I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 58

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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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#58

An awkward silence flowed between us.

The Baron stared intently at the floor rather than at me, then opened his mouth heavily.

“As you know… a woman becoming His Majesty the Emperor’s advisor is the first time since the founding of the nation.”

The Baron glanced at me cautiously and continued speaking.

“So the other nobles don’t recognize you as an advisor.”

“Even though I became an advisor by passing the management exam?”

“…There are even nobles who think that was cheating.”

Cheating! I shouted in bewilderment.

“I didn’t do anything like cheating!”

“I know. I, His Majesty, and the scholars who created the exam questions together don’t think that way.”

“But the other nobles think that way.”

The Baron agreed with my words and let out a deep sigh as if the ground would cave in.

“That’s why the nobles call you a fake advisor. They just think whatever they want to think and spout off carelessly.”

So that’s what it was.

Learning this unknown fact made me feel both relieved and heavy at the same time.

I had expected the nobles wouldn’t readily accept me, but I never thought it would be to this extent.

“I’m sorry, Baron.”

“Why are you apologizing? Those bastards are the ones in the wrong.”

“That may be true, but…”

“You’re doing well enough.”

The Baron looked at me and smiled broadly.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing. Then those foolish noble bastards will realize what they did wrong and acknowledge you.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course. I guarantee it.”

The Baron’s warm words gave me great strength.

Right, that’s correct. Regardless of what others say, I just need to quietly do what I have to do.

My previously heavy heart became a little lighter.

I smiled and offered my thanks to the Baron.

“Thank you, Baron.”

“Don’t mention it. Shall we go back then? The books are getting a bit heavy.”

“Oh, please give them to me. I’ll carry them.”

“They’re not heavy enough to hand over to you.”

The Baron playfully winked and walked ahead.

I straightened the slightly disheveled books and followed behind him.

“Come to think of it, how are things going with Hutton?”

Hutton was a massive port city located in the east of the Empire.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all of the Empire’s trade took place there.

However, recently pirates had been running rampant, causing headaches in many ways.

“You don’t need to worry. Hutton is fine now.”

“Is that so?”

That’s a relief.

“The problem is Kan.”

Just as I was relieved and patting my chest, the Baron added.

“Kan – you mean the island located southeast of Hutton?”

At my answer, the Baron looked at me as if surprised.

“Kan is an island that most citizens of the Empire don’t know about, but you know it.”

“Embarrassingly, I didn’t know about it until recently either.”

Kan was such a small island that it often wasn’t even marked on maps.

Only about 20 citizens of the Empire lived there, and there was no lord managing it separately.

“I was worried about Hutton and happened to learn about it while looking into various things.”

“That’s something. There are still plenty of idiots in the Defense Department who don’t know about it.”

The Baron sneered.

“Do you know that Kan is often used as a pirates’ den?”

“Yes. I heard it has caused international problems several times.”

“That’s right. Since the Empire’s founding until now, there have been exactly 10 problems, and now the 11th problem has erupted.”

My goodness. Surprised by this unexpected news, I asked the Baron.

“Which country is there a problem with?”

“The Kingdom of Natsha.”

The Kingdom of Natsha was an island nation consisting of seven islands in the east of the continent.

The kingdom itself wasn’t very large, but the Kingdom of Natsha possessed powerful warships.

It was the country with the strongest navy compared to all countries on the continent, including the Empire.

Even the previous Emperor, who had declared continental conquest, avoided touching the Kingdom of Natsha.

But to have friction with such a place. I was worried.

“Is it okay?”

“To be honest, it’s not okay.”

Ber frowned slightly.

“They’re making unreasonable demands.”

“Unreasonable demands?”

What kind of demands did they make?

While talking, we had arrived at the study.

Baron Delrond set the books down on my desk and smiled brightly.

“I’ll only tell you this much about this matter. If it becomes more public, I’ll let you know then.”

“Understood.”

I was curious, but it wasn’t that he wouldn’t tell me, and since he said he’d let me know later, there was no reason to pry.

After seeing the Baron off, I returned to my seat and focused on my work.

* * *

“Count Tebesa heard about the rumors circulating among the nobles.”

Kalian, who was working in his study in the Outer Palace, stopped what he was doing at Ber’s words and looked at him.

“How?”

“It seems he heard some Princess talking about it.”

Which fool carelessly let something slip?

Kalian clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Well, fortunately he doesn’t seem to know that there are rumors about her being your mistress… but at this rate, Count Tebesa will find out before the banquet, won’t he?”

“Control the Princesses who enter and leave the Imperial Palace. Especially tighten control around the Palace of Ren where the advisor’s office is located.”

Ber handed approval documents to Kalian as he spoke.

“Rumors can’t be stopped just by trying to stop them, Your Majesty.”

“I know.”

Taking the documents, Kalian answered while reading them with his eyes.

“Just block them until the banquet. I’ll handle it then.”

“Using the method you mentioned before?”

When Kalian nodded, Ber frowned slightly and held his head.

“I’m sorry, but Your Majesty, do you really think that method will work?”

“You seem to think it won’t work.”

“Yes.”

At the firm answer, Kalian looked at him.

“Why do you think that?”

“Those are people even the official doesn’t acknowledge, so there’s no way they’d acknowledge that.”

“But you acknowledged it.”

Ber replied as if asking something so obvious.

“I’m fundamentally a man, and I belong to the exceptions. But you don’t, Kyung.”

“Legally, there’s no problem.”

“That’s right. It just goes against the common sense of those stuffy people.”

When Ber openly criticized the aristocrats, Kalian smiled softly.

“If they won’t acknowledge it, then make them.”

“You seem confident.”

“Of course.”

Kalian conversed with Ber while stamping the royal seal at the bottom of the documents he had finished reviewing.

“So trust me and follow, Ber. Just like you always have.”

* * *

The meeting continued until late at night due to issues with the Kingdom of Natsha.

After finally ending the meeting and returning to the palace, Kalian stopped when he saw lights on in the official’s office window.

As far as he knew, Ber was still handling business at the Outer Palace.

That meant the person currently in the office was Leilah.

It was close to midnight. Even the moon hanging in the sky had tilted.

What was she doing staying so late without going home?

Kalian clicked his tongue and turned his steps. The attendants quietly followed behind him.

Upon arriving at the official’s office, Kalian instructed the attendants to wait, then entered the office alone.

Despite deliberately making noise when opening the door, Leilah didn’t notice Kalian’s arrival at all and remained buried in her books.

From the way she occasionally wrote things down on paper, it seemed she was organizing materials.

What was she working so diligently on?

Kalian quietly approached Leilah without making a sound and took the book she was reading.

“How to Raise a Proper Child.”

Only then did Leilah notice Kalian’s arrival, her eyes widening as she shot up from her seat.

“Your Majesty!”

Like a rabbit. Kalian smiled softly and put the book back down.

“I’m sure I told you to write a report about childcare institutions, so why are you reading child-rearing guides?”

Leilah, who had been looking at Kalian with a flustered expression, soon regained her composure and answered calmly.

“Childcare institutions are places that care for children until they become adults. I thought it would be good to have proper child-rearing guidelines…”

“You can look into that after the childcare institution establishment passes.”

A mischievous smile appeared on Kalian’s lips.

“Or do you believe that the report you write will definitely pass?”

Leilah flinched momentarily at Kalian’s teasing, then answered with an unwavering voice.

“…Even if the report doesn’t pass, child-rearing guidelines can be applied elsewhere.”

“For example, you mean the temples?”

Leilah expressed her agreement through silence.

The temples had been raising the children they took in according to rules and methods they had established until now.

The fact that this was causing various problems, big and small, was something Kalian was well aware of.

Child-rearing guidelines would certainly be helpful.

Kalian inwardly agreed with Leilah’s opinion while glancing at the materials she had diligently organized.

Even at a glance, the amount was considerable. It meant she was working very hard.

That was good, but the problem was that it was too late.

I told her not to work late, but she insists on doing this.

This makes it look like I’m overworking her.

Displeased that Leilah was working so late, Kalian clicked his tongue and turned around.

“It’s too late. Go home before the day changes.”

“What? Before the day changes…!”

Only then did Leilah check the time and gasp.

It seemed she hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

How foolish.

Kalian inwardly sighed and ordered the attendant outside to prepare a carriage for Leilah.

In the meantime, Leilah packed her things and bowed her head toward Kalian.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to stay this late…”

“You were working and didn’t realize it had gotten this late.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You were working hard, so there’s no need to apologize.”

Kalian replied curtly and turned around.

“I just want you to keep one thing in mind. If you collapse from overworking yourself like this, I won’t take responsibility.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was a dutiful answer, but not a satisfying one.

“At times like this, you shouldn’t say ‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ but rather ‘I won’t do that.'”

“I won’t do that.”

Leilah quickly changed her answer.

Only then did Kalian’s expression soften, pleased with her response.

While they were talking, an attendant reported that the carriage was ready.

“I’ll escort you to where you board the carriage.”

“You must be tired, you don’t need to do that.”

“I’m going as a walk, so don’t worry about it.”

When Kalian urged her to hurry, Leilah had no choice but to leave the office with him.

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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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