I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 232

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#232

“On what grounds are you saying such things?”

Hes openly displayed hostility at the words that were clearly meant to drive a wedge between Leilah and himself.

“Count Aster is not that kind of person.”

“My goodness, you’re still young and lack the ability to judge people.”

Duke Giltian let out a deep sigh and shook his head. A look of disdain poured forth.

“This is why I can’t take my eyes off Your Highness for even a moment.”

“Are you treating me like a child right now?”

“If you don’t like that, then don’t be stubborn for no reason and do as I say, Your Highness.”

In other words, it meant to shut up and do as told.

To control the emotions surging up in an instant, Hes clenched his fists tightly.

This wasn’t the first time Duke Giltian had acted like this.

He had been like this from before, and until just a few days ago, Hes thought it was natural to do as Duke Giltian instructed.

Because as he said, he knew nothing at all.

Duke Giltian had much experience and knowledge, so he thought it was right to do as he instructed.

But after leaving the separate palace and meeting various people, hearing stories he couldn’t hear while in the separate palace, he realized that wasn’t the case.

Especially through various conversations with Leilah, he came to clearly understand that not everything Duke Giltian had done was right.

Everyone makes mistakes and tends to move in ways that benefit themselves.

So it didn’t matter that Duke Giltian did so, but the problem was that he ignored and belittled him for his own benefit.

“You seem to be mistaken about something.”

His pride deeply wounded by this fact, Hes spoke through gritted teeth.

“I’m not grandfather’s puppet. I’m not a clown who laughs when grandfather tells me to laugh and cries when he tells me to cry.”

At Hes’s words, Duke Giltian merely tilted his eyebrows diagonally and didn’t say anything.

If it had been other nobles, they would have frantically made excuses saying that wasn’t what they meant, but there wasn’t even that.

It meant he was ignoring Hes to that extent.

Or perhaps he thought that no matter what he did, Hes wouldn’t be able to abandon him.

In fact, it was natural for Duke Giltian to think that way. Hes had relied on Duke Giltian from a very young age.

He had no choice. When he was so young that he couldn’t remember well what he had done, the people who stayed by his side when he was grieving the loss of his mother were Duke Giltian and Kalian.

Although he had his older sister Esramel, their relationship wasn’t particularly good.

It was only recently that they had grown closer over the common topic of Leilah.

Anyway, even aside from being his grandfather, Duke Giltian was a special person to Hes.

“Get out.”

So he had tried to endure and let it pass, but it was no longer possible.

“And from now on, don’t come looking for me like this without prior contact.”

“Your Highness.”

“Tell Count Aluma and Count Bachelo that they don’t need to come either.”

“Are you saying you’ll handle the documents alone from now on? That will be difficult.”

It would be. Hes knew that fact too, but he didn’t want to swallow his pride here.

“If I need help, I’ll ask Count Aster or the administrators from related departments, so Duke Giltian can rest assured and work diligently on the duke’s duties.”

No longer wanting to talk with Duke Giltian, Hes rang the bell.

The attendant who had been waiting outside the door entered and bowed respectfully.

“Duke Giltian says he’s returning to the manor, so prepare a carriage.”

It was a clear order to leave. He had come out after being told to leave, but the more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed, and Duke Giltian scoffed.

After all the devoted care he had given him until now, to say such things.

This must be why they say you shouldn’t raise black-haired beasts.

“I’m not father’s puppet!”

At the sudden afterimage from the past that flashed through his mind, Duke Giltian stopped abruptly.

The attendant who had been guiding him to the entrance also stopped.

Though the attendant stared intently at him, Duke Giltian couldn’t pay attention as he was caught up in the afterimage from the past.

“I won’t do as father tells me anymore! Don’t interfere with my life and my son’s life!”

“…Blood can’t be deceived, can it.”

No, that couldn’t be.

If that were the case, that child, Solia, should have resembled him too, but she didn’t resemble him at all.

Not only that, Solia interfered with everything Duke Giltian tried to do.

So, so…

“Your Grace.”

Awakened from his private thoughts by the attendant’s call, Duke Giltian looked at the attendant.

“The carriage has arrived.”

“…Is that so?”

Duke Giltian exhaled deeply and then put on his usual public smile.

“I’ll be going then.”

Hes’s unexpected rebellion was somewhat bewildering, but nothing would change because of it.

It was something he had planned to do anyway.

He just needed to move that plan up a little.

‘First, I need to deal with that woman.’

Leilah Aster.

He hadn’t liked her from the first time he saw her, and as expected, she had become an obstacle.

If only that woman hadn’t been carrying Kalian’s child, he would have dealt with her along with Fillen Williot.

‘I can still deal with her now.’

Dealing with a woman who had no shield wasn’t difficult.

He believed without doubt that once Leilah was dealt with, everything would return to normal.

* * *

The day of the picnic promised with Prince Hes had arrived.

Having finished preparing for the picnic, Leilah went to see Kalian before going to the meeting place.

Kalian was sleeping in exactly the same state as yesterday. His tightly closed eyelids showed no sign of opening.

“It’s already been two months, Your Majesty.”

Leilah tightly grasped Kalian’s hand that lay limply on the bed.

“Two months is more than enough sleep.”

Every time she came to see Kalian, she resolved not to cry today, but her resolve crumbled every time.

Today was no different.

“How long are you going to make me wait?”

As tears blurred her vision, his handsome face became hazy. Leilah’s jet-black eyes filled with tears.

“It’s not just me waiting, but your child is waiting too.”

Leilah brought his tightly held hand to her belly, which barely showed any signs yet.

Just bringing his hand there made emotions surge up. Sorrowful feelings exploded along with tears.

“If you make us wait too long… I might go to another man.”

No, this is a lie, Your Majesty.

There’s no way I would leave you and go to another man.

So hoping that Kalian would open his eyes as soon as possible, Leilah cried profusely.

How long had she been crying like that?

Suddenly sensing a presence, she turned around to see Esramel, though she didn’t know when she had arrived.

“Oh, when did you arrive?”

Leilah hastily wiped her eyes with the back of her hand as she greeted her.

Countess Cloud let out a deep sigh and offered her handkerchief.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

When Leilah reached for the handkerchief, Esramel clicked her tongue and took it back.

Then she pushed Leilah’s back.

“It would be better to go wash your face rather than wiping with a handkerchief.”

“Is it that serious?”

“Yes. Hes will worry if he sees you, so go wash up properly and redo your makeup too.”

So my makeup smeared. Leilah smiled awkwardly and covered her face.

“I showed you an unsightly appearance.”

“It’s fine. I’ll contact Hes in advance to let him know you’ll be a bit late, so take your time getting ready.”

After Leilah left, Esramel let out a deep sigh and looked at Kalian.

Kalian’s cheek and the back of his hand were slightly wet. It seemed to be tears that Leilah had shed.

Esramel was about to wipe them away but didn’t.

She hoped that Kalian would feel, even in this way, how much Leilah was suffering.

“…Though that probably won’t happen.”

Esramel smiled bitterly and turned away.

There was nothing good about staying here any longer, it would only make her heart feel stuffy, so she went outside.

Once Esramel left too, a quiet stillness settled over the room.

In the quiet room where not even breathing could be heard, a rustling sound, something brushing against something, softly echoed.

* * *

After washing my face and completely fixing my makeup, I headed to the meeting place with Countess Cloud.

The picnic location was a forest on the western side of the Imperial Palace.

I hadn’t thought about anything until coming here, but seeing the lush green forest suddenly reminded me of one fact.

“Isn’t the Lake where the Blue Dragon Sleeps somewhere near here?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a bit far to call it nearby, but it is in this direction.”

I thought so. I looked at the forest surrounded by dense trees.

Countess Cloud smiled and lightly tapped my arm.

“Why? Do you want to see the lake?”

“Well, I would like to see it once.”

The Lake where the Blue Dragon Sleeps. I was curious about it.

“As you know, only Imperial Family members with Blue Dragon blood can enter that lake. Not even guards or attendants can enter.”

So I can’t enter.

“Of course, if you marry His Majesty and become Empress, you could go. Even though you wouldn’t have Blue Dragon blood, your name would be recorded in the Imperial genealogy.”

“I see.”

Then I’ll never be able to go in my lifetime. Since I’ll never become Empress.

“By the way, it seems Hes hasn’t arrived yet.”

Countess Cloud looked around widely, then checked her watch.

“Hmm, there are still 30 minutes left until the postponed appointment time. Shall we have some tea in the meantime?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Under the large tree, an elegant picnic mat and various items were already prepared.

The Duchess, who sat down first, graciously poured tea herself. It was fragrant flower tea.

“This is tea I brewed myself. I made it cool on purpose so it would be good to drink in hot weather, so try it.”

“Thank you.”

Perhaps because I’d only been drinking bitter medicinal tea recently, the fragrance of the flower tea felt incredibly sweet.

It would probably taste just as sweet.

I don’t like sweet things, but considering the Duchess’s thoughtfulness, I brought the teacup to my lips.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————