I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 149

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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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#149

 

“Wizard… Baron?”

 

Why is he here when he should be at the Williot Estate?

 

Did he come together with Fillen when he came to the capital?

 

I didn’t know what reason Wizard Baron had for coming to the capital, but his presence in front of my manor was undoubtedly to meet me.

 

Among Duke Williot’s various advisors, Wizard Baron was the one closest to me.

 

He was also the advisor who helped me the most.

 

As much as I was glad to see Wizard Baron, I couldn’t be purely happy because I could guess the purpose of his visit.

 

‘Fillen must have sent him.’

 

Otherwise, there was no way Wizard Baron, who belonged to the Williot Duchy, would come to see me at this late hour.

 

In any case, I couldn’t keep Wizard Baron standing there.

 

I would have to face him anyway to enter the house.

 

I knocked on the window connecting to the coachman’s seat.

 

“Please open it.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

Hanson immediately opened the carriage door for me.

 

As I took his hand and stepped down, Wizard Baron approached me with a subtle expression.

 

“It’s been a long time, Miss. Ah, I should call you Baron Aster now.”

 

This was the first time being called Baron Aster felt so awkward.

 

“Yes. It’s been a long time, Wizard Baron.”

 

I awkwardly smiled and accepted Wizard Baron’s greeting.

 

Wizard Baron was holding a large box in his arms.

 

What is it? Could it be a gift for me?

 

The box looked somewhat shabby for that, but seeing how carefully he was holding it, it seemed likely.

 

Though I had no intention of accepting it.

 

“Did Duke Williot send you?”

 

When I asked directly, Wizard Baron smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

 

“No. Coming here was entirely my own decision.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. I swear on the name of the late Duke Williot.”

 

If he’s going that far, it must be true.

 

Still, his visit to see me must be because of Fillen.

 

Or it could be about matters concerning the Williot Estate.

 

Whether it was the former or the latter, it was equally uncomfortable.

 

“I don’t know why you’ve come to see me, but please go back. I have nothing to discuss with you, Baron.”

 

I spoke coldly and tried to enter the manor.

 

“I’ve brought Misa the head maid’s belongings.”

 

At those words, I couldn’t help but stop.

 

Misa’s… belongings?

 

I turned around with wide eyes to look at Wizard Baron.

 

“Did you really bring Misa’s belongings?”

 

Wizard Baron nodded and held out the box he had been carefully clutching.

 

“Yes. I received them from her family.”

 

Her family would mean her son.

 

Misa’s son had been married and living in another domain since before I got engaged to Fillen, so I had never seen his face.

 

After Misa died, her son came to the Williot Estate and took all of her belongings with him.

 

…Except for Misa’s body.

 

The son wanted to take it, but Fillen said he could never give up the body of a traitor who killed his child, so he couldn’t.

 

Moreover, since Misa’s body had already been fed to wild dogs, it would have been impossible to take even if permission was granted.

 

Anyway, since Misa’s son took all her belongings, I was sad and regretful that I couldn’t keep any of her possessions, but now I get to see them like this.

 

As I couldn’t take my eyes off the box, Wizard Baron smiled awkwardly and said,

 

“If you listen to what I have to say, I’ll give you Misa’s belongings.”

 

…Is he making a deal?

 

If it had been a deal involving anything else, I would have firmly refused, but with Misa’s belongings at stake, I couldn’t.

 

I wanted to have Misa’s belongings somehow.

 

“…Alright.”

 

After a brief consideration, I nodded and turned around.

 

“Come in.”

 

Just listening to what he has to say should be fine.

 

Whatever he says, I can listen with one ear and let it out the other, I thought as I led Wizard Baron into the manor.

 

* * *

 

Late evening, the Emperor’s chamber.

 

Kalian pressed his aching eyes and closed the book.

 

I should only read this much today.

 

As Kalian put down the book and was about to go to the bathroom, he noticed another book he had borrowed from the library.

 

The red cover made it particularly noticeable.

 

[Is This Love?]

 

“…”

 

It was such a garishly childish title that he couldn’t bear to look at it. He was deeply curious about who wrote this.

 

But why did I borrow this?

 

Kalian frowned, unable to understand his actions from a few hours ago.

 

I should tell an attendant to return it immediately.

 

…Before that, should I check what’s inside?

 

He was curious about what kind of nonsense might be written in it.

 

Kalian opened the book with a very serious expression.

 

The first page had a table of contents, and the next page had a lengthy explanation of why the author wrote such a book.

 

Just reading the first page, he felt no need to read this book.

 

Rather, the sentences filled with unnecessary flowery language were irritating, making him frown involuntarily.

 

I just wasted time for nothing.

 

As Kalian was about to close the book, a sentence suddenly caught his eye.

 

[Anyone who wants to confirm whether their feelings are love or not must read this book.]

 

Love. It was a word distant from Kalian.

 

Kalian had never rationally loved anyone.

 

Until now, not even once…

 

[Your Majesty.]

 

Suddenly, Leilah’s image flashed through his mind like a panorama.

 

Her bright smile as she called to him, and her puzzled expression as she tilted her head.

 

Also her careful attention as she listened to his words.

 

Her face, beaming with joy over trivial things and smiling purely without a speck of dust, made even the observer feel good.

 

On the other hand, the sight of her trembling shoulders as she burst into tears was so pitiful that he wanted to embrace her immediately.

 

[…Your Majesty, do you like Baron Aster?]

 

“….”

 

Is this what it means to like someone?

 

It doesn’t seem like it.

 

Kalian perched on the armrest of the sofa.

 

His gaze naturally turned to the book. The passage he had just read caught his eye.

 

That arrogant sentence telling him to read this book if he wanted to confirm whether it was love or not.

 

He knew his own heart better than anyone else.

 

Even though he thought he didn’t need help from such a book, he found himself turning the pages without realizing it.

 

Rustle, the sound of turning pages echoed through the quiet room.

 

By the time the candlestick became thoroughly dirty with dripped wax, Kalian read the book’s contents as if entranced.

 

“Falling in love happens in an instant.”

 

Even when you close your eyes, the other person’s image appears vividly.

 

Even light contact makes your heart flutter.

 

It feels terribly unpleasant when there’s someone of the opposite sex beside them other than you.

 

When they’re happy, you’re happy together.

 

When they’re sad, you become twice as sad.

 

When you’re apart, you want to be together.

 

When you’re together, you want to be even closer – that’s exactly what love is.

 

“What nonsense.”

 

He could write such formulaic stories himself.

 

I just wasted time for nothing.

 

Kalian clicked his tongue and closed the book.

 

Just then, he sensed a presence outside the window.

 

“Is it Hilltain?”

 

The window opened silently and Hilltain entered along with the cold wind.

 

Hilltain bowed in greeting, then stated the reason for his visit.

 

“A black market has opened in the Northern District.”

 

“Then I should go take a look.”

 

Kalian placed the book on the table and stood up.

 

Soon cold wind swirled through the room and Kalian’s body scattered into the air as water droplets.

 

* * *

 

I brought Wizard Baron to the drawing room.

 

Sara and Nes, who knew him, exchanged meaningful glances and whispered to each other.

 

“Please sit.”

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Wizard Baron looked around the drawing room extensively, then smiled faintly.

 

“This drawing room reflects Baron Aster’s taste.”

 

Does it? I never particularly decorated it to reflect my taste.

 

“More importantly, what do you have to say?”

 

Since I had many things to do and wanted to receive Misa’s belongings as quickly as possible, I immediately asked about the main point.

 

Then Wizard Baron let out a long sigh and clasped his hands tightly together.

 

“Recently, the situation in Williot Estate has become very bad.”

 

Did he come because of problems with Williot Estate?

 

It wasn’t welcome, but it was better than Fillen’s affairs.

 

“What could be bad during winter?”

 

They wouldn’t be farming anyway, right?

 

When I asked in puzzlement, Wizard Baron’s complexion grew even darker.

 

“The farmland needs to be restored to its original state during this period when we’re not farming, but it hasn’t been restored yet.”

 

What is this about now?

 

When did the flood happen that the farmland still hasn’t been restored?

 

“Why is that? Didn’t you hire mages?”

 

“We tried to hire them, but at that time His Grace postponed hiring mages because That Woman had trauma regarding mages.”

 

That Woman referred to Sisly.

 

Good heavens, to neglect farmland that the landfolk’s livelihood depended on just because of trauma. It was utterly absurd.

 

“You can hire them now.”

 

Since Sisly isn’t there anymore. It felt somewhat late, but it was better than not doing it at all.

 

When I said that, Wizard Baron’s complexion became even more haggard.

 

“I want to do that too, but since that day, His Grace the Duke’s condition has been strange.”

 

Fillen’s condition is strange?

 

“I know I shouldn’t say this, but… right now His Grace the Duke is not maintaining a sound mind.”

 

Though he put it diplomatically, he meant Fillen had gone mad. If the loyal Wizard Baron was using such expressions, Fillen’s condition must be very bad.

 

Well, after being betrayed by the government he trusted, it would be harder to maintain his sanity.

 

I could understand, but I didn’t sympathize. Everything was his own doing.

 

He was reaping what he had sown, so there was no value in sympathizing.

 

“Not only does he not review documents, but he spends every day drowning in alcohol.”

 

His condition seems more serious than I thought.

 

“And recently, he suddenly said he needed to return and came up to the capital.”

 

I already knew this story from Kalian, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.

 

“Because of that, the estate became even more of a mess.”

 

Wizard Baron explained in detail how much of a mess the estate was.

 

The situation was certainly bad. If left alone like this, Williot Estate would walk the path to ruin.

 

“We cannot just watch Williot Estate perish like this.”

 

Wizard Baron seemed to share the same thoughts as me.

 

“We need someone who can set everything right.”

 

Wizard Baron bit his lips firmly and looked at me.

 

“So Baron Aster, Miss Leilah. Could you please return to Williot Estate?”

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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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