Chapter 404: Special Episode - Workaholics Are Trouble (1)

“Your Majesty, are you aware that starting today, we’re supposed to spend two full months together?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

“But what is this?”

“This?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lloyd nodded and gestured toward the pile of documents on Queen Alicia’s desk, poking them pointedly.

Queen Alicia raised an eyebrow, as if it was no big deal.

“This is my schedule for the day.”

“Yes, I know that, Your Majesty.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“This schedule… Why is there no empty space on it?”

“That’s because the chamberlain filled it out that way.”

“No, that’s not the point…”

“Then what is?”

“I’m asking how your schedule can be so packed, without even a second of free time to spare!”

“The answer is simple, isn’t it?”

Queen Alicia shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I have a lot to do. That’s why my schedule is full. But this is nothing unusual for me.”

“So…”

“I live like this every day.”

“Every day, Your Majesty?”

“Yes.”

“All day long?”

“Of course.”

“What about days off?”

“What is a ‘day off’?”

“…”

Lloyd couldn’t help but wipe away a tear. Talking with his noona, the Queen, since early morning had brought him to the verge of tears.

And he had good reason.

His heart sank as he saw the looming disaster of their planned two-month training camp.

‘This is bad… Really bad.’

Lloyd could already sense his carefully crafted plans falling apart. He quickly assessed the situation.

‘Okay, calm down. Don’t panic. Let’s figure this out properly. So… I need to prevent an event that could trigger the restoration of fate. The trigger this time is the Queen’s left arm. Due to the mysterious paralysis, she’ll eventually lose the arm, and when that happens, she’ll fall into darkness, becoming a tyrant, and chaos will ensue.’

He had to stop that from happening.

That’s why he had proposed two months of intensive training with the Queen.

‘If I teach her the Asrahan Method, we might be able to heal her left arm. If she masters the technique, it could prevent the restoration of fate from happening again.’

It took a lot of effort to persuade the Queen.

But finally, he managed to convince her to agree to two months of training.

He had even overcome the expected opposition from those around him.

‘Yesterday, I proved I’m a Swordmaster to the Noble Assembly. They acknowledged I’m qualified to be the Queen’s sparring partner. And the Queen officially declared the two-month training camp.’

That was just yesterday.

Last night, he had been confident that half the plan had succeeded. All that remained was to follow through with the training.

But looking at this now?

‘What is this schedule? Meetings, audiences, briefings, reviews, and more meetings, all packed in 10-minute intervals… Is this a daily schedule or a month’s worth crammed into one day?’

The schedule was absurdly packed.

To compare, it was like attending university lectures from the first class of the morning to the last one at night, with no breaks—not even between night classes.

He couldn’t believe it.

So, he found himself asking the dumbest question:

“Your Majesty, are you sure this is your schedule for just one day?”

“Of course. Didn’t I just say that?”

“…”

She’s serious.

If she weren’t a Swordmaster, but a normal person, she would’ve collapsed long ago from overwork or chronic fatigue. Yet she was handling this punishing schedule every single day without issue.

‘This is dangerous.’

Is it because I’ll have to be tied to her all day?

Is it because I’ll be dragged along through every bit of her schedule?

No, that wasn’t it.

‘This won’t work. If she keeps following this schedule every day, the whole training camp and the Asrahan Method will go down the drain.’

This was bad.

The schedule was just too overwhelming. No matter how much time he spent tied to the Queen’s side, guiding her mana and focusing on the Method, it wouldn’t work if she didn’t concentrate and respond.

That was the whole point of the training.

But looking at this schedule, it was clear that achieving that goal was impossible.

‘This won’t do.’

The training would be pointless.

With this in mind, Lloyd said, “Your Majesty?”

“Speak.”

“This is… a bit problematic.”

“How so?”

“The schedule is too packed.”

“Even if you guide my mana pathways?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Conversations with the Queen were easy. There was no need for long explanations. She always caught on quickly.

This time was no different.

“Hmmm, Lloyd Frontera. I understand your concern.”

“I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“…But I haven’t made my final decision yet.”

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Tch.”

“…”

“Anyway, I understand what you’re getting at. You want the training camp, especially for healing my left arm, to be the priority. Isn’t that right?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“But that’s going to be difficult.”

“…What?”

Lloyd was startled.

A faint, troubled smile appeared on the Queen’s lips.

“No matter how important my health and my arm are, this schedule isn’t just for me. It affects everyone in the kingdom.”

She pointed at the schedule on her desk, emphasizing her point.

“This schedule impacts the nobles loyal to the Crown, my officials, the citizens of the capital, and everyone born and living on my lands. Don’t you agree?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“No. I won’t entertain any objections, even from you. The harder I work, the busier I am, and the more tired I get, the more prosperous and comfortable my people become. Isn’t that true?”

“But still…”

“Tch. That is the responsibility placed upon my shoulders, the weight of the crown. And now you’re asking me to set that responsibility aside? Does that even make sense?”

“Your Majesty, just…”

“Just?”

“It’s only for two months. Can’t you leave the affairs of the state in the hands of your capable officials for that time?”

“No.”

“…”

“That is absolutely impossible.”

“…”

Wow, she’s drawing the line so sharply.

Lloyd couldn’t help but feel flustered. At the same time, he realized something important.

‘She’s a workaholic.’

A serious workaholic.

Not the kind who works for personal success, fame, or wealth. She was driven by a sense of duty and public service, burning herself out for the greater good—a relentless, uncompromising type of workaholic.

‘Damn, this is a disaster.’

A foreboding sense of failure hit him like a brick wall. The plan to convince her seemed hopeless, as if boiling down a century-old bone broth.

Oblivious to his despair, the Queen continued in a dignified tone, giving him her command.

“So, Lloyd Frontera. You will research and come up with a solution.”

“Pardon?”

“A way to transfer the Asrahan Method efficiently while adhering to this schedule.”

“…”

Might as well ask me to run a marathon while playing the recorder… Or to eat a bowl of soup without spilling a drop while bungee jumping.

‘This is impossible.’

Something drastic had to be done. As his sense of urgency grew, the Queen finished speaking.

“Now, let’s start with the first item on the schedule. Follow me.”

The Queen left her office, and with their hands bound together, Lloyd was pulled along.

Thus began the grueling day.

***

The day passed in a blur, and night finally came.

“Hah… Haah… Hah…”

“Are you alright?”

“Huuh… Hah…”

“You don’t seem alright.”

“I-I apologize, Your Majesty.”

Lloyd was panting heavily.

He felt like he was going to throw up.

Or faint.

“Hah… Ugh…”

He collapsed into a chair in the Queen’s bedroom.

It had been an exhausting, nonstop day.

‘Let’s see… Just today, we attended five meetings, countless audiences, and briefings. We even went to two banquets. Then, as a bonus, we had an emergency meeting at the end.’

All of that happened in just one day.

But the most shocking part?

“Tch. You’re such a weak, delicate thing. Are you really that worn out from just one busy day?”

“…”

“This is just a typical day for me.”

“…”

Lloyd couldn’t help but feel utterly defeated. That sinking feeling deepened as he glanced at the enormous desk in the corner of the bedroom, piled high with paperwork.

“Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“Surely… those documents…”

“You guessed right. Have you gotten used to them?”

“…Spare me.”

“Did I say I would kill you?”

“N-No, but…”

“All you need to do is sign a few papers.”

“Does it really have to be me?”

“It makes me happy when you do it.”

“…”

This is a twisted sense of humor!

Lloyd wanted to scream, but the Queen’s radiant smile as she looked at him left him swallowing his words.

“I’m going to wash up. You should change into your nightclothes.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

There weren’t many moments during the day when their hands were unbound. Now was one of those rare chances.

Lloyd started changing into the nightclothes the palace had provided, thinking to himself:

‘I can’t let this continue.’

Today had been a nightmare. He hadn’t been able to teach the Queen the Asrahan Method properly. Every time he tried to guide her mana to her left arm, the endless schedule broke their focus.

And the Queen couldn’t concentrate either, swept up in the hectic pace of the day.

‘This won’t work. This entire training will be meaningless.’

He needed to find a way to lighten the Queen’s schedule.

But how?

As he finished changing and washed his face in a gold basin brought in by the maids, Lloyd racked his brain. Ideas, plans, and tricks all flooded his mind.

He sorted through them, eliminating the impossible ones, discarding the ideas that would get him killed, and narrowing it down to the options that might only get him a punch in the gut.

‘Alright, let’s go with this.’

Lloyd made his decision.

Just as he finished, the Queen returned, dressed in her nightclothes.

“…”

I’ve never seen her like this before.

A flowing, pink silk nightgown… something I never thought I’d witness.

And now that I look at it, my nightclothes…

‘They match!’

Lloyd was horrified.

He just realized that the blue nightclothes he had changed into were a matching set with the Queen’s pink ones.

‘This is like a couple’s outfit!’

Could this be some sort of administrative mistake?

Had the palace maids made an error?

Wearing matching nightclothes with the Queen—couldn’t this be seen as an insult to the royal family?

His nerves skyrocketed.

Lloyd anxiously glanced at the Queen.

But she?

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing, Your Majesty.”

“Hm. Does my attire seem strange?”

“N-No, not at all.”

“But yours does.”

“…Pardon?”

“Actually, it’s bizarre. Quite unsightly. I never imagined you’d look so ridiculous in that nightclothes.”

“…”

Why are you suddenly roasting me like this?

Lloyd didn’t know how to respond and simply fiddled with his fingers.

The Queen’s mysterious smile grew wider.

“Perhaps I should have those royal guest nightclothes replaced. They looked fine when I wore them, so I didn’t pay much attention. Tch, tch.”

“…”

So that’s what it was.

These nightclothes were for royal guests.

‘The Queen must’ve just been using the guest nightclothes without giving it much thought.’

So, it wasn’t a couple’s outfit.

Lloyd felt relieved.

Though, oddly, there was a tiny tinge of disappointment.

‘What am I even thinking? I’m losing it.’

Lloyd quickly shook off his thoughts and returned to the plan he had devised.

‘There’s no other way.’

Somehow, he had to reduce the Queen’s workload.

But that meant addressing her workaholic tendencies.

Lloyd, masking his urgency, spoke up.

“Your Majesty?”

“Hm? Speak.”

“Yes, I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty. Before we start signing all these documents, I have a suggestion.”

“A suggestion?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“I’m feeling quite tired and sleepy.”

“And?”

“But I still need to finish signing these documents for you, don’t I?”

“And?”

“I’d like to shake off my drowsiness for a bit.”

“Shake off drowsiness?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Are you proposing a sparring session?”

“N-Not quite…”

“Then what?”

“Your Majesty, how about a little bet to pass the time?”

“A bet?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And the winner gets a reward?”

“Exactly, Your Majesty.”

“Interesting.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

“And what would this bet involve? How do you plan to shake off your sleepiness?”

The Queen smiled, clearly intrigued.

The mood was just right.

This was his chance.

With the precision of a hunter catching prey, Lloyd timed his words carefully and spoke clearly.

“Your Majesty, have you ever heard of ‘Yaja Time’?” [1]

***

Footnotes:
[1] Yaja Time (야자타임): A playful Korean tradition where hierarchical norms and honorifics are temporarily suspended, allowing individuals of lower rank or younger age to speak casually to their seniors or superiors. Typically used in informal settings to break down social barriers and encourage camaraderie. After Yaja Time, the usual social order is restored, and formal language is resumed.