I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 21

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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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#21

I hurriedly straightened my body that had been half-leaning against the railing and greeted him politely.

“Leilah Tebesa greets the Sun of the Empire.”

“What a distant greeting that is.”

The Emperor smiled bitterly while stroking his chin.

“This is why I didn’t want to reveal my identity to the Princess. How unfortunate.”

“It was something I would have learned eventually.”

“That’s true.”

The Emperor’s lips relaxed into a loose smile.

“So, do you know my name now?”

“Of course. How could I not know Your Majesty’s noble name?”

“Tell me.”

“You are His Majesty Emperor Callian de Chepel Yusbeldya.”

“You know it precisely.”

The Emperor, Kalian, spoke slowly as he walked toward me step by step.

“Now that it’s been discovered that I’m the Emperor, can we speak more casually?”

It was only natural. I nodded my head vigorously.

“Please do speak comfortably, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

Kalian immediately dropped his formal speech as if he had been waiting for this.

“What were you doing here?”

“I was getting some fresh air.”

“I suppose. The banquet hall is a bit hot.”

Kalian came to stand beside me and leaned his upper body against the terrace.

The wind gently brushed through his hair as it passed by.

Unlike him who was leaning comfortably, I tensed up and straightened my back stiffly.

“You’ll be uncomfortable standing like that.”

“I’m fine.”

“Your speech is completely uncomfortable too.”

Kalian’s eyebrows curved in displeasure.

He suddenly grabbed my wrist and seated me in a chair prepared on one side of the terrace.

How could I dare sit while leaving the Emperor standing? It was unthinkable.

When I tried to stand up in shock, he gently pressed down on my shoulder.

“Don’t get up, just sit.”

“But how can I when Your Majesty is standing…”

“It’s fine. I like standing.”

Kalian playfully winked.

“And I’m wearing comfortable shoes, but you’re in uncomfortable heels, aren’t you?”

Kalian glanced at my heels that were slightly visible beneath my dress and clicked his tongue.

“I’ve always thought this, but women are truly amazing. How do they walk around in those things?”

Since I had the same thought, I silently agreed with his words.

“I won’t refuse the kindness you’ve shown.”

“Good. Please don’t refuse.”

Kalian smiled softly and leaned against the railing.

“So, are you enjoying the party?”

“I’m enjoying it.”

“Liar. You had such a bored expression until just a moment ago.”

He saw that? Well, he heard what I said, so of course he would have seen.

When my lie was immediately exposed, I made an embarrassed face.

I thought he would scold me severely for lying to the Emperor, but surprisingly he said nothing.

“Actually, I’m bored too.”

Instead, he agreed with me and sat down beside me.

“I’d rather look at documents than hold parties like this.”

I was slightly surprised that he was thinking the same thing as me and looked at him.

Kalian, whose eyes met mine, smiled beautifully, crinkling his eyes.

With the pitch-black night sky behind him, he looked more beautiful than usual. He really looked like a fairy.

“Why are you staring like that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

“Rather than apologizing, I’d like to hear the reason you were staring.”

There was no way I could tell him.

How could I say that I was staring because he was so beautiful?

Since it was something I couldn’t dare speak aloud, I kept my mouth shut.

Then Kalian touched his face with a serious expression.

“Is there something on my face?”

“No.”

“Then do I look particularly ugly today?”

That couldn’t be possible.

It was amusing how he said such playful words so seriously.

“Hehe.”

When I let out a small laugh, Kalian looked at me silently.

Oh no. Was I not supposed to laugh like that? I hurriedly stiffened my expression and lowered my head.

“I was terribly rude…”

“No, I wasn’t looking at you in that sense. I just thought you looked pretty.”

Moonlight shattered brilliantly over his blue hair.

Kalian smiled with an even more beautiful smile than that.

“I was staring because the Princess looks so pretty when she smiles, so don’t misunderstand.”

If another man had said such words, I would have thought he was hitting on me, but strangely, Kalian’s words didn’t sound that way.

His words were that pure and without ulterior motives.

So while it wasn’t burdensome, it was embarrassing instead.

Because it meant he had said those words sincerely.

I covered my burning cheeks and turned my head away.

Kalian watched me and laughed lightly. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be mocking laughter.

Having barely calmed my face, I cleared my throat lightly and looked back at him.

“You’ve been teasing me constantly.”

“I’ve never teased you.”

Kalian tilted his head slightly. Moonlight poured over his swaying blue hair.

“I’ve always spoken sincerely, but the Princess keeps thinking I’m teasing.”

“Do you speak like this to other people too?”

“Yes. To people I like.”

“…Does that mean I’m to Your Majesty’s liking?”

“I like you.”

“Why?”

It was a question that came out reflexively because I was so curious.

Since it might seem somewhat rude, I closed my mouth and watched his reaction.

Fortunately, I couldn’t find any sign of displeasure on his thoughtful face.

After thinking for a moment, Kalian seemed to reach a conclusion and opened his mouth.

“I don’t know.”

“Pardon?”

When I asked back in confusion, Kalian looked at me as if he didn’t understand either.

“Does there need to be a reason for a person to be drawn to another person?”

“…Usually there is, isn’t there?”

“For example, what kind?”

What kind, he asks. After a moment of silence, I offered a few reasons that came to mind.

“Being pretty, or being smart…”

“Are all those words referring to the Princess?”

“Th-that’s not it!”

That’s not what I meant!

When I raised my voice in denial out of embarrassment, Kalian laughed softly out loud.

“It seems the Princess doesn’t know her own worth very well.”

Worth?

When I blinked at his incomprehensible words, Kalian chuckled quietly.

“The Princess really knows nothing at all.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Mining an uncut gemstone and polishing it is also a kind of pleasure.”

Kalian smiled mysteriously while stroking his chin.

“So I’m asking, what kind of emperor do you think I am?”

It was a sudden question.

What should I answer to avoid offending him?

According to rumors, the new emperor was said to be a merciless and cruel person without any compassion, but the emperor I met wasn’t like that.

He was a warm man with deep affection. He also knew how to be considerate of others.

But since this was purely my subjective opinion, I couldn’t say he was a good person.

But I couldn’t say he was a bad person either.

After pondering for a while, I gave the safest answer.

“I think you are wise.”

“Wise. Ber would faint if he heard that.”

I was worried he might be offended, but from his expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.

What a relief. I sighed deeply in relief and patted my chest.

“It’s nice that you think highly of me, but I’m not as wise as you think. I’m just a bit clever.”

Kalian smiled mischievously while tapping his head with his index finger.

“Thanks to this cleverness, I’ve survived until now and was able to become emperor.”

The corners of Kalian’s mouth stretched long.

“Otherwise, I would have died long ago.”

Died long ago. The somewhat chilling words made my spine shiver.

When I just stared at him silently with a stiff expression, Kalian smiled mischievously again.

“It’s a joke, so don’t look so stiff.”

Was it really a joke?

Looking at his mischievous smile, it seemed like it, but his eyes were frighteningly cold.

They say the eyes are commonly the windows to the soul.

It seemed like he was trying to brush it off as a joke because I was too shocked and frozen.

If so, there was only one appropriate response and reaction I should show.

I should smile brightly and agree, saying “I see.”

“Princess?”

For some reason, I couldn’t do that.

No, I knew the reason well.

Kalian’s eyes, coldly hardened by old wounds, were so familiar like looking in a mirror that I couldn’t brush it off as a joke.

“It seems I’ve made the Princess uncomfortable again.”

Kalian stroked his chin as if troubled.

How dare I trouble the emperor.

I hurriedly bowed my head.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“I’m getting tired of hearing you apologize.”

“Ah, I apolo…”

“I said I’m tired of hearing it.”

Kalian cut off my words sharply.

Not knowing what else to say, I closed my mouth.

“Your Majesty.”

Just then, a man appeared silently and called to him.

He was a man with dazzling silver hair. From the uniform he wore and the sword at his waist, he seemed to be Kalian’s guard.

When the man who met my eyes bowed lightly in greeting, I also greeted him in return.

The man looked at Kalian with an expressionless face.

“You must leave now.”

At those words, Kalian sighed softly and nodded.

Is he leaving?

If so, I should see him off, so I hurriedly stood up.

“Ah!”

Perhaps because I stood up suddenly, my legs gave out for a moment and my body swayed greatly.

“Princess!”

Fortunately, thanks to Kalian catching me, I avoided the disgrace of falling ungracefully.

But embarrassed by my ungraceful swaying, I bowed my head deeply with a flushed face.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, yes. I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“In times like this, you should say thank you rather than apologize.”

“Thank you.”

When I said it quickly, Kalian smiled and let me go.

“If you feel unwell anywhere, I’ll call the court physician.”

“No. I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Kalian patted my shoulder a couple times before going inside.

The man who had come to call him also bowed to me in greeting before going inside.

I was alone in an instant. Loneliness enveloped my body.

Earlier, even when I was alone, I didn’t particularly feel lonely, but now I strangely felt lonely. I missed the sound of people’s voices.

Should I go inside now?

Fillen would probably start looking for me soon, so it seemed like a good idea to go in.

Click-

Before I could even open the terrace door, it swung open and Fillen came in.

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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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