I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 106
CHAPTER 106
“Uh-huh…….”
The sunlight touching my eyes felt ticklish.
Half-buried in the pillow, I furrowed my brows.
I must’ve slept with the curtains closed, so who opened them?
“Betty.”
I tugged at the blanket, sticking my arms out to shake it.
“Could you get the curtains…?”
I mumbled for a while, but there was no response.
No one?
I finally cracked my eyes open.
Indeed, no one was there.
Eventually, I reluctantly got up.
‘What time is it now…?’
Rubbing my eyes, I blinked.
I feel like I could use a bit more sleep.
“Huh?”
Betty, towering over me, opened the door.
She was carrying water and towels.
“Your Highness! You’re up early.”
“What time is it?
“It’s still before lunchtime!”
I widened my eyes at Betty’s words.
Seriously. I woke up in the morning.
“Did I wake up early?”
There’s no appointment today either.
“Yes, you did.”
Betty placed the water aside and asked.
“It’s perfect timing. Prince Arkin has come to visit. Would you like to have lunch together?”
“Arkin is here?”
“Yes, he’s come to see Raven, it seems.”
“Hmm.”
I lightly snorted and swept my hair, which had grown long enough to reach my waist, to one side.
“Okay, then.”
Honestly, I feel like lying back down on the bed.
But still, I should see my brother who came to visit.
‘Otherwise, he’ll subtly sulk.’
Last time, he didn’t know I was asleep when he visited, and he made it obvious when we met next time.
Even if he just narrows his eyes and purses his lips.
Or pushes the food I like towards me with a ‘hmph!’ sound.
‘He’s taller than me now, but still cute.’
I chuckled softly.
“How about the kids?”
“They’ll be coming for mealtime soon. They’ve been at the training grounds since dawn.”
Indeed, youth is good.
Full of energy, as they say.
‘Waking up at dawn, that’s something I could never do now.’
I yawned lazily.
In the meantime, Betty draped a lace shawl over my shoulders as she finished washing up.
Then, as if she noticed something, she stretched her neck towards the window.
“It seems His Highness and Raven have returned.”
“Oh?”
I also leaned my head towards the window.
Sure enough, Raven and Arkin were entering the mansion, laughing.
They’re diligent too.
After braiding my hair, I smiled at Betty.
“Shall we, Betty?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Betty nodded and left the room, walking slowly towards the dining room on the first floor.
“Oh, Your Highness.”
As soon as I opened the door, the first person I met was Liena.
She smiled as she pulled out a chair for me.
“You’re up early today, aren’t you? Usually, you skip lunchtime and wake up later.”
“I have days like this too, you know.”
“It’d be nice if you woke up like this every day.”
She sighed deeply as she pushed into the chair.
“I’ll try.”
I’ll only try, though.
Liena, who noticed that she had no choice but to rely on my answers, nodded her head.
“Betty and Liena should join us. It’s still early, isn’t it?”
Ordinary maids or servants couldn’t dine with nobility.
But Liena and Betty were exceptions.
In this world, it’s all about connections and blood ties.
“No, it’s fine, Your Highness.”
Liena grinned.
“Today is the day the newly bought furniture arrives. So, Betty and I ate early.”
“Today’s meal is delicious! The chef is the best! It’s delicious every day.”
Betty raised both thumbs.
“Then, Your Highness, we’ll leave for a moment.”
“Thank you.”
I waved my hand as I watched the two leave the dining room.
Hmm.
Looks like the lessons are effective.
It’s been two years since I started educating the palace staff.
No, they quickly picked up the characters.
So, I let them learn what they wanted and researched.
Betty started learning about makeup, and one servant started learning how to make lace.
Last time I checked, one stablehand was reading about ‘The Perfect Horse Feed Mix!’
The chef focused on learning and researching foreign and seafood dishes.
‘Thanks to that, I’m doing well.’
Since everyone learned what they liked and could improve, they began to show outstanding skills in their positions.
And it’s a bonus that my palace’s reputation is improving outside.
‘Alright, alright.’
Meanwhile, Arkin entered the dining room first.
Did he quickly wash up?
He was wearing a different tunic from the one I saw outside the window earlier.
“Sis.”
Arkin, who spotted me first, smiled with reddened eyes.
“What’s the matter? Getting up so early?”
“Everyone’s saying that. I also get up early sometimes.”
“I’ve rarely seen you get up early until now.”
Arkin narrowed his eyes as he said that.
“So, don’t you like it?”
After pulling out the chair next to me, I tilted my head.
“No.”
Arkin casually sat next to me.
Then, as if he sat down too abruptly, he turned his head and coughed awkwardly.
‘Cute.’
I turned my head completely and looked at Arkin with my arms crossed.
I wondered if there’s a trace of giants or titans in the Pandelion family lineage, to the point of suspicion.
Arkin grew frighteningly each year.
He practically took painkillers for his growing pains from me almost every week.
He was over my height at 13, and now, at 15, he’s a head taller than me.
‘Even his body is growing.’
As he started seriously learning swordsmanship, his body was gradually growing.
It’s a bit sad that he’s lost some of his cuteness from when he was 10.
‘Well, he’s still cute now.’
Just don’t grow as big as Gerol.
What on earth did Gerol eat to grow that big?
He’s still growing.
Arkin tilted his head toward me as I absentmindedly stroked his head.
It had become a habit for me.
But at the same time, he wrinkled his forehead as if he didn’t like being treated like a child.
“Stop it, sis.”
“Fine, I won’t.”
I continued to stroke his head with a smile.
So cute, so cute.
The little guy who used to babble ‘sis’ has grown a bit and now calls me ‘sis’ in a more dignified manner.
So cute, so cute.
When I completely used both hands to ruffle his hair, Arkin exclaimed loudly.
“Sister!!”
Although he disliked it, he kept his hands still, perhaps afraid I might get hurt, only wrinkling his forehead.
Oh, so cute!
“Your Highness Arkin.”
Just as I was affectionately fussing over Arkin, Raven entered the dining room as the door swung open.
As expected, it seemed like Raven took a little time washing up, just like Arkin.
Within five years, Raven had shed his childishness and now exuded the aura of a young lad.
But he’s still smaller than me, so he’s even cuter.
“Your Highness?”
Raven looked at me, his eyes widening.
“How did you get up so early-“
“I just happened to wake up early. Now, shall we have our meal?”
I was tired of hearing the same thing again.
Before Raven could say anything more, I rang the bell abruptly.
The servants and maids pushed the trolley laden with food into the dining room.
Maybe it’s because there are two growing boys.
The amount of food on the table was no joke.
There was even a giant roasted turkey in the middle of the table.
The grease was dripping down, indicating how well it was cooked.
‘No, not that.’
It’s too burdensome to eat for breakfast, and above all.
‘Too much hassle to prepare.’
When are they going to carve it and dress it?
Normally, the servants would prepare and serve it nicely.
Seeing it served whole, it seemed like hungry Arkin just wanted it served whole.
It takes a long time to prepare it in the kitchen.
I’ll just have stew.
I pulled the stew dish in front of me.
Meanwhile, Arkin and Raven began dismantling and eating the turkey while talking about training.
“How was the training this time?”
“It was okay. But I think we could increase the training a bit more.”
“Then, let’s ask the instructor to increase the training. It would be good to learn how to shoot a bow as well.”
“Can I learn that?”
Half of the turkey had already disappeared at an incredible speed.
It must be because they’re young.
They eat well.
“Sis.”
I was only eating stew and salad, but suddenly a plate was placed in front of me.
What’s this?
Looking into the plate, there was deliciously prepared roasted turkey, even the most delicious leg part.
When I looked at Arkin, he smirked.
“Wasn’t it because you were too lazy to bother eating it?”
He tapped the plate, urging me to eat.
I blinked my eyes a couple of times while holding the utensils, then burst into laughter.
“Oh, you little sweetheart!!”
“Ah! Stop it!!”
As I reached out, Arkin shouted.
Oops, does he want me to spread the meat for him?
“Stop it!!”
I was playfully pinching Arkin’s cheek when a small voice came from across.
“Your Highness.”
Raven blinked and shyly lowered his head, his cheeks turning red.
“Well, I’m cute too…”
“….”
Arkin was at a loss for words, and I couldn’t help but smile even more proudly.
“Yeah, our Count is cute too~”
“Hehe.”
Raven’s face flushed even more. It seemed like he didn’t mind.
It’s nice to have so many cute people around.
But the cutest among them is still our Betty.
“Oh, sis. Do you happen to know someone named Lady Kruin?”
While holding his tingling cheek, Arkin brought up a topic.
“Huh? No?”
I grinned broadly, frozen in place.
“Who’s that? I have no idea.”
“Oh, I know.”
Fortunately, before Arkin could realize something was off, Raven answered.
“She’s one of the early investors in Upper Crescent Moon, right?”
Upper Crescent Moon.
It started as a small teahouse, but in just five years, it became one of the top establishments in the capital.
“Yeah, she’s famous for her investment acumen, and she’s been appearing frequently at the auctions lately.”
“What?”
Lady Kruin is moving?
That’s unlikely.
Without making it obvious, I glanced at Arkin while scooping up some strawberry ice cream for dessert.
Whether I react or not.
Arkin pushed his share of dessert towards me, asking if I liked it.
“She mainly buys items like these at auctions.”
Arkin said as he handed me a piece of paper.
What’s with this junk?
“What do you think, sis? Do these items have investment value?”
“I’m curious too, Your Highness.”
Blink, blink.
Receiving the eager gazes of the two, I casually took a bite of the ice cream.
“Nope.”
And then-.
“Hey! Who leaked my information? Come out!!”
A few hours later.
I was storming Ringo’s Teahouse.