Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

Edited by Emmi

Chapter 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 hurled out insults with the ferocity of a lion’s roar, befitting the nature of the rude coachman.

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

Admit it, you never expected a small woman to be capable of talking 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 wild 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, crushed under the weight of my relentless verbal assault, appeared 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 slowly rolled away.

Meanwhile, the other coachman remained frozen in the same spot I had faced him a while ago, appearing traumatized by the experience.

‘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.

Recently, there has been a circulating rumour that the crown prince has been granting numerous new titles to strengthen his position, and it appears that this rumour is true.

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 racing through my mind, thoughts that I couldn't say out loud, I forced a bright smile.

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

* * *

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

This was 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 wasn’t expecting 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 cast a brief glance at Lady Aronia,  my eyes slightly widening as she guided me while deliberately avoiding my gaze.

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

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

I could hear endless laughter when I followed her 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.

The three of them extended a warm welcome, but there was a subtle undertone suggesting they hadn’t anticipated my presence. Their smiles appeared somewhat forced.

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.

Given my reputation for rarely making public appearances, it was understandable.

‘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 offered to supply me with spices at nearly the original price on the condition that I cover the shipping costs. In turn, I plan to charge a small fee and sell the spices at a low price. What are your thoughts on this?’

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

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

Her figures did not add up.

Above all, it seemed strange that a merchant would convince her to pay 50% of the sales in advance even before the spices came into Lady Aronia’s hands.

The merchant 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.

Driven by her pride, she didn't even consider taking my advice.

Inevitably, I had no choice but to directly contact Marquis Garnett, Lady Aronia’s father.

Upon hearing from me, Marquis Garnett hurriedly tried to persuade his daughter to alter her business plan. However, Lady Aronia’s response was one of indignation and anger towards me.

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

Ignoring any opposing voices, Lady Aronia stubbornly clung to her original business plan, and as expected, the outcome turned out to be catastrophic.

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

Rather than recouping her investment, Lady Aronia suffered a huge loss, leading Marquis Garnett to ensure she never touch the family's assets again.

From then on, Lady Aronia consistently treated me with harshness, often questioning if I was still ashamed of what had happened.

Anyways.

The sole reason I attended Lady Aronia’s tea party, despite the strained relationship between us, was due to my mother’s insistence.

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

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 found it impossible to refuse because I knew that if I did, my mother would likely burst into tears and exclaim, "I'm saying because I know what's best 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 designated appointment time had passed before removing my seat. 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, who was 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 spoke 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 left sitting for a while had an uncomfortably lukewarm taste.

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 listened 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 sudden occurrence of this ball was probably to find a suitable fiancée for the still unmarried Crown Prince.

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