I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 217

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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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#217

“Your Majesty, so what I’m saying is….”

Until now, I had only exchanged simple conversations with Kalian through magic messenger birds.

But thanks to the magic communication device at Rahalbha Castle, I was able to talk with him face to face for the first time in a while.

It was only 10 minutes, but that was something. Just being able to see his face made me happy.

“…Never mind.”

[Hiltain has a somewhat rigid side to him.]

After hearing about Count Hiltain, Kalian laughed, saying that was understandable.

‘…He’s handsome.’

His face was so beautiful and perfect that words couldn’t express it adequately.

Newly smitten with him, I stared at Kalian in a daze for a moment. Kalian stroked his chin and asked.

[Why are you looking at me like that?]

“Because you’re handsome.”

There was no reason to hide it, so I answered honestly.

Kalian flinched in surprise, then smiled as softly as cotton candy.

[You’ve become much more honest while we’ve been apart.]

“Do you dislike it?”

[Not at all. I’m just disappointed I can’t ask you more things. If you were next to me, I would definitely hold you tight and ask you all sorts of things.]

And kiss you too. His low, scattered voice was pleasant to hear.

Just imagining being held in his arms made me feel good.

“Please do that when I return.”

[Of course. I’ll hold you in my arms for a whole week.]

“But then you won’t be able to work?”

[It’s fine. I’ll work hard until then, so no one will say anything if I play for about a week.]

Besides, I’m the Emperor, Kalian said playfully while winking.

[The welcome banquet is tomorrow evening, right?]

“Yes. I’m worried about what to wear.”

Even if it was called a light welcome party, since the other party had shown courtesy, I had to dress properly.

Which of the dresses I brought would be good? While I was pondering, Kalian joked.

[You’re pretty in anything you wear, so is there a need to worry?]

“Only Your Majesty thinks that way.”

[As long as you’re pretty in my eyes, is there a need to look pretty to other people too?]

Being able to say such embarrassing things so calmly was a talent if anything.

[But are you really okay with just Hiltain as your guard?]

“Yes. I’ll only be in the party hall or my room then. Besides, from what I can see, there doesn’t seem to be anyone in Rahalbha Castle who could beat Count Hiltain.”

Oh, come to think of it, there’s Fillen.

Fillen was concerning, but if he had any sense, he wouldn’t try to do anything to me in a place with many people.

At most, he’d engage in psychological warfare like he did in front of the castle.

That would be the same no matter how many guard knights I had with me, so there was no need to drag a bunch of people around.

“And I have the necklace and bracelet Your Majesty gave me.”

Clink, when I raised my arm high, the bracelet I was wearing made a clear sound as it swayed.

I never took off the necklace and bracelet Kalian gave me, not even for a moment. I wore them when sleeping and even when bathing.

“So you don’t need to worry.”

[I trust you, but I can’t trust other people.]

“Then trust me and wait. I’ll quickly solve Casiwood’s problem and return.”

Kalian chuckled as if he had no choice.

[Instead, never leave Hiltain’s side.]

“Yes.”

[Don’t go to places where there are few people around either.]

“Of course.”

[And….]

Kalian’s image reflected in the magic communication device became slightly blurry. It meant time was up.

Oh no. I was just listening to nagging and couldn’t even say what I wanted to say most.

“Your Majesty!”

That can’t happen. I urgently called out to him to cut off his words, then said what I wanted to say most.

“I love you.”

Kalian’s eyes widened for a moment.

I touched the magic communication device reflecting his face instead of hugging him tightly as I wanted to, and confessed my feelings again.

“Really, truly, I love you, Your Majesty.”

His widened eyes gently curved and his lips softly turned up.

[Me too.]

A sweet voice resonated softly.

[I really love you too, Leilah.]

With those words as the last, Kalian’s image reflected in the magic communication device disappeared.

“Whew.”

I sat down on the floor with a long sigh. My heart was beating pleasantly fast.

I could have had more conversation using magic messenger birds.

But I didn’t contact him again because it was late, I was embarrassed, and most of all, I wanted to savor this afterglow a little longer.

* * *

From early morning, Rahalbha Castle was busy with sending support forces to Casiwood.

As discussed in the drawing room yesterday, Viscount Casiwood was scheduled to leave for Casiwood first with the support forces.

Fillen was planning to stay behind and go with our party.

I sat by the window watching the preparations for departure to Casiwood.

There were more support forces being sent to Casiwood than expected. If they send this many troops, what about Rahalbha Castle’s security?

I was curious but didn’t ask, thinking it might seem like I was interfering unnecessarily.

After Viscount Casiwood and the support forces left, we had a somewhat late breakfast.

I was tired because I hadn’t fully recovered from travel fatigue, so instead of going to the dining hall, I was eating breakfast in my room when a servant came with gifts.

“Duke Williot sent these.”

Fillen sent gifts?

Judging by the size and number of boxes, it seemed like he sent dresses and accessories, probably for me to wear to the welcome party this evening.

“Take the gifts back. Tell His Grace I appreciate the thought.”

I was wondering what to wear this evening, but I had no intention of wearing clothes Fillen sent.

“He said that if the Countess doesn’t accept the gifts, he would severely punish me for that fault.”

When I refused, the servant prostrated himself on the floor and spoke earnestly.

“So please accept them, Countess.”

He knew I would refuse and laid a smokescreen in advance.

I couldn’t help but sigh at Fillen’s cunning behavior. I couldn’t ignore it because the trembling servant was too pitiful.

“Fine. Leave the gifts.”

“Thank you, thank you!”

The servant quickly ran away after putting down the gift boxes, lest I change my mind.

Sara clicked her tongue while looking at the piled gift boxes.

“His Grace is quite something too.”

Nes nodded vigorously in agreement with Sara’s words.

I also agreed silently and picked up my teacup. I didn’t even look at the gift boxes.

“Shall I open them, Countess?”

“No need. I’m not going to wear them, so why bother opening them?”

“Still, His Grace might ask you later how you liked the gifts.”

That’s true. I sighed and nodded my head. Sara laid out the gift boxes on the floor and opened the largest box first.

As expected, there was a dress inside that box. The other boxes contained accessories and shoes that matched the dress.

Sara let out a small gasp when she saw the dress and accessories.

“It is pretty though.”

“Indeed.”

I liked the deep water-colored dress because it reminded me of Kalian’s hair.

If only it wasn’t a gift from Fillen, I would have worn it.

“No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like ready-made clothing. Do you think he had it custom-made?”

“Probably.”

Since it wasn’t something I was particularly interested in, I answered indifferently while setting down my empty teacup.

Nes, who had been staring at the water-colored dress, tilted her head.

“But how did His Excellency know when you would arrive here and prepare this so perfectly in advance?”

Now that she mentioned it, that was true.

If this were Casiwood, I could understand him preparing in advance, but this place was Rahalbah.

How did Fillen anticipate meeting me here and prepare the dress beforehand?

No matter how I thought about it, I could only conclude that Fillen had deliberately timed his meeting with me.

‘But that doesn’t make sense either.’

That’s because thanks to good weather and various favorable conditions, we had arrived in Rahalbah four days earlier than expected.

Unless Fillen was receiving regular reports on our schedule, it would be nearly impossible for him to even roughly estimate when we would arrive in Rahalbah.

‘Nearly impossible, but not completely impossible.’

So let’s not make unnecessary assumptions.

Even if it felt a bit unsettling, there wasn’t really any major problem with it.

“Now that we’ve checked it, just put it away somewhere.”

Even though I liked the dress, my resolve not to wear it remained unchanged.

Sara and Nes looked quite disappointed as they tidied up the boxes.

Meanwhile, I finished my breakfast and spent time reviewing documents related to Casiwood.

Since I had eaten breakfast late and would need to wear a dress in the evening, I skipped lunch.

And from early afternoon, I began preparing to attend the party.

I chose the most formal dress I had with me. For accessories, I kept it simple and wore only what Kalian had given me.

When I finished all my preparations and came out, Count Hiltain, who had been waiting outside, approached me.

Count Hiltain was wearing the Crowd Knights’ dress uniform. Even though he wouldn’t be attending the party, he needed to maintain some level of propriety, so he wore his dress uniform.

“The uniform suits you well, Count Hiltain.”

“…Thank you.”

I always notice this, but Count Hiltain has such a blunt personality. Is he just shy?

Count Rahalbah had said it was a welcome banquet that all my companions could participate in, but only aristocrats could participate in the formal banquet held in the foyer.

Even knights who weren’t born noble were provided with separate seating outside. Sara and Nes, along with the other servants, enjoyed the party there.

Count Hiltain also wasn’t a noble, so normally he couldn’t have participated here, but he attended in his capacity as my escort.

When I entered the foyer, people who had become quite friendly during our long journey together rushed to speak with me.

“You’ve arrived, Countess. The dress suits you beautifully.”

“Indeed. Have you chosen a partner for the first dance? If you haven’t decided yet, how about me?”

“Hey, don’t jump ahead. I was speaking first…”

The people who had been chattering away all fell silent at once because Fillen had approached me.

Like Moses’ miracle, Fillen walked leisurely through the people who parted to either side, came before me, knelt on one knee, and extended his hand to me.

“Leilah, would you dance one song with me?”

I was naturally about to refuse, but someone answered before I could.

“I’m sorry, but I must decline.”

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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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