CH 4

“Did you think you could win by being loud?”

With a refreshing smile, I asked the other coachman.

“Wait, what?”

“Well, since ignorance can't win against logic people opt to raise their voices instead.”

I said, still smiling.

“I understand, people like you don't know how to do anything but shout at the top of your lungs, right? That's why people always look at you with pity.”

I looked at the other coachman, my smile getting wider and wider.

Although my eyes were in a graceful arc, the corners of my mouth were set as cold as the bricks of a prison cell.

“Hey, you *****! Are you done talking?”

“Hm? No, I'm not done talking yet!”

I lightly smirked.

Then.

“Drive properly, you dense, onion-skinned bastard! Did you leave your sense of direction on your bed?!”

I spat out insults like a lion’s roar worthy to describe the rude coachman.

At that moment, the other coachman’s eyes widen. he looked very embarrassed.

Admit it, you never expected a small woman would talk back like this.

Phoebe, who had served me for a long time, closed her eyes and shook her head. Ticef was paying silent tribute to the other coachman.

My tongue began to run wild like a loose horse.

“Who drives like that? Are you confident in your abilities just because you're driving a big and expensive carriage? If you're not confident then go make soup at home instead! Or even better, tear your driver’s license into small pieces and sprinkle them on the dandelions growing on the side of the road to make manure!”

The other coachman, who was beaten by my verbal abuse, looked as if his soul had left his body.

I wanted to say more beautiful things to him but unfortunately, I have a tea party to attend.

I felt relieved after giving him such a blow.

“Let's go, Ticef.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Ticef answered dryly and sat back in the driver’s seat.

It was not long before my carriage boarded and rolled away slowly.

The other coachman still stood frozen in the same spot I had faced him a while ago. He seemed traumatized.

‘It's perfect.’

I clenched my jaw while staring at the stupid figure from the window.

‘That coachman, he said he belonged to Viscount Artisina, didn’t he?’

It was my first time hearing of that family.

Since I grew up in the capital, I was familiar with all the nobles. But this was my first time hearing of the Artisina family.

There was a rumour going around these days that the crown prince gave out many new titles to strengthen his position, and this seems to be the case.

Viscount Artisina must be one of the recently created noble families then.

“Shall we send someone to Artisina Viscount to protest?”

Phoebe asked as if she had read my mind.

Since when did she start reading minds like me? As expected of my maid.

But I shook my head at Phoebe’s suggestion.

“Forget it, let's leave it at that.”

I didn't want to send someone to Viscount Artisina to cover up the controversy.

The reason was never that I was generous.

‘It's annoying.’

I didn't want to send someone to Viscount Artisina when they're still a new noble family who might still be underdeveloped.

It was too risky.

‘Instead, when I see them in my sight again, I’ll treat them properly.’

With violent thoughts running through my head that I couldn't say out loud, I smiled brightly.

This is the standard for anyone who touches Lady Skyla of Kaerun Duchy.

* * *

I arrived at Marquis Garnett just in time for the tea party to start.

This is all because of that damned Artisina and the viscount’s coachman.

“Oh… oh my god! Lady Skyla!”

Lady Aronia, the host of this tea party, greeted me with a fuss.

“Oh, I thought you wouldn't come so I didn't expect you! H-haha! You didn't have to come!”

…then what's the point of inviting me if you think I didn't have to come?

I glanced at Lady Aronia with my eyes slightly widening.

Lady Aronia guided me while avoiding my gaze.

“We were already gathering and just started talking to one another.”

The place where Lady Aronia lead me to was the garden of Marquis Garnett’s residence.

I could hear endless laughter when I followed after Lady Aronia to the garden’s terrace.

The two other ladies invited by Lady Aronia were happily conversing.

“Oh, Lady Skyla!”

“Oh my god! You really came!”

The two ladies saw me and rose from their seats one after another to greet me.

Those three welcomed me yet somehow they seemed to have not expected me. Their smiles looked half-frozen.

I frowned at this without realizing it.

Was it that surprising that I came to the tea party? What on earth is this reaction?

My question was soon answered by the inner thoughts of the three ladies.

‘I sent an invitation to the Kaerun Duchy out of courtesy since it was a tea party held by a marchioness, but I didn't expect her to actually come…’

‘Are you dense? You're not even close with us, so why the hell did you come here?’

‘The three of us were about to have some fun. Tsk.’

Aha.

Now I understand why they greeted me with trepidation.

They thought I wouldn't have shown up.

It was understandable, considering my record of being known for rarely showing my face in society.

‘I didn't want to come here either.’

I already don't like this tea party.

And most of all… Lady Aronia, the host of this tea party, hated me.

Why does Lady Aronia hate me?

Long story short, a few years ago, Lady Aronia became interested in the spice-importing business and made a big deal.

‘A merchant from a neighbouring country says he will supply spices to me at almost the original price on the condition that I cover the shipping costs. And I'm going to charge a small fee and sell the spices at a low price. What do you think?’

At that time, I was also interested in the spice importing business, so Lady Aronia came to me to tell me about her plan and ask for advice.

But when I heard about her business plan, something was off.

Her figures did not add up.

Above all, it was strange for a merchant who persuaded her to pay 50% of the sales in advance even before the spices came into Lady Aronia’s hands.

The merchant in the neighbouring country who wanted to sell her spices was a scammer.

So I told her frankly.

‘If you don't want to blow off your family assets, I think you should withdraw from that business.’

When Lady Aronia heard that, she turned red and went back to her residence.

Being quite proud, she didn't even consider taking my advice.

Inevitably I had to contact Marquis Garnett, Lady Aronia’s father, directly.

When Marquis Garnett heard from me, he hurriedly tried to convince his daughter to change her business plan, but Lady Aronia was rather furious at me.

‘How rude of you, Lady Skyla! Why did you tell me off to my father? I'm not a child!’

Lady Aronia blocked both of her ears and pushed ahead with her business plan as it was, the result was disastrous.

As I thought, the foreign merchant turned out to be a fraud.

Rather than recouping her investment, Lady Aronia suffered a huge loss and Marquis Garnett ensured she never touched the family's assets again.

From then on, Lady Aronia always treated me harshly, asking me if I was still ashamed of what had happened.

Anyways.

The reason I showed up to Lady Aronia’s tea party, who I now have a strained relationship with, was because of my mother purely.

‘Skyla, my dear daughter! If you don't come to Lady Aronia’s tea party anymore, you'll be buried socially!’

That's what she told me when she came to visit me while I was working.

‘Marquis Garnett has a strong influence on society, so you have to go, okay?’

I couldn't say no. because if I did, my mother would probably cry and shout, "I'm saying that since I know what's good for you!"

If I made my mother cry then my father wouldn't leave me alone.

So I decided to go and pretend to lose just this once.

I had no choice but to attend a tea party filled with ladies who aren't close to me.

I took a seat at the tea table where the three other ladies were already sitting down.

I was given a seat at the far corner of the table.

As I sat down on a seat that seemed to be a temporary addition, a servant rushed from behind me to serve a new glass in front of me.

“...”

I looked down at the glass in front of me with a firm look on my face.

‘They didn't even prepare my seat.’

No matter how much they didn't expect me to show up, isn't this treatment too rude?

You should've at least waited until the supposed appointment time passed and removed my seat then. I can't believe you didn't even prepare a chair for me.

“I didn't expect the lady to come, please forgive me.”

Lady Aronia, whos sitting on the opposite side of me, quietly asked for my understanding.

As soon as I was about to respond that it was okay, I could hear Lady Aronia’s thoughts.

‘Oh, I'm so annoyed. Why did you start showing up all of a sudden? Last time, you snitched on me. What are you going to do today? Are you going to pick through my faults and then tell me off again?’

I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger at her thoughts.

At the same time, I talked first before thinking.

“I must have interrupted Lady Aronia’s tea party, right?”

“P-pardon?”

The faces of Lady Aronia and the other guests immediately hardened.

Lady Aronia waved her hand in a panic, acting the opposite of what she was thinking.

“W-what do you mean, Lady Skyla? We’re really happy that you're here! R-right, Lady Beatrice?”

“Ah, yes! Of course! As Lady Aronia said, we are honoured to have a tea party with the lady!”

Her friend Lady Beatrice also started spouting nonsense.

“Well… that's right! Thank you very much for attending, Lady Sklya!”

They're saying that but I found their words to be completely insincere.

The three ladies were still complaining inside their heads.

“...”

My jaw clenched for a moment and I carefully lifted the teacup in front of me.

The black tea that has been sitting for a while tasted uncomfortably lukewarm.

I hate it.

I hate my ability to read people’s minds.

“B-by the way! Did you guys know they're going to hold a ball at the Imperial Palace next week?”

Lady Aronia quickly changed the subject after carefully watching me.

The other ladies took the bait and led the conversation.

“Of course! It's time for His Highness to get married.”

“Ah, are they going to decide on the Crown Princess through this ball? I'm so curious!”

Oh, that ball.

As I listen to their chatter, I remembered the Imperial Ball being held next week.

It was the most popular topic these days because it was uncommon for a ball to be held at the Imperial Palace.

The last time a ball was held there was eight years ago when the youngest princess, Yulia, was born.

However, the reason this ball is suddenly happening is probably that they're trying to find a fiancée for the Crown Prince whos still unmarried.