I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 142

CHAPTER 142

‘It’s too late to spread rumors, isn’t it?’

Just a short while ago, the rumors that were slowly spreading began to swell rapidly. 

Why wouldn’t they? It’s the downfall of the royal family. 

People instinctively enjoy stories of those higher than them falling into the mud. 

Thanks to that, it had only been a few days since the Empress Consort told him about the rumor. 

But it’s too late to act now. 

The situation has become quite dire. 

“Have you heard?” 

The murmuring voice lingered low on the ground. 

It crept up and grabbed Leonard’s ankle. 

Two men were murmuring beyond the corner. 

“Prince Leonard, the story.” 

“Isn’t that story already over? The one about being examined in the tower when I was young?” 

“Hey, have you not heard the latest story?” 

“What story?” 

“Well, there’s a new suspicion going around these days… that Her Majesty the Empress colluded with the tower.” 

“What?!” 

“Lower your voice! Well, there’s talk that the examination might have been tampered with.” 

Leonard laughed silently. He ran his hand over his face. 

‘As expected, it has spread as it was meant to.’

The rumor circulating even within the palace where he roamed was now heard. 

It was too late to stop it. 

‘Surely there will be an attack at the next council.’

That floating rumor would surely strike Leonard as a substantial and dangerous attack. 

He needed to devise a plan by then. 

“The dead man’s hair color is the same as his, isn’t it? The hair color. That purple hair. So the Empress deceived the Emperor, didn’t she?” 

“…Prince Leonard!” 

He couldn’t bear to hear anymore. 

As soon as Leonard revealed himself from around the corner, the two men quickly bowed their heads. 

Leonard knew the noblemen.

Although they weren’t close, they encountered each other calmly in the palace. 

“I greet Prince Leonard.” 

A polite face, and courteous greetings, but his eyes were rolling. 

He must be guessing how much he heard. 

“Where are you headed, Your Highness?” 

“You don’t often walk around here… Ah! You’re going to the martial arts field to see Prince Arkin.” 

Without affirming or denying anything, Leonard just stared at the two men. 

As he did, the two men shrank back. 

A gulp, the sound of swallowing saliva echoed in the quiet corridor. 

“Yes.” 

For a moment, Leonard smiled and nodded. 

“It’s the way to my brother.” 

As Leonard smiled and replied, the faces of the two men brightened. 

“That’s right. You take care of the young Prince, and that’s a true brotherhood, Your Highness.” 

“Of course.” 

“It goes without saying! You care for Prince Arkin as much as Her Highness. Isn’t that right?” 

“Yes, for example, just like Lady Stella does. They share the same martial arts field.” 

“I’ve seen it before.” 

Suddenly, gossip about Stella popped out.

It was because of the gossip about Leonard earlier that they unconsciously brought up the topic of Stella.

To cover up gossip with more gossip.

Leonard grinned wryly.

“His Highness Prince Arkin to Her Highness Stella-.”

Then he grabbed the shoulders of the two who were about to start gossiping.

“You two.”

“Yes, yes! Your Highness.”

“Although Stella may conflict with me over the throne.”

Leonard’s red eyes scanned the faces of the two.

“Stella is also my dear sister.”

“……!!”

“You both should learn to be careful with your words.”

He whispered. The bodies of the two nobles continued to stiffen.

“Just like my story earlier.”

Both of them took a deep breath simultaneously.

“Your Highness, we misspoke!”

They said something, but Leonard just smiled, said nothing more, and left the spot.

Listening to sharp words of blame behind him, Leonard raised his head.

And remained silent.

Indeed, the situation had become awkward.

His red eyes filled with concern narrowed.

‘It’s nothing but an attack on the royal lineage.’

No matter how talented or accomplished one might be, only someone from the royal bloodline could ascend to the throne.

That was the second problem.

The most fundamental and first problem was undoubtedly the bloodline.

Therefore, to be suspected about one’s bloodline…

Until now, everything Leonard had achieved could be undermined by the most powerful attack.

It’s just suspicion for now, but soon it could grow into a formidable sword aimed at him.

“Hmm.”

The most certain way to dispel suspicion is to undergo a paternity test.

‘Speculation even arose that I conspired with the mage tower.’

Didn’t they just say that?

The Empress joined forces with the mage tower.

Even when he was young.

Now that he’s a mage under mage tower, it’s only natural that he gained more, not less.

‘What should I do?’

Leonard sighed and cleared his throat. Then turned the corner.

“……!”

He unexpectedly ran into someone.

“Stella.”

Stella standing at the corner looked as uneasy.

She must have heard everything.

“I heard everything.”

“…Yeah.”

Stella turned her head. Then, she looked at Leonard as if feeling unjust.

“It wasn’t me.”

“What?”

“I didn’t spread such rumors!”

Seeing Leonard remain silent, Stella’s voice grew louder, as if she understood his silence.

“Even if I were fighting my brother for the throne, I wouldn’t spread such dirty and deadly rumors!”

Then, almost muttering, Stella continued.

“…I know how difficult this rumor must be for Mother.”

Watching his sister, who seemed on the verge of tears, Leonard nodded.

“I understand.”

“You understand?”

“Yes. It’s in your nature to lunge at me, but I don’t think you would spread such rumors.”

Stella was not foolish.

She usually preferred handling things cleanly and openly from the front rather than scheming behind the scenes.

“If it were you, instead of spreading such rumors, you would have brought up my mistakes and grabbed me by the collar in front of the Emperor.”

“…That’s a compliment, right?”

“Just listen to me till the end.”

Leonard swept back his shoulder-length hair.

“I know you wouldn’t do something that would hurt Mother.”

In the end, one of them will likely be out.

But the process will be a reasonable one that anyone can accept, and both of them will walk a path that they can nod to.

Not this dirty way of hurting even family.

“So this wouldn’t be your doing.”

Having finished speaking, Leonard smirked.

‘I wouldn’t have cared in the past.’

No, for whatever reason, he would have welcomed Stella crossing the line.

Since Stella had cut the line that he couldn’t cross first, his actions had become even more free.

Stella, too, would have fought back, claiming she had already crossed the line.

Originally, the palace was a world of survival of the fittest.

‘And yet, it changed so much in just five years.’

When Leonard laughed again, Stella’s face filled with doubt.

“What? Why are you laughing? Is it a compliment?”

“It is.”

Leonard said with a smirk.

“I was just thinking about the past. I think it would have been quite different between you and me back then.”

“…?”

Stella cocked her head. Then, as if understanding what he meant, she nodded and said, ‘Ah.’

“Anyway, you believe it’s not me, right?”

“I’ve said it several times.”

“Can’t you say it more politely?”

“Why should I?”

“Mean.”

Stella grimaced.

“Mark my words, if I become Emperor, I’ll stick you into mage tower. Mages love their research, right? I’ll help you with your research for the rest of your life.”

“If I become Emperor, I’ll stick you in a rural area too. Knights love swinging swords, right? Go kill monsters diligently, Stella.”

While exchanging childish banter, silence fell.

“…So what are you going to do? You can’t verify paternity with mage tower.”

“I’m considering it. It would take too long to seek help from another mage tower.”

“If there’s a good plan, I’ll help too. If it’s too burdensome, I’ll move according to brother’s wishes and step back.”

Leonard’s eyes narrowed at Stella’s words.

“You’ll help me?”

“Yeah. It feels unfair, and more than anything, it feels dirty. Even if we don’t know who’s spreading the rumor, the main beneficiary won’t change, right?”

Suddenly, Stella sharpened her gaze.

“It feels like something is trying to control me from behind.”

“Hmm.”

“What I want to be is an Emperor, not a puppet being controlled.”

Leonard, who had been watching Stella for a moment, nodded.

“I agree with that. If you become Emperor, the culprit will still try to wield their influence from behind.”

Stella, whether she wanted to or not, they would claim that they had been helpful and try to take credit for the success. 

And that might be a catalyst for weakening imperial authority later on. 

The current imperial authority may seem strong, but they never know.

Even a giant dam can burst with just a small hole.

“A method…”

“I wonder if there’s any good method.”

“I have one.”

A new voice interjected into the conversation of the two. 

Naturally, their gazes turned towards the direction of the sound—towards the window. 

Outside the window, a small white hand protruded as if beckoning them to look.

It was Lottie. 

She reached for the window frame as if trying to climb up.

“Lottie!”

“It’s dangerous!”

Both of them exclaimed simultaneously.

In reality, there was no danger on the first floor. 

At most, one might bruise their buttocks a bit. 

But Lottie was different. She was so fragile.

‘If she falls from here, at least a fracture!’

‘Or it could be fatal!!’

In an instant, both Leonard and Stella were envisioning Lottie’s funeral. 

This was not something that should happen!

Leonard and Stella’s faces turned pale.

“……!!”

“Oh?”

Desperately, Leonard cast a spell, revealing Lottie as expected.

Floating gently, Lottie effortlessly entered the corridor through the window.

“Brother, over here!”

“Got it!”

As Stella stretched out her arms, Leonard quickly and safely placed Lottie into Stella’s embrace.

“Phew, got her.”

Stella, holding Lottie, sighed in relief. 

Lottie nestled in her arms blinked her pink eyes.

“You-!”

“Kid you’re in danger-!”

“I.”

Before both of them could start lecturing, Lottie raised her hand.

“Please save the lecture for later. I’ve just met someone and I’m a bit tired.”

Without waiting for them to ask who she had met, Lottie grinned.

“I’ve come up with a way to prove Brother Leonard’s innocence.”

So, trust her a bit, okay?