The Princess is Going on Strike - Chapter 7
Chapter 7
As there was no news from Velfor, Oledin believed that the issue was settled. He summoned me one misty morning, before I finished my breakfast, and gave me a rare compliment.
He probably has no idea what I said to Velfor.
It caused me to think whether I truly shared the same blood as this simple and idiotic man. Oledin nodded his head several times and uttered nonsense as to why I should have done this in the first place; and that I should not confront him again, obeying him unconditionally. But of course, I have no plans of doing that. There was a point in time when I believed the words this man spoke were the law and truth, but laws, countries, and the world change over time so what are mere words compared to them?
Oledin, ignorantly, rose from his seat. He put on his jacket while speaking nonsense about taking care of work, when in fact he would waste vast amounts of money at the underground gambling house at this time of day, while hiding his identity. Others called him a pushover, but he never really noticed due to how dim-witted he was. If the Duke earned money by normal means, collecting taxes from the duchy, and not through his current means, then he would’ve already gone broke. Despite the fact that I was the one responsible for all the achievements Oledin earned, he never once acknowledged me; neither as his child or daughter. Much less as a human being.
Oledin turn and left the room with a sneer on his face while I followed behind him. I planned to return to the annex building and finish making plans for the future, but Oledin’s genes weren’t only his alone. When I turned the corner, I saw my older sister, who should’ve been studying at the Central Academy, standing in front of me.
“…..What the? Why are you coming from there?”
Asterin made a sullen face and looked up and down at me with contempt. She was a beauty who took after her mother, the Duchess, rather than Oledin. Because of this, she was well-known in social circles, but there was one secret unknown to the public. And that was, she was completely and utterly brainless. I have no idea how she got into the Academy when it was a place where commoners and nobles, alike, all had to take an exam to get accepted to. Every single word she uttered revealed complete ignorance. Even Oledin once told her,
{“If there’s no need to say anything, don’t speak. Do you want the entire world to know how ignorant you are and hear how you’re even worse than that idiotic monster?”}
That was how bad it was.
It was ridiculous seeing an idiot calling another person an idiot. This half-witted father-daughter duo would often chat with one another. The eldest daughter feared and avoided me, however the second daughter, Asterin, would cling to me with a contemptuous gaze; much like Verictus.
She glared at me with contempt and scorn.
She could’ve just ignored me, but she never does…
“I was chatting with Father.”
“…Hmph.”
Asterin rolled her amber-colored eyes then looked at me. She snorted then puffed up her chest while leaning against the wall, in order to show off her voluptuous figure.
“About what?”
“What we always talk about.”
“So what was it that you talked about?”
I stared at her and wondered why she always had the unhealthy habit of asking me this when she can’t understand the content whenever I tell her. I don’t know whether it’s because she has a low IQ or lack of motivation, but there have been many times when I tried to explain it in a way she would be able to understand, but in the end, it just went in one ear and out the other. But if I try to ignore her, she would pester me ‘till no end. In fact, Asterin was the most difficult and annoying person to deal with since talking to her never worked.
“I was telling him that if the basic cost of the equipment delivered to the main military force and the amount of raw materials extracted from the mines don’t match, then it will become an important factor in determining the final product cost in the future. Got it?”
In the end, despite my efforts to explain things to her, the reply I get from her is simple.
“Ah….. I see.”
It meant she had no clue what I was talking about.
[Sigh]
With a small sigh, I turned away since I knew continuing this conversation would only exhaust me.
Let’s just go back.
Unfortunately, Asterin had no thoughts of letting me leave.
“Wait!”
I lightly slapped away the hand that she used to grab my arm. I didn’t know whether she was so ignorant to not notice the change in my attitude or if she was so stuck in her own world that she only cared about speaking her mind.
“You still have something left to do.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t think so. So, I’m leaving.”
Asterin narrowed her gaze and gripped my hand. She held it so tightly that I had no choice but to turn my body back towards her and I saw her looking at me with a frustrated expression.
“What is it?”
“This.”
She handed me a small piece of rolled paper. I was curious to see what it was and looked at its contents to find that it was a report card. A report card with horrible scores. Even a 10-year-old taught for 3 years would’ve scored better than this.
Is she even taking her classes?
She spoke to me pretending not to notice the pitiful gaze I gave her.
“My last test score was a little low, so the dean gave me a warning. If I don’t do better on my next test, they’ll expel me from the Academy. I’d be the third student ever in history to be expelled and the first because of grades.”
What a thing to brag about.
“And?”
“What do you mean ‘and’? You know how persuasive I can be, right? So I convinced the dean that I’d complete any extra assignments he gave to make up for the scores.”
“Good for you. Then go do that.”
“You’re funny.”
The way Asterin laughed with her nose up high and tapping my shoulder made me feel nervous. It was a habit of hers to cling to my arm whenever she asked for favors. Sure enough, she placed her hand on my arm and spoke to me.
“Why would I do it? You should be the one doing it.”
Just like that she smirked at me.
Why would I do it for you?
Before I could ask her the obvious, Asterin snorted and looked at me with great confidence.
“The dean is extremely strict. Can you believe that he asked me to write a report that included all the subjects we’ve learned this semester, which make up 100 pages? But look! Look at how thin my wrists are. I just know that they’ll end up breaking while I’m trying to write it.”
“No, that won’t happen. Your wrist bones are pretty thick, you know.”
“What?! Ugh, anyway! You need to do it. It’s impossible for me. Plus, I’m busy, remember? There’s going to be a banquet at the Imperial Palace soon, so I need to make sure to appear as dignified as a ducal family member should be. That’s why I’ll need the extra time to prepare my dresses and jewelry, so you do it. Got it?”
I looked at the place she indicated and saw a huge stack of books. My eyes twitched. I turned my head back and stared at Asterin walking further and further away as she chortled.
She’s quick when it comes to things like this… and outrageous. And it’s amazing how she’s exactly like Oledin. Even if I did agree to do it for her, does she think that all she needs to do is just order me to do it and not have to monitor and confirm whether the work would be done?
It made me recall how Oledin sent me after Velfor and I said a short prayer in my head for the sake of Asterin’s stupidity.
I pray that you are born with a normal brain in your next life.
I stopped a passing servant and handed him the rolled paper. He flinched as he received the paper then tilted his head.
“Hand it to the Duchess. I’m sure she will gladly take it if you tell her that it is Asterin’s.”
I hoped that the sun would shine on the heart of the Duchess who always had high expectations for her daughter’s grades. Before heading towards my room I looked once more at the pile of books.
…a pig wearing a pearl necklace.
It was the perfect expression to describe my dear sister.
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