I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“Here is the palace of Her Highness, the Princess.”

The carriage that carried me stopped in front of the brown palace.

While it was common for royalty in small countries to live in one palace, that wasn’t the case for Pandelion.

Each noble had their own palace, and the one in front of me was assigned to me.

‘It’s more of a mansion than a palace, isn’t it?’

It was a two-story building like a noble’s mansion. It wasn’t bad.

Still, the building itself looked good because it belonged to the Imperial Palace.

“Oh…”

As I stepped inside, I sighed deeply.

Is this the worst?

First off, the garden. It was strange.

Expensive shrubs and flowers were randomly planted, but none of them looked healthy.

It seemed as if dying flowers and trees were planted from the beginning.

The inside of the mansion was even more dismal.

Nothing was intact.

What I mean is, that the exterior looked intact, but the furniture seemed like it would collapse if touched.

It felt like a dollhouse made for display purposes.

Creak. The only open window made a creepy sound as it opened and then closed by itself.

Although there were occasional traces of human touch, it still didn’t feel like the Princess’ palace.

“Investigator.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“…How many staff members have been assigned to me?”

“Well, about that…”

The investigator briefly closed his mouth before speaking again.

“I know there are a few people assigned, but the only maid I’ve seen is one.”

“One maid?”

To manage a mansion of this size, you’d need at least twenty people, right?

“Perhaps it would be better to discuss this matter with His Majesty later?”

The investigator hastily changed the subject with a forced smile, fearing that he might be burdened with an annoying task.

“Anyway, we’ve arrived at the room. This is Her Highness’ room.”

As he opened the door himself.

‘Oh.’

I wandered around as I entered the room the investigator opened.

Fortunately, the room was intact.

Pale blue wallpaper with white patterns and furniture with smudges of handprints.

A carpet that seemed to match the outdated curtains.

And sun-faded books greeted me.

It was an old but tidy and well-maintained room.

‘It’s rather small for a Princess’ room.’

Well, considering the treatment in prison or the attitudes of others, having a room like this wasn’t too bad.

Still, luckily, the bed was large. The bigger the bed, the better.

“If you could wait a moment, the maid responsible for Her Highness’ room will be here shortly.”

My only maid. I nodded as I sat on the sofa, which was the same color as the wallpaper.

“Then, I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

“Wait.”

I still have some questions.

“What happened to Prince Arkin?”

Since the Emperor entered the room, I had been worried about it.

Maybe he didn’t come because he was punished by the Emperor for taking me out.

At first, seeing the yellow sprout made me think it was okay to use him without a conscience.

Seeing his intermittent concerns for me made me feel a bit guilty.

“Prince Arkin has returned to his palace, Your Highness.” 

The investigator said, seeming to know nothing more. As I nodded, he quickly straightened up and left the room.

“Hah.” 

Left alone in the room, I flopped down on the sofa. I’ve been wanting to lie down for a while.

The big problem seems to be over. Once I tidy up, I can live comfortably.

‘Why aren’t my memories from this life returning?’

Usually, after recovering memories from the past, memories from this life would return a few hours later. But not this time. Even though plenty of time had passed, there was no sign of them returning.

Why is that? I pondered for a moment before shelving the thought. 

I’ve just survived a crisis and narrowly escaped death. I don’t want to think anymore today.

They might come back with time, or I can try other means. I have plenty of time for myself now. Let’s take it slow.

I reached out and hugged the cushion on the sofa. It smells like sunlight. Maybe I placed the cushion there myself, judging by the sloppy embroidery.

The warm sunlight on my face felt pleasant. I savored a moment of peace.

“Lady Lottieeeee!!” 

It was interrupted.

As the door opened, a girl with tousled, short crimson hair and a frilly maid outfit burst in.

She must be the maid the investigator mentioned earlier.

“Hmph, you’re finally back.” 

She burst into tears as soon as she saw me. She rushed over and sat near the sofa where I was sitting, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I knew it! I knew Lady Lottie wouldn’t do that! So I told everyone! But nobody believed me!”

Her nose was running. Oh…

“They, they told me to prepare to go to another palace!” 

She was genuinely upset that nobody believed her.

Her face, showing traces of her youth, was covered in tears.

No good. I rummaged around for something to wipe her tears.

“Tap!”

“Hmp, thck!”

Well done.

I gently wiped the maid’s face. I also wiped her runny nose, then threw the cloth away. Good job.

“But I’m really glad you’re back, Lady Lottie. You seem healthy. I was really worried.”

The maid smiled wryly as she told me that she had been to the prison a few times, trying to get me my usual medication, but had been turned away.

“So I tried to sneak it the next time during the shift change! I worked hard to find out the shift change time! It’s a shame it didn’t work.”

She’s more spirited than I thought. If she keeps this up, she might end up in prison too.

“But, Lady Lottie.”

Wiping the still-reddened corners of her eyes, the maid cocked her head in confusion. 

“Why are you so quiet today? You’re usually not very talkative, but something seems different now…”

It seemed she hadn’t heard the news about my memory loss yet. Perhaps she had only heard that everything was resolved and the Princess had returned.

I might as well gather some information while I have the chance.

“Well…” 

I chewed on my lips pitifully. 

“…I’ve lost my memories. I can’t remember anything.”

“Memories?”

The girl blinked at me as if she couldn’t believe it. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Could it be because of the medicine? Maybe you forgot because you didn’t take your daily dose!”

Medicine? Not the medicine I take when I’m in pain, but a daily dose?

“It’s because of me. I should have found a way to deliver the medicine to you. If I had, you wouldn’t have lost your memories.”

Her small cry made me quickly roll my eyes and sit on the floor from the sofa.

Then, I firmly grasped the maid’s hand.

“No, it’s not your fault!”

She lifted her trembling head.

Indeed, her freshly cleaned face was again soaked in tears.

“It was just an accident, so don’t blame yourself.”

“But, but… I’m the only one here in the palace for you. You don’t have anyone else but me…”

Tears began to well up and fall from her big blue eyes.

It seemed she felt a deeper bond with me than I thought.

I’m sorry. If I had known, I would have tried another way to find out.

‘I took it too lightly, seeing that not a single person, not even my family or others, seemed surprised.’

The Emperor, Arkyin, and everyone else. 

They didn’t even flinch upon learning that I had lost my memory. It seemed they regarded my memory loss as trivial, even to the point where I began to treat it lightly.

“I’m sorry for surprising you.”

I hugged the little girl tightly and patted her back. Her trembling body gradually calmed down.

“It’s not your fault. There was a little accident. Other than that, everything’s fine.”

I carefully wiped her tear-streaked face again and looked into her eyes.

Her deep blue eyes, wet with tears, looked more beautiful than ever.

“Instead of blaming yourself, help me find my memories. It could be dangerous if I keep losing them.”

“Lady Lottie…”

“You’re the only one I can trust in this palace.”

“Yes! Trust only me, Lady Lottie!”

The maid clenched her lips at my words, then nodded firmly with a determined look. 

Over the next few hours, she slowly unraveled the story.

There was quite a bit of miscellaneous information mixed in.

‘So…’

I summarized the stories Betty had told me, rolling my head.

I was fifteen years old.

The maid in front of me, Betty, was also my age and of common birth.

Above me are a prince and a princess and below me, there is only Arkin.

‘I should avoid those above me.’

Upon hearing from Betty, who said the two youngsters born in the same year are already fiercely competing for the position of the next emperor, with similar abilities and talents.

Either they’re Pandelion royalty or they’re not.

Pandelion aristocrats inevitably excel in one particular talent.

‘Most of them excel in skills like swordsmanship or martial arts, but there were quite a few who excelled in other fields of talent.’

Thanks to that, even in the fields of art and philosophy.

It wasn’t hard to come across the names of Pandelion aristocrats.

It seemed those guys were already showing their potential and fighting for the position of the next emperor.

I’ll be swept away if I get too close for nothing.

“Prince Arkin has been evaluated as somewhat lacking compared to the two.”

Ah, so that’s why he felt so intimidated in front of the emperor.

‘As long as a three-year-old is articulate and healthy, that should be enough.’

Tsk, I scoffed lightly and furrowed my brows. Then I asked a question.

“So, am I also disliked?”

“What?”

“I mean me. I don’t have any abilities either.”

“Uh, well……”

Betty’s eyes shook restlessly. Why, what else is there……?

I must have prodded her several times because Betty closed her eyes tightly and exclaimed.

“Lady Lottie, you’re not Her Majesty’s child……!!”