I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 149

CHAPTER 149

“…When did I?”

I could only respond absentmindedly.

When did I propose to him, losing my mind like this?

I can’t recall ever doing that.

Or perhaps proposing means something else to young people these days??

“Master, indeed.”

Lionel chuckled, his cheeks turning red.

“Just earlier, you didn’t deny our relationship over there.”

“Is that so?”

“In other words, it’s akin to proposing to me.”

…Why did it turn out like this?

“Lionel.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you think a lot is missing in between? It feels like we skipped a big chunk suddenly, don’t you think?”

“No, not at all.”

This rascal. I pinched Lionel’s cheek firmly again.

“Ouch.”

Despite his wincing, the smile on Lionel’s lips didn’t fade.

“But still.”

Now he was pouting and playfully begging, with his head against the hand I raised to pinch him.

Our eyes met through his bright golden hair.

“All of them were there earlier, right? The royals and some nobles too.”

That’s right.

Except for the ill Good Empress and Arkin, who couldn’t come in from a young age, all the royalties were there.

Some nobles left right after the council, but a few remained.

“Yet, when I mentioned us as lovers, you didn’t say otherwise in that awkward situation.”

“Well, of course not.”

I grabbed both of Lionel’s cheeks.

“You’re my lover? Right? So, why would I deny you?”

With my hands holding his cheeks, Lionel’s blue eyes widened, and then he burst into a wide smile again.

It was a truly beautiful smile.

I could feel the strength in his arms that held me.

Lionel embraced me tightly with his entire body.

“See, this is proposing. Since everyone knows, we have no choice but to get married now, right?”

“Oh dear.”

Unable to tolerate even the slightest separation, I burst into laughter within Lionel’s tight embrace.

“If this is a proposal, huh? If it’s a real proposal, you already have all the names of our grandchildren?”

“…….”

“…You’ve already named them?”

“Well, not grandchildren. I have children. A daughter with pretty pink eyes like you, Master, named Leil, is the eldest, and the second child also takes after you……”

My young lover had even confidently laid out family plans.

I couldn’t stop laughing.

So adorable, I could die.

Is this the fun of dating a younger person?

“Ha……”

Laughing until my stomach hurt, I sighed deeply in Lionel’s embrace.

Then, I grabbed his cheeks again.

Smack.

When our lips lightly met, Lionel blinked.

“Master, we’re still outside……”

Lionel laughed lightly, swaying.

“Well, what does it matter? There’s nobody around anyway.”

Due to the council, the surroundings were deserted. 

The path back would be bustling on the opposite side.

I wrapped one arm around his neck and lightly kissed him several times.

“Mmm……”

Then our lips locked deeply. 

I playfully bit his tongue and pulled back, but Lionel’s head followed mine eagerly.

As if waiting for a kiss, a red tongue peeked through slightly parted lips.

“…….”

“…Ah.”

Lionel, upon realizing that I was teasing him, finally opened his eyes when our lips didn’t meet no matter how long he waited.

His smooth forehead wrinkled. 

It was a face I knew well, right before sulking.

“Are you sulking?”

“…I won’t pout if you kiss me again.”

“Alright. I’ll do it as many times as-“

Before I could finish my sentence, our lips met again.

It was a languorous day.

* * *

“Good.”

A fortnight after the council ended, I smiled as I held the documents received through the court officials.

“I’ve handled one marquis.”

The document announced the sentencing of Marquis Floyd.

Marquis Floyd’s punishment was death.

‘I thought there might be some leniency due to his status as the Empress’ brother, but no.’

Honestly, the rebellion wasn’t certain; I just acted impulsively.

There were many loopholes in Milia’s affairs.

‘Even if the charges of colluding with Gotrel can be overturned.’

So, I thought that if we looked at the crimes committed by the Marquis, he would be exiled.

What was handed down was the death penalty.

“…….”

…I could tell from the wording ‘death penalty’.

He’s the Empress Consort’s brother, after all.

She exerted her power.

“Mm.”

I set the documents down on the desk.

Five years ago, Marquis Floyd falsely accused me of attempting to assassinate Her Majesty the Good Empress.

And decades ago, he killed the Empress Consort’s only lover and forced her to marry the Emperor.

And now, he attacked Leonard.

‘He got what he deserved.’

Although I pondered this, how did the Empress Consort feel?

After enduring for decades and gaining strength, she couldn’t miss a chance to ensure a clear outcome.

‘I can fully trust the Empress to handle the rest.’

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled deeply.

The Empress Consort will take care of it decisively.

“Now, what’s left…”

I stopped myself from saying the name and silently turned my gaze out the window, staring at the high sky.

What’s left is one gift.

“…….”

The method I came up with was to attack the main Lord within the sacred relic at the Lord’s temple.

Honestly, that was the only way I, in a human body, could strike a Lord.

Before, I tried to hold Nectar hostage, but now that method won’t work.

Didn’t he even try to use me as a material?

How could he strike someone’s head like this?

‘Well, whatever.’

When I thought about hitting someone in the back of the head, I expected to get hit in the back.

So I regretted my original idea.

When the god is in a holy object, breaking it is the only sure way to get rid of it.

It was just putting the Lord to sleep.

‘And that’s all I need to do to appease a creature that’s been using people, even using them as medicine.’

No, no.

I have to make life taste bitter.

“But there’s no way.”

I toyed with the pen lying on the desk.

If it were up to me, I would’ve liked to completely separate his head from his body, but the method was the issue.

I lived a long time, interacted with many races, and conversed with those known for their wisdom. 

However, no one knew how to strike a blow against a Lord. 

It was neat. 

‘No, there was one.’ 

It was the world tree I had seen in the past. 

“The fact that the world tree was connected to the divine realm…” 

I drew out a long line on paper with a pen.

“There might have been interaction with the divine realm in the past.” 

Length implies someone walked it. 

Interaction means they knew each other to some extent. 

“High Elves are a race with lifespans as long as dragons….” 

So surely, records wouldn’t have been aged. 

There would surely be records of interactions with the divine realm. 

And among them… 

“There might be a way to strike a blow against a Lord.” 

It was a faint hope. 

But among the things I had, it was the most brilliantly shining hope. 

“Hmm.” 

I looked at the paper cluttered with lines and words. 

Then, I wrote something in the space. 

It was ‘…attack of the…’. 

“I don’t know what it is, but there was a huge fire.” 

Things that looked like temples also burned in the fire. 

Usually, such places would keep records…

“Hmm.” 

I narrowed my eyes. 

Then, I forcefully put down the pen with a click. 

“I’ll have to go see this.” 

No matter how hard I tried here, there was no way to find out. 

“Going is certain.” 

The conclusion was made firmly. 

I smiled slyly. 

‘But….’ 

“Where is the High Elve’s village?” 

“I know.” 

Suddenly turning around, Lionel was standing there casually. 

How carefree the guy who came in suddenly was. 

With arms crossed, he held an apple in one hand. 

“How did you…” 

As soon as I opened my mouth, a piece of well-cut apple was in it. 

…Where did he have this? 

When I reflexively bit into the apple, the crunchy sound and juicy flesh tingled my tongue. 

“Delicious.” 

“Indeed.” 

Lionel grinned broadly. 

“I thought of you while eating.” 

“Is that so.” 

After eating a few more pieces of apple like that, I asked Lionel.

“Do you know where the world tree is?” 

“Yes.” 

Only after he had eaten a bit did Lionel nod with an apple in his mouth. 

“Roughly around here.” 

He pointed to a part of a map hanging on one side of the wall. 

To be precise, it was somewhere between the Pandelion Empire and the temple of the Lord. 

Looking at that place, I spoke. 

“…That’s Cranis, right?” 

Cranis, a deserted forest and the place where my tower was. 

“Is there an entrance to the High Elf village there?” 

“Yes.” 

Swallowing the apple after chewing, Lionel nodded.

“I heard there’s one remaining entrance there.” 

“Oh, who said that?” 

Lionel wiped the flowing flesh and looked at me. 

“Achel.”