I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 179

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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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#179

 

‘At least it’s not Andant or Countess Tebesa.’

 

I watched them until they left the manor in case they tried anything strange, but they showed no unusual movements.

 

The same was true for Countess Cloud.

 

Above all, Countess Cloud would never do something like this to me.

 

Then who on earth could it be? Other guests who visited the manor… there were some.

 

Before inviting Kalian to dinner, I had called people to clean the manor.

 

Considering the timing, there was a high possibility that the culprit was among them.

 

It’s unlikely they had any personal grudge against me to do such a thing.

 

Someone probably ordered them to do it.

 

But who? Who would do something like this.

 

“Are you confident you won’t regret it?”

 

…Could it be Andant?

 

Thinking about it that way, I could understand what Andant had said in the past.

 

His words about exposing what I had done to the world.

 

He must have secretly planted Molentze in my garden and tried to blackmail me using that as leverage.

 

He just got unluckily caught by the estate guards before that.

 

There was a high possibility that Andant was the culprit, but it was just a possibility. It wasn’t certain.

 

‘I need to find evidence.’

 

I needed to find all the evidence – both that Andant tried to frame me and that he grew and sold Molentze fruit.

 

“I would like to meet Count Hiltain, Your Majesty.”

 

If Count Hiltain had followed Andant as I requested, he would have the evidence.

 

So I sought out Count Hiltain, but Kalian’s eyebrow rose diagonally. I could see displeasure in his eyes.

 

“Why are you suddenly looking for Hiltain?”

 

“I previously asked Count Hiltain for a favor, and it seems related to this incident.”

 

“A favor? What was it?”

 

“It concerns Molentze fruit.”

 

There was no reason to hide it from him, and Kalian would soon learn about it anyway, so I continued without hesitation.

 

“I’m not certain, but… my half-brother Andant seems to be involved in this matter.”

 

I hesitated briefly while speaking because I felt ashamed.

 

I didn’t consider Andant family.

 

But to others, we were family, and it was deeply shameful and embarrassing that the same blood, even if only half, flowed through my veins as his.

 

“Are you saying Andant Tebesa is a drug addict?”

 

“I think he’s a cultivator.”

 

If he were simply a drug addict, he wouldn’t have been able to obtain seeds and plant them in my manor’s garden.

 

“A cultivator.”

 

Kalian’s expression became much more serious.

 

“Why didn’t you tell me this fact earlier?”

 

“I only had circumstantial evidence, so I planned to tell you once I found solid proof.”

 

“But you told Hiltain.”

 

“That was to find evidence. Count Hiltain is someone I can trust.”

 

Kalian’s expression became subtle at my answer.

 

He seemed serious, yet also incredulous… in any case, it wasn’t a good expression.

 

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

 

“…I am unwell.”

 

Kalian frowned.

 

“My heart is very unwell.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Of course he would be unwell.

 

A noble of the Empire cultivating and selling drugs, especially Molentze fruit which was strictly forbidden across the entire continent – there was no way he wouldn’t be unwell about it.

 

“I fully understand Your Majesty’s feelings.”

 

“…”

 

Kalian stared at me intently, then chuckled and turned his head away.

 

“No, you don’t understand my heart at all.”

 

What does that mean?

 

“Since it seems difficult for you to leave this place right now, I’ll contact the Imperial Palace and have Hiltain come here.”

 

Kalian asked me to wait a moment, then went outside.

 

I sat in the chair waiting for Kalian to return while organizing my thoughts.

 

‘I should also meet the people who came to clean the manor.’

 

I needed to find out which of them received orders from Andant to plant Molentze in the garden.

 

That way Andant’s crimes would be revealed more clearly.

 

It would be better to ask Britina Baroness about this part, right?

 

Since there are other things I want to ask him about, it would be good to meet him right away.

 

“Baron Aster.”

 

I was about to do that when Britina Baroness came looking for me first.

 

His face was slightly flushed red, and he seemed both angry and anxious.

 

“What did you discuss with His Majesty?”

 

“It wasn’t anything special.”

 

“Don’t lie to me.”

 

Britina Baroness widened his eyes and approached me.

 

“You asked His Majesty to help cover up your crimes, didn’t you?”

 

Just because the other person was excited didn’t mean I should get excited too – that would be foolish.

 

“I never did such a thing.”

 

I answered calmly.

 

“And I have never committed any crimes.”

 

“Never committed crimes! You planted and grew Molentze in your garden!”

 

Britina Baroness’s voice rang clearly throughout the room.

 

“What about evidence? Have you found proof that I planted and grew Molentze?”

 

“You even set fire to the garden to destroy it – how could I find evidence!”

 

“I don’t understand.”

 

I tilted my head and asked him back.

 

“Why are you so certain that I grew Molentze, Britina Baroness?”

 

“That’s obviously because I received a tip…!”

 

“Just because you received a tip doesn’t mean it’s all true, as you should know better than anyone, Baroness.”

 

Out of 100 tips received, maybe 1 would be correct – there were that many false reports.

 

“But why are you so certain about it.”

 

I paused briefly before continuing.

 

“As if you had seen the Molentze in my garden with your own two eyes, Baroness.”

 

Britina Baroness’s face clearly showed signs of panic.

 

Did he really see it? That’s impossible.

 

This was his first visit to my manor today. He couldn’t have seen the Molentze blooming in my garden.

 

Then why is he so flustered?

 

Like someone hiding something.

 

When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, Britina Baroness cleared his throat.

 

“I didn’t see it myself.”

 

Of course not.

 

“But I did receive a tip from a reliable person.”

“Who is this trustworthy person?”

 

Baroness Britina snorted.

 

“Surely you don’t expect me to carelessly reveal the informant’s identity for their safety?”

 

In other words, she couldn’t tell me.

 

It was frustrating, but she was right.

 

So normally, I would have backed down obediently.

 

“I have no intention of causing harm.”

 

But this time I didn’t, because considering various factors, there was a high possibility that the informant was Andant.

 

If the informant was Andant, then why does Baroness Britina trust Andant so much?

 

Objectively speaking, Andant wasn’t someone who could be trusted.

 

I looked at Baroness Britina with suspicious eyes.

 

Baroness Britina shrugged her shoulders arrogantly and met my gaze boldly.

 

Just as Baroness Britina was about to say something.

 

Click, the door opened and Kalian entered. A doctor was visible behind him.

 

Kalian, who was entering the room, paused when he saw Baroness Britina.

 

“Why is the Baroness here?”

 

Baroness Britina’s shoulders, which had been raised high, instantly dropped.

 

She clasped her hands together with excessive politeness and answered.

 

“I was having a brief conversation with Baron Aster.”

 

Her voice had also changed to a gentle tone.

 

I couldn’t help but laugh at the stark difference in her behavior.

 

Since her opponent was the Emperor, naturally she couldn’t act arrogantly like she had with me, but it was still amusing.

 

Kalian looked back and forth between me and Baroness Britina, then gestured to the doctor.

 

“Examine Baron Aster’s wound.”

 

The doctor approached me respectfully and examined the wound on my right hand.

 

“The treatment has been done excellently, so there’s nothing more I need to do.”

 

Kalian looked pleased at the doctor’s words.

 

“I’ll prescribe ointment and medicine to prevent the wound from getting infected.”

 

The doctor said he would make the medicine and return later, then left.

 

“What were you discussing?”

 

As soon as the doctor left, Kalian asked me. Before I could answer, Baroness Britina spoke up.

 

“About the Molentze that was in the Baron’s garden…”

 

“Baroness Britina.”

 

Kalian smiled irritably and cut off Baroness Britina’s words.

 

“I wasn’t asking you.”

 

Baroness Britina immediately closed her mouth.

 

“So Baron Aster, what were you discussing with Baroness Britina?”

 

I glanced once at the slightly anxious-looking Baroness Britina and answered.

 

“We were talking about the person who reported that there was Molentze in my garden.”

 

“The person who reported it?”

 

“Yes. I claimed it was a false report, but the Baroness said the person who reported it was trustworthy and insisted it was certain.”

 

Kalian looked at Baroness Britina.

 

“Who is this trustworthy person?”

 

Baroness Britina’s pupils shook greatly.

 

Unlike before, she forced her lips into a smile and answered.

 

“Well, you see, for the informant’s safety, I can’t carelessly reveal their identity…”

 

Kalian snorted and crossed his arms.

 

“So you’re telling me to look at the documents directly.”

 

If it wasn’t a false report, a report would have to be filed with the Marshal’s Office.

 

In other words, even if delayed, Kalian would eventually find out who the informant was.

 

Baroness Britina hesitated as if she had just realized this fact.

 

Her awkwardly raised lips trembled.

 

Anyone could see she had something to hide.

 

“What are you hiding?”

 

Kalian frowned and asked fiercely.

 

“Baroness Britina, what are you hiding?”

 

At the repeated question, Baroness Britina fidgeted with her hands, then squeezed her eyes shut as if she had no choice and answered.

 

“The, the person who reported that there was Molentze in Baron Aster’s mansion is Andant Tebesa!”

 

“That’s not true.”

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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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