I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 103
CHAPTER 103
“…Sister.”
The voice of the child lying on the bed was infinitely small.
He used to shout enough to hurt my ears.
“Arkin.”
I staggered towards the bed where Arkin lay.
“How’s your body, Arkin?”
“I-I’m okay.”
Arkin blinked his eyes slowly as if his focus was off.
“Sister, I had a weird dream.”
“Is that so?”
I brushed Arkin’s sweat-soaked hair away.
“Mmm.”
My hand must have been quite warm too.
Yet even so, Arkin’s face seemed a little brighter.
“I was in a dark place.”
“Mmm.”
“I was scared.”
Really, he was so, so scared.
Arkin closed his eyes and smiled brightly.
“You came, Sister.”
His small hand grabbed mine tightly.
“Thank you, Sister.”
For coming to get him.
As I looked at Arkin’s face, I bit my lip and smiled.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Carefully wiping away Arkin’s sweat, I continued softly.
“If you ever get lost again, Sister will come to get you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. Promise?”
As I extended my pinky, Arkin weakly grabbed onto it.
“I’ll come get you as many times as it takes, Arkin.”
Listening to my words, Arkin smiled brightly.
It was a smile so clear and bright as if my words had brought him immense joy.
“Arkin?”
Was it because he had reached his physical limit?
After smiling brightly once, Arkin soon fell asleep.
Quietly, quietly.
Listening to Arkin’s deep breathing as he slept, I lightly brushed his cheek.
Then I turned my head to look at Arkin’s villa’s butler.
“Is there an herbal room here?”
“Do you mean the herb storage room? Ah, yes! There is.”
“Guide me there.”
I adjusted the shawl Liena had given me and stood up again.
I was still staggering, but I managed to stand.
“I need to make some medicine.”
Surely there would be a physician or herbalist residing in the villa.
Since Arkin comes here every year, they must be skilled.
But I doubt they could do better than me.
‘I have to make medicine.’
I bit my lip in anxiety.
Despite being just a ghost, I’ve been to the afterlife and suffered such a severe blow to my physical body that I’m close to death.
There might be lingering effects.
So I needed to get something into Arkin’s mouth as soon as possible.
What kind of herbs would be available?
It’s Arkin’s summer villa, he should have at least some pentacles, right?
I hope they have some tamarind, which is good for reducing pain.
‘If I’d known this would happen, I’d have left some mandragora.’
Just because I’m trying to take care of my health doesn’t mean I should gobble everything up.
I bit my lip thoughtfully.
“But, Your Highness.”
Despite my urgent desire to move quickly, the butler showed no intention of moving.
My eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.
I’m in a hurry, why isn’t he moving?
“What are you waiting for?”
My voice came out sharp.
“Can’t you hear me telling you to guide me?”
“Your Highness.”
The villa’s butler cautiously spoke up.
“But Your Highness, you’re also unwell at the moment.”
“I’m capable enough to move.”
“His Highness Arkin also said that Her Highness Lottie would definitely say that.”
What?! My eyes widened at his words.
“…Arkin said that?”
“Yes, he did. Before Her Highness the Princess arrived, Prince Arkin…”
“He asked me to let you rest because he thought you were pushing yourself too hard.”
Betty interjected, seizing the opportunity of my silence.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Betty continued, gripping my hand tightly.
“Please rest now. Please.”
I glanced briefly at Betty’s face.
Surely it had been bright with the idea of fun until we got here.
But now, dark circles marred her under eyes from staying up all night, and her eyes were red from crying.
“Um, the butler mentioned that there’s a skilled physician residing here as well. So please don’t worry too much.”
I placed my hand on Betty’s forehead, which was rambling anxiously.
“Alright.”
Then I nodded.
“I’m going to go to bed and get some rest. You should get some rest, too, Betty.”
There was no doubt that she had cried herself to sleep while I was collapsed.
I could feel the warmth under my hand.
“Butler.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I can pass a note to the physician, can’t I?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The butler bowed deeply.
“Shall I arrange a visit with the physician later?”
“No, I’ll have a maid deliver it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After acknowledging the butler’s farewell, I returned to my room.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I organized the herbal combinations in my mind.
‘To be honest, I want to make it myself.’
Despite the same combination, the effects could vary depending on who made it.
And I was the most exceptional herbalist in history.
So even if I made it hastily, it would likely have better effects than anything else.
‘But if I move even a step further, Betty might collapse.’
Taking a short breath, I wrote down the herbal combination for Arkin, Betty, and myself on a small piece of paper.
Then, I handed the note to Betty, who was tidying up beside me.
“Betty, give this to the physician and the villa’s butler.”
“Yes, Your Highness. You mean to tell the physician, right? Trust me! I’ve already found out where the physician’s room is.”
Betty held the paper tightly.
“But where did Liena go?”
I blinked at the room, realizing Liena was nowhere to be found.
“She went to Raven, Your Highness.”
“Raven?”
“Yes.”
Betty nodded heavily.
“It seems like both Your Highness and Prince Arkin collapsing has greatly shocked him.”
“Oh, I see.”
I tapped my forehead.
Raven showed affection for me and Arkin, who looked out for him after his mother, Liena.
That being the case, it’s natural for him to be shocked since we both collapsed simultaneously.
‘It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault.’
…No. Why is this my fault?
I blinked my eyes.
‘It’s all Kyres’ fault, isn’t it?’
If that guy hadn’t been rampaging from the start, both Arkin and I would have been safe.
No, we would have been happily lounging around, eating, and playing at the villa!
‘Kyres bastard.’
Right now, Kyres must have taken a big blow, not just from his body being completely crushed, but also from his main body.
It must be a long road.
The sleep of the gods must be long indeed.
However, I was a person accustomed to waiting.
No matter how long the sleep of the gods is, it cannot surpass my waiting.
‘I will seek revenge.’
Definitely.
I gritted my teeth.
“Your Highness?”
At Betty’s voice, I managed to compose my expression by blinking a few times.
“I should visit Raven later too.”
“Rest for today.”
I responded with a faint smile to Betty’s urgent addition.
“Then I’ll go see the physician.”
“Take care.”
I waved my hand. After Betty left and a while later, I called the guard who was still in the room.
“Knight.”
“Speak, Your Highness.”
“Could you bring back that wandering bard who helped Arkin and me earlier?”
I smiled subtly at the royal guard.
“He saved me and my brother, so we should express our gratitude.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will bring him immediately.”
The guard swiftly fetched Pendrade as instructed.
“Would you excuse us for a moment?”
But he shook his head at the next request.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We cannot leave only those whose status is unclear.”
It was natural.
Which royal guard would leave only an unknown person with nobles?
But I had justification.
“Ah…”
I blinked for a moment, then glanced at the guard with a slightly awkward expression.
“It’ll only take a moment. I have something important to say.”
“Ah.”
The guard’s eyes widened as if realizing something.
What I said earlier and what I’m saying now are connected.
There’s something important to say, gratitude must be expressed.
In other words, the noble may bow his head to the wandering bard.
To the royal guard following the noble, it seemed like an ambiguous scene was unfolding.
“Understood.”
The guard nodded briefly.
“Then I’ll stand right in front of the door.”
“Thank you. It won’t take long.”
After the guard who remained as an escort left the room, only Pendrade and I were left.
“Pendrade.”
“Yeah?”
I still looked at Pendrade, who was making strange noises while holding the lyre.
“What are you going to do now?”
“Well.”
Pendrade rolled his eyes.
“I just woke up not long ago and was thinking of going back to Rare, why?”
“After visiting rare? You’re not just going to go straight to bed again, are you?”
Usually, when dragons didn’t go to bed, they were either holed up in rare or enjoying themselves.
Pendrade was more inclined to enjoy himself than to be in rare.
“I haven’t decided yet. But doesn’t this bard seem okay?”
“Leave that aside.”
I knelt and rested my face on my knees.
“Stay by my side for a while.”
“Huh? Why?”
I just smiled with the corners of my mouth.
“Thinking of overturning the divine realm.”