My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 82
Translated by d6y (ko-fi)
Chapter 82
When I realise that Viscount Artisina has disappeared from the mansion, I spring to my feet.
"Skyla, where are you going?!"
"Dessert isn't out yet!"
My parents call urgently from behind me, but I don't break stride.
"Sorry!"
Running out of the dining room, I turn to Austin.
"When exactly did Viscount Artisina leave?"
Austin scratches his head. "Oh, he returned to the palace three days ago. Didn't you hear?"
Of course, I didn't know. Because no one had told me!
The viscount has returned? That can't be right, Ryan thought he was in the Kaerun Duchy.
"My lady…?" After a moment of silence, Austin looks at me in confusion.
‘The Viscount is back to where he belongs, so why is she reacting like this? Is she upset that he left so suddenly? Oh, my. That's surprising….'
Yes, butler. You have thought well.
I didn't.
Not at all!
Not at all!
I go upstairs to my room with my jaw clenched.
"You're here already?" Phoebe, who's lighting a candle, asks, glancing at me as I arrive earlier than usual.
‘What's the matter?’
"I heard that Viscount Artisina has left the manor." I flop down on the couch and turn to her.
"Yes, he left for the Imperial Palace three days ago."
"Did he say anything to you before he left?"
"...."
At my question, Phoebe becomes wordless for a moment. I expect her to immediately deny it, but she doesn't.
In the silence of the room, I can hear her thoughts.
'Are you sure you're not interested in the Viscount of Butter?’
No. Not in the slightest.
"It's just that he…. No, I'm just surprised that he left without saying a word. It would have been polite to at least say farewell to me."
‘That’s very well. My lady would never give her heart to such a rascal.’
My answer seems to satisfy her.
"There's one thing the Viscount left me."
After a moment's consideration of my reaction, she slips her hand into a pocket on her apron.
She pulls out a letter.
"Why are you giving this to me now?" I ask, my voice trembling.
"Because the Viscount asked me to give this letter to the lady if she should ever inquire as to his whereabouts."
In other words, I've been so busy with Lancer and the Crown Prince that I don't realise Viscount Artisina has left the mansion, so I haven't had a chance to receive this letter.
With a shallow sigh, I tear open the letter and begin to read.
The letter, as short as my palm, starts grandly.
To. Princess Skyla
The sun is rising.
If you're looking at this, it must mean that my letter made it safely into your hands.
"...."
What the hell.
This looks like a last-minute manuscript deadline….
I hastily scan my eyes to the contents below.
It is with great regret that I must leave the Kaerun Duchy so suddenly.
However, my leaving is for a reason, so I hope you will understand.
Oh, and by the way. I've told everyone that I'm returning to the Imperial Palace….
But I'm not going back there!
Tomorrow morning, I am leaving for the Hebnia Kingdom.
Having read this far, my eyes widen involuntarily.
He's going to the Hebnia Kingdom?
Come to think of it, when the Viscount came to my room the other day… and saw some of my things, he said he'd like to give them to his family in the Kingdom.
Was that a hint that he would be returning soon?
But it wasn't a perfect conclusion.
He did say that he had come here to escape his arranged marriage, and that he would stay here until he married someone else….
What the hell was he thinking, leaving so abruptly?
My head is spinning from the inexplicable situation.
I turn my attention to the contents of the letter.
By the way, I don't need to tell you why I handed this letter over to the maid instead of giving it to you directly, do I?
You see, you can hear other people's thoughts.
So when I deliver the letter to you, you'll read my thoughts on the spot, right?
But, Princess, I still can't tell you why I'm suddenly back in the Hebnia Kingdom.
Why?
That's a secret♥.
"...."
At the sight of the heart, a violent urge begins to rise in me that I have never had before.
I instantly imagine Viscount Artisina writing this letter, smiling and giggling.
He's a horrible prince.
The imaginary Viscount is even winking at me.
An older man desperately trying to be cute…..
Somehow I feel bad, but I decide to read the rest of the letter anyway.
Of course, I told you it was a secret, but you're very important and special to me, so I can tell you the secret.
Please find me at the back door of the Kaerun Duchy’s mansion tonight.
I'll be waiting for you until you arrive.
From. A foreign viscount who wants to make a love escape with a princess one day.
P.S. You must come alone.
Because you are the one who will be my love escape.
Just kidding, don't hit me.
The letter ended thus.
"...."
I quietly fold the letter and slide it back into the envelope it came in.
Viscount Artisina… I'm so sorry….
This letter was written three days ago. He must have thought I would read it that day and come looking for him.
However, I was unaware of his disappearance and received this letter three days later.
He must have been waiting at the back door of the mansion for three days, wondering about my arrival.
Had he been waiting up to his neck for me, asking, "When will my princess come?
An unbearable shiver of guilt runs up my back. The night air must have been cold, I feel more sorry for the Viscount.
Why is he doing things I didn't ask him to do? Why is he making me feel guilty for nothing!
Wrapping my hands around my head, I make a grunting sound.
Seeing my expression, Phoebe must have sensed that something was wrong and approached me.
"My lady, are you alright? Did the letter say something weird....."
"I just want to be alone for a moment." I hide the letter behind my back, afraid that by some chance she can see it.
Sensing my distress, not my anguish, she leaves without a word.
"Hahah...."
Only a deep sigh escaped my lips. Closing my eyes, I think of the Viscount waiting for me at the back door in the cold autumn wind.
He must have set off for the Hernia Kingdom by now. How angry he would be that I hadn't come out. What if he thought I had ignored him? Will this get us into a war with Hebnia?
A princess of a mere imperial state scamming the prince of a venerable kingdom, this was an event for the history books.
I let out a long sigh and took out the letter again.
I'll be waiting for you until you arrive.
These words stuck out to me.
He's not still waiting at the back, is he?
I quickly glance out the window.
The moon has risen in the night sky and is faintly illuminating the ground. It's already night.
I pull out a thick robe from a drawer in my room. It's an indoor robe that I have kept for use, but that doesn't matter.
As I hastily button it, I see the shawl Phoebe left in the drawer.
"...."
After a moment's hesitation, I roughly fold the shawl and shove it into the inside pocket of my coat.
"My lady?"
As I open the door and step out into the corridor, Phoebe, who's waiting outside, calls out to me curiously.
"I'm going to get some air." With that, I scramble to my feet, avoiding any further questions from her.
The Kaerun Duchy's mansion is one of the largest of the noble families' residences in the capital.
The back door of the mansion led out into the garden, where my parents often have secret meetings. Obviously, the back door did not lead to the outside of the mansion, so there was no one to guard it.
Confirming that no one is nearby, I cautiously open the back door.
Night wind blows in, stealing the warmth from my cheeks.
It's cold.
Shivering, I pace near the back door.
Truth be told, I don't expect Viscount Artisina to be here. It's been three days already. Besides, the Viscount had clearly said he was going to the Hebnia Kingdom.
Nevertheless, I'm going here just in case.
I thought this would make me feel a little less sorry for him.
After a few moments of looking around, I hear a rustling sound to my left.
What was that?
I whip my head around nervously.
Sure enough, a squirrel is standing there.
"...?"
I froze for a moment.
It's autumn, and squirrels are out and about collecting acorns.
But I've never seen a squirrel that doesn't run away at the sight of a human before.
"...Prince?"
I cautiously step towards the squirrel.
"...."
The squirrel makes no sound, but then it moves slowly towards me.
"...What took you so long?"
In an instant, the squirrel transforms into a man.
It's Prince Cade, dressed as a mage in robes.
"Princess, don't you think you've gone too far? You're the first one to keep me waiting for three days...."
"Are you okay?"
I fumble to take out the shawl I packed inside my robe. I wrap it around Prince Cade's shoulders.
He looks at me in a daze. "Uh… Princess, what are you doing?"
‘Ugh, now you’re tying me up with a shawl?’
"It's cold outside!" I shout without thinking. Fortunately, it's late enough that no one is near the back door and can hear us.
"You don't want to get cold, do you? How long have you been out there? It's freezing! Say something!" Wrapping my shawl around him, I hurl a parade of questions at him.
To be honest, I'm in a state of shock. I can't believe he's still waiting for me.
"Why the hell did you do that!" I hastily draped the shawl over his shoulders. "You didn't have to wait for me for three days, so why...!"
Prince Cade smiles sheepishly. "My heart told me to.”
