It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

I stare at the mage in disbelief when he turns his head away from me.

He beckoned to the gatekeepers who were blocking my entry.

"Open the gates for Princess Kaerun."

"Huh?"

"But, mage-!"

The gatekeepers protested, but the mage ignored them all.

"I'll take responsibility, so open the gate."

"...This is not the Hebnia Kingdom. Disobeying the Emperor's orders in this Empire will not end in mere exile."

One of the gatekeepers clicked his tongue in pity.

The passing conversation caught my attention for a moment.

Has the Viscount been exiled from the Hebnia Kingdom?

The words were a little vague. But in this context, the gatekeeper seemed to be warning the mage, "If you disobey the Emperor's orders here, as you did in Hebnia, you will be punished even more than an exile."

I've always thought the mage's background was a bit strange.

Defecting from the Hebnia Kingdom to the Empire just to receive a viscount's title wasn't very convincing.

No way, this mage didn't leave Hebnia of his own accord, but he was exiled…

"Princess."

A sweet voice came through the window.

When I lifted my head, the mage was looking at me with a gentle smile.

"I will let you into the palace as you request."

"Thank you for being on the same wavelength."

"However..."

The mage trailed off as soon as I thanked him.

"This time, the Princess owes me a dance when the ball begins."

So there's a catch. He winked at me as he said this, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile gracefully.

"I'll see you at the ball."

'I'm going to make you mine.'

His magic stone earrings glistened when he tilted his head slightly.

"..."

I stared at the mage wordlessly.

Surely, he had the kind of beauty that could mesmerise anyone.

His exotic appearance, which certainly stood out because he was not from the Empire, drew people's attention, and his robe, adorned with rare gems, added to his nobility.

But since I know his inner thoughts, I couldn't see him merely as a pretty boy.

"Viscount."

"Yes, Princess."

"Play your tricks as you go."

Rattle, rattle.

Ticef, who had been permitted to enter the palace, began to move the carriage slowly.

"Farewell, then."

Ignoring the mage, who remained frozen in place as if under a freezing spell, I gestured slightly to Phoebe.

She slammed the carriage window shut as if she had been waiting.

* * *

As soon as I reached the place where the imperial ball was to be held, a black shadow closed in on me.

"Skyla!"

I didn't need to look to know it was Lancer. He rushed towards me as soon as I got out of the carriage.

"Why aren't you inside yet?"

Shaking off the Lancer's embrace, I glanced back and forth between him and the entrance to the ballroom, which was right in front of us.

The sun had begun to set slowly, and the breeze had become chilly, soon it would be time for the ball to begin.

But why was Lancer still outside?

"Didn't you come with the Duke and Duchess Soli? Why are you alone?"

"I was waiting for you."

Lancer answered proudly as if he had been waiting for me to ask. His eyes sparkled as if he were expecting a compliment.

I let out a shallow sigh inwardly.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"Not long, like five hours?"

"Five hours?!"

I exclaimed, my voice rising in shock, making several nobles turn to us.

Conscious of the stares, I hastily dragged Lancer behind my carriage.

"Are you an idiot? You've been standing outside for five hours just to wait for me?"

"Yes."

"Don't be silly. What are you doing, wasting five hours like that? Weren't you bored all this time?"

"I wasn't bored because I was thinking about you," Lancer said with a gentle smile, and then he held out his hand to me.

"Let's go into the ballroom together."

"..."

I stared at the hand Lancer held out to me for a moment.

If I wanted to, I could walk into the ballroom by myself.

But I didn't want to push Lancer away.

Think about it, how could I decline someone who had been waiting for me for five hours?

It didn't matter if it was Lancer or not.

"...Okay, let's go."

After a brief deliberation, I decided to give him a little compassion.

I clasped Lancer's hand with mine and turned slightly towards Ticef and Phoebe.

"I'll be back. Get some rest."

"Goodbye, my lady!"

"I hope you have a good time."

Phoebe's eyes sizzled as they glared at Lancer, but Lancer himself didn't seem to notice.

"How do I look today?"

Lancer asked me out of the blue.

"What do you mean how..."

I glanced at Lancer's outfit up and down.

Lancer always dressed neatly, even when there was no special occasion, so his attire today wasn't much different than usual.

The only difference was that his cravat was made of slightly more luxurious silk than usual, and the golden buttons on his robe were replaced with the seal of the Soli Duchy.

This didn't mean Lancer was any less of a noble than the others.

The other male nobles making their way into the ballroom seemed modest compared to him.

Only then did I realize Lancer was a fairly modest man.

"Do you like it?"

Lancer asked.

"What?"

"My outfit."

"It's not bad."

The stingy compliment lit up Lancer's face like a firecracker exploding.

"Really? Then I'll wear it every day."

"You usually wear this kind of clothes anyway."

Lancer's mouth quirked up at my point.

"But Skyla, you don't usually praise my clothes…"

As Lancer said that, he fiddled with my sleeve, looking a little upset.

"..."

I was stabbed once more by the fact that Lancer had been waiting for me for five hours.

Lancer's frustration made my heart feel a little heavy.

"...Think it yourself from now on."

"Huh?"

"From now on, even if I don't compliment you... just think that I did."

"But it's better if Skyla does it."

"I always think you look great, so you should give yourself compliments."

At that, Lancer's face brightened.

His reflection could be seen back at him as stepped out onto the marble floor of the ballroom.

The servants standing at the entrance were busily ushering the guests inside.

Lancer and I were swept up in the long procession and moved slowly into the ballroom.

Because of the large number of people attending this year's imperial ball, the formalities of declaring one's family and name had been dispensed with.

The ballroom was packed. I could see people enjoying each other's company; laughing, chatting, and clinking glasses.

Ah, I want to go home.

It's barely 30 seconds since entering the ballroom.

I knew it was going to be enormous because it was a ball for nobles from all across the country, but experiencing it first-hand was more horrifying than I thought.

I could see the situation of Marquess Garnett's tea party right in front of me.

Hundreds of people pretend  to praise and care for each other but are actually desperate to bring them down.

I felt dizzy.

And I'm already spotting men stealing glances at me, huddled together in small groups, they were whispering something, and they didn't even bother to hide their gaze towards me.

I sighed inwardly, fed up with men's attempts of courting me.

Please don't talk to me. I'm sorry, but I already have a fraudulent engagement, so mind your own business.

I decided to use the Lancer, who was escorting me, as a shield.

As I gripped his hand tightly to keep it from slipping away, Lancer turned to me with a smile.

"There's a lot of people, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Everyone dressed up nicely."

In the meantime, I saw a young man approaching to speak to me.

I hastily ignored him and spoke to Lancer immediately to pretend I hadn't seen him.

"Come to think of it, why aren't you praising me today?"

"What praise?"

"Just, well, like… I'm particularly pretty today?"

Sh*t, I just told myself I was pretty.

But I can't help it. It was the only topic I could think of off the top of my head.

In response, Lancer throws me a curious look.

"What's that reaction?"

"Skyla, you're always pretty."

His gentle voice sounded like a spring breeze in my ears.

"You're already pretty, but you wanted to hear that you're even prettier now?"

His voice echoed in my ears over the laughter and chatter of the crowd, but I couldn't make out what they were talking about.

"How much prettier could you already be?"

At the same time, Lancer's hand moved to slowly brush my hair out of my face.

His gestures were akin to something a lover would do.

I froze in place, unable to react to his sudden behaviour.

...What's wrong with him?

"Lancer, you..."

"Gotcha!"

At that moment, Lancer's hand detached from my hair.

"Look, Skyla, there was a ladybug stuck on your hair."

With a wide grin, Landshear held his palm out in front of me.

"...You're a good mood breaker."

Looking at the red ladybug crawling over his palm, I smiled bitterly.

I felt like a fool for letting my heart flutter a little at Lancer's touch.

Hold on.

Why would I be flustered?

No way, was it because of Lancer?

I looked up at Lancer before me, who was observing the ladybug. His smile was like a gentle spring as he watched the ladybug akin to an innocent child.

Just looking at his cheerful face made me feel like my heart was warming up. What is it about seeing Lancer that makes me feel that way?

Am I still in love with Lancer?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, I felt my cheeks heat up.

You're crazy, Skyla.

I'd been hurt so badly before. Knowing full well that Lancer had never liked me that way.

Why can't I keep my eyes off of him? I'm so weak.

I thought to myself, trying to cover up my embarrassment.

"Princess Skyla!" I heard someone call out from behind me.

Fortunately, the owner of the voice wasn't a lame young man who had come to hit on me. But unfortunately, whoever is looking for me isn't doing so for a good reason.

"Oh, it seems like Lord Lancer is with you."

The figure gracefully swaying a feathered fan was none other than Lady Aronia.