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

Early morning.

Kalian, who came into the office earlier than usual, sat at his desk and picked up the morning newspapers that the servant had brought in advance.

Among the numerous newspapers, the first he picked was Jena Daily, to which Drog belonged.

The newspaper was full of stories about the orphanage’s opening ceremony. Leila's story didn't seem boring either.

Baron Leila Aster contributed greatly to the success of this childcare project. 

Reporters reported everything they saw and heard, including that the Emperor named the first childcare institution ‘Aster Orphanage’ to congratulate her.

There was also an article about Leila and Kalian's relationship. It was none other than Drog who wrote it.

[The relationship between His Majesty the Emperor Kalian de Cheffel Yousveldia and Baron Leila Aster was extremely businesslike… (ellipsis)… The rumor about Baron Leila Aster being the Emperor's mistress was confirmed to be false.]

From the verbose article, he could feel how much Drog wanted to live. 

Kalian then also checked the newspapers from other sources. Other newspapers also had articles mentioning the relationship between Kalian and Leila. Though the content was slightly different, the overall framework was the same.

‘Leila is not the Emperor's mistress. She is merely an aide.’

All the newspapers said so.

Kalian smiled and put the newspaper down.

“They all said the same thing, so I guess I've manipulated them.”

In hindsight, manipulation was correct. He threatened them to write the truth instead of covering facts with lies. 

Truthfully, he didn't think publishing articles like this could change people's minds overnight. Well, at least one big controversy would subside. He was satisfied with it as there would be no more people asking about their relationship as they did at the press conference.

“…”

It was definitely a good thing, but he didn't feel so good. It felt weird, just like he didn’t clean himself after doing his business.

What is it?

Kalian put his chin on his hand and thought.

The first thing that came to his mind was Drog's rude behavior.

In front of him, he couldn't say a word properly, and yet in front of Leila and Ver, he was so talkative. 

That means he’s ignoring Leila and Ver.

Kalian was very displeased with that fact and twisted his lips.

I should have scolded him a little more.

He regretted not doing that. That's probably why he was feeling weird right now.

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

He suddenly remembered what Leila had said.

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

She was right, and that was a sure thing. Kalian also had no intention of forming a relationship with Leila more than an aide.

But why do her words make me feel so upset?

Kalian tapped the desk with his fingertip and pondered, but he couldn't think of anything. Rather, the more he thought about it, the more annoyed he was, so Kalian irritably swept his hair up and stood up from his seat.

He then opened the window. The cold wind seemed to ease his frustration a bit. 

He sat on the window sill and looked out the window to cool down his overheated head from thinking about various things.

It was still early, so the palace was quiet. There were only a few servants walking quietly without making a sound of footsteps.

Kalian, who was watching people indifferently, suddenly looked at the trees, which had only thin branches.

It wasn't that the Imperial gardeners didn't take care of them, it was because now was winter and all the leaves had fallen off.

Even though they looked so ugly now, they would bloom the most beautiful pink flowers in the Imperial Palace in spring.

…flower named Cherry that that woman liked the most.

“…”

A woman suddenly came to his mind. Kalian's eyes sank darkly. The shade that fell below his eyes changed his face. The corners of his mouth stiffened, and he couldn't move. His gaze was fixed on the scrawny trees.

How long has it been? 

"Hello."

When he heard a familiar voice, Kalian slowly turned his head.

There, he saw Leila exchanging simple greetings with a passing attendant. Judging by her clothes, she seemed to have just come to work.

Leila's cheeks were pale pink as if they were colored with flower water. Every time she spoke, white breath came out.

It meant it was that cold, but Leila kept smiling at what made her so happy. It was a pure smile that made the viewer feel better.

It's cold, so you should go inside. What will you do if you catch a cold?

He thought for a moment whether he should call her and tell her to go in, but then Leila looked at him, perhaps because she felt his gaze. 

At that moment, Kalian hid behind the curtain. It wasn't intended. When he thought she was looking at him, his body just moved reflexively.

Fortunately, the red curtain perfectly hid Kalian. Leila, who didn't find him, tilted her head and quickly went inside.

Only then did Kalian come out again with a sigh of relief. Then he burst into small laughter as his actions were ridiculous. 

“Why on earth am I hiding?”

There's absolutely no reason for me to hide.

Kalian closed the window after rubbing his face bigly.

As he sat down again, the head attendant, Rahel, came in with hot tea.

Kalian picked up the document without giving Rahel a glance.

Rahel put the teacup on one side of the desk and poured the tea, saying, 

“Duchess Cloud wants to have lunch together with you next Monday.” 

“Esramel?”

Esramel Cloud.

Her original name was Esramel de Cheffel Yousveldia. She was the Empire's only princess and Kalian's half-sister.

People thought Kalian and Esramel were on good terms because he kept her alive, but it wasn't. Kalian kept her alive because she didn't become a hindrance when Kalian usurped the throne.

It was also because from the moment Esramel became Duchess Cloud, though she was still a member of the Imperial family, she was no longer an existing member of the Imperial family. She had no right to succeed to the throne, nor could she exercise her right as an Imperial family. There was no reason to kill her as the child she gave birth to was also the son of a duke, not the Imperial family.

Even so, if he had a bad relationship with her, he would have been willing to aim his sword at her, but that also wasn't the case. Although the two siblings shared the same blood, they were more awkward than the others. It was because Kalian had so few conversations with Esramel so far that he could count it only with one hand. Of course, they never ate together.

And suddenly, she wants to eat together? 

It was strange.

“What's the reason?”

“She said she needed to discuss the upcoming New Year’s Day.”

There were still about two months left until New Year's Day, but since it was an event to host distinguished guests from other countries, they had to prepare now.

Usually, New Year's Day was prepared by the Empress or Empress (concubine), but Kalian didn't have both. So, naturally, the authority passed to Esramel, the princess. 

She has neither authority nor rights, but a princess is still a princess, huh?

What a really ridiculous law.  

Kalian drank tea with a sneer.

If it was a normal banquet, he would have entrusted it to his aides as it had been until now. But since it was a banquet to host distinguished guests from other countries, it was not possible.

I can't help it. I have no choice but to leave it to Esramel.

"Alright. Leave a schedule empty then.”

Kalian picked up a document and added. 

“Call Baron Aster.”

What changed Leila's image was not the newspaper article, but the people's eyewitness accounts.

Leila tried to save the children in the temple.

It spread throughout the Empire through people's mouths and prevented high priests from speaking. 

“I heard that she released the grain stock from the warehouse for the hungry people of the estate. Wow, how could she do that? Our lord is busy filling his stomach.”

“Is that all? To save the estate people from the plague, she used her own money and hired a bunch of priests, wizards, and doctors!”

“Right, and this time, there was a big flood on the Williot estate. Even then, the Baron herself went out and saved the people.”

People started to praise Leila as they added the things that Leila had done while she was at the Williot estate.

“She’s a really nice person. She's amazing too.”

"I know. It would be nice if someone like her became the empress.”

A stone that someone threw lightly caused a big wave in the calm lake. 

"Right. If such a person becomes the empress, the country will be at peace.” 

“I also heard that the ruthless His Majesty the Emperor became a gentle sheep in front of the Baron, you know?”

“As expected, it would be nice if she became the empress. Since she is originally a count's daughter, she has enough qualifications to become the empress!”

And so, they wanted Leila to become the empress. It's such a waste if she remained as a simple aide.

People of all ages said the same words. And as the voice grew louder, there was a person who went crazy.

CRASH-

It was Philen.

His room was in chaos as if a storm had swept through it. 

The objects he threw were shattered, and the debris was everywhere. In the meantime, the bottle of alcohol seemed to be seen often.

Philen's face, which was always clean, was messy. His beard grew unruly, and his hair was messy as if he had built a birdhouse.

“Leila should be the empress?”    

Philen twisted his lips and muttered.

“Everyone is talking nonsense. She should be duchess Williot, not empress!”

Leila was his wife, who had been chosen by his deceased parents. So it was right for her to be by his side. Not by the Emperor's side! 

Why don't you realize that, Leila? 

I have told you so many times. 

“Why on earth, WHY!”

BANG, BANG, BANG-

Philen hit the desk hard again and again.

The hard desk was dented, and his hands were bruised.

Suddenly, his gaze turned to a piece of paper that had been thrown on the floor.

On the luxurious paper bearing the emperor's seal, it was written that the date of Philen's return had been delayed.

Kalian said he would give him more vacation because he thought of Philen, who must have been difficult due to the long war, and Cecily, but he knew better than anyone that it wasn't.  

To keep me away from Leila.

Blood-blooded eyes flashed terrifyingly.

“Do you think I’m going to back off like this?”

Philen muttered, clenching his lips to the point of bleeding.

“I will never back off, never.”