I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 171

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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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#171

“Did you work all night again yesterday?”

Sara asked while combing my hair.

“….”

At that question, my heart started pounding as I recalled this morning’s events that I had been forcing myself to forget.

Without realizing it, I touched the back of my hand where Kalian’s lips had touched.

“…Yeah, well.”

I answered nonchalantly, trying to calm my trembling heart.

“Are you still very busy even though the New Year festival is over?”

“We have to clean up after the New Year festival, and the foreign envoys haven’t returned yet. There are many other things to do as well.”

Of course, staying out overnight yesterday wasn’t because of that, but I kept quiet about it.

I couldn’t tell Sara that I was afraid of thunder and lightning, or about what happened with Kalian.

“Oh my.”

Sara added sympathetically.

“It must be very difficult for you.”

“It’s fine.”

Yes, working was fine.

The problem was my growing feelings for him and his suddenly changed attitude.

‘What should I do now.’

I didn’t know what expression to wear when looking at him, or how I should treat him.

Even if we didn’t share the same feelings, it would have been troubling, but because we did share the same feelings, it was even more concerning and complicated.

If Diane had been here, she would have scolded me, asking what there was to worry about so much, telling me to just follow my heart.

‘I want to do that too.’

I wanted to act as my heart dictated without thinking about anything else.

But because I was so lacking compared to him.

I couldn’t do that because it was too clear that if I got greedy, I would only hold him back.

“Sigh.”

The more thoughts I had, the more sighs came out one after another.

I started to dry-wash my face and then covered my face with my hands.

“Are you alright, Baron?”

Sara asked worriedly.

I lowered my hands and smiled faintly.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine at all.”

Sara examined my face carefully.

“Maybe because you’re under a lot of stress, your skin has gotten quite damaged. Are you sleeping properly?”

“So-so.”

“Not so-so, you need to sleep deeply.”

Nes, who had brought my nightgown, joined the conversation.

“That’s how your skin becomes smooth, and your body and mind become healthy.”

I suddenly remembered Diane grumbling that maids nag too much, and it made me laugh.

“Shall I bring some tea that helps with sleep?”

“Sure.”

After Nes left, I changed into my nightgown.

Sara, who was arranging the bedding, suddenly spoke as if she had just remembered something.

“Do you remember when I mentioned before that an unfamiliar plant in the garden had formed flower buds?”

“Yes. I remember. What about it?”

“I couldn’t tell you because you seemed busy, but red flowers bloomed a while ago.”

It was already admirable that it formed buds in this cold winter, but to actually bloom flowers too.

“Are they still blooming now?”

“No. Unfortunately, they withered two days ago.”

“I see.”

I wanted to see them once, so it was really disappointing.

“But fruit has formed in their place. It must have been a fruit-bearing plant.”

“What kind of fruit is it?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Sara, who had finished arranging the bedding, tilted her head and looked at me.

“The fruit that formed is green, but what fruits grow on stems rather than trees?”

“There are many such fruits.”

Just thinking about it now, there were more than ten types.

If the fruit changed color when ripe, there would be even more varieties.

“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you know a lot about plants, Baron.”

“I only know what I know.”

Most of it was related to crops.

Recently, I had also learned a bit about plants used for drugs while studying narcotics.

“Here’s your tea, Baron.”

“Thank you, Nes.”

I drank the tea that Nes had brought.

Perhaps because it was tea that helped with sleep, my body felt pleasantly relaxed.

“Would you like to go see the fruit?”

“No.”

Since I should sleep when sleepiness comes to sleep well, I sat on the bed and waved my hands dismissively.

“I’ll see it next time, so please leave now.”

* * *

Although Kalian had suddenly confessed, asking me to give him a chance, the relationship between him and me didn’t change in any special way.

Thanks to that, I was able to focus on work without paying much attention to it.

To be precise, I was trying not to pay attention to it.

This effort became useless when I stood in front of Kalian, but at least when he wasn’t around, I could control my feelings.

I was on my way back to the Imperial Palace after going to the Outer Palace to deliver documents.

“Do you know where His Majesty is?”

Princess Stella suddenly appeared and asked.

Since Baron Delrond wouldn’t talk, had she attached herself to me again?

I sighed inwardly and answered.

“As I told you before, I cannot carelessly reveal His Majesty’s location.”

“I’m fine!”

Princess Stella placed her hands on her hips and said triumphantly.

“Because I’m going to become the Imperial Consort soon.”

Going to become the Imperial Consort soon? What was she talking about?

“Father said he’s sending a marriage proposal to His Majesty!”

Princess Stella smiled as brightly as a flower.

“So I’m going to become the Imperial Consort soon!”

Just because a marriage proposal was sent didn’t mean the royal marriage would definitely happen. The other party had to accept it.

I didn’t think Kalian would accept Stella Kingdom’s marriage proposal.

That was because there was almost nothing the Empire could gain from marrying Princess Stella.

Only Stella Kingdom would benefit.

Moreover, since Kalian was scheduled to have a royal marriage with a princess from the Holy Kingdom, there was even less chance he would accept Stella Kingdom’s marriage proposal.

Thinking about the royal marriage made a corner of my heart ache.

An unpleasant sensation spread coldly from my heart, making my mood sink low.

“So hurry up and tell me where His Majesty the Emperor is!”

Princess Stella’s childish behavior was extremely annoying and bothersome.

“I cannot do that.”

“What? Didn’t you hear me? I’m going to become the Imperial Consort soon!”

“You haven’t become one yet.”

I responded coldly.

“So when you do become the Imperial Consort, ask me then. I’ll answer you at that time.”

Sparks flew in Princess Stella’s eyes as she looked at me.

“You…!”

“It’s not ‘you,’ it’s Leilah Aster, Your Highness.”

If it had been any other time, I would have coaxed and appeased the immature princess before sending her away, but today I didn’t want to do that.

“How can someone of noble birth use the kind of language that street ruffians would use?”

“Ugh!”

Princess Stella clenched both hands tightly and trembled with rage.

“How dare a mere baron lecture me? Do you think you’ll get away with this?”

Then she pointed at me and screamed at the top of her lungs.

“I’ll never forget today’s humiliation! I’ll tell Father everything, and His Majesty too, and have them punish you!”

I could understand King Stella, but why was Kalian included in that?

“I pray that God’s blessings accompany Your Highness’s future.”

Feeling no need to continue the conversation with the princess, I left a ceremonial greeting and departed.

I could feel Princess Stella jumping up and down behind me, but I ignored it.

I wasted unnecessary time because of Princess Stella.

I was trying to hurry back to the study to work when another troublemaker appeared.

“Hello, Leilah.”

And it was an even stronger troublemaker than Princess Stella.

I frowned and glared at Andante.

“Why are you here?”

Just being a noble didn’t mean one could freely enter and leave the Imperial Palace.

Only administrators or those who had received permission from the Imperial Family to enter the palace could come in.

There was no way that incompetent man had become an administrator.

That meant someone had granted him permission to enter the palace.

The only people who could do that were Kalian, the current Emperor, and Prince Hes.

Prince Hes had no connection with Andante, so he wouldn’t have called him.

Kalian also had no reason to summon Andante.

And if Kalian had granted Andante permission to enter the palace, I, as his aide, would have found his name in the documents.

I checked the palace entry list every day.

Andante’s name definitely wasn’t there, so I found it strange that he was in the palace.

Seeing his face was also unpleasant.

“How did I get in? I walked in on my two feet.”

“…”

“Ahaha, it’s a joke, so don’t make that face.”

Andante continued with his characteristically shameless expression.

“I came with Duke Williot.”

So he entered the palace with Fillen’s help?

Nobles could bring one aide to help them when entering the palace, and it seemed he had used that method.

“What business do you have at the palace?”

“To meet you, of course. At this time, I can’t meet you anywhere but the palace. So I came to the palace myself.”

“For what reason? Don’t tell me you’re trying to make that request you couldn’t make before?”

I shot back with a sharp tone.

“Of course not. I have no intention of becoming an administrator. Such a boring job doesn’t suit my temperament.”

Andante raised his arms to shoulder height and shrugged.

“I have plenty of money even without working.”

The accessories on Andante’s fingers and wrists were dazzling.

They were all expensive items.

Come to think of it, the clothes Andante was wearing were also high-quality.

They were so splendid that he could attend a party without any inadequacy.

Although Tebesa County owned a gold mine, it wasn’t wealthy enough to enjoy such luxury.

This was because Count Tebesa had spent extravagantly on women and entertainment.

The money his eldest son had lost gambling was also considerable.

Despite their financial difficulties, Countess Tebesa had enjoyed all sorts of parties without considering this.

But with what money did he buy such expensive clothes and accessories?

“Then what is it?”

“I want to make you a proposal.”

A proposal to me?

No, there was something even more irritating than that.

“Tebesa Young Master. Why do you keep speaking informally to me?”

Andante made an incredulous expression.

“Is it wrong for an older brother to speak informally to his younger sister?”

“Who is your younger sister? Don’t tell me you asked to have me removed from the family register, but haven’t done it yet?”

I continued with a small sneer.

“You used to threaten me saying you’d remove me from the family register, but when it comes to actually doing it, you can’t, can you?”

“Oh my, Leilah, you’re still so young.”

Andante spoke in a tone as if soothing a young sibling.

“Mother was just so angry that she said something she didn’t mean.”

Something she didn’t mean? Anyone could see she was sincere.

“And even if we remove you from the family register, how can we sever the blood relationship that heaven has ordained?”

“I will sever it. So don’t speak to me informally, Tebesa Young Master.”

Andante furrowed his brow and let out a deep sigh.

“Your personality has changed a lot since I last saw you, Leilah.”

He’s speaking informally to the end.

In that case, I had no intention of continuing the conversation with him.

Although it was unsettling that he had come all the way to the palace to see me, I was just going to ignore him and pass by.

Thud-

“Where are you going?”

Andante grabbed my arm.

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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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