I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 164

CHAPTER 164

“You’ve been acting strange.”

Betty looked at me, puffing her cheeks like a pufferfish.

“You’ve been strange these past few days!”

“Yeah, sorry…”

I turned my head slightly, avoiding Betty’s sharp gaze.

“Goodbye.”

After finishing the conversation with my mother, I quickly returned to the carriage with Lionel.

Despite being away for about three days, the distance remained the same.

During that time, a small incident occurred.

‘Why did Betty have to bring up something important then?’

As we spent a long time alone in the carriage, Betty kept talking and talking.

“Lady Lottie I have something on my mind.”

That’s all she had to say. 

But my response was just…

“Oh, really?”

I repeated those words. 

‘Obviously, you’d figure it out!’

I sniffled. No matter what she said, I just kept saying, ‘Oh, really?’ 

I thought I had some sort of Oh, really?’ syndrome. 

By the time I finished telling the knights to find the nearest village physician, I was back.

“Ugh.”

Betty suddenly turned her head.

That was a sign that she was about to lose it!

“Really, sorry. Okay?”

I quickly sat down next to Betty.

“I didn’t hear properly because I’m still not feeling well.”

“…Really?”

Betty’s head turned slightly towards me. There was concern on her face.

“You’re still not feeling well?”

“Oh, yeah!”

I quickly nodded my head.

“I thought I was better, but I still feel a bit dizzy.”

“Goodness.”

Betty turned completely towards me.

“T-then what should we do? Should I fetch more honey water for you?”

For an ordinary person, a hangover wouldn’t last for days after just a few drinks. 

But I was from Lottie Pandelion.

Cough once, vomit blood, the epitome of feebleness.

It was only natural for Betty, who had been taking care of me since I was young, to worry.

“Get off now and see a physician!!”

“It’s okay!”

Before calling a physician for another reason, I held Betty’s hand.

“I’ll just rest a little longer. And soon we’ll be at the temple of the Lord, right? Maybe we could ask for help there.”

It couldn’t wield divine power like in novels, but the temple also served as a clinic.

They stocked various herbs and would make medicine or provide nursing care when the sick came.

That’s why I made poison from all sorts of herbs to save the tree that Detmé felled.

“That’s true, but…”

Fortunately, Betty sat back down. 

Still, she kept glancing worriedly at me.

“Can you hold on until we get there?”

“It’s only a few hours until we arrive.”

We had just entered the border. 

A little more and we’d reach the temple of the Lord.

Betty nodded as if there was no other choice and brightened up again.

“Then have some honey water! I’ll prepare it for you now!”

“Uh, yeah.”

I finally got a couple of drops of water in honey and was scooping it up with my spoon when the carriage walls rang softly.

Betty opened the carriage window.

“Please inform Her Highness that we will soon arrive at the temple of the Lord.”

“Yes!”

Betty nodded. I put down the spoon.

“Betty, could you open the window curtains a bit?”

Already arrived?

As Betty opened the curtains as I requested, the scenery of the temple came into view.

We had already entered the central part of the village.

“Wow.”

Betty’s eyes sparkled again as she leaned back in.

“It feels like a festival. Looks enjoyable!”

And she leaned out again.

“I thought of Detmé’s temple, but this one is much bigger, isn’t it?”

“It’s the temple of the Lord.”

Detmé’s temple was certainly not small. 

But this was the only temple of the Lord.

Its size and scale were overwhelming.

And because so many people came to the temple, a fairly large village had formed beneath it.

The village we were passing through was that very village.

Its name was probably ‘Temple Village,’ right?

‘There’s a saying that we should call the temple of the Lord a country.’

The size of the village and the temple itself were comparable to those of small kingdoms.

Sipping the last of the water honey, I glanced to the other side of the window.

There stood a white temple on a hill.

It looked holy at first glance.

That was the temple of the Lord.

“Maybe because of the festival, there are so many people, and it’s lively.”

Caught up in the festive atmosphere, Betty’s cheeks flushed as she withdrew her head into the carriage. 

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

I chuckled softly.

“After the most important ceremony is over, I’ll give you some free time. Enjoy the festival.”

“Really?”

“Sure, but with the knights. It’s dangerous to go alone.”

“Yes, yes! Of course!”

Betty nodded vigorously, her fluffy tied hair bouncing with each movement.

Indeed, she was cute.

I kept laughing, covering my mouth with my hand as the scent kept wafting out.

I should drink a bottle of water.

Meanwhile, as the carriage crossed the village towards the temple, its speed gradually slowed until it came to a stop.

“Your Highness.”

A knight announced our arrival by knocking on the door.

Betty quickly tidied her clothes and smoothed her hair.

After all, we came as an official delegation.

When I signaled that I was ready, Lionel opened the door.

“Your Highness.”

Lionel extended his hand. 

I placed mine on him, and I slowly descended the carriage steps and stood on the ground.

Only then could I see the unobstructed view of the whole scenery.

On the cobblestone, circular, white square, there were priests of the Lord, temple knights, and—

“Welcome, Princess Pandelion.”

A priest with neatly tied white hair spread out greeted me.

“I am the high priest of this temple, Carisser.”

The elder priest, with a hint of age, bowed to me.

“I am Lottie Pandelion, the Second Princess of the Pandelion Empire. Thank you for the invitation.” 

I said as I also bowed.

“And this is Duke Lionel Marcus. He came along as my escort.”

I introduced Lionel standing beside me and glanced at the people behind the high priest.

There was one person who caught my eye.

“Your Highness.”

The high priest who introduced himself as Carisser gave a friendly smile.

“I will guide you to the room where you will be staying, Your Highness.”

“It could have been entrusted to someone else.”

“No, Your Highness came personally, so it’s only natural.”

From the square of the temple to the room where I would stay.

As we walked slowly along the short distance, the high priest explained various things to me as someone who had come to the temple for the first time.

Such as the location of the temple garden and the order of the rituals.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, Your Highness, there are certain parts of the temple that are off-limits to outsiders.”

“Yes.”

Detmé’s temple also had such restrictions.

Most temples prohibited entry to places where only priests stayed.

“That’s the case with the eastern one. The eastern temple is where apprentice priests and regular priests stay, so please refrain from entering.”

“I will remember that.”

“I’m pleased you understand. Ah, we’ve arrived.”

The high priest smiled and personally opened the door.

“This is the room where Your Highness will stay until the ceremony is over.”

As I stepped inside, I saw quite a luxurious room, whether it was arranged for guests or not.

A large bed, a fine-looking carpet, expensive-looking furniture, and curtains that matched the room.

It seemed like they had prepared upon hearing of my arrival.

“It’s splendid.”

“There may be many shortcomings, but thank you for your kind words.”

“No, it’s magnificent.”

The high priest smiled again at my praise, then pointed to a door on one wall.

“The maidservant can use that room. And while you’re here in the temple, I’ll introduce you to the priests who will serve you.”

Usually, when someone came to such a place, they were assigned someone who knew the geography or circumstances well.

“Allow me to introduce Cosmo, the apprentice priest who will assist you.”

As the high priest introduced, a person stepped forward.

It was a boy of about fifteen with black hair.

“Hello, Your Highness. I am Cosmo, the apprentice priest serving the Lord.”

And he was the guy who caught my eye earlier.

I smiled at Cosmo.

“I’ll be counting on you while I’m here.”

“Yes, please let me know if you need anything.”

After Cosmo and I finished our greetings, the high priest turned his gaze.

“Duke Lionel Marcus and the others have separate rooms prepared for them. Would you like to come this way?”

As I nodded, Lionel and the other knights stepped back, leaving only Betty, Cosmo, and me in the room.

“Betty.”

“Yes?”

Betty turned her head as she was about to tidy up my bag.

“Could you tidy up your luggage first? I want to lie down for a bit.”

“Sure…?”

At my request, Betty continued to nod with a smile and obediently walked to the room assigned to her.

“Lady Lottie, I mean, Your Highness. Please call me when you feel better?”

“Yeah, I will.”

Betty poked her head out between the doors, nodded crisply, and then closed the door.

She must be used to me making strange requests by now since it’s not just a one or two-day thing.

After Betty went into the room, only the apprentice priest and I were left.

“Hey.”

I asked straight away.

“What are you doing here, anyway?”