I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 88

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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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#88

 

Was it because the other person was also a woman?

 

Or was it because I didn’t sense anything strange in Diane’s words?

 

Though her words were embarrassing, they didn’t feel insulting.

 

When I blushed and waved my hands dismissively, Diane laughed loudly.

 

While exchanging various stories with her, we had arrived at the main hall before I knew it.

 

The chandelier’s light reflected off the clean marble, sparkling like stars.

 

On one side of the hall, a small orchestra was playing music, and in the center, gorgeously dressed people were gathered in small groups, chatting.

 

Baron Hutton really put a lot of effort into this.

 

Well, it was natural since a foreign diplomatic envoy was visiting.

 

“Oh, Count Tebesa has arrived.”

 

Baron Hutton approached with a kind smile.

 

After exchanging light greetings with Diane, he looked around me.

 

“Why did you come alone? Didn’t Aldor go to escort you?”

 

“He came, but I declined.”

 

Baron Hutton’s expression hardened slightly.

 

“Why did you decline? Did my son do something rude to you again?”

 

What should I do? I couldn’t outright say I refused because I disliked him.

 

“I was the one who asked Princess Tebesa to escort me first.”

 

While I was pondering, Diane suddenly joined the conversation with a smile.

 

“She had a prior engagement with me, so she declined. I apologize, Your Grace.”

 

“Hmm, not at all. If there was a prior engagement, it couldn’t be helped.”

 

Thanks to Diane, I was able to smoothly navigate the difficult situation.

 

I sent Diane a grateful look with my eyes.

 

Then Diane responded with a wink. She really was a delightful person.

 

That’s why I liked Diane even more and wanted to emulate her cheerful personality.

 

“Then let’s do this.”

 

After thinking for a moment, Baron Hutton smiled brightly again and spoke.

 

“Dance the first dance with Aldor.”

 

Usually, the first dance was shared with someone closely related, like family or a lover.

 

But to dance the first dance with Aldor.

 

It was absurd and bewildering.

 

I wanted to refuse, but having already declined Aldor’s escort, it was difficult to do so.

 

Refusing twice, not just once, would be an insult to the other party.

 

Insulting the heir of the Hutton family wouldn’t benefit me.

 

But I didn’t want to dance, so what should I do?

 

“Count Tebesa seems to dislike dancing with Young Master Hutton.”

 

“P-Princess!”

 

When Diane spoke my thoughts directly, I hurriedly tried to stop her while gauging Baron Hutton’s reaction.

 

His expression looked worse than before. Naturally. No one would be pleased to hear such words.

 

“Is what Count Andrian said true?”

 

“That’s…”

 

“You can speak truthfully. I’m not forcing you.”

 

Long ago, when I first had breakfast with Kalian, I heard similar words from Baron Delrond.

 

That I didn’t have to eat if I didn’t want to.

 

That he wasn’t forcing me.

 

Back then, I wondered if it was really true, but now I was certain.

 

This was definitely coercion.

 

If a marquis was coercing me, I, a mere count’s daughter, couldn’t refuse.

 

Though I was currently the Emperor’s representative, it would be ridiculous to invoke that position for such a personal matter.

 

I had no choice. I smiled bitterly and accepted Baron Hutton’s proposal.

 

“…No. I’ll dance with Young Master Hutton.”

 

“Hehe. Good thinking.”

 

Baron Hutton finally smiled with satisfaction and left.

 

“Why did you do that?”

 

Diane frowned as she looked at me.

 

“Didn’t you not want to dance with that man?”

 

“It’s not that I dislike it. I just don’t feel like it.”

 

“That’s the same thing!”

 

Diane beat her chest as if extremely frustrated.

 

“Even now, go tell that man you don’t want to dance with him.”

 

“How can I do that? He’s a marquis.”

 

“That may be so, but Princess, you’re the Emperor’s lover!”

 

“What?”

 

What did… Diane just say?

 

That I’m the Emperor’s lover?

 

Though she called it lover, it was no different from asking if I was his mistress.

 

She just used softer words because the person in question was present.

 

I never expected to hear such words from Diane’s mouth.

 

When I heard such talk from other people, I felt more embarrassed and ashamed than ever.

 

I blushed and stepped back from Diane.

 

“Count Tebesa?”

 

Diane called me with a puzzled expression.

 

I couldn’t look directly at Diane’s face as I spoke.

 

“I don’t know why Count Andrian has such a misunderstanding, but no. I’m simply His Majesty the Emperor’s aide.”

 

Could it be that Diane had been kind to me all this time because she thought I was the Emperor’s mistress?

 

With that thought, my mouth turned bitter and my heart grew heavy. I thought I had made a good friend with whom I could communicate well, but it seemed it was all my misunderstanding.

 

“I’ll go see other people now. Have a pleasant party, Count Andrian.”

 

“Wait a moment, Count…!”

 

I left Diane behind and headed toward where the Empire’s nobles were gathered around Viscount Valdir.

 

When I approached, Viscount Valdir looked at me warily.

 

“What is it?”

 

“I just thought I’d pay my respects.”

 

“Are you pretending to be polite now? How ridiculous.”

 

Viscount Valdir snorted and turned his back.

 

The other nobles were the same.

 

Since I hadn’t really had business with them anyway, I stood calmly and drank the champagne a servant brought me.

 

I could feel Diane’s gaze from behind, but I deliberately ignored it.

 

Actually, if I thought about it, Diane hadn’t done anything wrong.

 

The rumor that I was the Emperor’s mistress rather than his aide was widespread throughout the Empire.

 

Diane probably heard that rumor and thought I was the Emperor’s mistress.

 

I understood that, but still, it was awkward to face Diane. I didn’t think I could smile and treat her as I used to.

 

Was I losing such a good conversation partner?

 

“Sigh.”

 

Endless sighs escaped me. Everyone was enjoying the party happily, but I couldn’t.

 

With a heavy heart, I kept drinking champagne.

 

Though it was champagne with almost no alcohol content, drinking it continuously made me slightly tipsy.

 

Not to the point where I couldn’t control my body, just enough to feel that I had been drinking.

 

Someone said that getting tipsy makes you feel good, but that was all lies. Instead, my mood sank even lower.

 

“Princess Tebesa, would you dance one song with me?”

 

In such a situation, the fact that I had to dance with Aldor felt terrible.

 

“Gladly.”

 

At my answer, Aldor’s expression brightened considerably. He seemed to be getting a bit cocky too.

 

When Aldor and I came out to the center of the foyer, the people who had been occupying that space naturally stepped aside.

 

It would have been awkward if it wasn’t a waltz, but fortunately the song that was playing was a waltz.

 

Still, I was nervous all the same. I had never danced with anyone other than my dance teacher and Fillen before.

 

I should do well.

 

I didn’t want to make mistakes like stepping on his feet and become a laughingstock.

 

I moved my body mechanically to the sound of the music.

 

Since I was dancing without looking at Aldor, I naturally took in the surrounding situation.

 

Baron Hutton was looking this way with a pleased smile, while Viscount Valdir and the Empire’s nobles were watching with displeasure.

 

I could also see the diplomats from the Kingdom of Natsha conversing without paying attention to our side.

 

Diane was also there, looking for an opportunity to speak to me somehow.

 

The music gradually got faster and I briefly moved away from Aldor before coming back together.

 

“You dance well.”

 

I received a compliment, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut the whole time.

 

“Thank you. You dance well too, young master.”

 

“This is my specialty.”

 

I was just being polite, but he took it eagerly.

 

I let out a small laugh at the absurdity, and Aldor smiled greasily and pressed his body close to mine.

 

Due to the nature of the waltz, bodies often come close together, but… this seemed too close.

 

When I subtly pulled back thinking it was a mistake, he inevitably pressed close again.

 

Because of that, I could clearly feel a part that I didn’t have but Aldor did.

 

What kind of outrageous behavior is this?

 

I frowned and looked at Aldor.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

Aldor replied shamelessly.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

This man really…

 

I was about to say something when the music ended.

 

I immediately moved away from Aldor.

 

I had a lot to say to him, but… let’s just not.

 

Since the dance was over, there would be no more need to stay close to him or have conversations, so what would be the point?

 

I didn’t want to bring it up unnecessarily and get more entangled with Aldor.

 

“I’ll be going now.”

 

I greeted him and headed straight to a corner, but for some reason Aldor followed me.

 

“Do you have more business with me?”

 

“There’s always business with a beautiful lady.”

 

It was a greasy line as if slathered with butter.

 

I had coldly rebuffed him and refused his escort twice, yet he was clinging like this.

 

He only has useless persistence.

 

“I’d like to rest quietly alone, so how about you go to someone else?”

 

I indirectly expressed that I wanted him to leave.

 

But whether he was oblivious or deliberately pretending not to know, he stood there stubbornly with an innocent expression.

 

“I’m thirsty after dancing. You there!”

 

Aldor received two glasses of champagne from a servant and held one out to me.

 

“You must be thirsty too, so please drink.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

I was indeed thirsty, but I didn’t feel like accepting any of his kindness, so I refused.

 

Then Aldor spoke as if disappointed.

 

“Just drink champagne with me one last time and I’ll withdraw.”

 

Really?

 

When I stared at him suspiciously, Aldor nodded.

 

“Really. I won’t bother the Princess any further. I don’t like clinging to a Princess who has no interest in me either.”

 

Aldor complained that it was because of his father’s orders.

 

At those words, I glanced at Baron Hutton.

 

Even while conversing with other nobles, Baron Hutton occasionally looked our way and smiled pleasantly.

 

“If there’s no progress in the relationship between the Princess and me after dancing and drinking champagne together, my father will give up too.”

 

Aldor spoke to me in a small voice while watching Baron Hutton’s reaction.

 

“So please help me just this once, Count Tebesa.”

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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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