Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 136

In an instant, silence fell in the hall.

 

Leila also looked at Kalian in great surprise.

 

“The press conference was taking too long, so I came out to see what’s happening. Turns out you were talking about something interesting.”

 

His thick eyebrows drew a straight line, and his dark blue eyes gleamed fiercely.

 

As Kalian approached the podium, Leila and Ver naturally stepped back.

 

“If you have something to ask, ask it.”

 

Standing in front of the podium, Kalian looked through the reporters.

 

The reporters were busy avoiding Kalian’s gaze. Drog also kept his mouth shut with his head down.

 

“Because I’ll answer it myself.”

 

The opportunity for the emperor to directly answer questions was rare. It was an opportunity they should have seized, but everyone was unable to do so and only kept their mouths shut.

 

“Why aren’t you talking?”

 

The smirk on Kalian’s lips deepened.

 

“You talked so well earlier, but now you’re quiet.”

 

That’s because you weren’t there back then!

 

Not to leave a seed of trouble, Kalian even mercilessly killed a speechless infant.

 

It was not for nothing that he was given the title of the Slaughter Emperor. There was no one big enough to speak lightly in front of such an opponent.

 

“Did everyone become honey-eating mute?”

 

Kalian let out a small laugh and leaned his upper body on the podium.

 

“Did you say your name is Drog?”

 

Then he looked at Drog.

 

Drog’s shoulders flinched when his name was called.

 

“You seemed to be dissatisfied with Baron Aster being my aide.”

 

“Th, that can’t be!”

 

Drog was visibly flustered and shouted.

 

“I, I just asked because people were curious. As, as a reporter, I have to relieve people’s curiosity…”

 

“What a life-threatening professional spirit you have.”

 

The smile on Kalian’s lips deepened.

 

“That’s amazing. I want to give you a round of applause.”

 

I have to say something. Or I’ll die.

 

Feeling threatened for his life, Drog hurriedly spoke up.

 

“Your Majesty, I…”

 

“I’ll buy that high spirit and give you a special opportunity.”

 

After interrupting Drog’s words again, Kalian smiled eerily.

 

Just by looking at the eerie smile, Drog trembled. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

 

What kind of punishment is he trying to give me with a smile like that?

 

Kalian said it was an opportunity, but Drog didn’t think so. It was clearly a punishment disguised as an opportunity.

 

“Write an article.”

 

“…yes?”

 

Drog immediately questioned his unexpected words. Realizing that his opponent was the emperor, he lowered his head.

 

“Wh, what kind of article are you talking about…”

 

“What kind of article? Of course, an article about what people are curious about.”

 

What people are curious about?

 

“Do you mean the relationship between Your Majesty and Baron Aster?”

 

“Yeah, that one.”

 

He asked just in case, but it’s really that one.

 

If it was that, of course, he was going to write an article about it. Because it was a matter that people were constantly interested in.

 

To write an accurate article, that’s why Drog kept asking questions to the extent that Leila and Ver were flustered. There were other reasons, but that was the biggest. Because it was suicidal to give misinformation against the Imperial family. He could have been arrested for contempt of the Imperial family.

 

But to write the article…

 

Is he saying that in the hope that I will make a false report? To arrest me for contempt of the Imperial family?

 

It was when Drog rolled his eyes like crazy, judging Kalian’s intentions.

 

“Once again, Baron Aster is just my aide.”

 

Kalian, who firmly repeated his words, went down the platform.

 

“Your…”

 

Kalian’s sudden action made Leila hastily try to catch him, but Ver caught her first. Duke Giltian and the other nobles also didn’t step up.

 

Kalian went down the platform and walked towards Drog. Those who stood in his way split up like the Red Sea.

 

Drog threw the notebook he was holding and knelt down.

 

“Your, Your Majesty.”

 

Then he slumped down so that his head touched the ground.

 

“Is it okay for a person with a strong professional spirit to throw away his notebook?”

 

Kalian himself picked up the notebook and handed it to Drog. But Drog continued to lie down without thinking about receiving it. His body kept trembling like an aspen.

 

“Take it.”

 

At the words, Drog finally took the notebook.

 

His hands were shaking so much that it took him a while to put the notebook in his arms.

 

“So, are you going to write the article?”

 

Drog nodded his head bigly.

 

“Of course. I will write the article as soon as I get back.”

 

“What’s the content?”

 

“I will write an article stating that Baron Aster has nothing to do with His Majesty and that she is merely an aide.”

 

“Yeah, make sure you write it down. So that other people can know for sure.”

 

His lips drawing an arc were terrifying.

 

“If this rumor keeps circulating even after the article is published, it is because you wrote it wrong. If that happens, I will hold you accountable.”

 

What nonsense is this?

 

Even if he wrote the article properly, it was people’s choice to believe it or not. It wasn’t something he could do anything about. But to say something like that, he was scared.

 

“I, I understand.”

 

Even though Drog was shocked inwardly at the threatening mood that pressed his whole body down, he still replied that he understood.

 

As expected, it’s a punishment disguised as an opportunity.

 

*****

 

The press conference ended in a tense atmosphere as if walking on thin ice.

 

The reporters who attended the press conference ran away without looking back. In particular, a reporter named Drog went out faster than anyone else. As he walked, he fell unsightly, as if his legs had lost their strength.

 

“Serves him right.”

 

Baron Delrond laughed at Drog.

 

“That reporter, I actually was still annoyed, but I’m glad he got scolded.”

 

“Do you know that reporter?”

 

“He is a vicious reporter who digs into other people’s privacy under the pretext that the people have the right to know.”

 

“We can arrest him then.”

 

It’s illegal to dig into someone’s privacy, isn’t it?

 

When I said that in wonder, Baron Delrond frowned as if annoyed.

 

“I want to do that, too. But the problem is that he works only within the boundaries of the law. So, even if he gets arrested, it ends with a simple disciplinary action.”

 

“Such a pity.”

 

“I know, right?”

 

Baron Delrond and I sighed and proceeded with the rest of the schedule.

 

However, Kalian’s expression was not good throughout the schedule. He seemed to worry about something.

 

“Is something wrong, Your Majesty?”

 

I asked Kalian carefully, avoiding people’s eyes. Then Kalian answered as he walked silently.

 

“Nothing.”

 

No. I think there’s something wrong though.

 

“Is it because of what happened earlier?”

 

Kalian affirmed in silence.

 

As expected, it was because of that.

 

Well, I also was still worried about it, but it didn’t mean it would make any difference.

 

“The misunderstanding will be cleared up soon since the reporters said they would write the article properly. So don’t worry too much, Your Majesty.”

 

Kalian stopped walking at my words and looked back at me.

 

“…misunderstanding.”

 

His blue eyes darkened. The hard corners of his lips made him look like he was angry.

 

Did I say something wrong?

 

I politely stood with my hands clasped and waited for him to speak.

 

“…”

 

But Kalian turned his head again without saying a word.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Kalian stepped forward. It meant that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

 

I couldn’t keep asking even if I was curious why he was like that.

 

“The next schedule is…”

 

So I swallowed my curiosity and followed Kalian,

 

*****

 

After leaving the orphanage, Drog crept out of the crowds, which were still crowded, and hid, running away into a deserted alley.

 

In the alleyway, a man in a hood was waiting for him. A glimpse of black hair could be seen through the hood.

 

Drog, who stood before the figure, reached his hand with an irritated look.

 

“I did what you said! So give me the money!”

 

“Are you sure you did everything?”

 

“Of course! My life has been put in jeopardy because of it!”

 

Drog shuddered as he recalled seeing the emperor right in front of his eyes. It was something he never wanted to experience again.

 

“Give me the money quickly!”

 

When the figure held out a pocket, Drog took it as if snatching it. He finally smiled after checking the gold coins in it.

 

The figure then held out another pocket to Drog.

 

“If you publish an article like I want, I’ll give it to you as well.”

 

The pocket contained more gold coins than Drog had received.

 

How much is that?

 

Drog swallowed his dry saliva. With that, he didn’t have to worry about money for at least ten years.

 

“What article do you want me to write?”

 

“You can write an article about the subtle relationship between the Emperor and Baron Aster.”

 

Drog, who greedily looked at the pocket, shook his head in surprise at the following words.

 

“Are you crazy? Write an article like that? You want me to die right now?!”

 

The figure tilted his head slightly as if wondering.

 

“Why are you overreacting? What happened?”

 

“It’s not like anything happened!”

 

The gaze that looked at him with murderous intent and an eerie smile. The creepy voice, saying he would hold him accountable if the rumor kept circulating even after the article was published, continued to ring in his ears.

 

As a long-time reporter, he was sure Kalian wasn’t joking. He meant it.

 

And he wants me to write an article like that?

 

“I’ll never write it, so go find someone else!”

 

No matter how much money there is, it’s not better than life. What’s the use of money if I die?

 

Drog was terrified and ran away.

 

The figure, who was left alone, put the pocket in his pocket and took off his hood.

 

His pitch-black hair fluttered in the wind. His black eyes mixed with a bit of brown bent pleasantly.

 

“Oh my, I was trying to help my beloved sister though, but no one wanted to help me.”

 

The man murmured as if it was such a pity and went into the alleyway.