Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 154

As in most households, it was the role of the empress or empress (concubine), who was the emperor’s wife, to prepare the emperor’s clothes. But Kalian had no empress or empress (concubine), so he had to prepare it himself.

 

I knew he had prepared it himself at the last banquet.

 

Yet, he wanted me to help him choose? 

 

“I understand.”

 

I was a little surprised for him to ask for my advice when there should be an exclusive designer, but since it was not difficult, I gladly replied that I would.

 

“Let’s go then.”

 

As we entered the inner palace’s drawing-room, the Imperial designers, who were waiting, politely greeted us.

 

“We see Your Majesty.”

 

Kalian nodded indifferently and sat down on the sofa.

 

I was about to stand behind him, but Kalian tapped the seat next to him.

 

“It’ll take a long time, so sit here instead of standing.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“I’m not okay. So sit down.”

 

I eventually sat down at his repeated words. Then, Kalian beckoned to the designers.

 

“Let’s get started.”

 

The Imperial designers showed design catalogs and fabrics to him and asked for his opinion.

 

“Leila, what do you think?”

 

Then, he asked me for my opinion.

 

“I think…”

 

I answered sincerely, recalling the style that was trending lately. I also helped Kalian choose the design and fabric.

 

“You are amazing.”

 

The designer clapped his hands in great admiration.

 

“What a very discerning eye you have. Well, noble ladies originally are sensitive to fashion, but they don’t know much about men’s clothes, yet Baron Aster knows men’s clothes well.”

 

That’s because I was in charge of Philen’s clothes when I was at the Duke of Williot.

 

I could just leave everything to the designer, from choosing clothes, ordering them, and using them at the right time, but I didn’t. It’s because I wanted to show others that I was Philen’s fiancée. I wanted to let everyone know that I worked this hard, so I tried to pick and take care of even the smallest things myself.

 

…it was all in vain though.

 

A bitter smile came out as I recalled what happened at the Duke of Williot’s residence.

 

“You praise me too much.”

 

Swallowing the bitter smile, I replied brightly, and then Kalian said, covering the catalog he was looking at.

 

“It seems to me, too, that Leila, you have a better eye than the designer.”

 

What the…

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

Kalian might have said it as a joke, but it could hurt the designer’s feelings. That’s why I was surprised and dissuaded him.

 

I then looked at the designer. Fortunately, he was smiling as if he wasn’t offended.

 

“Seriously. If Baron Aster isn’t Your Majesty’s aide, I would like to invite her to work with me immediately.”

 

“Oh my. I can’t let it just pass.”

 

Kalian replied jokingly.

 

“Leila is my aide. Don’t covet her.”

 

“It’s really such a shame.”

 

I knew it was all a joke, but it was still embarrassing. I felt like I wanted to go into a mouse hole. But I couldn’t do that, so I covered my hot, flushed face and lowered my head.

 

Thanks to this, I could quickly forget what happened at the Duke of Williot.

 

“Then let’s try on the sample, Your Majesty.”

 

At the designer’s suggestion, Kalian disappeared behind the veil to change his clothes.

 

New Year’s Day would be held for a week, so if I calculated roughly, Kalian would wear more than 10 clothes.

 

To match all the clothes, I looked at the catalog and picked some clothes Kalian would wear.

 

This is way out of fashion. 

 

Ah, this is too plain. His Majesty can’t wear plain clothes. 

 

Moreover, many foreign envoys would visit during New Year’s Day, so he had to show his dignity as an emperor.

 

Still, it would be better to dress modestly and plainly at the ancestral rite.

 

On New Year’s Day, an ancestral rite was held to pray to the Blue Dragon, who protects the Empire, for the Empire’s prosperity for the year.

 

If he wore glamour even then, it seemed like he was being too extravagant, so it would be better to reduce it adequately.

 

Still, I can’t abandon His Majesty’s dignity.

 

I kept searching the catalogs for decent clothes.

 

“Hmm?”

 

This… isn’t His Majesty too old to wear this?

 

The catalog described clothes worn by boys under 18 before coming-of-age ceremonies.

 

Looks like the designer brought the wrong one.

 

I put down the catalog I was looking at and picked up a new one.

 

It took a lot of time as I had to choose more than 10 clothes. Also, accessories such as hats, shoes, and cufflinks go with the clothes.

 

By the time I barely finished half of it, it was already dark outside the window. The moon, which rose high, showed that much time had passed.

 

“I think that’s all for today. Thanks for your time, Leila. You’ve helped me a lot.”

 

Kalian, who had changed into his casual clothes, said as he put the cufflinks on his wrist.

 

“So, in return for your help today, can I make you dress for New Year’s Day?”

 

“It’s okay. I was only doing my duty as an aide.”

 

“Why is this your duty as an aide?”

 

Kalian strode up to me. His long shadow fell on me in the moonlight coming through the window.

 

“This is completely a different matter with your job as an aide. You gave me your particularly precious time because of my insistence.”

 

“No. It’s working hours, so it’s okay.”

 

“Working hours have passed three hours ago. You also haven’t had dinner yet.”

 

I certainly hadn’t, but I wasn’t hungry because I ate a lot of bread and cookies that the maids brought while I chose the clothes. And it truly was enough to say that I had worked overtime.

 

“It’s because I feel uncomfortable.”

 

I still was going to refuse, but as if he knew what I thought, Kalian spoke first.

 

“So take it. Please.”

 

Only to accept that one reward, His Majesty even asked me to…

 

“I understand.”

 

I can’t refuse anymore. 

 

When I accepted, Kalian smiled contentedly.

 

I didn’t know why, but he looked very happy.

 

“Is there a style that you like?”

 

“There isn’t one in particular.”

 

Kalian chuckled.

 

“Then, what are you going to do if I give you something strange and ask you to wear it?”

 

I was a little worried when he said that, but it was funny that he was asking me that now.

 

I gave him a moderately decent answer.

 

“I believe you won’t.”

 

“…you believe me, huh?”

 

Kalian pondered my words and then smiled, stroking his chin.

 

“Okay. I’ll do my best to choose as much as you believe in me.”

 

It must be my illusion to feel like I had said something wrong, right?

 

“Then, shall we take your measurement?”

 

When Kalian beckoned, the designers approached me and measured my body. Meanwhile, Kalian was looking at the catalog.

 

If my memory was correct, that was the catalog I saw earlier. The catalog of clothes worn by boys under 18.

 

Seeing him pointing to the clothes in the catalog and talking with the designer, it didn’t seem like he was only looking at them.

 

Is it a gift? Who is the boy who would His Majesty give the gift that he chose himself?

 

Duchess Cloud’s son is less than five years old though.

 

“I have finished the measurements.”

 

I was thinking about various things when the designers retreated.

 

Looking at his watch, Kalian clicked his tongue.

 

“It’s getting late. I’ll prepare you a carriage, so ride it to the entrance of the Imperial Palace.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“I’m not okay. So ride it.”

 

When Kalian said that, he meant that he wouldn’t accept it even if I refused.

 

“I understand.”

 

I didn’t want to lose any more energy, so I accepted his offer.

 

*****

 

Early morning.

 

“Paul says there’s a plant he’s never seen in the garden.”

 

Sarah dried my wet hair and told me things I hadn’t heard because I came home late yesterday.

 

“At first, he thought it was a weed, so he just pulled it out, but the surviving ones hiding in the bushes even produced flower buds.”

 

“Then, are you saying it’s not a weed?”

 

“Yes. Paul said it was probably some flower seed that flew with the wind and took root here in the garden.”

 

Even so, I can’t believe that it even produces flower buds in this cold winter. It was bizarre yet admirable.

 

“What shall I do, My Lady? Should I tell him to remove it?”

 

“Don’t. If it’s not a weed, I think we can leave it alone as long as it’s a flower.”

 

“I understand.”

 

My hair dried up while we were talking. Then, Sarah tied my hair high in a ponytail.

 

“Are you coming back late again today?”

 

Ness asked when I put on my coat.

 

“I don’t know. I’ll have to see it later.”

 

“These days, you leave early to go to the orphanage, and then you come back late. It made me worried and wonder if you’re going to collapse at this rate.”

 

“This much is fine.”

 

Because I’ve lived a more difficult life than this, you know?

 

“Then, I’ll be back.”

 

“Have a nice day, My Lady.”

 

I said goodbye to Sarah and the other servants and got into the carriage.

 

The carriage, which was running diligently, stopped in front of a flower shop.

 

It was customary to put white chrysanthemum flowers in front of the memorial tablet, but I bought a bouquet of roses because I wanted to put flowers that Misa liked at least once.

 

Among the roses, Misa’s favorite flower was the yellow rose. Unfortunately, it was winter, so yellow roses were not available, so I bought a bouquet of red roses.

 

When spring comes later, I’ll put a bouquet of yellow roses, since I will keep Misa’s memorial tablet in my mansion.

 

Soothing my regret, I headed to the orphanage.

 

“Welcome, Baron.”

 

“Good morning, Baron.”

 

“Hello.”

 

I greeted the people I had become quite close with and entered the room where Misa’s memorial tablet was placed.

 

I was about to put down the bouquet of roses right away, but…

 

“Oh?”

 

A bouquet of roses was already there in front of Misa’s memorial tablet. Misa’s favorite flower, yellow roses.

 

I didn’t even have to find out who brought it. Because the only place where yellow roses bloom in this cold winter was the greenhouse of the Imperial Palace.

 

His Majesty brought it, huh? 

 

In the past, while talking about Misa, I once said in passing that Misa liked yellow roses.

 

It seemed that Kalian remembered that and brought a bouquet of yellow roses.

 

“What a kind person.”

 

Just the thought of Kalian warmed my heart.

 

I smiled lightly and picked up the yellow rose petals that had fallen on the floor.