My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 2

Mar 28

Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

Edited by Emmi

Chapter 2

I managed to calm my anger and got Lancer to put everything back on track.

With a sob, Lancer withdrew his brainwashing spell from the ladies, burned the forged invitation, and reverted back to his original form.

"Skyla, I'm sad..."

Lancer crouched in the corner of the room, hugged his knees and wore a pitiful expression.

He looked very pitiful.

And that wasn't an empty word.

Look at those sparkling blue eyes, on the verge of spilling tears.

How about the long eyelashes bent like a shaking crescent moon?

Any normal person would have been moved by the sight of Lancer's tearful eyes and would have rushed to comfort him.

But I wasn't a "normal person", having been victimized by Lancer since I was young.

I never fell for Lancer's pity act.

That's why…

"Really? Then don't be sad."

I replied as sharp as the swift cut of a tightly-stretched rubber band snapped by a pair of scissors.

"But..."

Lancer eyed me out of the corner of his damp eyes.

"I... It breaks my heart that Skyla scolded me..."

"Then don't do anything to get in trouble."

"But I'm so lonely because Skyla doesn't spend much time with me these days...”

"If you're lonely, think of this as me and play with it."

I crumpled up the paper I'd been using as an exercise book and tossed it to Lancer.

"Is this Skyla...?"

Lancer muttered, grabbing the crumpled paper ball.

"Yes, now think of it as me and return to your place."

"Alright…"

Lancer stared at the paper ball, which seemed to be sinking slowly.

It feels much calmer now.

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Okay, now that the distraction is out of the way, it's time to take it slow and get some work done...

My gaze drifted towards my desk, where a thick stack of papers was in my line of sight.

The sight is far from pleasant, yet surprisingly, these are the issues that need to be addressed today.

If you ask me why a princess is handling so many public affairs, the answer is because of my parents.

My father is the Duke of Kaerun, the family head of the Kaerun Duchy, which is reputed as one of the most prestigious families in the imperial kingdom.

And I am Skyla Kaerun, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kaerun.

The Duke and Duchess of Kaerun are known as the lovebirds of the empire, they were so compatible and attractive to the point it was excessive.

Of course, some may protest, saying, "What's wrong with a couple having good compatibility?"

The problem is that they're too close.

Usually, when you've been married for 20 years, it's not uncommon for you to get tired of each other or get caught up in a period of boredom.

But that never happened to my parents.

'Ah! My sweetheart of a wife! how dazzlingly beautiful you are today, the angel who stole my heart!'

'Oh dear, I don't know! I don't know! I'm your prisoner, I'll be locked up in your arms for the rest of my life!'

The Duke and Duchess of Kaerun, spew out these embarrassing lines and spend their daily lives together with rose petals swirling around them.

They are inseparable lovers, like the S and N poles of a magnet.

So as soon as I turned into an adult, my parents handed over the executive power of the duke's family to me.

'Skyla, now that you're an adult, you can manage the family by yourself, right? We believe in our daughter!’

Your mom and I are going to spend our second honeymoon starting now. Our lovely daughter, won’t you cheer for us?’

My parents, who left such words, really gave up on all public affairs like a joke.

That's how I ended up acting like the Duke of Kaerun.

How does it feel to be the most influential figure in the duke's family?

Obviously, it's thrilling! There's always something new! It's the best!

Of course, there were times when the workload was overwhelming, but I still gained more than I lost.

The head butler and maid bowed to me whenever I walked through the Kaerun Duchy!

I have been granted special authority to enter the Imperial Palace without prior contact if I want!

Having the guts to say no to the suitors who are pressuring me to marry them!

I, Skyla Kaerun, have reached the pinnacle of my power and influence, and I cannot afford to risk it all because of my childhood friend, Lancer.

Oh, now that I think about it.

'Lancer… when did it get so quiet?'

Are you sulking because you're playing with a paper ball?

Don't tell me, did you go home because you were offended?

"..."

I put the fountain pen down and slowly lifted my head.

Then I saw Lancer sitting in the corner of the room.

The paper ball that I crumpled floated in front of him.

To be exact, it's no longer a paper ball.

It was now as small as a bean.

'What's that?'

It was as if Lancer had compressed the paper ball with force.

"Lancer, what are you doing?"

I got up from my seat and slowly approached him.

"Look at this."

Lancer snatched it and held it out to me.

I could see a shiny marble-like bean on my palm.

"What the hell did you do to the paper?”

"It's now made of diamonds.”

"What?"

"I used magic to turn the paper ball into a diamond."

Oh my god.

I was left speechless and looked down at the diamond (which was once a paper ball) in my palm.

Sure enough, it was a diamond with an apparent sheen.

I was aware of Lancer’s reputation as an archmage who appears once in a thousand years, but witnessing him transform a crumpled piece of paper into a diamond was beyond my expectations…

I couldn't help but be amazed to have him as a childhood friend.

"Isn't it pretty?"

Lancer asked me with a smile.

"It looks like Skyla."

"So in your eyes, I look like this small, bean-like inanimate object."

"No, that’s not what I meant, it's pretty like you."

Lancer smiled brightly.

"Skyla, you're pretty."

The sight of Lancer's smile, reminiscent of a gentle watercolor, caused my heart to melt.

Pretty, huh…

Of course, I've been told a lot that I'm pretty in my life.

The people I meet at tea parties and social events where I occasionally show up to report my progress, have always praised my appearance.

However, it was a polite thing to say out of courtesy.

No one spoke of it as casually as when the spring breeze passed by, like Lancer.

It felt good.

Because he's always been sincere with me.

"I enjoyed seeing the… impromptu magic performance, now go back to your place. I have a tea party to attend."

I grumbled pointlessly as I handed the diamond back to Lancer.

I didn't want Lancer to know that I was slightly moved.

Never.

Whether he knew it or not, Lancer simply smiled softly.

"Watch this."

Lancer, who had received the diamond back, grasped it tightly.

Suddenly, waves of magic began to crackle.

And in the next moment.

"Here."

In Lancer’s hand, there was a silver diamond ring that he had created with his magic in an instant.

"Skyla, hand."

On the spot, Lancer bent down on one knee and reached out for my left hand.

Like a fairy caught in the moonlight, I reached out to him without thinking.

At that moment, I wasn’t sure why I did it, but as I looked at his face, I felt compelled to take his hand.

"Skyla."

Lancer gently grasped my hand and smiled, amused.

I let myself be captivated by his gaze.

Suddenly, goosebumps began to rise on my back.

"...What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden."

Lancer smiled a little.

"I like you. And you only need to like me."

"What's going on?"

"Skyla, if you weren't so busy, would you like me?"

Lancer gently held out the diamond ring that was once a paper ball to me.

Normal women would be overjoyed and filled with excitement at the thought of being courted by someone as wonderful as Lancer.

However, as I have already pointed out, I was not a ‘normal’ person.

As such.

"I won't."

With that firm answer, I pulled hard on the rope.

Ring ring!

"Did you reject my proposal?"

"Yes."

"Wow, with this, I've been rejected by you 316 times now…"

"You're still counting it? Go back to your house!"

Ring ring ring!

I pulled on the rope harder. Just then, the maid, Phoebe, entered the room.

"Did you call, my lady?"

I turned to Phoebe and pointed to the Lancer sitting at the corner of the room.

"Prince Lancer is going to leave soon, please see him off."

"Please follow me then, Prince Lancer."

Phoebe attempted to guide him outside.

But Lancer glared coldly at her when she approached him.

"Don't come near me."

"He says he doesn't want to go back."

Phoebe turned a calm glance towards me. At the same time, I could hear her thoughts reach my ears.

'This damn ******* of the Soli Duchy has been bothering my lady again! If he weren't her childhood friend, I'd be beating the **** out of him right now......'

No! You have to hold it in, Phoebe!

Surprised by Phoebe's thoughts, I hurriedly shook my hands.

"Don't see him off, just kick him out."

Phoebe nodded and trudged off towards Lancer.

She was my most trusted maid, who did not stop smiling even when she saw the handsome Lancer.

Lancer screamed when he saw the expressionless Phoebe approaching him.

"Skyla! Don't throw me away!"

"Throw you away? You can't say I'm throwing you away when you were never my property to begin with."

"So mean! I'm your childhood friend!"

"Do you know what kind of title childhood friends are?"

"A childhood friend's flower means a marriage partner!"

"Who's going to be your marriage partner? And the flower you said will be a flower that freezes to death."