I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 64
CHAPTER 64
“Finally arrived.”
Fortunately, Elam instantly transported me to the garden in front of my palace, so I could quickly make my way to the palace.
Due to exhaustion, my body felt limp and tired.
So tired.
Really, so, so tired.
I want to lie down in bed right away.
As for washing up… Well, Elam helped me roughly, so it should be okay to wash up tomorrow, right?
‘Anyway, since the children are all asleep and it’s too late to wake them up.’
Shu seems to be quiet too.
As soon as Shu arrived in the human world, he cried once and then disappeared quietly.
It seemed like he wasn’t adjusting well to the human world and had gone inside of me.
‘A cradle of spirits. Now, everything under the stars can happen.’
I entered the palace, tapping my shoulders lightly with my fists.
“Your Highness!”
As soon as I opened the door, Betty and Liena came running.
Both of them, not sleeping until this hour, what were they doing?
“Your Highness.”
Liena looked at me with surprised eyes.
“Did you walk instead of taking the carriage?”
“Well, somehow? Liena, I’m going to bed right away. Could you just help me take off my dress?”
“That’s the thing, Your Highness.”
“Um.”
Betty and Liena exchanged glances.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“A guest has arrived, Your Highness.”
“A guest?”
I blinked my eyes.
Seeing the two of them awkwardly frozen, it didn’t seem like it was Arkin.
Lately, Arkin has been coming by whenever he has time, and both Liena and Betty have become somewhat accustomed to it.
“Oh, is it Prince Leonard?”
Come to think of it, I didn’t have a proper conversation with Leonard earlier.
After being caught by Stella, I met the Lord of Floyd and Lionel.
And after that, it was dancing, escaping, and being kidnapped into the spirit world.
“It’s good timing.”
I wondered how stable the Circle was.
“Is he in the reception room? I’ll go right away.”
“That’s it, Your Highness.”
Betty hesitated to speak.
“It’s not His Highness Prince Leonard, it’s someone else.”
“Who on earth?”
It was just after the ball had ended. I heard it had passed midnight.
There weren’t many people who would come at this hour unless they had some connection with me.
If it were the Emperor or the Good Empress, Betty, and Liena would have already been in a frenzy.
“That’s…”
Betty hesitated to speak.
“Duke Marcus is waiting in the reception room.”
“Lionel?”
Why is he here at this hour?
Did something remain unsaid earlier?
Betty widened her eyes and quickly nodded.
“Oh, yes, yes! That’s right, Duke Marcus said so.”
“He’s waiting in the reception room on the first floor, Your Highness.”
Liena reached out and tidied up my messy hair.
“He’s been waiting since earlier. It’s best to go quickly.”
“Got it. Liena, would you put these flowers in my room?”
I handed the spirit flower I was holding to Liena.
By the way, I left the relic back in the garden and came back.
It seems like it’s fading away quickly, probably because it’s absorbing divine power.
Still, I should do what needs to be done before going to the temple to recharge my divine power, right?
“Oh my.”
Liena, who received the flower, smiled brightly.
Betty’s eyes sparkled beside her.
“What a beautiful rose. It’s rose season now, isn’t it?”
“The fragrance is so lovely! Who did Your Highness receive it from?”
To both Betty and Liena, the spirit flower appeared just like a rose.
“I picked it myself. Well then, I’ll go now. Can’t keep the guest waiting any longer.”
I headed straight to the first-floor reception room.
“There you are, Maid Liena.”
Betty whispered to Liena, who was holding the rose.
“Earlier, Lady Lottie, no, Your Highness, called the Duke Lionel. Isn’t that a sign of mutual affection, right?”
Betty’s eyes twinkled.
It was an obvious outcome.
Nobles only allowed close friends or lovers to address them by their names.
“At first, when the Duke visited, I was worried about what mistake Your Highness had made!”
“That’s true.”
Liena laughed.
When the formal Duke Marcus came to the palace, Liena naturally kept her guard up.
Naturally so.
To Liena, she was not only someone who had healed Raven’s illness but also someone who took care of her, a precious and grateful person.
“My name is Lionel Marcus of the Duchy of Marcus.”
“I danced as a partner to Her Highness the Princess, but she suddenly disappeared, and I was worried, so I came to see her.”
“I know it’s rude, but I hope you don’t mind if I just check on her welfare.”
However, with his gentle tone, flawless etiquette, and above all, his perfect appearance, even Liena’s guard softened a bit.
‘That’s right, and we couldn’t send the Duke away, so we’ve received him in the reception room.’
It was a needless worry.
It seemed they were on first-name terms with each other.
But when did they become so close?
It’s only been a day since they met.
“Oh, when did our Highness become so close with the Duke?”
Betty was also jumping around with the same question.
Betty was already slightly excited after seeing Duke Marcus, who had come to the palace earlier.
Because he was better than that little Marquis Floyd!
Even though he knew she wanted to talk to him, he ignored her and glared at her with a disgusting face when she approached him with courage.
Didn’t Betty see the hurt expression on Lottie’s face when she looked at her?
There had never been a time when Betty was more grateful that Lottie didn’t go out of the palace frequently.
“To be honest, I thought anyone would do as long as it wasn’t him. But when I saw the Duke today, that thought vanished completely, you know?”
“Betty, it’s him. It’s the Marquis.”
Even though she didn’t say who it was, Liena knew exactly who it was.
Liena had heard enough rumors.
“Well, still.”
Liena also smiled while holding the flower again.
“I think I prefer the Duke over the Marquis. Both in appearance and otherwise.”
“Is that so?”
Betty chuckled softly.
“Then let’s take our time and go.”
With that, Liena also lifted the corners of her mouth.
“The two should have enough time to talk, right?”
“Yes, Maid Liena!”
* * *
“Your Highness.”
As I arrived in front of the reception room, the soldier standing guard nodded respectfully.
“I apologize for the trouble. It’s time for you to rest.”
“No, Your Highness. I’m supposed to patrol at this time. Please feel free to have your conversation.”
“Very well. Please wait a bit further away.”
I grinned.
“Once the conversation is over, I’ll inform the kitchen to prepare some food for you. A small pleasure should follow this work until this hour.”
“Oh, thank you, Your Highness.”
With their heads bowed, the two soldiers stepped back a little from the reception room.
It was to show that they weren’t eavesdropping.
Clever.
With a light knock, I entered.
Whether deliberately unlit or simply not lit, the reception room was dim.
The only light came from the moonlight pouring in through the window.
And beneath it sat Lionel, waiting quietly.
“Lionel.”
I took out candles and matches from a box on the mantelpiece.
“Why aren’t you lighting the candles?”
“I was waiting for my master.”
Lionel replied.
“I’ve been searching for my master.”
As he raised his head, tears welled up in his eyes.
I froze, holding the matches and candles.
Because…
“Master, is this disciple being a nuisance to you?”
He was crying.
Tears gathered under his eyes, glistening in the moonlight, before dropping down.
Crying? Him?
Just moments ago, he looked at me with such eyes, and now he’s crying???
Moreover, Lionel rarely cried even in his childhood.
He always managed to hold it back, never showing tears to anyone.
The only time he cried openly was the day I was dying.
Is this the same guy?
Is this the same Lionel I know?
Am I witnessing a hallucination?
“M-Master…”
While I was in shock, more tears began to flow from Lionel’s eyes.
“I…”
Lionel stood, looking at me with tearful eyes.
“Are you displeased?”
Tears soaked not only his eyelashes but also the tear stains under his eyes.
His reddened eyelids were visible in the moonlight.
“Do you dislike this disciple?”
“No!”
I immediately took a seat beside Lionel.
“No, how could I dislike you? You are my first and last disciple.”
Lionel looked at me silently, as if questioning if I was serious.
“Lionel.”
I took out a handkerchief and wiped away his tears.
“I didn’t pay enough attention, I’m sorry.”
Well, how shocked must he have been?
Spending all that time searching for me, only to finally meet me after I’ve disappeared into the unreachable spirit realm.
It’s understandable.
Moreover, Lionel had always been delicate and sensitive even when he was young.
Given how deep his wounds were, it was inevitable that his inner turmoil would surface.
‘He used to be like this, and I was indifferent.’
I bit my lip, narrowing my eyebrows.
I gently reached out and tousled his hair.
Just like when he was born, I used to get annoyed when Lionel behaved like this, but secretly, I liked it.
“I’m sorry. I’ll pay more attention next time.”
As I gently brushed his soft golden hair, Lionel’s tears gradually subsided.
“Really?”
“Well, at least I won’t disappear without a word.”
Honestly, today’s events weren’t intentional.
But, well, will such incidents happen again?
“Are you promising, Master?”
“Yes.”
I nodded lightly.
A bright smile appeared on his tear-stained face.
“So don’t worry too much, Lionel.”
“Y-yes…”
Lionel trailed off, extending the end of his sentence.
“Shall I call for a carriage, Lionel?”
Lionel shook his head.
With a slight bow, he rose to his feet.
“Then I’ll take my leave, Master.”
Bending his waist, Lionel lightly kissed the back of my hand, then clasped it and smiled, meeting my gaze.
“Please have pleasant dreams.”
Twinkle, twinkle.
In his beautiful smile that momentarily captivated me, Lionel disappeared like smoke.
It was teleportation magic.
“Haah…”
I exhaled heavily, leaning back on the sofa.
Wow, what a long, long day it has been.
Finally, really…
Wow.