I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
Would a ten-year-old believe that every day is the same?
‘Even adults, who seem to have so much experience, don’t have the same routine.’
I stifled a laugh inside.
In broad terms, it might seem like the same place, the same work, the same people, but when you look closely, isn’t everything different?
Even adults are like that, but what about children, who are so full of emotions?
‘Every day, every hour, every minute, every second is different.’
Today, the sun was beautiful, I saw a new bird, and the wind was refreshing.
It’s the same sky, but yesterday it was cloudy, and today it’s clear.
Yesterday, I stumbled a little and hurt myself, but I still enjoyed eating something delicious.
Just with those things, children could talk for hours.
That child was saying the same thing every time.
They were torturing themselves internally, seeking validation.
No matter how much Arkin tried to hide it.
It was something that adults could easily see if they looked a little closer.
It was such a thing.
“Please talk to Arkin. Ask him about his day. If there were any difficulties. What were the enjoyable moments?”
What’s his favorite color?
What’s his favorite food?
Sometimes empathize, saying that I’ve been there too.
And sometimes encourage him to stay strong.
“Please engage in proper communication, looking into each other’s eyes. That’s my wish.”
Listening attentively and reciprocating.
Just that gives the child strength.
‘It’s true for everyone, but especially for children.’
I looked at the Emperor as I put the box in the bag I brought.
The Emperor, Gerol, and even the knights behind.
They were all clueless.
Are they all neglecting their families?
At this rate, when they get older, their kids will accuse them of smothering them with care.
Tsk, I openly scoffed, and people flinched.
They all had faces that could be poked at.
If only they realized it now, they’d do better in the future!
“Please grant my wish. And even if Arkin has done something wrong this time, please don’t scold him.”
The Emperor’s head nodded heavily.
It was a face that realized his mistake.
Alright.
‘And through this incident, they might trust me a little more.’
Since I showed my abilities unlike any wish, things should go smoother in the future.
I also gained money and a famous medicine.
I caught three birds with one stone by throwing a single stone.
Including Arkin, is it four birds?
‘Alright, should I go back now?’
As I confidently adjusted my bag, a deep voice sounded above my head.
“What about the Princess?”
“Yes?”
“Not Arkin, but don’t you have anything you want for yourself?”
Something I want?
I looked up at the Emperor’s eyes looking at me.
“I just said it.”
“Besides that.”
There was urgency in the Emperor’s voice. Why?
“I mean something for the Princess herself.”
For myself… After a brief moment of consideration, I shook my head.
“I don’t have any.”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty.”
Whether he said anything or not, I boarded the carriage that was waiting.
As soon as we departed, I needed to start planting seeds!
* * *
“…Nothing?”
The Emperor, watching the carriage leave, muttered to himself.
“You have no wishes?”
Why?
A small question sprouted next to the long-standing one.
But he couldn’t ask.
The person who could answer had already gone far away.
* * *
“That’s it.”
A few days later, I carefully planted seeds in a small brown pot.
In fact, I had planned to do it as soon as I returned.
But I nearly died halfway through just going to the port.
‘This is what I get for eating dried Mandragora.’
I’m so emotional.
Still, things might get better when the Starlight Flowers bloom.
I looked at the pot with seeds planted in it with loving eyes.
The pot was something Betty had prepared in advance.
The soil was good and moist, and the humidity, temperature, and feeling were all perfect!
‘Now all I need is some starlight.’
This flower withered as soon as it saw sunlight.
It could only grow by seeing moonlight and starlight that rose at night.
Even water couldn’t be given directly.
It withered as soon as a drop touched it.
‘I should give it purified water.’
Either through magic, divine power, or water created by spirits.
This flower was so picky that ordinary people couldn’t raise it.
“Undine.”
<Yes!>
<You called, Wanderer!>
As if they were waiting, the undines appeared.
“Can I ask you something?”
<Sure! Anything you say, Wanderer!>
<We can do anything!>
“Please water this flower.”
As I held up the pot for their convenience, the undines crowded around it.
<It’s the Starlight Flower!>
<It’s a flower that’s rare to see in the human world!>
“Yes, that’s why I want you to take care of it.”
Precisely, it just needs water at the right time.
But I hardened my face and said seriously.
“It’s a difficult task… but I believe you can do it.”
The undines’ eyes sparkled with my trust.
It seemed quite gratifying for them to be entrusted with work.
<Okay!>
<We can do it!>
<How much should we give? I can soak it completely!>
Their enthusiasm was overwhelming.
“When the moon is directly overhead, just give it this much. Please.”
Five undines nodded in response to my words.
Then, they started deciding who should give water first, whether it should be me or them.
How adorable.
“I’m back, Lady Lottie.”
When I placed the pot in a shady spot by the road, Betty appeared cheerfully.
Her freckled face was full of excitement.
“Lady Lottie, Lady Lottie, you have to come see! The food storage is full!”
Betty waved her arms excitedly, puffing out breaths.
She probably wanted to say that a lot of food had arrived.
“Is the food storage repaired?”
“Yes! Wow, really. Despite all the trouble I went through, it wouldn’t come, but it suddenly came and fixed everything?”
The rumor that I had raided smugglers and illegal gambling dens with the Emperor yesterday had already spread to the palace.
And the gifts sent by the Emperor played a part in it.
‘He sent that right away.’
I glanced at the garden.
There were three wagons filled with gold coins.
‘Even roughly, it’s more than the agreed amount.’
It was generous of him, but why did he send it so conspicuously, spreading rumors everywhere?
‘Thanks to that, I became noticeable.’
Honestly, it’s embarrassing to say this after what I’ve done so far.
I had grand ambitions of living a long and luxurious life, relying on the power of the royal family without doing anything.
For that, I couldn’t afford to attract attention.
‘If I stand out for no reason, it’ll only cause trouble.’
I got this just by standing out unnecessarily in the eyes of the giver.
Ah, thinking about it makes me mad again.
I frowned.
‘Anyway, I’m in a position where standing out won’t do me any good.’
I was the Emperor’s illegitimate child without a mother.
Moreover, there were already two people who were outstanding enough to vie for the throne.
If I stand out for no reason, that guy might come after me for the throne.
‘Even though the war is over, the Empress is still touring the provinces.’
I heard that the war, which had been dragging on for a few years, had finally ended.
It was said that the Crown Prince and Princess were also traveling back and forth between the battlefield and the fortresses, so they were not in the palace now.
However, the roles of the Emperor and the Empress were usually clearly divided like drawing a line.
The Emperor handled affairs outside the palace, while the Empress handled affairs inside.
But the Empress was handling matters beyond the palace.
‘It means the Empress also has ambitions for power.’
Normally, it would have been impressive, but not now.
Because there was a possibility that she would see me as an obstacle.
So, I planned to quietly suck up to her after this incident was over.
But because of the wind sending such a thing, I got stuck in people’s memories.
‘Rumors are just rumors, but things like that have a big visual impact, right?’
Once the palace maintenance is done, I’ll have to buy some protection for myself in the future.
“Betty.”
I called to Betty, sliding away from the window.
“Yes?”
“From now on, new servants will come.”
Since Baron Dean’s arrest, those on the list have been caught one by one.
Thanks to that, now Betty is my only employee.
“Wow, really? Are these going to be proper people this time?”
“That’s right.”
Thanks to Arkin’s servant’s efforts, I was able to find quite decent people.
“Alright! By any chance, have you found a successor for Baron Dean? It would be great if someone like Maid Liena could take over.”
“No, I didn’t find a maid.”
I shook my head.
Although there are recommended people, I haven’t decided on it yet.
‘If I bring in those who used to look down on me and put them to work, they might end up emulating Baron Dean’s behavior.’
It was something that occasionally happened even in noble families.
Stealing money behind the owner’s back, replacing quality goods with cheap ones, and pocketing the difference.
It was just asking for trouble to hire anyone.
There was a reason why butlers and maids were handed down from generation to generation.
It wasn’t just about ability but also about trustworthiness.
That’s how it was done.
“So, here’s the thing, Betty.”
I took out the list of new employees I had just hired, along with the items I recently purchased, such as groceries and furniture.
And as an addition, I also took out the keys to the pantry and the safe.
“Could you manage these for me, at least for now?”
If it was Betty, who had been with me all this time, she wouldn’t backstab me.
“You’re the person I trust the most in this palace.”
And secretly, if Betty could get used to this job, I also wanted to somehow promote her to be the steward of this mansion.
“Please. It won’t be long.”
‘I should check the law to see if only stewards and maids can do this.’
Where could I find the law books?
“Ah…”
As I pondered about the law books, I heard the word “no” rejecting my request.
“I, I can’t do it, Lady Lottie….”
Huh?