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

There was a moment of silence. 

As if time had stopped, Leila and Kalian remained frozen in that position. There wasn't even a slight movement.

In the quiet silence, an unknown heartbeat resounded unusually. All Kalian could see was himself in her black eyes right before him. And he was very pleased with that fact. 

"Your Majesty!" 

“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”

The clock that had stopped for a moment moved again at the sound of the grooms and servants calling.

"Ah!"

As Leila came to her senses, she rose up in surprise. Her face was redder than persimmon. 

Kalian got up slowly. The attendant, who came to his side, pulled the grass off his body. While the groom calmed the flustered Ilena.

“I, I apologize, Your Majesty.” 

Leila stuttered as she wrapped her flushed cheeks. 

“My, my mistake has led to such an unfortunate incident… I really apologize."

It was indeed Leila's mistake. So it's right for her to apologize, but why am I feeling so bad?

“I, I will be careful so that it won't happen again.”

Kalian folded his hands and said. 

“Is it possible just by being careful?”

"Yes?"

“No, it’s nothing.”

Kalian told the attendant, who was still pulling the grass off his clothes, that it was enough, then took Ilena's reins from the groom.

“What on earth did you learn from that instructor? You're a terrible rider."

Her face, which was already red, grew even redder. Leila lowered her head as if she was ashamed.

“I apologize.”

“Yeah, I think she deserves an apology.”

Kalian beckoned Leila to come closer.

As Leila timidly came closer, he handed the reins to her.

“I’ll correct your posture, so get on again.”

Leila got on the horse crookedly. 

“Your posture is worse than before.”

At Kalian's point, Leila straightened her back. It was still unstable but better than before.

“Raise your head. Straighten your back a little more.”

When Kalian touched her waist, Leila's body shrank again for nothing. It wasn't that Kalian's touch was uncomfortable or anything like that. It was because she was embarrassed after kissing him a while ago.

Pull yourself together, Leila.

It was an accident. No need to be embarrassed. 

Thinking that people would think she was strange if they saw her like this, Leila calmed down her shaking heart.

“It’s not getting any better.”

Kalian clicked his tongue and got on behind Leila.

Feeling the weight getting heavy instantly, Ilena grunted a little bit, but that was all. 

Kalian's chest touched Leila's back. Surprised at the unfamiliar yet familiar touch, Leila bent down at once. 

“Lean your back on my chest.” 

My back on his chest…

A strange thought suddenly occurred to her, but Leila shook her head to shake off the delusion.

“Come on.”

"Yes."

Leila took a deep breath, then straightened her back, leaning on Kalian's chest.

“Don’t forget this posture.”

"Yes."

“Take the reins, too.”

Leila took the reins as Kalian instructed. Then, Kalian reached out to both sides of Leila and corrected Leila's hands.

“This is how you hold the reins.”

It was simply to teach her, but she felt strange because it felt like she was in his arms.

Her heart was thumping. It was beating so fast that she couldn't hear his voice. It was also because she was getting dizzy at his familiar body odor.

“Leila, are you listening to me?”  

“…”

“Leila.”

"Yes, YES!"

When Leila responded in surprise, Kalian said teasingly.

“I can't believe you have a mind to think about something else. You're amazing.”

“N, no. It's not like that…”

Leila hesitated, then shut her mouth.

“I said you can’t hold the reins like that.”

Kalian adjusted Leila's posture sternly. Still, as Leila's posture didn’t improve, Kalian sighed softly and took the reins instead.

“I’ll show you how to ride.”

“Then I'll get off…”

“You don’t need to get off.”

As she was about to get off, Kalian tightened his arms that trapped her.

“Just watch it from here. Because it's better to learn this way.”

“Head Attendant.”

Rahel, who was directing this and that to the attendants, turned at the sound that was calling him. Then he saw Esramel, whom he didn't know when she came.

“Is His Majesty in the palace?”

“Right now, he is at the riding practice field.”

“Riding practice field?”

Esramel tilted her head slightly.

“How strange. He's at the riding practice field instead of the forest? Didn't he always complain that it was too narrow for horseback riding?”

“His Majesty didn't go to the riding practice field for horseback riding.”

“Then?”

“It was to teach Baron Aster horseback riding.”

“Baron Aster… you mean His Majesty’s aide?”

When Rahel nodded, Esramel's eyes widened.

“Are you now saying His Majesty is teaching his aide horseback riding in person? Not leaving it to an instructor?"

"Yes."

Why? There are many great riding instructors in the palace though. Why did he have to teach her in person?

Esramel thought for a moment and then asked Rahel.

“What's the atmosphere between that aide and His Majesty? Like something subtle is flowing between them, is there something like that?"

“I didn’t feel that kind of atmosphere.”

"Is that so?"

She thought Kalian had feelings for Leila, and that's why he taught her horseback riding, but maybe that's not it. 

No, Rahel might not notice it. Because Kalian was more thorough in hiding his feelings than expected. 

It was so thorough that even the other brothers, who died, pointed their fingers at Kalian, saying he was like a doll without blood and tears. 

“You said His Majesty is at the riding practice field, right?”

I have to see it myself. 

“Is it the riding practice field in the east?”

"Yes, that's right. Should I guide you?”

"No need. I know the way.”

Because just a few years ago, I, too, lived in the Imperial Palace.

Esramel then headed straight to the riding practice field. 

The closer she got to the riding practice field, the more the sound of horseshoes could be heard.

In the distance, she saw a white horse running with its pure white hair fluttering. On it, there's a man and a woman. The woman was Leila, and the man was Kalian.

Rahel definitely said that Kalian was teaching Leila horseback riding, but whoever saw that, they looked like a sweet couple taking a walk. It was the same no matter how many times she rubbed her eyes and checked.

The grooms and attendants seemed to be thinking the same as they looked at them with confused expressions.

Only the parties didn't seem to notice it.

"Duchess."

An attendant noticed her coming and approached her. 

“Are you here to see His Majesty?”

"Yeah."

“I will report to His Majesty.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Even while talking to the attendant, Esramel looked at Leila and Kalian.

“Their atmosphere looks good. I don’t want to disturb them.”

If you reported, His Majesty would only be angry, you know? 

At Esramel's words, the attendant smiled awkwardly.

“It seems to be over soon. Would you like to wait in the drawing room?”

"It's okay. I'll go back today.”

There's something I'd like to find out about. If I find it out, it seems I could achieve what I wanted if I used it well. 

Esramel asked the attendant one thing before going back.

“Did His Majesty suggest riding the horse together first, or did that aide suggest it first?”

“His Majesty did.”

"Really?"

I guess my prediction is correct, His Majesty.

Esramel smiled lightly and left the riding practice field.

We got off the horse after four laps around the riding practice field.

As I was finally out of Kalian's arms, a feeling of relief and a strange regret enveloped my body.

Ilena was unaffected even after carrying two people, maybe because she was a good horse. 

“She's really a wonderful horse.”

I can't believe I kicked her like that earlier. 

When I stroked the part I kicked apologetically, Ilena looked at me with bright eyes.

Neigh-

Then she rubbed her head against mine as if she was acting cute.

“It tickles.”

Kalian smiled and said, 

“Ilena seems to like you.”

Ah, is that so?

“I like you too, Ilena.”

I wished I could buy such a wonderful horse. But it would be difficult because a good horse like Ilena was expensive and also hard to find.

So I was giving up, but Kalian then said something unexpected.

“I'll give Ilena to you.”

"Yes?" 

You're giving me such a good horse?

“That, that’s nonsense…”

“It's not nonsense.”

Kalian intercepted me and said firmly.

“Ilena is a horse prepared for the princesses, but as you know, there's no princess who can ride Ilena in the palace right now.”

Kalian looked at me obliquely. 

“And waiting for the new princess to be born is taking too long, so I'll let you take it. Isn’t it a waste to keep such a good horse to lie idle?”

“But, such an expensive horse…” 

“I even gave you a mansion that was more expensive than this, so it was nothing.”

Kalian smiled brightly and grabbed Nero's reins.

“More than that, I’m getting hungry. Is it because it's time for dinner?" 

Dinner? Ah. 

“Then shall we go to my mansion, Your Majesty?”

I was supposed to treat him to dinner at the mansion. By now, Sarah and Ness should have fully finished the preparations. 

“Yeah, let's.”

The raised corners of his lips seemed to catch onto his ears. His twinkling eyes were full of anticipation. 

I heard that the disappointment is as great as the anticipation. What if he’s disappointed?

I was worried, but then someone approached us. It was a man wearing the Crowd Knights uniform.

"Your Majesty."

The man whispered softly into Kalian's ear. Hearing what the man said, Kalian's expression was distorted.

Why is he like that?

"Your Majesty?"

“…I'm sorry, but I'll have the dinner next time."

“What happened?”

"Not a big deal."

He said not a big deal, but his expression is really bad.

“As I’ll have the dinner next time, you can go home now. You can take Ilena with you next time because I'll get her ready first. You don't mind, right?"

Is it my illusion that it feels like rambling?

“Yes, I don’t mind.”

"Alright. Then, I'll see you when you come to work."

Kalian hurriedly left the riding practice field with those last words.

After leaving the riding practice field, Kalian headed to the outer palace.

As it was the weekend, the outer palace was quiet. There were only a few officials on duty and officials who came to work to finish their work.

The officials greeted him, but Kalian ignored them and went inside the outer palace.

Kalian, who soon met the person he didn't want to see, twisted his lips. 

“What are you doing here when you should still be on vacation, Duke Williot?”