I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 67

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

#67

When I suddenly heard Kalian’s voice from behind, I was startled and turned around.

There stood Kalian right behind me, though I had no idea when he had arrived.

“Your Majesty!”

I was so flustered that I forgot I had documents on my lap and jumped up from my seat.

As a result, the documents scattered and fell to the floor. Some even reached Kalian’s feet.

I hurried to pick up the documents, but Kalian was faster.

“You’re more clumsy than you look.”

Kalian clicked his tongue as he picked up the fallen documents and held them out to me.

I took the documents from him and bowed politely.

“I apologize.”

“Apologize for what. I’m the one who startled you.”

Kalian answered nonchalantly as he picked up a document from the table.

They were records about nobles who had received titles in the past.

As if he immediately realized what I had been looking for, he chuckled.

“You were looking for precedents of women receiving titles, weren’t you?”

Even though I hadn’t done anything shameful, I felt embarrassed and nodded while slightly blushing.

“It was a waste of effort. In the Empire’s history, no woman has ever received a title.”

As I thought.

Though I already knew this fact, having it confirmed made me sigh involuntarily.

“So you’ll be setting the first precedent.”

At his following words, I looked at him in surprise.

Kalian’s eyes curved prettily.

“Why are you so surprised?”

Why am I surprised? Does he really not know?

“Is it so surprising that I would give you a title?”

“…Do you truly intend to make me a baron?”

“Of course? Did you think I was saying something I didn’t mean?”

His eyes were still smiling, but I could see slight displeasure in his pupils.

He must be annoyed that I’m doubting his words.

“It’s not that.”

I answered immediately, worried that Kalian might misunderstand.

“It’s just that I haven’t signed the documents yet.”

When receiving a title, one had to be listed in the noble family registry and sign documents.

The place where those documents were stored was right here in the Records Room.

“And the aristocrats seem like they’ll strongly oppose it…”

“What does it matter if the aristocrats oppose it? Granting titles is solely the Emperor’s prerogative.”

That was true, but there were aspects that bothered me too much to just accept it, so I couldn’t respond.

“I know what you’re worried about.”

Kalian said as he put down the document he was holding.

“You don’t need to worry about that problem. I have my reasons for doing this.”

What reasons?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t say anything for fear of being told I was doubting his words again.

* * *

“Leilah.”

After chatting about various things with Leilah, Kalian belatedly mentioned the purpose of his visit to the Records Room.

“I came to look for documents about the diplomatic disputes that occurred because of Kan in the past. Do you happen to know where they are?”

“They’re right here.”

I had asked just in case, but she immediately brought the documents.

Kalian looked at Leilah with slight surprise.

There were thousands of documents stored in the Records Room, classified by field alone.

But to know exactly where these documents were…

“You’ve already looked into them, I see?”

“Yes. I looked them up when I heard there was friction with the Kingdom of Natsha.”

The Kingdom of Natsha’s affairs weren’t even her responsibility, yet she had looked into them.

“Did you organize the documents too?”

I asked just in case, and Leilah nodded.

Ha, she even did that.

She must have had plenty of work to do, yet Leilah who had even organized the documents seemed admirable but also foolish in a way.

I wonder if this woman even knows the word laziness.

“Could I take a look at those documents?”

“The documents are in the study.”

“Then let’s go to the study.”

They moved to the study.

Leilah handed Kalian the documents she had organized separately.

I thought it wouldn’t be much, but it was thicker than expected.

What did she do so much of? Did she just copy the contents instead of organizing?

Kalian immediately corrected his thoughts as he skimmed through the documents.

This wasn’t simply copied.

Rather, it was easier to understand than the existing documents. I could easily see where what content was located.

I needed the report that Leilah had organized anyway, so this worked out well.

With this, even those arrogant bastards won’t be able to say anything.

“Could I borrow these documents?”

“That’s fine, but… if you’re simply looking for documents about diplomatic disputes, it would be better to take the existing documents.”

“What are you talking about. This is much better to read.”

Plus, I could flatten those bastards’ noses.

Thinking of those guys’ faces as they stammer in surprise already improved my mood.

Kalian patted Leilah’s shoulder and walked past her.

“Then I’ll be going, so you should prepare to sign.”

* * *

The biggest reason for today’s meeting was the diplomatic talks with the Kingdom of Natsha that would take place in Hutton in about two weeks.

The Kingdom of Natsha demanded territorial rights to Kan as compensation for pirate damages.

The Kingdom of Natsha’s claim was that since the Empire didn’t seem capable of managing Kan, they would manage it themselves.

If this had been the first time such a thing happened, they would have ignored it as nonsense, but the problem was that this wasn’t the first time.

So the nobles sat around the round table to discuss how to handle this matter.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just hand it over? This isn’t the first time problems have arisen because of Kan, and it might be better to remove the source of pain.”

“That may be true, but if we hand Kan over to the Kingdom of Natsha, our territorial waters will shrink. Besides, territorial rights are a sensitive matter, so giving in too easily is a bit…”

The nobles’ opinions were divided. While everyone argued that their opinion was correct, Kalian, sitting at the head of the table, just listened silently.

After dozens of minutes, various measures for the diplomatic talks and the delegation were decided.

“Then let’s proceed with the diplomatic delegation like this.”

Kalian stamped the Emperor’s seal at the end of the diplomatic delegation list and handed it to the Foreign Ministry official.

This concluded the meeting, but no one stood up.

The same was true for Kalian.

Kalian crossed his legs and leaned deep into the backrest.

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Seeing that none of you are getting up, it seems you have something to say. Is that right?”

At Kalian’s words, the nobles only glanced at each other instead of answering. They were waiting for someone to take the lead first.

Finally, one young nobleman who looked spirited took the initiative.

“Your Majesty, are you really going to ennoble Princess Leilah Tebesa as a baron?”

“It’s not Princess Tebesa, but Count Tebesa. Use the proper title.”

Kalian delivered a sharp rebuke.

At his correction, the young nobleman’s eyebrows twitched momentarily, but since it wasn’t wrong, he changed the title to Count Tebesa.

Only then did Kalian listen to his story with satisfaction.

“So what problem is there with ennobling Count Tebesa as a baron?”

“I apologize, but since the Empire’s founding, there has never been a single instance of a woman receiving a title.”

“Is there a law saying we shouldn’t do something just because there’s no precedent?”

Kalian tilted his head sideways and rested his chin on his hand.

“Or is there perhaps a law against giving titles to women?”

“Well, there is custom…”

“If you’re thinking of bringing up stuffy customs, forget it. We can’t move forward if we’re bound by the past.”

Though it was the expected answer, the nobleman who couldn’t find a proper response closed his mouth.

The nobles glanced at Duke Giltian. They hoped he would step forward.

“Even aside from custom, according to the Empire’s laws, it states that one must demonstrate appropriate ability to receive a title.”

As if to fulfill their wishes, Duke Giltian spoke up.

Kalian turned to look at Duke Giltian. Gray eyes and blue eyes clashed in the air.

“I have doubts about whether Count Tebesa has shown such ability.”

“Why do you doubt it? She passed the management exam with excellent grades and became an aide.”

“If we give titles simply for doing well on exams, then we’d have to give titles to everyone who did well on Academy graduation exams too.”

In other words, that alone wasn’t enough.

Though annoying, it wasn’t wrong. There were many nobles who were administrators but had no titles.

While it was customary for the Emperor’s aides to receive titles, this too wasn’t established by law.

“So the Duke is unconditionally opposed to Count Tebesa becoming a baron?”

“Not necessarily. If Count Tebesa shows appropriate ability, I’m willing to consider it.”

“Is that so?”

Kalian smiled mysteriously and looked at Viscount Valdir, the Foreign Minister, who was right next to Duke Giltian.

“Viscount Valdir, what do you think of the materials you just reviewed?”

“The materials… you mean?”

It was an unexpected question. Viscount Valdir answered honestly, though puzzled.

“They were perfect materials. I knew Baron Delrond had prepared diligently, but I didn’t expect them to be this good.”

“Indeed, such work should be done by someone properly trained.”

“What could come of entrusting it to a princess who knows nothing?”

“We don’t expect much. She should at least be able to do this much.”

Other nobles agreed with Viscount Valdir’s words, emphasizing that Leilah lacked the appropriate abilities to serve as an aide.

“I understand your opinions well. But there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”

“Mistaken?”

“Yes.”

Kalian’s blue eyes glinted coldly as he smoothly curved his lips upward.

“The person who created those materials wasn’t Baron Delrond, but Count Tebesa.”

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