I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 57

CHAPTER 57

 

‘Crazy Kyres.’

I clenched my fists.

Hasn’t he been scolded before for acting like this?

But here he is, doing it again?

Does he want to be obliterated this time?

‘Sure.’

It was clear that Kyres was muscles to his brain.

Ugh.

‘By the way, the workload has increased.’

I sighed heavily.

Only a god could undo a god’s curse.

But what god would manifest in the mortal realm, disrupting the balance for one human?

Just let it be.

‘I should go.’

Another sigh escaped me.

Honestly, if there were any other way, I’d gladly take it.

But there was no other way.

Yet, I couldn’t just leave someone to suffer.

This damn professional sickness is ingrained into my bones.

I sighed again in frustration.

“Then enjoy the ball.”

“I hope you have a good time.”

In the meantime, the short speeches of the emperor and empress ended.

Stella, applauding from over there, nodded lightly as our eyes met.

Probably a sign of her trusting me with the earlier task.

Now, the first dance was about to begin.

‘It seems like everyone is here.’

I glanced at the ballroom.

‘Just dance the first song and leave, right?’

The problem is, who do I dance with…?

‘Arkin is a no-go.’

After learning that I was learning to dance, Arkin rushed to my palace.

“Sis, don’t worry, I’m here!”

He shouted cutely.

But, nope.

Despite Arkin being tall for his age, he still didn’t fit well.

Not at all cute. Just not fitting.

It would be awkward to dance with Arkin and risk everyone laughing.

‘So, the remaining option is Leonard.’

Will he dance with me?

But seriously, only my older brother and younger brother as acquaintances.

What a pathetic social circle I have.

“Your Highness, Princess Lottie.”

I was about to have another glass of champagne before the dance started.

Someone approached me.

A man I hadn’t seen before.

But his appearance seemed oddly familiar.

Especially those light brown hair and blue eyes.

Haven’t I seen him somewhere?

“I am Eben Floyd, the son of Marquis Floyd.”

Ah, so he’s from the Floyd family.

I nodded politely.

“What can I do for you, Lord Eben?”

“It’s nothing major.”

Lord Eben smiled with his eyes closed.

“Could you dance the first song with me?”

“Are you asking me?”

“Yes, unfortunately, I haven’t found a partner yet.”

He said with a bitter smile.

As Eben spoke, the onlookers admired our exchange and sighed quietly.

“So I ask, Your Highness. Would you be my partner?”

“No.”

“…??”

As I promptly refused, Eben’s eyes widened.

He had a face that didn’t expect a rejection.

Of course, it’s a rejection.

Especially considering what Marquis Floyd did to me.

He didn’t just send a horde of orcs to intimidate me, Milia even caused a scene at Miller’s shop threatening to ruin me.

I managed to fight back in all instances, but still.

‘How dare he come to me with such audacity in this situation?’

As I blinked, Eben hastily continued.

“Did you hear me correctly, Your Highness? I, Eben Floyd, am requesting a dance with you.”

“Yes, I heard you correctly, Lord Eben. I decline your dance request.”

“…??”

Now he looked shocked to the point of having his eyes bulge out.

Even the people around us seemed surprised, staring at me.

Why? Why is he doing this?

Shouldn’t he know it’s his turn to be informed?

“Your Highness.”

Eben blinked his eyes slowly, seeming bewildered.

His blue eyes were fixed on me.

“Your Highness, you…”

Me?

As I waited for what he was going to say next, another voice reached my ears.

“Good heavens.”

A hushed whisper.

I focused all my attention there, allowing me to catch even the slightest sound.

“Didn’t Her Highness Princess Lottie like Marquis Floyd’s son?”

“Did she? I never had a chance to meet the princess… But still, to decline Lord Eben’s dance. Surprising, isn’t it?”

Ah…!

I liked him.

I looked at Eben again.

Certainly, he was handsome.

A face that would surely become more handsome as he grew older.

‘But not my type.’

If I had to specify my taste, I preferred the classic handsome with strong features.

And I liked older men, yes, I liked older men.

Even though they’re already dead and gone.

‘Besides, I saw Lionel recently.’

Thanks to my former pupil, who was of national treasure-level beauty, Eben’s attractiveness didn’t quite measure up.

He should at least reach Lionel’s level of beauty to sway my preferences.

“I know I’ve been rude to the Lord.”

Anyway, I needed to make it clear that I liked Eben.

So that I wouldn’t get stuck in misunderstandings later.

“You can rest assured that will not happen in the future, Lord Eben.”

I smiled softly as I looked into Eben’s eyes.

His eyes wavered as he looked at me in disbelief.

He looks dazed. Understandable, though. It’s shocking when someone you like suddenly dislikes you. But still.

‘For now, I should leave.’

Clearing my mind would be quicker if I didn’t see it.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave, Lord Eben.”

I bowed lightly and turned away.

However, my wrist was soon grabbed.

“Your Highness.”

The desperate Marquis Eben, holding onto my hand, looked at me.

“It’s just that…”

His words came out in a jumbled rush.

“Just that?”

I was waiting for one last word, intending to hear him out for a moment.

“Isn’t it rude, Lord Eben Floyd?”

Another voice suddenly interjected from behind.

‘Who’s that?’

Turning around, I froze.

The face I had seen a few days ago, the person I had just been thinking about, was standing right in front of me.

“L-Lionel?”

But this wasn’t the same face I saw in the mage tower’s forest.

Back then, he was a well-grown young man.

Now, he looked like a mischievous boy.

As I called out his name, Lionel smirked as if embarrassed.

But he firmly pushed Eben’s hand away.

He even took out a handkerchief from his pocket and lightly wiped my wrist that had been held.

Seeing Eben’s stunned face, frozen as if something dirty had touched him, Lionel sneered.

“Pardon me, but who are you to interrupt our conversation?”

“Oh.”

Without further inquiry, Lionel bowed slightly and turned his gaze away, thoroughly examining my wrist.

Moments ago, his eyes, which had been smiling, turned cold.

“I apologize for the late introduction.”

With a natural haughtiness, Eben frowned.

“I am Lionel Marcus, the duke of the Marcus family.”

“… … !!”

Not only Eben but also the people around us widened their eyes in surprise.

And I was no exception.

Wait, his appearance here is already surprising enough.

And he’s the heir of the Marcus family?

“I… apologize for my rudeness, not knowing who you are.”

Confirming that he was from the Marcus family, Eben took a step back.

“But Your Highness was already conversing with me first, Duke Lionel.”

“Conversing?”

Lionel chuckled, his lips curling.

“These days, conversations start with grabbing wrists, huh?”

His blue gaze landed on Eben’s hand that had held mine.

“I didn’t know.”

Saying so, Lionel chuckled again.

There was something sinister about his laugh.

In an instant, the atmosphere around us turned chilly.

I knew that laugh.

‘H-He’s…’

Until he met me, Lionel had been in a dreadful place.

That’s why he couldn’t distinguish between what should and shouldn’t be done.

He couldn’t differentiate between what was agonizing for others and what wasn’t.

Thanks to me, he had a vague idea of the line people generally considered appropriate.

But that was all.

He didn’t care about crossing the line, trampling on it, or destroying it.

There were no bounds for Lionel.

“Duke.”

I gently took hold of Lionel’s sleeve and pulled him aside.

“As the music is about to start, would you like to dance the first dance with me?”

“Sure.”

Lionel chuckled softly at my words.

“If that’s what you want, then I’ll do it.”

With that, he followed me gracefully.

We stood at the center of the ballroom just as the musicians began to play.

The fast-paced music filled the ballroom, and the dance began.

“You.”

I whispered.

“Why are you here?”

“Well, because you’re here, Master.”

Contrary to the lunatic who had just casually tried to cut someone’s wrist, Lionel smiled innocently.

“No, that’s not it.”

Turning around, I grabbed Lionel’s hand and whispered again after spinning once.

“Why did you become Duke Marcus?”

“Oh.”

Lionel chuckled slyly.

“The Marcus family, well, they’re the ones following me.”

“What?”

“Master. Didn’t you once work as a physician here in the palace?”

With his blue eyes gleaming, Lionel fixed his gaze on me.

“I searched for you back then too. But I was too late.”

Instead, he came across an immature knight who had been friendly with her.

Weak, immature.

His master sometimes showed a cold side, even rejecting her own family.

But at other times, she had a dual nature, unable to let go easily.

“And so I decided to wait.”

He started waiting, hoping his master would come back to this land.

“But then that lunatic died, and…”

Spinning again, my body turned once more.

“It seems it’s okay to plant someone in the Pandelion Empire.”

Because the empire is vast.

Perhaps his master will step foot in this land again someday.

She might revisit a place she once lived in.

“And so, I took care of the Marcus children.”

It’s more fitting to say he kept them from dying rather than taking care of them.

Thanks to Lionel, the Marcus family managed to survive a dangerous period.

And they began to rise in influence from the center.

“In exchange for taking care of them, I received a status that allows me to appear whenever I want.”

That was the position of Duke Marcus.

As the long story ended, the music stopped.

We stood facing each other.

“That’s good.”

Lionel smiled.

“I wanted to be taller than my master at least once.”

I didn’t realize it until he said that, but when I looked up, Lionel and I were only one head apart.

“You’ve always been taller than me. When I tried to catch up to your height…”

Lionel’s voice trailed off.

Yeah.

I was dead by then.

“Lionel.”

“Master.”

The troubled disciple smiled as he kissed the back of my hand.

“My master.”

Looking into the blue eyes that only reflected me, I realized one thing.

Ah, I raised my disciple wrong.