It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

“Ah, my dear Skyla!”

“Oh, my dear Skyla is back!”

My parents turned their heads in disbelief when they noticed my presence.

“...mother, father.”

My parents jumped from their seats at my greeting.

“Oh, Skyla! What do you mean mother? You should say mommy!”

“Yes, my pretty daughter. You should say daddy!”

“I'm an adult whos going to take over the duchy soon so I don't want to call you mommy and daddy like an immature child.”

I answered as firmly as a half-cooked carrot.

My parents became sullen like a ripe cabbage.

‘My daughter is so mean! Daddy just wants to be called daddy!’

‘My daughter s so mean! What's so hard about calling me mommy! You cold, loveless wooden doll!’

I tried to ignore my parents’ thoughts and instead approached Lancer.

“Why are you here, Lancer? Didn't you go home?”

Lancer’s eyes began to sparkle.

“Skyla, are you showing interest in me?”

“Never mind.”

My face hardened like candle wax in cold water.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be unnoticeable to Lancer’s eyes.

“You asked me why I'm here because you're glad to see me, right? Skyla, you're actually happy to see me again, right?”

“Imagining is okay but having illusions is not. Answer me, why are you here?”

“I've been waiting for you to come back.”

“Why?”

“I missed you.”

“We saw each other a few hours ago, though?”

At my question, Lancer eyed me carefully.

“Would you like it f I told you again that I'm here because I missed you..?”

“No.”

At my response, his face began to glow.

“Does that mean you love it? I knew it, Skyla, you love me too! It goes both ways!”

“What? How can I love it when I don't even like it?”

I grabbed Lancer by the shoulder after uttering those words.

“Stop playing around and get up.”

I shoved Lancer to pull him out of his seat.

But somehow, Lancer didn't budge from his spot.

It's weird. Usually, if you shove someone they would move…

‘What? Why aren't you moving?’

He used to be pushed right out of his seat when I shove him, but why is his body so hard and heavy?

I glared down at Lancer at the small unexpected twist.

“What's wrong, Skyla?”

“Did you gain weight?”
 

“Oh, no I didn't!”

Lancer seemed a little taken aback by my sudden question.

He started to ramble.

“I-I’m an average weight! I'm taking the right amount of nutrients every day and diligently practising swordsmanship! Of course, I ate a lot of things yesterday to pick out a dessert Skyla might like…”

Half-heartedly hearing him, I glanced over Lancer's body.

And I discovered a surprising fact.

‘Was he always this big..?’

It was a new realization.

I thought he had a similar height to me at first glance, but before I knew it, he was way taller than me.

He's sitting down but he's as tall as I am.

It wasn't just that.

Lancer was no longer as plain as a skewer as I remember.

Lancer is had quite a lot of muscles on his upper torso, starting with his shoulders. His sturdy chest could be seen beneath the slightly opened front hem.

I blushed unconsciously for a moment.

‘What? When did he become so toned?’

I was embarrassed at the sudden realization.

But I quickly convinced myself otherwise.

‘Well… he's the same age as me so he's an adult too. I'm also not as flimsy as I used to be as a kid.’

Is it because we see each other to the point where we’re sick of it?

I haven't noticed how much Lancer had grown until now.

I was slightly shocked by the revelation and it temporarily left me speechless.

“Skyla.”

“W-What?”

I turned my head at the sound of his voice and my eyes were locked onto Lancer’s beaming face.

“Oops, we made eye contact.”

“So?”

“Your eyes resemble a clear sky.”

“My eyes are red.”

“Yes, I know. I meant your eyes are like a sunset. Looking at them makes me feel better.”

Lancer’s eyes curved into arcs as he spoke.

When I saw the sweet smile he wore, I felt warm thoughtlessly.

But I don't want Lancer to know that.

“Are you crazy?”
 

I talked in my usual harsh manner.

“Oh my god, Skyla!”

“How could you say such a mean thing!”

My parents pressed me at the same time when they heard my retort.

“Skyla, how could you say things that could hurt others? Im sorry, Lancer.”

“It's alright because I'm Skyla’s childhood friend and not someone else.”

Lancer responded with a friendly smile and winked at me.

His humble words melted my parents down.

“As expected, you're the only one my daughter has!”

“I wish our Skyla was as half friendly as you are! Our daughter is not friendly for a girl.”

“Duke, what do you mean by ‘for a girl’? You shouldn't say such old-fashioned things. Our daughter is just not friendly for an average person. Don't you agree, Skyla?”

Why the hell are you asking me, mother?

“My beautiful wife is right. I think our Skyla has a strong tendency to not trust others.”

“Yes, it's cynical, or should I say, it's too strong.”

“Yes yes, that's true. Our daughter is like a hound.”

Why are you saying that your daughter is like a dog, father?

I just stare at my parents, they were ridiculous.

“Skyla is not a bad person.”

Lancer spoke quietly after listening to my parents’ conversation.

“Although Skyla tends to be harsh, unkind when dealing with others, and snobbish when trying to solve every problem with money and power, she's actually a very warm and soft-hearted friend.”

That doesn't sound very warm and soft.

I wanted to run out of the room at Lancer’s comment, which included three insults for one compliment.

But somehow, my parents were deeply moved by what Lancer said.

“Huhu… husband, at least there's someone who loves our Skyla just the way she is…”

My mother wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

“Right. It'll be nice if Lancer could spend the rest of his life with our baby, Skyla… yes, why don't you two get married right now?”

“Okay!”

“No!”

Lancer and I shouted simultaneously as if we'd made a pact to do so.

Lancer heard my response and muttered, “Oh, that's a total of 317 rejections…” I deliberately ignored him.

“What do you mean, father? Why do I suddenly have to marry Lancer?”

Bang!

My hands slammed the table and it shook the crystal tray.

My father didn't blink even when the family heirloom was shaken to its core.

“Skyla you're a noble who will lead the historic Kaerun Duchy soon. You do know that you need a marriage partner to take over the duchy, right?

“...”

I couldn't argue back with my father.

He's right.

According to the Imperial Law, you must have a marriage partner to inherit a title.

In this empire, nobles follow a thorough hereditary system.

In other words, to pass on a title from one generation to the next, a successor is essential.

Therefore, marriage or betrothal became a requirement for all nobles to inherit a title.

I don't like that law, but what can I do about it? I can't go on a one-man protest because I don't like it.

At this time, I had no thoughts about marriage. It's enough for me to live like this.

But my dream is to take over the Kaerun Duchy.

To do that, I need to get married.

Is marriage that inevitable…

“It's been almost a year since you ruled our house acting as a deputy duke.”

My father whispered to me.

“We've seen your ability and we’re satisfied with it. I think it's time for you to inherit the duchy.”

My mother also came to help.

“The duke is right, Skyla. So wouldn't it be better for you to get married to take over the duchy and then settle down?”

They spoke with their lips curled into a fond smile, and the corners of their eyes grew moist as they looked at me.

It was a heartwarming scene where a duke and a duchess recognized how much their daughter have grown and praised her.

But it only seemed like so.

Because I could read minds.

“Skyla, please take over the duchy! I'm done being a noble! I want to live in a paradise of eternal love with my lovely sweetheart!’

‘Hoho, when Skyla officially takes over the duchy, I won't have to bother with my duties as a duchess anymore! I'll live happily ever after, trapped in the love the duke has set!’

I can hear your thoughts, parents. I can see you throwing all your duties at me to enjoy your middle-aged romance.