I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 152

CHAPTER 152

“Raven.”

Corner of the training ground.

Just as the fence dividing the training ground from the other areas appeared, I spotted Raven standing there, looking uneasy.

“Your Highness.”

“Arkin.”

“Over there…”

Raven glanced momentarily beyond the fence, toward the bushes on the other side.

He’s over there.

“All right.”

I nodded lightly.

“Could you go ahead and tell Liena to get us some of Arkin’s favorite ham-filled sandwiches and some cold lemonade?”

I smiled at Raven.

“Let’s share them.”

“Yes!”

In an instant, Raven, full of energy, swiftly left the training ground.

“Phew.”

Alone, or rather, with just the two of us left, I took a deep breath and approached the fence.

Lifting my dress, I crossed over the fence with difficulty. 

Then, I called out softly.

“Arkin.”

A rustle, the bushes stirred.

If he were slightly annoyed when I called his name, he would respond subtly with a ‘…Why?’

But seeing no response, it seemed he was genuinely upset.

“Where could our Arkin be?”

I muttered to myself beside the bushes, sitting down with a thud.

“I’ve checked the room below the first-floor staircase and the garden, but he’s not there. Where could he be?”

Still, the bushes remained silent.

“I can’t find him…”

With a sigh, I pretended to be troubled, continuing to talk while fiddling with my legs.

“By the way, earlier I wanted to apologize. Did he return to the palace?”

“Will you truly apologize?”

A voice suddenly emerged from the bushes. 

Still hidden from view, it seemed only a third of his frustration had dissipated.

Or perhaps, in his annoyed state, he wanted to make sure I wouldn’t keep searching for him.

“Well.”

Intentionally not looking his way, I continued speaking.

“Earlier, I wanted to apologize. And I wanted to tell Arkin why I couldn’t take him.”

“…Why couldn’t you take him?”

“Well, that’s an important and confidential matter that I only want to tell Arkin.”

“…”

After a moment of hesitation, Arkin emerged from the bushes.

He sniffled, his eyes red as if he had been crying.

“So why?”

Arkin, sitting next to me, asked.

“Why couldn’t you take me? But you said you’d take that rascal.”

“Rascal, huh.”

I chuckled softly.

“It’s Duke Lionel Marcus, you know.”

“That’s too long.”

Arkin turned his head sharply.

“If he’s a rascal, that’s enough.”

“Okay, okay.”

I nodded.

“Arkin.”

Hugging my knees, I rested my chin on them and looked at Arkin.

“I’m not just going to the Temple of the Lord this time.”

“…?”

“There’s something dangerous going on.”

“Then all the more reason for me to go with you!”

Arkin turned towards me, raising his voice.

“Sister, I tried. Really.”

He said with a serious face.

“I swung the sword every day. Even when I wanted to rest, I held back. At dawn, in the rain, in the snow, I never put down the sword.”

“…”

“You know why, Sister. Why I tried so hard.”

“I know.”

Looking at Arkin, with his stubborn resolve etched in, I nodded.

“I’ve been watching all along.”

With that, I closed my eyes.

“But still, I can’t allow it.”

“Sister!”

“It’s dangerous.”

I opened my eyes again and looked at Arkin.

At fifteen, he was still so young.

“Where I’m going this time is truly dangerous, Arkin.”

“…Father never mentioned such things.”

“Of course not, because it’s something I haven’t even told Father.”

I touched the ground with my arm and leaned toward Arkin.

“Arkin, can we keep this conversation here a secret?”

“Of course.”

Arkin nodded.

“I swear on my heart.”

I nodded.

“Arkin, do you remember the incident from five years ago? At the summer villa.”

“I remember.”

Arkin grumbled.

“How could I forget? Running to protect you and then collapsing…”

Yes, that incident had been buried.

The sudden attack by an unknown assailant at the beautiful summer villa, where Arkin came to help me but ended up getting knocked out.

I, too, passed out, and by the time the knights arrived, the assailant had vanished.

That’s how it was buried.

‘Pendrade, who had just arrived, even kindly handled it with magic.’

Thanks to that, no one suffered any consequences.

So Arkin also knew it as just a routine attack.

“You didn’t just pass out.”

I exhaled a long breath.

“You were in danger.”

“What?”

“If I hadn’t intervened…”

I buried my face in my knees again. 

My words trailed off, but he understood the meaning.

“They were after me. But it was because of you that things turned out that way.”

“…Then why, Sister, did you just let the incident get buried like that?”

Arkin’s voice grew heavy.

“You should have told Father and found the culprit to bring them to justice!”

“I can’t.”

I lifted my face slightly from my buried position and looked at Arkin.

“The culprit was in a place we couldn’t easily reach.”

“No way.”

Arkin blinked.

“The culprit was in the Temple of the Lord?”

Some people were not easily touched, even by Emperor Pandelion.

The priests of the temple were among those, representing the power of the gods—power beyond that of mere humans.

Thanks to that, the temple was a place not easily reached by nobles or even royalty.

“That’s right.”

I nodded.

“I confirmed it recently. The culprit is one of the priests of the Temple of the Lord. And it seems to be a high-ranking one.”

I hesitated to call them the high priest, so I trailed off like that.

“So, I deliberately volunteered to go. This time, I want to draw out the culprit and gather solid evidence.”

“Then all the more reason to take me with you!”

“If you and I are in danger…”

I cut off Arkin’s words.

“There could be war.”

Arkin fell silent.

“Father raising an army would prompt other nations with temples to do the same. We don’t want unnecessary wars breaking out.”

“…….”

Arkin’s lips twitched in response.

“Moreover, if we attack the temple first, other temples might retaliate.”

Arkin remained silent, lips pressed together.

“That’s why it’s better if only I go.”

“But…”

Although he understood logically, there was still a feeling of unease in his heart.

“But…”

Arkin shook his head. 

I reached out and gently stroked Arkin’s dark blue hair.

“Is it because I can’t help you?”

I turned fully and hugged Arkin tightly.

“No, little brother. You’ve helped me so much.”

“Really?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”

It all began with Arkin.

“No, I might have contracted a disease in prison and suffered.”

“…….”

“You were the only one who came to visit me in prison.”

I recalled my first memories in this life.

Locked away without understanding what was happening.

If Arkin hadn’t come precisely when he did, I might have died in prison, not knowing what had occurred.

Smiling broadly, I brushed Arkin’s cheek.

“Come to think of it, Arkin truly saved my life. So, don’t be too upset, okay?”

“Yeah…”

Only then did Arkin nod slightly.

“I understand. I won’t go.”

Arkin quietly took my hand.

“But you must come back safely, alright?”

“Of course.”

I hugged my little brother tightly and patted his back.

After hesitating for a moment, Arkin hugged me back tightly.

“If it doesn’t work out, throw the rascal and run. He’s tough enough to be a shield, right?”

“…”

Little brother, that’s a bit scary.

“And…”

Arkin looked up, his eyes determined.

“If Father allows it, I want to come with you.”

“…What?”

“He might allow it, just this once.”

That was highly unlikely.

Father tended to prioritize my requests and Arkin still had a long way to go.

So he sought my permission first before persuading Father to allow him to come with me.

“Why? Father allowed it.”

“That’s unlikely, you little rascal.”

I pinched Arkin’s cheek firmly.

“Let’s go.”

Then I stood up. 

As if urging Arkin to stand, I reached out my hand to him.

“I asked Liena to prepare your favorite sandwich and drink. Let’s go.”

“Yeah.”

Arkin took my hand. I smiled warmly.

We returned and enjoyed sandwiches and drinks together amicably.

And a few days later.

“Lottie, I need you to visit the temple of the Lord this time.”

Finally, the Emperor’s long-awaited permission came through.