I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 66

CHAPTER 66

 

“I’m full……”

I stretched my arms and yawned.

After eating a bowl of soup that Arkin and Raven made themselves, my stomach felt pleasantly full.

It was tastier than I expected, so I finished it all.

‘Still cute, even after that.’

After finishing my soup, Arkin and Raven brought out a book they had prepared and read it to me.

“So, then the transparent dragon goes like, whoa, whoa, whoa. And the monsters, they, they ran away…? They ran away.”

“That’s when it happened! The hero swung their sword! The demon king screamed and died!! Not me, the hero won!”

Although they chose a book they liked, the content was a bit off for a patient to hear.

‘Well, it’s cute enough.’

I giggled while hugging the pillow.

“Ha……”

I let out a full breath.

I had been in pain until noon, but it seemed like the medicine had spread well in the meantime.

‘But I still have a slight fever.’

I walked over to the dresser and opened the second drawer.

Inside were various medicines I had made little by little in my spare time.

‘What was the fever reducer that helps me sleep?’

Until Arkin arrived, I alternated between sleeping and waking up.

In a state of half-sleep.

This was the most difficult situation to fall asleep in.

‘So I’ll just take the one that helps me sleep and go back to bed quickly.’

I rummaged through the bottles of medicine.

Was it this one that helped me sleep, ah? No, this one didn’t work.

Then this one!

I picked up a bottle of medicine. Then my eyes caught the bottle with a blue label placed next to it.

It was a medicine made in advance for the emperor.

“I’ll have to visit him once……”

I had obtained the spirit’s flower and made the medicine.

All I had to do was give it to him.

‘But I haven’t finished thinking.’

But I still haven’t decided how to respond to the emperor’s apology.

I didn’t know if others would find it frustrating.

I didn’t know how much time I would spend on such a simple apology.

But, even so……

I glanced at the bottle with the blue label for a moment, then closed the dresser with a thud.

Then I sat on the bed and drank the medicine right away.

‘It works well.’

Since I had put so much effort into making it, the medicine took effect quickly, and I welcomed it sweetly.

How long did I sleep?

Even in my sleep, when I was tossing and turning due to the fever, I felt a coolness on my forehead.

‘Is it Liena?’

Or is it like earlier, with Shu sacrificing himself to cool me down?

Then, a voice reached my ears.

It was a familiar voice.

“Your Majesty, we will take care of such matters.”

“Step back.”

A hand holding a towel carefully wiped away the sweat on my forehead.

“I will be careful not to wake the princess, so the chamberlain should leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

A few more words were exchanged, and soon it seemed the chamberlain gave up, as the sound of footsteps indicated their departure, followed by the closing of the door.

After that, there was silence.

As if not to wake me, the emperor focused solely on wiping the sweat off with a very cautious touch.

“You’ve improved a lot.”

After some time had passed, a gentle voice reached my ears again.

“Yesterday, you were like a burning flame, but today, you’ve improved a lot.”

After a brief silence, the emperor continued speaking.

“Do you remember when you first came to this palace, princess? You couldn’t say a word.”

Is that so? I strained to focus on the emperor’s words amidst my foggy mind.

“You couldn’t say anything. All you could manage to say were ‘momma’ and ‘Lottie.'”

The emperor continued speaking.

“And your body was so weak.”

A lukewarm towel brushed my face again.

It was a careful touch as Liena’s.

No wonder I was mistaken.

“One of them told the court physician to prepare a coffin that fits the princess’ height because there wasn’t one available.”

The emperor chuckled incredulously.

“We don’t need to worry about the princess, she’s already out of this world.”

Indeed, she had already left this world.

Even if she had some savings, she probably wished she could swim across the three rivers.

Even if she had been lucky enough to receive some savings, she probably wished the boatman would push her into the river.

“Poor thing. Poor.”

Wiping my arms and hands, the emperor murmured.

“If I had paid a little more attention, would you have been taller and healthier than this?”

A sound of swallowing, and another emotion, was heard.

“That day, I swore I wouldn’t do anything foolish again.”

That day.

For some reason, I pondered on that word.

What kind of day was it?

“But when I came to my senses, I found myself acting foolishly again.”

A hint of moisture appeared in the emperor’s voice.

“You were the one who made me realize that.”

But it didn’t seem like he was crying.

I felt him suppressing his emotions.

“I’ve lived a long life, and I thought I was walking without being arrogant anymore……”

The emperor, who had wiped away all the sweat, sat up.

“I’m sorry, princess. I’m sorry for being such an unworthy father.”

I wanted to ask something, but the effect of the medicine washed over me like a wave once again.

“Rest well.”

The last words dispersed like a voice in a dream.

And then.

“Huh?”

When I opened my eyes, it was already past noon.

“Are you awake, Your Highness?”

Somehow, Betty stuck her head through the crack in the door.

“I’ve prepared a meal for you, would you like to eat? It’s a potato soup that’s easy to swallow.”

“Oh, yeah. I can eat.”

Pushing the trolley, Betty entered the room.

After setting up the bedside table, she placed the chilled potato soup on it.

Then she casually checked on my condition.

“It seems like your fever has finally gone down!”

Betty’s face brightened.

“But just in case, would you like to try the medicine again, Your Highness?”

I nodded and carefully tasted the soup Betty brought.

‘I never expected the emperor to come and nurse me himself.’

Honestly, I already knew he would come.

Because among the people who sent me physicians and gifts, the emperor wasn’t one of them.

‘Isn’t it strange that the emperor, who apologized to me and was so attentive to me, would ignore me when I was sick?’

I thought he would send his own physician and give me a get-well gift.

I expected him to come and nurse me every night.

And the words he told me yesterday.

A cautious touch, in case I wake up.

‘Am I weak or stupid?’

I don’t know, no matter how much I think about it, I don’t know the answer.

It was the answer I couldn’t reach from my first life until now.

You can’t answer such a problem in just a few months.

‘But.’

I narrowed my eyes.

“Your Highness?”

When I put down my utensils, Betty approached.

“Have you finished everything? I wish you’d eat a little more. You need to take your medicine too.”

“Betty.”

“Yes? Should I bring something else if you’re tired of soup?”

I shook my head.

“I have to go see His Imperial Majesty.”

 

* * *

 

“You’re still not fully recovered.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Would it be better for you to visit after resting a little more?”

But neither of them could break my stubbornness.

As a last resort, Liena said that the Emperor might be busy.

But the emperor said it would be okay if it’s brief.

The carriage was ready, and Betty and I were heading to the Palace.

“Is something urgent?”

“Yeah.”

In response to Betty’s worried question, I lightly nodded.

“I think it’s better to handle it when there’s a slight inclination.”

Otherwise, it would seem like I’m circling for a lifetime.

And I’ll die without finding the answer again.

Even though the opportunity has come, I can’t seize it.

“…?”

Perhaps my words were incomprehensible, as Betty tilted her head, but I had nothing more to say now.

Even I’m circling the problem.

“We’ve arrived at the Palace, Your Highness.”

As the attendant announced our arrival, a soldier waiting there opened the door.

“Welcome, Princess.”

The chamberlain stood at the front of the maids and eunuchs.

He greeted me with a broad smile.

“His Imperial Majesty is waiting for you in the garden right now, Princess.”

“Okay.”

I nodded lightly, and the chamberlain started walking.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

As we walked through the long corridor, the chamberlain smiled kindly.

“It seems that Princess’ popularity among the servants is growing.”

“Is that so?”

I blinked as if I didn’t know, and Betty, who was following with a bag, whispered.

‘Your Highness, isn’t that it? Studying those letters!’

Oh, right.

I didn’t open it as often as I did at first, but I still occasionally opened it to let those who wanted to learn letters come in.

“It’s nothing special, it’s embarrassing. I just shared the knowledge I knew.”

I laughed, and the chamberlain nodded.

“No, how many couldn’t do it even though they knew it? Princess is a wonderful person.”

It stung my conscience a little when the chamberlain, who wasn’t even someone else, spoke so gently.

Of course!

Teaching letters to those who don’t know them was my first goal.

But I was also sneakily inserting another goal…

“Hmm.”

I coughed nervously, avoiding the chamberlain’s eyes.

“Oh, and by the way, Her Majesty the Empress was intrigued to hear about it.”

“You mean Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Yes. Perhaps she’ll be sending out invitations to a tea party soon.”

Every single noble seems to be meeting each other individually.

I swallowed tears and smiled.

“Here we are.”

The chamberlain opened the door connecting the garden and the corridor.

“Please enter, and you will find His Majesty inside. The maid who accompanied you can follow me.”

“Thank you.”

I entered the garden.

After a few steps…

“Come here, Princess.”

I faced the Emperor, who was sitting at the table looking at documents as if nothing had happened last night.