace, you didn't know?"
I can't hide my bewilderment at my parents' subsequent nonchalance.
"Wait. I've never heard of this before, though?" I ask.
Viscount Artisina has returned to the palace?
But… surely His Highness told me to send his regards to Viscount Artisina?
Now I understand why I felt so empty when I entered the mansion.
Viscount Artisina.
I haven't seen him since a few days ago.
