I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 28

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

#28

Unnecessary?

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing.”

Kalian lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“For the title, just call me Kal-nim like you did earlier.”

“Yes, Kal-nim.”

When I answered with a smile, Kalian tilted his head slightly.

“It might not be bad.”

He said something incomprehensible.

“What will you do now? Are you going to look for other books?”

“Yes. I was planning to look at all the books related to the exam subjects.”

“You study diligently.”

“That’s because I have many areas where I’m lacking.”

“You’re humble too.”

He looked pleased, as if my answer satisfied him.

“I’ll help you.”

“It’s fine. I can do it by myself.”

This time he looked at me as if disappointed.

“You’re rejecting me so sharply.”

“I’m saying this because I truly can do it alone.”

Just receiving his views on political science was already a privilege that others couldn’t get.

If I received his help here, it would become an unfair evaluation, so I politely declined Kalian’s kindness.

“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped.”

He clicked his tongue regretfully and withdrew cleanly.

“Then I’ll see you again next time.”

“Yes, Kal-nim. I’ll see you again next time.”

After exchanging conventional and polite greetings, I moved toward the bookshelf with books on taxation.

* * *

Kalian said I didn’t need to study political science anymore, but just in case, I bought some good-looking books I hadn’t read yet.

Including books on other subjects, it easily exceeded ten volumes.

Sara was shocked and widened her eyes when she saw the books I had chosen.

“Are you really going to buy all of these?”

“Of course.”

If I wasn’t going to buy them, I wouldn’t have chosen them in the first place.

After finishing the payment, I asked the staff to deliver them to the Williot Duchy.

“Where will you go now, Miss?”

“Well.”

Since I had promised Sara, I should tour the capital, but where would be good to go?

After thinking for a moment, I decided on a destination.

“Let’s go to Jewelry Street.”

Jewelry Street was full of shops selling accessories that women loved.

“Oh, really?”

I thought Sara would like it, and as expected, she did.

“Then I’ll call a carriage right away!”

“No. It’s not very far from here to Jewelry Street, so let’s walk and sightsee.”

“That’s a good idea too!”

I headed to Jewelry Street with Sara.

There were countless street vendors on the street. There seemed to be more vendors than when I came out before.

It meant that the Empire, which had been chaotic due to war, was entering a period of stability.

From my position as a noble of the Empire, it was welcome news.

The street vendors captured passersby’s attention with colorful and fascinating items.

“…”

But what caught my attention was the Emperor, Kalian.

He was wearing plain clothes, but his appearance was so striking that he drew people’s attention.

Regardless of age or gender, all the passersby turned to look at him at least once.

I was one of them too.

I never thought I would meet him again in a place like this after parting at the bookstore.

It felt a bit awkward to meet the Emperor so frequently when it was hard to see his face even once when visiting the Imperial Palace.

What should I do, should I greet him?

He hadn’t noticed me, so I could just pass by, but it seemed better to greet him just in case.

I approached right behind Kalian. He still didn’t know I had come and was looking at something intently.

What is he looking at so intently?

Curious, I stood on my tiptoes and checked what he was looking at over Kalian’s shoulder.

What he was looking at were yellow seeds. Seeds I had seen somewhere before. Where did I see them?

While I was retracing my memory, the merchant raised his voice and gave Kalian an enthusiastic explanation.

“These seeds are from crops that have no problem being planted during the rainy season. In fact, they grow even better during the rainy season.”

“Really?”

When Kalian showed interest, the merchant nodded enthusiastically.

“The rainy season is coming to the Empire soon, right? If you have an area that suffers a lot from the annual rainy season, take these seeds and plant them! You won’t have to worry about bad harvests.”

Ah, I wondered where I had seen them, it was from that time.

The merchant’s words reminded me of about 5 years ago when I had bought those seeds in large quantities.

“If that’s the case, I should buy some.”

“You must not buy them, Kal-nim.”

When Kalian tried to buy the seeds, I hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

Only then realizing I had come, Kalian looked back at me with slight surprise.

“How long have you been here?”

“Since that merchant started lying.”

“Lying? What are you saying, Miss?”

When the merchant scolded me as if hurt, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Quilt.”

And I said the name of the seeds. At my words, the merchant was very surprised and widened his eyes.

As expected, those seeds were quilt seeds.

But saying they have no problem being planted during the rainy season?

Even lies have limits; this was nothing short of fraud.

I explained about quilt to Kalian, who had almost been deceived.

“Quilt is a crop mainly grown and eaten by nomads in the desert at the eastern edge. In other words, this merchant’s claim that they would have no problem being planted during the rainy season is a lie.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Kalian looked at the merchant without hiding his discomfort.

When his lie was exposed, the merchant couldn’t look directly at Kalian and just coughed repeatedly.

“Ahem, hmm, I, I got the crop description wrong. This is my first time selling seeds.”

A man selling this many seeds saying it’s his first time selling seeds?

It was a completely unbelievable excuse.

“Ah, I guess I need to study more about seeds before coming back.”

The man rambled on with ridiculous excuses for a while, then hastily packed his things.

Since there wasn’t much spread out on the stall, his luggage was packed quickly.

“Ah, those seeds are an apology gift for my mistake, so just take them! Well then, farewell!”

The merchant quickly disappeared carrying his bundle.

“He’s a fraud, shouldn’t we go catch him?”

“Already went.”

Already went to catch him? Who went?

I looked around in confusion, but there was no one in sight.

“No use looking around. You won’t be able to find them, Princess.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If they caught your eye, they’d have to quit their job.”

“Then I shouldn’t look for them.”

When I said it meaning I wouldn’t look rather than couldn’t find them, Kalian chuckled.

“I knew you were smart, Princess, but I never expected you to know so much about crops too.”

His blue eyes sparkled with interest as he looked at me.

“You surprise me in many ways.”

“It’s just shallow knowledge. Nothing worth your surprise, Sir Kal.”

“If that’s shallow knowledge, then what does that make me for not recognizing these quilt seeds?”

Ah, I didn’t mean it that way.

When I looked down in embarrassment, Kalian smiled softly and waved his hand.

“It’s a joke, no need to be so flustered.”

“…If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

“I told you it’s really fine. Speaking of which.”

Kalian pressed the pouch containing the quilt seeds into my hand.

“I’ll give this to you. It’s not what I’m looking for anyway, and you’d put these seeds to better use than I would.”

I didn’t need the seeds either, but refusing a gift would be impolite, so I accepted them.

“Are there seeds you’re looking for?”

“Well, yes.”

Kalian’s lips curved into a slanted smile. His eyes flashed somewhat ominously.

“There’s a plant I absolutely must find.”

I didn’t know what plant Kalian was looking for, but judging by his expression, it wasn’t for a good purpose.

In cases like this, it was usually poison. If he really was looking for poison, what would he use it for?

I was curious but decided not to ask. It seemed inappropriate, and even if I asked, I obviously wouldn’t get an answer, so I didn’t want to waste energy needlessly.

“I see.”

When I nodded, Kalian looked at me with a strange expression.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

This was already the second farewell of the day.

“Princess.”

I was politely saying goodbye and about to leave when Kalian called me.

“Where are you headed now?”

“I was on my way to Jewelry Street.”

“Then could you spare me a little time before you go?”

“I don’t mind… May I ask why?”

“I need your help.”

“I don’t need the Princess’s help or anything.”

Fillen said he didn’t need me, but this man was saying he needed me.

My wounded heart healed as overwhelming joy filled me.

Being helpful to someone was such a joyful thing.

I smiled brightly and answered energetically.

“I’ll gladly help you!”

* * *

“I’ll gladly help you!”

I had asked for help, but Leilah’s eyes sparkled as she smiled, as if something made her incredibly happy.

Deep dimples appeared below her lips that curved up in a smooth arc.

I already knew her smile was pretty, but seeing it like this, it was even prettier.

Especially her plump cheeks, red and ripe like apples, were so adorable.

Kalian barely suppressed the urge to touch those cheeks and took her hand instead.

Taking her hand was also somewhat impulsive behavior.

“Shall we go then.”

At the sudden contact, Leilah’s eyes widened in surprise, but she obediently followed where Kalian led.

Kalian didn’t like Leilah’s attitude.

‘Following wherever a strange man leads without any fear.’

What if something happened to her?

Leilah said she could protect herself and carried some useful self-defense items, but… you never knew.

Someone immune to poison like himself might attack her.

Or someone might try to do something strange after making her let her guard down.

Damn, no matter how I think about it, she’s too defenseless.

Kalian stopped walking and looked back at Leilah with displeasure.

“Are you always this defenseless, Princess?”

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