I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 57

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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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#57

After Leilah left.

Kalian stared at the box Leilah had left behind for a long while.

The luxurious box had a beautiful blue ribbon tied around it.

It seemed almost too precious to untie.

But he should open it. He was curious about what was inside.

Kalian carefully untied the ribbon as if handling fragile glass.

Then he opened the box and checked its contents.

Inside the box was a high-quality handkerchief. When he unfolded the handkerchief, he saw a large embroidered blue dragon.

Kalian immediately realized that Leilah was the one who had embroidered the handkerchief.

As far as he knew, she was the only person who could produce such poor embroidery.

Still.

“It’s much better.”

Compared to the embroidery he had seen before, it was a dramatic improvement.

Kalian smiled contentedly as he looked at the handkerchief, then replaced it with the one he had kept in his breast pocket.

Right after that, Rahel entered, saying he had something to report.

Kalian erased the smile from his lips as if he had never been smiling and greeted Rahel with an expressionless face.

Rahel placed a pile of letters in front of Kalian.

Kalian’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“What are all these?”

“These are letters sent by the princesses who want to be Your Majesty’s partner at the upcoming ball.”

The pile of letters showed just how popular Kalian was, but the person in question seemed indifferent.

Kalian didn’t even glance at the letters.

“Get rid of them.”

Rahel took the letters back as if this was a familiar routine.

“Will you not be bringing a partner to this ball either?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ll have your first dance with Countess Cloud as always, then.”

Since this was such an obvious matter, Kalian didn’t even respond and looked over his documents.

“What will you do about that person?”

At the additional comment, Kalian’s gaze turned back to Rahel.

“Will that person be excluded this time as well?”

Kalian thought for a moment before answering.

“That’s what I’m thinking, but just in case, ask Duke Giltian for his opinion.”

Kalian took out letter paper from his drawer and quickly wrote the contents.

The completed letter was sealed with sealing wax and handed over to Rahel.

“I’ll send it right away.”

Just as Rahel tucked the letter into his breast pocket and was about to bow and withdraw.

“Rahel.”

As if something had occurred to him, Kalian called out to him.

Rahel turned back to look at him.

“Find out why Leilah got hurt.”

Leilah had said she fell while rushing over, but Kalian didn’t believe it.

From what he had observed so far, Leilah wasn’t the type to be so clumsy.

“…If it’s about why That Woman got hurt, I know the reason.”

He had asked for an investigation thinking there must be another reason, but an answer came from an unexpected source.

It was Hilltain.

Rahel was startled and stepped back when Hilltain appeared from outside the window.

Hilltain’s sudden appearance was surprising, but what shocked Rahel was that this was the fifth floor.

Kalian, on the other hand, looked at Hilltain calmly as if nothing was unusual.

He gestured to Rahel that he could leave now.

As soon as Rahel left, Kalian asked Hilltain.

“Speak.”

“It happened on the path between the library and the Imperial Palace.”

Hilltain reported what he had witnessed in a monotonous voice with barely any inflection.

Starting from how a group of princesses had tripped Leilah to torment her.

To how Leilah cleverly avoided the crisis and even scolded the princesses instead.

After hearing the full story from Hilltain, Kalian let out a small sigh.

“Here we go again.”

Instead of doing what they’re supposed to do, they’re busy tormenting others.

Even though the princesses who entered as maids had little to do since there was no mistress of the Imperial Palace, their constant behavior was annoying.

But there was nothing Kalian could do.

Not only had Leilah handled it well so there was no need for him to intervene, but Kalian shouldn’t get involved anyway.

If he stepped in, it would only add credibility to the rumors that Leilah was his mistress rather than his assistant.

Then they would be even more excited to tear Leilah apart.

But staying still worried him that incidents like today would continue to happen.

He was concerned that Leilah might get hurt by such incidents.

It would be terrible if she quit being his assistant because of that.

Thanks to her coming, work had finally become comfortable.

“I should take some appropriate measures.”

Kalian, who had been pondering what to do, immediately went to find Ber.

* * *

Just before leaving work, an attendant came to tell me that Kalian was looking for me.

What could it be? Could there be something wrong with the report I gave him?

Worry came first. I tried to swallow my anxiety and entered the Emperor’s Office.

As soon as he saw me, he abruptly held out a piece of paper without saying anything.

The paper had a list of words commonly used as surnames.

Why is he showing me this?

When I looked at him puzzled, Kalian bluntly said.

“Choose any word you like.”

Suddenly asking me to choose a word.

When I just stood there without doing anything at his incomprehensible words, Kalian shook the paper.

“I’m busy, so choose quickly.”

“Then… I’ll choose this one.”

I quickly scanned the paper again and chose the most eye-catching word.

Kalian looked surprised when he saw the word I had chosen.

“Aster. Do you know what it means?”

“Yes. It means star in the ancient language.”

Kalian’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“You even know the ancient language. How surprising.”

“I only know a few basic words.”

“That’s still something. There are many idiots who don’t even know that much.”

Kalian smiled and took the paper back.

“Good. It’s a word that suits a princess well, so let’s go with this.”

“What are you trying to…”

Knock knock-

I was about to ask what he was trying to do when I heard knocking.

It was Rahel. He greeted me with a nod before reporting to Kalian.

“Your Majesty, it’s time for the evening audience.”

“Those damn audiences go on all day long.”

Kalian let out a deep sigh and rose from his seat.

“You may go now.”

“Yes.”

I was curious about why he told me to choose my words carefully… but it was probably nothing.

I was about to leave without thinking much of it when Kalian casually added:

“Thank you for the handkerchief.”

So he did see the handkerchief.

I felt both happy and slightly embarrassed by this fact, so I couldn’t look at him directly and lowered my head slightly.

“I’ll repay you for the handkerchief later.”

“No need. I’m grateful that you accepted it despite my lacking skills.”

“Lacking? You did well.”

I knew that wasn’t true, but I didn’t say anything since Kalian would feel awkward if I argued.

“You may withdraw now.”

“Have a peaceful night.”

Since it was almost time to leave work, this would be the last time I’d see Kalian today.

After giving an appropriate farewell, I left the study.

* * *

The next day.

I was returning to the study carrying books I’d borrowed from the library.

“Wait, look at me for a moment.”

Someone suddenly popped out from around the corner and blocked my path.

If my memory served me correctly, she was definitely the young lady named Lisa.

I couldn’t think of anything I needed to discuss with this woman. As far as I could remember, there was nothing.

“What is it?”

When I asked in confusion, Lisa raised her eyes sharply and glared at me.

“What is it, you ask! It’s about what happened that day!”

What happened that day?

“Ah, are you talking about when you deliberately tripped me and then stepped on the report I was going to give His Majesty?”

“Th-that was an accident!”

“Yes. I’m sure it was.”

Though I didn’t believe it at all.

“So what about it?”

“You really didn’t say anything to His Majesty, right?”

“I didn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

Did she develop paranoia or something? Why couldn’t she trust what people said?

“If I had told His Majesty about that incident, you would have been reprimanded immediately. Did anything like that happen?”

Lisa didn’t answer, apparently because that wasn’t the case.

Of course not. I really hadn’t said anything to Kalian.

“If you’re done with your business, could you move aside? Unlike you, who leisurely comes and goes from the Inner Palace, I’m very busy.”

I was incredibly busy with banquet preparations, proposals from various departments, and writing reports about childcare institutions.

I didn’t have time to waste chatting like this.

Lisa didn’t seem inclined to move aside, so I tried to pass by her when she muttered to herself:

“A fake assistant acting so damn busy.”

A fake assistant?

At such an absurd statement, I frowned and turned to look at Lisa.

Lisa avoided my gaze, turned her head away sharply, and ran off.

“Hey! Stop!”

She didn’t stop even when I called out at the top of my lungs.

I desperately wanted to chase after her and catch her, but unfortunately I was carrying too much to do so.

I also wasn’t confident I could catch up to a woman running away that fast.

“What was that about?”

A fake assistant?

It couldn’t have been something she said without thinking. What basis did she have for saying such a thing?

I was pondering over what Lisa had said when a hand suddenly reached out from behind me and took half the books I was carrying.

“Why are you carrying so many heavy things?”

It was Baron Delrond.

“You’re going to the study, right? It’s the same direction, so I’ll help you carry them.”

“Thank you.”

They were already heavy, but thanks to the Baron helping me, it became much easier.

“Are these all books about childcare institutions?”

“Yes. I borrowed every book that seemed like it might be useful for reference.”

“With this many, wouldn’t it be more convenient to just read them in the library?”

“That’s true, but the library was about to close soon.”

“Ah, right, the Imperial Palace Library closes at 5 o’clock.”

The Baron joked that being a librarian was really a good job.

“You could have looked at them tomorrow.”

“There’s something I really want to organize today.”

“That means you’ll be staying late at the palace today. In that case…”

“I won’t stay too late. I’ll leave before 10 o’clock.”

When I quickly added that, the Baron smiled as if he had no choice.

“You promised.”

“Of course.”

Ah, maybe the Baron would know what Lisa meant by what she said.

“Baron, may I ask you a question?”

“By all means. What’s your question?”

“I heard something strange from a young lady.”

“What strange thing did you hear?”

“She said I was a fake assistant.”

The Baron’s eyes widened for a moment.

As I thought, he knew what it meant.

I stopped walking and turned to look at the Baron, who had also stopped, and asked:

“What does that mean?”

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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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