I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 168

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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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#168

Kalian personally interrogated the criminals and discovered that the drug they had taken was Molence fruit.

Not only that, but he also obtained full confessions about how they had acquired the Molence fruit.

Based on the confessions, Kalian began backtracking, and as a result, he discovered that nobles were involved in this incident.

To think that nobles of the Empire would do something that damaged the Empire’s prestige.

As a fellow noble, I felt deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

Thanks to Count Grace and the administrators from the Marshal’s Office running around everywhere, fortunately the rumors about the drugs didn’t spread.

To the people, it was recorded as a ridiculous and terrible incident committed by criminals who were completely drunk.

The fact that alcohol sales dropped significantly after that was a natural consequence.

There was already a lot of work to handle, but with the Molence fruit incident breaking out as well, the workload became overwhelming.

We had to work overtime and pull all-nighters, even saving time from meals to work.

I was truly busy without a moment to spare, but I didn’t forget to see Diane off.

“Take care on your way back, Diane.”

It felt too regretful to part at the Imperial Palace, so I went out to personally see her off at the port.

“You take care too, Leilah.”

Diane smiled and hugged me tightly.

“Next time, Leilah should come to the Kingdom of Natsha. I’ll take you to fun places.”

“Those fun places aren’t fighting arenas, are they?”

“Ahaha, of course not. They’re other fun places, so you can look forward to it.”

“Then I’ll be looking forward to it.”

As we talked, the time to part had arrived.

Diane joined her companions and boarded the ship.

“Goodbye, Leilah!”

And standing at the railing, she waved both hands widely toward me in farewell.

“Take care, Diane!”

I also waved both hands in response to Diane’s greeting.

The ship departed like that, and I stayed in place until I could no longer see Diane before turning around.

‘This feeling is strange.’

It felt empty, as if a hole had been punched in a corner of my heart.

On the other hand, I was excited and looking forward to what would happen when I met Diane again.

I wanted to meet Diane again soon.

“Let’s definitely meet again, Diane.”

I buried this earnest wish in my heart and headed toward the carriage.

Hanson, who had been waiting for me, opened the carriage door.

Just as I was about to board the carriage, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze and turned around.

There wasn’t anyone particularly looking at me though.

Even when I looked around widely, I couldn’t find anyone. Everyone was just busily going their own way.

It must have been my imagination.

Just as I was thinking that and about to board the carriage.

“…!”

I saw familiar blonde hair flash past beyond the carriage.

That woman, could it be….

“Wait a moment.”

I told Hanson to wait, then hurriedly chased after that woman.

But the woman had already disappeared into the bustling crowd.

“Did you happen to see a blonde woman?”

When I asked the guards stationed in that area and passersby, they all just said they didn’t know.

Did I see wrong this time too?

…That must be it, right?

Sisly, that woman couldn’t possibly be alive.

Even while thinking that, I kept feeling doubtful and found myself looking around.

Hanson came to get me.

“You must return now, Baron.”

“…Right.”

In the end, I had to return to the Imperial Palace without resolving my doubts.

During my brief outing, a pile of work had accumulated.

I need to hurry and handle it.

Thanks to Kalian’s kindness, I was able to go out for personal business during work hours.

But I couldn’t let that interfere with his work.

So I picked up my pen, determined to resolve everything even if I had to pull an all-nighter.

How much time had passed like that?

Around quitting time, Baron Delrond, who had gone to the Outer Palace, returned.

Baron Delrond had dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he would collapse if touched.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Baron Delrond waved his hands dismissively, sat down, let out a deep sigh, and covered his face with both hands.

“I’d be perfectly fine if only that princess weren’t here.”

It seems he was tormented by Princess Stella.

Since she hadn’t come after that day, I thought she had given up, but apparently she had been bothering Baron Delrond.

“The Stella Kingdom will be returning soon, so hang in there a little longer, Baron Delrond.”

“I really hope they return quickly.”

While I was having various conversations with Baron Delrond, there was a tapping sound of something knocking on the window.

When I turned around, I saw thick raindrops beating hard against the window.

It was pouring so heavily that I couldn’t see outside the window.

…On days like this, there’s always thunder and lightning.

Just thinking about it made cold sweat form in my palms. Because of that, the pen in my hand kept slipping.

“It’s raining heavily.”

Baron Delrond also said while looking at the window.

“I’ll be pulling an all-nighter at the Imperial Palace today so it doesn’t matter much to me, but Baron Aster… Baron?”

Baron Delrond called me with slight confusion, then stood up.

“Are you alright?”

Alright? About what?

“You don’t look well.”

At those words, I took out a hand mirror from the drawer and checked my face.

The woman’s face reflected in the mirror was pale and haggard without a trace of color.

I had only thought that there might be thunder and lightning, but to have such a face.

I let out a small sigh, feeling so pathetic.

“If you’re not feeling well, you should go home now.”

“I’m fine.”

I put the hand mirror back in the drawer and answered.

“I’m just a little tired, so don’t worry.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but… If you feel even slightly unwell, don’t be stubborn and just go home. Understood?”

“Yes. I will.”

Even if I wasn’t sick, I planned to leave immediately if the rain got heavier and there were signs of thunder and lightning.

It would be terrible if I had another episode.

I couldn’t show such an ugly sight to Baron Delrond, let alone other people.

* * *

Kalian always tried to have dinner with Hes at least once a week.

But recently, with busy matters like the New Year festival and the Mollenche fruit incident happening consecutively, it had been quite a while since he could do so.

He had finally found time to have dinner together.

“It feels like it’s been really long since I had dinner with you, brother.”

Hes, who was known by everyone as a devoted admirer of Kalian, looked at Kalian sitting across from him with great joy.

His bright blue eyes sparkled unusually brightly.

“Are you keeping up well with your studies?”

It was right after that when the light disappeared from the eyes that had been sparkling brilliantly throughout the meal.

Hes poked at his potato salad with his fork and answered as if mumbling.

“…I’m working hard at it.”

He’s not doing it properly.

Kalian clicked his tongue inwardly.

It was a well-known fact that Hes had no talent for studying.

If he were an ordinary prince, Kalian would have told him not to force himself to do things he didn’t want to do and to live freely.

“Make sure you work hard at it.”

But since that wasn’t the case, he gave a formal response rather than comforting words.

“You know the reason why you must, don’t you.”

At the added words, Hes’s expression grew even darker.

“I understand.”

“Good.”

The conversation broke off. Only the loud clatter of dishes echoed through the spacious dining hall.

Kalian, who had been silently eating his steak, opened his mouth again.

“Did you read the documents that Baron Delrond brought?”

Hes barely managed to swallow the chunk of meat he had forced into his mouth and answered.

“Yes. I’ve reviewed them.”

“What will you do?”

“…”

Hes didn’t answer immediately and kept his mouth tightly shut. His expression wasn’t very good.

“You don’t seem inclined to do it.”

“No. Rather than that…”

Hes fidgeted with his hands and answered in a small voice as if talking to himself.

“I haven’t decided what to do yet… May I think about it a bit more?”

“Of course. There’s still time, so you can think it over slowly and give me your answer.”

Only then did Hes’s face, which had been utterly gloomy, brighten up.

“Thank you.”

His voice also became brighter.

It would be so nice if he could always be this bright.

It was a modest but difficult wish.

Knowing it couldn’t be fulfilled, Kalian smiled bitterly and drank his wine.

When the meal ended, dessert was served.

Kalian, who didn’t particularly like sweets, only drank wine, while Hes ate sweet chocolate cake.

Hes, who had been diligently moving his fork, suddenly asked Kalian as if something had occurred to him.

“Um, Baron Aster is doing well, right?”

Why is he suddenly asking about Leilah’s well-being?

Though puzzled, Kalian answered obediently.

“She’s doing well.”

“Then…”

Hes hesitated slightly, then carefully continued.

“May I see Baron Aster?”

“You want to see her?”

“Yes.”

A shy blush appeared on Hes’s cheeks.

“I want to see her again.”

Oh my, there’s another man who’s fallen for Leilah.

The fact that this man was his own brother was somewhat absurd and ridiculous, making Kalian let out a small laugh.

Rumble, crash-!

“…”

He turned his head because thunder roared loudly.

Hes also seemed slightly startled.

“It looks like it’s raining outside.”

“Indeed.”

Hearing the thunder reminded him of when Leilah had her episode before.

She wouldn’t be having another one, would she. Worry came first.

“Has Baron Aster left work?”

“I’ll find out.”

While waiting for the attendant to return, thunder continued to roar loudly.

His worry grew accordingly. Kalian waited anxiously for the attendant’s return.

“Baron Aster has not yet left work.”

As soon as he heard the report, he shot up from his seat.

Hes looked at Kalian with puzzlement.

“Brother?”

“Let’s continue our conversation next time.”

Though dinner with Hes was important, confirming whether Leilah was safe was more important right now.

Kalian immediately left the separate palace and headed to the study where Leilah was.

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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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