I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 138

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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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Chapter 7.

 

The Right to Be Loved.

 

#138

 

I expected there would be talk about naming the orphanage after my surname and Kalian pressuring the reporters, but fortunately it remained quiet.

 

Instead, other troublesome stories reached my ears.

 

“They say you’re empress material.”

 

Kalian said with an amused chuckle.

 

“The people of the Empire want you to become empress. Leilah, what do you think?”

 

His eyes looking at me were full of mischief.

 

I knew you would ask that. I sighed inwardly and answered.

 

“I’m already being teased enough, so I’d appreciate it if you stopped teasing me too.”

 

“Hmm? Who else besides me is teasing you?”

 

“Baron Delrond and my servants.”

 

Especially Sara and Nes tormented me persistently.

 

No matter how many times I said no, they wouldn’t listen at all.

 

“I have no idea why such rumors are spreading.”

 

When I spoke in a troubled tone, Kalian laughed and replied.

 

“People naturally like to gossip. Since I have no empress or imperial consort, they’re even more excited to talk.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes. So you don’t need to worry about it. If you don’t react and just leave it alone, they’ll tire themselves out and quiet down.”

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

Right, people gossiping as they please wasn’t just a day or two thing, and there was no need to worry about every little thing.

 

Thinking I should just focus on doing my job well, I began my report again.

 

“The number of people wanting to sponsor the childcare project continues to increase.”

 

I placed the list of sponsors on Kalian’s desk.

 

“It would be difficult to accept them all, so I’d like to select them appropriately.”

 

After checking the list, Kalian spoke firmly.

 

“Exclude all nobles below the rank of count. Those lower ranks are just sniffing around to see if there’s something to gain.”

 

Sniffing around. I was slightly taken aback by his un-royal-like manner of speaking and looked at him.

 

However, Kalian seemed not to notice my gaze and checked the other documents I had brought.

 

They were all documents related to the childcare project.

 

“The number of children admitted to the orphanage has increased a lot in just a few days.”

 

“Yes. Not only children brought from the temple, but also children who were wandering the streets are gathering at the orphanage. And…”

 

I let out a small sigh before continuing.

 

“Parents abandoning their children are also appearing one after another.”

 

Because they were too poor and it was hard to raise children.

 

Or because they thought it would be better for the orphanage to raise them than for them to do it themselves, and so on.

 

For various reasons, they abandoned their children in front of the orphanage and left.

 

“What should we do?”

 

“What do you mean what should we do. We have to send them all back. Those children don’t meet the orphanage admission requirements.”

 

Only children under 16 without parents could enter the orphanage.

 

Children abandoned by their parents clearly had living parents, so they didn’t meet the admission requirements.

 

So sending them all back as Kalian said was correct, but it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

 

First, it wasn’t easy to find out who the parents were who abandoned the children.

 

“Even when we send them back, they often abandon them again.”

 

Abandoning once was difficult, but twice was easy.

 

“Still, send them back.”

 

Kalian’s opinion was as firm as a tree with roots planted in the ground.

 

“Instead, punish those who repeat the same act. Ten lashes should be fine. If they repeat the crime again, increase it by five each time.”

 

Lashes?

 

“That’s too excessive, Your Majesty.”

 

I said in panic.

 

“If they committed a crime, it’s right for them to be punished, but there are also people who commit crimes not because they want to, but because they have no choice.”

 

In this case, for example, parents who were too poor to raise their children.

 

“I hope you would consider their circumstances.”

 

“If we consider all such circumstances individually, we can’t establish order, Leilah.”

 

That’s… true.

 

“And having children was their choice.”

 

Kalian smiled bitterly.

 

“If they couldn’t take responsibility for the child, they shouldn’t have had one.”

 

It was harsh, but not wrong.

 

I also greatly disliked parents who had children irresponsibly when they couldn’t take care of them, then neglected and abused them.

 

But…

 

“Still, I don’t think giving everyone such severe punishment like lashes is right.”

 

Kalian stared at me intently.

 

I met his gaze directly and continued speaking slowly.

 

“Most of the parents who abandon their children in front of the orphanage are lower-class people without the means to support them. They don’t abandon their children because they really want to.”

 

Would the problem be solved by punishing such people and putting the abandoned children back in their arms?

 

No, it would never be solved. It would only build resentment and dissatisfaction.

 

“So I think we should solve the fundamental problem rather than giving punishment.”

 

“The fundamental problem.”

 

Kalian leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

 

“In other words, you’re saying we should provide an environment where they can raise children.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you have something in mind?”

 

“No, not yet…”

 

To bring up the topic without having thought of anything.

 

How irresponsible of me.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s not something you need to apologize for.”

 

Kalian thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Alright. I’ll discuss this issue with the relevant departments.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

“No. Opinions are always welcome.”

 

Just as we finished that conversation, there was a knock at the door.

 

“Come in.”

 

It was Rahel who opened the door and entered.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Countess Cloud has arrived.”

 

Ah, is it lunchtime already?

 

Today Kalian was scheduled to have lunch with Countess Cloud.

 

“I see.”

 

When Kalian stood up from his seat, Rahel picked up his coat and handed it to him.

 

“Well, I’ll be back, so let’s continue the remaining discussion later.”

 

Kalian said to me as he took his coat.

 

“You should eat lunch too.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’ll check whether you ate lunch properly when I return.”

 

“Yes… what?”

 

A beat late, I realized his words were strange and raised my voice at the end.

 

Then Kalian drew a smile on his previously expressionless face.

 

“You answered mechanically without any thought, didn’t you?”

 

“No, no. I was listening carefully and keeping everything in mind.”

 

“Really?”

 

The smile on Kalian’s lips turned mischievous.

 

“What did I say?”

 

“You said we’d continue our remaining conversation after His Majesty returns, and told me to make sure to eat lunch.”

 

“You forgot one thing.”

 

“…You also said you’d check whether I ate lunch.”

 

I thought this was a joke, but was he serious?

 

As I added those words while watching his expression, Kalian laughed and gently patted my head.

 

“I’ll definitely check, so make sure to eat well. Don’t skip meals like last time.”

 

Then he quickly went outside.

 

Left alone in the Emperor’s office, I touched the spot he had patted.

 

This wasn’t the first time he’d patted my head, but it felt awkward and strange as if it were the first time.

 

In the first place, it was strange for a superior to pat his aide’s head.

 

Would he pat Baron Delrond’s head too?

 

Or Count Hiltain’s, Rahel’s, or other attendants’ and maids’ heads?

 

“…”

 

At the sudden imagination, my heart ached as if someone was poking it with a needle, and I clenched my hand over my chest.

 

* * *

 

“Do you truly have no intention of taking an Empress?”

 

At the words that suddenly came out during their quiet meal, Kalian’s hand paused.

 

Kalian put down his fork and looked at Esramel.

 

Esramel’s hair color was a very bright blue. It was like looking at a clear sky without a single cloud.

 

The same was true for her eyes.

 

It meant she was legitimate imperial blood born of an Empress.

 

Those born of Imperial Consorts or illegitimate children like Kalian had blue hair close to black.

 

Being born of an Empress didn’t mean the imperial blood was thicker, but strangely, only those born of Empresses had such bright hair and eye colors.

 

“What’s with that sudden talk?”

 

“It’s not sudden, Your Majesty. People around have been talking about it continuously.”

 

That was true. Just yesterday, Rahel had hinted that it might be good to take an Empress.

 

But no one had spoken as openly as Esramel.

 

When Kalian ascended to the imperial throne, he had officially declared he wouldn’t take an Empress until the country was stabilized.

 

“Don’t you remember what I said when I ascended?”

 

“Of course I remember. That’s precisely why I’m telling you to take an Empress.”

 

Esramel calmly expressed her opinion.

 

“The Empire needs a wise Empress to handle domestic affairs in place of Your Majesty, who is busy with external matters.”

 

“The attendants are handling that excellently.”

 

“They’re just attendants after all. They can’t step forward for important events like New Year festivals or Foundation Day, can they?”

 

She came with a plan.

 

Kalian openly clicked his tongue and drank his wine.

 

He had sensed it was about time for such talk to emerge, but he hadn’t expected Esramel to be the one to start it.

 

It didn’t seem like she was doing this simply because preparing for New Year festivals was bothersome.

 

“Other nobles pushed you into this, didn’t they?”

 

Esramel silently smiled and picked up her water glass. It was an affirmation.

 

As expected. Kalian let out a deep sigh.

 

“Who pushed you? Duke Cloud? Ah, that bookworm wouldn’t do such a thing.”

 

Duke Cloud had absolutely no interest in worldly affairs.

 

The only thing he was interested in was magic.

 

Then there was only one person left.

 

“Duke Hudlren pushed you into this.”

 

Esramel, who had quietly taken a sip of water, put down her glass and asked Kalian.

 

“Why don’t you think Duke Giltian did it, Your Majesty?”

 

The Hudlren and Giltian ducal houses were prestigious families that had produced numerous Empresses.

 

If not Empress, they would scramble to claim at least the position of First Imperial Consort.

 

It was the same during the previous Emperor’s time, and before that, and during the Emperor before that.

 

“But why do you think Duke Giltian would stay quiet this time?”

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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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