I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 94
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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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#94
You, who are neither Count nor Princess.
I paused at the unfamiliar title, then looked at Count Hiltain in surprise at his additional words.
“His Majesty said to kill anyone who lays a hand on your body?”
“Yes.”
My goodness. His Majesty gave such a tremendous order?
I was right to throw myself to stop Count Hiltain earlier.
No matter how much Aldor deserved to die for what he did, I didn’t actually want him to die.
I didn’t want anyone to die because of me.
“That order is too excessive. Please don’t do that in the future.”
“It’s an order from His Majesty the Emperor.”
Count Hiltain answered firmly, then replied with a slightly bitter smile.
“Though I’ve already disobeyed the order.”
He was referring to not killing Aldor earlier.
And also to my request not to report this incident to Kalian.
“I’m sorry for unintentionally making you disobey His Majesty’s order. But my feelings remain unchanged.”
I looked straight at his face as he gazed at me with an indifferent expression.
“So please don’t kill other people. Count Hiltain doesn’t want that either.”
Count Hiltain’s expression changed subtly.
He seemed surprised, or perhaps shocked.
Why is he acting like that?
“Count Hiltain?”
When I called out in confusion, Count Hiltain covered his face with his hand.
“Are you alright?”
I tried to reach for him, but Count Hiltain avoided my hand and stepped back.
I awkwardly withdrew my hand and looked at him.
Count Hiltain’s expression became even more distorted when our eyes met.
Count Hiltain hesitated for a moment, then quickly turned around and disappeared before I could stop him.
Left alone in an instant, I considered chasing after Count Hiltain, but decided against it and entered the annex.
I didn’t know where Count Hiltain had gone, and I didn’t want to wander around and face the same situation as earlier.
Perhaps because it was late, the annex was quiet. The silence that enveloped me was frightening.
I quickly returned to my room as if someone were chasing me.
“Miss!”
Eria, who had been waiting for me in the room, approached me with delight.
“Are you alright, Miss? I heard something unpleasant happened at the party.”
So it was only known that something unpleasant had happened.
It would have been best if it were completely buried, but it was difficult to completely hide such a big commotion.
Even this much showed that Baron Hutton had handled things quickly and well.
“What kind of incident was it?”
“Just a minor accident.”
It wasn’t minor at all, but since I couldn’t tell her about it, I brushed it off vaguely.
Eria tactfully didn’t ask any more questions.
“Shall I help you change clothes?”
“No. I can change this much by myself. So could you leave now? I’m tired and want to be alone.”
“Understood.”
After Eria left, I sat in front of the vanity table, washing my face dry with my hands.
The woman reflected in the mirror looked haggard and unsightly.
Why won’t they leave me alone on days like this?
Both Andante and Aldor.
As memories of what both men did to me came flooding back simultaneously, I got goosebumps.
I wrapped my arms around my slightly trembling shoulders and lowered my head.
Aldor had falsely apologized to me, but I had also falsely forgiven him.
How could I sincerely forgive him after what he did to me?
It was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
* * *
“You don’t look well, Miss.”
The next day, late morning.
Eria, who had come to prepare a late breakfast, asked with concern.
“Did you not sleep properly?”
“Well, yes.”
There was no way I could sleep peacefully after what happened.
Even when I was so exhausted that I fell asleep like fainting, I kept waking up because what happened with Andante and Aldor alternately appeared in my dreams.
After waking up like that, I couldn’t fall asleep again for a while due to the aftermath.
‘It’ll probably be like this for a while.’
It took a whole year for the pain from Andante’s incident to dull.
I wonder how long this incident will take. I hope it dulls quickly.
“If you have insomnia, shall I bring you some tea that’s good for sleep? You can drink it and take an afternoon nap. You don’t have any special schedule today anyway.”
Hmm, should I?
“Please do.”
After thinking for a moment, it seemed like a good idea, so I accepted Eria’s suggestion.
Eria brought the tea near the end of the late breakfast.
It was a fragrant tea with a light reddish color.
“It’s chamomile.”
“You recognized it right away.”
“I used to drink this tea a lot before.”
It was the tea Misa had prepared for me when I suffered from insomnia and couldn’t sleep after the Dowager Duke and Duchess Williot passed away.
Besides this, she had prepared many other things like lavender scented candles, sleep pillows, and various other items.
Not just Misa. The butler and other servants of the Williot Duchy had also worried about me a lot and helped me.
I already missed them, but this incident made me miss them even more.
I should write a letter to Misa as soon as I return to the capital.
And to the other servants too, if possible.
Thinking this, I took a sip of the tea. The characteristic bitter-sweet taste of chamomile spread fragrantly in my mouth.
My utterly depressed mood seemed to improve even a little.
“May I clear the dishes you’ve finished?”
“Yes. I’ll sleep after drinking the tea, so you don’t need to come until I call for you.”
“Yes, Miss.”
After Eria left, I was drinking tea while reminiscing about memories with Misa and the others when I heard a knock.
Who is it? Is it Eria?
Or could it be… Aldor coming again?
I almost dropped the teacup as my grip loosened, but managed to place it on the table and looked at the door.
I should ask who it is, but I couldn’t open my mouth.
It was because of the anxiety that it might be Aldor.
Still, I should say something. It’s rude to keep the other person waiting too long.
Just as I was about to force myself to speak, the other person spoke first.
“Count Tebesa, are you not inside?”
It was Diane. I finally felt relieved and answered.
“No, I’m fine. Please come in.”
With my permission, the door opened and Diane carefully entered.
It was quite different from yesterday when she had bravely kicked down Aldor’s door and burst in.
“Are you alright, Count Tebesa?”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t explained anything to Diane.
She must have been very worried – it was my oversight.
I nodded brightly with a smile to show her I was fine.
“Yes, I’m alright. Fortunately, Young Master Huten confessed his crimes before receiving divine judgment, so it ended well.”
“That’s a relief.”
Diane visibly relaxed and patted her chest in relief.
“Um, could you spare me a moment?”
“Of course. I’ll have a maid bring tea right away.”
As I got up to pull the bell cord, Diane waved her hand.
“No, that’s not necessary. I have other appointments and need to leave soon. I came by briefly to check on your condition and because I have something I want to tell you.”
“Is that so?”
Come to think of it, she did say yesterday that she had something important to tell me.
Instead of sitting back down, I stood facing Diane.
Diane hesitated for a moment, unlike her usual self, then slowly opened her mouth.
“I’m… sorry.”
Sorry out of nowhere?
“What are you sorry about?”
“What I said to you yesterday.”
What she said to me? What…
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, she had talked about me being the Emperor’s mistress.
That’s why I had felt uncomfortable around Diane.
I had temporarily forgotten about it after experiencing something far more serious.
Yesterday I had been upset and disappointed with Diane, but not now.
It was partly because Diane had come to apologize sincerely first, but also because of the trust she had shown me during yesterday’s incident with Aldor.
Believing in me in that situation couldn’t have been easy, yet Diane had trusted me without wavering even slightly.
That alone was enough for me to forgive all her mistakes.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. People can misunderstand things in life.”
“It really was a misunderstanding.”
Diane made an embarrassed expression and scratched her cheek.
“I investigated Count Tebesa before coming to the Empire. Oh, of course I looked into others as well.”
That makes sense. I had done the same.
“But everyone said Count Tebesa was His Majesty the Emperor’s lover. So I really thought that was the case.”
“I understand. But that’s a false rumor. I’m simply His Majesty the Emperor’s aide.”
“Yes, I believe you.”
Diane nodded vigorously.
“You’re someone with the ability to warrant such a position.”
It was nice to be acknowledged by Diane, but I felt somewhat embarrassed and smiled awkwardly.
“Whatever the reason, I’m truly sorry for having such a strange misunderstanding. It wasn’t intentional.”
“Yes, I know.”
“That’s a relief.”
Diane smiled broadly, then looked at me cautiously and asked carefully.
“Um, Count Tebesa.”
“Yes.”
“If it wouldn’t be rude…”
As if it was difficult to say, Diane hesitated without speaking easily.
What is she trying to say that’s making her so troubled?
“If you have something to say, speak freely, Count Andrian.”
Unable to watch any longer, I encouraged her, and only then did Diane speak up.
“Um, if it wouldn’t be rude, could I call Count Tebesa by your name?”
Calling someone by their first name rather than their title meant an intimate relationship.
Usually, family members, lovers, and friends called each other by name.
Kalian also called me by name, but that was a special case.
In other words, Diane was now asking me to become friends.
I was taken aback. While I thought Diane and I had become quite close, I never dreamed she would make such a proposal first.
When I looked at her without saying anything, Diane smiled awkwardly.
“I guess that won’t work, will it? I’m sorry. I made an unreasonable request. Well then, get some rest. I’ll be going now…”
“Wait!”
As Diane tried to leave hurriedly, I grabbed her arm.
Diane’s eyes widened as she turned to look at me.
I looked at Diane and smiled brightly.
“You should hear my answer before you go, Diane.”
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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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