I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 268
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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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Special Side Story
#1
“Your Majesty. A letter has arrived from Countess Diane Andrian.”
Kalian, who had been sitting on the sofa reading a book, looked at the butler with confusion.
“That Diane Andrian I know?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“That Diane Andrian who kidnapped and ran off with my faithful aide four years ago?”
The butler, flustered by the blunt expression, hesitated for a moment before answering.
“That’s correct.”
“Why are you bringing me a letter from that woman instead of taking it to Leilah?”
While Kalian didn’t particularly like Diane, Leilah considered her a close friend and often exchanged letters with her.
The same was true for Diane as well.
So this letter should also be for Leilah, but he wondered why it was being brought to him.
The butler placed the letter in front of Kalian and answered.
“I also thought it was a letter for the Countess, but Your Majesty’s name was written as the recipient.”
My name was written on it?
Kalian tilted his head slightly and checked the letter envelope.
As the butler said, the recipient was Kalian, not Leilah.
What could that woman possibly have to write to me about?
Kalian thought hard, but nothing came to mind.
Even on Kalian’s birthday, Diane had written in her letter to Leilah, “Please tell His Majesty happy birthday.”
What on earth could such a woman have to write directly to Kalian about?
Since nothing came to mind, he was even more curious. He wanted to check it quickly.
Kalian tore open the letter envelope without even using a paper knife and took out the letter.
[To His Majesty Kalian de Chepel Asther.]
Usually, even if not close, people would attach expressions like “Dear” or “Respected” to their greetings, but Diane had written nothing.
Surely a diplomat wouldn’t be unaware of such simple etiquette.
‘Does she not want to attach such things to me, even as empty words?’
Kalian found it absurd yet also thought it was very much like Diane.
He felt like he would have done the same if he had occasion to write a letter to Diane.
In any case, what mattered wasn’t the greeting, so Kalian brushed it off lightly and read through the content.
Without even the common courtesy of asking after his health, it went straight to the main point.
It was asking him to come with Leilah to enjoy the ‘Verano’ festival being held in the Kingdom of Natsha next month.
She kindly included the reason why she was making this request to Kalian instead of Leilah – because she had been rejected when she asked Leilah last year.
[I know Leilah is a terrible workaholic, but she still needs to rest when it’s time to rest.]
Kalian agreed with this part too, but still, the Kingdom of Natsha was too far away.
The round trip from the Empire to the Kingdom of Natsha plus time to enjoy the festival would require at least three weeks.
Leilah, who would pace around worrying about work even after resting for just one day, taking three whole weeks off?
“That’s ridiculous.”
Kalian chuckled and sank deep into the sofa’s backrest.
Setting aside the matter of rest, there was no way she would leave Leo, her precious son whom she wouldn’t hurt even if she put him in her eyes, for three whole weeks.
So he couldn’t grant Diane’s request.
[I heard you two haven’t even gone on your honeymoon yet?]
Just as Kalian was about to reach that conclusion, he raised his eyebrows at the sentence added like a postscript.
[My goodness. You still haven’t gone on the honeymoon that even I went on. Poor Leilah!]
…Leilah is pitiful?
Kalian’s expression became serious in an instant.
“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?”
The butler, who had been pouring tea, asked wondering if something had happened.
Kalian gestured for the butler to leave, then focused on reading the letter again.
[After all, honeymoons are women’s dreams, and the Kingdom of Natsha is a very suitable place to realize that dream. Many newlyweds actually come here for their honeymoons.]
[…Take this opportunity to think of it as going on your honeymoon, and come enjoy yourselves in the Kingdom of Natsha with Leilah.]
“Hmm.”
If she had just asked him to come play with Leilah without any conditions, he would have refused immediately without any hesitation, but bringing up the honeymoon made him think twice.
Kalian had also been thinking that he should go on a honeymoon with Leilah.
Yes. He had been thinking about it.
He just couldn’t go because various things came up – Leo’s birth, the abdication, and other matters.
“…Those are all excuses.”
He should have made time somehow and gone.
He felt deeply ashamed to be criticized by Diane for not doing so.
Thinking that Leilah must have felt envious hearing about Diane’s honeymoon made his mouth taste bitter as if he had chewed bitter herbs.
“I should go this time.”
Since it was after the founding festival, there wasn’t much to do, so the timing was just right.
As for the honeymoon destination, they could go to the Kingdom of Natsha as Diane suggested.
“The problem is Leilah.”
If he suggested going to the Kingdom of Natsha for their honeymoon, he was certain Leilah would absolutely refuse.
So he needed to persuade her using a different method…
After thinking for a while, Kalian soon came up with a good idea and took out letter paper and a pen from his desk drawer.
As the saying goes about defeating the enemy with the enemy, this method would be the best for persuading a workaholic like Leilah.
He put the letter paper with his plan written on it into an envelope and sealed it with his seal in wax.
“Deliver this to the Emperor.”
The recipient was Hes de Chepel Yusbeldea.
The Emperor of the Empire and Kalian’s only half-brother.
* * *
Leilah, who had been working in the Imperial Palace Office, immediately headed to the Emperor’s Office upon hearing that the Emperor was looking for her.
‘Is he calling me about the tax system we’re overhauling on a large scale?’
She had submitted the plan two days ago.
By now he would have read through it all and probably had questions about certain parts.
Since there was nothing else Hes would call her for, Leilah was confident that was the reason.
“I think I need to make a brief trip to the Kingdom of Natsha, Prime Minister.”
“…”
But when a completely different topic came up than what she had expected, Leilah asked in bewilderment.
“Has something happened in the Kingdom of Natsha?”
If it was serious enough for Leilah, the Prime Minister, to personally go, then a very big problem must have occurred.
But Leilah had never heard of such a serious matter happening in the Kingdom of Natsha.
She was certain of this since she always kept watch over the political situations of neighboring countries, as they could greatly affect the Empire depending on circumstances.
Hes smiled somewhat awkwardly and asked back.
“Do you remember the diplomatic talks with the Kingdom of Natsha in Hutton?”
“Of course.”
There was no way she could forget a meeting she had personally participated in.
…Especially with so many things that had happened.
“….”
The moment memories of that time came flooding back and darkness clouded her vision, Leilah clasped her hands tightly together.
Perpetrators quickly forget what they’ve done.
But victims remember what was done to them forever.
It was a fact she knew well and had experienced painfully, but she wanted to break free from it now.
“Are you okay?”
Otherwise, the people around her would worry.
Not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble, Leilah forced a smile and nodded.
“I’m fine.”
“But you don’t look well.”
Is that so? Leilah brushed her gaunt cheek.
She had tried her best not to show it, but it seemed she had unconsciously let it show on her face.
“As far as I know, those diplomatic talks ended successfully, so I was just a little surprised by the sudden mention.”
Since saying it was nothing wouldn’t be believed anyway, Leilah made up a reasonable excuse.
Then Hes waved his hands in surprise.
“There’s no problem with the diplomatic talks, so don’t worry.”
“Then why did you suddenly bring up that matter…?”
“The Count’s performance back then must have been quite impressive.”
It would have been impressive indeed.
Whether in a good way or bad way.
“Thanks to that, a troublesome problem was resolved well, so they want to express their gratitude for that. And they also want to seek advice on a newly arising problem, so they’re inviting the Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Natsha.”
Hes glanced at the documents piled up like mountains on both sides as he continued speaking.
“What was her name again? Countess Diane Andrian? That diplomat apparently recommended the Prime Minister enthusiastically.”
Diane recommended me.
Leilah felt somewhat bewildered, but at the same time thought that if it was Diane, it was certainly something she would do.
“So what kind of problem has arisen in the Kingdom of Natsha?”
“Ah, that….”
Hes glanced at the documents again, then answered with a somewhat awkward smile.
“That’s classified externally, so they said they’d tell us when the Prime Minister arrives.”
Requesting to send the Empire’s Prime Minister while revealing nothing.
It was strange. Even with Diane’s recommendation, it didn’t make sense.
What made even less sense was.
“Anyway, I’ve already told them we’ll send the Prime Minister there.”
“….”
Hes had decided to send her without knowing anything.
Moreover, she was bothered by how Hes kept glancing at the documents.
What is he looking at like that?
Leilah wanted to check, but unfortunately she couldn’t see from her position.
“So it looks like you’ll need to make a brief trip to the Kingdom of Natsha.”
Everything was full of questions, but she couldn’t disobey an imperial command.
“Understood.”
Moreover, since he had already told the Kingdom of Natsha that he would send her, Leilah had no choice but to agree to go.
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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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