I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 139

CHAPTER 139

“Wow, it’s really beautiful.”

The Empress Consort’s words about the beauty of summer roses were not false. 

The summer leaves were so green that just seeing them made one feel good, and the roses blooming here and there were of a beautiful buttery color. 

The fragrance was so delightful that a smile naturally formed on one’s face just by being nearby.

“Is that so?”

The Empress Consort smiled. 

I nodded along, saying, ‘Yes, you’re right.’

“The sky is blue, and the roses are beautiful.”

I smiled softly as I looked at the Empress Consort.

“So, what is it that you want to tell me, Your Majesty?”

At that moment, the Empress Consort, who heard my words, smiled even more brightly.

I continued, running my fingers through my hair.

“It seems like you’ve wanted to say something to me since earlier, am I wrong?”

“No, you’re right. Princess Lottie.”

With her usual graceful smile, the Empress Consort gestured to one side. 

It was a small path in the rose garden.

“Shall we walk together?”

I nodded my head. 

Then one of the Empress Consort’s maids who had been following at a distance spoke up.

“In that case, we’ll wait here, Your Majesty.”

As the maids bowed their heads, Betty also awkwardly followed suit.

But her eyes were pleading, ‘Is it okay if I stay here? Do you mind if I don’t go with you???’

She was so cute.

I nodded my head, and then she seemed a bit relieved, smiling nervously.

“Sure, that’s fine.”

The Empress Consort looked at her maids and Betty.

“Anyway, since the entrance and exit of this path are the same, the only way out is here.”

Gathering her stray hair behind her ears, the Empress Consort looked at me intently.

“Shall we walk, Princess Lottie?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Consort and I entered the walking path.

I was worried about the strong sunlight, but the path was shaded by trees, so it was quite cool.

“Princess Lottie, it seems you’re getting along well with the other princes and princesses lately. Especially with Arkin.”

“Oh, Arkin is cute. Now he’s grown up and sometimes he says ‘sister, sister,’ but when he’s in a hurry, he says ‘sis!!'”

“Haha. It’s been a thought I’ve had for a while, but it seems like you take good care of the children, whether you like it or not.”

That’s true. I nodded lightly.

A warm breeze blew, tousling my hair.

“I wonder how I appear in Princess Lottie’s eyes. Do I look like a ruthless mother consumed by power, who even disregards her own children?”

I blinked. 

I hadn’t thought of it like that…?

“There are flaws. But I don’t think you’re unaware of them.”

Is that so? 

When I asked, the Empress Consort smiled without saying anything.

“Well, I still think Your Majesty is a good person.”

I fiddled with a strand of hair sticking out and glanced subtly at the Empress Consort.

“You accepted me.”

“Hmm.”

Rarely, the Empress Consort seemed momentarily flustered by my words. 

After a brief silence, as if pondering something, she nodded her head.

“I didn’t say it because I feel like you know everything without having to say it, but yes, I guess you don’t know this.”

She stopped walking on the path and looked at me.

“Princess Lottie, I don’t dislike you or His Majesty.”

It was sincere. 

There was no hint of falsehood on the Empress Consort’s face.

“Not at all.”

…Is that even possible?

“Because by accepting you, His Majesty has given me quite a bit of power.”

Ah…

The Empress Consort resumed walking and changed the topic.

“Would you listen to an old story of mine, Princess Lottie?”

“Of course, anytime.”

“I’m not sure how much you already know, Princess Lottie. It seems like you might not know anything, yet on the other hand, you might know everything.”

We walked in sync. 

Somewhere in the central garden, birds chirped.

“Have you heard about my past before marrying the Emperor?”

I nodded, and the Empress Consort smiled as she spoke.

“So you probably know most of it. Yes, I had a beloved lover.”

Her eyes glanced into the distance, to a rather dreadful past.

“And I lost him.”

Her eyelids closed as if it was hard to endure that past.

“It was unbearable. Even more so for me, who wavered for Marquis Floyd and such.”

Until then, I thought she was something special. 

In social circles, she was always respected, had plenty of money, and held a high position, didn’t she?

It was tough, the Empress Consort took a deep breath.

“Princess Lottie Pandelion.”

Her eyes met mine again. 

I nodded as if asking her to continue.

“Could you help me a little?”

“…Me? Your Majesty?”

“I understand the game being played from above right now.”

The Empress Consort reached out and delicately plucked a blooming red rose.

“My stupid and foolish brother did the same to me, and now he intends to do the same to my daughter and my niece.”

“Surely you’re not referring to Princess Stella and Lady Milia Floyd?”

“Yes, my daughter has a beloved just like I did. And my niece has a marriage proposal from a foreign country that would bring her great benefits.”

Crack. The rose in the Empress Consort’s hand crumpled.

“To Marquis Floyd only.”

A drop of red from the rose stained the Empress Consort’s white lace glove.

“No way.”

I swallowed hard.

“He’s not planning to send Milia to another country to gain power, use it to make Princess Stella become the empress, and then marry her off to Eben, is he?”

“That’s right.”

A lump formed in my throat. 

When I tried to speak, the Empress Consort laughed softly.

“Haha, I can read it from your expression. It’s repulsive, isn’t it?”

The Empress Consort removed her lace gloves and continued laughing.

“To Marquis Floyd, his children, and his niece, everything is just a means to fulfill his desires. I’m sure of it.”

“…What do you mean?”

“If the current emperor were a woman, or if he were a woman himself, would he have married and become imperial himself?”

Ew. I couldn’t hold it in this time. 

I made a retching motion. 

The Empress Consort’s laughter grew louder.

“He’s a person with an incredible obsession with royal blood. It’s disgusting, really.”

The Empress Consort managed to suppress her laughter and wiped away the tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

“Anyway, I have no intention of repeating the tragedies of the past. I’ve had enough of that on my own.”

Looking at the lace gloves that had turned red and the still-white glove on the other hand, the Empress Consort turned her gaze to me.

“And now, I have the power to stop it.”

“….”

“What I need is an unexpected ally. Someone the Marquis never thought would join hands with me.”

The Empress Consort corrected herself slightly as she tilted her head.

“No, someone who, even if they expected it, would deny it.”

Her white hand reached out to me.

“That’s you, Princess.”

After removing the pin, she began to tidy up her disheveled hair blown by the wind.

“To ordinary parents, it might seem absurd, but I hope my children fight fairly.”

“Both Leonard and Stella have coveted the throne since they were young.”

As the Empress Consort fixed her hair and carefully pinned it, she spoke.

“And at the same time, I hope they are safe.”

I understood the Empress Consort’s words. 

I looked up at her.

“You’ve laid the groundwork. You’ve been preparing for this fight for a long time.”

Leonard and Stella’s factions were evenly matched and fiercely contested.

At this point, someone was likely to resort to physical means to resolve it.

For example, sending assassins.

‘But why has it been so quiet?’

It was because the Emperor, Empress Consort, and the powerful nobles watching over them made it difficult for supporting nobles to act rashly.

As if confirming my thoughts, the Empress Consort’s smile deepened. 

She nodded slowly.

“Therefore, I cannot forgive Marquis Floyd, who calls for other factions to break this game.”

Looking at me, the Empress Consort proposed.

“What do you think, Princess? Will you join this game?”

“What would I gain by sitting at the game table?”

“Hmm.”

She seemed to think for a moment, but her answer came quickly. 

She must have already considered it.

“I heard you were interested in participating in the upcoming festival of the God. How about that?”

“Ah, that’s weak!”

It was the face that said, ‘I knew it.’ 

Well, if the only reward for participating in a big game was joining a diplomatic mission, then it would indeed be weak.

“Then what do you want, Princess?”

Well, there’s nothing to think about. 

I smiled coolly, raising the corners of my mouth.

“Will you ally with me?”

“….?”

“When I need it, will Your Majesty lend me strength? And please understand, I have no interest in the throne!”

Please! I mean it!

The Empress Consort’s face was filled with questions.

Don’t look at me like that. 

I’ll make good use of it later, so be thrifty.

“If that’s all, it’s sufficient.”

“How about you say something even better?”

Oh, she has a conscience.

“I have the power to grant the princess’ wish.”

“My wish can be fulfilled by my own hands.”

Really, truly. 

From the start, my wish was something not just anyone could grant.

Perhaps she sensed my sincerity.

“Alright.”

In the end, the Empress Consort agreed.

“If you regret not bargaining for better conditions, just let me know. I’ll grant it.”

She’s kind-hearted. 

I nodded with a smile. And quietly added one more genuine sentiment.

“And honestly, I’m not particularly fond of Marquis Floyd either.”

“That’s true.”

As if in agreement, the Empress Consort smiled.

She looks really lovely when she smiles.

“Well then, shall we head back? Although the path continues, it’s better to just retrace our steps from around here…”

The Empress Consort trailed off. 

A maid was running towards us along the path we had come.

“What’s the matter?”

Sensing that it was urgent, the Empress Consort asked, and the maid, panting heavily, exclaimed.

“His Highness Prince Leonard is in trouble……!!”