I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 68

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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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#68

The meeting room fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it.

Until now, they thought everything related to the Kingdom of Natsha was handled by Ber, so they assumed he had created it all, but it was Leilah.

The aristocrats who had praised the materials until their mouths went dry now shut their mouths tight like clams.

Other aristocrats gave them sharp glares, silently condemning them.

In a situation where even Duke Giltian, who had been speaking boldly, closed his mouth, only Kalian was smiling.

Kalian bit his tongue, desperately holding back the urge to grab his stomach and burst into laughter.

“I think this is enough to demonstrate Count Tebesa’s abilities… What do you think, Viscount Valdir?”

Viscount Valdir’s face turned pale white as he was singled out again.

Viscount Valdir glanced sideways at Duke Giltian.

His slightly twisted lips indicated that his mood was not good.

If Duke Giltian, who controlled his emotions better than anyone, was showing it outwardly, it was quite serious.

Viscount Valdir felt cold sweat running down his spine.

‘I need to answer well.’

If he said something strange, he would be torn apart by two beasts.

Viscount Valdir clenched his fists tightly and slowly opened his mouth.

“N-now that I look at it, I see many flaws in the materials.”

“Flaws.”

Kalian tilted his head and skimmed through the materials.

“Maybe I’m stupid, but I don’t see any flaws. So why don’t you kindly explain it to me, Viscount?”

“Th-that is…”

Viscount Valdir hurriedly examined the materials, but he couldn’t see any particular flaws.

He could force himself to find some if he tried, but if he got caught on other details, it would be troublesome.

Viscount Valdir, who had become mute again, hung his head low.

Then, Duke Giltian spoke up.

“Your Majesty seems to think Count Tebesa has the ability to receive a title.”

“Of course. She is fully qualified to receive a title. You’ve seen the materials too, haven’t you, Duke?”

“The materials are certainly excellent.”

Duke Giltian flipped through the materials halfheartedly.

“However, we cannot evaluate Count Tebesa’s abilities based on this alone. We need a more objective and accurate assessment.”

In other words, he was demanding visible results.

‘Everything is going exactly as expected.’

They reacted exactly as Kalian had predicted, without a single deviation.

Even the cunning Duke Giltian was doing so, which made him want to laugh.

Kalian covered his mouth with his hand to hide his emerging smile.

Now all that remained were visible results.

He had already thought of this as well.

The childcare institution for war orphans.

If Leilah handled that perfectly, they wouldn’t be able to babble about showing proper abilities like they were doing now.

Even though conferring titles was purely the Emperor’s prerogative, he had devised this troublesome plan all for Leilah’s sake.

If he ignored the aristocrats’ opposition and made Leilah a baron, she would not be accepted in aristocratic society going forward.

That wasn’t all. It would certainly cause major problems for Leilah’s work as an aide.

Whether she liked it or not, she would have to keep clashing with these people.

This was exactly what Leilah had been worried about.

So Kalian was trying to prevent them from making excuses later.

Just as he was about to wrap things up, Duke Giltian suddenly spoke up.

“Since Your Majesty evaluates Count Tebesa’s abilities so highly, I will make one proposal on behalf of the aristocrats.”

Duke Giltian making a proposal first? This was unexpected.

“What proposal?”

“As Your Majesty knows, this diplomatic negotiation is a very important meeting that could change territorial waters. Therefore.”

When Duke Giltian gestured, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official placed the diplomatic envoy list in front of him.

“I would like to include the capable Count Tebesa, whom Your Majesty evaluates so highly, in this diplomatic envoy.”

* * *

After leaving the meeting room, Kalian was heading straight to his study to meet Leilah when he stopped walking.

He felt Hilltain’s presence behind him.

When he turned around, Hilltain was indeed there.

“Why are you here? I told you to guard Leilah.”

He had been observing since Fillen continued preparing for marriage even after Leilah declared the engagement broken.

Fillen’s obsession-like behavior toward Leilah was increasingly crossing the line.

Last night, after witnessing it firsthand at the banquet hall, Kalian had assigned Hilltain to stay with Leilah.

But why was he here?

When he looked at him questioningly, Hilltain placed his hand on his chest and reported respectfully.

“While Your Majesty was in the meeting, Duke Williot left the capital.”

“What?”

He thought he would hold out and stay longer, but he left the capital.

Kalian’s eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpected report.

“Is he returning to his domain?”

“I didn’t confirm that far. Should I look into it?”

Kalian thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“No, never mind.”

If Fillen had left the capital, it didn’t matter where he went. His whereabouts weren’t important.

What mattered was Leilah’s safety.

If Fillen had left the capital, there was no longer any need to keep Hilltain with Leilah.

Still, just in case, maybe he should keep him there today.

After all, you never know where a madman might turn up.

“Keep watching today, and if there’s nothing unusual, focus on finding that thing again.”

“Yes.”

After Hilltain withdrew, Kalian headed to his study where Leilah was waiting.

Seriously contemplating how to bring up this story to Leilah.

* * *

Being told to prepare to sign must mean signing documents to be made a baron.

‘I’m really going to become a baron.’

Just thinking about it made her nervous and her heart race.

Leilah, who had been taking deep breaths to calm her churning stomach while waiting for Kalian’s return, widened her eyes upon hearing unexpected news.

“A diplomatic envoy?”

“Yes. They want you to participate in the diplomatic negotiations with the Kingdom of Natsha.”

Good heavens. A diplomatic envoy.

Leilah looked at Kalian with as much surprise as when she heard he would make her a baron.

“I’m sorry.”

Kalian let out a deep sigh.

“I told you to prepare to sign, but instead of signing, I only brought you baggage.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine.”

Leilah hurriedly waved her hands.

She knew he had done his best to make her a baron without any complications.

So she didn’t resent Kalian or anything, but she was still flustered.

The diplomatic envoy was assembled with capable individuals as it represented the Empire.

Would it be alright for me to be included in such a position?

Worry came first that I might only bring shame. Leilah silently fidgeted with her hands.

“If you don’t want to, you can refuse.”

Her eyes that had been looking down at her hands lifted up to meet his blue eyes.

“You don’t need to force yourself to accept.”

“…If I were to refuse, what would happen?”

“There wouldn’t be a big problem. It would just make it a little harder for you to become a baron.”

It wasn’t just a little, but Kalian deliberately hid that. There was nothing good about telling the truth.

“I think I was being hasty too. Originally, I didn’t plan to make you a baron this quickly.”

Kalian stroked his chin.

“I was thinking of pushing for it when you accumulated merit while working as an aide, but the nobles spread unnecessary rumors so I ended up rushing.”

“By rumors, you mean…”

“Rumors that you’re not my aide but my mistress.”

When Leilah’s complexion turned slightly pale, Kalian frowned.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know until now?”

“…I didn’t know.”

He thought she would naturally know, but she was unaware.

Flustered, Kalian slightly furrowed his brow.

“You’re more deaf to rumors than I thought.”

Leilah placed her hand on her chest and humbly bowed her head.

“I apologize.”

“There’s no need to apologize. I wasn’t saying it to blame you.”

He just realized he would need to be more careful with his words going forward.

“Anyway, I’ll say it again – you don’t need to accept their proposal. I can make you a baron even without joining the diplomatic envoy.”

It would just require a lot of effort and time to gain recognition from the nobles.

But Kalian was confident that time wouldn’t be very long.

Just properly resolving the childcare institution matter would force them to acknowledge Leilah’s abilities.

However, it wouldn’t be as free from criticism as brilliantly handling diplomatic envoy work.

So he hoped Leilah would accept if possible, but he had no intention of forcing her.

It was work with high risk.

If she failed this task, Leilah might have to carry the disgraceful label of incompetence for life, even if she received a title.

So he wanted to give the choice entirely to Leilah.

After a moment of silence, Leilah asked.

“Does Your Majesty want me to refuse?”

“No, I hope you’ll accept.”

He knew this answer might make Leilah feel burdened, but he didn’t want to lie, so Kalian answered honestly.

“That way they won’t be able to say anything different later.”

“If I fail the task, it will backfire.”

“That’s the same with other work. Any task has that level of risk.”

That was true. Leilah nodded.

“And I think you can definitely do it. I trust you that much.”

Kalian’s eyes looking at Leilah showed firm belief.

That gaze felt heavy, and Leilah pressed her chest gently with her hand.

While not wanting to betray Kalian’s trust.

She wanted to proudly show her abilities to the nobles who looked down on her.

…Especially to Fillen.

She wanted to show him defiantly that she could stand alone without him and the Williot Duchy.

For that, she would have to accept the proposal to join the diplomatic envoy.

Thinking about joining the diplomatic envoy made her heart race and her breathing quicken.

“Whew.”

When Leilah let out a big breath, Kalian, thinking it was a sigh, added.

“Again, I’m not forcing you to do it. Regardless of my trust, there are risks, so if you don’t want to—”

“I’ll do it.”

Leilah answered before Kalian could finish speaking.

Her jet-black eyes looked at Kalian with determination.

“I’ll do my best to repay Your Majesty’s trust.”

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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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