It's Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

“You don't need to get married right away, just being engaged is fine.”

“Yes, Skyla. Your dad is right, engagement is a step to marriage so you can inherit the duchy as long as you have a fiancé.”

My parents were trying to persuade me.

“I know, I know. But what am I supposed to do when I don't have anyone I want to marry right now?”

My parents' faces darkened at my stern tone.

At the same time, their thoughts could be heard.

‘I guess you're not into Lancer after all…’

‘Duke Soli also said it'd be nice if Lancer and Skyla got married, how unfortunate.’

What’s unfortunate is that you want to sell your daughter off to that clueless idiot.

I scoffed inwardly.

However, my parents who couldn't read my mind continued to speak slowly.

“Then, when the Imperial Ball happens, why don't you go find someone there?”
 

“...”

I looked at my parents with cloudy eyes.

Lady Aronia said something like that too at the tea party, why on earth does everyone see the ball as an impromptu husband search?

“Skyla, your mom doesn't want much from you. Just live happily with the person you like, if he comes from a good family then that's even better.”

“Yes, your dad doesn't want much from you either. But it would be nice if your future husband’s monthly income is at least 100.000 francs.

“First of all, I need to meet a man who has a clear vision for the future.”

My mother spoke again.

“There's more than that. Be sure to ask how devoted he will plan to be to our family, and see how particularly interested he is in becoming a parent.”

“Make sure to check if they drink or smoke. He can't have a bad drinking habit.”

“Yes, Skyla. Your dad’s right. We need to know if there's anything he's hiding, so if you want, you could ask us. We can do some digging on his background.”

“While you're at it, check if his father has hair loss.”

You're lying! You said you didn't want much!

I jumped out of my seat in a fit of rage.

The unbalanced chair fell backwards with a loud bang.

My parents raised their heads in surprise. Their eyes were as wide as gold coins.

“Skyla!”

“I'll take over Duchy Kaerun.”

Ignoring the servants who came to pick up the fallen chair, I said word by word.

“Don't push me to get married from now on, understood?”
 

“Ah…yes.”

“A-alright.”

My parents froze like statues and nodded awkwardly.

“Then, have a good night.”

I left the dinner with a cold smile.

* * *

It was the next day.

After waking up early in the morning, I briefly finished my morning routine and headed for the office. There are some things I wanted to take care of before breakfast.

I was sitting like a wooden doll glued to the desk, doing my duties, when I heard a knock outside the door.

“My lady.”

I could tell who it was without looking.

I heard her thoughts outside the door.

‘It's an honour to enter your office at this early hour! Alas, I want to be Lady Skyla’s office chair for one day! My lady, I respect you from the bottom of my heart!’

There was only one person in this manor who had those thoughts.

“Come on in.”

“Please excuse me.”

A blank, expressionless face with a blunt voice.

It was my maid, Phoebe, who came into the office.

“What's going on at this hour, Phoebe?”
 

“My apologies for interrupting you,  my lady. But a messenger came from the Imperial Palace, he said he has a letter for you that must be delivered in person.”

I tilted my head slightly at the unexpected news.

“A letter to me? Not father?”

“Yes, he certainly told me it was a letter for Lady Skyla.”

“Really? Where's the messenger now?”
 

“He's waiting in the drawing room. Shall I bring him to the office?”

“No, I have to go down for breakfast soon anyway, so I'll go to the drawing room myself.”

I put down my fountain pen and got up.

I imagined all sorts of things as I followed Phoebe to the drawing room.

Why would the imperial family have to write to me directly?”
 

‘Did I get caught causing a fuss at the tea party yesterday?’

The ladies, including Lady Aronia, at the tea party yesterday were all well-known figures in society.

So it wasn't unreasonable if what I did fell into the ears of other nobles overnight.

But I soon erased that theory.

‘No way.’

I may have overturned a table in a fit of rage, but that's no reason for the imperial family to write to me.

The problems between nobles would have to be resolved by themselves.

The messenger rose from his seat when I entered the drawing room.

“I see Lady Skyla of the Kaerun Duchy.”

I realized once more that an imperial family member sent me a letter when I saw the lion bent down perfectly at a 90-degree angle.

“I apologize for my unexpected visit at this early hour. However, I am here because His Highness the Crown Prince has ordered me to deliver this letter to Lady Skyla as soon as dawn broke.”

The crown prince!

When I found out who had sent the letter, I felt like I'd been slapped in the back of my head.

I wasn't expecting it at all. It was a very confusing situation, and most of all, I didn't understand it.

Why on earth would the Crown Prince write to me?

I've never even spoken to the Crown Prince properly.

I saw him several times when I went to the Imperial Palace for official duties, but other than that, we were practically strangers.

The Crown Prince sent a letter personally despite having no contact with me?

I couldn't help but feel baffled.

But I didn't show it on my face.

"Thank you for delivering it. Does this letter need an immediate reply?"

I calmly asked the messenger.

He shook his head.

“His Highness didn't say anything, so it's a letter that doesn't require a reply.”

“I see. Thank you.”

In response to my thanks, the messenger once again bowed in courtesy and then left the drawing room.

“...”

I looked down at the letter in my hands.

It was a colourful envelope sprinkled with silver dust on the outside.

A gold seal representing the imperial family was stately embedded.

It's definitely a letter from the imperial family.

“My lady.”

Phoebe approached me and held out a paper knife.

I took the knife from her to tear open the letter and then read it.

After reading it, I could see why the messenger said it was a letter that doesn't require a reply.

「Dear Lady Skyla Kaerun,

Meet me at the palace at two o'clock this afternoon.」 

This was not just a letter, but an imperial order.