My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 76
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 76
Lancer's plan to introduce Hubert to Lady Artberry has gone more smoothly than I expected.
Because that very morning, Lady Artberry came to the Kaerun Duchy’s door.
"Lady Artberry, from the Count of Vrans, wishes to see you."
I'm sitting in the conservatory garden of the mansion, relaxing with Lancer, waiting for lunch. Phoebe informs me that Artberry had visited.
She's here.
I rise from my seat and accompany Lancer to the parlour.
In truth, I have somewhat anticipated her arrival. I just don't expect it to be so soon.
After all, It's Artberry. The girl who's responsible for 'that incident' in the Marquess Garnett yesterday. Moreover, it was a tea party in the presence of the Crown Prince.
She must be upset to have ruined such an important occasion. Scrambling to find some way to make amends for her rudeness.
When I reach the parlour and see her, I'm reminded that my assumption isn't wrong.
"Forgive me!"
As soon as she sees me and Lancer, she falls to her knees, begging for forgiveness.
What follows is a long string of apologies from her mouth. Listening to her words, it sounds like she memorised them in the carriage before coming here.
"...." I don't interrupt Atberry as she goes on and on.
Still, she came here with a purpose, and it seemed better to let her do her thing. So I stay still and stare at Artberry as she bows low.
"I apologise for being such an idiot yesterday, I didn't know any better and I just put things in my mouth that I picked up, just like I do with my friends. I had no idea that Lord Hubert was a member of Lord Lancer's family, I swear...."
Artberry begins to sob. It's a little different than when Aronia came to apologise to me.
I pity her. She's so young, so new to the social scene. She's also a provincial aristocrat who never lived in the capital before. I can only imagine how nervous she was at yesterday's tea party.
Perhaps gossiping about others without foundation was a strategy that Artberry had picked up from her brother. Perhaps she didn't know what she had in common with other people at the tea party, but still wanted to say something.
Of course, it was a terrible way to have a conversation, and the results were horrific….
This is so unlike me.
As I reflected on my own thoughts, I surprised myself. If it were the old me, I would've stormed out of the room and kicked her out, or coldly announced that I never wanted to see her again.
But now I feel a bit of change.
Maybe it's because I've grown to care a little bit about Lancer's position. And maybe it's gotten me to start thinking a little more about other people, not just Lancer.
As I'm deep in thought, Lancer is shocked. He has no idea why Artberry was on her knees with her hands clasped together.
I think I better get this situation under control.
"Lady Artberry."
"I'm so sorry. I'm so ungrateful, and I won't run my mouth in the future, so please forgive me generously just this once…."
“Lady Artberry,” I call her once more. "I've already forgiven you, so please stand up."
Her head whips up. Tears are forming in her eyes, ready to fall at any moment.
"...R-Really?"
Instead of answering, I turn to Lancer, hoping he will comfort her. After standing there in a daze, Lancer says, "I don't know why you're saying sorry."
He's genuine, of course. He can't understand why Artberry is apologising.
But to her, it must've sounded like an incredibly generous gesture.
"T-Thank you, Lord Lancer…!" Overwhelmed with emotion, Artberry bursts into tears.
I don't know what to make of this unexpected turn of events. I don't have a handkerchief with me, so I quickly call a maid to fetch one.
After receiving the handkerchief, Artberry bursts into tears again.
...How childish.
It's not the most appropriate thing to say, coming from my barely grown-up mouth, but that's my assessment of her.
From our fleeting encounter at the ball, I'd assumed she was an immature young lady who hadn't yet mastered her manners, and I wasn't entirely wrong.
"So, did you go to the others and apologise like this?" I ask her, after she calms down somewhat.
"Not yet." Wiping away tears, Artberry shakes her head. "Lady Aronia told me not to come to the Marquise right now because it's in chaos, and I don't know the address of Viscount Artisina, while with the Crown Prince…."
The rest of her sentence is left unfinished. Presumably she knows that her status as a countess means she can't come and go from the palace at will.
"I'll apologise on your behalf."
Today is Saturday. I'm due to have lunch with the Crown Prince and give him an update on Lancer.
Hope sparkles in Artberry’s eyes like shards of broken glass hearing that. "I— really? But how can…."
"Skyla is a friend of His Highness," Lancer answers in my stead.
Her jaw drops open. "A friend?"
‘I know His Highness and Princess Skyla had their first dance at the last ball, but friends? I thought you two were lovers judging by the rumours!’
I don't know when or where the rumour started, but it seems that our ‘passionate love affair’ has finally popped out.
I'm pleased that things are going according to plan, but I also feel bad because of Lancer.
Uh, wait.
Why am I feeling bad because of Lancer?
It's then that Lancer cuts to the chase, as if he's been waiting for Artberry. "Lady Artberry, at the last tea party, you said you'd like to meet my big brother."
"By your big brother, you mean… Oh, you mean Lord Hubert?"
‘Why, why are you bringing up Lord Hubert all of a sudden?’
Her shoulders slump nervously. I can tell she's terrified that something negative would be said about this.
"I'm sure my big brother would love to meet you, Lady Artberry, so why don't you meet him sometime?"
"I-I mean, Lord Hubert?" I can see her mind spinning like a windmill.
‘What, you're asking me to meet with him and apologise to him face to face?’
No, Artberry. Lancer is not capable of such a highly intelligent strategy.
Clueless about the thoughts in her head, Lancer continues with his plan. "Are you free next weekend?"
"...?"
"I'll write to my brother and ask him first, as he also returns to the Soli Duchy from the Imperial Knights' quarters every weekend."
‘Does this mean I'm supposed to set aside some time next weekend and prepare to apologise to Lord Hubert?’
Artberry is growing more and more upset.
As much fun as it is to watch this from afar, I don't want to psychologically torment her any further, so I speak to her reassuringly.
"Don't worry too much. Brother Hubert is quite the gentleman. This isn't some empty talk, I've known him since we were kids."
"Is that so...."
"Oh, of course, you can decline if it's too much for you," I add in passing.
It's then that Artberry realises that Lancer is trying to set her and Hubert up.
When she does, she's embarrassed.
"I…,” She opens her mouth, but no sentence comes out.
She sits on the edge of the couch, fiddling with the cup in her hand.
'You want me to meet Lord Hubert… 'but according to my brother, he's a very pompous-looking fellow, walks like a gorilla, and has the manners of a rude provincial new aristocrat…!’
"...."
What the hell was this guy, Artberry's brother, talking about to his sister? No, what kind of grudge does he have against Hubert to reduce him to a lowly tramp?
"Do you mind… if I think about it for a bit before telling you?" After a moment's hesitation, Artberry glances between me and Lancer, speaking cautiously.
I nod, not entirely understanding her reaction, the one thing I was worried about the most. The same goes for Lancer.
* * *
"So, did you tell him to tell Lady Aryberry to apologise to me as well?"
At the Crown Prince's question, I nod and raise my teacup. The tea this time is an unusually flavoured herbal tea mixed with slivers of almonds.
"You must have been quite embarrassed by the tea party at the Marquise Garnett yesterday, and I apologise for that."
This is where I am now, inside the Lion Palace, at the Crown Prince's office. I'm sitting here to brief him on the week's events regarding Lancer.
After hearing my brief apology, he shakes his head. “No. It's Viscountess Artisina who caused the trouble, so why are you apologising to me, Kayla?”
"I heard from Viscount Artisina yesterday that when he heard I was taking the Lancer to a tea party, he deliberately secured an invitation for Lady Aronia."
"The Viscount seems to have a light mouth," The crown prince says, smiling on the outside. But on the inside, he's not at all happy.
'Cade, you bastard, I thought I told you not to say anything to Kayla….'
"Still, I'm glad that Lancer seems to have learnt a little bit about how to talk to people. I've arranged a meeting between Lady Artberry and Lord Hubert soon."
"Really? Was that requested by Lady Artberry herself?" The Crown Prince asks, cupping his chin in one hand as if intrigued by my words.
"No, sir," I reply, those clear eyes staring at me are mesmerizing. "Lancer has volunteered to introduce the two of them to each other, and if things go well right now, I think they will be meeting next weekend."
"I thought Lady Artberry had a thing for Lord Lancer."
I thought he didn't know, but he did. The Prince has a keen eye. I don't expect him to recognise it from one look at the tea party.
"That's why I've been trying to introduce Lady Artberry to Lancer, but she doesn't seem to be interested in him."
"I see. I hope the meeting between them will go well."
Saying that, the Crown Prince lifts the teapot and pours more tea into my teacup. I gratefully accept the teacup and sip it, savouring the nutty aroma of the almonds.
'We must ensure that Lord Hubert does not meet Lady Artberry next weekend.'
... Hmm?
