I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 228

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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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#228

Baby. I unconsciously wrapped my arms around my belly. The image of the man I saw in my dream vividly came to mind.

Usually dreams fade after waking up, but that man’s appearance didn’t fade at all. Rather, it was so clear that it was almost miraculous.

“Then I’ll prepare everything in advance, and once the doctor determines that Count can handle the long journey without strain, we’ll depart at that time.”

The reason I couldn’t say I was fine this time was because of the baby. It would be terrible if something happened to the baby because of my stubbornness.

Even though it was a dream, since I promised to meet soon, I wanted to protect the baby somehow.

Mine and Kalian’s baby.

“Is the baby safe?”

“Yes. The doctor said fortunately it’s safe.”

I see. Thank goodness.

“Can I see His Majesty before we leave?”

“That’s also possible once the doctor gives the okay.”

Everything requires the doctor’s diagnosis.

It was a bit troublesome, but since it was the proper procedure, I nodded without complaint.

“Then please rest well, Count.”

“Um, who knows that I’m having a baby?”

Earlier, Sara and Nes seemed unaware.

If they didn’t know, it meant not everyone knew.

“Right now, only myself, the Crowd Knights, and the doctor know. I haven’t told others just in case, but what would you like to do?”

“Please keep it secret.”

The fact that Kalian and I were lovers was officially a secret.

But if my pregnancy became known, our relationship would be revealed too, so it seemed better to keep it secret for now.

“If that’s what Count wishes, I’ll do so, but shouldn’t we tell Count’s maids? That way they can take better care of you.”

Hmm, right. Sara and Nes are trustworthy, so I’ll tell those girls.

“I’ll tell the maids myself.”

“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”

After Count Art left, I buried my face in the pillow.

My mind was still complicated and my heart equally troubled.

I wanted to go see Kalian.

But even if I went to see him, there was no way to save Kalian from his coma.

Right now, for the baby’s sake and to leave as soon as possible, focusing on recovering my health was the priority.

So let’s sleep. Didn’t some literature say that sleep is the best medicine?

Hoping that after a good sleep my body would miraculously recover, I closed my eyes.

* * *

The next day, I found an opportunity to tell Sara and Nes that I was pregnant.

Sara and Nes stood dazed for several seconds, then screamed, and then made a fuss saying I needed to keep my body warm.

“Aren’t you going to ask who the baby’s father is?”

I had prepared myself mentally since revealing the pregnancy would also reveal that I was dating Kalian, but I was a bit flustered when they didn’t ask anything.

At my question, Sara and Nes looked at each other and hesitated.

After a moment of silence, Sara spoke carefully.

“Emperor… it’s His Majesty, right?”

I was surprised in a different way than before and asked Sara.

“You knew?”

“His Majesty cares for Count so attentively that we had a vague suspicion.”

“Besides, as soon as he heard that Count was taken hostage by the Stella Kingdom Army, he became furious and radiated killing intent.”

As if remembering that time, Nes wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

“His Majesty’s actions then didn’t seem like those of someone who thought of Count as just an aide, so we suspected there was something between you two.”

“We never imagined you were carrying his child…”

Sara and Nes’s gazes suddenly fell on my belly. Since it hadn’t even been two months yet, there was hardly any visible sign from the outside.

“Oh, instead of this, I should quickly bring some soft cushions.”

“I’ll bring some tea to warm your body.”

“You don’t need to make such a fuss.”

“What are you saying, Count? You’re carrying an imperial grandchild.”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Nes clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

“If a prince is born, he’ll be first in line for succession. He might become the Empire’s emperor someday.”

No, that won’t happen.

Kalian said he would abdicate when Prince Hes comes of age.

Prince Hes would become emperor, and if he later has a prince, that child would become first in succession and my child would be pushed back.

But I didn’t feel disappointed or anything about that fact.

“Come on, please lie down comfortably, Count.”

“I’ll bring the tea!”

Even though I said they didn’t need to make a fuss, Sara and Nes stubbornly brought various things starting with cushions and warm tea.

They carefully asked if there was anything I wanted to eat, if I felt uncomfortable, and made a fuss saying they should call the doctor if my condition seemed even slightly off.

Sara and Nes’s behavior was a bit noisy, but I didn’t feel bad or annoyed.

Rather, I could see how much they cared for me, which kept making me smile.

Perhaps thanks to Sara and Nes’s diligent care, my physical condition recovered day by day.

On exactly the fifth day since arriving at Rahalbah Outpost.

The doctor diagnosed that it would be fine to embark on a long journey.

At this, people immediately prepared to depart for the Imperial Palace.

Since most preparations were already done, it took less than an hour to finish everything.

Only after all preparations were complete could I see Kalian.

“Ah…”

Except for his slightly gaunt face, Kalian looked like he was sleeping peacefully.

That fact pierced my heart. It seemed like he would wake up any moment and call my name while hugging me tight, but the reality that it wasn’t so was too sad and almost brought me to tears.

They had removed all the seats from a large carriage to make a bed where Kalian could lie.

Next to it were seats for the mage who would continuously inject mana into Kalian and the doctor who would care for him.

“Is there no seat for me?”

“Count will ride separately.”

Separately. Just when I thought I could finally be with him, separately.

“I want to go with His Majesty.”

“Then others will think it strange. Besides, since Count is carrying a child, please travel comfortably in another carriage.”

“…Alright.”

Knowing that Count Art was right, I reluctantly followed his words.

Thus began the long journey back to the Imperial Palace.

Although I couldn’t stay by his side constantly, I went to see Kalian whenever I could.

Kalian still hadn’t awakened, and as his coma lengthened, people’s murmuring grew louder.

“What if His Majesty never wakes up?”

“Hey. Don’t say such ominous things.”

Right, I wish they wouldn’t say such ominous things.

There’s no way Kalian would fall into an eternal coma, leaving me and our child behind.

“So please wake up, Your Majesty.”

I pressed my forehead against Kalian’s limp hand and prayed.

For Kalian to wake up as soon as possible.

So I could share this joyful news with him, I desperately hoped and hoped again.

* * *

Aside from Kalian’s unconscious state, the journey went smoothly.

Whether it was really true that injecting mana meant he didn’t need to eat, Kalian’s condition hadn’t changed much from when we departed.

While that fact was reassuring, what was despairing was that he showed no signs of waking up.

He wouldn’t really never wake up, would he? An ominous feeling crept up on me.

During our journey to the Imperial Palace, we heard various news, one of which was that they had successfully recaptured Rahalbah.

They had captured all the soldiers and officers from the Kingdom of Stella who had attacked without knowing their place, and I heard that some of the officers were beheaded as an example.

It wasn’t Count Art or the Crowd Knights who told us this. We just happened to overhear people talking about it.

Rumors were also circulating that Fillen had betrayed the Empire and sided with the Kingdom of Stella.

People who first heard this news uniformly denied it, saying it was nonsense. They said there must be some conspiracy behind it.

However, when it was soon revealed that everything was true, people were shocked and murmured among themselves.

Why on earth would Fillen, a duke and commander-in-chief, betray the Empire and side with the Kingdom of Stella?

Questions led to more questions in a long chain.

“Could it be because of Count Aster?”

And at the end of that chain was me.

“Those Kingdom of Stella bastards, out of all the people they could have taken, they had to take Count Aster as a hostage.”

“Right. And they said the two of them were found together…”

The gazes directed at me grew increasingly strange, but I didn’t make excuses.

There was nothing to excuse. It was all true.

Thus ended the long month-long journey, and we returned to the Imperial Palace.

“Your Majesty!”

The nobles who had heard the news in advance greeted us with great confusion. Baron Delrond was among them.

The Head Servant stepped forward and moved the comatose Kalian to the Emperor’s Palace.

Duke Cloud and high-ranking mages from the Tower of Magic who had been waiting examined Kalian’s condition.

“How is he, Your Grace?”

Duchess Cloud asked anxiously.

Duke Cloud spoke with a very dark expression.

“His Majesty has indeed fallen into a coma due to mana deficiency.”

“So? He should be able to recover quickly, right?”

“Well…”

I had thought that Duke Cloud and the high-ranking mages would know how to wake Kalian, but “well”?

“Are you saying there’s no way?”

Unable to contain my anxiety, I interjected into the conversation.

Duke Cloud glanced at me and nodded.

“If he were an ordinary mage, we could help him, but His Majesty is not an ordinary mage, so there’s little we can do. We can only hope that he will shake himself awake on his own.”

Heavy silence and despair filled the room.

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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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