I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 137

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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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#137

 

Early morning.

 

Kalian, who had entered his study earlier than usual, sat at his desk and picked up the morning newspaper that his attendant had prepared in advance.

 

Among the numerous morning newspapers, the first one he picked up was the Jeina Daily, which Drock belonged to.

 

The newspaper was filled with stories about the orphanage opening ceremony.

 

Leilah’s story was also prominently featured.

 

Baron Leilah Aster had contributed greatly to making this childcare project a success.

 

The journalists wrote detailed articles about everything they saw and heard, including how the Emperor named the first childcare institution Aster Orphanage to commend her efforts.

 

There was also an article about the relationship between Leilah and Kalian. The person who wrote the article was none other than Drock.

 

[The relationship between His Majesty Emperor Callian de Chepel Yusbeldya and Baron Leilah Aster was extremely businesslike… omitted… It has been confirmed that the rumors about Baron Leilah Aster being His Majesty the Emperor’s mistress were false rumors.]

 

From the lengthy article content, he could fragmentarily sense how desperately Drock had wanted to live.

 

Kalian also checked newspapers from other places.

 

Other newspapers also had articles mentioning the relationship between Kalian and Leilah.

 

The content was slightly different, but the overall framework was all the same.

 

Leilah is not the Emperor’s mistress. She is merely a simple aide.

 

All newspapers were saying the same thing. Kalian chuckled and put down the newspaper.

 

“Since they’re all saying the same thing, it looks like I manipulated it.”

 

Strictly speaking, he had manipulated it.

 

He just hadn’t covered up facts with lies, but had threatened them to write the truth.

 

He didn’t think these kinds of articles could change people’s thoughts overnight.

 

But at least the major controversy would die down. He was satisfied that there would be no more bastards openly asking what kind of relationship they had, like during the press conference.

 

“…”

 

It was clearly a good thing, but his mood wasn’t particularly refreshed. It felt uncomfortable, like leaving the bathroom without wiping after doing one’s business.

 

What could be the reason? Kalian rested his chin on his hand and thought.

 

The first thing that came to mind was Drock’s rude remarks.

 

While he couldn’t speak a single word properly in front of him, he had wagged his tongue lightly in front of Leilah and Ber.

 

That meant he looked down on Leilah and Ber that much.

 

Kalian twisted his lips, extremely displeased with that fact.

 

He should have punished that bastard more.

 

He regretted not doing so. The uncomfortable feeling he was having now was probably because of that.

 

‘Those are all false rumors. I swear to heaven, I have never once had a relationship beyond that of an aide with His Majesty the Emperor.’

 

Suddenly, the words Leilah had said came to mind.

 

‘And I have no intention of having a relationship beyond that of an aide with His Majesty the Emperor in the future either.’

 

Those were correct words, and natural words.

 

Kalian also had no intention of having a relationship beyond that of an aide with Leilah.

 

But why did the words she said feel so unpleasant?

 

Kalian tapped the desk with his fingertips and pondered deeply.

 

But nothing particular came to mind. Rather, the more he thought about it, the more irritated he became, so Kalian irritably ran his hand through his hair and stood up from his seat.

 

And he opened the window. Feeling the cold wind seemed to slightly relieve his stuffy heart.

 

He sat on the windowsill and looked outside the window, wanting to cool his overheated head from thinking about various things.

 

Perhaps because it was still early, the Imperial Palace was quiet. Only a few servants walking quietly without making footsteps could be seen.

 

Kalian, who was casually watching people, suddenly looked at a tree with only bare branches remaining.

 

It wasn’t that the Imperial Palace gardeners had failed to manage it, but that all the leaves had fallen because it was winter.

 

Though it looked so unsightly now, when spring came, it would bloom the most beautiful pink flowers in the Imperial Palace.

 

…The flowers called cherry blossoms that That Woman had loved most.

 

“…”

 

At the image of a woman that suddenly came to mind, Kalian’s eyes darkened.

 

The shadow that came down below his eyes covered his face. The corners of his mouth hardened stiffly and wouldn’t move.

 

His gaze was fixed on the bare tree.

 

How much time had passed like that?

 

“Hello.”

 

When he heard a familiar voice, Kalian slowly turned his head.

 

There he saw Leilah exchanging simple greetings with a passing attendant.

 

Judging by her appearance, she seemed to have just arrived at work.

 

Leilah’s cheeks were a light pink color as if stained with flower petals. White breath poured out every time she spoke.

 

It meant it was that cold, but Leilah kept smiling as if something was so good.

 

It was a clean smile that made the viewer feel good.

 

It must be cold, so why doesn’t she go inside?

 

What if she catches a cold doing that?

 

He was briefly contemplating whether to call out and tell her to hurry inside, when Leilah looked back at him as if she had felt his gaze.

 

At that moment, Kalian hid his body behind the curtain.

 

It wasn’t intentional. When he thought she was looking at him, his body just moved reflexively.

 

Fortunately, the red curtain perfectly hid Kalian, and Leilah, who couldn’t spot him, tilted her head and soon went inside.

 

Only then did Kalian come back outside, letting out a sigh of relief and chuckling at how absurd his own behavior was.

 

“Why on earth did I hide?”

 

There was absolutely no reason to hide.

 

Kalian rubbed his face vigorously and then closed the window.

 

As he sat back down, the head servant and Rahel came in with warm tea.

 

Kalian didn’t give Rahel a glance and picked up some documents.

 

Rahel set down a teacup on one side of the desk and poured tea while speaking.

 

“Countess Cloud wishes to have lunch together this coming Monday.”

 

“Esramel?”

 

Esramel Cloud.

 

Her original name was Esramel de Chepel Yusbeldya.

 

She was the current Empire’s only princess and Kalian’s half-sister.

 

People thought Kalian and Esramel got along well, which was why he had spared her life, but that wasn’t true.

 

The reason Kalian had spared her was because Esramel posed no obstacle whatsoever to his usurpation of the throne.

 

That was natural, as Esramel had become someone who was royalty but no longer royalty from the moment she became Countess Cloud.

 

She had no succession rights, nor could she exercise rights as royalty.

 

The children she bore would also become children of a ducal family rather than royalty, so there was no particular reason to kill her.

 

Even so, if their relationship had been bad, he would have gladly pointed his sword at her, but that wasn’t the case either.

 

The two were siblings who shared blood, but they were more distant than strangers.

 

Kalian had spoken with Esramel so few times that he could count them on one hand.

 

Naturally, they had never eaten a meal together either.

 

But suddenly wanting to eat together. It was puzzling.

 

“What’s the reason?”

 

“She says there are things to discuss about the upcoming New Year festival.”

 

Although there were still about two months left until the New Year festival, since it was an occasion to host distinguished guests from other countries, preparations had to begin now.

 

Usually, the New Year festival was prepared entirely by the Empress or Imperial Consort, but Kalian had neither.

 

So naturally, the authority had passed to Esramel, who was a princess.

 

‘She has no authority or rights, but a princess is still a princess, I suppose.’

 

It was truly an absurd law. Kalian sneered and drank his tea.

 

If it were an ordinary banquet, he would have left it to his aide as he had done until now. But since it was a banquet hosting distinguished guests from other countries, he couldn’t do that.

 

There’s no choice. I’ll have to leave it to Esramel.

 

“Understood. I’ll clear my schedule for that time.”

 

Kalian picked up the documents and added,

 

“Have Baron Aster summoned.”

 

* * *

 

What changed Leilah’s image wasn’t newspaper articles, but people’s eyewitness accounts.

 

How Leilah had struggled to save a child at the temple.

 

How she had silenced a senior priest so thoroughly he couldn’t even whimper—these stories spread by word of mouth throughout the entire Empire.

 

“She opened the storage and distributed grain to the starving landfolk? My goodness, how could she do such a thing? Our lord is too busy filling his own belly.”

 

“That’s not all. To save landfolk afflicted with plague, she spent her own money to hire a large number of priests, mages, and physicians!”

 

“You know there was that big flood in Williot Estate recently, right? Even then, that Baron personally stepped forward to rescue people.”

 

Combined with all the things Leilah had done during her time at Williot Estate, people began to praise her.

 

“She’s truly a wonderful person. So admirable too.”

 

“Indeed. It would be great if someone like her became Empress.”

 

A stone casually thrown by someone created great ripples in the calm lake.

 

“That’s right. If someone like her became Empress, the country would be at peace.”

 

“They say even that cruel Emperor becomes a gentle lamb in front of the Baron?”

 

“Indeed, it would be wonderful if she became Empress. She’s originally a Count’s daughter, so she’s more than qualified to be Empress!”

 

So they wished Leilah would become Empress.

 

She’s too precious a woman to remain merely as an advisor.

 

People of all ages and genders voiced the same sentiment.

 

And as those voices grew louder, there was someone whose mind was being eaten away.

 

Crash—

 

It was Fillen.

 

His room was in chaos as if a storm had swept through it. The objects he had thrown were shattered to pieces, fragments scattered everywhere. Among them, wine bottles were frequently visible.

 

Fillen’s face, which had always been neat, was disheveled. His beard had grown wild and his hair was messy like a bird’s nest.

 

“Leilah should become Empress?”

 

Fillen twisted his lips and muttered into the air.

 

“Everyone’s spouting nonsense. She should become Duchess Williot, not Empress!”

 

Leilah was his wife, chosen by his deceased parents.

 

So she should rightfully be by his side.

 

Not by the Emperor’s side!

 

Why can’t you realize that fact, Leilah?

 

I’ve told you so many times.

 

“Why, just why!”

 

Bang, bang, bang—

 

Fillen repeatedly slammed the desk hard. The solid desk was dented and his hands became bruised and bloody.

 

Suddenly his gaze turned to a paper carelessly discarded on the floor.

 

The luxurious paper bearing the Emperor’s seal contained details postponing Fillen’s return date.

 

Kalian had said he was giving Fillen more leave out of consideration for his hardships from the long war and Sisly’s matter, but Fillen knew better than anyone that wasn’t the real reason.

 

‘It’s to keep me away from Leilah.’

 

His bloodshot eyes flashed ominously.

 

“Do you think I’ll back down like this?”

 

Fillen bit his lips until they bled and muttered,

 

“I will never back down, never.”

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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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