I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 108
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#108
From the very top down to his chest.
As his collar opened, the bare skin he had been hiding underneath was revealed.
“Wh-why are you suddenly taking off your clothes…!”
I panicked and hastily closed my eyes. Not stopping there, I covered my eyes with both hands.
Then Baron Delrond chuckled softly and said.
“I’m not trying to do anything strange, I just have something to show you, so you don’t need to be too surprised.”
What could he want to show me that requires taking off his clothes?
Curious, I spread my fingers apart and sneakily peeked through the gaps.
On the shoulder revealed as his shirt came down, there was a red marking.
A tattoo? No. That’s…
“A slave… brand.”
And it was the brand of a sex slave, who received the most despicable treatment among slaves.
Why would such a brand be on the Baron’s body?
When I stared at him in shock, Baron Delrond smiled awkwardly and adjusted his clothes.
“As you can see, I wasn’t an ordinary commoner but a sex slave.”
After fastening the last button, he swept back his slightly disheveled hair and continued.
“And a heinously wicked sex slave who killed his master at that.”
He… killed someone?
“There must have been some misunderstanding, right?”
In my panic, I ended up saying exactly what I was thinking.
I was flustered by what I had said, but the Baron also looked at me in bewilderment.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Baron.”
I hastily made excuses, worried the Baron might get the wrong idea.
“It’s just that I can’t believe you would do such a thing… I thought there might be some misunderstanding.”
“Is that all you have to say to me?”
“Pardon?”
Was there something else I should say?
“Um… stay strong.”
Judging by his expression, that wasn’t it either.
Then what was I supposed to say?
“Pfft.”
While I was pondering, Baron Delrond suddenly burst into laughter.
Why is he laughing?
“You’re really an interesting person, Baron.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Very interesting.”
It was the first time I’d heard such a thing in my life.
Fillen always criticized me for being boring.
“As you said, there was a misunderstanding. I wasn’t the one who killed the man who was my former master.”
Baron Delrond smiled bitterly and ran his hand over his face.
“Another noble who disliked that man killed him and pinned the crime on me.”
“That’s terrible! Then you should have said it wasn’t you!”
“Of course I did.”
Baron Delrond shrugged his shoulders.
“But no one believed the words of a mere sex slave. False evidence that I was the culprit had already been perfectly prepared too.”
It’s similar to my current situation. I felt a deep sense of kinship. I could really understand how difficult and painful it must have been for him then.
If a slave killed their master, it was automatically a death sentence.
But the fact that Baron Delrond was still alive meant he had used some special method.
I was curious about what that method was. Maybe I could solve my situation too.
“How did you escape from that situation?”
“His Majesty the Emperor saved me.”
“His Majesty did?”
“Yes. When everyone refused to believe my words and shouted that I was the culprit, he was the only one who believed me and said the situation should be investigated again.”
To think His Majesty the Emperor did such a thing.
“His Majesty personally stepped forward to find the real culprit and took me in when I had nowhere to go.”
Baron Delrond continued, looking down at his clenched hands.
“Not only that. He gave me the position of aide and even the status of Baron, despite my being a sex slave.”
Ah, I remembered. About four years ago, there was a big stir in the Empire because a man of low status was being made an aide to the prince.
At that time, I was distracted by the plague that had spread to the Williot Estate, so I heard it with one ear and let it pass through the other, but that was Baron Delrond’s story.
It was surprising. Not knowing what to say, I just stared at him quietly, and Baron Delrond smiled.
“I owe His Majesty the Emperor a debt I can never repay in my lifetime.”
It was the happiest expression I had ever seen on Baron Delrond’s face.
“I intend to repay this debt until the day my life ends.”
* * *
After parting with Baron Delrond, I returned to my room and sat on the sofa.
My heart was pounding. It wasn’t in a bad way or anything like that.
Rather, I felt good. It wasn’t enough to say I was happy, but I definitely felt better than when I had left the room.
His interest in me was indeed just my groundless speculation. I almost caused trouble for Kalian with my strange assumptions.
And I gained hope that I might be able to receive Kalian’s help if things went well.
‘It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t help.’
I was satisfied just knowing that Kalian believed in my innocence.
For that to happen, I still needed to…
My gaze suddenly turned to the desk. On the desk were the paper, quill pen, and ink I had left before going out.
I got up from my seat and sat in front of the desk. I threw away the slightly crumpled paper and took out a crisp new sheet from the drawer.
“Phew.”
A sigh escaped from the tension. I took a deep breath to calm my slightly queasy feelings, then dipped the pen nib in ink.
* * *
The next day, morning.
I dressed neatly and headed to the Emperor’s office to meet Kalian.
Since it was an important day, I wanted to wear my uniform, but I couldn’t because it was at home.
When I arrived at the office, I checked myself overall to make sure nothing was amiss, then spoke to the attendant who was waiting.
“Please inform His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Your Majesty, Baron Aster has arrived.”
After a moment of silence, permission to enter was granted.
I took a deep breath and went inside. Baron Delrond was also in the office.
I gave Kalian a light bow, then greeted Baron Delrond with a nod.
Baron Delrond also greeted me with a nod.
“What is it, Leilah?”
“I came because I have something to tell Your Majesty.”
Perhaps because I was too nervous. My voice trembled slightly.
Kalian, who couldn’t have failed to notice this, looked at me with a somewhat puzzled expression.
Baron Delrond was the same.
Kalian stared at me intently, then looked at Baron Delrond.
“Ber, step outside for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Baron Delrond left and Kalian rose from his seat.
“Sit.”
I sat on the sofa across from him after Kalian sat down first.
“So, what do you have to tell me?”
“Before I bring up the matter, there’s something I’d like to confirm first.”
“Something you’d like to confirm?”
“Yes.”
Now came the real part. I clasped my hands tightly together and asked Kalian.
“Your Majesty… how much do you know about what happened between Duke Williot and me?”
At my question, fine wrinkles formed between Kalian’s brows.
He tapped the armrest with his index finger, then let out a deep sigh before speaking.
“It wasn’t that I was trying to investigate your background. Duke Williot had been causing trouble even before you returned, so I was wondering why he was acting that way and happened to find out while looking into it.”
So Fillen had been causing trouble even before I returned. I had no idea.
“I’m sorry for causing you unnecessary concern because of me.”
“It’s not like you told Duke Williot to go on a rampage, so why are you apologizing? If anyone should apologize, it should be Duke Williot.”
That’s… true.
“Anyway, I found out while investigating Duke Williot. The fact that the head maid of the Williot Duchy killed Duke Williot’s child. And…”
Kalian glanced at me once before continuing.
“The fact that you, Leilah, were the one who ordered that head maid.”
Though I had expected this answer, hearing it directly didn’t feel very good.
As I hung my head and silently stared at my hands, Kalian added as if making an excuse.
“Of course, I don’t think you did it. Someone must have set a trap for you.”
I couldn’t tell if he meant it sincerely or if he was simply saying it to comfort me.
What was certain was that his words brought me great comfort.
“Thank you for believing in me.”
“It’s only natural for me to believe in my aide.”
Kalian answered as if wondering why I was stating something so obvious.
He really is a good person.
Realizing this fact once again, I smiled faintly and pushed a white envelope toward him.
“What’s this?”
“My resignation letter.”
A crack appeared on Kalian’s smooth face. He immediately looked at me with disbelieving eyes and said.
“It seems you don’t believe my words.”
“No. I believe you.”
“Then why are you submitting a resignation letter?”
“Because I believe you. I don’t want to become a burden to Your Majesty who believes in me.”
“There’s no way you’d be a burden!”
He raised his voice, then made a groaning sound and pressed his hand to his forehead.
“Sorry for raising my voice just now. I got too angry for a moment.”
“I understand.”
“You say you understand, yet you’re presenting me with this nonsense.”
Kalian shook the envelope on the table sarcastically.
“I can’t accept it, so take it back.”
Kalian practically threw the envelope back in front of me.
I pushed that envelope back toward Kalian.
Kalian’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I have a request.”
“…A request?”
His fierce expression became peaceful for a moment, then crumpled again.
“If it’s a request to process your resignation letter, I won’t grant it.”
“It’s the opposite. Please don’t process my resignation letter right now.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’m planning to go to the Williot Estate to uncover the truth of the incident.”
After hearing Baron Delrond’s story, I had thought it over carefully once more.
Requesting help from the estate guards didn’t give me much chance of success.
They would believe the words of Fillen, a duke, more than mine, a mere baron.
The fake evidence that Fillen possessed also bothered me.
“So I’m thinking of going there myself to investigate.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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