Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 152

“The white chrysanthemum flowers in front of Misa’s memorial tablet. Did you pick them up by hand and bring them?”

 

As soon as I met Kalian, I asked him right away. Then Kalian looked at me, a little perplexed.

 

“How do you… No, more than that, you see that…”

 

As I nodded, Kalian frowned.

 

“I told you to get a good night’s sleep, but you didn’t, and you must have gone to the orphanage early in the morning, huh?”

 

“Your Majesty didn’t sleep either.”

 

“I normally don’t sleep.”

 

“I don’t either.”

 

I was only telling the truth, but Kalian clicked his tongue as if he didn’t like it.

 

“You’re starting to be more and more like Ver in talking back. What a bad influence.”

 

“Then should I not?”

 

“That, too, resembles Ver.”

 

He really doesn’t like it, huh? 

 

Kalian muttered to himself, then inked the quill.

 

“You looked sad because there were no chrysanthemum flowers, so I just brought it. It’s also a way of honoring the person who has taken care of you.”

 

“But that doesn’t mean you have to pick the flowers by hand and bring them to…”

 

“At times like this, you can just say thank you.”

 

Kalian flatly dismissed it.

 

I smiled and bowed my head.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’re a good listener.”

 

Kalian signed a document and handed it to me.

 

“Bring this to the Justice Department, and what’s my afternoon schedule?”

 

After receiving the document, I told him his afternoon schedule.

 

“…that’s all.”

 

“I’m free for about an hour after lunch, huh?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Let’s practice horseback riding then.”

 

“I under… yes?”

 

There’s no way Kalian, who already knew how to ride a horse perfectly, was practicing horseback riding. Then, it’s clearly about me.

 

I shook my hand in panic.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“You said you wanted to ride a horse on New Year’s Day, right? There’s less than a month until New Year’s Day, so you have to practice diligently.”

 

That’s true, but it bothered me to take away Kalian’s time. That hour was also to give him a chance to catch his breath. Besides, since there was an accident before, I felt even more uncomfortable learning horseback riding from him.

 

“I cannot take Your Majesty’s precious time away.”

 

I couldn’t tell him the latter, so I just said the former.

 

“I’m doing this to warm up too, so you don’t have to think you’re taking my time away.”

 

Kalian smiled and stood up from his seat.

 

“That’s why let’s practice horseback riding then. I also want to see you parade around on horseback on New Year’s Day.”

 

How can I say no to that?

 

“I understand.”

 

I reluctantly accepted it.

 

*****

 

“I can’t believe she never contacted me ever since she broke up the engagement recklessly.”

 

Countess Thebesa snapped her fan irritably.

 

“How can she be just as selfish as before? I can’t find what I like about her no matter how hard I rub my eyes and look at her.”

 

Andante, sitting opposite her, hid his smirk behind his teacup.

 

“Don’t you think so too, Son?”

 

“Of course.”

 

When he lowered his teacup, he was smiling like a good son.

 

“But she is your only daughter, Mother. Please understand her with your great generosity.”

 

“Daughter? I’ve never thought of her as my daughter.”

 

Countess Thebesa snorted and folded her arms.

 

“At that time, I just raised her because I thought she would be useful. Because women can be used as a business for marriage.”

 

She thought it would be a good business if she could marry her even to a decent count, but Leila married the Duke of Williot.

 

No, she almost got married.

 

She was engaged and even prepared to get married. But stupidly, Leila declared that she didn’t want to marry Philen, and broke the engagement first.

 

Because Leila would be a duchess, Countess Thebesa had been waiting for her unexpected profit to fall into her hands. But she then heard the story and almost fainted.

 

Countess Thebesa wanted to run to Leila and say something to her immediately, but she didn’t, because of Philen.

 

“Leila will marry me anyway. So you don’t need to worry.”

 

She believed it and waited, but as anyone could see, the result was a mess. Leila and Philen eventually broke up, and Countess Thebesa won the sympathy and ridicule of society.

 

If everything went according to plan, I would have subjugated the social world with the reputation of being the stepmother of Duchess Williot on my back. I can’t believe I’m being treated like this.

 

“What a world’s unhelpful b*tch!”

 

Thinking about it again made Countess Thebesa angry, and she clutched her fan tightly.

 

“Calm down, Mother.”

 

Andante, on the other hand, smiled leisurely and said to Countess Thebesa.

 

“Even though Leila didn’t become Duchess Williot, she became the Emperor’s mistress instead.”

 

“Is that true?”

 

Countess Thebesa frowned.

 

“They said it’s a false rumor though.”

 

“Who said that?”

 

“Who said that? It’s all around. It also appeared in the article.”

 

“That’s a lie.”

 

Andante said, sipping his tea elegantly.

 

“The Emperor deliberately published a false article to protect Leila.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Of course. Have I ever lied to you, Mother?”

 

“No.”

 

“That’s why believe me.”

 

Andante moved to the seat next to Countess Thebesa and took her hand gently.

 

“It’s clear that Leila became the Emperor’s mistress. Otherwise, why would the Emperor have Leila as his aide?”

 

“Well, she’s a little outstanding but not smart enough to be an official.”

 

This time, Countess Thebesa took Andante’s hand.

 

“It’s you who are more suited to be an official.”

 

There was a lot of love in her eyes as she looked at her beloved son.

 

“My son needs to be an official quickly.”

 

I don’t really want to be an official though. 

 

The words lingered in his mouth and then disappeared.

 

If he told Countess Thebesa, she wouldn’t listen anyway, so Andante didn’t say anything.

 

“If that b*tch became Duchess Williot, I was going to ask her to include me as the vassal of the Duke of Williot. But since it is impossible now, you need to become an Imperial official.”

 

“An Imperial official?”

 

“Yeah. If she really became the Emperor’s mistress, wouldn’t it be easy to get a position like that?”

 

Countess Thebesa smiled brightly and stroked Andante’s cheek.

 

“So, let’s meet her and ask her to get a seat for you. If she knows shame, she will do that much for you.”

 

*****

 

As promised, we had lunch. Then, we headed to the riding practice field.

 

Me, Kalian.

 

“Wow, the weather is really nice.”

 

And Baron Delrond.

 

Kalian asked Baron Delrond with a frown.

 

“Why are you here?”

 

Baron Delrond grinned and looked at Kalian.

 

“Why am I here? I’m here to ride too.”

 

“Aren’t you busy?”

 

“It’s okay. I’m done with my work.”

 

“…”

 

It was then that Kalian closed his mouth and then tried to open it again.

 

Neigh-

 

The groom brought Ilena and Nero.

 

It’s been a long time since I saw Ilena.

 

“Ilena.”

 

I approached Ilena with a bright smile.

 

I was worried she might have forgotten me, but fortunately, Ilena accepted my touch without refusing.

 

Baron Delrond looked at me and exclaimed.

 

“Wow, Baron Aster. Are you riding Ilena?”

 

“Yes. Do you know Ilena?”

 

“Of course. Ilena is a fine horse that His Majesty brought back as a trophy when he was involved in a past war.”

 

In other words, it meant that she was a fine horse among fine horses.

 

It was very burdensome for me to have such a horse.

 

“As expected, I’m, Ilena…”

 

“Ilena already thinks of you as her owner.”

 

As if he knew what I would say, Kalian jumped onto Nero and said.

 

“So you have to take her with you no matter what. Or Ilena will think she’s been abandoned and feel hurt.”

 

No way.

 

I looked at Ilena in panic.

 

Her innocent, glittering eyes seemed to tell me that what Kalian had said was true.

 

“Then, shall we ride now?”

 

“Your Majesty, what about my horse?”

 

At Baron Delrond’s question, Kalian smirked.

 

“Why are you asking me that? Ver, you should have knowingly brought your horse.”

 

“You know I can’t bring my horse into the palace!”

 

Only horses and carriages authorized by the Emperor were allowed to enter the palace.

 

“Give me permission!”

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

“Then lend me Your Majesty’s horse!”

 

“I don’t want even more!”

 

“Seriously, look at that nasty temper!”

 

“Pfft.”

 

The way they fight was so funny that I burst into laughter without realizing it. Then, their eyes focused on me.

 

Hmm, I guess my laughter was too loud.

 

I smiled a little awkwardly and covered my mouth with my hand.

 

Baron Delrond and Kalian then glanced at each other and turned their heads.

 

“Since His Majesty won’t lend me a horse, I can’t help it. Baron Aster, let’s ride together.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Whose permission to let you ride Ilena?”

 

As Kalian spoke with a frown, Baron Delrond tilted his head.

 

“Of course, Baron Aster’s permission. Wasn’t Ilena’s owner Baron Aster?”

 

“Why do you think Ilena’s owner is Leila?”

 

“Didn’t Your Majesty already give it to her? You said so a few minutes ago. Don’t you remember?”

 

Whether it was right or not, Kalian shut his mouth, yet his frown was still there.

 

Either way, Baron Delrond asked me.

 

“Baron Aster, can I ride with you? It’s also a good way to teach the Baron how to ride.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“If you want to ride that much, I’ll lend you one.”

 

Kalian got off Nero and placed Nero’s reins in Baron Delrond’s hand.

 

“Ride Nero.”

 

Baron Delrond’s eyes widened. His mouth was wide open as his eyes.

 

“You, you want me to ride Nero? This ferocious horse?”

 

Neigh-

 

Nero grunted as if he understood Baron Delrond’s words.

 

“Nero isn’t like that, okay?”

 

“It isn’t like that?! It’s ferocious, you know?!”

 

“Enough.”

 

Kalian neatly ignored him and grabbed my shoulder.

 

“I’ll teach Leila how to ride, so you can get to know Nero in the meantime.”