I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 122

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

chapter 6. One Step Further Forward.

 

#122

 

I had tried not to concern myself with the affairs of the Williot Duchy anymore, but news that reached my ears even when I stayed quiet was unavoidable.

 

It was because Sisly’s affairs had spread throughout the social circles.

 

Not only had the fallen kingdom’s princess pretended to be pregnant and settled into the Williot Duchy, driving out me, her former fiancée.

 

The fact that she had killed the duchy’s head maid to cover up the truth and tried to poison me had all spread as well.

 

People clicked their tongues at Sisly’s cunning, while also mocking Fillen’s stupidity for being fooled by such a woman.

 

And they pitied me. Every person I met asked if I was alright.

 

Receiving such questions was also an ordeal, and answering each one that I was fine was exhausting.

 

“Maybe I should wear a sign saying ‘I’m fine.'”

 

Baron Delrond, who heard my complaint, smiled softly and replied.

 

“That’s a good idea. I’ll help you with it.”

 

“How would you help?”

 

“I think we could put up a sign saying ‘Baron Aster is fine, so don’t talk to her.'”

 

“What’s that supposed to be?”

 

My mood had been gloomy from the unwanted sympathy, but thanks to Baron Delrond, I felt much better.

 

With a considerably lighter heart, I checked the documents. They were documents regarding the childcare project.

 

As soon as I returned, I took over all the childcare project work from Baron Delrond.

 

Thankfully, due to Baron Delrond’s diligent work, the childcare project was almost at completion stage, but several problems remained.

 

One of them was the temple’s opposition.

 

The temple side continuously sent protest letters saying they could never yield the childcare project to the imperial court, and their number had already exceeded double digits in just one week.

 

The protest letters expressed concern that if the inexperienced imperial court couldn’t properly operate this project, the damage would go to the children, but it was nothing more than covering one’s eyes and crying.

 

It was an ugly struggle to avoid losing the imperial subsidies and the nobles’ enormous donations.

 

So until now, I had completely ignored whatever they were clamoring about, but now I couldn’t do that anymore.

 

Because the Papacy had directly sent a protest letter. The golden papal seal stamped at the bottom of the document was dazzling.

 

There were countless temples on the continent, but there was only one Papacy in the Holy Kingdom.

 

The Holy Kingdom was also a massive papal state. The king who ruled the Holy Kingdom was the Pope himself.

 

The Papacy usually maintained neutrality and rarely moved.

 

So I had hoped they wouldn’t intervene in this matter either, but such hopes were never fulfilled.

 

‘Even the Papacy is getting involved.’

 

Well, with the temples continuously complaining, the Papacy couldn’t just stay still.

 

I let out a deep sigh inwardly and read every single word of the protest letter sent by the Papacy, not missing even a single period.

 

It was more polite than the protest letters sent by the temples so far, but the message was the same.

 

Caring for poor children was a mission given to them, God’s servants, by God himself.

 

The imperial court’s encroachment on this was a challenge to and desecration of God’s authority.

 

“It’s a protest letter from the Papacy.”

 

Baron Delrond, who had come to my side at some point, suddenly spoke up.

 

“Now that even the Papacy has stepped forward, we’ll have to wage an all-out war with the temples.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The thought of fighting the Papacy made my head throb. I pressed my tired eyelids firmly.

 

“First, we’ll have to dig into the temples in the Empire.”

 

Baron Delrond, who had taken out a document file from the bookshelf and sat back down, asked with a puzzled expression.

 

“You’re going to dig into the temples, not the Papacy or the Holy Kingdom?”

 

“Because even if we dig into the Papacy or the Holy Kingdom, nothing will come out.”

 

The Holy Kingdom was a country that had maintained isolationist policies for over 500 years without establishing diplomatic relations with other countries.

 

No matter how much I dug, nothing would come out.

 

But the temples in the Empire were different. If I dug, something would definitely come out.

 

Just like the temple in the Williot Estate had.

 

In the past, when a plague struck the Williot Estate, I had entrusted children who lost their parents to the estate’s temple along with enormous donations.

 

But not long after, most of the children died. It was because the temple only took the donations and neglected the children.

 

When I found out and confronted them, the temple feigned ignorance, saying they knew nothing about it.

 

They demanded I bring clear evidence that they had done such things.

 

If I had continued digging into that matter, I could have found evidence, but the problem was that I didn’t have the resources to do so at the time.

 

Moreover, people around me dissuaded me, saying that since we needed the temple’s help to solve the plague, I shouldn’t unnecessarily make enemies of the temple.

 

Therefore, I had to forcibly swallow my resentment and bury that matter.

 

It was also the catalyst for deciding to pursue the childcare project.

 

‘This time, I absolutely won’t let it slide.’

 

No matter what happens, I will definitely make it succeed.

 

“I need to see His Majesty the Emperor.”

 

When I stood up from my seat and spoke, Baron Delrond waved his hand.

 

“Why are you in such a hurry, Baron? We’ll be having lunch together soon, so we can talk about it then.”

 

“Ah, that’s right.”

 

I was so anxious that I had forgotten the fact that I always had lunch with Kalian.

 

It was a gathering Kalian had created for building camaraderie, but its meaning had long since changed.

 

Both Baron Delrond and I gave work reports to Kalian throughout lunch time.

 

Of course, Kalian was sick of it, but there was nothing we could do. We had so much work that we had to split our time like this.

 

As Baron Delrond said, I’ll report this during lunch time, and for now, I’ll handle other work first.

 

I pushed aside the protest letter from the Papacy and related documents and picked up other papers.

 

They were documents about the joint pirate suppression operation with the Kingdom of Natsha. This was Baron Delrond’s work.

 

It seemed to have gotten mixed in while distributing the documents.

 

I wonder how far this work has progressed.

 

Although it wasn’t my work now, I was curious since it was something I had once worked on.

 

I skimmed through the documents overall.

 

The joint pirate suppression operation was still in its early stages. Since it was a national undertaking, there were many things to coordinate.

 

But the selected personnel have all been decided.

 

As I was scanning through the list, I paused when I discovered a familiar name.

 

[Aldor Hutton.]

 

This man is also participating. Well, since the Hutton Marquis family had been a naval family for generations, it wasn’t surprising that Aldor Hutton would participate.

 

Come to think of it, I still haven’t told Kalian about what happened with Aldor Hutton.

 

I should tell him quickly before Count Hiltain gets unnecessarily involved…

 

‘Should I go tell him now?’

 

I was concerned about Baron Delrond’s reaction if I brought it up during lunch time. I hoped as few people as possible would know about that matter.

 

I checked Kalian’s schedule. Fortunately, he had no special appointments.

 

Let’s go now.

 

Since I might miss another opportunity to speak if I hesitated, I got up from my seat and headed straight to the Emperor’s office.

 

* * *

 

Kalian’s expression while looking at the documents was unusual. His hand tapping the desk was thick with irritation.

 

Rahel, the chief attendant who knew what documents Kalian was looking at, asked carefully.

 

“Should I call Baron Aster?”

 

Kalian thought for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’ll call her right away.”

 

Just as Rahel, having received Kalian’s order, bowed and was about to leave.

 

“Your Majesty, Baron Aster has arrived.”

 

To come before even being called. The timing was perfect.

 

Kalian gave permission for her to enter, then gestured for Rahel to leave.

 

Leilah gave a simple silent bow in greeting, then stated the reason for seeking out Kalian.

 

“I have something to tell Your Majesty.”

 

Leilah’s expression was dark. She seemed extremely tense, her hands clasped tightly together.

 

Surely ‘that matter’ hadn’t reached her ears already.

 

“What is it?”

 

Leilah took a deep breath in and out, then slowly began to speak.

 

“It’s about what happened at the Hutton… Duchy.”

 

From those words alone, Kalian immediately realized what Leilah was trying to say.

 

She must be trying to tell him about what happened with Aldor Hutton.

 

He already knew about that matter, but Kalian pretended not to know and said nothing.

 

He didn’t want to be caught having investigated her background.

 

“I, I…”

 

But Leilah’s condition was strange as she repeated the same words.

 

She bit her lips repeatedly until they bled, and her tightly clenched hands could be seen trembling. She looked precarious, as if she might collapse at any moment.

 

Kalian immediately shot up from his seat and approached Leilah.

 

“Leilah.”

 

He grasped both her shoulders and called to her, but Leilah didn’t respond.

 

Her eyes staring into space were unfocused and hazy.

 

“Leilah, Leilah!”

 

Kalian repeatedly called Leilah’s name while shaking her shoulders somewhat firmly.

 

“…!”

 

Only then did Leilah seem to come to her senses, blinking rapidly as she looked at Kalian.

 

Her eyes, now clear again, were filled with shock.

 

Leilah broke free from Kalian’s hands and stepped back several paces. Her chest rose and fell heavily.

 

“What did I just say…?”

 

“You didn’t say anything, so don’t worry.”

 

He had tried to hide the fact that he’d investigated her, but seeing Leilah’s reaction, it seemed he shouldn’t do that.

 

After all, it must be a terrible past, and making her relive it by forcing her to speak about it would be no different from torture.

 

“If it’s about what happened between you and Aldor Hutton, I already know everything.”

 

Kalian had no choice but to speak first.

 

“So you don’t need to report it to me.”

 

Leilah’s eyes shook greatly. She stared at Kalian for a moment, then lowered her head.

 

Her clasped hands turned pale white.

 

She probably never thought I knew everything, so naturally she’d be surprised and flustered.

 

Kalian waited without saying anything, giving Leilah enough time to calm her startled heart.

 

After a brief silence, Leilah finally composed herself and bowed politely in apology.

 

“I apologize for causing you concern, Your Majesty. I will be careful to ensure this never happens again.”

 

“…What are you talking about?”

 

Kalian, reacting a beat late, frowned deeply as he asked back.

 

“You’ll be careful? About what?”

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