I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 162

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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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#162

 

The sunlight pouring over the surface of the large lake surrounded by lush trees on all sides was dazzling.

 

This was the very lake where the Blue Dragon that protects the Empire slumbers.

 

‘Though no one knows if it’s really sleeping.’

 

Since no one has ever seen it directly.

 

Maybe I’ll dive down and check it out if I get the chance later.

 

Kalian gazed at the calm lake while having such absurd thoughts.

 

This was a sacred territory where only imperial family members blessed by the Blue Dragon could enter, so Kalian was alone.

 

Outside, they would be waiting for him to bring back the lake water while busily preparing to offer rituals to the Blue Dragon.

 

The foreign envoys would be watching that spectacle.

 

“What a truly pointless ceremony.”

 

Rituals were offered to the Blue Dragon twice a year, during the New Year Festival and Harvest Festival.

 

At the New Year Festival, it was meant to ask for the coming year to go well.

 

At the Harvest Festival, rituals were held to give thanks for another year of good harvests.

 

People also prayed earnestly for things they desperately wished for.

 

“Even if I pray to you, you don’t grant anything.”

 

The thick tree leaves rustled eerily in the cold winter wind.

 

“If you had granted what was wished for, that incident wouldn’t have happened.”

 

Kalian let out a small sneer as he knelt on one knee and dipped a bottle into the lake.

 

“And I wouldn’t have done such a thing either.”

 

Then small ripples formed around the bottle.

 

It looked as if the Blue Dragon sleeping soundly was responding to Kalian’s words.

 

“If you truly exist, and if you’re listening to our words.”

 

When the bottle was filled with water, Kalian stood up.

 

“Please protect that child.”

 

Kalian turned his back to the lake that was becoming calm again and continued speaking.

 

“That child who, unlike me, carries your blood so deeply.”

 

* * *

 

Nobles or imperial family members could appear at official occasions like parties or nobility councils only after age 18, after their coming-of-age ceremony.

 

Of course, cases like Fillen, who lost his parents in an accident and received his title early, were exceptions.

 

In such cases, they could attend official occasions even before becoming adults.

 

Even so, Fillen didn’t attend, but he was also one of the exceptions.

 

Anyway, Prince Hes was 14 years old this year and hadn’t had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, so he had never appeared at official occasions.

 

Because of this, although I had worked as Kalian’s aide for quite a long time, this was the first time I had seen Prince Hes.

 

Prince Hes had dazzlingly bright blue hair like Countess Cloud.

 

“I’m going to throw it!”

 

His bright blue eyes, as bright as his hair color, suited the cheerful boy’s appearance well.

 

Since they’re half-brothers, he doesn’t really resemble Kalian much.

 

“Oh no, what if you miss it!”

 

That’s what I thought, but seeing his smiling face, I corrected myself.

 

Hes and Kalian were definitely blood brothers.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ll go pick up the ball.”

 

I looked around while going to pick up the ball I had missed.

 

‘No one’s here.’

 

If he was a prince, at least one attendant or maid should have been following him, but I couldn’t see anyone.

 

I looked around several times wondering if I might have missed them, but it was the same.

 

‘Did he sneak out?’

 

If so, everyone would be desperately searching for Prince Hes.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Realizing this wasn’t the time to be leisurely playing ball, I spoke respectfully to Prince Hes.

 

“Does anyone know that Your Highness is here?”

 

First, let me confirm the facts before bringing it up.

 

“Yes, someone knows.”

 

Huh, did I guess wrong?

 

“Who knows?”

 

Prince Hes smiled brightly and pointed at me.

 

“Baron Aster knows.”

 

Ah, that’s what he meant.

 

I smiled awkwardly and bent my knees slightly to match Prince Hes’s eye level.

 

“What about someone other than me?”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Prince Hes rolled his eyes around and avoided my gaze. It seems he really did sneak out.

 

“Your Highness, I think it would be better if you returned to the palace now.”

 

Prince Hes frowned and let out a deep sigh.

 

“But if I go back, I’ll have to attend boring imperial studies classes again.”

 

Imperial studies?

 

Why is Prince Hes, who isn’t the crown prince, taking imperial studies classes?

 

If no crown prince had been decided, they would teach imperial studies to all princes to find suitable candidates for crown prince.

 

But Prince Hes wasn’t Kalian’s son.

 

Currently, Prince Hes was first in line for succession since Kalian had no heir, but he would be pushed back the moment an heir was born.

 

Since they said he would soon have a royal marriage with the princess of the Holy Kingdom, it wouldn’t be long…

 

Throb-

 

Suddenly, one side of my heart ached as if pierced by a needle.

 

As I silently bit my lips tightly, Prince Hes asked worriedly.

 

“Baron, you don’t look well. Are you hurt somewhere?”

 

“No. I’m just a little tired.”

 

I smiled casually and asked Prince Hes.

 

“So you came out because you didn’t want to attend imperial studies classes?”

 

“Well, that’s part of it… I’m also curious about the envoys from foreign countries…”

 

It seems the real purpose was the second reason.

 

‘That’s understandable.’

 

The entire Empire was bustling with the New Year Festival, but it would have been boring to stay in the palace just because he wasn’t an adult yet.

 

Plus, he had to attend imperial studies classes that he disliked.

 

“To see the envoys from foreign countries, you need to go to that palace over there.”

 

Prince Hes’s face lit up brightly as he turned his head toward the direction I pointed.

 

“But what should we do about this? There’s a special event today, so most of them probably aren’t at the palace.”

 

“Ah…”

 

At my additional comment, Prince Hes immediately looked dejected and let his shoulders droop.

 

Is it because he’s still young?

 

Kalian and Countess Cloud barely showed any change in expression, but Prince Hes was quite expressive.

 

It was fascinating and cute. Is this how it feels to have a younger sibling?

 

“It’s unfortunate, but how about returning for today and coming out with His Majesty next time?”

 

While he couldn’t appear at official occasions without having his coming-of-age ceremony, that didn’t mean he couldn’t go around at all.

 

If Kalian, his legal guardian, gave permission, he could move around freely.

 

At my words, Prince Hes let out a deep sigh.

 

“If my brother had given permission, I wouldn’t have done this either.”

 

It seems he was already rejected by Kalian.

 

“But if you sneak out like this, others will worry, Your Highness.”

 

“I know that, but….”

 

Prince Hes kicked at the ground with his toes, thought for a moment, then asked me.

 

“Then can’t I just go to that palace where the foreign envoys are and come back?”

 

“There won’t be anyone there.”

 

“There could be at least one person.”

 

Prince Hes grabbed my arm and looked at me desperately.

 

“Just for a moment. Let’s just go for a moment and come back.”

 

What should I do about this? It was troubling.

 

“Then I won’t sneak out again, okay?”

 

“…Do you really mean that?”

 

“Of course. Imperial family members don’t speak with a forked tongue!”

 

When he said that much, I couldn’t heartlessly tell him to go back.

 

I have no choice. I’ll just have to go briefly.

 

“As you said, we’ll just go for a moment and come back.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“And when you return, you must sincerely apologize to those around you for making them worry.”

 

At my additional words, Prince Hes thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Alright. I’ll do as the Baron says.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“Then can we go?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Prince Hes smiled brightly and firmly grasped my hand.

 

It doesn’t seem necessary to hold hands.

 

I looked at Prince Hes with slight surprise, but didn’t let go of the hand he was holding.

 

The reason was partly because Prince Hes was gripping my hand tightly.

 

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

 

It had been so long since I’d held hands with someone like this.

 

The warm feeling against my palm felt so good that I didn’t want to let go.

 

* * *

 

Kalian finished the ceremonial event and returned to the Imperial Palace.

 

“Your, Your Majesty!”

 

Rahel came running to Kalian, restless with anxiety.

 

Behind her, a middle-aged woman was also visible. It was Katala, the head maid in charge of the Separate Palace where Hes resided.

 

“Did something happen to Hes?”

 

There was no other reason for Katala to be so anxious.

 

Katala bowed her pale face and spoke haltingly.

 

“His, His Highness the Prince has disappeared.”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

Kalian asked back with a sharp voice.

 

Under the murderous gaze that poured down on her, Katala squeezed her eyes shut and continued speaking.

 

“He, he said he was going to the bathroom during his imperial studies lesson and left… but hasn’t been seen since.”

 

“…Did he escape again?”

 

Since he hadn’t had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, and for safety reasons, going outside was forbidden, so Hes often attempted escapes.

 

Though it used to be about once or twice a year, as he grew older it became once every six months, and recently it seemed like he escaped at least once a month.

 

“I, I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”

 

Katala prostrated herself flat on the ground in apology.

 

Kalian waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed and replied.

 

“Enough. It’s not your fault.”

 

If Hes were an ordinary person, it would be right to blame Katala, but since that wasn’t the case, Kalian didn’t hold her responsible.

 

‘He must have used his abilities to escape again.’

 

Hes, being imperial family, could also manipulate water, and his ability was several times superior to Kalian’s.

 

He wasn’t the legitimate prince born of the Empress for nothing.

 

But there was no way Katala, an ordinary person, could stop Hes.

 

“He wouldn’t have left the Imperial Palace, so let’s search together.”

 

When Kalian gestured, Hilltain and the Crowd Knights, who had been secretly following behind Kalian while concealing their presence, revealed themselves.

 

“Find Hes. It should be easy if you search focusing on places where magical power is fluctuating.”

 

There was a high possibility that Hes was using water to conceal his presence to avoid being detected by others.

 

“If he went to the Outer Palace….”

 

Kalian, who had been giving orders to his people while guessing other places Hes might go, paused when he saw two shadows approaching from far away.

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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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