I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 169

CHAPTER 169

“Your Highness.”

As I changed clothes and combed my hair, a knock sounded, and an unfamiliar priest entered.

“Hello, I am Ritte, a high priest in charge of guiding Your Highness today.”

The priest, lightly dressed, smiled kindly.

“The ceremony is about to begin.”

“I’ll be ready soon.”

“Understood. Hmm? Did you not sleep well?”

“Ah… I am nervous. It’s the first time I’ll attend a ritual other than the Temple of Detmé.”

That was a lie.

I had stayed up all night making something and had barely slept for a few hours.

“I see.”

The priest nodded with a smile.

“You probably don’t need to be so nervous, but just in case, would you like some medicine to help with fatigue recovery?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I had already drunk three bottles of fatigue recovery potion made from starlight flowers and mandragora.

Honestly, I wanted to drink one more bottle, but my heart was beating too fast for that.

When I waved my hand in embarrassment, the priest said that he’d wait outside.

“But, Lady Lottie.”

Betty finished combing my hair and asked.

“Where did the apprentice priest Cosmo go and who is the other person who came?”

Ah, that guy.

I sent him away.

‘He had to send a letter urgently.’

I needed a means to move the flock quickly, and there was no answer other than Pendrade.

I wonder if he’s flying somewhere far away by now, transformed into his true form.

“Where could he have gone? I have no idea either.”

I couldn’t just tell Betty, ‘Yeah! I sent him far away!’

So, I pretended not to know and laughed.

“Hmm? I see.”

Betty tilted her head as if something was strange.

…Lately, Betty seems to have become strangely perceptive.

Anyway, when I finished preparing and came out, there were priests and Pandelion knights to guide me at the door.

“Are you ready, Your Highness?”

And there was Lionel.

I naturally took Lionel’s hand when he offered it.

He lightly kissed the back of my hand.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

“Good morning, Duke Lionel.”

Well, it’s a bit excessive for a morning greeting.

‘Knowing that Lionel and I are lovers, everyone looks at us with warm eyes.’

Alright, should I play along a bit?

I placed my hand on Lionel’s arm. 

As we walked faster, a distance grew between us and the others.

As expected.

They probably thought lovers had something to say, so the priests and knights didn’t try to close the distance.

There was something to say, though.

“Lionel.”

Today, I speak not as a lover, but as a comrade.

“I will trust only you today, overall.”

As I spoke while facing him directly, he also nodded, facing me.

“You have to protect me.”

I squeezed Lionel’s hand tightly.

Finally, perhaps because I thought it was over, my hands were trembling.

“Yes, Master.”

A large hand settled on top of my trembling hand.

When I turned my head, Lionel was smiling at me.

“I’ll protect you this time.”

He lightly brushed his finger against my cheek.

I smiled faintly.

Took a deep breath.

‘Alright, all preparations are done.’

I’ve made my plans. 

I’ve anticipated how those guys will move.

Now, all that’s left is to smash their heads like usual.

‘Alright, let’s go!’

I took a step outside.

In the central plaza of the temple, all preparations for the ceremony were complete.

Hundreds of chairs and tables were set up for people to sit, along with tents.

And there was something like a stage…

‘Hmm.’

There was one difference.

It was the temple knights and soldiers surrounding the stage.

No temple had been this strict before.

“Oh, you don’t have to feel too threatened.”

A high priest at the end of my gaze spoke first.

“A few years ago, someone suddenly barged in wanting to touch a relic, so security has tightened a bit.”

…Was there such a lunatic?

It’s not like an ordinary person who’s not a priest needs to touch a relic blessed by a god.

‘Especially since there’s a curse on the relics.’

Others might not know, but I do.

‘Hmm.’

Anyway, I have to figure out how to get to the relics.

‘Just do as I planned.’

“Priest.”

I called the high priest with a worried expression.

“But those people… are they okay? They look too hot.”

It was literal.

Since it was a ceremony held in another country, the Pandelion knights were wearing uniforms without helmets, but these people weren’t.

They were wearing full plate armor with helmets, baking under the sun.

It even looked like they had been standing since before dawn.

“If they collapse like that…”

“Oh, it’s fine!”

The high priest laughed brightly as if saying, ‘They’re good people.’

“They’ll enter with the relic. The apprentice priests are also replenishing enough fluids.”

“Oh, the apprentice priests are doing a great job.”

“Yes, indeed. So please don’t worry too much.”

The priest reassured me several times before leaving.

‘Lionel.’

While doing so, I discreetly handed Lionel a pouch containing powdered medicine.

‘I’m counting on you.’

As I whispered, Lionel nodded and disappeared in an instant.

* * *

Amidst the busy apprentice priests, one person slipped in.

“Cosmo?”

An apprentice priest’s eyes widened.

“You were sick!”

“I feel better now.”

With black hair and freckles adorning his cheeks, Cosmo smiled as he moved his hand.

“And it’s an important day, so I have to help too.”

“Oh.”

“You seem different. You’re usually so lazy.”

“So what? It’s better to come to your senses now, even if it’s late.”

A young apprentice priest extended a tray stacked with cups and a pitcher full of water.

“It’s time for the knights and soldiers to drink water, so go and serve them.”

“Alright. Should I also bring cookies for the high priests?”

“Will it be too heavy?”

“Hey, you may be lazy, but you’re strong, right? Go ahead, take them.”

Another apprentice priest nudged the one holding the water and handed him another tray with cookies.

Cosmo gracefully lifted both trays at once.

“Thank you.”

Lionel, transformed into Cosmo, smiled.

* * *

“I’m back, Master.”

“Did you do well?”

“Yes.”

Lionel, sitting in his place, squinted his eyes cutely.

“It’s your Lionel.”

…He seems to be acting more coquettish.

I can’t ask him directly here.

Instead, I subtly reached under the table and squeezed his thigh tightly.

“……”

His complexion stiffened.

Well, what?

Did you think you could beat me?

I smiled brightly.

In the meantime, the table was filled, and the ceremony began.

There wasn’t much difference from the ceremonies at the Temple of Detmé.

Perhaps the only difference was that, due to the temple’s power, the royal family of this country didn’t participate.

‘Hmm.’

Feeling a bit bored, I glanced around.

No one particularly looked like an evil god.

‘Where could they be hiding?’

They must be nearby.

As I absentmindedly toyed with the edge of my teacup.

“I’ll pray to our god, the Lord.”

Finally, the relic appeared.

Wrapped in precious red cloth, the relic of the Lord was a stone tablet.

Engraved with lightning and an eagle.

The head priest holding it began to pray. 

Even those who followed the Lord bowed their heads in prayer, and those who believed in other gods also bowed out of courtesy.

Even the knights and soldiers guarding the relic turned their heads towards it.

Only Lionel and I held our heads high.

‘Long time no see.’

Slowly, as the relic was touched, the stone tablet began to emit light.

The sound of the god being awakened.

“The god speaks-!!”

The voice of the head priest, amplified by the power of the god, echoed throughout the plaza.

The prayers of the people became even more fervent.

‘He’s watching me.’

I can feel it.

The deity embedded in that relic was not looking at his priests and followers right now.

‘He’s watching me.’

He was watching me.

To monitor what I’m about to do.

But what can he do?

It’s not me who’s causing this right now.

“Ee, eee!!”

Suddenly, a strange sound reverberated in the plaza.