I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 81

CHAPTER 81

As expected.

Eben smiled inwardly.

‘The princess still likes me.’

Although she seemed to be trying to forget him, it was clear that she hadn’t been able to let go.

The complex and passionate gaze she showed when they first met.

The way she tried to walk past him over and over again to get his bearings.

The smile she barely suppressed when she was about to say she was a sinner.

And finally, the way she shook her head, unable to push him away.

Didn’t each action that Lottie showed to make it clear that she still hadn’t forgotten him?

Hmm.

Until a moment ago, his anxious heart was now calm.

Yes, she seemed quite pretty now that he looked at her. Perhaps he could play with her for a while.

Moreover, he liked the affection that she only had for him.

That was the kind of person who would stay by his side until the end, even if he went on to play with other women.

‘Duke Marcus probably used that as an excuse to leave.’

This time, he had to firmly grasp at least a corner of her heart.

Then the princess would act for him.

Next time, it won’t be him left alone at the ball, but Duke Marcus.

‘Shall we end this now?’

Eben Floyd took out a box from his arms.

It wasn’t prepared in advance for Lottie.

It was something he won in a simple card game at the club earlier.

“Would you please accept this, lady?”

When he delicately opened the box and offered it, the princess’ expression changed.

“Huh?”

Yes, she had to overlook this much.

He’ll do better from now on.

Eben was confident that Lottie would accept the box he offered.

And indeed, Lottie picked up the box.

“This is.”

Lottie’s gaze was fixed on the item inside the box.

‘It looked like an old amulet when I checked earlier.’

Does she like it?

“It’s an amulet with a magic circle engraved on it. It seems you like it-.”

“Where did you get this?”

Her tone suddenly changed.

What?

When he looked at Lottie, her expression darkened.

“I asked where you got this.”

Lottie pointed to the amulet in the box.

Eben furrowed his brows slightly.

She had to accept his feelings now.

Why was she asking where the amulet was bought?

“Why are you asking about that?”

His tone became naturally sharp. Lottie narrowed her eyes.

“Please tell me, where did you get it?”

“…I bought it from a nearby store.”

It was something he won in a card game, but he didn’t want to tell the truth.

Eben knew that the club he belonged to was of poor quality.

“You bought this from a nearby store?”

Lottie chuckled softly.

“If you don’t want to tell me, it’s fine. I’ll take it.”

Anyway, it’s the item he was going to give her, right? 

With those words, the princess handed the box to the maid standing behind her.

“That’s it for now.”

Taking the amulet firmly, the princess turned away without any lingering regrets.

Just like she did at the ball.

Why? Why is she refusing when he’s going this far?

Why won’t she accept it?

“Just a moment!”

Eben urgently grabbed the princess’ wrist.

“Ah!”

Lottie made a short sound of distress.

Is she in pain? It wasn’t intentional.

But if he let the princess go now, his heart would ache even more.

“Lady.”

Releasing his grip on her wrist, Eben smiled brightly.

It was a smile that could win anyone’s favor, regardless of age or gender.

“Could I come to the palace when you have time next?”

“….”

The princess, who was silent for a moment, smiled broadly.

“I don’t accept trash.”

Huh?

Eben was confused. What did he just hear?

But it was understandable because right now, Lottie was truly, truly smiling beautifully.

“If it’s pretty, shouldn’t there be some pleasure in seeing it…?”

With her words trailing off, the princess glanced at Eben.

“It’s not like that.”

He hadn’t misheard.

And he didn’t misinterpret the reference either.

Eben raised his voice.

“A-Are you calling me trash?!”

“Oh my! How can you say such a thing? Don’t call yourself trash!”

As if waiting, she rattled on even more.

“I understand!!”

“……?”

“Of course, sometimes you might feel like you’re trash. But if you keep calling yourself trash, the experience of feeling like trash will continue and you will truly become trash!”

Stop it. Stop it.

“So please shout it every day. ‘I’m not trash! I’m trash!’ No, ‘I’m not trash!!’ If you shout like that, the feeling of considering yourself trash will decrease. Trash won’t even speak such trash-like words.”

Eben’s eyes swirled.

Wait, did she just say he was trash?

Or not??

The meaning was that he wasn’t trash, but just listening made him feel like trash, and then listening closely, meant he wasn’t trash, but trash…

But when will the word “trash” stop coming up?

Eben felt his mind filling up with trash.

He is trash and trash is him and at the same time, trash is not him……

But Lottie showed no sign of stopping.

On the contrary, she raised her voice.

“It’s nothing else but real trash!!”

She spat out each word.

“……”

Eben was at a loss for words.

As Eben looked at her like that, Lottie once again smiled a beautiful smile.

“Got it? Cherish yourself. Don’t think of yourself as trash.”

Go, go! Fighting!

For some reason, Lottie even clenched her fist confidently and quickly disappeared.

And all that was left was the Marquis with the trash swirling around his head.

* * *

“Haha, where’s the trash coming from.”

“Oh, lady, please stop using the word ‘trash’.”

Liena, who had also been attacked, held her hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy.

“Are you okay, Liena?”

I immediately supported Liena, who was staggering.

I was so caught up in the sudden grip on my wrist that I forgot she was behind me.

“Yes, yes, I think I just need to rest for a moment.”

“Just sit here for a moment.”

I sat Liena down on the chair next to me.

It looked like an outdoor table of a tea house.

Glancing through the window, it seemed empty inside without any customers.

“Let’s rest here for a moment and then leave. Okay?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll go and order….”

“No, just sit. You seem dizzy.”

Liena nodded slightly at my words.

Normally, she would have somehow managed to get up and go to order herself.

Seeing her nodding, she seemed dizzy.

‘It’s all my fault, all my fault.’

I just wanted to implant the word “trash” into that damn head.

My fault for forgetting that Liena was behind me.

I went into the tea house and ordered a cool iced tea.

Then I stood in the tea house for a moment.

I thought about taking the tea when it came.

And I also wanted to check the amulet from the young Marquis Floyd.

‘Let’s check it again.’

I took out the blue amulet, crafted like a brooch, from the box.

When the sunlight hit it, the magic circle engraved in the blue gem faintly appeared and disappeared.

I hadn’t mistaken it.

‘It’s Ringo’s amulet.’

I had been the first to find the trace of Ringo that I had asked Elam to find a week ago.

‘He wouldn’t have sold this.’

This was the last item from his hometown that Ringo had.

He was half banished from his hometown.

He never really explained why he was banished from his hometown, but Ringo always longed for it.

‘Every time I look at this, I feel longing.’

Wasn’t he lost in thought while holding the amulet and looking into the distance?

And that guy sold this?

‘No way.’

I tightened my grip on the amulet.

If I die with this, I won’t let go of it.

Nothing bad will happen.

But it doesn’t feel good.

“Excuse me, lady.”

Someone called me from behind.

“Are you the guest who ordered two iced teas and cookies?”

“Oh, yes, that’s me!”

The tea had arrived. I turned my head.

“….Hey, could it be…”

“Huh?”

The man seemed puzzled but then smiled brightly as if he understood.

There was only one person who appeared like this.

“Hey! Long time no see!!”

Long ears are hidden by a hat, purple hair, and eyes darker than that.

The one I was desperately looking for and worrying about just a moment ago.

“Wow, how long has it been? Feels like it’s been a few hundred years. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

I met Ringo.

Why?

Why??

Why was the guy who was the leader now working part-time at a tea house???