I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
‘Should I jump now?’
I sat in the carriage and stared blankly out the window.
If I jumped now, I wouldn’t have to go, right?
I’ll be asked why I don’t make nectar.
The Emperor will find me interesting.
The emperor who would pay more attention to me than before.
Now, the empress, crown prince, and princess who would watch me.
Plus other nobles.
Just the thought made my head throb.
‘Of course, it’s a situation we should encounter at least once.’
I couldn’t avoid the temple all my life.
Honestly, if I had to meet one of the gods, it would be better to meet Detmé.
He was one of the few gods who cared about me as a human.
Even the other nobles in the palace couldn’t avoid it.
So, I know I have to go to the ritual, but, yeah, I know but…
‘But I still hate it!’
I pulled at my hair.
Why should I meet awkward people at such a time?
‘It’s not a good time.’
My actions to survive so far were spreading among the nobles.
Lady Saila told me so.
Well, even I find it strange.
Suddenly, the child changes in one day and uncovers the case of the Empress’ poisoning.
Plus, I took care of Baron Leold Dean and the illegal gambling den smugglers all at once.
I even wore Her Majesty the Good Empress’ amulet and walked around.
‘They’ll know I’ve had a hand in dealing with the Rom Fever.’
It turns out Lady Saila was subtly famous among the nobles.
A widow and a hopeless sick child.
Isn’t it a perfect gossip?
The “pitiful and hopeless child” who was being talked about suddenly improved overnight.
And after my visit!
‘They may not think I cured him, but they’ll know I did something to help.’
They’re not fools, after all.
And those rumors were at their peak right now.
“Ah!”
I let out a loud sigh.
Just one month! Just one more month, and it would have been over!
‘And now, the Starlight flower isn’t growing well, and there’s the ritual on top of that.’
It’s probably not going to work out.
As I firmly pressed my throbbing head, I nodded decisively.
Jumping is still the answer.
If the princess fell off the carriage and rolled, no one would tell her to come to the ritual!
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
…Right, this won’t do.
As I turned my head, I saw Arkin innocently blinking beside me.
“Are you hot? Should I open the door?”
“N-no, it’s okay…”
I let go of the handle of the carriage window that I had been holding firmly.
It’s a bit awkward to jump in front of a child.
Just a moment.
“But Arkin.”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Why are you going to the Temple of Detmé with me?”
During such formal events, the nobles moved individually.
Just in case there’s an accident and we all die.
But why is he next to me?
I remember waiting naturally in front of the palace.
“Well, you know! This is your first official event!”
Arkin yelled out abruptly.
His voice had become noticeably smaller than before.
It seemed like he remembered the fact that my ears hurt whenever he yelled.
“You shouldn’t insult the Pandelion family name by acting foolishly, you know?”
Arkin, with his arms folded, raised his nose.
“That’s why I’m going with you. Got it?”
“Yeah, you just wanted to come with me?”
“No!”
“I understand. You don’t mean you want to sit next to me even during formal events.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that!”
“Arkin, are you still young or something? Should I hold your hand? Want to hold hands and go?”
“…Eesh!!”
Oh, I teased him too much.
Arkin turned his head sharply.
It was a clear display of him being annoyed.
“Arkin.”
Normally, he would answer right away with a ‘Yeah?’ but Arkin didn’t reply.
“Arkin.”
“Why? What?”
After calling him a couple more times and poking his cheek, he turned his head sharply again with a scrunched-up face.
His ruby-like eyes were burning with irritation.
“Do you know that?”
“I’m not curious about it!”
“I wanted to go with you?”
At my words, Arkin’s eyes widened again.
I lightly smiled at his expression.
“I feel a bit nervous and scared going alone. It’s my first official event, as you said. So, I wanted to go with you.”
“Really…?”
His body, which had turned completely away, gradually turned back towards me.
“Yeah, that’s why I was glad you came with me.”
“…”
“Thank you, Arkin.”
As I smiled widely, he mumbled something and grabbed my arm tightly again.
He didn’t forget to say that he would only do this once.
Ha, he’s really cute.
I gently smoothed down his neatly arranged hair to keep it from getting messed up.
“B-but, don’t you, Sister, need information about other people?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly?
“Her Majesty the Empress Consort, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Her Highness the Princess, you know nothing about them.”
Ah, I see.
‘You came to tell me about this.’
Just in case I don’t know about the Empress, Crown Prince, and Princess and make a mistake.
He came here since dawn to tell me about it.
“You came with me to tell me about that?”
“No, I didn’t!”
No, he should say he’ll help now. Earlier, he said what if I make a mess.
If I want to tease him, should I start by resisting?
“Really? How would I know if I don’t know?”
Actually, I did know.
Lady Saila and Betty had been diligently telling me about various things since a few days before the ritual.
But.
“This is a big problem….”
I let out a sigh as if worried.
“Am I going to get in trouble for calling someone else ‘Her Majesty’? Isn’t there anyone to help me?”
And then, I got an immediate response.
“…I can tell you.”
“Really? Arkin, you’re the best!”
His little lips curled up, and his eyes sparkled.
The blush rising on his cheeks, not yet completely rid of baby fat, was a bonus.
So adorable, so adorable.
After showering Arkin with praise, his cheeks shot up with satisfaction.
After a long ceremony of praise, Arkin opened his mouth.
“You know, Her Majesty’s name is Clea Pandelion.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“She’s really beautiful! And our eye colors are the same, right?”
“Really? She must be incredibly beautiful.”
“Yeah! And before she got married, she was at Marquis Floyd’s place.”
This time, as I was about to respond, I paused.
‘Wait, Floyd?’
It was a name I’d heard somewhere, ah!
“So, I believe someone must try the tea.”
I remembered. Wasn’t he the guy who subtly picked on me during the Good Empress’ poisoning case?
‘He’s from the Empress’ side of the family.’
Being the Emperor’s illegitimate child was an open secret.
So, it was natural for there to be checks and balances on the Empress’ side of the family.
“And Prince Leonard is ten years older than me and kind. He talks to me often. He’s so talented in magic that he’s already a 5th-circle mage!”
Arkin’s eyes sparkled.
“A 5th-circle mage is amazing, you know?”
I know, then.
I had been a mage before.
‘A 5th-circle mage.’
Even if an ordinary person trained all their life, they’d usually reach the end at the 2nd or 3rd circle.
The limit of circles one could reach was 9 circles.
There were rumors of someone reaching 10 circles, but I wasn’t sure if that was true.
Anyway, being 20 years old and already a 5th-circle mage was enough to be called a genius.
“But he mainly stays at the tower, so it’s hard to see his face.”
Arkin’s lively voice dwindled a bit towards the end.
I stroked his head, and he quickly recovered.
“And finally, Princess Stella! She’s nine years older than me and skilled in spear-fighting.”
“Spear-fighting?”
“Yeah! I saw her from afar last time, and it was cool. She was swinging her spear like this, and people were like-!”
Excited, Arkin waved his arms around.
I chuckled softly as I watched him.
“She’s already received her knighthood and participated in monster hunting. She’s also participating in this war.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I blinked.
The Emperor had a son who was a sword master, a genius in magic, and a daughter who was no less.
The more I heard, the more I felt I was not a Pandelion.
‘This is so crazy.’
I am the only one who cannot produce results among such outstanding people.
It was worth falling for a scammer.
‘Anyway, contractors are rare.’
Because their numbers were so low, even contracting with lesser spirits was acknowledged.
Arkin would probably gain recognition quickly.
“Arkin, are you learning swordsmanship these days?”
“Oh, yeah!”
Arkin nodded his head.
After the spirit scam incident, Arkin, who had been wandering for a while, started learning swordsmanship.
It was something many people learned.
Unlike Elementalism, it would be difficult to gain recognition for any achievements.
“I’ve thought about a lot of things. But still, swordsmanship seems to suit me the best.”
Arkin replied, fidgeting with his small hands.
“I’m a little worried.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah, since swordsmanship usually starts from a younger age, I feel like I’m starting late…”
That’s true.
Usually, swordsmanship education starts around the age of 5, so it’s understandable to be worried.
When starting something new, everyone feels excited but also a little worried, don’t they?
“Come on, Arkin, it’s not too late, and what’s wrong with being a little late?”
As I smiled slightly, Arkin blinked.
“It’s important to go all the way no matter when you start.”
Not giving up halfway and going all the way.
Isn’t that the most difficult and important thing?
I chuckled softly and continued.
“So don’t stress too much, okay? You can do it.”
“Yeah!”
Arkin smiled brightly at my words.
He’s truly adorable.
I smiled broadly as I stroked Arkin’s head.
Yeah, since I’m here.
Let’s think of it as doing what needs to be done without stressing too much.
After all, it’s one of the gates we have to pass through to live quietly.
‘As long as we don’t stand out in people’s eyes, it’s fine, right?’
Isn’t that so?