I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 154

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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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#154

 

As in most households, preparing the Emperor’s clothes was the role of the Emperor’s wife—the Empress or Imperial Consort.

 

But since Kalian had neither an Empress nor an Imperial Consort, he had to prepare them himself.

 

I knew he had prepared everything himself for the last banquet as well.

 

And now he’s asking me to choose for him.

 

“I understand.”

 

Though it was slightly puzzling that he would consult me when he must have exclusive designers, it wasn’t a difficult task, so I readily agreed.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

When we entered the inner reception room of the palace, the waiting Imperial Designers bowed respectfully.

 

“We greet Your Majesty.”

 

Kalian nodded indifferently and went to sit on the sofa.

 

I was about to stand behind him when Kalian patted the seat next to him.

 

“This will take a while, so don’t stand there. Sit here.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“Well, I’m not fine with it. So sit down.”

 

At his repeated words, I awkwardly took a seat.

 

Kalian gestured toward the designers.

 

“Then let’s begin.”

 

The Imperial Designers presented design catalogs and fabrics, asking for Kalian’s opinion.

 

“Leilah, what’s your opinion?”

 

Kalian asked for my opinion.

 

“I think…”

 

I answered sincerely, recalling the styles that were currently trending.

 

I also helped Kalian choose designs and fabrics.

 

“How impressive.”

 

The designer clapped his hands in great admiration.

 

“You have excellent taste. Well, noble ladies are usually sensitive to trends, but they don’t know much about men’s clothing. Baron Aster, you know men’s clothing well too.”

 

Of course, since I had been in charge of Fillen’s clothes when I was at the Williot Duchy.

 

I could have left all the clothing selection to the designer and just ordered and picked up clothes as needed, but I didn’t do that.

 

Because I wanted to show others that I was Fillen’s fiancée.

 

Because I wanted everyone to know how much effort I was making, I tried to personally choose and take care of even the smallest things.

 

…Though it all turned out to be in vain.

 

Suddenly remembering what happened at the Williot Duchy, a bitter smile naturally appeared.

 

“You’re too kind.”

 

I forced down the bitter smile and answered brightly, when Kalian snapped shut the catalog he was looking at.

 

“From what I can see, Leilah, your taste seems superior to the designer’s.”

 

What is this…

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

Kalian probably meant it as a joke, but from the designer’s perspective, it could be offensive, so I was startled and tried to stop him.

 

And I glanced at the designer’s reaction.

 

Fortunately, he didn’t seem offended and was smiling.

 

“Really, if Baron Aster weren’t Your Majesty’s aide, I’d want to invite you to work with me right away.”

 

“Oh my. That’s something I can’t just let slide.”

 

Kalian replied jokingly.

 

“Leilah is my aide. Don’t covet her carelessly.”

 

“What a shame, really.”

 

I knew it was all jokes, but I was still embarrassed.

 

I felt like I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.

 

Since I couldn’t do that, I covered my flushed face with my hands and hung my head low.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to quickly forget what happened at the Williot Duchy.

 

“Then shall we try on the sample outfit, Your Majesty?”

 

At the designer’s suggestion, Kalian disappeared behind a veil to change clothes.

 

The New Year Festival lasted a week, and even roughly calculating, Kalian would need more than 10 outfits during that time.

 

Since all those clothes had to be tailored, I looked through the catalog and selected the clothes Kalian would wear.

 

This one is too out of fashion.

 

Oh, this one is too plain. He’s the Emperor, after all, so plain clothes won’t do.

 

Moreover, during the New Year Festival, foreign envoys would visit in large numbers, so he needed to show his dignity as Emperor.

 

‘Still, for the ceremony, it would be better to dress moderately plain.’

 

During the New Year Festival, they held a ceremony to pray to the Blue Dragon that protects the Empire for the Empire’s peace throughout the year.

 

If he dressed too lavishly even then, it would seem too extravagant, so it would be better to tone it down appropriately.

 

But I can’t give up the Emperor’s dignity.

 

I continued flipping through the catalog to find suitable clothes.

 

“Hm?”

 

This… isn’t this too young for His Majesty to wear?

 

The catalog described clothes worn by boys under 18, before their coming-of-age ceremony.

 

The designer must have brought the wrong one.

 

I put down the catalog I was looking at and picked up a new one.

 

Since I had to choose more than 10 outfits, it took a lot of time.

 

Selecting accessories like hats, shoes, and cufflinks to match those clothes also consumed considerable time.

 

When I had barely finished about half, it was already dark outside the window. The high moon indicated that much time had passed.

 

“We should stop here for today. Thank you for making time, Leilah. You were a great help.”

 

Kalian, who had changed into casual clothes, said while fastening the cufflinks on his wrists.

 

“So, as a reward for helping me today, may I have a dress made for you to wear at the New Year Festival?”

 

“That’s not necessary. I was just doing what I should as an aide.”

 

“How is this something you should do as an aide?”

 

Kalian stepped closer to me. The long shadow created by moonlight streaming through the window covered me.

 

“This is clearly separate from an aide’s duties. You specially made precious time for my stubbornness.”

 

“No. It was during work hours, so it’s fine.”

 

“Those work hours went over by a full 3 hours. And you didn’t even eat dinner.”

 

That was certainly true, but I wasn’t hungry because I had eaten plenty of bread and cookies the maids brought while choosing clothes.

 

And this much could be considered overtime work.

 

“It makes me uncomfortable.”

 

I was about to refuse when Kalian, as if reading my mind, spoke first.

 

“So please accept it. I’m asking you.”

 

For His Majesty to even ask me for just one reward…

 

“I understand.”

 

I couldn’t refuse any longer. When I accepted, Kalian smiled with satisfaction.

 

For some reason, he looked extremely happy.

 

“Do you have any preferred style?”

 

“Not particularly.”

 

Kalian chuckled.

 

“What if I give you something strange and tell you to wear it? How can you answer like that?”

 

Now that he put it that way, I was a bit worried, but it seemed ridiculous to start making demands now.

 

I came up with a reasonably good answer.

 

“Because I trust that you wouldn’t do that.”

 

“…Trust, you say.”

 

Kalian mulled over my words, then smiled and stroked his chin.

 

“Yes. I’ll do my best to choose something worthy of the trust you’ve placed in me.”

 

The feeling that I might have said something wrong is probably just my imagination.

 

“Then shall we take your measurements?”

 

When Kalian gestured, the designers approached and took my body measurements.

 

Meanwhile, Kalian was looking at a catalog.

 

If my memory was correct, that was the same catalog I had seen earlier.

 

A catalog of clothes worn by boys under 18.

 

Seeing him point to clothes in the catalog and say various things to the designer, it didn’t seem like he was just looking.

 

‘Is he going to give it as a gift?’

 

Who could be the boy worthy of His Majesty personally selecting and gifting clothes?

 

Countess Cloud’s son isn’t even 5 years old yet.

 

“We’ve finished taking the measurements.”

 

While I was having these thoughts, the designers stepped back.

 

Kalian looked at his watch and clicked his tongue.

 

“It’s gotten even later. I’ll provide a carriage, so take it to the palace entrance.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“I’m not fine with it. So take the carriage.”

 

When Kalian spoke like that, it meant he wouldn’t accept refusal.

 

“I understand.”

 

Not wanting to waste more energy, I accepted his proposal.

 

* * *

 

Early morning.

 

“Paul says there are some plants in the garden that he’s never seen before.”

 

Sara said while drying my wet hair, telling me things she couldn’t say yesterday because I came home late.

 

“At first, he thought they were weeds and pulled them out, but the ones that survived hidden in the bushes even formed flower buds.”

 

“So they’re not weeds then?”

 

“No. Paul thinks some flower seeds probably flew here on the wind and took root in our garden.”

 

Even so, to form flower buds in the cold winter.

 

It was both amazing and admirable.

 

“What should we do, Miss? Should I tell him to remove them?”

 

“No. If they’re not weeds and they’re flowering plants, I think we can leave them be.”

 

“I understand.”

 

While we were talking, my hair finished drying.

 

Sara tied my hair up high in a ponytail style.

 

“Will you be coming home late again today?”

 

As I was putting on my coat, Nes asked.

 

“I don’t know. I’ll have to see when I get there.”

 

“These days you leave early to go to the orphanage and come back late too, so I’m worried. I hope you don’t collapse from this.”

 

“This much is fine.”

 

I’ve lived through much harder times than this.

 

“Then I’ll be going.”

 

“Have a safe trip, Miss.”

 

I greeted Sara and the other servants before getting into the carriage.

 

The carriage that had been running diligently stopped in front of a flower shop.

 

While it was customary to place white chrysanthemums in front of memorial tablets, I wanted to place Misa’s favorite flowers at least once, so I bought a rose bouquet.

 

Among roses, Misa’s favorite flower was yellow roses.

 

Unfortunately, since it was winter, yellow roses weren’t available, so I bought a red rose bouquet.

 

When spring comes later, I’ll have to place a yellow rose bouquet.

 

Since I’m going to keep Misa’s memorial tablet at my manor permanently.

 

Comforting my regretful heart like that, I headed to the orphanage.

 

“Welcome, Baron.”

 

“Good morning, Baron.”

 

“Hello.”

 

I exchanged greetings with people I had become quite close with and entered the room where Misa’s memorial tablet was.

 

I was about to place the rose bouquet down immediately.

 

“Huh?”

 

There was already a rose bouquet placed in front of Misa’s memorial tablet.

 

A yellow rose bouquet that Misa loved.

 

I could tell who had brought it without having to search.

 

The only place where yellow roses bloom in the cold winter was the palace greenhouse.

 

‘His Majesty must have brought it.’

 

I had once mentioned in passing that Misa liked yellow roses while talking about various things regarding Misa.

 

Kalian must have remembered that and brought the yellow rose bouquet.

 

“What a kind person.”

 

Just thinking of Kalian warmed my heart.

 

I smiled softly and picked up a yellow rose petal that had fallen to the floor.

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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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