I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 124

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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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#124

 

After finishing work and leaving the Imperial Palace, a carriage with a crest of blooming flowers with intertwined stems was waiting for me.

 

“Welcome, Baron.”

 

It was the carriage of Baron Aster’s house. Since I couldn’t keep borrowing the Imperial Palace carriage indefinitely, I had bought one as soon as I returned.

 

Before boarding the carriage, I looked up at the Aster Baron family crest engraved on it.

 

I had seen it several times already, but every time I looked at it, I felt strange.

 

I really became a baron. Reflecting on this newfound fact in my mind, I climbed into the carriage.

 

“You’ll go straight to the manor, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“We’ll depart now.”

 

With a rattling sound, the carriage started smoothly. I leaned back against the chair and read the book I had borrowed from the library before leaving work.

 

It was a book about the structure of temples. Although there were slight differences, the Empire’s temples were designed based on the contents of this book.

 

Temples were largely divided into two parts: the Open Hall, which was open to outsiders, and the Secret Hall, where outsiders could absolutely never enter.

 

The place I needed to go was exactly this place, the Secret Hall. Probably the temple’s dark secrets were hidden there.

 

‘The problem is how to get in.’

 

Only priests and temple officials could enter the Secret Hall.

 

If Emperor Kalian issued an imperial decree, I could enter temporarily, but there had to be a special reason for that too.

 

For example, wanting to check if donations were being used properly.

 

If I did that, I could enter the Secret Hall, but I wouldn’t be able to find what I wanted.

 

Unless the priests were fools, they would clear away anything that could become their weakness beforehand.

 

That’s exactly what happened when I visited the temple in the Williot Estate.

 

So what should I do? Should I even attempt a secret infiltration?

 

It was the best method to confirm their flaws in their raw state, but the risk was equally great.

 

But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of any other good method besides this.

 

“Should I consult with His Majesty…”

 

While I was pondering what to do, the carriage stopped. I had arrived home.

 

At the new manor I had received from Kalian.

 

“Please take my hand and step down, Baron.”

 

“Thank you, Hans.”

 

I took Hans’s hand and got out of the carriage.

 

The new manor I received was closer to the Imperial Palace than where I had lived before. Needless to say, it was bigger and more luxurious.

 

Since I couldn’t let Sara manage such a large manor alone, I hired several more servants when I bought the carriage.

 

Hans, who was both coachman and servant, was one of them.

 

“Baron, welcome back!”

 

And Paul, who was a servant.

 

“Miss, welcome back!”

 

Nes had joined as a new maid. It was that same Nes who had worked at the Williot Duchy.

 

Like Sara, Nes had also quit being a maid at the Williot Duchy and followed me.

 

“Oh my, I should call you Baron now.”

 

Nes smiled cutely and took the bag I was carrying.

 

I shook my head when she tried to take the book too.

 

“The title ‘Miss’ is so ingrained that it’s a big problem.”

 

“There’s no need to rush. You can fix it gradually.”

 

“Fix it gradually, my foot!”

 

Sara appeared behind Nes.

 

“You need to fix it quickly! You’re a proper Baron, so it’s not right to keep calling you Miss! So fix it fast!”

 

“Of course I’ll fix it! Don’t nag me!”

 

When Nes first came to the capital and we met, she cried and hugged me with joy, but now are they fighting like cats and dogs?

 

I smiled warmly, finding the two of them cute.

 

When I used to leave Sara alone at home, I felt sorry and worried, but now there was no need for that.

 

Because there were so many people here.

 

Thanks to that, I felt at ease even when working overtime late.

 

“You make lots of mistakes too, so why are you scolding me!”

 

“When did I ever make mistakes!”

 

Still, I should break this up soon.

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

“Ah! I’ll prepare dinner right away!”

 

Sara hurriedly went into the kitchen.

 

Nes followed closely behind her.

 

I should change clothes before dinner.

 

Heading to my room on the second floor, I suddenly stopped in the middle of the stairs and looked around the manor.

 

A moderately sized foyer, high ceilings, and furniture made of high-quality wood with decorations placed here and there.

 

When I left the Williot Duchy, I never thought I would live in such a nice manor.

 

It was all thanks to Kalian looking favorably upon me.

 

The favors I received from Kalian were numerous besides this.

 

‘He really is a good person.’

 

The same was true for Baron Delrond and Count Hiltain who served him.

 

I should work hard to become like that too.

 

I’ll work hard to be able to help him.

 

For that, I should… do it, right?

 

I silently looked down at the book I was holding.

 

* * *

 

Having lunch with Kalian and reporting various things had become established like a schedule.

 

Recently, the conversations we had most were about the childcare project and the protest letter sent from the Papacy.

 

When we didn’t stop the childcare project despite their protest letter, the Papacy sent another protest letter.

 

This protest letter contained some threats as well. The content was that if we continued like this, the Papacy wouldn’t stay still either.

 

When I brought it during lunch, Kalian skimmed through it superficially and then threw the protest letter on the floor.

 

“You brought something useless.”

 

It was a protest letter from the Papacy of all things, but was it okay for him to act like that?

 

I was worried. Baron Delrond seemed to have the same thoughts as me, as he sighed deeply and picked up the protest letter.

 

“To treat a protest letter from the Papacy like this. If the Papacy finds out, there will be chaos.”

 

“That won’t happen, so it’s fine.”

 

Kalian answered nonchalantly and drank his wine.

 

Baron Delrond’s eyes sharpened as he looked at Kalian.

 

Baron Delrond glanced at me once, then spoke as if talking to himself with a deep sigh.

 

“Don’t you know that the more Your Majesty acts like this, the more trouble it causes for Baron Aster?”

 

Huh? Me?

 

As the arrow suddenly turned toward me, I looked at Baron Delrond in confusion.

 

“…Is there a way?”

 

That was brief too, as I turned to look at Kalian at his question.

 

“Do you have a method in mind for how to respond to the protest letter from the Papacy, Leilah?”

 

“I don’t have a clear method yet, but I’m thinking of investigating the temple to find one.”

 

Even if evidence came out that they used donations from the Imperial Palace for personal gain, or that they were abusing children, the temple side wouldn’t be able to oppose the Imperial family overseeing the childcare project anymore.

 

The same would be true for the Papacy.

 

“So I’m thinking of visiting the temple directly this weekend.”

 

If I went on the weekend, it would be chaotic with many people, but that made it good for hiding my identity.

 

Baron Delrond asked with some concern.

 

“You’re not thinking of going alone, are you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At my answer, Baron Delrond shook his head.

 

“That seems rather dangerous. If the Church authorities realize that the Baron is investigating their scandals, they won’t just sit still.”

 

“That’s exactly why I want to go alone. They wouldn’t think I’d come by myself to investigate.”

 

“That may be true, but….”

 

Baron Delrond made an unconvinced expression and trailed off.

 

I fully understood Baron Delrond’s feelings. As he said, going alone to investigate the Temple’s scandals was dangerous.

 

However, if we went in a group, there was a high chance of drawing the Temple’s attention.

 

Then all the plans I’d made over the past few days would become completely useless, so I absolutely had to go alone.

 

“I still can’t let you go alone. I’ll come with you.”

 

But Baron Delrond couldn’t quite set aside his worries.

 

“It’s fine. You don’t need to trouble yourself because of me.”

 

“It’s no trouble at all. It’s a hundred times better than sending the Baron alone and worrying, so let’s go together.”

 

When he said that much, I had nothing more to say.

 

And thinking about it, going with Baron Delrond rather than going alone would look less suspicious to the Church authorities.

 

If necessary, I could focus their attention on Baron Delrond while I moved according to plan.

 

“Yes, let’s do that.”

 

It was when I, having finished calculating in my head, accepted Baron Delrond’s proposal.

 

“I’ll come along too.”

 

Kalian suddenly threw out those words.

 

Kalian coming along too. That would be….

 

“That won’t do.”

 

Baron Delrond spoke for my feelings.

 

Kalian’s eyebrow rose slightly.

 

“Why won’t it do?”

 

“First of all, if His Majesty leaves the Imperial Palace, you must be accompanied by numerous attendants and guards.”

 

“I can just sneak out.”

 

“Don’t speak so boldly about breaking the rules. And it’s dangerous. His Majesty’s safety is the Empire’s safety.”

 

Baron Delrond added his words along with sharp criticism.

 

“And the Church authorities know His Majesty’s face. If His Majesty just shows up like that, they’ll immediately be thrown into chaos, won’t they? Then instead of investigating, we’ll have to be dragged around however they lead us.”

 

Thanks to Baron Delrond pointing out all the problems so satisfyingly, all I had to do was nod my head.

 

Then my eyes met Kalian’s.

 

He looked at me with a somewhat sharp gaze, then frowned and turned his head away abruptly.

 

Why is he acting like that?

 

“So Baron Delrond and Baron Aster will go, just the two of us.”

 

Was it my imagination that the part about “just the two of us” seemed emphasized?

 

Kalian spoke while cutting his medium-rare steak.

 

“Have I been too lenient lately? You keep getting uppity, Ber.”

 

Blood slightly flowed out where the knife had passed.

 

“It would be good to keep it moderate.”

 

The size he’d just cut would be fine for eating, but Kalian deliberately cut the meat once more.

 

And quite finely, as if he would completely shred it.

 

“My tolerance has limits too.”

 

Even at Kalian’s murderous threat, Baron Delrond answered with a relaxed smile.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

Then he looked at me and asked.

 

“So when shall we meet this weekend, Baron Aster?”

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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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