I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 51

CHAPTER 51

 

‘I don’t want to work.’

I sprawled on the couch and blinked slowly.

I hate working, and using my brain is the worst.

I just want to stop moving.

‘I just want to stay like this……’

It’s been four days since I returned from the tower.

All I’ve done so far is ‘lying down.’

No, I need to rest a bit before I can do anything.

There wasn’t much to do anyway.

Even if we drank tea and felt better from the leaves of the world tree, it was only temporary.

‘And I won’t get up anytime soon.’

Even if gods and demons try to intervene right away.

My heavy body won’t move right away.

‘Pendrade is the same.’

It was just a small earthquake, just a stretch of the body.

It’s a sign that he’s slowly waking up from his sleep.

‘But who knows when that will be.’

Dragon time doesn’t flow the same as human time.

A moment to a dragon is a lifetime to a human.

In short.

‘It could happen after I’m dead.’

The work of the gods, the work of Pendrade, wasn’t going to happen right away.

So I lay down on the couch.

Comfortable.

Very, very comfortable.

I thought I had to do this and that in the carriage.

But as soon as I lay on the bed, my thoughts and motivation disappeared.

‘But I still wrote a letter, didn’t I?’

It was an urgent matter, so I hastily wrote it in the carriage and sent it as soon as I arrived at the palace.

The letter will reach him in a few days.

‘But I’m worried about what to ask for.’

If I ask for something unattainable, I’ll have to make a reasonably effective hair loss remedy for him.

Or maybe a scabies medication.

“Ugh.”

Feeling relieved, I stretched. Then I reached out my arm and picked up the snacks on the table to eat.

Within arm’s reach, there’s something to drink, something to eat, something to read.

Three meals a day, this life where someone else prepares and cleans up without worrying about the menu!

Studying, working, researching, whatever. This life where I don’t have to do anything but breathe in and out!

I’m happy, I’m happy!

‘I should live like this forever.’

I chuckled proudly and tried to go back to sleep.

“Your Highness.”

But I slowly opened my eyes at the sound of Liena’s voice in my ear.

“Uh…?”

“If you’re going to sleep, wouldn’t it be better to sleep in bed?”

“No. My position is too comfortable right now.”

This posture, with my legs resting on the couch arm and a cushion under them.

It was a perfect posture for taking a nap.

“You said the same thing last time and ended up with a sore neck.”

“Oh, right.”

I sat up straight.

I had slept on the couch last time and ended up with a sore neck.

A posture that’s good for falling asleep isn’t necessarily good for sleeping for a long time.

“I’ll sleep in bed.”

“That’s a good idea, Your Highness.”

Liena nodded. Then, uncharacteristically, she trailed off.

“Oh, and Your Highness. Um…”

“Is Raven’s medicine running out?”

The lady nodded heavily.

Raven had fully recovered. However, traces of the illness remained.

The traces of fever flowers remained on his face.

If proper measures had been taken, there wouldn’t have been any traces left. Liena seemed upset as if she were speechless.

“I’m sorry.”

“What’s there to be sorry about?”

I approached the dresser and took out the medicine I had prepared in advance.

This is the last one. I thought this would be enough when I made it.

“Do you know how to use it?”

“Yes, dilute it in water and apply it to the body with a cloth.”

I nodded.

“How effective is it?”

“It’s good. But the traces of the fever are stronger than I thought…”

The lady toyed with the medicine bottle.

She looked worried that traces might remain on Raven’s face.

After all, who would want traces of illness on their child’s face?

“Hmm.”

I glanced out the window.

More precisely, at the small garden with Detmé’s relic.

Until recently, the garden had been barren, but now one or two flowers were starting to bloom.

Now, dozens of flowers were in full bloom.

Looking at the small yellow flowers resembling starlight, I nodded.

‘They grew quite nicely.’

<We worked hard!>

<We did!>

The Undines rushed over.

‘So cute, so cute.’

I couldn’t mutter to myself in front of Liena.

So I quietly thumbs up to indicate “good job.” 

Feeling happy, they giggled and started spinning around.

“Liena.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry too much.”

I smiled.

“I’ll try making a new medicine next time.”

The starlight flowers bloomed well, too.

“The next medicine will be more effective. I luckily got my hands on the precious ingredients I used last time.”

“…Is that true?”

The lady’s face brightened in an instant. A relieved smile. Soon after, she bowed her head.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Liena, you’re my person.”

Aren’t you?

At my question, Liena nodded with a smile.

“Oh, and…”

I opened the dresser and took out two more bottles.

One was filled with thick yellow liquid, and the other was a flat bottle.

“What are these medicines?”

“This is a fatigue recovery potion.”

I handed the bottle with yellow liquid to the lady.

“And this is a cream to apply on your face before bed.”

“…Cream?”

“Yeah. Just wash your face before bed and apply it. Simple, right?”

It was my secret cream that made the rough skin smooth when applied before sleeping.

No, my skin feels rough these days.

“Thank you.”

Liena tightly gripped the three bottles in her hands, bowed her head, and left the room.

Alright, should I take a nap now?

“Heehee!”

Burying my face in the blanket made me feel better.

In the moment of snuggling tightly with the blanket, trying to fall asleep again.

“Your Highness!”

Liena returned.

…Why?

“L-Liena? Did you forget something?”

“I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

Liena, with a tray in hand, spoke with an awkward expression.

“But it’s urgent.”

“Urgent?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Approaching the bed, the lady handed me the tray as I sat up.

On the tray lay a letter, which looked luxurious to anyone who saw it. And the seal sealing the letter bore the crest of the Pandelion Royal Family.

“…Could this be?”

“Yes, your guess is correct.”

Eek!

I quickly ran to the end of the bed, but Liena stepped forward with outstretched arms.

“Your Highness, it’s a gateway you must pass through.”

“But, but…”

“Your Highness.”

Trembling at the stern voice, I picked up the letter.

I broke the seal and took out the letter. Then I squinted and read it.

 

[A new day has dawned, and leisurely times have returned. Knowing that you have been troubled by gloomy news, I, Clea Pandelion, am hosting the first ball.]

 

I closed my eyes tightly.

It was the beginning of the social season.

 

* * *

 

‘…I hate it, really.’

The social season.

It was the season where unmarried individuals attended parties every day in search of a partner.

Normally, I was an exception to the rule, as these parties were attended by those who had just passed their debutantes…

‘I’m of royal blood, so I must attend.’

It was said that some high-ranking nobles’ children would also attend the first party after the war ended.

Where does this even exist…

I leaned my head against the carriage wall with a vacant expression.

Thanks to that, I was in the middle of moving to get dressed for the ball early in the morning.

I wonder if I’ll end up going to the same shop as I did last time for the festival.

“Do you dislike the social season that much?”

Liena, who was sitting across from me and looking at a catalog, asked.

“Yeah…”

I nodded reluctantly.

“I’m not good with crowded places.”

And there wasn’t even any particular reason for being here.

I just came to chat if I happened to meet someone.

“I don’t even know what to say. I keep thinking, why am I even here…”

I had been reincarnated as a noble or royal in my past life. I used to attend balls occasionally back then. I had always had that thought.

Ah, I don’t belong in this kind of place.

“And I can’t even dance.”

“What?”

Liena’s eyes widened.

“You can’t dance?”

“Yeah. I’ve never learned, so how could I dance?”

Of course, I did learn a long time ago, but it was hundreds of years ago. I’ve already forgotten everything.

So, I might as well say I don’t know.

“Oh my.”

Liena’s eyes grew wider.

As a result, her mouth grew larger and larger.

“Oh my, oh my.”

The lady covering her mouth blinked.

“That’s right, the Empress Dowager hasn’t had any dance training.”

“Isn’t that right?”

“Then why did I assume that Your Highness would know how to do it?”

Liena’s head shook back and forth as if she were severely embarrassed.

I’ve never seen her so flustered before.

“Maybe because Your Highness always handles everything so calmly and confidently, I don’t know what to do.”

The lady started to fret.

“It might be difficult to find a teacher at this point.”

“Can’t you teach me?”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. The first dance has already been chosen, and I don’t know that song.”

Liena’s face turned even paler.

It’s because she never made mistakes before that she’s like this now that she’s made one.

“Relax, Liena.”

Seeing Liena on the verge of tears, I comforted her.

“There’s still time, and we just need to learn the first dance, right?”

The first dance was mandatory, but the rest was optional.

“So I’ll figure something out.”

The lady nodded at my words. Alright, she looks a little calmer now.

‘But what should I do, really?’

I’m not good at these things.