I Won’t Pick Up The Trash I Threw Away Again

I came to the library to refresh myself, but it was useless.

My stomach still felt uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel good. I tried to focus on the document, but I couldn't.

By the end of my lunch break, all I did was waste ink and paper needlessly.

I looked at the messy writing on the white paper.

[What's going on?]

[What is the schedule that only I don’t know?]

[Why can't he just tell me?]

I inadvertently wrote down my true feelings.

An aide didn't necessarily have to know all their boss's schedules. They might not know the schedule for various reasons, such as because it was a personal schedule. So, there was no need to feel alienated or upset just because I didn't know Kalian's schedule.

There was no reason for that.

It’s for certain, but… why am I so depressed?

“Huu.”

With a long sigh, I crumpled the paper and threw it into the trash can.

Lunchtime was over, so it was time to return to the office. I grabbed the documents and left the library.

It was when I was walking down the road between the library and the inner palace to return to the office.

"Oh?"

I saw Kalian and Duke Giltian talking while walking on the other side.

He said he had a lunch schedule, so was it with Duke Giltian? 

No. If that's the case, there's no reason for him not to be able to tell me.

Perhaps they met by chance while walking down the road like me.

“Leila.”

Kalian also found me and approached me joyfully. Duke Giltian followed him from behind.

“Leila Aster, I see you two.”

If Kalian had been alone, I would have lightly greeted him, but there was also Duke Giltian, so I bowed politely.

“Are you on your way back from the library?”

Kalian asked, looking at the documents I was holding.

"Yes."

“What about lunch?”

If I said I didn't eat because my stomach felt uncomfortable, he would be worried and nag at me.

"I already ate."

So even though I didn’t want to lie, I still lied, but Kalian smiled.

“You didn’t eat, huh?”

He sounded certain, without a doubt.

How did he know?

As I looked at him in surprise, Kalian pointed to the tail of my left eye.

“It shakes a little there when you lie.”

Is that so? It’s my first time knowing about it.

I smiled awkwardly and touched the area he pointed out.

“Why didn’t you have lunch?”

“…my stomach felt uncomfortable.”

It's no use lying again, so I answered honestly,

Unsurprisingly, Kalian looked at me with a worried face. This was why I didn't want to be honest.

I should be uncomfortable with the fact that I made Kalian worry about me again, but strangely, my disappointment was relieved.

Why am I like this?

Questioning the mysterious change in my heart, I put my hands together.

“Is it very bad? What about medicine?”

"It's okay. After getting some fresh air, I feel a lot better.”

"Getting fresh air? Looks like you've been looking at the documents in the library all lunch break."

I shut my mouth at the sharp remark.

“Have you taken medicine?”

"Not yet…”

“You said your stomach felt uncomfortable, and yet you haven’t taken medicine?”

Kalian let out a deep sigh.

I lowered my head as I couldn’t look directly at him out of regret.

“If Duke Giltian hadn’t come suddenly, I would have paid more attention. I guess that's how I became a bad boss."

“Are you blaming this old man for your aide’s sickness now?”

Duke Giltian responded as if it was ridiculous.

“That’s what you say.”

Kalian smiled and responded.

From what I heard, it seemed right that Duke Giltian was Kalian’s lunch partner. But why couldn't Baron Delrond tell me?

Looking at Kalian's behavior, there didn't seem to be any reason to keep it a secret. So why?

I felt a little bad again.

“Take good care of yourself. Unless you want to make me worry.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“I hope you really keep that in mind.”

Kalian tapped my shoulder and passed. 

Duke Giltian looked at me with subtle eyes and followed Kalian.

I also returned to the office.

When I arrived at the office, baron Delrond hadn’t returned yet, so his seat was empty. He then returned a few minutes later.

“Eat this.”

Baron Delrond put a sandwich plate down on my desk.

Between rye bread, there was lettuce, sliced ​​ham, tomato, etc.

It wasn't flashy, but it was a good composition. There was also orange juice to keep me from getting thirsty.

Seeing the sandwich made me hungry. My stomach seemed to growl.

“I’m just saying this just in case. If you feel like you can’t eat because your stomach is uncomfortable, you don’t have to eat it.”

"No. It's okay now."

It wasn't empty words. It was the truth.

Before, I didn't want to eat anything because my stomach was uncomfortable, but it was a little more comfortable now.

It seemed that the effect of getting some fresh air had now appeared.

“Thank you for the food. Thank you for your concern, Baron Delrond.”

“Of course. If the Baron collapses, it will be difficult for me.”

Baron Delrond smiled and said jokingly.

"Yes. I will take good care of myself from now on.”

I answered with a smile too.

Because I was hungry and the sandwich was quite tasty, I quickly finished it. 

As soon as the juice was also emptied, knocks were heard.

It was the maid of the Imperial Palace.

Baron Delrond asked on behalf of me, who was drinking juice.

“What’s the matter?”

“It is from His Majesty.”

The maid held out the tray she was carrying toward me.

On the tray was the same sandwich I had just eaten. Even the orange juice was the same. If there was anything else, there was liquid medicine there.

“He told you to take your medicine first, and then eat the sandwich when you feel better. He also added that if your stomach still feels uncomfortable even after taking medicine, you should visit the palace doctor.”

Which boss would care for his aide this much when they said they were not feeling well?

If it was anyone else, I would have suspected that he had bad intentions, but not Kalian. Because he was originally a kind and nice person.

He was a kind man who was nice to Baron Delrond and to me also, so there was no need to doubt him.

Even as I was thinking about it, I couldn't help but feel warm in my heart. His friendly eyes and warm words felt like rain on the dry wasteland.

The maid left, and Baron Delrond asked anxiously.

“Can you eat it all?”

“Um, it’s too much now.”

I wanted to eat it, but I was too full to eat it. I couldn't throw it away either.

“Then should I eat it?”

“Didn’t you already have lunch?”

“I ate, but I can eat this much more easily.”

Then there was no reason to say no, but somehow I was reluctant. It felt uncomfortable to give others the food that Kalian had prepared. 

"No. I'll leave it and eat it later when I'm hungry."

Yeah, considering Kalian's sincerity, I should eat it.

Baron Delrond looked at me strangely, then nodded.

“Hmm, okay. And, ah right, do you remember that we're going to the temple tomorrow?”

"Of course. 10 a.m. as scheduled, right?”

"You're right."

I was talking with Baron Delrond about the meeting tomorrow when I heard another knock.

“Baron Delrond.”

It was the official of the Marshal Department.

The official, who came in calling Baron Delrond, stopped when he saw me.

“Baron… Aster was also here.”

"What’s the matter?"

Baron Delrond, who noticed the unusual air from the official's face, got up and asked.

I also watched the official.

“This…”

The official looked at me and handed the document he had brought to Baron Delrond.

“What on earth is this…!”

Baron Delrond's eyes widened as he checked the document.

“What’s the matter, Baron Delrond?”

“…”

"Baron?"

No matter how many times I called Baron Delrond, there was no answer.

Why on earth is he like that?

Curious, I approached him.

“…!”

As soon as I stood in front of his desk, Baron Delrond, who came to his senses, was startled and hid the document behind his back.

“Wha, what’s the matter, Baron Aster…”

“That’s what I want to ask. What are you so surprised about?”

"It's nothing."

It's nothing? His eyes are still shaking though.

“Is it something I shouldn’t know?”

“N, no. I hope you don't know, but it's something you should know…”

Baron Delrond muttered and ruffled his head with one hand.

The more Baron Delrond was like this, the more I wondered.

I looked back at the Marshal Department official who brought the document.

“Ehem. Then I will get going.”

The official, who made eye contact with me, coughed needlessly and went outside as if running away.

Judging from the reactions of Baron Delrond and the official, I think it has something to do with me.

What is happening that the Marshal Department with me… Ah, Don’t tell me… 

“Has Duke Williot returned?”

Philen was on a long vacation as a reward for fighting in the long war.

If I remember correctly, he still has about a month left. Has he already returned? Is that why everyone is reacting like this?

Obviously, if Philen returned to the Marshal Department, it would be difficult.

Luckily, Baron Delrond was in charge of going out to the outer palace, so I wouldn't have to bump into Philen directly in the palace, but still…

“…Duke Williot has not returned.”

Baron Delrond spoke after a long silence.

"Then?"

“Let’s go to His Majesty first.”

Baron Delrond's expression darkened. I quietly followed Baron Delrond.

Kalian was talking to another official in the office.

“I would like to speak to you for a moment.”

Noticing Baron Delrond's serious expression, Kalian beckoned the official he was talking with to leave for a moment.

“What’s the matter?”

“This.”

Baron Delrond handed the document he received earlier to Kalian.

His face, which was reading the document indifferently, became hardened.

Why on earth is everyone like that?

It didn’t feel good that I was the only one who didn’t know when everyone knew it.

"What's going on, Your Majesty?"

I asked Kalian because it meant he would let me know if he brought me here.

Unlike Baron Delrond, who couldn’t speak easily and hesitated, Kalian answered with a long sigh.

"Cecily Heliode, it is said that she killed Baron Shuran, the escort captain, on her way to the mine and then fell down a cliff while escaping."