I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 237

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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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#237

This wasn’t just any other matter – it involved my child and my life.

I had absolutely no intention of compromising on this part, so I spoke firmly.

Then Prince Hes smiled as if he had expected this and let his shoulders droop.

“Then what about a reduced sentence at least?”

“Your Highness seems to want to save Duke Giltian.”

“…Even if I hate him, he’s still my maternal grandfather. The fact that I’ve been safe until now is all thanks to my grandfather.”

Prince Hes smiled faintly.

“And when you think about it, the reason my grandfather did such things was because of me.”

A tear that had been hanging on the tip of his long eyelashes for a man dropped with a plop.

I could clearly see from his expression how much Hes cared about Duke Giltian.

“So I hope my grandfather won’t be executed, at least.”

I was merely a count, but the child in my belly was royalty.

Therefore, the criminal who tried to assassinate this child would be considered an attempted murderer of royalty and would be executed regardless of their rank.

Duke Giltian would be no exception.

Hes took a deep breath and then pleaded with me again.

“Could you please spare my grandfather’s, Duke Giltian’s life?”

“You should ask His Majesty about that, not me.”

“I know my elder brother won’t listen even if I ask him, so I’m asking you, Count.”

Prince Hes looked at me with desperate eyes.

“Because he’ll listen if it’s your words.”

“…”

“Please, Count Aster. Save my grandfather.”

It would be a lie to say my heart wasn’t swayed by his earnest plea.

If Duke Giltian were to be executed like this, Prince Hes would carry that burden in his heart for life.

And that burden could potentially turn into resentment toward me and Kalian.

I didn’t want the friendship between Kalian and Prince Hes to be ruined because of me either.

But I couldn’t cover up Duke Giltian’s crimes either.

If I covered it up here, he would target me and my child again.

“…I understand.”

There was only one thing I could do in this situation.

“I will ask His Majesty to reduce Duke Giltian’s sentence.”

“Really?”

“However, there is a condition.”

I looked straight at Prince Hes, who was finally smiling brightly, and continued.

“The condition is that Duke Giltian must first admit his wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. Then I will try to ensure it ends with exile rather than execution.”

* * *

Prince Hes said he thought Duke Giltian was likely the culprit.

In other words, Prince Hes was also merely speculating and had no concrete evidence.

Of course, there’s no smoke without fire, so Prince Hes must have some circumstantial evidence for suspecting Duke Giltian as the culprit.

But circumstantial evidence was just that – circumstantial evidence, not clear proof, so even if Duke Giltian was really the culprit, we couldn’t arrest him.

That’s why I made such a proposal to Prince Hes.

If Duke Giltian confessed, it would be good because we could catch the culprit without much effort.

And if he didn’t confess, we wouldn’t lose much.

In that case, whether the culprit was Duke Giltian or someone else, we could just catch them and punish them according to the law.

If Duke Giltian was really the culprit, Prince Hes might be hurt, but there was nothing we could do about it.

…That was my thinking, at least.

‘His Majesty the Emperor might think differently.’

I should have asked Kalian before saying such things.

I was worried that I had decided too arbitrarily.

I thought it would be better to ask Kalian before it was too late, so I waited for dinner time to come.

Despite being busy with work, Kalian always made time to have breakfast and dinner together.

Naturally, we also slept in the same bed.

I told him it was fine, that he didn’t need to do that when he was busy, but he wouldn’t listen.

“I haven’t been able to properly play the role of a lover or father until now, so let me do it now at least.”

Rather, he held my hand tightly and said that, so I couldn’t stop him anymore.

I also liked having dinner with him.

There was no way I could dislike spending time with the lover I cherished.

Perhaps that’s why. The morning sickness that had been so severe disappeared like a lie.

Instead, my appetite exploded and I ate more than usual, making me worry about gaining weight.

“I shouldn’t gain weight.”

“You can gain a bit more.”

I turned around at the familiar voice.

Kalian was standing at the door.

“When did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

I was about to get up to greet him, but Kalian approached and gently pressed down on my shoulder.

“You can stay seated.”

Then he sat across from me and rang the bell.

The maids came in and set up dinner.

Several of them tasted the prepared food in front of me and Kalian.

After the incident in the Western Forest, Kalian had all the food I ate tasted in front of us.

When the maids showed no adverse reactions even after time passed, the meal finally began.

After filling our hunger with soup and bread and exchanging light conversation.

I was about to seriously discuss Prince Hes, but Kalian spoke first.

“I will personally lead the campaign next month.”

A personal campaign.

“Your Majesty will personally participate in the war with the Kingdom of Stella?”

“Yes. I tried not to go if possible, but I’m the only one who can lead the Imperial Army right now.”

That’s right. Commander-in-chief Fillen was absent, and it would be too much for the individual knight commanders to take on the role of commander-in-chief.

“Hes is too young to send, and he doesn’t even know swordsmanship. But we can’t postpone the war until Hes grows up or a new commander-in-chief is appointed, so I think I have to go myself.”

I wanted to hold him back and tell him not to go. But since everything he said made sense, I couldn’t stop him.

The battlefield was a place where even perfectly fine people could become fools in an instant.

The fact that Kalian was going to such a place made me lose my appetite completely.

When I put down my fork, Kalian clicked his tongue.

“I should have told you after the meal was over.”

“…Then I would have thrown up.”

It was better not to eat at all.

Kalian sighed and moved to sit next to me, then firmly grasped my hands that were neatly placed on my knees.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Still, it will take a year.”

“A year, what are you talking about. I’ll be back before you give birth to the child.”

That meant he would return within six months at the latest.

I couldn’t believe it. It would take more than a month just to lead a large army from here to the Kingdom of Stella.

But how could he conquer the Kingdom of Stella and return in just six months?

Even I, who knew little about war, could see it was nearly impossible.

“You look like you don’t believe my words.”

“Are you certain Your Majesty can return within half a year?”

“Of course.”

Kalian lightly kissed the back of my hand.

“I promise. I will definitely return before you give birth to the child.”

Since he was saying that much, I should believe him.

No, I wanted to believe him.

Being alone during pregnancy would be sad enough, but giving birth alone too would be truly heartbreaking.

“You promised.”

“Yes.”

Kalian lightly kissed my forehead.

“I promise with everything I have.”

* * *

Because he suddenly brought up talk of war, I couldn’t discuss Prince Hes as I had planned.

“I have something to tell you, Your Majesty.”

Since it was something I absolutely had to discuss, during breakfast I told him everything about my conversation with Prince Hes.

It was a short story that ended while drinking a cup of coffee, but the weight of the story was not light.

Kalian nodded with a serious expression.

“I see. So Hes also thinks Duke Giltian is the culprit of that incident.”

“Do you also think Duke Giltian is the culprit, Your Majesty?”

“Yes. There’s no one else besides Duke Giltian who would have the guts to do such a thing.”

Kalian said while filling his empty cup with coffee.

“That said, I don’t think he moved directly. He surely used one of the many chess pieces he has.”

“Then even if we catch the culprit, we won’t be able to implicate Duke Giltian.”

“Probably. We’re searching hard, but we haven’t found any connection to Duke Giltian at all.”

“That means you’ve found who was used as a chess piece.”

“Oh no.”

Kalian clicked his tongue and put down the teacup he was holding.

“I fell for leading questioning.”

“Since you already fell for it, please tell me. Who is the culprit?”

“It’s not a good story for prenatal care.”

“They say prenatal care is better when the mother’s mind is at ease.”

“…Your eloquence has improved greatly while I wasn’t looking.”

Kalian shook his head as if he couldn’t stop me.

“The guard who attacked you and Esramel that time is a private soldier of the Batchelo Family.”

“If it’s the Batchelo Family, is Count Bachelo, who works as an administrator in the Prime Minister’s Office, the culprit?”

“No. Count Bachelo didn’t move directly.”

“Then?”

Instead of answering, Kalian picked up a strawberry with his fork and held it out to me.

I’m full. I showed that I didn’t want to eat it, but Kalian didn’t back down.

Instead, he sent me a look saying he wouldn’t tell me more if I didn’t eat, so I had no choice but to eat it.

“Batchelo Count’s Son was selected as an administrator for the Marshal’s Office this time, and he played a prank by switching the guard who was supposed to escort you and Esramel that day with a private soldier from the Batchelo Family.”

“Wouldn’t that be discovered quickly?”

“Normally yes, but the Minister of War is a bit distracted right now.”

True, with both the minister and deputy minister absent, plus preparing for war, there wouldn’t be capacity to pay attention to such minor details.

Moreover, the other party was also an administrator of the Marshal’s Office.

“So? Did you arrest Batchelo Count’s Son?”

“Not yet. We couldn’t find those private soldiers then. It’s not easy to find them while moving secretly so they don’t notice.”

“How about searching openly then?”

Kalian looked at me as if asking what I meant.

“Search openly while pressuring that private soldier to feel threatened.”

“Then he’ll hide deeper underground.”

“At the same time, wouldn’t Count Bachelo’s side, feeling threatened, try to eliminate that private soldier?”

“…!”

“If we target that moment, we could catch not only that private soldier but Count Bachelo as well.”

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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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