My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 47
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 47
Contrary to my hopes, it doesn't happen.
My body is too strong due to my regular physical training. Not even a mild cold, let alone a fever, can enter my body.
"..."
I open my eyes and sit up to look at the clock on the side table next to my bed.
It's six in the morning.
Sh*t.
My habit of going early to bed, early to rise was too conscientious for a broken heart.
I don't want to go back to bed, so I wash my face and get dressed. I even did my morning workout.
The sun rose slowly, its light illuminating through the window.
Austin shakes his head when I ask if Lancer has arrived. I mean, I did make it clear to him yesterday that he can't come here until I say so. In that regard, he listened to me well.
My reasons for telling him that yesterday were complex: I was angry at him, but I was also sorry. If only I hadn't misunderstood anything myself.
But most of all… I honestly couldn't face him right now.
I promised myself that I would get rid of my feelings for him, but I knew that if I saw him again, that promise would break. I don't want that to happen.
People say that time is medicine, so let's go on without Lancer for a few weeks, and maybe these stupid feelings will go away.
So the question is,
What do I do now…
I lean against the stairs after I finish my breakfast consisting of a fresh salad and orange juice.
I have to do something. If I sit still and do nothing, I would just keep thinking about Lancer.
Oh yeah, studying.
There's nothing better than studying to escape from my misery. A lot of people may not be able to relate to my method for dealing with emotions, but hey, it works for me.
With that, I headed to the mansion's library.
Built by the first Duke of Kaerun, the library was intended to train wise heirs. It was filled with the knowledge a member of the duchy should know.
As I enter the library, the librarian, who was wiping the leather cover of a book, rises from his desk to greet me.
"Ah, Miss Skyla! What are you looking for?"
"Hmm."
I glanced around the library. There are rows of large bookcases made of fine mahogany wood. Every single shelf is densely packed with thick books.
It was indeed a magnificent space containing hundreds of years of the history of the Kaerun Duchy.
I ask the librarian after admiring my surroundings, "How many books do you have to read in a day to get through everything here in a year?"
"Pardon?"
The librarian seems a little taken aback by my sudden question. He calms down and answers, "I think you should read about 36 books a day..?"
That's 1.5 books an hour. That'll be hard.
"Well, let me rephrase that. How many of the books here are useful to me in preparing to be the next Duke of Kaerun? Like a must-read list?"
He ponders my words for a moment, then holds up five fingers.
"50 books?"
"No, about 500."
"Then I'll read two books a day."
"Yes..?"
"Pick any two of those 500 books you mentioned and send them up to my study. Starting tomorrow, send someone to do that daily."
From then on, I just studied. I locked myself in the room and started studying like crazy. But my ambitious plan lasts less than half a day.
"Lady Skyla, Lord Hubert of Soli Duchy is here."
"Hubert?"
Lancer's second brother? Why is he here?
I bookmark my half-read book and make my way down to the drawing room to meet him.
"Skyla!" Hubert jumps from his seat as soon as he sees me entering.
Seeing him again after all these years, he looked different. He's now much taller than I remember, his muscles doubled in size. He seems to have experienced a growth spurt while training as an imperial knight.
"Long time no see, Hubert."
"I apologise for coming unannounced, Skyla. I originally planned to greet your parents when they return from their trip tomorrow."
"No, it's fine. Is everything okay?"
After greeting him, I observed his expression.
I wonder, out of a vain sense of longing, if Lancer returned to the Soli Duchy yesterday and told someone what happened between us.
As if reading my mind, Hubert says, "Did Lancer do something wrong to you yesterday?"
"Nothing happened." I lie in a heartbeat. I'm not even thinking of how to respond, I just don't want anyone else to know what happened.
But his words that follow are serious.
"Ever since Lancer hung out with you last night, he's been acting strangely. His emotions have been so unstable that his magic overpowered and our mansion got blew-"
"Your mansion blew up?" I interrupt him out of pure shock.
"Oh, no. I was going to say it nearly blew up."
Ah, I see, I should listen to people until they finish.
"We were fortunate to have a mage among the guests at the mansion at that time. He was able to subdue Lancer into sleep with his magic, so nothing major happened."
"A spell worked on him?" Lancer would never be an easy match when it comes to magic, would he?
"Nonsense. The mage tried twenty times and went through about five bottles of magic power recovery potion until he finally managed to put Lancer to sleep. The mage collapsed right after."
Yeah, that sounds more like Lancer.
I sweep away in pride for him, but at the same time, guilt begins to spread through my mind like ink.
Was Lancer… was his feelings hurt because of me? Was he so grief-stricken that he couldn't control his emotions?
"So, Skyla… I'm ashamed to do this, but I've come to ask you a favour." Hubert looks at me, then speaks carefully, "My father, the Duke of Soli, was supposed to be the one seeing you today, but as I said before, we have a few guests in the mansion, so I had no choice but to go instead…"
"Please cut to the chase."
"Ah, um."
At my remark, he exhales. Seems like whatever he's trying to ask isn't easy.
I anxiously wait for him to continue, in anticipation of him bringing up a serious situation.
"Skyla, can you come to our duchy now to wake up Lancer?"
"...Huh?" Wake him up? Isn't that the point of an alarm clock?
"Ah, that sounded a little weird. So, actually," he hastens his explanation, "I mean, yesterday the mage put him to sleep with his magic, but if I wake him up now, I think he'll go on a rampage again."
"...So?"
"S-So… I thought it'd be a bit better if you're there when he wakes up."
He scratches the back of his head nervously.
"Skyla, I'm so sorry, but could you come to the Soli Duchy for a bit now? I'll definitely repay you, please."
"..."
"Earth to Skyla?"
"..."
Despite his continued calling, I'm still not saying anything.
I swore to myself this morning that I would avoid Lancer and wouldn't see him until my feelings were a little subdued, but suddenly, I'm supposed to go see his face right now?
Hubert misinterprets my silence and continues rambling.
"I know, I know. I'm terribly sorry to have to ask you out of the blue, but it's really urgent. Who else would calm him down if not you? You know, he only likes you."
"She likes…"
"Huh? What?"
"Lancer likes… only me?"
I unconsciously parrot his words. Hubert hastily responds, "Yes, Skyla. Lancer has no one else but you. You're his only friend."
"..." My heart feels like it's being pierced by a spear.
So that's it. Why hadn't I realised it sooner? I was the only one in Lancer's narrow world. I was his only outsider, his only friend, his only connection to the outside world.
When he said he liked me, it wasn't because of who I am, but because for him, there was no one else to like.
I wish I'd realised that from the start.
There's only one way I could stay by his side, and that's to remain as his friend. There's no other solution.
"...I'm coming." After a moment of silence, I broke the ice, "We'll be on our way now."
"Thank you, Skyla!"
Hubert's face lit up, but I could no longer return the sentiment as I naively used to.
* * *
When I arrive at the Soli Duchy with Hubert, a butler, who's been waiting for us, quickly goes to inform the Duke and Duchess of my visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Soli excuse themselves for a moment to the guests and go to seek me out.
"It's been a while, Skyla."
"Thank you so much for coming."
Neither of them seems to be well, their eyebags are prominent. No doubt, Lancer had kept them up last night.
"Where's Lancer?" I ask, they must be worried about him a lot.
"He's in his room. As you've heard from Hubert, he's been kept under magic since yesterday, with the help of Count Diern."
Only then did I notice a man standing next to Duke.
"Nice to meet you, Princess Skyla. I am Count Diern from the Hebnia Kingdom."
The man who identifies himself as Diern looked to be about thirty years old. As expected from a man from the Hebnia Kingdom, he looks like a foreigner. Even at a glance, it's clear that he's not from here.
Is this the mage Lancer was talking about?
It was said that all nobles in the Hebnia Kingdom were born with magic powers, so perhaps this man was the mage Lancer was talking about.
As I'm thinking about it, I glance at Count Diern as he speaks first, "I heard that Princess Skyla is the only one who can stop Lord Lancer's magic rampage. Is that true?"
You make me sound like a puppy trainer when you say it like that.
