I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 214

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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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#214

The longest and most intense bath of my life had finally ended.

Exhausted, I came out wearing only a shower robe to find breakfast laid out on the table.

There was freshly baked white bread with various jams, salad, fruit, and other light foods perfect for a morning meal.

“I’ll go change clothes and come back.”

“You can just eat like that.”

Have breakfast wearing only a shower robe?

It wouldn’t have mattered. I often did that when I was alone.

But Kalian was here now. I couldn’t just eat casually in front of him.

“I can’t do that.”

“Can’t? Of course you can.”

Kalian grabbed my arm and pulled me down, forcing me to sit. Then he cut the bread into bite-sized pieces, spread jam generously on it, and held it out to me.

“Thank you.”

I reached for the bread, but Kalian shook his head.

“Ah.”

He meant he would feed me. Since Kalian would stubbornly insist even if I said it was fine, I gave up from the start and let him feed me.

“Ah.”

After I finished the jam-covered bread, Kalian opened his mouth like a baby bird, waiting.

Now he wanted me to feed him. How cute.

I smiled and fed him bread with jam spread on it, just as he had done for me.

As we fed each other like this, breakfast was soon over. Once my stomach was full, the worries I had momentarily forgotten came flooding back into my mind like an incoming tide.

The fact that I had to leave for Casiwood tomorrow and meet Fillen again.

And that I would have to be separated from Kalian for a long time.

More than anything else, I hated the fact that I would be away from Kalian for so long. I had finally found happiness, and I didn’t want to distance myself from it.

So I don’t want to go to Casiwood, Your Majesty.

Couldn’t you change your decision even now?

The words circled in my mouth but I swallowed them. I didn’t want to turn him into an emperor who couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters because of my selfishness.

“I’ll have a safe trip.”

Instead of whining that I didn’t want to go, I acted dignified, which made Kalian scrunch up his face as if he’d chewed bitter herbs and hug me tightly.

“You can tell me if you don’t want to go.”

Then he shook the resolve I had barely managed to build up.

“It’s not too late even now, so tell me you don’t want to go.”

“….”

“Then I’ll stop it. I won’t let you go by any means necessary, so just say it. Tell me you don’t want to go.”

From his earnest words, actions, and gaze, I could see his heart that didn’t want to send me to Casiwood.

But the fact that he asked me to say I didn’t want to go, rather than firmly telling me not to go, also meant he respected my wishes that much.

Throughout my life, hardly anyone had ever asked for my opinion.

Not only the Tebesa couple, but even the Dowager Duke and Duchess Williot would decide something first and then want me to follow it.

Fillen was beyond mention.

But Kalian asked for my opinion at every moment, in any situation.

I was very happy that he asked for my opinion even about something I naturally had to do, like now.

“It’s okay.”

Perhaps I was unhappy all this time so I could meet you.

I smiled brightly, not the forced smile from before, and rested my head on Kalian’s shoulder.

* * *

Since I had to go to Casiwood tomorrow, Kalian wanted to spend the last day intimately with just the two of us.

But the suffocating schedule wouldn’t allow it.

In the end, we went to work and had to move busily, barely seeing each other’s faces except during evening reports.

“You’re staying over tonight too, right?”

“I’d like to, but I need to pack.”

“I’ll have it sent tomorrow morning. You’re leaving in the afternoon anyway.”

Since I had already stayed out one night, it seemed right to go back today, but I couldn’t possibly refuse Kalian’s request.

“I’ll do that then.”

Since I also wanted to stay with him longer, I pretended to give in and accepted his proposal.

That night was also very passionate between us. It was also heartbreaking.

As we desired and yearned for each other as if we would never see each other again if we parted like this, the morning sun had risen before we knew it.

“Leilah.”

As I was about to go to the manor to pack, Kalian put something on my arm.

It was a bracelet set with blue gems. The same type of gems that were in the necklace.

Could it be?

“Is this also a magic bracelet?”

“That’s right.”

I knew it. I examined the bracelet Kalian gave me from various angles.

While the necklace had a large blue gem prominently set in it, the bracelet had small seed-like gems embedded all around it.

“But it doesn’t have as grand a power as the necklace.”

“Then what kind of magic is in it?”

“It contains magic that will tell me your location if you’re in danger.”

Location tracking magic. I had heard such things existed, but this was the first time I’d actually seen one.

“So even if a dangerous situation arises, trust me and wait.”

Kalian lightly kissed my hand wearing the bracelet.

“I will definitely come to rescue you.”

It took a whole month to get from the capital to Casiwood.

For Kalian in the capital to come rescue me would normally be unrealistic, but it was possible for Kalian.

Since he could travel long distances in a single step through water.

“Of course, it would be better if this bracelet never needs to activate.”

Right. The bracelet activating would mean I was in danger.

“This bracelet will never need to activate.”

It was a roundabout way of expressing that I would return safely without incident.

It should have been the answer he wanted, but Kalian frowned as if he wasn’t pleased.

“Your Majesty?”

“…It would be fortunate if the bracelet never needs to activate.”

Kalian touched his forehead to mine.

“But then I’d have no excuse to come see you, which would be sad in its own way.”

Ah, is that how it works?

“Of course, I don’t wish for something to happen to you. I hope nothing does. I hope you return safely without any trouble.”

Kalian’s voice trembled slightly. I could feel his anxiety from his expression, his gaze, his voice and intonation.

“Don’t worry.”

I firmly grasped Kalian’s hands and continued in a resolute voice.

“I will definitely return safely to Your Majesty’s side.”

* * *

“Welcome back, Count.”

The servants, who had already prepared everything for departure while I was away from the manor, greeted me warmly.

“His Majesty the Emperor is too much. How can he make you work all night until the day before departure?”

Sara grumbled as she took my bag.

“Mm, right.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say I hadn’t actually been working, so I smiled awkwardly. Fortunately, Sara didn’t notice anything strange.

Instead, Nes said something troublesome.

“Count, why are you wearing such long clothes when it’s so hot?”

“Huh? Oh, this.”

That’s because Kalian had left marks all over my body.

Since I couldn’t show those to other people, I had no choice but to wear a dress with long sleeves that covered my neck.

I couldn’t exactly tell Nes the truth about that.

“I think I might be catching a cold, so I’m feeling a bit chilly. That’s why I’m dressed like this.”

“Oh my. You need to catch a cold early on – shall I prepare some medicine?”

“No, it’s fine. I think I’ll get better with a little rest.”

“Still, I’ll pack some just in case, so please let me know if you feel worse.”

Seeing her innocent face full of concern made my conscience prick.

I had decided to leave the manor empty while I was in Casiwood.

If Sara and Nes followed me, only Hanson and Paul would remain in this huge manor, and it would be too much for just the two of them to manage. There was no need for that either.

“Rest well.”

So I gave them vacation time, and we agreed I would contact them at their homes when I departed from Casiwood later.

“Please be careful, Count.”

“We’ll be waiting for the day you return, Count.”

After Hanson’s final task of taking me, Sara, and Nes to the Imperial Palace, he left with Paul.

I entered the Imperial Palace with Sara and Nes.

Sara and Nes, entering the Imperial Palace for the first time, kept exclaiming in admiration as they looked around.

“So this is what the Imperial Palace looks like. It really is different, being where such important people live.”

“Oh, is that real gold?”

“Of course it’s real gold, what do you think it is, fake gold? Think before you speak.”

“I might not know! And who would normally think someone would build a castle out of gold!”

Sara and Nes still got along well.

It didn’t seem like I’d be bored during the trip to Casiwood.

Sara and Nes went off separately to pack my luggage, while I headed to the study to greet Baron Delrond and Count Montesol.

“We’ll see each other again soon, so I won’t say much. Stay healthy, Count Aster.”

“Baron Delrond, please stay healthy until the day I return. You too, Count Montesol. Ah, when I come back, you’ll be more familiar with the work, right?”

The atmosphere seemed a bit stiff, so I added a joke, which made Count Montesol’s face turn bright red.

He clasped his hands together tightly and nodded his head vigorously.

“Of course! I’ll work hard not to disappoint you!”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

After briefly greeting other acquaintances, it was almost time to leave.

I had already said goodbye to Kalian thoroughly this morning, so there was no need for another farewell.

I’d see him from outside anyway.

So I skipped meeting Kalian and was heading to the Outer Palace where the procession to Casiwood was prepared, when a hand suddenly shot out from inside the hallway and grabbed my arm.

“…!”

Before I could think “oh no,” my body was pulled inside. My heart, which had been fluttering like a live fish, calmed down when I saw that beautiful face with a slightly frowning expression.

“Your Majesty, why are you here…”

Before I could finish speaking, his lips descended on mine.

This was a passage where other people walked by.

The worry didn’t last long.

Because the ecstatic and dizzying sensation he gave me felt too good.

Because the fact that I wouldn’t see him for several months ahead pierced me to the bone.

Setting aside all other worries, I focused on the kiss with him.

* * *

Chirp, the magic messenger bird cried. As the spring was wound, its yellow beak moved noisily, delivering the other party’s message.

[Count Aster and her party have just left the capital.]

The delivered message ended there.

Fillen took out another magic messenger bird with a blue beak from the drawer and wound its spring.

[It’s me.]

After a moment, the blue beak spoke in an affectionate voice.

Fillen pressed his eyelids and remained silent for a moment before opening his mouth.

“She just left the capital. Start moving now.”

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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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