I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 156

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

#156

 

“Heartless and wicked bitch! How dare you spout such nonsense when you don’t even know the grace of being raised all this time!”

 

Countess Tebesa, who had been driven out without getting what she wanted, pointed her finger at the Aster mansion and screamed at the top of her lungs.

 

“That’s why Duke Williot had an affair! Because you’re so cold and heartless, he turned his attention to another woman!”

 

Mother doesn’t seem to be in a position to say such things.

 

Count Tebesa’s philandering was famous even in social circles.

 

Yet hearing her say such things was so ridiculous that Andante chuckled.

 

And she recalled Leilah, who had boldly stood up to her and her mother.

 

The Leilah in her memory was just a timid and obedient child.

 

That’s why she could manipulate her to her heart’s content, but it seemed that wouldn’t work anymore.

 

That fact was disappointing yet also intriguing on one hand.

 

What could have made Leilah change like that?

 

They say position makes the person – was it because of that?

 

Even thinking that, Leilah’s change was too sudden.

 

Just a few months ago, when she was at the Williot duchy, she didn’t seem to be like that.

 

“I must have been crazy to make a request to such a bitch! I must have lost my mind!”

 

Ah, how fortunate that she’s realized it now.

 

Actually, Andante hadn’t been too keen on making a request to Leilah.

 

She had only followed along reluctantly because Countess Tebesa insisted on it.

 

This is why playing the role of a good son is so difficult.

 

Sometimes she envied her father and brother who did whatever they wanted.

 

“Andante, let’s go now!”

 

Her anger having subsided a little, Countess Tebesa grabbed Andante’s arm and pulled her along.

 

Andante, who was about to follow obediently, discovered something and stopped.

 

That is…?

 

Andante’s eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed again as she drew a sinister smile.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“…It’s nothing.”

 

Andante smiled affectionately as if nothing had happened and escorted Countess Tebesa.

 

“Let’s go, Mother.”

 

Before completely leaving the mansion, Andante’s eyes sparkled meaningfully as she looked back in that direction once more.

 

* * *

 

As the New Year festival approached just a week away, foreign diplomatic missions arrived one after another.

 

Accordingly, I became incredibly busy. The paperwork was one thing, but dealing with people was too exhausting.

 

“Why can’t I see His Majesty the Emperor?”

 

“His Majesty is currently out on other business.”

 

“Then tell me where he went. I’ll go find him myself.”

 

“For security reasons, I cannot tell you that.”

 

“What does that mean? Are you saying I would harm His Majesty!”

 

The envoy of Munte shouted indignantly, but I responded calmly.

 

“Does Munte carelessly reveal the location of His Majesty the King to other people?”

 

Since that wasn’t the case, the envoy of Munte shut his mouth tight. The dissatisfaction seemed as deep as the wrinkles between his brows.

 

“When His Majesty returns, I will convey that Munte wished to see him. So please wait in the palace until then.”

 

After barely appeasing and sending him away, another envoy came and caused a disturbance.

 

“Where is His Majesty?”

 

This time it was Princess Stella from the Kingdom of Stella.

 

According to rumors, she had fallen for Kalian and came to marry him.

 

Accordingly, Princess Stella made endless efforts to catch Kalian’s eye, but it was all in vain.

 

Kalian never once looked at her. He often treated her worse than a stone on the street.

 

One would think she’d give up at this point, but Princess Stella kept coming.

 

That was the same today, and Princess Stella stayed in the study for quite a while, saying she would wait until Kalian came.

 

If she had just stayed there, I would have ignored her and focused on my work, but that wasn’t the case, so I couldn’t do that.

 

“What food does His Majesty like? What about his favorite color? Oh, do you know His Majesty’s hobbies?”

 

She bombarded me with endless questions about His Majesty. Since I couldn’t carelessly reveal His Majesty’s private matters, I answered that I didn’t know to all of them.

 

“Lies! You know everything!”

 

Then Princess Stella became furious.

 

“Baron, you like His Majesty too, so you won’t tell me! You think of me as a rival!”

 

It was an absurd misunderstanding. Even when I said it wasn’t true, Princess Stella wouldn’t easily clear up the misunderstanding.

 

After barely appeasing Princess Stella and sending her away, I tried to look at documents again when I heard another knock.

 

Who is it this time? I got annoyed before even checking who it was.

 

“Yes.”

 

What entered through the door was a servant from the outer palace.

 

“Baron Aster, Baron Delrond urgently asked me to deliver some documents to the Minister of Justice.”

 

It was truly a welcome request. At least I wouldn’t have to be tormented by foreign diplomatic missions for a while.

 

“What documents are you referring to?”

 

If it was simply delivering documents, it could be left to attendants or servants, but important documents couldn’t be handled that way.

 

If they were lost in the middle, it would be a big problem, so I had to go personally.

 

I took the documents the servant mentioned and headed to the outer palace.

 

It was while I was passing through the long corridor connecting to the outer palace.

 

“Baron Aster?”

 

From the opposite end of the corridor, Kalian appeared with some nobles.

 

“I greet Your Majesty.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“I’m on my way to deliver documents to the Minister of Justice.”

 

“You are? Most outer palace affairs should be handled by Baron Delrond.”

 

“Baron Delrond was busy, so he asked me to do it.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Kalian thought for a moment, then patted my shoulder.

 

“Bear with it a little longer. After the New Year festival ends, I’ll hire one more aide.”

 

It was welcome news to hear. Since I had secretly hoped for one more aide, I thanked him.

 

“No need to thank me. It’s something I should have done earlier.”

 

Kalian left words of encouragement, then disappeared to the other side of the corridor leading the nobles.

 

I also quickened my steps toward the Ministry of Justice.

 

Since various departments were gathered together, the outer palace was usually noisy.

 

But today it seemed particularly severe.

 

Was it because of the New Year festival? Even for that, it seemed too noisy.

 

Especially the administrators from the Marshal’s Office were making a commotion.

 

If they had just been chattering, I wouldn’t have paid attention, but since they kept glancing at me, I couldn’t help but notice.

 

Why are they acting like that?

 

Curious, I perked up my ears and listened to their conversation.

 

“Duke Williot has…”

 

“My goodness, really?”

 

…Are they talking about Fillen?

 

If so, it made sense why they were whispering while looking at me.

 

The incident between Fillen, me, and Sisly was still frequently mentioned among people.

 

It was puzzling that the Marshal’s Office administrators were particularly chattering about it, but I thought it was because they served Fillen, who was the Marshal, most closely.

 

That’s what I thought, but I was wrong.

 

“Leilah.”

 

I learned the truth behind that commotion on my way back to the study in the Imperial Palace after delivering the documents requested by the Minister of Justice.

 

Fillen was leaning against a pillar in the corridor. It seemed he had been waiting for me.

 

“It’s been a while, Leilah.”

 

It has been a while indeed. This was the first time I’d seen him since that incident.

 

I had heard that Fillen had come to the capital, but I never thought I would run into him like this.

 

At the earliest, I thought I would see him after the New Year festival began.

 

‘Has he returned to duty?’

 

Since no application for Fillen’s return had been submitted, that couldn’t be it.

 

If I had just passed by and seen him, I would have ignored him, but since he spoke to me directly, I couldn’t do that.

 

There were too many eyes watching, which made it even more impossible to ignore him.

 

Status took priority over personal grudges.

 

There was an enormous difference in status between him, a duke, and me, a baron.

 

“…It’s been a while, Duke Williot.”

 

Therefore, even though I didn’t want to, I had no choice but to greet Fillen.

 

Fillen looked at me with somewhat wistful eyes.

 

Those eyes bothered me, but what bothered me more was his gaunt face.

 

No, rather than bothered, the word ‘irritated’ was more fitting.

 

It was as if he was showing off to everyone around how difficult things were for him.

 

It also seemed like he was going around telling people that I was the cause.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

 

In any case, having a long conversation with Fillen felt awkward and unpleasant.

 

We had exchanged polite greetings, so I tried to leave, but Fillen held me back again.

 

“Have you been well?”

 

Why is he asking such things?

 

What’s the point of acting friendly now?

 

Could Fillen possibly think he could mend our broken relationship?

 

If that’s what he thought, he was gravely mistaken.

 

Just as broken glass cannot be put back together, our shattered relationship could never be mended.

 

“I’ve been thinking about you a lot…”

 

“Your Grace.”

 

I cut off Fillen’s words and looked straight at him.

 

Fillen seemed oddly expectant.

 

I didn’t know what he was expecting, but I was certain it wasn’t what I was about to say.

 

“You haven’t forgotten the wish I told Your Grace about, have you?”

 

“…!”

 

As expected, he hadn’t.

 

His eyes, wide as a rabbit’s, were bloodshot red.

 

I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, but that was all.

 

I had no intention of feeling sorry for him or comforting him.

 

“As an administrator of the Empire, I think it’s unavoidable that I’ll clash with Your Grace over official matters. However.”

 

I continued in a dry, emotionless voice that didn’t even contain anger.

 

“I would prefer if you didn’t seek me out privately. That was my wish as well.”

 

No matter how dull-witted he might be, surely he would understand after I said this much.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

 

I thought he wouldn’t hold me back anymore, but it seems I underestimated Fillen.

 

“Leilah.”

 

He was more foolish than I thought. The word ‘idiot’ wasn’t enough to describe him.

 

“Let me confirm just one last thing.”

 

I tried to ignore him and leave, but I couldn’t because Fillen grabbed my arm.

 

“…Do you really not love me? Do you have no feelings for me at all?”

 

Sigh, could that even be called a question?

 

“No, I don’t.”

 

At my answer, the strength left Fillen’s hand that was gripping my arm.

 

I didn’t miss that opportunity and pulled my arm free from Fillen’s grasp.

 

“I don’t even have any pity left for Your Grace, so please don’t pretend to know me anymore.”

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