I Won’t Pick Up The Trash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 135

Aster Orphanage? 

I was bewildered.

Is this why he hid it from me?

I stared blankly at the sign and then looked at Kalian. He was smiling contentedly alone in the midst of everyone’s bewilderment.

What on earth is he thinking?

I couldn’t fathom his intentions, but one thing was for sure. It had to be stopped.

The sign was not hung yet, so I should stop it now.

“Your…”

“Your Majesty.”

When I was about to speak, Duke Giltian opened his mouth first.

“May I ask why you named the first orphanage operated under Imperial patronage after Baron Aster’s surname?”

The noblemen, who had been buzzing, shut their mouths all at once and looked at Kalian. The crowd outside the main gate was still chattering, but inside the main gate was a deadly silence.

I also looked at Kalian and waited for his answer.

“You’re asking for an answer that’s too obvious.”

While everyone was nervous, Kalian answered with a bright smile.

“It’s because Baron Aster’s contribution to the success of this childcare project was the biggest.”

Kalian tilted his head slightly, glancing at the nobles, who were still displeased.

“Originally, wasn’t it based on the surname of the person who made the most contributions? Am I wrong?”

“…”

“Count Kevin, am I wrong?”

“Yes, yes?”

Count Kevin, who was pointed out of the blue, hesitated before answering.

“O, of course, Your Majesty is right. However, since it is the first childcare institution, I think it would be more appropriate to name this place after the Imperial family’s surname or the Empire’s name.”

Contrary to his initial bewilderment, Count Kevin calmly expressed his opinion.

“He is right. I think Baron Aster’s surname can be used when the next childcare institution is established.”

“Although Baron Aster contributed a lot to this childcare project, isn’t it because of His Majesty’s help? That’s why…”

“No.”

Kalian said, cutting his words.

“This childcare project is purely Baron Aster’s work. It was Baron Aster who first came up with this, and it was also Baron Aster who revealed the temple’s dirty secrets and brought the childcare project up to this point.”

Kalian looked at me. His dark blue eyes twinkled slightly. It was as if telling me not to worry about anything.

“That’s why it is right to name it after Baron Aster’s surname.”

At the repeated words, the nobles shut their mouths like honey-eating mute.

“Everyone looks bad. Why is it?”

Kalian’s gaze, who glanced over all the nobles once again, stopped at Duke Giltian.

“Duke Giltian, will you explain on behalf of the nobles?”

Duke Giltian thought for a moment, then answered with a smile on his wrinkled lips.

“You don’t have to worry about it too much. Everyone is just surprised by something they didn’t even think of.”

“Ah, is that so?”

The corner of Kalian’s lips went up smoothly.

“I thought they’re like that because Baron Aster is a woman, like before.”

The cold atmosphere subsided even more.

A deep frown appeared between Duke Giltian’s eyebrows.

Aren’t the two of them close?

Looking at this, it didn’t look like it again. What an unpredictable relationship.

Kalian’s behavior was unpredictable as well. However, it didn’t mean that Kalian was wrong. It was all true.

If I were not a woman, I would have expected that the childcare institution would be named after my surname, but since I was a woman, I never thought about it. That’s why I didn’t expect him to make this decision.

I was flustered. I didn’t know how to react.

As expected, it would be right to refuse.

…but why do I have to refuse?

Conflicting thoughts filled my head at the same time.

Considering the attention around me, it was right to refuse. Then, even if there was a noise now, it would soon be quiet.

But I didn’t do anything bad. I felt like a fool when I looked at them, and I also felt sorry for Kalian, who took care of me so much.

“Then we should ask Baron Aster.”

I was mentioned suddenly. I woke up from my own thoughts and looked at Kalian.

“Baron Aster.”

Kalian looked at me gently and asked.

“Do you want to change the name of the childcare institution?”

The eyes of the nobles were focused on me. Everyone was expecting me to answer yes.

My heart, which had been shaking without being able to take its eyes from their gazes, gradually hardened to one side.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath before answering.

“No.”

Now, I will no longer be deprived of what I should have by looking at others like a fool.

“I like the name Aster Orphanage.”

I answered with that determination.

Although the schedule was delayed due to the unexpected event, the sign was safely hung.

Aster Orphanage. No matter how many times I looked at it, it was a name I couldn’t get enough of.

I looked at the sign with great pride.

Although the eyes around me were stinging, I didn’t care. It wasn’t something I got by doing anything bad, so I didn’t have to care about it.

The opening ceremony continued amid the crowd’s tumult, and now, only the press conference was left.

The press conference was held in the hall with only a few reporters.

Kalian, Duke Giltian, and the nobles who attended the opening ceremony went to the director’s office with Adrina. While Baron Delrond and I remained in the hall for the press conference.

Baron Delrond could actually be on his own, but since I wanted to be of some help to him, I left after getting Kalian’s permission.

“You can go, you know?”

“I’m curious how the press conference goes, so I’ll stay here with you.”

“Well, then…”

Baron Delrond pretended to be compelled to accept it, but his expression became more relaxed.

Having someone by your side must be helpful, right?

But I didn’t want to get in the way, so I watched Baron Delrond from a little distance.

Baron Delrond took a deep breath and stood in front of the podium.

“Let’s start the press conference.”

“I’m Drog from Jena Daily.”

The reporters asked questions one after another in a predetermined order. It wasn’t difficult to answer because we already received the question they wanted to ask a few days ago.

Most of the questions were related to the temple or the Holy See, such as whether to bring the childcare project to the other temples as well and what to do if the Holy See retaliated.

Sometimes questions were added to the answers that came out unexpectedly, but the level was not so high because it was against the Imperial family.

Time passed smoothly, and the time to end the press conference came.

“If there are no more questions…”

“I want to ask one last question.”

Someone suddenly raised a hand.

It was the man named Drog from Jena Daily, who first asked the question.

“Tell me.”

Baron Delrond answered, flipping through the questionnaire.

“It was a question about Baron Aster.”

His hand that was flipping through the questionnaire stopped. Baron Delrond looked at Drog with a surprised and displeased expression on his face.

It was the same for me too. As I remembered, there were no questions about me. So when such a question came up, I was startled.

I was a bit nervous about what he was going to ask.

“His Majesty named the first childcare institution after Baron Aster’s surname. Is there any reason for that?”

As expected, he was asking that.

“The reason is simple.”

Baron Delrond closed the questionnaire and answered.

“It’s because Baron Aster has been the biggest contributor to the success of this childcare project. I’m sure you guys already know about it. That Baron Aster played an active role in the temple.”

“Well.”

“It’s customary to name it that way.”

Fortunately, everyone seemed to agree.

“I have another question.”

I thought it was going to pass safely, but Drog asked again.

“There is a rumor that it was actually His Majesty who planned it. Baron Aster simply did what His Majesty ordered.”

“I heard that too.”

“Me too.”

The reporters began to buzz loudly.

There’s a rumor like that, huh? But why wasn’t it published?

After that day, I checked all the cheap gossip newspapers, and I didn’t find such a story.

Could it be that the reporters were too wary of the Imperial family that they couldn’t make the article?

I don’t think so.

If that was the case, it wouldn’t have been asked now.

That means there are other reasons, but what is the reason? Why is this story being mentioned today after being quiet until now?

“Is that true?”

“No.”

Baron Delrond answered flatly, but the question didn’t go away.

There were all sorts of speculations, from saying that it was really not true to whether it was true but was trying to hide it.

“Quiet! It’s all nonsense, so stop making useless guesses!”

Baron Delrond shouted out loud, but the situation did not change.

What should I do?

It was when I was contemplating whether I should step up.

“Baron Aster, please answer me.”

Drog asked me directly, not Baron Delrond.

“Does Baron Aster really have nothing to do with His Majesty? Are you really just an aide?”

The reporters shut their mouths in an instant and paid attention to me.

“That…!”

“It’s okay, Baron.”

I waved my hand as Baron Delrond tried to defend me.

“I will answer it myself.”

I stood next to Baron Delrond and looked at Drog.

“First of all, to answer your question, yes, that’s right. I’m just a mere aide to His Majesty.”

And then I looked through the reporters.

“Of course, I’m aware of the rumor circulating among the people that I’m a mistress, not the Emperor’s aide.”

The reporters’ faces stiffened instantly, but I continued without caring.

“But that’s all nonsense. I swear to heaven, I have never had a relationship with His Majesty more than as an aide.”

I wanted to take this opportunity to put the false rumor to rest.

“And in the future, I have no intention of forming a relationship with His Majesty more than as an aide.”

They were looking behind me, not me. Their stiff faces turned slightly white.

“Baron Aster.”

Baron Delrond called me in a low voice and pointed behind me.

Why is he like that? 

I turned around, wondering.

“That’s a good mindset.”

A familiar but cold voice.

I saw Kalian, Duke Giltian, and the other nobles, who I didn’t know when they came.