I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 50

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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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#50

The fact that Leilah had become the Emperor’s assistant and was diligently going in and out of the Emperor’s office spread throughout the aristocrats.

Could it be that he really made a woman his assistant?

She did get a perfect score on the management exam, but still, she’s a woman…

But did that woman really get a perfect score?

Maybe the Emperor secretly taught her the answers?

The aristocrats were convinced that was the case.

Otherwise, there was no way a mere aristocratic princess who hadn’t even received Academy education could accomplish what even renowned prodigies couldn’t do.

The war had just ended and the country was in chaos, yet suddenly they held a management exam.

They thought it was strange that they made a big announcement saying women could also take it, but who knew such corruption was hidden behind it.

“Then shouldn’t we change her position from assistant to mistress?”

One of the aristocrats sitting around the round table said with a sneer.

“It seems like since Princess Tebesa is Duke Williot’s fiancée, he couldn’t openly make her Empress, so he made her his assistant instead.”

“Exactly.”

Mocking laughter spread among the aristocrats like a plague. Regardless of age and position, they all ridiculed Kalian and Leilah.

“At this rate, won’t he soon make that princess his Empress?”

One aristocrat raised a question.

“I heard that Princess Tebesa declared to Duke Williot that she wanted to break off their engagement.”

“Ah, I heard that rumor too.”

Another aristocrat shrugged with a smile.

“I was wondering what sudden confidence Princess Tebesa had gained to do such a bold thing, but it was because of this.”

“Of all people, His Majesty chose such a woman. Birds of a feather flock together – that saying fits perfectly.”

The mocking laughter grew louder. Some people even shook their shoulders as they laughed heartily.

“Shouldn’t we step in before His Majesty becomes even more willful, Duke Giltian?”

The aristocrats’ gazes turned to Duke Giltian, who sat at the head of the table.

Duke Giltian, who had maintained silence throughout the aristocrats’ murmuring, opened his heavy mouth.

“For now, let’s just watch.”

“I’ve thought this before, but Your Grace is too lenient with His Majesty.”

“It can’t be helped.”

A gentle smile appeared on his wrinkled face marked by the traces of time.

“Though we’re not blood-related, His Majesty is like a grandson to me.”

“Ahem.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

At Duke Giltian’s response, the aristocrats who had been cursing Kalian cleared their throats and turned their heads away.

Duke Giltian swept his gaze over those aristocrats.

His eyes were vividly alive, unbelievably so for someone well past sixty. Ambition flickered in his gray pupils.

Like a beast of prey, Duke Giltian’s eyes flashed sharply as he slowly stretched his lips.

“So let’s watch for now.”

For now, that is.

* * *

Leilah had no idea how she was being talked about among the aristocrats and spent her days buried in work.

She already knew there was a lot of work, but experiencing it firsthand was beyond her imagination.

It was amazing that Kalian and Ber had handled all of this by themselves until now.

Leilah made effort after effort not to be a burden to them.

She didn’t mind working overtime and reduced her sleeping hours.

She wanted to work through the night like Ber, but Kalian dismissed it, saying her body would break down.

“But Baron Delrond does it.”

“Ber is a man and you are a woman.”

That’s true.

When Leilah made a dejected expression, Kalian hastily added:

“I’m not ignoring or discriminating against you because you’re a woman. I’m just talking about ‘differences.’ Men and women fundamentally have different stamina levels. If you worked like Ber, you would have fallen ill long ago.”

“I understand.”

Leilah wasn’t dejected for that reason either.

She was just disappointed that she couldn’t be more helpful, wishing she were a man.

“Really.”

But Kalian seemed to have misunderstood her meaning completely and made excuses with rare panic.

“So don’t misunderstand. You’re being helpful enough.”

“Thank you.”

When Leilah bowed her head respectfully in greeting, Kalian frowned.

Though her attitude was impeccable, there seemed to be an invisible wall between Leilah and himself.

Why? When she didn’t know he was the Emperor before, he didn’t feel this way.

‘Could it be the way we address each other?’

Kalian thought that might be it.

After all, he called Ber by his name familiarly, but only called Leilah the formal “Count Tebesa.”

“Count Tebesa.”

If he found the problem, it was best to solve it immediately.

“I’ll call you Count in public settings, but I’d like to call you by your name in private. Would that be alright?”

* * *

Ber headed to the Emperor’s office carrying approval documents received from each department.

There was already a guest in the office.

Dazzling silver hair and a face that looked like it wouldn’t bleed even if pricked with a needle.

It was Hilltain, the leader of the ‘Crowd Knights’ who would mercilessly slaughter even speechless children if it was the Emperor’s command, and who was called the Iron Wall Knight.

The reason he had no surname was because he was a commoner.

It was difficult to give a title to a commoner with not a drop of noble blood, but it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Even if a viscountcy was difficult, he could at least be given a barony, but Ber was curious why Hilltain hadn’t been granted a title yet, though he didn’t ask.

If he asked Kalian, he would obviously dismiss it as personal business, and Hilltain wouldn’t answer.

Hilltain rarely spoke with anyone except Kalian and the knight order members.

That included Ber as well.

So when Ber first saw Hilltain, he thought he was mute.

…Nothing had changed even now.

“Good day, Sir Hilltain.”

“…”

Even to Ber’s warm greeting, Hilltain only gave a light nod and said nothing.

Sigh. He’s a difficult type to get close to.

Ber sighed deeply inside and shook his head.

Though they’d known each other for seven years now, the times he’d exchanged words with Hilltain could be counted on one hand.

He tried to become friends since they served the same master, but even when he spoke first, Hilltain wouldn’t respond and wouldn’t even give common greetings.

Where did His Majesty pick up such a guy?

…Well, his swordsmanship skills seem excellent.

Ber glanced at Hilltain and stood in front of the desk where Kalian was sitting.

Kalian, who was looking at documents, didn’t glance at Ber once and looked at Hilltain instead.

“Understood. Continue investigating.”

“Yes.”

Hilltain bowed politely and went outside.

Ber glanced at the closed door once and spoke bluntly.

“Count Hilltain seems to dislike me.”

“That can’t be. He’s just not interested in you.”

“…That’s even worse though?”

“Is it?”

Kalian chuckled softly and put the documents he had been looking at into his drawer.

Ber, who caught a glimpse of the contents written on the documents in that brief moment, frowned.

“Are you still investigating that matter?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s been over 10 years. There’s no way any evidence would remain by now.”

“You never know.”

While he was decisive about other matters, why did he cling to that one so persistently?

Though Ber didn’t fail to understand Kalian’s feelings, it still seemed foolish to him, so he secretly let out a sigh.

“So, what’s the matter?”

It meant he didn’t want to discuss this topic any further.

Since Ber also wanted the same thing, he silently placed the documents he had brought onto the desk.

Seeing even more documents than what he had processed yesterday and today, Kalian frowned.

“Why don’t these ever decrease no matter how much I do?”

“It’s karma.”

When Ber answered as if asking what was so obvious about that, Kalian pressed his lips together and checked the documents.

Starting from proposals sent up from the provinces, the types of documents varied greatly, including public safety, taxation, and more.

“Before you look at the documents, there’s something I need to report first.”

“Speak.”

Kalian answered while keeping his eyes on the documents.

“Starting tomorrow, Count Tebesa will write the reports directly and report to His Majesty.”

Only then did Kalian look at Ber.

“Leilah?”

Leilah, he said.

Ber was flustered by Kalian calling Leilah by her name and stared at him blankly.

Kalian spoke indifferently.

“I know I have a handsome face, so stop staring and tell me why.”

“….”

What kind of nonsense was this?

Well, no. Objectively speaking, it was a handsome face, but wasn’t he embarrassed to say such things with his own mouth?

Ber barely managed to straighten his face that was about to contort and gave Kalian the answer he wanted.

“Starting tomorrow, I have to be out in the Outer Palace preparing for the war heroes’ merit issues and victory celebration party. So I handed it over to Count Tebesa.”

“You must have taught Leilah all the work then?”

Leilah again.

Ber hesitated for a moment at the unfamiliar way of addressing her, then answered.

“No.”

“Then what confidence do you have to already make her write reports? And even entrust her with reporting?”

When Kalian asked back as if it was absurd, Ber smiled broadly.

“It’ll be fine. No, it will be fine. If His Majesty sees it, he’ll definitely be pleased.”

Though it seemed somewhat suspicious, if Ber was giving such a definitive answer, there must be a good reason for it.

“Understood.”

As soon as Kalian nodded, Ber asked as if he had been waiting.

“But… are you calling Count Tebesa by her name?”

“Yes.”

Huh. When Ber let out an exasperated breath, Kalian frowned slightly.

“What’s the problem? You call her by name too.”

“Your Majesty, do you know what rumors about Count Tebesa are circulating among the aristocrats?”

“I know.”

Kalian placed his clasped hands on his knees and leaned back against the chair.

“They’re whispering that I brought Leilah in not as an aide but as a mistress.”

And yet knowing that, he called her name without hesitation.

Ber let out a deep sigh and added.

“There are also suspicions that she committed fraud.”

“Idle bastards with nothing to do.”

“Has this been going on for just a day or two?”

Ber scratched his head as if annoyed.

“It’s fine inside, but outside, please don’t call Count Tebesa by her name, even in private settings.”

“Why? Are you afraid of what those bastards might whisper?”

“Yes. I’m worried the damage might go to Count Tebesa.”

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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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