I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 52

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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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#52

At first, I was extremely nervous about eating with the Emperor, but after doing it several times, I got used to it.

It was also thanks to Baron Delrond being there.

When we arrived at the dining room, I sat to Kalian’s right as always, and Baron Delrond took his seat on the left.

Once everyone was seated, the attendants brought out the food. The large table was quickly filled.

“Your Majesty, I have something to discuss regarding the war hero rewards…”

When Baron Delrond brought up work before we even started eating, Kalian’s brow furrowed without fail.

“I don’t want to talk about work while eating.”

“I apologize, but I don’t have time. I need to return to the Outer Palace after we eat.”

Kalian clicked his tongue in annoyance and picked up his wine glass.

“Regarding the distribution of spoils of war…”

Ber paid no mind and began his report again.

Though Kalian showed clear signs of annoyance, he dutifully listened to Ber’s report.

Just as I was about to quietly put down my fork, thinking it wasn’t right to eat alone while they discussed serious matters.

“Leilah.”

Kalian called my name. I startled and picked up my fork again.

“I’ll continue eating.”

“What are you talking about?”

…Huh? That wasn’t what this was about?

“Did you hear what Ber just said?”

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I quietly put down my fork again and looked at Kalian.

“If you’re referring to compensation for the bereaved families, yes, I heard.”

“I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.”

My thoughts?

I was flustered. Since Baron Delrond was handling this matter entirely, I hadn’t given it any thought at all.

“If you could give me a little time to investigate…”

“Not a standardized answer based on data, I want to hear your pure opinion.”

“However, I don’t know much about this matter…”

“So what’s your opinion?”

He cut off my words and asked again. I could see his firm determination to hear my answer no matter what.

What should I do? What answer would satisfy His Majesty?

It wasn’t that I had no thoughts at all, but I couldn’t be sure if they were right, so I couldn’t readily speak up.

“Hmm, did I ask something too difficult?”

At the sound of his sigh, I snapped to attention as if cold water had been poured on me.

Get it together, Leilah.

This is His Majesty the Emperor testing me.

I was afraid that if I showed a foolish side here, I would never gain Kalian’s recognition.

In that case, it was better to say something, anything.

I took a deep breath and slowly voiced my thoughts.

“I also agree with giving consolation money to the bereaved families as Baron Delrond suggested. However… I think there’s an issue that needs to be resolved first.”

“What’s that?”

“Protecting war orphans.”

Children without guardians were left exposed to various dangers.

“Not only that, but their livelihood becomes uncertain. The work children can do is extremely limited.”

“That’s why we’re giving consolation money. To help with their livelihood.”

Baron Delrond suddenly interjected into the conversation.

“Of course, if we give consolation money, they can maintain their livelihood for now, but in the long term, it won’t be much help. Rather, there’s a high possibility of crimes targeting children who have large sums of money.”

“That’s a valid point.”

Kalian nodded in agreement with my opinion. Baron Delrond also looked understanding.

Since both of them were listening to my opinion, I gained confidence. I expressed my views more confidently than before.

“So I think protecting the children should be the priority.”

“Protection.”

Kalian thought for a moment, then asked.

“In what way?”

“There are various methods, but I think taking in the children and caring for them until they become adults would be the most reliable and best approach.”

“The temples are already doing that work.”

Baron Delrond interjected into the conversation again. I turned to look at him.

“Of course, temples are playing that role, but there are limitations. The number of people temples can accommodate is also limited.”

There were various other problems with temples taking in children.

“So I think it would be good to create new childcare institutions.”

However, since going into detail now would take the conversation elsewhere, I wrapped it up appropriately.

“Of course, the initial budget would be substantial, but in the long term, it would greatly help the Empire’s welfare. Orphans will continue to be created even without wars.”

“That’s right.”

Kalian thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Good. I’ll entrust this matter to you, Leilah. Prepare a report.”

A report right away without discussing it with the ministers of each department?

I looked at him in confusion.

“Having her prepare a report immediately seems like too hasty a decision, Your Majesty.”

Baron Delrond, perhaps thinking the same as me, worriedly offered his opinion.

“This is a matter that requires more thorough consideration before making a decision. We need to discuss it with the ministers of each department too.”

“Don’t worry, Ber. I’ve thought about it thoroughly.”

Kalian said with a smile.

“What remains is convincing the department ministers, and for that, we need a proper report, which is why I’m having Leilah write it.”

In other words, whether this matter would proceed or not would be determined by the state of the report I wrote.

While I was worried about whether I could handle such a weighty task, I really wanted to do it.

Building childcare institutions was something I had wanted to do ever since I was at the Williot Duchy.

I had no choice but to give up due to realistic barriers like budget issues, but now that an opportunity to achieve it had come, my heart was pounding.

I desperately wanted to succeed.

With my own hands, no one else’s.

“Can you do it?”

“Yes.”

Not wanting Kalian to think strangely if I showed too much excitement, I calmed my thrilled heart as much as possible and answered respectfully.

“I’ll give it a try.”

* * *

I wanted to write the report on childcare institutions right away, but there were too many other tasks to do that first.

Preparing for the victory celebration party, which was now only two weeks away, took priority.

Usually, banquet preparations were led by the Empress, who was the mistress of the Imperial Palace.

When there was no Empress, an Imperial Consort would take that role instead, but Kalian had neither an Empress nor Imperial Consorts.

Therefore, that work fell entirely to us, his advisors.

Each department provided help, but most of it had to be handled by Baron Delrond and me.

Seeing the documents piled incomparably higher than what I had seen at the Williot Duchy, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“It would have been nice if there was a mistress in the Imperial Palace.”

The complaint slipped out without me realizing it.

I hurriedly checked Baron Delrond’s reaction, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to think it strange.

“I fully understand your feelings, Kyung.”

He even agreed with my words.

“However, it would be best to give up on that aspect. His Majesty the Emperor has no intention whatsoever of taking an Empress or Imperial Consorts.”

Baron Delrond scratched his head.

“No, ‘can’t bring in’ would be the correct expression.”

Not won’t bring in, but can’t bring in?

“Why is that?”

Could it be because of the three-year mourning period?

But I thought the imperial family was exempt from that for the prosperity and stability of the empire.

When I asked out of curiosity, Baron Delrond let out a short exclamation with a stiff expression.

“I misspoke. Please pretend you didn’t hear that, Count Tebesa.”

Baron Delrond gathered his documents and stood up from his seat.

“Well then, Count Tebesa. I’ll go check on the Outer Palace, so contact me if there’s anything urgent.”

Baron Delrond left the study as if fleeing. I couldn’t know if that was actually the case, but that’s how it looked to me.

It seems there’s some tremendous secret.

I was curious, but I had no intention of asking again. It didn’t seem like he would tell me anyway, and I had no hobby of prying into other people’s secrets.

I simply thought lightly that there must be a good reason for it, and looked over the documents that had come up from each department.

* * *

“Your Grace, a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

The butler respectfully held out a letter to Fillen.

Letters from the Imperial Palace were important matters that had to be checked even during meetings.

Fillen put down the documents he was reading and took the letter.

The imperial crest was clearly stamped on the sealing wax. It was definitely a letter from the Imperial Palace.

Fillen used a paper knife to neatly cut open the envelope, then read the letter inside.

The butler stood in front of him until Fillen finished reading the letter.

Eventually, Fillen finished reading the letter, put it down, and looked at the butler.

“They’re holding a victory celebration party at the Imperial Palace in two weeks.”

“You’ll have to go to the capital again.”

Fillen clicked his tongue as if annoyed.

“Why don’t they do it all at once instead of separately?”

“Wouldn’t it be because there are various things to handle, such as merits and rewards?”

When the butler offered his opinion, Fillen’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Are you trying to lecture me right now?”

“My apologies, Your Grace.”

The quick-witted butler immediately apologized.

Fillen glanced at the butler once, then put the letter in his drawer.

“I’ll need to prepare formal wear first.”

“I’ll contact the atelier right away.”

“Never mind. I need to wear a uniform for this occasion, so I don’t need evening wear.”

The clothing issue was resolved, so what else did he need to prepare?

Fillen racked his brain but couldn’t think of anything in particular.

Until now, Leilah had handled all these matters.

Fillen had always just sat at the table where she had prepared everything perfectly, down to the utensils.

So he didn’t know what or how to prepare things properly.

There were many other things he didn’t know besides this.

And there was a damn lot of work to do.

Fillen found it burdensome to handle everything alone, to the point where it was hard to believe that Leilah had managed all these tasks.

“…It would have been nice if Leilah were here.”

The saying that you know a seat when it’s empty, not when someone fills it, was exactly right.

Without Leilah, he could really feel how precious she was.

It must be the same for Leilah.

If she felt that, she should stop being stubborn and come back, but he found her persistence foolish.

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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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