I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 139

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

#139

 

Kalian’s eyebrows drew into a straight line at the piercing words. Displeasure showed in his previously indifferent eyes.

 

“I’ve thought it was strange from the beginning.”

 

However, Esramel continued speaking without concern.

 

“From when His Majesty, who had no interest in the throne at all, killed everyone and ascended to the Emperor’s position, from when Duke Giltian helped such a Majesty, I thought there was something.”

 

Bright blue eyes looked straight at Kalian.

 

“Why did they do that? After thinking deeply about it, my conclusion was that some kind of deal was made between His Majesty and Duke Giltian.”

 

“….”

 

“What deal did you make with Duke Giltian? Perhaps….”

 

“That’s enough.”

 

Kalian cut off Esramel’s words and stood up from his seat.

 

Since the Emperor was standing, Esramel couldn’t remain seated and stood up as well.

 

“If there’s nothing more to discuss about the New Year festival preparations, I’ll be going now.”

 

“You’re avoiding the answer.”

 

“Esramel.”

 

Kalian called Esramel’s name directly instead of her title as duchess, warning her.

 

“The reason you were able to survive back then was because you had no interest in the throne or palace affairs.”

 

Dark blue eyes and bright blue eyes clashed in the air.

 

“If you want to continue surviving, keep living that way. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your life either.”

 

With those final words, Kalian left the dining hall.

 

“You think I know nothing?”

 

Left alone, Esramel stared at where Kalian had been and muttered.

 

“…No, Your Majesty. I was able to survive because I knew everything.”

 

That’s how I could avoid death and disaster.

 

Because I knew everything.

 

I was able to survive because I knew that if I stayed as I was, I would die like them too.

 

“Sigh.”

 

She wanted to reveal everything openly, but since she couldn’t in this situation, a sigh escaped naturally.

 

Esramel came outside to avoid the servants who entered to clear the dining table.

 

Having completely left the palace, Esramel suddenly stopped and looked somewhere.

 

“…It does seem to be related to that child after all.”

 

Otherwise, neither Duke Giltian nor Kalian would have moved.

 

“Should I meet that child and ask?”

 

At the sudden thought, Esramel shook her head.

 

Not only would it be difficult to meet her, but even if she asked, there was no way she’d be told.

 

That child probably doesn’t know anything either.

 

Esramel pressed her lips together and thought for a moment before quickening her pace again.

 

As she was leaving the inner palace, someone blocked her path.

 

“My lady.”

 

It was Duke Cloud.

 

Why was he here when he should be holed up in his research lab at this time?

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“I heard that you were having lunch with His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Duke Cloud spoke with a slightly awkward expression. His earlobes were slightly red.

 

Though Duke Cloud didn’t say the full reason, Esramel could understand why he came.

 

He came because he was worried about me.

 

Esramel smiled faintly.

 

A genius mage obsessed with magic.

 

A recluse holed up in research labs and magic towers.

 

These were all words used to describe Duke Cloud.

 

To that extent, the Duke Cloud that people saw was never a good person.

 

But to Esramel, he was a good person and a good husband.

 

They weren’t a couple overflowing with love like many lovers, but they had consideration and affection for each other.

 

Even now, hadn’t he abandoned his research and rushed over because he was worried about her?

 

“Your Grace.”

 

Esramel smiled and linked arms with Duke Cloud.

 

Duke Cloud flinched and looked down at her.

 

Esramel looked at his wavering eyes and smiled brightly.

 

“Do you dislike it?”

 

“…No.”

 

Duke Cloud answered a beat late.

 

“Then let’s go quickly.”

 

When Esramel pulled him along, Duke Cloud moved as if he had no choice.

 

The same arm and leg moved simultaneously. His stiff shoulders showed no sign of relaxing.

 

It meant he was that nervous.

 

How could he be so consistent for 10 years?

 

At first, she found him frustrating and pathetic, but not anymore.

 

He was just adorable.

 

‘I’m glad I married him.’

 

Thinking that she had made a really good choice selecting him among numerous husband candidates, Esramel leaned her head against Duke Cloud’s arm.

 

She didn’t want to lose this happiness she had barely obtained.

 

For that….

 

“…Your Grace.”

 

Esramel stepped down from the footstep set up to board the carriage and turned to look at Duke Cloud.

 

“I have somewhere I need to go briefly, so would you mind going back alone?”

 

“Are you going to Duke Hudlren?”

 

Esramel responded with a smile instead of an answer.

 

Duke Cloud’s brow furrowed.

 

“You’ve been meeting with Duke Hudlren frequently lately.”

 

“There’s something I must do.”

 

“Can’t you tell me what it is?”

 

“Later, I’ll tell you everything when it’s all sorted out later.”

 

Esramel extended her pure white hand and stroked from Duke Cloud’s shoulder down to his arm.

 

“So would you trust me and wait just a little longer?”

 

* * *

 

As Kalian predicted, the rumors about wanting me to become Empress quickly died down.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to focus on my work with peace of mind.

 

The childcare project had been assigned an administrator, but since that administrator was still inexperienced, it hadn’t completely left my hands.

 

Moreover, the number of people abandoning children in front of the orphanage kept increasing, which was troublesome.

 

While we wanted to accommodate all the abandoned children, there was a limit to the number of children the orphanage could house.

 

The funds we could use were also limited.

 

Furthermore, if we recklessly accommodated them without a system, everyone would try to abandon their children, so we couldn’t do that.

 

But we couldn’t just leave the abandoned children alone either.

 

If the weather were at least warm, it might be different, but it was cold winter now. There was no way weak children could survive outside for long.

 

‘What on earth should I do?’

 

Kalian said he would discuss it with other administrators, but I couldn’t just wait indefinitely. Children were still being abandoned during that time.

 

‘Should I really impose punishments?’

 

I really hated that idea, but leaving things as they were didn’t make sense either.

 

For now, I should at least try to intimidate him by pretending to act forcefully.

 

While pondering this and that, I suddenly checked the time and jumped up from my seat.

 

6 PM. It was time to get off work.

 

“I’ll be leaving work first.”

 

I’ll have to take the remaining work home with me.

 

I was packing only the documents I could take while leaving behind the non-removable files when Baron Delrond asked.

 

“You’ve been leaving work punctually lately. You must have something important going on?”

 

At first glance it sounded sarcastic, but it wasn’t. Baron Delrond was asking out of pure curiosity.

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

“What kind of work is it?”

 

Hmm, should I tell him?

 

“It’s a secret.”

 

I thought about it briefly but decided not to tell him.

 

“What? Now I’m even more curious since you said that.”

 

“I’ll tell you when it’s complete.”

 

It was still incomplete, so I was embarrassed to talk about it.

 

“When it’s complete? So you’re making something?”

 

“Something like that. It’s not just about making something, but I also have to pour in lots of affection and build rapport, so it’s a bit difficult.”

 

“What? Affection and rapport?”

 

Baron Delrond’s expression became puzzled.

 

“What on earth are you doing?”

 

“I’ll tell you later. Oh, I really need to go now.”

 

If I delayed any longer, I’d really be late.

 

“See you tomorrow, Baron Delrond.”

 

After greeting Baron Delrond, I gathered my documents and hurriedly left the study.

 

* * *

 

Not long after Leilah left, Kalian came in.

 

“Leilah, this is…”

 

Kalian stopped when he belatedly realized Leilah wasn’t there.

 

“What, where did she go?”

 

“Baron Aster already left work.”

 

“Already?”

 

“Already? It’s been a whole 10 minutes past quitting time.”

 

That was true. It’s just that it was extremely rare for Leilah to leave work so punctually, so it was a bit surprising.

 

“That’s unusual.”

 

“Not really. She’s been leaving work punctually lately.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. She must have something important going on. What did she say again.”

 

Baron Delrond continued while briefly searching his memory.

 

“Something about pouring in lots of affection and building rapport, some difficult work?”

 

“Affection? Rapport?”

 

Kalian frowned.

 

“Who is she pouring affection into and building rapport with?”

 

“She didn’t tell me that, so I don’t know either. She said she’d tell us when it’s complete.”

 

She’s doing difficult work that involves building rapport and will tell us when it’s complete?

 

What kind of bizarre statement was this?

 

The completely mismatched combination of words made him tilt his head automatically.

 

He was extremely curious about what exactly Leilah was up to.

 

“Don’t you have any guesses? You’ve been living together, so you must have noticed something.”

 

“There is one thing I can guess.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Romance.”

 

Ber said with a deliberately serious face.

 

“I think Baron Aster is dating someone.”

 

“Dating?”

 

Kalian’s face crumpled.

 

“Isn’t the combination of words strange for that to be the case?”

 

“Not really? First of all, pouring affection and building rapport means the other party is a person, and she wouldn’t do that with just a friend, right?”

 

That was true.

 

“And saying she’ll tell us when it’s complete probably means she’ll tell us when she gets married, right? Baron Aster already had one broken engagement, so she’d be sensitive about these matters.”

 

That was also true.

 

Though some unclear parts remained, most of it fit together.

 

Is she really dating someone? Kalian’s face became serious.

 

Baron Delrond, who had been quietly watching Kalian’s face, suddenly asked.

 

“Are you jealous that Baron Aster is dating someone, Your Majesty?”

 

“Why would I be.”

 

Kalian’s voice rose slightly.

 

“Why would I be jealous of that?”

 

“Well, Your Majesty is approaching thirty and still alone while Baron Aster is dating someone.”

 

“Then shouldn’t you be the one who’s jealous, Ber, not me?”

 

Kalian asked with a twisted smile.

 

“I’m not doing it because I don’t want to, but you can’t do it.”

 

“Hey, what can’t I do!”

 

An indignant Ber jumped up from his seat and shouted.

 

“I’m also not doing it because I don’t want to, not because I can’t!”

 

“Sure, sure.”

 

“You don’t believe me right now, do you?”

 

“No, I believe you.”

 

Kalian answered halfheartedly and turned around.

 

So Leilah is dating someone.

 

It felt like someone was poking around his heart with a needle, making him irritated for no reason.

 

Deep wrinkles formed between Kalian’s brows at this incomprehensible emotion.

 

Am I really jealous of Leilah dating someone?

 

No, this wasn’t jealousy.

 

The reason I’m feeling this emotion is probably…

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