I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 261

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

#3

The inn Diane had reserved in advance before coming was a high-class inn located in the city center.

After leaving our luggage in our respective rooms, we gathered again in the dining hall inside the inner hall to satisfy our hungry stomachs.

“Since we need to sleep soon, shall we just have something simple to fill our stomachs?”

“Sure. Um, let’s see. I’ll have a beef sandwich.”

“A beef sandwich is simple?”

“Of course. Oh, I should also order mushroom soup and draft beer to warm up my stomach that’s frozen from the cold wind.”

What does draft beer have to do with warming up a frozen stomach?

Unlike Diane who ordered all sorts of things, I only ordered mushroom soup.

“Will you be okay eating just that, Leilah?”

“I’ll be sleeping soon, so it’s fine.”

“I can’t sleep when I’m hungry, how interesting.”

“I can’t sleep when my stomach feels heavy from eating too much.”

“This isn’t eating too much. It’s just one sandwich.”

Diane tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand, then took a big bite of her sandwich.

I also took a spoonful of mushroom soup. Eating something warm definitely made me feel like my body was loosening up.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

Diane suddenly put down her half-eaten sandwich and spoke.

“Doesn’t Count Delonde dislike me?”

“Pardon?”

What is she talking about now? I blinked my eyes wide at her unexpected words and looked at her.

“At first, I thought he didn’t come because he was being considerate of Leilah’s feelings.”

Diane rested her chin on her hand and continued seriously.

“But it turns out Leilah already knew everything, so there was no need to be considerate, so why didn’t he come to greet me?”

Dissatisfaction was clearly evident in her furrowed brow.

“I personally sent a messenger bird to tell him I was arriving today.”

“He must be busy. He has to deal with the aftermath of the war, plus there’s the royal marriage and the New Year festival, so he’s busy in many ways.”

That was also the reason I had been working frantically, even with Kalian’s help.

At least I was able to make time like this thanks to Kalian’s help, but Count Delonde wasn’t.

“So don’t misunderstand like that. He absolutely didn’t avoid coming because he dislikes Diane.”

“Then does it seem to Leilah that Count Delonde likes me?”

“Um…”

I was at a loss for words at the difficult question.

It wasn’t because I didn’t know what Count Delonde thought of Diane, but because I was troubled about whether I should tell her honestly.

Count Delonde’s expression was bright when talking about Diane.

Just from that expression, it was certain that Count Delonde was interested in Diane.

Though I wasn’t sure yet if that emotion was love.

If I wanted to prevent the two from getting together, I should lie here and help Diane give up her feelings for Count Delonde.

That way, both could sort out their feelings without getting too hurt.

But still… did I have the right to do that?

Love and romance were strictly matters between two people.

My interference as a third party was nothing more and nothing less than meddling.

They hadn’t reached out to me for help, nor had any incident occurred, so interfering with their relationship based solely on my assumptions seemed wrong.

“I haven’t talked much with Count Delonde about Diane, but… it’s certain that the Count is interested in Diane.”

Having reached that conclusion, I spoke honestly about what I had observed.

“That’s why he asked His Majesty to keep the relationship between you two secret. If he had no interest, there would be no reason to do that.”

“Ah.”

Diane covered her peach-colored cheeks with her hands and smiled shyly.

Anyone could see she was a person in love.

Seeing that, I worried whether telling her the truth had been the right thing to do.

* * *

Diane had said she wouldn’t sleep and would chat with me all night, but contrary to her words, she fell fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She must be tired after being on a ship for over two weeks.

I wanted to let her sleep in until late morning, but we had a long way to go.

Since we needed to return to the capital quickly, I had no choice but to wake her from early dawn when the sun was rising.

Instead, I let her sleep soundly in the carriage.

Though sleeping in a bumpy carriage should be uncomfortable, Diane was sleeping so deeply that she wouldn’t notice if someone carried her away.

Meanwhile, I checked the documents I had brought.

I had left the urgent or important matters to Kalian, and these were cases that still had some time.

“Yawn, what are you doing?”

I was looking at documents about the royal marriage when Diane, who had woken up, stretched and asked.

“I’m looking at documents.”

“Ah, you’re working. Then I won’t disturb you.”

“It’s fine. It’s about the royal marriage, so there’s still some time.”

“Ah, the royal marriage. The partner is a princess from the Holy Kingdom, right? She’s coming in as an imperial consort, not empress.”

“You know well?”

We hadn’t even sent out invitations yet, so I was curious how she knew everything, and Diane smiled.

“I am part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after all. I naturally need to know news from other countries faster than anyone.”

“Many people don’t know.”

“Oh, is that from experience?”

It was certainly from experience, but I didn’t answer and just smiled.

Whether I liked it or not, they were nobles of my own country, and badmouthing them to a foreign noble would be like painting black ink on my own face.

Diane tactfully didn’t pry further and changed the subject.

“If the Holy Kingdom’s princess becomes an imperial consort, who will become the empress?”

“It hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Then our country still has a chance, right?”

A chance? Don’t tell me…

“Is the Kingdom of Natsha also considering a royal marriage?”

When I asked in surprise, Diane burst into laughter.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s the position of Empress of the Empire, so it’s natural to aim for that position, isn’t it?”

“That’s… true.”

During both the current Emperor’s and Kalian’s time, there were quite a few nobles and foreign countries that sent marriage proposals aiming for the empress position.

But since nothing like a marriage proposal had ever come from the Kingdom of Natsha, I was a bit flustered.

From what Diane was saying, it seemed they had been thinking about it for quite a long time.

Wait, for a long time?

“By any chance, did His Majesty the King of Natsha consider His Majesty as a marriage partner?”

“Yes, that’s right. Well, I did advise against it, saying that since His Imperial Majesty already has someone he loves deeply in his heart, if His Majesty was thinking of our princess, it would be better not to pursue a royal marriage.”

I had no idea such a thing had happened.

“Thank you, Diane.”

“This much is natural for a friend.”

Diane lifted her chin proudly.

“Still, from a diplomatic standpoint, it would have been beneficial for our princess to become an imperial consort of the Empire, so I was a bit regretful, but I’m glad this opportunity has come.”

Diane’s eyes sparkled as she firmly grasped my hand.

“When a marriage proposal comes from the Kingdom of Natsha later, please take care of it, Leilah.”

“Sorry, but that’s not within my jurisdiction.”

“But you can still put in a good word to His Imperial Majesty, can’t you?”

That’s true.

“…Alright.”

Since I’ve received a lot of help from Diane, it would be right to grant her this much.

“But I can’t guarantee the results. Please keep in mind that His Majesty the Emperor might refuse.”

* * *

Thanks to the carriage running diligently without rest, we were able to arrive at the capital before sunset.

“Welcome back, Count Aster.”

“Duchess?”

Why is Duchess Esramel Cloud at my mansion?

Unlike me, who stopped in bewilderment at the appearance of an unexpected figure, Diane smiled brightly and greeted the Duchess.

“I briefly saw you at the New Year’s festival before, but this is the first time greeting you properly. It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess. I’m called Diane Andrian.”

“I’m also pleased to meet you, Count Andrian.”

While watching the two people chat amicably, I felt a presence.

“You’re back.”

It was Kalian. He naturally wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.

“You came earlier than expected.”

“The journey went smoothly. More importantly, why is the Duchess here?”

“I came to see Leo with gifts.”

“What kind of gifts?”

“There are over 20 different types, so it would be tiresome to list them all.”

Ah, she must have filled another carriage with them. Since this was always the case, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see Leo?”

“The wet nurse is changing him into the pajamas Esramel bought. I was going to change him myself, but when I heard you had arrived….”

“Kyaah!”

Before Kalian could finish speaking, Diane’s scream was heard.

When I turned around in surprise, I saw Diane covering her mouth with her hands and staring at something.

The Duchess’s condition was similar to Diane’s.

What are they looking at to be so surprised?

Wondering, I turned my head in the direction they were looking and saw Leo being carried by the wet nurse, wearing adorable lion pajamas with fluffy fur.

So that’s why those two reacted like that. I finally understood.

“Kyaa.”

Even though there were many people he was seeing for the first time, Leo didn’t burst into tears but rather smiled brightly.

Diane and the Duchess, who had fallen for that smile, had rosy blushes on their faces.

“Oh my, he’s so cute and lovely. He’s like an angel!”

“Exactly! I don’t know whose nephew he is, but he’s so adorable!”

“Such a cute appearance should be preserved forever in a portrait!”

“That’s right! Call a painter immediately!”

Leo in the lion pajamas was certainly cute, but it didn’t seem worth making such a fuss over.

I shook my head and looked back at Kalian, but he was having a serious conversation with the butler.

“What are you talking about?”

“About calling painters.”

Kalian’s expression was quite serious.

“One person can only complete one portrait at a time, so we need to call several people to paint.”

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