My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 49
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Episode 49
The man's world shattered.
"But we are truly in love! How could you-"
"I don't want to hear from you any more!" The woman's parents shouted. "Do you really think you can make our daughter happy? You, who have neither wealth nor power?"
'"..."
"If you don't end your engagement in three months, we will banish you from the kingdom by any means necessary!"
Threatened by his lover's parents, the man had no choice but to oblige.
The oblivious woman was delighted to be betrothed to him. Her body which was being harmed by grief and suffering, seemed to have temporarily improved.
She spent her time in happiness every day with her lover, but their sweet moments didn't last long.
After the people celebrated in delight for their engagement ceremony, it was quickly forgotten.
The promised three months passed.
The man recalled his lover's parents' orders. The order of being engaged in three months.
The man was in agony. Is it really right to separate from the woman who cherishes him?
Maybe the woman's parents were right. He was a nobleman of low rank, a member of a family with little means. How could he possibly make a woman, an archmage, happy?
She deserved better. If she was lucky, she could even marry the son of the emperor of a neighbouring country.
Let's end this futile relationship.
With a newfound resolve, the man said to his lover, "I think we should end this."
"End what?" She tilted her head and asked him. She was holding his hand and smiling from ear to ear as they strolled through the garden.
Her bright smile felt like rose thorns in his heart. He regained his composure and spoke, "Let's end the engagement."
She stared at him like a goldfish, dumbfounded.
They were just enjoying each other's company, whispering sweet words, when he suddenly wanted to end their engagement.
"If we're breaking up, then… we're not getting married?"
"Yes."
"But you said it yourself, that if you love each other, you should get married, didn't you?"
The man felt like he'd cut his lip with a sharp piece of glass. He could hardly speak.
But the words of her parents kept coming back to him.
"Do you really think you can make our daughter happy?"
Yes. This is what happens in every aristocratic love affair. There are more important things to consider than a boring midday love.
Let her go, so she can find someone better than me.
He made a decision.
"I don't love you anymore."
To leave her with a lie.
"And a few days later, my friend passed away. Her weakened body couldn't hold on from the rampage of magic."
Thus ended the Count's long tale.
"..."
I'm speechless. I don't even remember how I got to Lancer's room with him after that. The shock from the story he told renders me thoughtless.
An indescribable shiver settled over my back.
What if Lancer… also meets a miserable end?
No.
I shook my head vigorously. I don't want to believe it. I want to deny it. I don't want to consider the possibility of Lancer dying from not being able to control his emotions.
Unlike the Count's friend, Lancer has been able to express his feelings well since he was a child, so he'll be fine.
I start trying to desperately convince myself that his friend and Lancer are different.
Right. Lancer had occasional magic outbursts, but they've never been that bad. At most, it could destroy a room….
"He nearly blew up the mansion."
My heart sinks when Hubert's words ring in my ears.
Wait a minute. I just told Lancer yesterday that we shouldn't see each other for a while, and because of that… he almost blew up the entire Soli Duchy's mansion.
What if he really did fall in love with me, and I accidentally hurt him?
"Are you ready?" Count Diern's words snapped me out of my reverie.
Before I know it, we're inside Lancer's room.
He's still asleep from the influence of Count Diern's magic.
"Lancer…"
His breathing seems shallow. And he's still dressed as I had seen him yesterday, his coat and shoes are still on.
"If I release the spell, Lord Lancer will wake up after a few minutes. His magic power is very strong so my magic is a bit ineffective." Count Diern tells me as he rolls up his sleeves.
"I'm going to release the spell and leave immediately. Lord Lancer would be very surprised, so you'll have to calm him down." I nod as I listen to him.
He grabs the sleeping Lancer by the wrist. A weak glow appeared beneath his palm, I could see the magic power flowing from him and coursing through Lancer's wrist then enveloping his body.
"I'll go now."
After enchanting Lancer, he stands up. His face is pale, he looks extremely tired.
And it made me realise once again how powerful of a mage Lancer is, as he didn't even pause for a breather after using several spells simultaneously.
Bang. The door to Lancer's room closed.
"...."
I sit on the edge of the bed. Lancer is still asleep with his eyes tightly closed.
"Lancer," I whisper, but there's no response.
I carefully lift my hand and stroke his golden hair. As I stare at his sculpture of a face, the events of the past few days flash through my mind.
Lancer told me he liked me. So, of course, I expected a normal relationship with him. I was going to have a normal date, a normal first kiss, a normal marriage, just like everyone else.
But he was never a normal person.
I wanted to define our relationship on my terms, on my wishes, on my conveniences.
I'm such a useless childhood friend.
A small chuckle escaped me. If only he was made of transparent glass, I'd know what he's thinking from the start and have no reason to blame him for my own misunderstandings.
If only I can read other people's minds….
"...Skyla?" My wrist is grabbed. I glance aside to find Lancer awake and staring at me.
"Lancer," I call his name, but there are no other words that follow.
Wait. What should I say now?
I'm here to calm him down, but I haven't thought about what to say or how to say anything.
What should I do?
I need to say something soft, something kind, like a warm bowl of chicken soup in the middle of winter, so that his feelings don't get hurt…!
Three options flash through my mind:
1. You caused a ruckus again, why the hell did you do that?
2. Are you happy to sleep all day for New Year's?
3. Didn't I tell you not to go to bed with your shoes on?
I'm doomed. They're all just things I would normally say to him. I should've been saying gentler words to him before it was too late.
I stay silent, unsure of what to say.
"S-Skyla."
His blank gaze on me hardens as he slowly rises.
I stare at him, dumbfounded. I don't know what to say to him.
Lancer opens his arms to me. "I was wrong, please don't hate me." He pulls me into a hug and buries his head on my shoulder. It happened so quickly that I didn't get to push him away.
Most of all, I couldn't understand why he's apologising. I should be the one to do that, so why is he….
"Wait, Lancer, let's talk, face to face."
Stunned, I grab his shoulders and try to nudge him back, but he only clings onto me tighter while shaking his head.
"No. I look ugly right now."
"There are times when you're ugly."
"I won't say I like you," he continues, "you were upset because I said I like you in front of others, right? So I won't say anything you don't want to hear again. So please don't hate me."
"Lancer…."
I notice how his arms are subtly trembling. Even though I couldn't see his face, I could tell he was on the verge of crying.
The air surrounding us turns blue.
At first, I thought I was seeing things, but it was a colour caused by the magic power radiating off of Lancer due to his unstable emotions. Fortunately, the wavelength isn't spreading out far.
Okay, let's calm him down a bit.
Taking a deep breath, I hug him tightly.
"I'm not mad."
"R-Really?"
"Really."
"So is it okay if I tell you that I like you?"
"...."
I'm stupefied. How the hell do I explain that the 'like' he's thinking and the 'like' I'm thinking are two different things entirely?
"Lancer."
"Yes…."
"Why did you ask me to marry you before?"
"Because I like you…."
"My what? Why me and not anyone else? What do you want from me?"
"I just like you because you're you," I could hear him sobbing in my ear. "I like you the best in the world, I hate everything else."
"Lancer…."
"I want to spend every day with you, as my oldest brother and his girlfriend do. I want you to be the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning. I want to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner with you."
"...."
"I want to do everything with you all day long. I want to see the sky you see, feel the wind you feel, smell the flowers you smell, and hear the birds you hear."
"...."
I'm speechless by his speaking. Like the mermaid whose voice was stolen by a witch's curse.
"And when night comes, I want us to lie in bed, reading our favourite books, and tell you that I'll see you tomorrow. I want you to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep."
His voice, now hoarse as if pebbles were stuck in his throat, goes on.
"I don't want a day to go by without you, and I want to remember every yesterday that you remember. I want me to be part of your everyday memories so that when we're old, you ask me, 'Do you remember that time?' and I'll laugh and say, 'Of course I do,'... sob."
"Stop it," I spew out, "... That's enough."
I also want to tell him more.
I'm not mad at you. I'm sorry I suddenly got mad at you yesterday. You didn't do anything wrong. Rather, I owe you an apology for wronging you.
And… I like you too.
I didn't know what to do, because… I really like you too.
But I couldn't say anything.
If I said any more than that, I would be found out by him. I don't want him to know that I was on the verge of tears, too.
