It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

“I think Lady Aronia looks good with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Oh my goodness! Don't say that! I think Lady Dolce looks even better instead!”

“Hoho, don't flatter me too much, Lady Beatrice! It's the Crown Prince’s choice anyway! I don't want to fight over this.”

Lively laughter spread through the garden like the fall of glass beads.

With genuine warmth, the young ladies smiled playfully at each other and strengthened their bond of friendship.

And I observed them with insignificant eyes.

‘They're a bunch of fake *******.’

I sipped my cold tea in silence while muttering profanities inside my head.

These ladies sitting in front of me don't know that I have a little strange ability.

I can read other people’s minds.

No, rather than ‘read’, perhaps ‘hear’ is a more accurate way to describe it.

Whether or not I want to know other people’s inner thoughts, they still keep flowing into my ears anyway.

It may sound ridiculous, but it's true.

People’s thoughts were always clear and ringing through my head.

Except for Lancer’s.

I couldn't figure out why but I've never heard Lancer’s inner thoughts in my life.

I don't know exactly why Lancer is the only exception for my ability.

I guess it's because he's an archmage with tremendous magic power.

But the problem now is these three ladies in front of me are not Lancers.

How unfortunate for me.

‘Everyone is desperately trying to pretend they're not greedy…’

I was aware of the darkness surrounding these three ladies’ hearts.

They're acting affectionately outside when their insides are rotten.

Because of this ability that was a curse God had given me, I knew well what they were thinking.

Like all unmarried noblewomen, they're trying desperately to win over the crown prince without anyone knowing.

How did I know?

I first turned to Lady Aronia who was sitting opposite me.

This is the heart of Lady Aronia, who's blushing and fiddling with her teacup.

‘Woohoo! I've been under extreme skincare for this day since last month! Even if a fly were on my skin it'd slide right off!’

It's a sign of being rejected if a fly landed on your skin. Wash up, Lady Aronia.

Then to Lady Dolce who's sitting next to her.

‘I've had Madame Bailey, the best tailor in this empire, to make my dress! When I wear it, all the other ladies at the ball will fade away and the Crown Prince will only have eyes for me! Sorry, girls!’

You've gotten a cursed magic cape. That’s amazing.

Finally, Lady Beatrice.

‘Hoho, I begged while crying and screaming to my father, who was away on official duty in the Kingdom of Hebnia, to get me the Ultimate Seduction Perfume! With this perfume, the Crown Prince will be my slave!’

No, what the hell did she have him get… by abuse of power too? Isn't that illegal?

I looked at Lady Beatrice, who was sipping her tea, in disbelief.

Lady Beatrice noticed my gaze and laugh while slightly covering her lips with one hand.

“Oh, Lady Skyla. Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“There's nothing.”

Yes, there are traces of smuggling. But I couldn't say that so I turned my head away.

‘Hmph, is that all there is on being a princess? You've treated Lady Aronia badly, and now you're glaring at people like an *******...’

After groaning in her mind, Lady Beatrice turned her attention back to the others.

Soon, the unnourishing talk between the three ladies went on and on like an ouroboros.

It felt more painful than when I accidentally found and read a love letter my father had written to my mother.

‘I should've stayed in my room even if my mother had cried.’

I began to regret showing up to this tea party.

I should start burning all invitations to tea parties given to me before my mother sees them.

I don't want to waste my time on these unnecessary social gatherings anymore.

‘It's a relief they didn't try to pretend to be friendly and talk to me for no reason…’

I meant it.

The ladies were looking at me at first, but when I didn't say anything, they seemed to also be relieved and keep their chatter to themselves.

I pretended to be invisible and began counting the rings on the wooden table to kill time.

‘When is this tea party going to end?’

The ladies’ voices talking about the Imperial Ball and the Crown Prince sounded like low-quality music in my ears. To me, it was just a bunch of nonsense.

In any case, I had no interest in whether the crown prince will marry a noblewoman or settle for a fish from the fish market.

Because I already have a pest under the guise of a childhood friend.

‘Oh, I just want to beat them all up then go home.’

Inwardly sighing deeply, I stared blankly at the table.

If I flip the table right now, I wouldn't be invited to the tea party from now on, right?’

I'm tempted to flip over the table and then make a run for it.

‘... it's not that bad of a plan though?’

Of course, ill have to suffer through my parents' nagging to the point of hearing damage, but at least I won't be forced to go to these pointless tea parties in the future. That alone is already a worthwhile investment.

All right, ill just flip the table and then bounce home…

“My lady.”

Phoebe, who stood behind me, tapped on my shoulder lightly.

“What?”

“Have you forgotten about this?”

Phoebe offered me something.

It was a dainty box decorated with gold ribbons.

Oh, this…

Only then i did remember the box that my mother gave me in the morning.

In the box was a fig pound cake.

It was a bribe my mother had given me to share with other ladies because she was worried about my social skills.

I almost forgot about it.

“Oh my, Lady Skyla! What's that?”
 

The other ladies saw what Phoebe was holding and began to make a fuss.

I sighed and raised my hand to give Phoebe a signal.

“Open it, Phoebe.”

As soon as she opened the box, the savoury aroma trapped inside wafted out onto the table.

The ladies who were tired of the sweetness of the tart were seen drooling even if they try to hide it.

“Did you bring it to eat with us? I'm touched by how thoughtful my lady is!”

“Indeed, you are as good-natured as you look, Lady Skyla!”

‘How pretentious.’

I'm sick of the sound of your buttery, dry mouth. Just a moment ago, you were inwardly cursing me.

This is why I didn't want to go to tea parties.

With that thought in mind, I watched Phoebe cut the cake at the corner of the table when Aronia turned to me immediately.

“So, what do you think, Lady Skyla?”

“What?”

“Lady Skyla, who do you think the Crown Prince would choose among us? Since His Highness is a man, I'm sure he will choose a beautiful young lady.”

Lady Dolce smiled brightly with her eyes sparkling at me. Her thoughts start to ring in my ears.

‘Honestly, I'm not as good as my friends, but I'm still pretty enough, right?’

“...”

Why are you asking me that? You have your own charms… People have tastes, and our tastes can't always be the same.

I sighed after hearing her thoughts.

“...well, maybe he’ll choose someone he likes.”

I answered as I twirled my empty teacup.

But Lady Beatrice persisted.

“You think so? What kind of woman would His Highness like then?”

“His Highness would choose someone with no flaws even as the Crown Princess.”

“That's right, I agree with Lady Skyla.”

Lady Aronia laughed heartily after remaining still.

“And I'm sure His Highness values what titles the Crown Princess candidates have, right?”

Aronia Ying'er, who made such remarks in a gentle voice, also thought, ‘I'm from a Marquis family, so wouldn't there be higher chances for me?’

Why should I care about what titles he will choose from! I'm not interested!

There seemed to be no end to this, like pouring gold coins into a sock with a hole in it.

I sighed.

How do I stop these three from talking to me?

‘Do I have to flip the table over?’

I was seriously considering it.

“Oh, as far as titles go, Lady Skyla is the most likely candidate, since she's Kaerun Duchy’s successor."

Lady Dolce murmured like she had just realized something.

When she said that, the tendon hardened on the back of Lady Aronia’s hand that was holding the teacup ring.

“O-of course, you're right! Hoho!”

Lady Aronia managed to hide how hard her hand gripped the teacup ring and tried to smile nicely.

“But Lady Skyla has Lord Lancer, right? Unless Lady Skyla is a playgirl, she wouldn't try to seduce His Highness, would she?”

“Excuse me?”

My voice flowed with an ice-cold chill.

What is this woman talking about?

What kind of nonsense is this. How could such a ridiculous remark exist?

Lady Aronia seemed to realize she had made a mistake only after seeing my hardened expression.

“I-I’m sorry, it was a bit over the line to call you a playgirl…”

“Why was Lancer suddenly brought up?”
 

“P-pardon?”

“You said that because I have Lancer, I won't approach other men, what the hell does that mean?”

My eyes widened and I asked Lady Aronia.

.

.

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T/N:

When Dolce said "Since His Highness is a man, I'm sure he will choose a beautiful young lady.” I hope no one took it seriously because men or not, no one gets to decide on someone's outer beauty ^_^. thank you for reading.

+ I also have 0 clue what 'throwing gold coins into a sock with a hole in it’ actually means lmao

that’s all! ty and have a good day/night ^_^