It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

“The reason is simple. I've been named the next emperor since I was a child. So I've always been trained to stand on my own two feet.”

Even when he wakes up in the morning.

Even when he eats three meals a day.

Even when he goes outside to learn swordsmanship.

Even when he’s dealing with duties in the office.

Even when he crawls into the cold bed at the end of the day.

“I always did everything by myself, just to be emperor.”

The Crown Prince seemed unexpectedly calm.

His eyes seemed to be smiling in a slight arc, but the smile that hung around his mouth was as stiff as hardened honey.

“But one day after my coming-of-age ceremony, the Emperor suddenly told me, If I were to become emperor, I must find a partner to do all this with.”

“You can't be bothered to get married.”

I summed up his monologue.

He shrugged.

“It's not just ‘bothersome’, but I suppose… you could put it that way, but I just wonder why I should get married when I'm already doing well on my own”

It's not just bothersome, it's very, very, very bothersome.

“I understand how you feel.”

“Yes, as I expected the Princess would understand.”

He leaned a little towards me.

I could smell the fresh scent of lemongrass perfume from him.

He sprayed perfume that resembled him.

“The Princess wants to take over the Kaerun Duchy, but is unable to because you're not engaged yet, right?”

“Correct.”

“What are you going to do about it? As far as I know, you're not dating anyone right now.”

“I was going to grab a random guy to marry.”

I slowly spoke and cautiously observed the Crown Prince across from me.

“But Your Highness would be a good match.”

A smile formed around his mouth.

“Of course, since by law the Crown Princess or Empress could still inherit the title of their family origin, there should be no problem if you inherit Duke of Kaerun while being engaged to me.”

“That's what I thought.”

I nodded.

There have often been cases in history where the empress reigned over the empire and also the head of her family.

“It's a good deal for both of us.”

“Of course. We'll be engaged for a year when we'll each inherit our desired title, and then we'll break off the engagement immediately afterwards.”

Humans aren't perfect. Therefore, the laws humans create aren't perfect either. If you look close enough, there are always loopholes.

The Imperial Law states that to inherit a title, the heir must be engaged or married.

But nothing is said about the aftermath of inheriting the title.

So, it doesn't matter if the Crown Prince and I break the engagement off after we inherit our titles.

“It's perfect.”

The Crown Prince reached his hand out to me.

“Princess Skyla, engage me and let me be Emperor. In return, we will break it off a year later and you will go to Hebnia, the place you've always wanted to go.”

“Very well.”

I grasped his hand without hesitation.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I'll let you engage me and let me be Duke of Kaerun. In return, you must keep your word.”

“Don't worry. Although the Princess is my type, I'm not the kind of guy who'd fall in love during a fake engagement. Feel free to have a lover while you're engaged to me.”

“I'm glad you know how to distinguish public and personal matters.”

I looked at the crown prince distinctly.

“So let's get the contract done first.”

* * *

“My lady.”

As soon as I got out of the room, Phoebe strode up to me.

“You took a long time, what did my lady discuss with the Crown Prince?”

I glanced out of the window.

The sun was bright when we arrived here, but now it's already set. It seemed like we lost track of time while being immersed in the contract.

I can't believe we took that long.

“Was it something important?”

“It was nothing.”

I had no choice but to answer her briefly.

Our conversation has to be kept top secret.

We wanted to inherit our respective titles but didn't want to get married, so we were cheating the system.

So I couldn't even tell my closest confidante, Phoebe, of this fraud.

‘It's not a big deal huh… you've been in that room for so long, why aren't you telling me anything? Did you start hating me before I knew it?’

It's not like that. Don't be so hard on yourself, Phoebe.

I feel bad because Phoebe’s inner thoughts became complicated, but I can't do anything about it.

It's a secret I'll take to my grave.

This was my plan with the Crown Prince:

He’ll act as if he fell in love at first sight when he sees me at the Imperial Ball. I would be dancing along with everyone else.

The day after that, he comes to Kaerun Duchy and proposes to me publicly.

I pretend I also had fallen in love with him at first sight and accept his proposal to get engaged.

Within the year of engagement, I will become the Duke of Kaerun and he will become the Emperor.

After that, we break off the engagement immediately.

It was a stain-proof plan.

A perfect plan that no one can interfere with or refute.

As soon as my parents hear about our engagement, they would immediately hand over the duchy to me.

Fortunately, the law allows the Crown Princess or Empress to retain the titles of their former family of origin.

In addition to being the Duke, I can go to the Empire of Hebnia for a year as promised by the Crown Prince.

This plan is killing two birds with one stone.

My problem could be solved so easily, but I went as far as thinking of marrying Lancer for no reason.

The thoughts I had in the carriage on the way to the palace felt silly now.

No matter how single I am, how could I marry Lancer?

I climbed back into the carriage and watched the sunset outside the window as we headed back to the duchy.

I feel refreshed after a long time.

I couldn't help but smile as I regained my peace of mind.

And with that subtle muscle movement captured in a split second, Phoebe’s thoughts exploded instantly.

‘Oh! My lady’s smile! Oh my god, it's so bright! Ah, no wonder a shooting star fell from the sky when my lady was born! My lady was the star!’

Never mind, the peace of mind is gone now.

* * *

 I went to the drawing room first after returning to the duchy.

I opened the door and glanced inside and the maids who were cleaning inside greeted me.

“Is there anything you need, my lady?”

“No, nothing.”

I replied briefly, closed the door straight away and stepped back.

I thought Lancer would be waiting for me there, but I was wrong.

“Did Lancer come by any chance?”

I stopped a butler to ask him, but the conclusion was still the same.

He said that Lancer hasn't been anywhere near the duchy at all today.

‘The sun rose in the west…”

Why is he suddenly like this?

Usually, Lancer would come by on his own even if I didn't call him.

The people in Kaerun Duchy didn't bother stopping him from appearing suddenly without an appointment.

To be exact, they tried to stop him in the past.

But they soon realized that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't stop him when he used his magic powers, so they gave up.

I was thankful for his help in the carriage, so I want to see him for once.

Besides, it was dinner time soon.

I didn't want to eat with my parents because of what happened yesterday.

So I’m going to go to Soli Duchy and see Lancer for a bit.

Phoebe stopped me and asked where else I was going after that long meeting with the Crown Prince, but she had no choice but to support me in the end.

Someone would think I'm stubborn if they see me like this.

But I'm not stubborn, just self-assertive.

I changed into a comfortable shirt and pants instead of wearing my dress.

I usually dress up when visiting other noble families, but since it's Lancer, I don't see a reason why I should do so.

Thinking so, I set off in a modest outfit but was stopped by a gatekeeper of the Soli Duchy.

“Hey!”

It was before I entered the mansion that the gatekeeper shouted when he saw me.

“Where do you think you're going? This is no place for commoners like you to come and go, so get lost!”

“...”

I look at the gatekeeper in shock.

What's this?

The Duke of Soli’s house was as large and grand as ours.

Outside the mansion was a large garden, which you had to pass through before entering the mansion.

And the place I stand now was the gate to that garden, while Ticef parked his carriage against another wall and was waiting for me.

In other words, I haven't even stepped foot in the duchy yet.

“...Should we get rid of him?”
 

Phoebe asked from behind me.

“No, I don't want to clean up after a body, so just stay still.”

After calming Phoebe down, I turned my head back toward the gatekeeper.

“What are you looking at? If you want money, go sit on the street over there and beg.”

He waved his hand at me as if he was threatening me to go away already.

I stared at the gatekeeper.

He seems to be misunderstanding something.

Since I dressed modestly, he seemed to think I was a commoner.

But there's a maid behind me, so can’t he guess that I must be some person of high status?

When I was thinking that, I heard the gatekeeper’s thoughts.

‘Oh, ****, you ******* beggars. They must be some ******* working for some noble family.’

Ah, I'm just treated as maid 1.