I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 184

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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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#184

 

The familiar voice seemed to belong to Princess Stella.

 

And the only person she would speak so respectfully and desperately to within the Imperial Palace would be Kalian.

 

“Why did you flatly reject the marriage proposal Father sent?”

 

It really was Kalian after all.

 

I stopped walking and looked toward where Princess Stella’s voice was coming from.

 

Countess Cloud had already been looking in that direction.

 

As expected, Kalian and Princess Stella were there.

 

Princess Stella was dressed even more lavishly than when I had seen her before.

 

The jewels attached to her skirt hem swayed noisily with her every movement.

 

“If Your Majesty and I were to marry, if I were to enter as the Empire’s Imperial Consort, it would benefit both Your Majesty and the Empire.”

 

“Benefit?”

 

Kalian laughed as if it were absurd.

 

“What benefit would there be for me and the Empire in marrying you?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Princess Stella pressed her lips tightly shut, seemingly at a loss for words.

 

It would be embarrassing if we were caught watching, so let’s go.

 

That’s what I thought, but apparently Countess Cloud didn’t agree as she didn’t budge an inch.

 

“Countess.”

 

When I called softly, the Countess finally turned to look at me.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Why?”

 

The Countess tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

 

“His Majesty is right there, where are you suggesting we go? Didn’t you have business with His Majesty?”

 

“That’s true, but I don’t think we should keep eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.”

 

“We’re not eavesdropping, we’re overhearing. If they didn’t want others to listen, they should talk in a room, not in a corridor where other people pass by.”

 

It was a reason that seemed strange yet somehow made me nod in agreement.

 

“You’re really too much.”

 

While we were bickering, their conversation was also reaching its climax.

 

Princess Stella spoke with tears welling up in her eyes, as if resentful.

 

“How can you treat me so coldly when you know I like Your Majesty? You could at least be a little warmer to me!”

 

Kalian let out a hollow laugh.

 

“If that’s the reason, then I should be warm to everyone who likes me. Even if they happen to be people I utterly despise.”

 

Princess Stella flinched at the coldly ringing voice, then spoke again.

 

“I-I’m not someone Your Majesty utterly despises!”

 

“How can you be so sure of that?”

 

Kalian responded coldly.

 

“Wow, he’s being harsh.”

 

Countess Cloud admired the scene as she watched.

 

She observed them as if reading an interesting novel.

 

Was this really okay? Though Countess Cloud said it was fine, I felt uneasy about it.

 

Just as I was about to bring up leaving again, thinking it would be better to go, I felt someone’s gaze from somewhere.

 

When I turned around, I saw that Kalian had been looking this way at some point.

 

The same was true for Princess Stella.

 

Her tear-moistened eyes that had been blinking innocently at Countess Cloud turned sharp the moment she spotted me.

 

It was a look of deep resentment toward me. Like looking at a woman who had an affair with her man.

 

Come to think of it, Princess Stella thinks I like Kalian and have been interfering with her at every turn.

 

In short, Princess Stella considered me her rival in love.

 

A rival in love. Do I even qualify to be that?

 

If you compare Princess Stella and me, her conditions are much better.

 

The only thing I can claim is that Kalian likes me…

 

“…!”

 

What am I thinking right now?

 

I shouldn’t be grateful for that fact.

 

At the sudden bewildering thought, I blushed and lowered my head.

 

“Are you alright, Baron?”

 

The Countess, who had no idea what I was thinking, asked worriedly.

 

I just nodded a couple of times to indicate I was fine.

 

“As the Princess knows, the Empire is currently in chaos, fighting a battle against drug criminals.”

 

Kalian turned his back on Princess Stella.

 

“So if your business is finished, please return to the kingdom. I won’t see you off separately.”

 

“Sob!”

 

At the clear dismissal, Princess Stella ran off in the distance, scattering tears.

 

Kalian didn’t spare a single glance at Princess Stella and walked toward us.

 

“How heartless.”

 

Countess Cloud muttered softly while watching the scene.

 

That was brief though, as when Kalian approached and stood nearby, she smiled brightly as if she had never criticized him and greeted Kalian.

 

I also greeted Kalian.

 

After receiving our greetings with a nod, Kalian asked me.

 

“Your hand?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“My family’s physician is treating it exclusively, so don’t worry, Your Majesty.”

 

Countess Cloud added with a smile.

 

Kalian looked at the Countess.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“I have something I’d like to ask Your Majesty. Could you spare me some time?”

 

“Very well.”

 

Kalian nodded and spoke to me again.

 

“Baron Aster, would you wait for a moment? I have something to tell you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I also had something I wanted to ask him, so I readily nodded.

 

While the two of them talk, I should go meet Baron Delrond.

 

“I’ll be in the aide’s office, so please let me know when Your Majesty and Countess Cloud finish talking.”

 

“Yes, Baron.”

 

I asked the attendant and headed to the aide’s office.

 

When I opened the door and entered, I saw Baron Delrond buried in documents as usual.

 

“Who enters without knocking… Baron Aster?”

 

Baron Delrond, who had clicked his tongue in annoyance and raised his head, confirmed it was me and jumped up from his seat.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“I was worried about Baron Delrond. Since I suddenly took a break, you ended up taking on my work too. I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s not like Baron Aster wanted this to happen, so why are you apologizing? If anyone should apologize, it should be those who framed you.”

 

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

 

He wouldn’t have been wrong to resent me, but hearing him say that made me feel a little more at ease.

 

“I heard there was a fire in the garden, are you alright?”

 

“Yes. Only the garden burned a little, and the servants and I are fine. The manor is safe too.”

 

“That’s a relief… What’s that? Are you injured?”

 

Baron Delrond, who belatedly noticed my bandaged right hand, asked.

 

I hid my hand behind my back and answered casually.

 

“It’s nothing serious. I just got a small burn on my palm.”

 

“A burn?”

 

Baron Delrond frowned as if he himself had been injured.

 

“You should have been more careful. Burns can leave scars.”

 

“It just happened that way.”

 

Though I trusted Baron Delrond, I didn’t think it was necessary to go around telling everyone the details of that day, so I kept it hidden.

 

I didn’t feel the need to tell even Baron Delrond about it.

 

I mumbled my words and headed to my seat.

 

Except for a few missing documents, my desk was exactly as I had left it three days ago.

 

The missing documents were probably taken by Baron Delrond or Kalian because they needed urgent processing.

 

I should get some work done before meeting Kalian.

 

I took off my coat, sat down, and checked the documents that needed to be processed first.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay to work? You can just go home if you’re not feeling well.”

 

“I’m fine. And I have to leave soon anyway, so I can only look at a little.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“I have an appointment with His Majesty.”

 

“Ah. Then don’t overdo it.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I should be as helpful as possible before I go.

 

I quickly reviewed the documents.

 

As time passed and the sun began to set, the attendant I had spoken to earlier came looking for me.

 

“The two of them have finished their conversation.”

 

I thought it would take an hour or two at most, but it took longer than expected.

 

“I’ll be going now. See you later.”

 

“Take care on your way back, Baron Aster.”

 

After greeting Baron Delrond, I headed to the drawing room where Kalian was waiting.

 

Countess Cloud had already left and wasn’t there.

 

“Sit.”

 

As I sat across from him, a maid poured tea and left.

 

“You came because you’re curious about Britina Baroness’s matter, right?”

 

I had been wondering how to bring up the topic, so I was grateful he brought it up first.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“To get straight to the point, Andant Tebesa is not the culprit who reported you. He has nothing to do with this incident at all.”

 

Since it was the result I had expected, I wasn’t that surprised.

 

“Then who reported that fact to the estate guards?”

 

“The one who reported it was a vagrant living in the slums. A week ago, someone came to him and told him to report to the estate guards that there was Molentze in your garden.”

 

“You’re saying that person wasn’t Andant Tebesa?”

 

“That’s right. Hilltain was watching Andant at that time too, but said he didn’t do such a thing. Britina Baroness also said it was her lover who planned everything.”

 

“Her lover?”

 

I was slightly surprised by the unexpected appearance of this figure and asked Kalian again.

 

“Are you saying that it was also Britina Baroness’s lover who planted the Molentze seeds in my garden?”

 

“That hasn’t been confirmed. Britina Baroness seemed unaware of that too.”

 

Kalian frowned slightly as he continued.

 

“But it’s certain that Andant Tebesa isn’t involved. If he were connected, he would have met with that lover, but Hilltain said they never met once during his surveillance.”

 

Then how did Andant know there was Molentze in my garden?

 

Did he see it when he happened to come to my mansion?

 

Or was it just my unfounded suspicion?

 

I was curious which it was, but for now, finding out about Britina Baroness’s lover was the priority.

 

“Why did that lover scheme such a thing?”

 

What grudge could this lover, whose face I don’t even know, have against me to scheme such a thing?

 

“According to what I heard from Britina Baroness, that lover harbors considerable ill feelings toward you. That’s why he schemed this incident.”

 

“But I don’t know who Britina Baroness’s lover is.”

 

No wait, that’s not right. If I hear the name, it might be someone I know.

 

“Do you happen to know that lover’s name?”

 

I asked to confirm, and Kalian nodded as if he knew and opened his mouth.

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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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