I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
“Let’s go. I have a place to go.”
“What?”
Before Arkin could say anything else, I opened the prison door.
Arkin was still coming in, so the prison door hadn’t closed yet.
“……??”
The knights at the door looked at me with widened eyes.
I smiled faintly at those knights.
“I have urgent matters to attend to. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Oh, yes… Wait, Your Highness!”
I tried to slip away naturally.
But before I could take a few steps, Arkin and the knights who had rushed out caught me.
“No!”
Arkin, whose face had turned pale, blocked my path.
“A criminal shouldn’t just walk out of prison like this!”
“The words of His Highness the Prince are correct. If you return now, we will pretend we didn’t see anything.”
As the knight added with a cold face, Arkin nodded his head vigorously.
“Yes! You quickly go back, okay? I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”
Saying that, he grabbed my arm and whimpered as he tried to take me back to the prison.
How adorable.
Even though there’s a height difference, I’m being dragged like this… Seriously, what am I made of? Cotton?
‘This won’t do.’
At this rate, I’ll end up being dragged back to prison by the strength of a three-year-old.
“Hah, Arkin and knights.”
“Do you feel like going back?”
Arkin, who was dragging me by the arms, blinked his eyes.
“No? Why would I?”
“……!!”
Why is he so shocked? Sorry about that.
Why are the knights also shocked?
“Arkin.”
As I called his name, Arkin, still holding onto my hand, looked at me.
“I can still wander around the palace. It’s my right engraved in the law.”
“…What?”
“Because it’s a privilege held by the Pandelion nobles for generations.”
At my words, not only Arkin but also the servants and knights who followed were staring at me with blank faces.
They were speechless as I spoke logically.
“Even if Pandelion nobles commit a crime, they can roam within a certain distance with a guaranteed witness.”
Of course, you can’t just roam around without reason.
On the surface, there should be a reason to prove your innocence.
“Never heard of it.”
Arkin murmured, turning his head to look at his servant.
The servant adjusted his glasses and nodded shortly afterward.
“Yes, that’s correct. Such a privilege exists.”
“Why didn’t I know that when she does?”
“Well, usually, when nobles are involved in such matters, there are people who act on their behalf.”
The answer to Arkin’s question to his servant came from my mouth.
“Usually, they have followers or relatives to act on their behalf.”
So, since there was no need for them to act themselves, this privilege was forgotten by people for a long time.
“Not me though.”
All present here shut their mouths like clams at my words.
“…That, that should work!”
Arkin rolled his eyes for a moment before raising his voice.
Then, holding onto my hand tightly, he took the lead.
“What are you waiting for? Come on!”
“Yes? Your Highness!”
The servant followed us, and the momentarily stunned knights hurriedly followed suit.
It wasn’t until we reached our destination that Arkin, who had been walking so confidently for so long, blurted out.
“Wait, am I your guarantor?”
As expected, he’s easy to manipulate, isn’t he?
* * *
“So.”
A deep and heavy voice resonated in a place adorned with thick and dark colors.
“What do you have to say to me?”
At a glance, his hair looked so dark blue that it could be mistaken for black.
The shadow of his hair occasionally appeared beneath the deep blue, which was a sign only seen among the Pandelion nobles.
That man was the Emperor of the Pandelion Empire, and also the father of Arkin and me.
‘…It’s not the sight children should have when looking at their father.’
I scratched my throat and glanced at Arkin standing behind me.
Arkin, who was just loudly talking a while ago, now remained silent as if he had lost his voice.
He didn’t even properly look at his father, and his gaze was fixed on the ground.
And the way he looked at me wasn’t pleasing.
“Arkin.”
His little body shook violently at the mere mention of his name
“What’s on your mind?”
As the Emperor’s gaze lingered on Arkin, Arkin’s face became even paler.
“Why did you bring a criminal all the way here?”
“T-That’s, Father… I mean, Your Greatness, Your Majesty.”
“Do not blame Prince Arkin.”
I stood between Arkin and the Emperor, blocking their gaze.
This could end up in disaster.
“I asked for this.”
“You?”
The Emperor’s eyebrows furrowed. He looked incredulous.
“I simply wanted to clear my name.”
“Clear your name?”
The Emperor’s gaze pierced through me.
“I heard you claimed to have lost your memory.”
“That’s correct.”
“But how do you know that you’ve been accused?”
I had anticipated that he might simply ignore my words and throw me back into prison.
But there was some reaction.
‘It’s a good start.’
Because whoever this woman is, she’s not going to be able to clear her name without the help of the Emperor.
‘Although he’s the Emperor, he’s too stern with his children… Huh?’
As I muttered to myself, something caught my eye.
A momentary glimpse of oddity.
It was a sign so small and fleeting that an ordinary person would never notice it.
But to someone like me who had seen similar symptoms several times before, it was immediately apparent.
‘Ah…’
Did the Emperor also have a problem?
But securing my life was more urgent. Let’s put this aside for now.
“It would be greatly appreciated, even if it’s just for a moment. If you allow me to meet the former Emperor, I can prove it.”
“Her Majesty the Good Empress is wandering in her thoughts while drinking tea made from the tea leaves you brought.”
The Emperor looked at me with an icy gaze.
“Should I take you, such as you are, to Her Majesty the Empress ?”
It’s not possible to say.
As soon as the Emperor raised his hand, two imperial knights who had been waiting behind me stepped forward.
“Take the criminal to the prison. And as for Prince Arkin, who let the criminal out-“
“One hour.”
My voice interrupted the Emperor’s words.
Everyone in the room looked surprised at me.
Even the Emperor himself looked at me with a face that was chilled.
“One hour is sufficient to clear my name.”
“Hmm.”
The Emperor’s body leaned forward again.
“Even after a month, no evidence or witnesses were found to prove your innocence. Yet you think one hour will be enough?”
“It’s more than enough.”
As I confidently answered, Arkin grabbed my sleeve from behind.
‘Hey! Are you out of your mind? Why are you doing this?’
Glancing back, he still had a pale face and was only able to pout his lips.
‘After saying this, if you find nothing, you’ll truly be sentenced to death this time. You’ll die!!’
His attempt to dissuade me was desperate.
Arkin’s words were true.
If I couldn’t prove my innocence despite all this effort, I would truly be heading to the gallows this time.
But I am confident.
‘Don’t worry.’
Smiling faintly, I replied to Arkin and turned my gaze back to the Emperor.
“So, will you allow it?”
The Emperor, who had been looking at me for a moment, nodded soon after.
“I permit it.”
Alright.
I smiled inwardly. One hour, a little tight, but still enough for me…
“Only, allow 30 minutes.”
This tyrant-like person?
* * *
“Here it is.”
Baron Mer, who introduced himself as the investigator of this case, stopped in front of a door.
“This is the room where Her Majesty the Good Empress is.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Let’s solve this quickly and rest. I quickly reached for the doorknob.
Snap!
Suddenly, Baron Mer struck the back of my hand.
What’s this?
Surprised, I quickly looked at Baron Mer, who scanned the surroundings.
He had a surprised expression, probably surprised by his own action.
Ah.
‘It’s just a habit, isn’t it?’
Come to think of it, this Baron Mer.
It was Arkin’s servant who mentioned earlier that he was my etiquette tutor until recently.
Seeing how surprised he was, he must know by now that he shouldn’t raise his hand unconsciously.
But still, he raised his hand instinctively.
How much effort he must have put into it normally.
“Ahem.”
I tilted my head slowly while keeping my gaze fixed on Baron Mer.
“Hmph!”
Baron Mer, assured that the royal knights were far enough away and his view was blocked, let out a relieved fake cough.
He immediately hardened his face sternly.
“Please observe etiquette, Your Highness. Etiquette.”
Tsk, then as if to be heard, he loudly cleared his throat and took out a handkerchief from his pocket.
He wiped the doorknob I had touched as if it were dirty.
“I’ve said that even opening a door requires dignity. I’ve never seen someone so lacking in it.”
“…”
“And Your Highness, you are now a criminal who has committed a grave offense. Please remain still. Let me handle what needs to be done.”
Listening to his nonsense for a moment, I raised my head to look at the Baron.
“Is the Baron telling me not to touch anything in this room, let alone the Empress?”
“That’s correct.”
The Baron chuckled and then finally opened the door.
“Isn’t there a possibility that Your Highness may harm the Good Empress again?”
Now, go in.
And if you can, try to clear your name.
The Baron’s eyes glinted ominously.
‘Look at this guy?’
My eyes also sparkled.
You’re caught red-handed today.