I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

“Success!”

A look of excitement crossed the stoic face of Knight Commander Gerol.

It was a rare occurrence, extremely rare indeed.

That’s how excited he was.

“We managed to apprehend the smugglers and dismantle their illegal gambling dens one by one.”

Baron Dean had a list of investments.

It seemed he was quite adept at not only trading with smugglers but also investing.

Moreover, those scoundrels were all involved in illegal gambling dens, so we were able to annihilate them all at once.

Even that guy named Finn was the most despicable among the smugglers.

Just catching him alone was a big win.

“We’ve identified the smuggling routes and plan to lie in wait there. Then we can quickly apprehend other smugglers.”

Both smuggling and illegal gambling dens had long been concerns for the Emperor and Gerol.

Now that those problems had disappeared all at once, even Gerol, as stoic as he was, couldn’t help but smile.

“Even the illegal mercenaries! We were worried about what kind of trouble those who hadn’t joined the Mercenaries Guild might cause, but now we feel relieved.”

Gerol puffed out his chest as if the frustration he had felt had been completely relieved.

“….”

The emperor, who had been listening to Gerol’s story in silence, turned to look at me.

“There are a few things I’m curious about regarding the princess.”

I grinned and cleared my throat.

“How were you so sure that Baron Dean could find the smugglers?”

“Well, because the smugglers wouldn’t directly unpack the goods themselves.”

Surely there would be someone designated to unload the goods in the market.

And such people were usually connected to gambling dens.

“You know the saying, ‘birds of a feather flock together’?”

Moreover, illegal gambling dens were a suitable market for smuggling goods.

Usually, smuggled goods were either prohibited items or expensive items like alcohol or tobacco with high tariffs.

They probably bought them at a high price without bothering to check if they were smuggled goods while drinking and playing at the gambling dens.

“So it seemed that smugglers and illegal gambling dens were connected in some way.”

“I see, Your Highness. You’re very clever.”

Gerol nodded at my words.

“We also tried to investigate in a similar direction, but they were so cautious.”

It seemed Gerol had the same thoughts as me.

But the caution toward me and Gerol must have been different.

‘It was possible because it was me.’

I relaxed my guard and tempted them.

‘Well, that’s a relief.’

I raised my head high.

But the emperor’s face showed complete incomprehension.

“How did you know that this contraband was Benthian tobacco leaves?”

Even if I had tried my best to cast my line, if this shipment hadn’t been Benthian tobacco, it would have been a wasted effort.

The emperor was asking about that.

“That’s simple too. I found out that Benthian tobacco leaves are the most expensive among leaves and only a small amount comes in.”

There were no smugglers who smuggled necessities into a stable country.

Most of them were luxury items.

And even if it was a luxury item, it was a product that came in only small quantities?

Eyes will roll. 

There will be people whose eyes will roll to obtain Benthian tobacco. And there will be those whose eyes roll to sell it. So, I was confident that there would be at least a little bit of Benthian tobacco leaves.

I didn’t know if it would fill a ship’s hold, but you know.

“…Gerol.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Deliver what we promised to the princess.”

Finally seeming convinced, the emperor nodded his head.

Alright!

It was a wish, but of course, I didn’t forget about the money. It was only natural.

It was nothing special.

One thousand gold for each smuggler.

Twenty percent of the smuggled goods’ value in gold and a reward.

‘And hefty compensation for damages!’

If I hadn’t taken action and instead reported Baron Dean, the compensation I would have received wouldn’t have been much.

Even Baron Dean would’ve been a pauper who had to empty his pockets.

So, I made sure to fatten up Baron Dean’s pockets first.

Before the Baron was caught, I persuaded him to sell his mansion and mortgage his title.

‘The palace always sells these things cheaply.’

The palace had sold off mansions and items belonging to bankrupt families at rock-bottom prices.

It was good when buying, but it was a headache when there were obligations to fulfill.

But thanks to the mansion Baron Dean had sold in advance, the money was quite hefty, and there was even investment money.

Originally, the investment funds would have been distributed and returned to the owner.

‘Weren’t they all in prison anyway?’

I chuckled heartily.

On top of the reward and the money agreed upon!

The sound of coins filling my pockets!

And it wasn’t over yet.

“Your Highness.”

A knight arrived. He had investigated Baron Dean’s mansion.

The mansion had been sold, but not all of its furnishings and belongings had been sold.

“Is this the item you requested?”

The knight held a box engraved with the crest of the Baron’s family, containing flowers.

“The butler of the mansion confirmed that it was authentic, but it seems the contents have been swapped.”

“I’ll check.”

The knight nodded and opened the box.

“Huh?”

The eyes of the emperor and Gerol, who were watching from behind, narrowed.

Normally, items labeled as authentic had some value.

But what came out of the box were seeds.

A handful of small, dry seeds.

“It seems like it might have been swapped, Your Highness.”

Gerol said from behind, but I shook my head.

This was the authentic crest of Baron Dean.

‘Starlight flower seeds.’

I recognized it at a glance.

On the day Baron Dean first greeted me, there was a starlight flower engraved on his brooch.

It used to bloom, but now it was a flower that never bloomed where human hands could reach.

Was that why Baron Dean was so clueless about what flower adorned his family crest?

But it wouldn’t have been the case for the founder of his family.

He considered it significant, so he has used it in the family crest.

‘Just to be sure, I checked.’

Sure enough, there was a handful of starlight flower seeds kept inside.

Upon closer inspection, there seemed to be a slight gap in the box.

Certainly, someone from the Baron’s family must have tried to germinate the seeds but failed.

‘Ordinary people can’t make starlight flowers bloom.’

But I’m not an ordinary person.

“This is it!”

I nodded as I accepted the box.

I’ll have to take good care of them and make them grow.

As I was salivating, the emperor spoke from behind.

“So, Princess. You asked for a wish.”

When I turned around, the emperor was looking straight at me.

“Tell me your wish.”

“……”

“Whatever wish you have, I’ll grant them all.”

I could tell just by looking into his eyes. The emperor was sincere.

Even if I asked for all the world’s renowned medicines, he would probably grant them, and he seemed ready to show even more affection than before, which I had never received.

But my wish had already been decided.

I blinked slowly and then spoke.

“Please talk to Arkin.”

“Your Highness?”

Gerol was surprised, his eyes widening.

He approached me quietly with his large frame and whispered.

“W-what about another wish? Like asking for a little more money or an estate.”

He mentioned a few other options.

All of them were ways to improve my situation.

‘I knew how to improve my situation from the start.’

Indeed, from the emperor’s gaze, it seemed like he would grant, ‘Make me a rightful princess!’ or ‘Punish everyone who has insulted me until now!’ 

Honestly, I didn’t lack the desire to say those things.

But children are more impatient.

“When was the last time you had a conversation with Arkin?”

I came out with a completely different topic.

“A conversation?”

The emperor furrowed his brow for a moment.

“If it’s about Prince Arkin, I receive reports from him every day. So-“

“Not reports.”

I stepped forward.

“I mean, face-to-face conversations. Just the two of you talking, aside from the formal dinners.”

“……”

“Ah! And please exclude occasions when Your Majesty is speaking alone. That’s not a conversation, is it?”

That’s just one-sided chatter.

“……”

The emperor looked uncomfortable. He seemed to be trying to recall something.

Well, I expected this.

I sighed heavily and shook my head. The emperor looked awkward.

“If it’s been so long that you need to recall, you don’t have to tell me.”

“…I inquired about his well-being from time to time.”

“And the answers were all the same?”

Yes, Your Majesty, I am always fine. 

I am currently diligently learning swordsmanship. Yes, I will work hard to fill my shortcomings and follow my brother and sister. Yes, yes, yes.

As I recited what Arkin would have said, the emperor’s and Gerol’s eyes widened.

Was that the right answer?