Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

Edited by Emmi

Chapter 11

Again?

I can't believe the carriage suddenly stopped again, just like yesterday. How bad is the traffic in this empire?

It's not even surprising anymore.

“My lady, are you okay?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Stepping out of the carriage slowly, I thanked Phoebe briefly for supporting my body, which had been slightly swept to the left.

A man was bowing to my coachman, Ticef.

“Oh my god! My lord! I'm so sorry! I've only just got my driver’s license, so…”

Behind that man stood a medium-sized carriage.

At first glance, it seemed like the other carriage almost caused a collision while trying to rush in front of my carriage.

Wait a minute, this situation is so similar to yesterday…

“No, you should've driven the carriage more slowly. How could you rush ahead like that? Would you take responsibility if the Duke’s carriage breaks and my lady can’t meet the Crown Prince?”

Ticef clicked his tongue as if he were reprimanding the other coachman.

At the words ‘Duke’ and ‘Crown Prince’, the other coachman’s complexion paled like a cloth without pigment.

“T-The duke? Excuse me, but which family are you from..”

“Can't you tell by the carriage’s seal? It's the Kaerun Duchy.”

The coachman collapsed at Ticef’s declaration.

It was literal. He collapsed on the spot as if his knees had melted in an instant.

With a plop.

The coachman kneeled on the spot and raised his head.

“Lord, I have committed a sin worthy of death. Please forgive me…”

He began to pray fervently, as if his hands were ablaze with sparks of fire.

“What's the matter…”

"What's all this fuss about?"

I approached the two coachmen to look at the situation when another voice came from the other side.

A figure walked out of their carriage.

Who is that?

My eyes were drawn unconsciously by the unfamiliar voice.

There stood a mage.

If you ask me how I was able to know it's a mage, the answer is simple.

A red mana stone earring hung on the left ear of the man standing opposite me.

Mana stone, a special stone obtainable from the demons of the neighbouring empire, Hebnia. It could lead to disaster if used incorrectly, so only imperial wizards could use it.

Why is a wizard here? I wondered.

I made eye contact with the other coachman.

“U-Uh…”

His eyes widened when they met mine.

At the same time, his jaw dropped exaggeratedly, like a nutcracker that had lost its fasteners.

“Y-You're that crazy…”

“What?”

I glared sharply at the coachman.

He covered his mouth with his hand when he wanted to curse.

I smirked.

“I must've made the same mistake again this time.”

“H-Huh?”

“What does a woman know about driving a carriage, right?”

I sarcastically repeated what he said to me yesterday.

The coachman's face grew pensive.

“My lady! I made a big mistake without knowing yesterday…”

“No, no mistake. This woman should've stayed home and knitted, but she insisted on going to the palace, and now she stirred up trouble again. I apologize.”

“M-My lady!”

The coachman tried to raise himself and apologize to me, but he fell on his spot again like a pigeon’s poop.

“I have committed a grave sin! I-I have pet rabbits that are like children to me! Please spare me!”

I sighed inwardly as I stared at him shaking and begging for forgiveness.

Yeah, I understand how you feel.

What a heart-wrenching position it is to learn that the woman you cursed at yesterday is actually the daughter of a renowned duchy.

Yeah, why don't you take better care of your mouth?

I kept staring at him and inwardly shook my head until someone came up to me.

“It must’ve been our coachman’s fault.”

It was none other than the mage who mediated.

‘God, I don’t have any more money until I get paid, so I temporarily hired a cheap coachman… but in the end, the situation still turned out like this…’

After the mage glared at his coachman, he approached me with a small sigh.

“I sincerely apologize. I’ve taken your precious time, so I don’t know how to compensate you for this…”

“No, thank you.”

I replied in a monotonous voice as I glanced over at the wizard.

He looked a little older than me.

My first impression of him wasn't that bad.

His grey hair was neatly styled, and his robe was adorned with a five-coloured jewel brooch that reflected and twinkled under the sun.

But his face was the one that caught my attention the most.

He’s a handsome man with looks that both men and women alike can’t help but swoon.

Moreover, his eyelashes were tighter and longer than those of most nobles. His face was also glossy as if he was wearing make-up.

To summarize, he’s a handsome man that’s hard to find in this era.

Well, not as handsome as Lancer but…

‘Ah, wait.’

What was I thinking just now?

I was embarrassed by the thought that passed through my head for a moment.

Not as handsome as Lancer… why did I think Lancer is handsome in the first place?

“Gosh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Viscount Artisina, are you the Princess of Kaerun?”

“Correct.”

I briefly replied to the mage, who politely asked who I was.

Although the other man was only a viscount, he was a mage, so I had no choice but to answer him.

In this empire, a mage was a highly respected profession.

In particular, mages of high rank were honoured by the emperor.

“I’ve heard of the Princess, so it's an honour to meet her directly like this.”

He whispered to me. 

Despite his polite and gentle tone, I had no choice but to raise my guard around him.

Because-

‘Oh, this is the Princess of Kaerun of the rumours.’

-I’ve read his mind.

‘Damn it, I'm going crazy. How can someone be so pretty?’

Under his grin, he showed great interest in my looks while cursing inwardly.

Of course, many people were interested in my appearance. Because all of the guys I've met thought I was pretty.

However, this mage was interested in me in a slightly too assertive way.

For example;

‘I want to make her mine.’

This reckless manner.

“...Pfft.”

I burst into laughter unconsciously after hearing his inner thoughts.

You're gonna make me yours? Does that mean you're going to seduce me?

You can't even dream about it.

I was dumbfounded as I watched the wizard confidently vow to do what the whole empire failed to do.

Of course, having confidence is better than having none at all. However, overconfidence can be compared to a ball adorned with a piece of mirror, spinning under the sun.

The unnecessary shine it emanates hurts the eyes of those around. 

‘Good luck with that, Viscount Artisina.’

Because I'm not interested in you.

Thinking so to myself, I folded my arms and raised my head at him.

“By the way, could you please move your carriage? I have to go to the Imperial Palace soon.”

“Ah, of course.”

The mage smiled and gestured toward his coachman.

The coachman wiped the tears from his eyes and took the reins of his horse.

At last, the carriage pulled out to the side of the road.

I swerved toward my carriage.

“Let's go, Phoebe.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I was about to climb back into my carriage when I heard the mage’s mellow voice from behind.

“How should I punish my coachman?”

I turned my head unconsciously as if I was spellbound by him.

“Well… do as you wish.”

“Alright.”

He nodded to my cold voice and immediately called his coachman.

The coachman trembled as he approached him, afraid of punishment.

How will he punish him?

I stopped and looked at them in curiosity.

Phoebe and Ticef were also curious, even though they didn’t express it.

They didn't rush me but also watched the mage and coachman from their seats.

The coachman looked as if he was going to shrivel up and die at any moment.

“V-Viscount! Please show me mercy! My bed is waiting for me all alone in that dark room, so please don't kill me..!”

“Okay, give me your driver's license.”

“Huh? My license?”

“Are you going to make me repeat myself?”

“No! No! I won't!”

The coachman frantically rummaged through his coat until I saw a carriage driver's license that looked like it had been issued some time ago.

The mage snatched it from him and clutched it tightly.

Boom!

It happened in a flash.

A powerful flame erupted from the mage’s hand.

The blue fire burned the license into ashes.

“Ah…”

“Oh…”

Phoebe and Ticef, who weren’t familiar with such magic, flinched and jerked back.

On the contrary, I just calmly watched what was happening in front of me since I was used to all kinds of bizarre magic due to Lancer.

“Oh my…”

The coachman looked stunned and searched for his missing driver's license.

He resembled the people of a defeated country who had lost their homeland.

‘Oh, I see.’

I have a rough idea of what the mage was doing.

You can’t drive a carriage without a driver's license in this empire, and it would take a good week to get it reissued.

Therefore, the coachman who just lost his license would be unemployed for a while.

‘It's better than being thrown in jail for insulting a noble and being detained there for 30 days.’

Objectively, it was quite a benevolent punishment.

“It's not fun.”

Losing interest, I made my way back to the carriage, realizing that I would truly be late if I didn't depart soon.

“Princess Kaerun.”

The mage called me from behind persistently as I was about to enter the carriage with Phoebe’s help.

“What's the matter?”

“As you've seen, I've punished my coachman as the Princess ordered. But there's a small problem.”

A small problem?

I looked at the mage with a slight frown.

He caught my eye and continued in a soft voice.

“My coachman lost his driver's license, so there's no one to pull my carriage.”

“Okay, and?”

“I must make it to the Imperial Palace on time.”

In his hand was a small card made of silver.

The card, stamped with the emperor's seal, was a pass to enter and leave the Imperial Palace at will.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Viscount Artisina, an imperial mage.”

He winked at me as he introduced himself and the red mana stone earring on his left ear shook.

“Would you mind giving me a lift?”

Ah, I didn't see this coming.

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