I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 159

Penelope was stunned by the sudden request.

“Wait, why does a kind gesture suddenly feel like a curse?”

She had no intention of holding the lord’s position for any longer than absolutely necessary. Sure, there were still some projects she hadn’t tackled—laying down the railroad, constructing additional administrative offices, and developing tourism once the trains started running—but her ultimate goal was to retire young and enjoy a leisurely life.

“...My lady?”

“Ah, ahem. I’ll see you again soon, Professor Bake. Take care until then.”

“You as well, my lady.”

“Yes, well...”

I’ll just focus on staying mentally sane, Penelope muttered to herself, unable to voice her thoughts aloud.

After seeing Professor Bake off, she hesitated as soon as she stepped into the hallway.

Did I end the meeting too early?

The idea of returning to the drawing room made her feet feel as if they were glued to the floor.

Being surrounded by her family, enduring their relentless barrage of questions, and watching Ahwin bask in their approval—it was exhausting. The thought of it made her lower lip jut out in frustration.

If only Mother weren’t there, I’d grab him by the collar and shake him. That damned wizard is way too full of himself...

And to think he wasn’t even part of her family! Yet he got along with them so well, it was infuriating.

If only there were some official task she could use as an excuse to stay busy. Unfortunately, her retainers had granted her time off until the next day, leaving her with nothing to do.

I could always find something if I looked hard enough... but I’m not exactly eager to work that hard!

To be honest, the thought of work was daunting. She was sure that mountains of documents awaited her review after her absence, and she wasn’t keen on volunteering for the torment early.

Just like cramming all her diary entries into one sitting, Penelope preferred to procrastinate on her “homework” as long as possible.

“Well... might as well head back.”

Reluctantly, she turned toward the drawing room and began walking.

The closer she got, the faster her steps became. She couldn’t help but worry about what kind of outrageous things Ahwin might have said to her family in her absence.

Knock, knock.

Without waiting for a response, she swung the door open.

“It’s me. Did I keep you waiting—”

...Huh?

To her surprise, the drawing room was completely empty.

She looked around the vacant room, bewildered.

The meeting with Professor Bake couldn’t have taken more than thirty minutes. Where did everyone go in that time?

That’s when she spotted Laura by the far window, surrounded by a cluster of maids.

“....”

Laura, along with the others, was craning her neck to peer outside. It was an odd sight—they were all in the exact same posture, fixated on something beyond the glass.

“What are you doing over there, Laura? And where is my family?”

“Ah—!” Laura flinched, startled, and spun around to face Penelope.

“M-my lady, when did you get back?”

“Just now. What’s going on?” Penelope asked as she approached. She glanced toward the window. Had something interesting happened outside?

Laura flailed her hands nervously. “Well, um, Master Ahwin took your family up to the tower...”

“...What?”

Penelope blinked slowly, struggling to process the words. The tower? Why on earth would Ahwin take her family up to the tower?

“But wasn’t the tower closed off?”

She distinctly remembered reading a report that the stairs leading to the tower had been blocked off for repairs, prohibiting access.

Her complexion paled as realization hit her.

“Don’t tell me... Ahwin climbed out through the window?!”

“Yes! He suddenly suggested that they take a tour of the tower! Clara fainted halfway up, and Lady Rencer is... well, she’s half-unconscious as well...”

“AHWIN!”

Penelope shouted as she sprinted to the window, panic overtaking her.

***

Penelope stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to get a better view of the tower. If she strained enough, she thought she could faintly make out the spire’s sharp peak.

Giselle, having apparently caught wind of the commotion, came rushing into the drawing room. Penelope turned to her with urgency.

“Giselle, can you see the tower from here?”

“Not very well. It’d be better to head to the bell tower. From there, you’d have a clear view of the main tower. Most of the other maids have probably gone that way already.”

'Why didn’t anyone say that sooner?'

“Let’s go!”

Gathering up the hem of her dress, Penelope dashed out of the room, with Giselle hot on her heels. Laura quickly followed, sprinting to catch up.

Even as she took the stairs two at a time, Penelope couldn’t believe what was happening.

'What kind of chaos is this?'

Ahwin had taken her entire family up the tower for sightseeing. What kind of sudden disaster had she been saddled with this time?

No doubt, Ahwin had lured her gullible family with promises of showing them something spectacular. He’d pulled the same stunt on her before.

“That troublemaker is really asking for it!” Penelope gritted her teeth as she stormed ahead.

***

When they arrived at the base of the bell tower, Penelope immediately ran into a problem. The stairs were completely blocked by a crowd of servants and knights, all jostling for space to catch a glimpse of the scene. Everyone had come to witness the spectacle.

Frustrated, Penelope stomped her foot, but Giselle was already stepping forward, her voice commanding.

“The lady of the estate is here! Make way!”

“Gasp—!”

“The lady! You’ve arrived!”

“Move aside! Make room for the lady!”

Amid the murmuring, the knights and servants scrambled to clear a narrow path just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Clutching her dress tightly, Penelope began climbing the stairs. Her initial determination, however, didn’t last long.

“Huff, huff...”

The spiral staircase seemed to stretch endlessly upward, winding on and on. By the time she made it halfway, her legs felt like jelly, and both Giselle and Laura had collapsed behind her, panting.

“My lady, please, go on without us!”

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“Yes, carry our hopes with you!”

“Don’t say things like that—it sounds like you’re dying!”

“Still, go on!”

Penelope quickly forgot their dramatic pleas as she pressed onward.

When she finally reached the top of the bell tower, she was gasping for breath, her hands on her knees as she struggled to catch it.

Standing at the peak was Sir Lance, who greeted her with a bright smile and a bow.

“My lady, you’ve arrived! It’s been a while.”

“Sir Lance... huff... it’s been too long.”

“I’m relieved to see you in good health, my lady,” he said warmly.

When she’d first knighted Lance after his dismissal from the Royal Academy, she’d thought of him as stiff and overly formal. Now, he seemed far more relaxed and easygoing. It was ironic—Penelope was the impatient one now.

“Where’s Ahwin? That wretched wizard, where is he?”

Sir Lance pointed toward the tower. “He’s over there, waving his hand.”

“That damned...!”

Penelope froze mid-sentence, her breath catching in her throat.

Her family was standing with Ahwin on the roof of the main tower, peering down over the edge. Just looking at them made her head spin—it was a dizzying sight.

Penelope stormed over to the window, leaned out, and shouted, “Ahwin! What are you doing up there—ahh!”

She let out a startled scream as her body suddenly lifted off the ground.

Her legs were now dangling in the air!

“Y-you’re flying, my lady!” Giselle’s panicked voice echoed from behind.

“I-it’s fine! It’s just magic! Ahwin’s doing it!” Penelope yelled back.

Before she could process what was happening, her body floated through the air, crossing over the window ledge in an instant.

'That cursed wizard!'

Penelope flailed her arms before squeezing her eyes shut. Keeping them closed felt safer.

The sound of wind whooshing past her cheeks buzzed in her ears.

'I never want to feel this again.' The sensation of defying gravity was terrifying.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard Ahwin’s voice, much closer now.

“You can open your eyes now, Pepe.”

“M-my feet aren’t touching the ground,” she mumbled.

“They will in a second.”

True to his word, she felt solid bricks beneath her feet moments later.

Penelope cracked her eyes open, squinting cautiously. Directly in front of her was Ahwin, his vibrant green eyes glowing faintly with a golden halo. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the mesmerizing sight until she finally snapped back to reality.

'Good grief.'

She was standing on the roof of the main tower.