My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage Chapter 70

Dec 22

Written By Pure

Translated by d6y (ko-fi)

It’s Annoying Because My Childhood Friend Is An Archmage

Chapter 70

This is a golden opportunity sent down from the heavens.

Even the busiest capital of an empire doesn't have tea parties and gatherings every day.

In particular, they're more difficult to organise than one might think, so most noble families only held them once a month at most.

So the tea party offered to me by Aronia, who's quite well known in social circles, is something I'm hoping for.

She seems a little surprised by my enthusiastic response. "Do you like it that much?"

"What? Yes." Such a stupid answer comes out of my lips.

Aronia stares at me for a moment.

"Princess… could it be that you want to attend my tea parties?"

"No."

"Well… then, shall I not hold a tea party at all?"

"No."

"Haha!" A small chuckle eventually escapes her.

All the while, she's undergoing a great misunderstanding.

‘Princess Skyla… acting like this after being so stern with me earlier, she's so shy now… cute, hehe.’

No, don't be mistaken. Don't imagine weird things. I have no such intentions.

"Okay, this time I'll organise a tea party, especially for you."

"...I'll take it with gratitude." I clear my throat and thank Aronia.

For a moment, she blushes. "Oh, no, you're welcome…."

‘Oh my god, Princess Skyla thanked me…!’

I'm just saying thank you, why are you so surprised?

"Is there anyone in particular you'd like to see at the tea party? I'll make sure to send out invitations only to those the Princess wants."

"...Please leave out Dolce and Beatrice, I honestly don't have the heart to see them again," I say, not wanting to relive the nightmare of my last tea party.

Without objecting, Aronia nods.

Well, while we're at it, let's make a plan.

With that thought, I add, "and invite Lancer, too.”

"Aha, so it will be a mixed tea party?" A mixed tea party, that's the technical term for a tea party with both men and women. "Do you have anyone else in mind?"

"Um...."

I pretend to be lost in thought. There should be someone I know in the first place. Damn it.

"Take your time. It's your first tea party in a long time, so you may have to worry about it." Aronia, who has no way of knowing my turmoil, says kindly.

No, Aronia, my mind is a blank slate right now.

I hastily try to recall the nobles I had met at the ball.

Thanks to my mother's influence, there were a few I'd at least made eye contact with or exchanged a brief greeting with. If I picked the right ones, I'd be able to….

Aha.

A certain young lady pops into my head, the girl with pink hair who tried to ask Lancer to dance!

She seems to like him.

If I pushed her with Lancer, would she, who was interested in him, approach him again?

Okay. Not a bad choice. But the problem is, I don't know what her name is.

After struggling for a while, I turn to Aronia for help.

"Aronia, I actually have a lady in mind… but I can't think of her name."

"That's okay, just let me know if you remember it later."

No, Aronia, I don't even know her name in the first place, so I can't remember it later, no matter how much time passes.

"Do you happen to know any lady with pink hair?" I ask her bluntly. Hoping that there aren't too many pink-haired girls in the capital.

She seems to know who I'm referring to. "Oh, of course I know, you mean the young lady from Artberry, don't you?"

"Oh, yes." Of course, I don't. But I don't let it show on my face.

So her name is Artberry, I'll have to remember that.

"Artberry is a lady who has just made her debut in society, and I happened to be a friend of hers, so I'll make sure to invite her."

"Thank you. Other than that, please pick two or three more people to invite. I wonder who Lady Aronia would recommend to me."

She gives me an enthusiastic gaze, she seems to be thrilled by my words.

‘Princess… as expected, you have a big heart unlike me… I really admire you!’

…Why did you suddenly fall for me like someone who took the wrong medicine?

After sending her off, I head straight to the bathroom. It's been a while since I've been out, so the soles of my feet are aching.

I need to exercise more.

I think to myself, soaking in the water.

The scent of herbs wafts up from the warm water, just as I'm starting to feel better—

Bam!

Suddenly, I hear an ear-piercing sound from downstairs.

"What was that?"

The maid who's been working on my shoulders to loosen them answers, "The Duke is turning his desk around to find the best angle on seeing the Duchess’s face."

"...."

You really do all sorts of things, Mother and Father….

The rearrangement of the Duke and Duchess of Kaerun's office does not stop until the moon has risen fully bright.

* * *

It's been five days since Lancer and I went to the market, which is to say, exactly five days after Aronia had come to me and apologised.

We arrive at the Marquess Garnett's mansion to attend the tea party.

Lady Aronia is no stranger to hosting a tea party, having done so once or twice before, so an invitation from her for the tea party was on my doorstep the next day.

When my mother saw it, she turned to me and said excitedly, "Skyla, you must go! Lady Aronia is a noblewoman with a big influence in society, so you should go and expand your network…."

"I know. I was planning to go, anyway," I replied leisurely, having tea with Phoebe in my room.

"...What?"

"I'm going to the tea party organised by Lady Aronia."

"Oh, my God."

My parents, who were sitting next to me, were both in shock.

"Duchess, my child has finally volunteered to go to a tea party!”

"I heard it too, Duke! Alas, our socially awkward daughter has finally...! Well, it was about time she bounced back, as she has no bottom to fall from!"

"Please refrain from saying such things in the presence of the person involved."

Afterwards, Lancer came over.

"Skyla, Rachel told me I have an invitation to a tea party."

"Good." It's worth sending someone like Rachel to make sure the invitation doesn't go burning to Lancer this time.

I met with Lancer every day and eagerly explained the tea party.

To be honest, I haven't attended many tea parties myself, so I asked my mother about things I don't understand. She gave us an "Introduction to Tea Parties" lesson.

And finally, the day of the tea party arrived.

"Are you ready?" I ask Lancer before we walk through the Marquess Garnett's front door.

He nods vigorously as if he's been waiting. "Yes, I'm ready for tea!"

"...Tea parties aren't just for tea."

"I know. We're supposed to have cookies and cakes too, right?"

Yeah, well, technically, he's not wrong.

I let out a small chuckle and smoothed out the wrinkles in his outerwear. "Besides that, you're supposed to have a conversation with the people at the tea party. Question here. What did you say 'conversation' was?"

"Listening, answering, and asking questions."

Lancer answers in a heartbeat. Seems like the lessons of the past few days have worked.

I smile with satisfaction. "Good. You're remembering well. And what else did I say?"

"Well… you said that we should proceed with the conversation while observing the other party’s reactions."

"Right. For example?"

"If someone shows signs of boredom or dislike, move on quickly to another topic."

"Other than that?"

"Actively ask questions when someone is talking about something they are happy or enjoying."

"And one last thing."

"Be a good listener unless you have something to say. But don't yawn or get distracted."

"Perfect."

I clap a small round of applause for Lancer. He grins ear to ear, instantly perking up at my praise.

At this rate, the worst can not possibly happen.

With that complacent thought, we stride to the garden where the tea party is being held, escorted by the Marquess’s servants.

I wonder what kind of people have come to this tea party.

I first asked for Lady Artberry, who seemed to be interested in Lancer.

I also decided that it would be a bit boring to have only four people at the tea party (let's be honest, neither Lancer nor I are very talkative, so half that to two), so I had Aronia invite two or three more people she thinks would be suitable.

I'm quite curious to see who she invited.

"Oh, Princess Skyla! Lord Lancer! Welcome!" When we arrive at the garden, Lady Aronia springs from her seat to greet us.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Aronia."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Aronia. How have you been?"

I bow to her, the hostess of the tea party, according to protocol. Lancer follows suit to greet her as well.

Oh, dear.

Seeing Lancer speak with such maturity, I feel reassured. I have a good feeling about this.

Yes, at this rate, Lancer will be at the tea party with no trouble. With that, I turn to the table to scan the others attending.

A familiar face greets me.

"You're finally here, Kayla."

"...?" My eyes widen for a moment.

There's no doubt about it, it's…