I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 132

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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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#132

 

The next day, Adrina Priest was immediately released and officially received the position of director of the childcare institution from Kalian.

 

Now that the person in charge had been decided, it was time to select people to care for the children.

 

When I asked how we should go about selecting them, Adrina Priest cautiously offered her opinion.

 

“I know priests who, like me, felt sorry for the children being abused and tried their best to help them somehow. If we ask them for help, they would gladly assist us.”

 

“That’s a good idea.”

 

If they were priests, their backgrounds would be reliable and they would be skilled at caring for children.

 

I accepted Adrina Priest’s opinion and gathered those priests.

 

Some were imprisoned in the underground prison.

 

Others had left the temple, disgusted by its ugly aspects.

 

It was difficult to gather those who had already left, but it was easy to bring those imprisoned in the underground prison.

 

Their ages and appearances were all different, but the response to my proposal was the same.

 

“Thank you for giving us a chance to atone.”

 

I was truly relieved. At least it wasn’t just a gathering of people worse than beasts.

 

I hoped they would take on their work with as much responsibility as the weight of guilt that pressed heavily on their hearts.

 

* * *

 

Adrina Priest gazed down at the priest robes she had worn since she was too young to remember.

 

Among all the many colors, priest robes were white because they symbolized integrity.

 

That’s why priests abhorred getting stains on their robes and always maintained them in pristine condition.

 

The same was true for Adrina Priest. Even while doing menial work as punishment for daring to oppose a high priest’s opinion, she tried to keep her priest robes clean.

 

Though it wasn’t easy, it wasn’t impossible either.

 

“It was all pointless.”

 

What good was it if the clothes were clean when the person wearing them was dirty?

 

A faint smile appeared on Adrina Priest’s lips.

 

Adrina Priest carefully placed the priest robes she had always worn except when sleeping into a box.

 

Instead of the priest robes, she put on a gray dress that wouldn’t show stains.

 

Though her outfit was dark, Adrina Priest’s face was brighter than ever. Her eyes sparkled.

 

It was when Adrina Priest was tying on her apron.

 

Knock knock-

 

“Please come in.”

 

With permission, the door opened and a woman also wearing a gray dress entered.

 

When the woman tried to bow politely, Adrina Priest waved her hand.

 

“There’s no need to greet me like that.”

 

“But Priest…”

 

“The title ‘Priest’ doesn’t fit anymore either.”

 

She had given up her priesthood the moment she took off her priest robes.

 

The woman thought for a moment, then smiled gently and said.

 

“Then I’ll call you Director.”

 

“That title is embarrassing too. Just call me Adrina, Rose.”

 

“I couldn’t dare to call the Director’s name so casually.”

 

“But…”

 

“That way we can establish proper order, and you’ll be able to control the others, so please allow me to address you this way.”

 

At Rose’s following explanation, Adrina smiled as if she had no choice.

 

“Alright. Let’s do it that way.”

 

“Then it’s time to go, Director.”

 

Rose opened the door and said respectfully.

 

“Everyone is waiting for the Director.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Adrina took one last look in the mirror to check if anything was amiss, then came outside.

 

In the large foyer were gathered the people who had been entrusted with the important task of caring for children starting today.

 

Most of them were former priests like Adrina.

 

“I won’t speak at length.”

 

Adrina stepped onto the platform and looked at them, speaking solemnly.

 

“I hope you will always be grateful to His Majesty the Emperor who gave us a chance to atone, and promise to devote your lives to the children.”

 

“We promise.”

 

“We promise.”

 

The pledge of promise spread like waves.

 

Everyone swore more seriously and solemnly than ever to devote themselves to the children.

 

* * *

 

Even though we had gathered all the priests, there was still a shortage of workers.

 

We also needed many people to handle miscellaneous tasks like cleaning and cooking.

 

“I think we could entrust that to commoners. Of course, I plan to interview them and select them carefully.”

 

Kalian, who was reading documents while listening to my report, asked.

 

“Who will conduct the interviews?”

 

“Adrina Priest and I will conduct them directly.”

 

“You too?”

 

Kalian’s eyebrows rose.

 

“You must have many other things to do. Wouldn’t it be better to leave it to Adrina Priest?”

 

“That’s true, but since Your Majesty entrusted this work to me, I want to take responsibility until the end.”

 

Kalian’s brow furrowed. He drummed his fingertips on the desk and muttered.

 

“…I should have said something.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“No, nothing.”

 

Kalian let out a long sigh and leaned back against his chair.

 

The wind blowing through the open window mischievously tousled his hair.

 

As if annoyed by it, Kalian touched his hair.

 

I should close the window.

 

Rather than calling a maid or servant, it seemed better to do it myself, so I approached the window.

 

But the window was heavier than expected. No matter how much I pulled, it wouldn’t budge.

 

Are windows normally this heavy?

 

I was flustered and kept pulling when a hand reached out from behind me.

 

“You have to remove the latch before closing it.”

 

“Ah.”

 

So there was a latch.

 

Embarrassed that I had struggled with the window without knowing that, I blushed and stepped back.

 

But I shouldn’t have done that.

 

“Oh.”

 

Because Kalian was right behind me.

 

I bumped my head against his chest and turned around in surprise.

 

Then I saw Kalian’s face at a very close distance.

 

This was like… as if I had approached and embraced him.

 

For a moment, my breath stopped. Though my mind told me I should quickly move away, my body wouldn’t obey and I couldn’t do so. I couldn’t even turn my head.

 

His long eyelashes for a man cast shadows as they rested slightly downward.

 

Below them, his blue eyes with their strange light captured my vision.

 

The heartbeat I felt through our touching backs was vivid.

 

Kalian’s distinctive scent penetrated deep into my lungs, making my head spin.

 

My legs went weak and my vision swayed.

 

“Careful.”

 

Large, firm arms wrapped around my waist. My mind snapped back to clarity.

 

What kind of disgraceful behavior was this. I gritted my teeth and put strength into my legs.

 

Then I pulled away from him. Fortunately, my body obeyed me this time.

 

“I apologize for the trouble.”

 

“Not really.”

 

Kalian indifferently closed the window and turned around.

 

I watched his back while taking deep breaths.

 

My heart pounded frantically as if I had been running for a long time. Even with continuous deep breathing, it wouldn’t calm down easily.

 

In contrast, Kalian seemed composed. I didn’t think there was anything strange about that.

 

‘That’s normal, after all.’

 

Rather, I was the strange one.

 

It was just an accidental bump with my back, yet I was having such an overreaction.

 

‘Calm down, calm down.’

 

While I was trying to soothe my heart, Kalian, who had sat back down, gestured to me. It meant to come over.

 

Hiding my trembling heart, I approached and stood before him, and he held out some documents.

 

“Just deliver this to the Chief Justice.”

 

It was a compilation of laws to be applied to childcare institutions. Since a new institution had been established, laws needed to be newly enacted accordingly.

 

My heart, which had been refusing to calm down, finally settled once work was mentioned.

 

“Understood.”

 

I was able to receive the documents calmly.

 

“What will you do about the name of the childcare institution?”

 

Usually when an institution was established, it took the surname of the family that oversaw the institution or the family that donated the most.

 

So wouldn’t it be appropriate for the childcare institution to take the Imperial family’s name? Since it’s supervised by the Empire.

 

“I think it would be fine for Your Majesty to decide as you wish.”

 

I couldn’t say that directly with my own mouth, so I answered indirectly.

 

Kalian thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Alright.”

 

Then he waved his hand. It meant I could leave now.

 

I bowed and left the study. I also greeted the attendant outside and headed straight to the Outer Palace where the Legal Department was located.

 

On the way, I carefully examined the newly enacted laws.

 

Until now, caring for children had been the temple’s responsibility, so when problems arose, they had to discuss and coordinate with the Papacy side case by case.

 

But as the work transferred to childcare institutions managed by the Imperial Court, the authority for punishment also transferred to the Empire’s side.

 

The laws had been revised with those points as the focus.

 

Everything in the documents was perfect, but there was just one flaw.

 

Rather than a flaw, it was that the name of the childcare institution hadn’t been decided yet, so it was left blank.

 

It would be filled in once decided.

 

I tucked the documents back into my clothes and quietly said the name I thought the childcare institution should have.

 

“Yusbeldya Childcare Center.”

 

Or maybe it would be Cardin Childcare Center, taking the Empire’s name.

 

Either way would suit it well. I hoped the name would be decided quickly so a sign could be put up on the large building.

 

Putting up a sign meant that institution was fulfilling its role.

 

Once the sign was made and hung up, I’d have to rush over first to check it out.

 

I quickened my steps while indulging in happy fantasies.

 

* * *

 

After Leilah left, Kalian tried to focus on work again.

 

He couldn’t.

 

It was because of what had happened earlier, when Leilah had lightly fallen into his arms.

 

Rather than falling into his arms, it would be more accurate to say she had bumped into him unexpectedly.

 

In any case, the distance that had been closer than necessary and the soft sensation that had touched him bothered him.

 

Even though this wasn’t the first time he had been this close to Leilah, it bothered him so much that he couldn’t concentrate on work.

 

What was the reason?

 

Kalian pondered while holding his quill pen.

 

What was making him so bothered?

 

He had just talked with her as usual and treated her the same as always, so what could be the problem?

 

While pondering, Kalian unconsciously applied force to his hand.

 

Snap-

 

The quill pen, unable to withstand that force, broke and dripped ink steadily.

 

Kalian slightly furrowed his brow as he watched the ink spreading messily across the documents.

 

The jet-black ink looked like Leilah’s eyes. The ink that held light sparkled like her eyes.

 

“…What crazy thoughts I’m having.”

 

Kalian chuckled softly and carelessly crumpled up the ink-stained document before tossing it into the trash.

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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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