I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 97

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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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#97

 

If he was going to the separate palace, he naturally had to go.

 

“I’ll prepare quickly and return.”

 

Ber took the documents he had gathered to the aide’s office and came back to find Kalian.

 

In the meantime, Kalian had neatly put on his coat and was holding a large box in his hands.

 

Normally, the attendants would have made a fuss saying they would carry it for him, but for some reason, none of them said anything.

 

Ber was the same way.

 

He simply checked the contents inside the box and smiled.

 

“That person will like it.”

 

“I hope so.”

 

A faint smile appeared on Kalian’s lips.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

They headed to the separate palace located deeper inside than the imperial palace, in the deepest part of the imperial palace.

 

The separate palace was incredibly beautiful. The garden was full of blooming golden Royal Roses, and there was a large fountain in the center.

 

In the center of the fountain was a baby angel statue carrying a large water jar, continuously pouring clear water.

 

It was when Kalian’s group had passed the fountain a little.

 

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-

 

Urgent footsteps could be heard from somewhere.

 

Shortly after, the bushes next to Kalian rustled, and a boy about waist-high to him suddenly popped out.

 

Hair of a slightly lighter blue than Kalian’s fluttered softly in the wind.

 

His clean skin sparkled under the sunlight.

 

Boldly, the boy wrapped his arms around Kalian’s waist, but no one stopped the boy.

 

Kalian was the same way. Instead of scolding him for being presumptuous or asking what he was doing, he looked at the boy with a gentle smile.

 

“Hes.”

 

When Kalian called his name, the boy who had been burying his face at Kalian’s waist suddenly raised his head to look up at Kalian.

 

Sky-blue eyes resembling the heavens sparkled clearly.

 

The boy smiled brightly, showing his pure white, even teeth.

 

* * *

 

After that, Count Hiltain tasted all the food I was going to eat first to check whether there was poison or not.

 

It was fortunate that I didn’t eat with other people, because if others had seen this, it would have been quite embarrassing.

 

Hiltain not only detected poison for me but also taught me how to detect it.

 

“The most basic method is to detect it with silver. Silver is the best tool for detecting poison, but there are more poisons in the world that can’t be detected with silver.”

 

“What do you do in that case?”

 

“The second method is to detect it by taste or smell, but this is dangerous in many ways. If someone without immunity eats it wrongly, they could die.”

 

Die? Just hearing it made my spine shiver.

 

“The third method is to make the suspected person eat it first.”

 

“The other person?”

 

“Yes. If they poisoned it, they would never eat it.”

 

Ah, that makes sense. It was a reasonable point.

 

The diligently running carriage stopped in front of an inn. It was the dining hall where we would stay for the day.

 

Here too, Count Hiltain unfailingly tasted the food I was going to eat first.

 

This kind of work was usually done by commoners. Noble children who entered the palace as attendants or maids sometimes did this too, but that was for royalty higher than themselves.

 

They didn’t do this kind of work for fellow nobles.

 

But was he unbothered by it? Other noble children would have been hurt in their pride even if it was for escort purposes.

 

“You may eat.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Only after Count Hiltain gave permission did I eat the soup.

 

Perhaps because it was the inn owner’s special soup, it tasted quite good.

 

The meal proceeded in a quiet atmosphere. It wasn’t awkward or anything though.

 

At first, it was awkward eating alone with Count Hiltain because he was so expressionless and quiet, but now I was used to it.

 

When we were halfway through the meal, a server approached and filled our empty water glasses.

 

Just when I was thirsty and about to drink water, Count Hiltain took my water glass.

 

“I’ll taste it first.”

 

“I don’t think you need to check something like this.”

 

“There are no exceptions.”

 

…I suppose so.

 

Count Hiltain stubbornly confirmed there was no poison before returning the water glass to me.

 

Although he had taken it with a spoon, it felt strange to drink water that someone else had drunk.

 

“Are you still eating?”

 

When I had almost emptied my soup bowl, Viscount Valdir approached and asked.

 

It didn’t seem like he had simply come to ask after my well-being while passing by.

 

He wasn’t the type of person to do such things either.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“I have something to say to the Princess. Could we talk privately for a moment after you finish eating?”

 

What does he want to talk about?

 

I was curious. Since I had almost finished eating anyway, I put down my spoon and stood up.

 

“Where should I go?”

 

“Let’s talk in my room. That would be the best place.”

 

After nodding, I followed behind him, and Count Hiltain naturally followed me and Viscount Valdir.

 

Viscount Valdir frowned and glared at Count Hiltain.

 

“Didn’t you hear me say I wanted to talk with Princess Tebesa privately?”

 

Hiltain didn’t answer and maintained his silence.

 

I had noticed this before, but he rarely spoke with anyone other than me.

 

Being quiet could be passed off as being taciturn, but not even answering questions was perfect for making others misunderstand that he was ignoring them.

 

Viscount Valdir was the same way. His expression became even more menacing.

 

“Calm down, Your Excellency.”

 

I stopped Viscount Valdir and then looked at Count Hiltain.

 

“Count Hiltain, I’ll have a brief conversation with His Excellency the Viscount and return, so please wait here for a moment.”

 

“That’s not possible. Something might happen in the meantime.”

 

“Are you saying I would do something to Princess Tebesa?”

 

Oh no. I touched a nerve.

 

“You, speak up! Is that what you meant?”

 

“…”

 

“That couldn’t be the case, Your Excellency the Viscount.”

 

I answered on behalf of Count Hiltain who gave no response.

 

Then Viscount Valdir looked at me as if it were absurd.

 

“Since when did the Princess become that bastard’s spokesperson?”

 

“It’s not like that…”

 

“If it’s not like that, then let that bastard answer directly instead of the Princess.”

 

Even if he’s angry, calling him “that bastard.”

 

I frowned at his excessive language.

 

“Did you hear what I said, or did you not hear it?”

 

If he doesn’t answer this time, it’ll really be trouble.

 

I looked at Count Hiltain with an anxious heart.

 

Count Hiltain’s eyebrows twitched slightly as our eyes met, and he slowly opened his mouth.

 

“…I heard.”

 

He answered. Thank goodness.

 

“And yet you still intend to follow?”

 

Count Hiltain expressed his affirmation through silence.

 

Viscount Valdir let out an exasperated breath and glared at Count Hiltain.

 

“How dare a mere commoner disrespect me, a viscount?”

 

A commoner… he was?

 

Though I had often thought his manner of speaking and behavior weren’t quite aristocratic, I never dreamed he might be a commoner.

 

When I turned to look at Count Hiltain in surprise, he avoided my gaze.

 

It was the first time he had avoided my eyes first since that night when the incident happened.

 

“I command you as a viscount. Wait here.”

 

“His Majesty the Emperor’s orders take precedence over Your Excellency’s commands.”

 

Even at Viscount Valdir’s commanding tone, Count Hiltain didn’t back down in the slightest.

 

When he mentioned it was His Majesty the Emperor’s order, how could he continue to be so stubborn?

 

“Do as you please!”

 

Viscount Valdir turned away with a flushed face.

 

When we arrived at his room, I sat facing the viscount across a table.

 

Count Hiltain stood behind me.

 

His aide came in, set down teacups and a teapot on the table, and left.

 

“This is tea the innkeeper recommended. He said it’s a local specialty.”

 

Viscount Valdir was kind enough to personally fill a teacup and place it before me.

 

The pale yellow tea water rippled gently.

 

“I wanted to introduce it to the Princess, so I specifically had them bring some. Please try it.”

 

His uncharacteristic kindness felt suspicious.

 

…Could this man have been the one who poisoned the cookies?

 

As I stared at the teacup, a hand suddenly shot out from behind me and grabbed it.

 

It was Count Hiltain. Without giving me time to say anything, he downed the hot tea in one gulp.

 

Both I and Viscount Valdir stared at him in bewilderment at Count Hiltain’s actions.

 

Regardless, Count Hiltain looked at the empty teacup for a moment, then set it back down in front of me and nodded.

 

It meant there was no poison, so it was safe to drink.

 

“Such lack of manners…!”

 

Viscount Valdir, having regained his composure, glared at Count Hiltain indignantly.

 

I knew why Count Hiltain had acted this way, but Viscount Valdir knew nothing.

 

So it was natural for Viscount Valdir to be angry.

 

This is bad.

 

No matter how much Count Hiltain was His Majesty the Emperor’s knight, his status was still lower than Viscount Valdir’s.

 

Even if the viscount punished him over this, I wouldn’t be able to stop it.

 

I hurriedly spoke to the viscount to divert his attention.

 

“What did you wish to discuss with me?”

 

“…”

 

Fortunately, it seemed to work as Viscount Valdir’s expression instantly calmed.

 

“Ahem.”

 

He cleared his throat lightly before speaking to me.

 

“This isn’t my opinion, but the opinion of those under me.”

 

Just from that one sentence, I had a strong feeling about what he wanted to say to me.

 

He’s going to talk about ‘that matter.’

 

“They all say it would be better to attribute the Princess’s achievements in this diplomatic meeting with the Kingdom of Natsha to the entire Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

 

It was exactly as I had expected. Since I wouldn’t come around easily, he must have stepped forward himself.

 

Viscount Valdir’s proposal didn’t require any consideration. My answer was firm.

 

I answered as soon as Viscount Valdir finished speaking.

 

“I must decline.”

 

At my answer, Viscount Valdir frowned as if greatly displeased.

 

“You answer without even a moment’s consideration.”

 

“Because this is a matter I’ve already refused several times.”

 

“Still, couldn’t you think about it once more?”

 

Is that so? I don’t think so at all.

 

But since Viscount Valdir wanted me to consider it even briefly, there was no reason I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t difficult.

 

I thought for a moment, then answered.

 

“I still must decline.”

 

Even though I had done as he wished, this too seemed to displease him as deep wrinkles formed between his brows.

 

He asked me without hiding his discomfort.

 

“Why do you refuse?”

 

I wanted to ask him why he was trying to steal my achievements, but it was regrettable that I couldn’t.

 

I already knew the reason, so there was no need to ask.

 

Since I couldn’t tell him my reasons for refusing, I instead questioned him.

 

“Your Excellency, are you someone who carelessly steals others’ achievements for your own authority and benefit?”

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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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