I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 106

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#106

 

Even though Kalian had thoughtfully sent me lunch, it still wouldn’t go down well.

 

All I managed was three or four spoonfuls of soup and about two bites of salad.

 

Even that was forcing myself to eat when my stomach wouldn’t accept it.

 

After halfheartedly finishing my meal, I had nothing particular to do.

 

I tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come. It was because bad thoughts kept surfacing.

 

“Sigh.”

 

I dry-washed my face and collapsed onto the sofa.

 

Kalian had told me not to do anything and just rest well, but for me right now, that was more torturous.

 

Since I wasn’t doing anything, thoughts of Fillen kept coming to mind. At times like this, I needed to do something.

 

Working frantically would be best, but if I went to the study, Kalian would scold me severely, so I couldn’t do that.

 

Then what would be good to do? Should I read a book?

 

It seemed like a decent idea, so I immediately prepared to go out and headed to the library.

 

“Oh my, it’s been a while. Count Tebesa.”

 

A librarian I’d become quite familiar with greeted me warmly.

 

Another librarian nearby also spotted me and nudged the familiar librarian’s side, saying:

 

“Chelsi, you should call her Baron Aster now.”

 

“Ah, that’s right. You received a title.”

 

The librarian, Chelsi, realized her mistake and bowed her head to me in apology.

 

“My apologies, Baron.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

I had only received the title yesterday, so it was natural that some people didn’t know yet. I had no intention of scolding her for something like this.

 

…It was also a title I might have to return soon.

 

“Is there a particular book you’re looking for?”

 

“No. I just came to browse around, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

 

“Then please call on us anytime you need anything.”

 

“I will.”

 

After sending the librarian away, I looked around the bookshelves.

 

As I wandered around wondering what book I should read to avoid stray thoughts, a particular book suddenly caught my eye.

 

[Don’t Pluck the Red Rose]

 

It was the book Sara had recommended before, but I had closed it without properly reading even one page because it was too embarrassing.

 

Come to think of it, I didn’t leave a note for Sara.

 

To leave a note for Sara, I would have to go home, but that was scary.

 

I might run into Fillen again.

 

But I couldn’t just stay like this.

 

‘I’ll have to ask Baron Delrond later.’

 

I wasn’t sure if it was okay to ask for such a personal favor, but I had no one else to ask.

 

But that book, I remember it being quite embarrassing content – would something like this really be in the Imperial Palace Library?

 

Wondering if it might be different from the book I knew, I pulled it out and opened it.

 

[Sesi’s face flushed red. Before his eyes swayed two round, protruding…]

 

Slam!

 

Good heavens. It was that book after all.

 

Why on earth is a book like this in the Imperial Palace Library?

 

I hadn’t even read one page properly, but my face burned hot as if scorched by fire. Even fanning myself with my hand wouldn’t make it subside.

 

It was embarrassing just holding such a book.

 

I was about to put it back in its place when I felt someone’s presence behind me, and they snatched away the book I was holding.

 

I turned around in panic.

 

“Don’t Pluck the Red Rose?”

 

“Your, Your Majesty.”

 

Why is he here?

 

No, more than that, that book he’s holding…!

 

“Pl, please give it back!”

 

I panicked and tried to take the book, but Kalian held it up high beyond my reach.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“What kind of book is it that makes you so flustered?”

 

Kalian opened the book while holding it in that position.

 

No, you can’t look!

 

Thinking I had to stop him somehow, I stretched my hand as far as possible and jumped up.

 

But it still wasn’t enough. It was the same no matter how many times I jumped.

 

“Your Majesty, please give it back!”

 

But I couldn’t let Kalian see it.

 

Using all my strength to jump as high as possible, my fingertips touched the book.

 

“Got it…!”

 

Suddenly my center of balance collapsed and I tilted forward.

 

Fortunately, Kalian caught my waist, so I avoided the unseemly sight of falling, but instead I ended up burying my face in Kalian’s chest.

 

“…!”

 

That distinctive deep scent penetrated deep into my lungs.

 

It was a fresh and light fragrance. It seemed to smell like the sea too.

 

…But why am I staying like this?

 

“I, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

 

Belatedly realizing that I had buried my face too deeply in his chest, I startled and pulled my body back.

 

“…”

 

Kalian stared at me like that, then shifted his gaze to the book he was holding.

 

His eyes narrowed thinly.

 

“It’s an obscene book. I didn’t know you liked this kind of novel.”

 

“N, no!”

 

I hastily made excuses, afraid Kalian would get the wrong idea.

 

“I, I just pulled it out because the title caught my eye! I absolutely don’t like it!”

 

“Really? That’s disappointing.”

 

Kalian spoke as if genuinely disappointed and put the book back in its place.

 

“I like it.”

 

* * *

 

I borrowed a book to read and left the library. Just then, a light drizzle began to fall.

 

Kalian, who had received an umbrella from a servant, extended his hand to me.

 

“I’ll escort you to the palace.”

 

“Yes. I’ll hold the umbrella.”

 

When I tried to take the umbrella, Kalian shook his head.

 

“It’s fine. It’s more comfortable for me to hold it.”

 

“But…”

 

“Didn’t I tell you not to make me repeat the same words?”

 

Kalian spoke firmly and pulled my arm.

 

Trying to avoid the rain with a small umbrella, we inevitably had to stick close together.

 

Our constantly bumping shoulders were too distracting.

 

Would it be fine to use separate umbrellas, but do we really need to share one umbrella?

 

No, more than that, why is His Majesty the Emperor holding the umbrella himself?

 

I was about to ask if it wouldn’t be better to use separate umbrellas even now, but Kalian spoke first.

 

“I heard you didn’t eat lunch properly.”

 

It seems he had already heard about it through someone.

 

“Did the food not suit your taste?”

 

“No. The food was delicious.”

 

“Then why didn’t you eat?”

 

“I just had no appetite. I’ll make sure to eat properly from next time.”

 

I thought Kalian wouldn’t say anything more if I ended it like this, but he was thorough.

 

“You promised. Starting from dinner, you’ll eat properly.”

 

Oh no, I’ve dug my own grave.

 

I was doubtful whether I could eat dinner properly, but I nodded for now.

 

I turned my gaze around. Attendants and maids who couldn’t avoid the rain were running around quickly.

 

Seeing them reminded me of Sara.

 

I needed to let her know that I was at the Imperial Palace.

 

“Your Majesty, may I go to the official’s office?”

 

Kalian frowned slightly.

 

“Are you openly ignoring my words to rest?”

 

“That’s not it, I want to meet Baron Delrond…”

 

I almost called him Baron-nim out of habit but quickly corrected myself.

 

“Why Ber?”

 

“I have something to ask of him.”

 

Kalian stopped walking and stared at me intently.

 

He looked very displeased.

 

“What are you trying to ask Ber?”

 

“It’s nothing much. I wanted to ask him to let my maid Sara know that I’m here.”

 

“I can do that for you.”

 

Him, the Emperor, doing such a trivial thing?

 

Maybe he was going to have an attendant do it. That would be less burdensome than asking the Baron.

 

“Then I’ll ask you to do it. Sara is probably coming up to the capital from her hometown right now. I don’t know when she’ll arrive, but at the earliest today, at the latest within two days.”

 

“That means she might be at the house right now.”

 

When I nodded, Kalian gave orders to the attendant standing behind him.

 

“Station someone at Baron Aster’s house. When the maid named Sara comes, bring her straight to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I had been thinking of leaving a note or letter, but this seemed more reliable, so I left it alone.

 

While we were talking, we arrived at the palace.

 

I stood in front of the palace and bowed to Kalian.

 

“Thank you for walking me back.”

 

Instead of responding to my greeting, Kalian just stared at me quietly.

 

Did he have something to say?

 

If so, I should wait properly, so I stood straight and waited for his words.

 

But until my collar got damp from the rainwater, Kalian didn’t say anything.

 

“What…”

 

The moment I opened my mouth, tired of waiting, Kalian spoke.

 

“It’s chilly with the rain.”

 

“Then please go inside quickly.”

 

If he’s cold, why doesn’t he go inside instead of standing there like that?

 

“On days like this, warm tea is perfect.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“…”

 

As if my answer didn’t please him, Kalian’s eyebrow rose slightly.

 

Kalian stared at me again, then clicked his tongue lightly and turned around.

 

And without saying goodbye, he quickly disappeared without looking back.

 

He looked like a sulking child.

 

What was that? Did I make some mistake?

 

I returned to my room with an uncomfortable feeling.

 

In the meantime, a maid must have visited because the room was neatly organized.

 

As I put down the book I borrowed from the library on the table, I noticed a glass bottle placed neatly beside it.

 

It was a glass bottle containing strawberry candies. Come to think of it, Kalian had left it this morning.

 

I took out a strawberry candy from the glass bottle and put it in my mouth.

 

The sweet and sour strawberry flavor filled my mouth.

 

I couldn’t eat much of the food that was surely made with high-quality ingredients. Sweet cakes and cookies too.

 

But strangely, I could eat the strawberry candy.

 

It was really strange.

 

* * *

 

When dinner time came, a maid from the Imperial Palace personally brought my dinner.

 

“His Majesty instructed me to tell you to keep your promise.”

 

…along with those words.

 

I still didn’t feel like eating anything, but since I had given my word, I tried my best to keep it.

 

Perhaps my stomach understood my feelings too, as it accepted the food more easily than at lunch.

 

It was also possible because all the food was easy on the stomach.

 

Slowly but surely, I didn’t put down my spoon until the end and ate all the food the maid brought.

 

After the maid left, confirming that I had finished all the food, another visitor came.

 

This time it was also an attendant sent by Kalian.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor sent this.”

 

I received the box the attendant handed me.

 

Inside the box was a candle beautifully wrapped with a ribbon.

 

It was a lavender candle that was good for insomnia and mental stability.

 

To think he would pay attention to such detailed aspects.

 

I was grateful, but on the other hand, I felt uncomfortable.

 

Usually, one doesn’t pay this much attention to an aide.

 

Although Kalian was kinder and better than most people, this still seemed excessive.

 

No, since I keep causing so much trouble, he’s naturally very concerned.

 

I wanted to be helpful to him, but I felt heavy-hearted because I seemed to keep being a burden.

 

‘Come to think of it, I also had something to give him.’

 

Seeing the candle reminded me. I put down the box and took out small boxes from the luggage bag I had put in the wardrobe.

 

They were gifts for Sara, Baron Delrond, and Kalian.

 

Originally, I planned to give Kalian the gift while telling him about Aldor’s matter and someone’s attempt to poison me, but it seemed I needed to change my plan.

 

‘I need to solve Fillen’s problem first.’

 

If I couldn’t solve that, no matter how much I solved other things, it would be useless.

 

I was fiddling with the gift for Kalian, thinking about how to solve Fillen’s problem, when it happened.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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