I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
“Um, I understand the situation well.”
The man conversing with Lady Saila nodded slightly.
Hope filled Lady Saila’s eyes.
“Okay!”
“But I can’t help.”
The man firmly refused. Lady Saila, wearing an old dress, sighed in disappointment.
“I beg of you. Please, even if you reconsider.”
“No, no matter how you put it….”
Hm.
I straightened up and glanced around, then turned my head towards the chamberlain.
“Do you know her?”
The chamberlain, still fixated on Lady Saila, replied.
“Yes, she worked at the palace since childhood.”
While maids and servants were almost entirely dependent on the palace, not all female attendants were.
Even if they worked as attendants from a young age, some would marry and leave the palace as they grew older.
‘Is Lady Saila one of those people?’
The chamberlain’s face darkened.
“It seems she came to the palace for work.”
“For work?”
I blinked.
If she’s a Countess, it was not a low position.
Such a person seeking work?
‘Nobles don’t typically work for money.’
Nowadays, it seems to be quite acceptable, but in the past, even doing business in a noble house was criticized.
It was only considered noble to live off the income from their estate.
Although things had improved significantly over time, earning money through manual labor was still subject to criticism.
‘But attendants and chamberlains are considered prestigious positions serving the royalty, so they’re a slight exception.’
Still, it was rare for someone to work as an attendant or chamberlain due to a lack of money.
“Is she in a bad situation?”
The chamberlain nodded heavily in response to my question.
“Lady Saila’s family weren’t doing well. There was no adult to take care of the household.”
Still, the Count and the Countess were good people, and there were no days without laughter, the chamberlain said.
“But a few years ago, after Count Saila’s death, things took a turn for the worse. Even their family. Ah, it’s a shame.”
The chamberlain smiled awkwardly at me.
“I apologize, Your Highness, I’ve become quite talkative in my old age. It’s not something I should be saying.”
There seemed to be more to it.
But the chamberlain didn’t seem inclined to say more.
Probably because it was someone else’s private matter.
Even what was said just now seemed to stem from genuine sympathy.
And even now.
“I’m sorry for Liena, too…….”
Before diverting my gaze, the chamberlain murmured, making my ears perk up.
Wait, Liena?
Betty’s words automatically replayed in my mind.
“Alright! By any chance, have you found a successor for Baron Dean? It would be great if someone like Maid Liena could take over.”
“Chamberlain.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I know you don’t like speaking, but I’ll ask just one thing.”
The chamberlain smiled warmly as if encouraging me to ask comfortably.
“Did Lady Saila help Betty much when she was at the palace?”
“Oh, yes. They met occasionally, and she helped Betty.”
Ah-ha, I blinked.
“Then, what did Lady Saila do while she was at the palace?”
“She oversaw general management.”
Pride and old memories filled the chamberlain’s face.
“She learned under me, she was an apprentice.”
Hmm! I grinned at the chamberlain.
Found her.
My maid!
* * *
A table was set in a corner of the garden, where only the Emperor and Empress could come and go.
On it were desserts that a young girl would love.
Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream, butterfly cake with lots of buttercream, jam tarts filled with strawberry and raspberry jam, and even cream-filled bread.
It was a feast of foods that made one’s mouth water just by looking at them.
Even the tea, which had flower petals mixed in, emitted a sweet fragrance.
And yet, as I looked at these foods, my eyes remained cold.
‘I like sweets, but I get tired of them.’
Maybe serve something less sweet, even with the tea.
“Doesn’t it fit your mouth?”
The emperor sitting across from me asked.
“Yes.”
I replied immediately.
“Do you have anything less sweet than this? I prefer something less sweet because of my age… er, no. I just prefer less sweet foods.”
“…Is that so?”
Confusion crossed the Emperor’s face.
“I heard that girls your age like these kinds of foods, so I prepared them.”
Ah.
I cleared my throat and blinked.
“I heard that children your age also like this tea. Does it suit your taste?”
Come to think of it, I was 15 years old. Children of my age did like these kinds of foods.
I even noticed cute rabbit drawings on the teacups.
There were even rabbits wearing hats decoratively attached to the ends of the forks.
How cute.
‘It seems he’s put some thought into this.’
I don’t know why he called me here, but these foods seemed to be prepared by the Emperor himself, considering my preferences.
“Please prepare different foods immediately, chamberlain.”
“No need.”
I picked up a slice of butterfly cake onto my plate.
“I’ll have this.”
I should accept his effort.
Besides, having it once or twice won’t hurt.
Hmm, it’s sweet but not bad.
As I took a big bite of the cake, a faint smile spread across the Emperor’s lips.
“Next time, I’ll make sure to prepare the foods you like, Princess.”
…There will be a next time?
“Your Majesty.”
I set down the fork I was using to eat the cake.
“May I ask why you summoned me now?”
I’ve had all sorts of thoughts on the way here.
Is it because of smugglers and illegal gambling dens? Or did I suddenly gain abilities? Did my personality change?
If not that, then is it Arkin’s business?
‘Once the Emperor states his purpose, I’ll be able to ask for what I want.’
It’s a give-and-take world, isn’t it?
With that in mind, I waited for the Emperor to speak.
But.
“Didn’t the princess ask for a conversation?”
Huh?
“You said we should have a proper exchange, looking each other in the eyes.”
I did say that, but I meant it for Arkin, not myself.
“No, that was for Arkin, not me.”
Even after asking him to see that child, why is he suddenly doing this to me?
“Princess too.”
The Emperor, who had stopped speaking for a moment, opened his mouth again.
“Because you’re my child too.”
“….”
His sincere words left me speechless.
The Emperor was trying to mend the strained relationship between us.
“I understand that I’ve been lacking.”
“….”
“I know I’ve been indifferent to you.”
The Emperor spoke as if vomiting words.
I felt a deep hesitation in his words.
“I wanted to apologize… sincerely.”
That’s right.
My eyes widened at the Emperor’s words.
‘I was part of the family too.’
I had only recently regained my memories, but I knew that in my head.
“Um.”
I absentmindedly toyed with my fingertips.
‘I didn’t expect this to happen to me.’
I subtly raised my gaze to look at the Emperor.
The Emperor, fixated on the teacup with an oddly mismatched ribbon, was trying to make amends between us.
Should I accept this apology or not?
“Well, honestly, I don’t quite understand.”
I cleared my throat and wiped my neck.
“Maybe you paid attention to me because of what I said about talking to Prince Arkin?”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly at my words.
It wasn’t because of any other emotion, but rather guilt and remorse.
As for Arkin, he might view it positively since he has longed for his family’s affection, but I wasn’t like that.
“To be honest, it’s a bit surprising.”
“….”
The Emperor closed his eyes at my words. The teacup clinked with his trembling hand.
“I never expected to be forgiven immediately.”
After a moment of silence, the Emperor spoke again. A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
“Even a heartless country like mine doesn’t expect that.”
But.
“Will you at least give me a chance to earn your forgiveness?”
“…Forgiveness.”
“Yes, however much time passes. I’ll be waiting.”
Hmm.
It was too heavy of a sincerity to confront at a time when I had just regained my memories.
Yet, it was a sincerity I couldn’t ignore.
‘What should I do?’
I stopped fidgeting with my fingers. Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.
And with it, I realized one small fact.
“….”
“Princess?”
When I didn’t respond for a long time, the Emperor softly added.
“…Don’t you want to?”
Finishing my thought, I shook my head.
Well, this should be fine. He’s not asking for forgiveness, just for a chance.
“Okay.”
I nodded slightly.
“I’ll think about it.”