CH 2

I managed to calm my anger and got Lancer to put everything back on track.

With a sob, Lancer withdrew his brainwashing spell from the ladies, burned the forged invitation and turned back into his form.

"Skyla, I'm sad..."

Lancer crouched in the corner of the room, hugged his knees and made a pitiful expression.

He looked very pitiful.

And that wasn't an empty word.

Look at those sparkling blue eyes that are about to shed tears.

How about the long eyelashes bent like a shaking crescent moon?

A normal person would see Lancer's tearful eyes and go to comfort him immediately.

but I wasn't a "normal person", having been victimized by Lancer since I was young.

I never fell for Lancer's pity act.

That's why…

"Really? Then don't be sad."

I answered sharply like cutting a tightly pulled rubber band with scissors.

"But..."

Lancer eyed me out of the corner of his damp eyes.

"I... It breaks my heart that Skyla scolded me..."

"Then don't do anything to get in trouble."

"And I'm lonely because Skyla doesn't spend much time with me these days...”

"If you're lonely, think of this as me and play with it."

I crumpled up the paper I'd been using as an exercise book and tossed it to Lancer.

"Is this Skyla...?"

Lancer muttered, grabbing the crushed paper ball.

"Yes, now think of it as me and go back to your place."

"Alright…"

Lancer stared at the paper ball, which seemed to be sinking slowly.

It feels calmer now.

I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Okay, now that the distraction is out of the way, it's time to take it slow and get some work done...

I glanced over to my desk. A thick pile of papers was in my line of sight.

It's a horrible view, but surprisingly, it's the issues that need to be dealt with today.

If you ask me why a princess is handling so many public affairs, the answer is because of my parents.

My father is the Duke of Kaerun, the family head of the Kaerun Duchy, which is reputed as one of the most prestigious families in the imperial kingdom.

And I am Skyla Kaerun, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kaerun.

The Duke and Duchess of Kaerun, known as the lovebirds of the empire, were really compatible and attractive to the point it was excessive.

Of course, some may protest, saying, "What's wrong with a couple having good compatibility?"

But the problem is, they're too close.

Usually, when you've been married for 20 years, it's not uncommon for you to get tired of each other or get caught up in a period of boredom.

But that never happens to my parents.

'Ah! my sweetheart of a wife! how dazzlingly beautiful you are today, the angel who stole my heart!'

'Oh dear, I don't know! I don't know! I'm your prisoner, I'll be locked up in your arms for the rest of my life!'

The Duke and Duchess of Kaerun, spew out these embarrassing lines and spend their daily lives together with rose petals flying around them.

They were inseparable lovers, like the S and N poles of a magnet.

However, there had been a rumour going around that the Duke and Duchess were in the same style.

As soon as I turned into an adult, my parents handed over the executive power of the duke's family to me.

'Skyla, now that you're an adult, you can manage the family by yourself, right? We believe in our daughter!’

So mom and dad are going to spend our second honeymoon from now on. Our lovely daughter, will you cheer for us?’

My parents, who left such words, really gave up on all public affairs like a joke.

That's how I ended up acting like the Duke of Kaerun.

How does it feel to be the most influential figure in the duke's family?

Obviously, it's thrilling! there's always something new! It's the best!

Of course, there were times when the workload was overwhelming, but I still gained more than I lost.

The head butler and maid bowed to me whenever I walked through the Kaerun Duchy!

Special authority to enter the Imperial Palace without contacting first if I want!

Having the guts to say no to the suitors who are clamouring me to marry them!

Now, Skyla Kaerun is at the peak of her life's power.

And I don't want to ruin everything because of my childhood friend, Lancer.

Oh, now that I think about it.

'Lancer… when did it get so quiet?'

Are you sulking because you're playing with a paper ball?

Don't tell me, did you go home because you were offended?

"..."

I put the fountain pen down and slowly lifted my head.

Then I saw Lancer sitting in the corner of the room.

The paper ball that I crumpled floated in front of him.

To be exact, it's no longer a paper ball.

It was now as small as a bean.

'What's that?'

It was as if Lancer had compressed the paper ball with horsepower.

"Lancer, what are you doing?"

I got up from my seat and slowly approached him.

"Look at this."

Lancer snatched it and held it out to me.

I could see a shiny marble-like bean on my palm.

"What the hell did you do to the paper?”

"It's made of diamonds.”

"What?"

"I used magic to turn the paper ball into a diamond."

Oh my god.

I was left speechless and looked down at the diamond (which was once a paper ball) in my palm.

Sure enough, it was a diamond with an apparent sheen.

I knew that Lancer is an archmage who would only come out once in a thousand years, but I never thought he would turn crumpled paper into a diamond right before my eyes…

I couldn't help but be amazed to have him as a childhood friend.

"Isn't it pretty?"

Lancer asked me with a smile.

"It looks like Skyla."

"In your eyes, I look like this small, bean-like inanimate object."

"It's not that, it's pretty like you."

Lancer smiled brightly.

"Skyla, you're pretty."

Seeing Lancer's smile, like a soft watercolour, made my heart melt.

Pretty, huh…

Of course, I've been told a lot that I'm pretty in my life.

The people I meet at tea parties and social events where I occasionally show up to report my survival have always praised my appearance.

However, it was a polite thing to say out of courtesy.

No one spoke it as casually as when the spring breeze passed by like Lancer.

It felt good.

Because he's always been sincere with me.

"I enjoyed seeing the… impromptu magic performance, now go back to your place. I have a tea party to attend."

I grumbled pointlessly and handed the diamond back to the Lancer.

I didn't want Lancer to know I was slightly moved.

Never.

Whether he knew it or not, Lancer simply smiled softly.

"Watch this."

Lancer, who had received the diamond back, grasped it tightly.

Suddenly, waves of magic began to crackle.

And the next moment.

"Here."

In Lancer’s hand was a silver diamond ring.

he had created the ring with his magic in an instant.

"Skyla, hand."

On the spot, Lancer bent on one knee and reached out for my left hand.

Like a fairy caught in the moonlight, I unconsciously reached out to him.

I don't know why I did that. I just looked at his face and thought that I should do it.

"Skyla."

Lancer gently grasped my hand and smiled, amused.

I let myself be captivated by his gaze.

Suddenly, goosebumps began to rise on my back.

"...What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden."

Lancer smiled a little.

"I like you. And you only need to like me."

"What's going on?"

"Skylar, if you weren't so busy, won't you like me?"

Lancer gently held out the diamond ring that was once a paper ball to me.

normal women would nod their heads ten times and dance on the spot because of a courtship from a man as good as Lancer.

However, as I have already pointed out, I was not a ‘normal’ person.

As such.

"I won't."

With that firm answer, I pulled hard on the rope.

Ring ring!

"Did you reject my proposal?"

"Yes."

"Wow, with this, I've been rejected by you 316 times now…"

"You're still counting it? Go back to your house!"

Ring ring ring!

I pulled on the rope harder. Just then, the maid, Phoebe, entered the room.

"Did you call, my lady?"

I turned to Phoebe and pointed to Lancer, who was sitting at the corner of the room.

"Prince Lancer is going to leave soon, please see him off."

"Please follow me then, Prince Lancer."

Phoebe tried to lead him outside.

But Lancer glared coldly at her when she approached him.

"Don't come near me."

"He says he doesn't want to go back."

Phoebe turned a calm glance towards me. At the same time, I could hear her thoughts reach my ears.

'This damn ******* of the Soli Duchy has been bothering my lady again! If he wasn't her childhood friend, I'd be beating the **** out of him right now......'

No! You have to hold it in, Phoebe!

Surprised by Phoebe's thoughts, I hurriedly shook my hands.

"Don't see him off, just kick him out."

Phoebe nodded and trudged off towards Lancer.

She was my most trusted maid, who did not stop smiling even when she saw the handsome Lancer.

Lancer screamed when he saw the expressionless Phoebe approaching him.

"Skyla! Don't throw me away!"

"Throw you away? You can't say I'm throwing you away when you're not even my property in the first place."

"So mean! I'm your childhood friend!"

"Do you know what kind of title childhood friends are?"

"A childhood friend's flower means a marriage partner!"

"Who's going to be your marriage partner? And the flower you said will be a flower that freezes to death."

Crossing my arms, I looked at Lancer and snorted without even blinking.

Thus, Lancer was eventually sent off by my maid, Phoebe.

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Question from the translator:

What should the maid's name be since it’s 페브리즈가 ? For now, I'm going to keep it as 'Phoebe', but I'd like to hear others' thoughts on this!