Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 146

“I’m glad you welcomed me when I visited suddenly without contacting you first.”

 

Why doesn’t she drop the honorifics?

 

I was a little puzzled.

 

She was a princess before she became a duchess. Apart from the fact that she was a high-ranking noble now, it was rare for an Imperial family to speak up to a lower-ranking noble like me.

 

And even if she is simply a duchess, why doesn’t she drop the honorifics?

 

I sat across from the Duchess with such questions in my mind.

 

Sarah, who followed me in, politely poured tea into my cup and then filled the Duchess’s half-empty teacup.

 

A little while ago, she was trembling, not knowing what to do, but now she wasn’t trembling at all, doing her part brilliantly.

 

She’s laudable. I should compliment her later.

 

I drank the tea, smiling happily.

 

“The tea tastes familiar.”

 

The Duchess lifted her teacup and asked.

 

“If I remember correctly, this is probably the tea His Majesty drinks often. Am I right?”

 

“You are right.”

 

I was supposed to treat Kalian to dinner in return for teaching me horseback riding today, so I bought his favorite tea in advance.

 

Was it just tea? I also prepared refreshments and food that Kalian liked as well.

 

…though it was all useless.

 

I wasn’t upset or anything like that. I was just kind of worried. If his expression was good earlier, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but I was more worried because it wasn’t.

 

“Oh my. Your expression is dark. Is there something wrong?”

 

Seeing the Duchess asking me that, I must have shown my worries on my face without realizing it.

 

I’m so silly. I can’t even control my expression. 

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

I immediately fixed my expression and straightened my back.

 

“What is the matter?”

 

“I just stopped by on my way.”

 

“I see.”

 

“You don’t believe it, right?”

 

Of course, I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it when she, who had no acquaintance with me, suddenly came to visit me without any contact just like that.

 

But rather than stating my thoughts, I replied with a slight twist.

 

“The Duchess came suddenly without contacting me, so I can only guess something big has happened.”

 

The Duchess tilted her lips at an angle.

 

“As expected, the Baron must not like that I suddenly came to visit you, huh?”

 

“I didn’t mean it that way, but I apologize if it sounded like that.”

 

As I bowed my head and apologized, the Duchess smiled slightly.

 

“The Baron is more prim and proper than I thought. Maybe that’s why His Majesty gave the Baron his heart.”

 

His Majesty… gave me his heart?

 

What does she mean by that?

 

I looked at the Duchess at her unexpected remark, but she seemed unwilling to explain what she had said.

 

At that moment, the Duchess put the teacup on her lap and glanced at Sarah.

 

She wanted Sarah to get out.

 

“Sarah, you can get out now.”

 

When Sarah left, the Duchess finally spoke.

 

“As the Baron expected, I’m here to talk to you.”

 

Is she finally getting down to business? 

 

“You can speak comfortably.”

 

“What does the Baron think of His Majesty?”

 

“I think he is a good person.”

 

“Not such a stereotyped answer.”

 

The Duchess continued, putting the teacup down on the table.

 

“I want to know what the Baron thinks of His Majesty as a man.”

 

As… a man?

 

When she asked that out of the blue, I suddenly remembered that I accidentally kissed Kalian today.

 

I could feel my face burning up. My heart began to beat violently with it.

 

“Why is your face so red, Baron Aster?”

 

The Duchess’s eyes curved beautifully like a crescent moon.

 

“Did anything happen between you and His Majesty enough to make you blush like this?”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

My heart was still thumping. The scene from that time lingered in my head, and the touch lingered on my lips, but I tried to pretend to be calm and answered.

 

“I was just a little flustered as it was an unexpected question.”

 

I deliberately spoke slowly and bought time to calm my violently beating heart. Also, I erased the memory of that time by shaking my head slightly. I bit my lip gently, covering the feeling of that moment.

 

“If you don’t mind, may I ask why you asked?”

 

“Why do you think I asked you that, Baron?”

 

There’s a reason I could guess, but I didn’t know if I could say it outright, so I paused for a moment, then cautiously spoke out.

 

“Is it because the Duchess thinks I’m His Majesty’s mistress?”

 

The rumor had calmed down since the article was published, but literally, only the rumor was silenced. There were still many who thought I was the emperor’s mistress.

 

Could Duchess Cloud be one of them?

 

So I wondered if she came to warn me, but maybe it wasn’t, the Duchess smiled and shook her head.

 

“No.”

 

“Then…?”

 

The Duchess replied after taking a sip of the already-cooled tea.

 

“I asked you this for His Majesty’s marriage.”

 

Marriage? But why me…

 

“His Majesty is 27 this year. He should have already had three or four children.”

 

Nobles usually had their coming-of-age ceremony at 18, then got married and had children before 20.

 

As in the Imperial family’s case, they often got married at a younger age under the pretext of increasing the number of their descendants. In addition, the emperor could have four more empresses (concubine), except for the empress. So at 27, as the Duchess said, it was normal to have three or four children.

 

“However, he hasn’t married, let alone had a child, so I’m very worried.”

 

The Duchess put her hand on her cheek and let out a deep sigh. A lot of worry was oozing from her narrowed eyebrows.

 

“Even ordinary nobles worry about things like this, that’s why I’m even more worried because His Majesty is like that. Don’t you think so too, Baron?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded because I was also wondering why His Majesty had never brought in a single empress(concubine).

 

“I asked you this because I was curious about how His Majesty looks to ladies of the Baron’s age.”

 

The Duchess smiled, putting her teacup back on the table.

 

“If you want to stand next to the emperor, you need to have the right status and qualifications, but then your heart is also important. If you’re too afraid of His Majesty, you would be in trouble, right?”

 

Ah, so that’s what it was.

 

I had been very rude to her, making such a misunderstanding without knowing that.

 

“I apologize, Duchess. I misunderstood needlessly.”

 

“No. I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up now. So, can the Baron tell me what she thinks?”

 

The Duchess covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled lightly.

 

“Compared to the ladies of your age, the Baron was the closest to His Majesty, so you must know him well, right?”

 

I replied, a little perplexed.

 

“I am, but I have never looked at His Majesty as the opposite sex.”

 

I just thought that he was the boss I needed to serve. That’s exactly right.

 

“So I don’t know if I could be of help to the Duchess.”

 

“You really never?”

 

For some reason, Duchess Cloud looked bewildered.

 

“You never saw His Majesty as the opposite sex until now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded, somewhat puzzled.

 

“Ha.”

 

Then the Duchess let out a sharp breath and ran her hands through her hair. The gap between her eyebrows narrowed.

 

“No matter how similar people are attracted to each other, there is no need to resemble this much.”

 

What does she mean by that?

 

“Madam?”

 

When I called in wonder, the Duchess sighed deeply and shook her head.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

Then she looked at me with a light smile as if she had never frowned.

 

“Even if it’s not the opposite sex… tell me what the Baron thinks.”

 

“As I said, I think he is a good person.”

 

“Again?”

 

What else should I say?

 

“Hmm, His Majesty is kind and attentive.”

 

I should also tell her why I think this way, right? 

 

“He makes sure his aides eat on time and see if we are not overworked. He also immediately notices that we are not feeling well and calls the doctor.”

 

The Duchess looked at me with her eyes twinkling. It was a look that wanted me to tell her more.

 

“If I have any difficulties, he told me to tell him at any time and that he would be happy to help…”

 

Ah, I guess this is too subjective.

 

The Duchess asked me what I thought, so it would be helpful for her to be as objective as possible.

 

“And he is handsome.”

 

This is something everyone could only admit.

 

“He also has the ability.”

 

He is an emperor, but just by looking at him, Kalian himself is a capable enough man.  

 

“The rumors were a little bad, but I think it’s unavoidable.”

 

If Kalian didn’t do that at the time, he would have died.

 

“So, I hope the other ladies will not be too prejudiced and look at His Majesty.”

 

So, may a good person become the empress and stand beside His Majesty’s… side. 

 

Suddenly, a stinging sensation passed through my chest.

 

Why do I feel this way?

 

I gently put my hand on my chest.

 

Is it because I’ve been working too hard on horseback riding that it puts a strain on my heart?

 

“I see. I understand the Baron’s thoughts well.”

 

The Duchess, who had been silently listening to me, nodded.

 

“If His Majesty is really such a person, any lady will fall in love with His Majesty immediately.”

 

Of course, I had to answer that they would, but for some reason, my mouth couldn’t open. The mysterious pain that hit my chest was still there.

 

“Then, can I ask you one more thing, Baron?”

 

“Yes, as long as I can do it.”

 

“Give this to His Majesty.”

 

The Duchess gave me an envelope that she had next to her.

 

What is it? I don’t think it’s a letter.

 

“This is a list of ladies who, in my opinion, are qualified to become the empress.”

 

I paused for a moment at the unexpected words without receiving the envelope.

 

“Please give this to His Majesty. You must also say that I wish him to bring in an empress, along with this.”

 

The pain, which had been circling around my heart, was getting worse and worse. It was so painful that it felt like it was gnawing at my heart. My mouth also felt bitter, as if I had chewed medicinal herbs, but I tried hard to smile and nodded.

 

“Yes. I will.”

 

“Lastly, please be sure to tell His Majesty the Baron’s opinion on what I said.”

 

The Duchess said with a smile.

 

“I wish you to tell His Majesty whether you have the same opinion as me or have a different opinion.”