I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 161

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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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#161

 

I hadn’t planned to speak so impulsively.

 

Someone’s words that alcohol is one’s enemy resonated deeply with me.

 

I shouldn’t have drunk in front of her.

 

No, this isn’t the kind of conversation I should be having in the first place.

 

While Kalian was regretting, Leilah gazed at him quietly. She didn’t seem particularly surprised by the sudden confession.

 

Why is she so calm?

 

Did she already know I liked her?

 

“…Did you already know?”

 

Not wanting to agonize over it frustratingly, Kalian asked directly.

 

Leilah slowly nodded her head.

 

“Yes, I knew.”

 

As expected.

 

“I like His Majesty too.”

 

…What?

 

Kalian, who had been silently crying out in despair, was startled by her following response and looked at Leilah.

 

“What did you just… say?”

 

His mouth went completely dry. He was so nervous that cold sweat began forming on his hands and feet.

 

“You like me?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Unlike the flustered Kalian, Leilah answered with a calm smile.

 

“I like His Majesty, Baron Delrond, everyone.”

 

So she doesn’t like me as a romantic interest, but just likes me as a person.

 

He felt completely deflated. Kalian chuckled softly and covered his face with his hand.

 

But she likes Ber and me the same way?

 

This is somewhat irritating.

 

If he had just kept his mouth shut, he could have recovered from that impulsive mistake made under the influence of alcohol.

 

“I don’t like you with the same feelings I have for Ber.”

 

His mouth, having escaped the realm of reason, poured out words on its own.

 

“I like Ber too, but I like you as a romantic interest.”

 

“…What?”

 

Leilah’s eyes widened.

 

“What are you saying right now…”

 

“I said I like you as a romantic interest.”

 

Water droplets on the wine glass flowed smoothly down the sleek surface.

 

“People call this kind of thing love.”

 

Her slightly hazy black eyes became clear.

 

“I love you. As a woman.”

 

Her face stiffened rigidly. Her lips remained slightly parted, frozen.

 

Even that expression looked beautiful to him, so he must be completely smitten.

 

No, Leilah was originally beautiful.

 

“You seem very surprised.”

 

Leilah blinked her eyes wide instead of answering.

 

“I thought I expressed it quite a lot, but you didn’t notice at all?”

 

“Not… at all.”

 

Her voice came out with difficulty, trembling slightly.

 

“I thought you were being kind because you’re naturally a gentle person.”

 

“Me, gentle?”

 

Kalian’s lips curved crookedly.

 

“The people who died by my sword would wail if they heard that.”

 

Leilah closed her mouth again.

 

Her lost black eyes wandered through the air before focusing on Kalian again.

 

“Why… do you like me?”

 

Kalian answered while refilling his empty wine glass.

 

“When you like someone, do you need a reason?”

 

“That’s not it, but…”

 

Leilah trailed off, thought for a moment, then spoke again.

 

“Such feelings are too much for me.”

 

Not that it’s burdensome, but too much for her?

 

Kalian raised his eyebrows.

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

Leilah clasped her two hands together neatly on her knees.

 

“I have nothing.”

 

“Do I look like such a materialistic person who would like someone for their possessions?”

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

Leilah hurriedly came up with another excuse.

 

“I’m also old.”

 

“I’m older than you.”

 

Ah. Her plump lips closed with a brief exclamation.

 

Even her flustered appearance is cute.

 

Kalian chuckled and crossed his arms. At this point, he was curious what excuse Leilah would make next.

 

He was also curious whether Leilah would open her heart to him if he countered all her excuses.

 

After fidgeting with her hands and thinking for a while, Leilah opened her mouth again.

 

“Besides, I have a major… flaw.”

 

“What flaw?”

 

Leilah was about to say she was illegitimate, but remembering that Kalian was also illegitimate, she said something else.

 

“I broke off… an engagement.”

 

“It’s not even divorce, how is breaking an engagement a flaw?”

 

Kalian laughed as if it were absurd and crossed his arms.

 

“If that’s a flaw, then I, who killed my half-brothers and stepmothers, deserve to die.”

 

“Th-that’s not true!”

 

Leilah shook her head with a pale face.

 

“I swear I didn’t mean it that way.”

 

“I know. So, any other excuses?”

 

Kalian rested his chin on his hand and gazed intently at Leilah.

 

“If you have nothing more to say, can I assume you’ll accept my feelings?”

 

“What?”

 

This time her face turned deathly pale.

 

Anyone watching would think I was doing something terrible.

 

Though he had impulsively confessed his feelings, he had no intention of forcing Leilah to accept them.

 

It wasn’t a situation where he could do that either.

 

“I’m joking.”

 

Kalian smiled and stood up from his seat.

 

Leilah, who stood up as well, was gripping her hands so tightly they turned pale.

 

She couldn’t look directly at Kalian and kept her head down.

 

‘She’s completely frightened.’

 

I didn’t mean to scare her like this.

 

Kalian clicked his tongue inwardly and said to Leilah.

 

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of forcing you to accept my feelings.”

 

I spoke as kindly and gently as possible to comfort Leilah’s heart.

 

“So you don’t need to feel burdened just because I said this. Of course, you don’t need to like me either.”

 

“….”

 

“Ah, but I’d like it if you liked me a bit more than Ber.”

 

Leilah seemed so frightened that I spoke half-seriously, half-jokingly, but Leilah didn’t laugh at all.

 

I really went too far.

 

Since it can’t be fulfilled anyway, why did I get greedy?

 

Kalian ran his hands through his hair with belated regret.

 

“I’ll go out first.”

 

What Leilah needed now was time to organize her thoughts, so Kalian left her and exited the room.

 

* * *

 

Kalian said there was no need to feel burdened, but that didn’t mean I could feel at ease either.

 

It was very burdensome. It felt like I was carrying a heavy boulder in my heart.

 

I never imagined that Kalian would like me.

 

It was something I hadn’t expected at all, so I was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

 

I couldn’t treat Kalian the same way as before.

 

Every time I saw his face, my heart would pound and I just wanted to run away.

 

‘Thank goodness it’s the New Year festival period.’

 

Otherwise, I would have had to see Kalian at least twice a day.

 

During the New Year festival period, I decided to assist Countess Cloud, who had taken on the duties that the Empress should originally handle.

 

Today was no different.

 

“Baron Aster, could you take this to the accounting department in the Outer Palace?”

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

“And when you return….”

 

I listened carefully to Countess Cloud’s request and gathered the documents she handed me.

 

“I’ll execute it right away.”

 

“Please do. Oh, one more thing – after you finish everything, you can go home.”

 

“But there’s work to be done….”

 

“It’s fine. We’ve almost finished everything. So don’t come back and go straight home. I’m also planning to return to the manor after finishing this.”

 

“I understand.”

 

I greeted the Duchess and headed straight to the Outer Palace.

 

The Outer Palace had been bustling continuously lately due to foreign diplomatic missions, the New Year festival, and various other reasons, but today it was quiet.

 

It was because everyone had left for their respective business – sightseeing the New Year festival or participating in ceremonies.

 

Kalian and Baron Delrond were also away for a ceremony dedicated to the Blue Dragon.

 

Most administrators were absent, but there was one person on duty in each department.

 

I entered the accounting office first.

 

“These are documents that Duchess Cloud asked me to deliver.”

 

“You can just leave them here.”

 

“And….”

 

I went around departments like the accounting office and the court administration, completing the tasks the Duchess had requested.

 

Now I should return to the Imperial Palace, pack my things, and go home.

 

I was walking through the long corridor with a light heart.

 

Thump, thump, thump. Thump-

 

A golden, glittering ball bounced out from the bushes.

 

I unconsciously caught the ball that rolled toward me.

 

“Who threw this?”

 

I was looking around to find the owner of the ball when rustle, the bushes shook again.

 

It was in the opposite direction from where the ball had rolled.

 

What emerged from the bushes was a boy with bright blue hair like Duchess Cloud.

 

That meant he was royalty.

 

Since there was only one royal family member left besides Kalian and Duchess Cloud, I immediately recognized who it was.

 

“I greet His Highness Hes de Chepel Yusbeldea.”

 

I put down the ball and greeted him politely.

 

The boy seemed to notice me for the first time, paused for a moment, then tilted his head.

 

“You know me?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I don’t know you.”

 

“My name is Leilah Aster.”

 

“Leilah Aster?”

 

Prince Hes repeated my name several times, then clapped his hands and smiled brightly.

 

“Ah, so you’re that aide that my brother cherishes.”

 

His Majesty said such things.

 

I was embarrassed, but on the other hand, I was amazed that Prince Hes was close enough to Kalian to have such conversations.

 

That was understandable because Kalian had killed all the princes, saying they were obstacles to his ascension to the throne. Even newborn babies. But he had spared Prince Hes, who was the son of the former Empress and would be the biggest obstacle from his perspective.

 

Why did he spare only this prince? I suddenly became curious. There must have been a special reason, but I couldn’t guess what it was.

 

Prince Hes picked up the ball and stared at me intently. His eyes were full of curiosity.

 

“Did you say your name was Baron Aster?”

 

“That’s correct, Your Highness.”

 

“Where were you going?”

 

“I was on my way back to the Imperial Palace. To pack my things and go home.”

 

Prince Hes’s eyes sparkled at my answer.

 

“Going home means you’ve finished all your work for today, right?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Then could I borrow some of your time?”

 

“My… time?”

 

When I asked back at his puzzling words, Prince Hes smiled innocently and held out the ball.

 

“Let’s play ball with me.”

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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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