I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
“Wha, hwahwa, haahwa.”
Hwa…?
“Toilet? It’s over there, outside.”
“No!! Not that!”
Ah, the little one doesn’t even tolerate jokes and feels hurt.
When I pouted, Arkin flinched.
“No, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
As I gestured towards the sofa, Arkin slumped down and leaned towards me.
“You know, His Imperial Majesty wants to see me.”
Oh, finally?
‘Time has passed a bit. Maybe because of finishing up with the smugglers and illegal gambling dens.’
But why does Arkin’s face look dark?
“Why would he summon me? Is it because he found out about Viscount Poulton?”
Arkin fidgeted with his fingers.
“So, is he calling me to reprimand me?”
“No.”
Betty brewed tea briskly. Ah, finally, a decent tea is served.
When the granaries were empty, it was worse than drinking plain water.
“His Majesty just wants to talk to you.”
I placed the tea in front of Arkin.
“If you have something to say, say it all, Arkin.”
Not scolding, listening, and then speaking.
That was the promise with the Emperor.
“Oh, is your burn completely healed?”
After the incident with Viscount Poulton, I sent some herbal medicine.
It should have healed in a few days with my medicine.
“Yeah.”
Arkin rolled up his sleeves.
I took his arm and examined it carefully.
There were some marks, but it’s completely healed.
“I’ll mix a new ointment, and if you apply it, the burn marks will disappear.”
“Got it, I’ll apply it without forgetting.”
Since I told Arkin that I was worried about him, he has been accepting my kindness without suspicion.
He even liked it.
Look, even now, isn’t his cheek slightly reddened?
“I wonder if I can tell him everything I want to tell him.”
“Of course.”
Arkin glanced at me.
“Um, it’s not like I never knew.”
“Yeah.”
He really doesn’t know.
I swallowed my words and stared at Arkin.
“What do you usually talk about with His Majesty?”
“Anything.”
I answered concisely.
“Tell him everything you wanted to say.”
“But if it’s not interesting or useful, he might get angry.”
“Arkin.”
I looked at him. A restless child.
“You’re not going to see His Majesty, you’re going to see your father.”
Arkin blinked a few times.
“And fathers usually like whatever their children say.”
“Father.”
It seemed awkward as if it’s been a while since he said it.
“Yeah!”
He quickly nodded.
“Ca-can I say everything I want to say?”
“What do you want to talk about?”
Arkin nodded eagerly again, his red eyes squinting with brightness.
“Yeah, actually, I had a lot I wanted to talk about. You see, the horse I raised gave birth!”
“Wow, really?”
“Yeah! You can’t imagine how cute it is. So tiny, so tiny. I’ll show you later. And guess what? I named it myself. Alexander Alfred Sebastian Thunder III.”
It seemed he got excited about the birth of the foal and decided to give it a grand name he thought was cool.
Every time a servant introduces the foal, his face will surely turn red.
‘I didn’t come up with the name, but this foal’s name is Alexander Alfred Sebastian Thunder III,’ he’d say, trembling with embarrassment.
“Also, you know what? I got everything right in the last philosophy class. The teacher said I’m a genius.”
Arkin chuckled proudly. He really wanted to boast.
“So, Arkin is a genius. I’d prefer if you don’t just call me ‘Hey.'”
As I sighed deeply, Arkin stiffened for a moment.
It seemed he was bothered by calling me ‘Hey!!’ when he entered earlier.
“If you’re uncomfortable calling me ‘sister,’ just call me Lottie instead. But at least maintain some basic manners in front of others.”
Well, I might not be his sister, but calling me that might be okay.
Although I humbly allowed it, Arkin didn’t show humility.
“What did you say?!”
He exclaimed loudly. Perhaps he’s just like that at his age, his voice carries.
“I can call you too! S-s-s-sis…!”
He stumbled over his words again.
Just like before, and even now.
It seemed Arkin had a habit of stuttering more when he was flustered or nervous.
I decided to just watch this time without interfering. But as I watched intently…
“Sis-cha!!”
Due to his tongue-twisting, a name fitting for a real two-year-old popped out.
“Sis-cha?”
Arkin’s face turned red instantly, while mine was filled with laughter.
“Sis-chaaaaaa?”
“No, that’s a mistake! Sister! Sis!! Look, I can pronounce it properly!”
“Isn’t Sis-cha cuter? Can’t you call me Sis-cha? Sis-cha. Sis-cha. Sis-cha. Sis-cha Lottie.”
“Hey!!!”
Oh dear, enjoy yourself.
Arkin, whose face had reddened from too much teasing, stormed out of the room.
It took some effort to calm him down enough to have dinner together, but his flushed face didn’t easily return to normal.
That day ended satisfyingly and joyfully.
“Drink.”
The next day sucked though.
What? Why did you call me?
* **
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“Um.”
After Baron Dean’s incident.
A few days had passed since the newly hired maids and servants, began their work.
‘It finally feels like people are living here.’
The once neglected place was being renovated, with rotten wood and planks removed, and cleaning had begun.
The furniture came into the room one by one where there was none before.
The creaky door and window frames were all replaced, and the swollen wooden floor was repaired.
In particular, the jungle-like garden was being divided into sections, and new flowers and trees were being planted.
In just a few days, the house was starting to feel like a home.
It was a satisfying sight to behold.
Yeah, it’s better to laze around in a clean place all day.
It’s somewhat uncomfortable to laze around in ruins like before, isn’t it?
‘Alright, alright. Looks like I’m getting ready to suck honey.’
Money was obtained, the surroundings were tidied up, and people to help Betty were also hired.
Now, the day to lazily indulge without any worries was gradually approaching.
Thanks to the regular intake of Mandragora, my physical strength had greatly improved.
Although it’s only about a quarter of an average person’s strength.
Just a few days ago, the Empress sent me three more Mandragora roots.
There’s honey too. This time, I should finely chop it and make Mandragora syrup I’ve been dreaming of.
‘And there’s also the Starlight Flower there.’
I’ll move only when I need another miraculous remedy while eating two.
‘Alright, alright.’
“Miss Betty.”
“Miss Betty, it would be nice if you could take a look at this too.”
But there was still one problem remaining.
It was the issue of the successor of Baron Dean.
“Wait, just a moment. Please wait a moment.”
Betty’s eyes, stuck among the people, were spinning around.
‘Betty can’t handle it alone.’
With ten or more people coming in, and many tasks being carried out simultaneously.
When people had work, they ran to Betty, who had been in the palace the longest.
There’s no place to avoid it.
If this continues, Betty will overwork herself.
I narrowed my eyes.
‘But I can’t seem to find a suitable person.’
I didn’t want to employ several maids or servants like other nobles.
So, it seems like it’ll be enough to find just one good person.
‘I don’t ask for much.’
I sighed deeply.
First and foremost, they must be able to manage the mansion overall.
It would be even better if they could assist me with some paperwork.
It’s essential to be able to get along well with Betty, who is of common origin.
They should also be able to manage the servants and have leadership skills.
It would be even better if they were familiar with the trends among nobles.
If they can keep a tight lip, that would be perfect, considering the unpredictability of events.
And, well.
“……”
I smirked.
‘I’ll have to pay them ten times the salary.’
That way, I might be able to hire, no, recruit them!
“Your Highness.”
I don’t know who will become my servant or maid.
I was thinking about how to nobly recruit and nurture someone when someone called me from the opposite end of the corridor.
When I turned my head, the new servant was standing there this time.
“A guest has arrived.”
A guest?
When I looked beside the servant, I saw a somewhat familiar face.
It was the chamberlain.
The chamberlain who used to be by the emperor’s side.
…I had a bad feeling about this.
“Hello, Your Highness. I brought a message from His Majesty the Emperor.”
The elderly chamberlain greeted me with formality.
“From His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
The chamberlain smiled gently.
“Since the weather is nice and the sun is warm, His Majesty suggested having tea together.”
“With me?”
Endless question marks popped up.
Why me, of all people?
‘What’s going on?’
I narrowed my eyes. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I have no reason to refuse.
While I was considering whether to ask for more money on the way to the emperor’s palace, I noticed someone.
A woman in an old dress was looking quite uncomfortable.
“Countess Saila?”
Who could she be?