I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 12

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#12

When I held out the fan, the man examined it from all angles before looking at me.

His expression seemed to ask how I planned to fight off enemies with this thing.

“Look closely.”

As I pushed the fan closer to him, the man examined it carefully.

Soon he discovered the sharp needle attached to the end of the fan ribs and let out a small exclamation of “Oh!”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a poison needle coated with paralysis poison. It won’t threaten your life if you’re hit, but you won’t be able to move for two days.”

I lightly pressed the handle part of the fan.

Then the poison needle disappeared seamlessly into the fan ribs.

The man whistled as if he found it interesting.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a fan existing.”

“Of course it would be. I made this myself.”

The position of future duchess received more life-threatening situations than I had expected.

Especially after the previous Duke and Duchess passed away and the duchy was in danger, countless people targeted the Williot Duchy and attacked Fillen and me.

When Fillen went to the battlefield, the attacks became even more severe.

Though I had escort knights, they couldn’t stay by my side and protect me every moment.

I couldn’t completely trust them either.

There were actually times when people disguised as servants or escort knights attacked me.

There were also times when those I trusted betrayed me.

That’s when I realized.

That I couldn’t trust anyone.

That I had to protect my own body.

I thought about learning swordsmanship, but it was unacceptable in noble society for a noble lady to learn swordsmanship.

In their minds, a noble lady was someone who should be preciously protected like a flower in a greenhouse.

Most importantly, I had absolutely no talent for swordsmanship.

It would probably take at least 10 years to learn enough swordsmanship to protect myself.

While pondering if there were other methods, what came to mind was carrying self-defense items.

But the self-defense items sold in stores were too inconvenient to carry around and were useless things.

“So I made it myself. Something convenient for me to use.”

“That’s amazing.”

The man’s eyes sparkled as he expressed genuine admiration.

I hadn’t said it to hear such a response. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, I turned my head and cleared my throat.

“Anyway, I’d appreciate it if you could abandon the prejudice that women can’t protect themselves. I’m perfectly capable of protecting my own body.”

“I didn’t mean it that way, but if it sounded like that, I apologize.”

The man placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly.

At his utterly polite apology, I shook my head.

“I wasn’t asking for an apology either.”

I handed the fan to Sara, grabbed my skirt hem, and bent my knees lightly.

“And I offer my thanks. I was able to stay safe thanks to you, young master.”

“Don’t mention it.”

The man responded with a pleasant laugh. Unlike his intimidating atmosphere, he was a kind man.

It would have been nice if Fillen were this polite and kind.

‘What am I thinking right now.’

Comparing my fiancé to another man.

It was foolish. It was no different from tarnishing my own face.

I quickly erased the fantasies that were arising.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I hope the glory of the Empire will always be with you, young master.”

“I hope the glory of the Empire will always be with you as well, young lady.”

After exchanging farewells with the man, I turned around.

Sara followed behind me with a face full of regret.

“He was such a handsome and beautiful young master.”

Sara went on about the man we just met in a dreamy voice.

“It would be wonderful to serve such a beautiful person by his side.”

“So you want to go to that man?”

“Of course not!”

At my joking remark, Sara was startled and shook her head.

“I’ll serve you for life, miss! So even when you become the duchess, please don’t abandon me, miss.”

Instead of answering Sara’s words, I smiled awkwardly.

Then Sara made a tearful face and sniffled.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of abandoning me?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why won’t you answer me?”

That’s because I’m not confident I’ll become the duchess.

Just a while ago, I naturally thought I would become the duchess, but after Fillen brought Sisly, doubts arose.

Doubts about whether I could really become the duchess.

However, if I really did become the duchess, I had no intention of abandoning Sara.

“I won’t abandon you, Sara.”

“Really, miss?”

“Of course. I like you.”

Only then did Sara beam and shout at my answer.

“I really like you too, miss!”

* * *

Before starting my proper tour of the capital, I stopped by the Capital City Guard to report the loan shark’s activities.

The guard station was bustling with various people. I could even hear wailing from one side.

When I approached the reception desk, the man sitting there looked me up and down thoroughly.

Soon realizing I was a noble, a businesslike smile appeared on the man’s face.

“What brings you here?”

“I’d like to make a report.”

“Could you tell me what it’s about?”

I told the man about what happened with the loan shark.

I deliberately left out how the loan shark had been insolent to me or threatened me.

I didn’t want to become the subject of people’s gossip over such matters.

“Ah, I see.”

The man who heard my story nodded somewhat annoyedly.

“If you fill out this report form and leave it, we’ll review it and take action.”

“Won’t you strengthen patrols?”

“We’d like to, but we’re short on manpower…”

Lies. Blatant lies.

They just found it bothersome to handle since it was a matter between commoners.

To think the guard responsible for the capital’s security was in such a state.

If this were the Williot domain, I would have immediately sought out the responsible official, but this was the capital.

Since I couldn’t do that, I took a deep breath and calmed my somewhat agitated emotions.

“Oh, there was a part I didn’t mention.”

And I spilled all the stories I had deliberately not told.

While subtly showing the Williot Duchy’s crest on my fan, the man became excited and shouted.

“Good heavens! To think such a bastard exists! We’ll arrest him immediately!”

The man’s attitude had completely changed from earlier, making me let out a hollow laugh.

But now it should be fine.

I finally felt relieved and went out with Sara to tour the capital.

While we were touring the capital for quite some time, I realized that someone was following me.

Who could it be? I cautiously glanced back while staying alert.

Among the bustling crowd, there was one man who stood out particularly.

He was wearing a hood, but an unmistakable presence was emanating from him.

“Miss, that person in the hood over there. That’s the gentleman who helped us earlier, right?

Sara also spotted the man and asked me.

I nodded lightly, stopped walking, and turned to look at him.

He also stopped walking and pretended not to notice, acting innocent.

“Why are you following us?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

The man smiled shamelessly.

The reason he didn’t look annoying was probably thanks to his dazzlingly beautiful appearance.

“I’m simply going my own way.”

“Really?”

“I have no reason to lie about something like this.”

“Then please go ahead.”

I stepped aside to let him pass first, but the man didn’t budge. He just looked at me with a troubled expression.

From that expression, I immediately realized the man had lied, so I twisted my lips and asked him.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t lie about something like this?”

“…I misspoke.”

The man placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head politely.

“Let me correct myself. I have something I’d like to ask you, Princess.”

“What is it?”

If he was following me just to ask a question, it couldn’t be an ordinary question.

I asked tensely.

“How did you know that ruffian charges 60% interest?”

For all my tension, the question that came back was absurd.

I looked at the man with bewildered eyes.

“Is that all you wanted to ask?”

“No. I’m also curious about how you knew the empire’s legal lending rate is 30%, and how you knew the fine imposed on that ruffian would exceed a thousand gold.”

At first I wondered why he was asking such things, but soon I caught on to the reason and let out a small chuckle.

“You find it curious that a noble princess like me knows so much about such matters.”

“Yes. Usually noble princesses don’t study such things.”

The man who spoke the truth without hesitation glanced at me cautiously.

“Were you perhaps offended?”

“No. It’s only natural.”

As he said, there were hardly any noble princesses who studied such things.

They weren’t going to become administrators or rule domains, so there was no reason to study such headache-inducing subjects.

But I had to.

Because I had to rule the domain in place of the irresponsible Fillen.

I could have left it to the advisors and just stamped documents like a figurehead, but I didn’t want to do that, so I studied everything.

Tax law, administration, politics—everything needed to rule a domain.

But that was a fact that shouldn’t become public knowledge.

If it became known that I, who wasn’t even the real Duchess Williot, was ruling the ducal house and domain, the ducal family’s prestige would hit rock bottom.

So people believed that the advisors did most of the work, and I just stamped the documents.

“I’m interested in it.”

Therefore, I gave a vague excuse. Since being interested was true, it wasn’t a complete lie.

As if he didn’t believe my words, the man narrowed his eyes and stared at me.

Feeling guilty for no reason, I met his gaze directly and shot back sharply.

“Why? Are you also displeased that a woman like me is interested in such things?”

“No, that’s not it.”

The man smiled and shook his head without showing any sign of being flustered.

“I was just a little surprised. As you said, women usually don’t take interest in such things.”

He didn’t seem to be lying simply to get out of the situation.

“I see.”

I wasn’t really angry either, and since it was just an action to avoid guilt, I didn’t say much more.

“Have all your questions about me been answered?”

“For now.”

For now, he said.

It was a dubious answer, but since I didn’t want to continue the conversation with the man, I let it slide.

“Then I’ll be going.”

I greeted the man and turned around, but he suddenly called out.

“I look forward to meeting you again next time, Princess Leilah Tebesa.”

How does he know my name…?

I turned around in shock, but the man had already disappeared without a trace.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————