I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 69
CHAPTER 69
‘I wonder if this is the right choice.’
I narrowed my eyes, following the footsteps of the emperor.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to approach the emperor so suddenly.
The spirit flower I obtained while enduring hardships with the insomnia medication I created in the spirit world was the same.
I hadn’t just decided to give up like this.
‘I thought he needed to get treatment quickly, but I was still trying to get something.’
Even if it was difficult to get fruits or leaves of the World Tree, I intended to continue trading for other rare medicines steadily.
Or at least, I wanted to make some money.
“I’m sorry, Princess. I apologize for being an ugly father.”
‘…I don’t know.’
I scratched the back of my hand lightly.
My throat didn’t hurt anymore, but somehow, a part of my chest continued to itch.
Furthermore, even though I hadn’t received anything, I felt somewhat satisfied as if I had received everything I wanted.
‘Oh, I see.’
So this was how it felt.
I suddenly realized.
This was what it felt like to receive love and trust from one’s parents.
It was a reassuring feeling as if someone was holding onto my existence.
‘I wish I had realized it sooner.’
It wasn’t unusual to have strange parents among hundreds of lives.
There were also normal parents.
‘But back then, I couldn’t easily approach them.’
Instead, I avoided those who worried about me, citing various reasons.
After all, I was going to leave to make nectar.
Giving them affection would only make them die first and leave me alone here.
So it was better to draw the line when the memories came flooding back.
That way, I would hurt less.
‘But the kids weren’t like that, were they?’
I chuckled.
When I was in a position to support the children, at least until they grew up, I stayed by their side.
Those excuses earlier were all contradictory actions that didn’t hold up.
“Ha.”
I chuckled shortly and wiped my face.
I didn’t know well, or rather, I didn’t want to know.
‘It seems the influence of my first father was unexpectedly strong…’
I thought it was okay.
I lightly brushed off the fact that it wasn’t a deep wound.
No, I judged that it wasn’t a wound.
‘So I haven’t had a proper relationship until now.’
During hundreds of lives, countless people must have reached out to me sincerely for my sake.
I let go of all those hands.
‘They must have felt hurt, right?’
The people who reached out their hands and were rejected must have felt just as hurt as I do now, or even more.
Because I unilaterally severed the relationship between parent and child.
It must have been so painful.
My already slow steps came to a complete halt.
“Your Highness?”
When I stood still, the chamberlain also stopped walking.
Betty, too, looked at me with widened eyes when I didn’t move and then exclaimed.
“Your Highness? What’s wrong, Your Highness!”
“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”
“…….”
I just let tears flow down while keeping my gaze lowered.
Without trying to wipe away the tears or hide my face, I just let them fall.
“Your Highness…”
“Was there something that upset you during your conversation with His Majesty the Emperor?”
Despite the urging from the chamberlain and Betty, I just stood there.
I couldn’t move my feet right now.
I was too sorry.
Sorry to those who reached out to me.
“Huhp…”
Tears burst out.
I cried with a contorted face.
“Please don’t cry, Your Highness.”
The chamberlain, who knelt to match my eye level, couldn’t hide his agitation as he tried to comfort me.
“His Majesty the Emperor didn’t intend to hurt you, whatever he said.”
“That’s right, Your Highness!”
Betty nodded as well.
“His Majesty the Emperor worries about you more than what is visible.”
The chamberlain handed me a handkerchief from his chest pocket.
“But His Majesty is not very good at conveying that. If there were any hurtful words, please tell me.”
The chamberlain spoke with a kind face.
“I will inform His Majesty.”
“…If you do that, the chamberlain would be punished.”
I said, with tears hanging from my nose.
I barely cried, and my throat was already choked up.
Then the chamberlain smiled.
“If you cry, can I bear it? Don’t worry too much.”
I chuckled awkwardly at the chamberlain’s words and nodded.
“I wish I had known a little earlier, so I wouldn’t regret it while crying.”
I wiped away my tears with the handkerchief the chamberlain handed me.
“And I cried just because I was sorry.”
I didn’t say who I was sorry for, but the chamberlain and Betty seemed to understand that it was directed towards the Emperor.
Betty’s mouth tightened, and she flinched.
She must have wanted to say, ‘What did Your Highness do wrong? His Majesty the Emperor left you alone for whatever reason!’ and get angry.
Although the chamberlain was on the Emperor’s side, he still looked at me with pitiful eyes, as if he didn’t think I did anything wrong.
Smiling at the sight of the two, I spoke.
“Okay, let’s go forward now.”
* * *
“Your eyes are completely swollen!”
Inside the carriage returning to my palace, Betty said cautiously, stealing glances at my eyes.
“I know a good way to quickly reduce swelling, Your Highness.”
“Really?”
“Yes!”
Betty’s eyes sparkled.
“Prepare two spoons, one cold and one hot, and alternate placing them on your eyes.”
“I see. Can I ask you to do it for me?”
“Of course! Trust only me.”
Betty leaned against the seat with her hands on her hips.
So cute.
“By the way, Your Highness.”
As Betty continued to wipe away the remaining tears, she asked a question.
“Her Highness Stella will be visiting next week, right?”
“Oh, yeah.”
I nodded.
When Stella asked me for help, we made a lunch appointment. That was the following week.
“Anyway, the head chef wanted to ask Your Highness something.”
“What is it?”
“He’s curious if she’ll be having dinner here.”
It seemed like he was already considering ordering groceries.
If Stella would be staying for dinner, they’d need to purchase more groceries in advance.
“Just prepare lunch. She’ll be going out with me for dinner.”
“Yes, I’ll convey that.”
We had already arranged to go see a patient immediately after hearing a brief update during lunch.
‘I need to stop by the Temple of Detmé before Stella arrives.’
I’d almost depleted the sacred power accumulated in the relic for Shu.
There were two ways to replenish sacred power in a relic: either through the direct presence of a god or through the sincere prayers of devotees.
‘I can’t call Detmé to recharge just one relic, so there’s only one option.’
I’d have to discreetly visit the prayer room.
As I pondered where to hide after recalling the structure I’d visited before, the carriage arrived at the palace.
Betty and I got out of the carriage and entered the palace.
“…”
“Wow!”
I was stunned, but Betty jumped in excitement.
“Flowers, Your Highness! They’re so beautiful, like a flower paradise!”
Yes, there were flowers.
Flowers in full bloom greeted me, welcoming the early summer with vibrant colors.
The only problem was the sheer quantity.
From the entrance to the corridors and rooms, an enormous number of flower arrangements lined the way.
There were so many flowers that the servants were all busy moving them, and they didn’t even notice when I arrived.
‘Are they trying to suffocate me with the scent of flowers?’
It wasn’t a joke; given the current situation, it seemed entirely possible.
“Hey.”
I called a servant who was carrying two bouquets.
“Oh! Your Highness, when did you arrive?”
The servant beamed brightly as he peeked through the bouquets.
“These flower arrangements were brought by Her Highness Princess Stella. Aren’t they pretty?”
Wait, brought?
“Is Your Highness currently in my palace?”
“Yes, she is. Lady Liena led her to the reception room.”
What’s going on?
She came to my palace today when we have plans for next week.
‘Something urgent must have come up.’
I quickly adjusted my appearance.
“Betty, I’ll meet the guest, so help with moving the flowers.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I hurried to the reception room.
Lately, the reception room seems to be open more often.
As I entered after knocking, the room was filled with a strong floral scent.
“Welcome.”
Sitting among the flowers in her knight’s attire was Stella.
Was she here to greet guests on my behalf, or was Liena serving her tea?
“Princess Stella.”
When I lightly greeted her, Stella also returned the courtesy.
“I mistakenly thought our appointment was for next week.”
“No, I came because I have urgent matters. Oh, the flowers are a get-well gift. Roses have been blooming beautifully these days.”
Stella said so, looking at Liena.
Quick-witted Liena immediately bowed her head.
“I will go decorate the flowers. Please enjoy your conversation.”
With that, Liena left the room, leaving only Stella and me in the parlor.
As soon as we were alone, I brought up the matter.
“Has the patient’s condition deteriorated?”
That must be the reason why Stella came to see me.
“No, that’s part of it, but something bigger has happened.”
Stella swallowed heavily.
“The curse has spread.”
The curse has spread?
While Stella’s expression darkened, I simply blinked in confusion.
No, this sounds like the sound of thunder and crackling when a storm is brewing.