I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 145

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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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#145

 

Kalian had sent a letter to Fillen saying he didn’t need to return until spring.

 

It was to prevent Leilah and Fillen from meeting.

 

What should he do when spring approached?

 

He couldn’t keep postponing Fillen’s return indefinitely, so he needed to find another method.

 

For example, sending him on a mission to another region.

 

However, sending Fillen, who was both the Minister of the Marshal’s Office and Commander-in-Chief, on a mission to another region was absurd.

 

‘Should I fire him at this opportunity?’

 

He wanted to do that in his heart.

 

But he couldn’t arbitrarily dismiss a high-ranking noble, especially a duke, without any reason.

 

Moreover, there was no one to replace Fillen as Commander-in-Chief.

 

Though Fillen was incompetent in other areas, he was outstanding enough to be considered the best in the Empire when it came to warfare and swordsmanship.

 

Looking at it this way, his head wasn’t completely bad, but it was puzzling why that brain didn’t work in other areas.

 

Anyway, no matter how he thought about it, driving Fillen out from the Commander-in-Chief position was unreasonable.

 

Then the only option left was sending him on a mission.

 

Or starting a war.

 

Of course, the latter was too extreme a method.

 

The Empire had suffered great losses from the long six-year war, so another war had to be prevented at all costs.

 

Then what should he do?

 

There was still time until spring, so he was contemplating slowly, but who would have thought Fillen would come to the Imperial Palace before his vacation ended?

 

When he asked in bewilderment, Fillen politely bowed and greeted Kalian.

 

“I greet His Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire.”

 

His handsome appearance, which had once shaken the social circles, had become haggard.

 

After Sisly’s misdeeds were revealed and Leilah left.

 

He had heard that Fillen had been drowning in alcohol, and seeing his condition, it seemed to be true.

 

“Drop the insincere formal greetings.”

 

Kalian crossed his arms and leaned diagonally against the door.

 

“I’ll ask once more. What brings you here during your vacation?”

 

Fillen’s expression subtly hardened at the tone that treated him like an unwelcome guest.

 

Fillen bowed his head to hide his stiff expression and answered.

 

“While I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s concern for me, I feel I’ve been away from my position too long and wish to gradually return.”

 

“What if I refuse?”

 

“Even so, I intend to keep coming.”

 

That meant he would stay in the capital and continue visiting the Imperial Palace.

 

His eagerness to work even during vacation should have seemed admirable, but it didn’t feel that way at all because he knew Fillen’s ulterior motive.

 

‘He wants to see Leilah.’

 

Since he couldn’t go see Leilah directly because of the notarized wish, he was trying to cause trouble this way.

 

Really, he was a master at making people annoyed.

 

“I refuse. If a duke enters and exits the Outer Palace during vacation, there will be those who misunderstand that the duke has returned, so come when your vacation ends.”

 

“Then Your Majesty can simply accept my application to return.”

 

“You’re making me repeat the same words.”

 

Kalian chuckled softly and straightened his body that had been leaning against the wall.

 

“Do you think I don’t know your scheme, Duke Williot?”

 

Speaking in roundabout ways really didn’t suit his temperament.

 

These types weren’t the kind to listen even if you spoke in circles.

 

“You’re planning to hover around Leilah using work as an excuse.”

 

When Kalian called Leilah’s name, sparks flew in Fillen’s eyes.

 

“Please do not carelessly call Leilah’s name.”

 

How dare he say such things to whom?

 

Kalian chuckled softly.

 

“Why should I? Leilah also gave me permission to call Leilah’s name.”

 

Kalian deliberately called Leilah’s name several times.

 

Then Fillen bit his lips tightly with a face full of indignation. His fist, half-hidden in his sleeve, trembled.

 

He looked ready to throw a punch.

 

Rather, Kalian wished Fillen would attack him.

 

Then he could charge him with assaulting royalty and send him far away.

 

Sending him to the Aobis Coal Mine that Sisly was supposed to go to would be perfect.

 

But unfortunately, Fillen didn’t attack.

 

It seemed he still had enough reason left not to dare talk back to the Emperor.

 

“Stop harboring lingering feelings for Leilah, Duke Williot. You can’t even get near Leilah privately anymore anyway.”

 

The notarized wish had legal force, so even a duke shouldn’t violate it.

 

If he did violate it, he would have to experience the quite disgraceful ordeal of being summoned by the estate guards as a duke.

 

Fillen bit his lips so hard they bled before spitting out words.

 

“Leilah is my fiancée, arranged by my late parents. So the place where Leilah should be is by my side.”

 

That wasn’t words but nonsense.

 

Kalian twisted his lips.

 

It had been quite a while since the engagement was broken, yet Fillen still referring to Leilah as his fiancée was extremely unpleasant.

 

“I remember it was you who abandoned that fiancée.”

 

Kalian looked at Fillen coldly and continued.

 

“But now you want to take her back? Duke Williot, did you kill your shame along with the enemy during the war?”

 

Fillen clenched his fists tightly and said.

 

“I didn’t abandon her!”

 

His raised voice echoed through the quiet Office.

 

“I was just trying to correct her behavior a little because Leilah was disrespecting me, a duke, and acting above her station!”

 

“How did Leilah disrespect you?”

 

Kalian tilted his head diagonally.

 

“By not taking good care of the mistress the duke brought? Or by managing the Williot Estate in place of the incompetent duke?”

 

Ice-cold words swept through like a blizzard.

 

“From what I see, Leilah did nothing wrong. All the wrongs were done by you, Duke Williot.”

 

Fillen hesitated for a moment, then spoke as if feeling very wronged.

 

“Your Majesty thinks that way because you’ve only heard Leilah’s side.”

 

“Because I’ve only heard Leilah’s side.”

 

Kalian laughed.

 

“Duke Williot, you’re mistaken about something—I’ve heard nothing about the duke from Leilah.”

 

Fillen looked at Kalian with slight surprise. His trembling eyes were shouting, “That’s a lie.”

 

“Whether you believe it or not is your freedom, but just know it’s the truth. Leilah said nothing about the duke.”

 

She hadn’t even consulted him about minor concerns when problems arose.

 

That had been his complaint, but seeing Fillen’s face contort was quite satisfying.

 

That was because Leilah not saying a word about Fillen to people around her meant.

 

He wasn’t worth mentioning, or he was someone she didn’t even want to bring up.

 

“I think you understand enough from what I’ve said. So stop doing useless things and go back now, Duke Williot.”

 

He was about to turn around after issuing the order to leave when Fillen opened his mouth again.

 

“I am grateful that Your Majesty has taken care of Leilah in my place.”

 

The festival of nonsense wasn’t over.

 

At this point, he felt sorry for dogs.

 

“You seem to be seriously mistaken, but my taking care of Leilah wasn’t something I did in your place.”

 

Kalian only turned his head to look back at Fillen.

 

“If you carelessly run your mouth with such ridiculous delusions even once more, I won’t stay still either.”

 

“….”

 

“Remember this, Duke Williot. Leilah Aster is no longer your fiancée.”

 

Unlike the vivid smile on his lips, his gaze toward Fillen was as cold as frost.

 

He drove the point home once more.

 

“She’s my person.”

 

My person.

 

Leilah was his aide, so she was indeed his person.

 

Kalian felt immensely proud of that fact.

 

“But if you try to mess with her again, you’ll have to be prepared to make me your enemy.”

 

* * *

 

Following Kalian’s orders, I immediately left the Imperial Palace and returned to the manor.

 

The servants, who had been extremely nervous, were startled and widened their eyes when I returned alone.

 

“Why are you alone, Baron?”

 

“His Majesty suddenly had other urgent business.”

 

When I took off my coat, Nes quickly approached and took it from me.

 

“So we decided to have dinner together next time.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Sara nodded with relief, though she seemed disappointed.

 

“When is next time?”

 

“Well. We haven’t set a specific date yet.”

 

“Then please schedule it as late as possible. Let me prepare myself mentally. This time was too sudden.”

 

When Sara grumbled quietly, I nodded with a smile.

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

I need to wash up and change clothes quickly.

 

My whole body was covered in sweat and dust from horseback riding.

 

“Please draw me a bath.”

 

Just as I was about to go wash up, Paul came running frantically.

 

“B-Baron! Something terrible has happened!”

 

Something terrible?

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Paul caught his breath for a moment, then shouted loudly.

 

“O-outside, there’s a carriage with a soaring eagle emblem…!”

 

A soaring eagle emblem means the Duchy of Cloud, doesn’t it?

 

But why is that carriage in front of my manor?

 

“Maybe they’re just passing by and stopped briefly?”

 

At Sara’s question, Paul shook his head vigorously.

 

“No! The coachman got down from the driver’s seat and personally opened the carriage door!”

 

“What?”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Ring ring ring-

 

The bell announcing a visitor’s arrival rang.

 

“So someone from the Duchy of Cloud really came to visit.”

 

Traveling in a carriage with the ducal family’s emblem meant they were a member of the family.

 

They weren’t someone a mere baron like me could treat lightly.

 

“Sara, immediately escort the guest to the drawing room. Bring tea and refreshments too.”

 

“Yes, Baron.”

 

“Nes, help me change clothes.”

 

I couldn’t receive someone from a ducal family in clothes soaked with dust and sweat.

 

It would be better if I could wash up, but I didn’t have time for that, so I changed clothes and sprayed perfume.

 

Who came to visit? Duke Cloud? Or Countess Cloud?

 

Or perhaps a branch family member.

 

I didn’t know who had come, but it was troublesome either way.

 

I couldn’t even guess why they had come.

 

After hurriedly finishing my preparations, I headed to the drawing room.

 

“Baron!”

 

Sara, who was waiting in front of the drawing room door, told me who had come.

 

…So it’s that person.

 

I took a deep breath, then entered the drawing room.

 

Then I saw an elegant woman sitting on the sofa.

 

I smiled brightly and lifted the hem of my skirt slightly.

 

“Welcome to my manor, Countess Cloud.”

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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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