I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 180

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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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#180

 

This voice…?

 

I turned toward where the voice was coming from.

 

There I saw Count Hiltain, though I had no idea when he had arrived.

 

Even though our eyes met, Hiltain ignored me and continued speaking.

 

“Andant Tebesa did not do such a thing.”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

Kalian asked Count Hiltain with slight surprise.

 

Count Hiltain bowed his head respectfully and answered.

 

“At Baron Aster’s request, I followed Andant Tebesa this morning until he returned to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“What time exactly was that?”

 

“Around 7:30.”

 

7:30 was when Baroness Britina had come to my mansion leading the guards.

 

But if Andant hadn’t made any moves until then, it meant the informant wasn’t Andant.

 

“I see.”

 

Kalian looked back at Baroness Britina with an expressionless face.

 

The corners of her mouth, which had been awkwardly raised, completely dropped down.

 

Baroness Britina watched Kalian’s expression with an obviously anxious face.

 

“What’s going on, Baroness Britina?”

 

Baroness Britina clasped her hands tightly together and answered.

 

“I, I don’t really know either. The person who came to report clearly wrote Andant Tebesa’s name on the documents.”

 

She’s not saying Count Hiltain lied.

 

Well, Count Hiltain was the commander of the Crowd Knights who protected Kalian.

 

Claiming it was a lie wouldn’t work at all, so making excuses like this was probably her best choice.

 

Kalian chuckled.

 

“So you’re saying you judged based only on the name without even verifying if it was really Andant?”

 

Cold sweat began trickling down Baroness Britina’s forehead.

 

“As Your Majesty knows, dozens of people come to report every day, making it difficult to verify each informant’s identity.”

 

She was gripping her hands so tightly that they had turned pale white from lack of blood circulation.

 

“Besides, I never dreamed anyone would impersonate a noble…”

 

“What you’re saying is.”

 

When I interrupted, Baroness Britina frowned sharply.

 

I didn’t mind and asked her.

 

“You don’t know what Andant Tebesa looks like, Baroness?”

 

“Of course I don’t! If I had known, would I have been deceived?”

 

Kalian rejoined the conversation.

 

“Baroness Britina seems to be the type who trusts people easily.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

I understood what Kalian was saying, but Baroness Britina didn’t seem to understand as she blinked her eyes wide.

 

Kalian let out a small laugh.

 

“For the guard captain protecting the capital’s gates to be this stupid. I can see signs of the Empire’s downfall.”

 

“Your Majesty, what do you…”

 

Baroness Britina, still not understanding what Kalian was saying, asked stupidly.

 

“Even more stupid than I thought.”

 

Kalian clicked his tongue as if annoyed.

 

“Baroness Britina, you definitely said you don’t know what Andant Tebesa looks like, right?”

 

Baroness Britina nodded excessively.

 

“Of course. Let me say again, if I had known, I absolutely wouldn’t have been deceived…”

 

“Then why do you trust Andant Tebesa?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Baroness Britina, who had been blinking with a bewildered face, soon seemed to realize what Kalian was getting at and opened her eyes wide in shock.

 

“Th-that is…!”

 

Baroness Britina’s face turned pale white.

 

Kalian looked at that face and asked again.

 

“I’ll ask again, Baroness Britina. How do you trust Andant Tebesa when you don’t even know his face?”

 

“…”

 

Baroness Britina hesitated and then closed her mouth.

 

Remaining silent in this situation was clear evidence she was hiding something.

 

“It seems the one who needs interrogation isn’t Baron Aster, but you.”

 

When Kalian gestured, Count Hiltain restrained Baroness Britina.

 

“Ruben should be outside. Hand Baroness Britina over to him and tell him to take her to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Count Hiltain took Baroness Britina and went outside.

 

I expected her to say it wasn’t true, or that there was some misunderstanding, but Baroness Britina obediently followed Count Hiltain.

 

“C-Commander?”

 

“What on earth is…”

 

The confused murmuring of the guards outside could be heard all the way here.

 

“Everyone leave this mansion.”

 

Kalian ordered the guards.

 

The guards hesitated, then quickly disappeared with their hair flying.

 

‘Why did Baroness Britina do such a thing?’

 

I thought about it carefully, but couldn’t really guess.

 

If I had to pick something, it would be that she wanted to frame me for growing Molentze and drag me down to ruin.

 

What was strange was that I hadn’t wronged Baroness Britina enough for her to harbor such ill feelings toward me.

 

We were seeing each other’s faces for the first time today, so what reason would there be for ill feelings?

 

‘Did she join hands with Andant?’

 

No. If that were the case, she wouldn’t have mentioned Andant’s name as the informant.

 

What secret could be hidden here?

 

“Baron Aster!”

 

While I was going over various possibilities, a loud voice was heard.

 

It was Countess Cloud. Count Hiltain could be seen behind her.

 

Countess Cloud, who had rushed to me quickly like someone being chased, looked me up and down.

 

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere… what is this!”

 

Soon discovering my bandaged hand, Countess Cloud stamped her feet.

 

“You hurt your hand! Did you receive treatment?”

 

“I treated her, so don’t make such a fuss.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

At Kalian’s answer, Countess Cloud smiled meaningfully.

 

“His Majesty personally treated the Baron’s hand?”

 

When Countess Cloud asked back as if surprised, Kalian’s eyebrows rose.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“No. There isn’t. Ho ho ho.”

 

Countess Cloud covered her mouth with her fan and laughed loudly.

 

Kalian looked at Countess Cloud with displeasure.

 

Caught between the two, I looked back and forth between them in bewilderment.

 

Then my eyes met Kalian’s.

 

When I smiled awkwardly, Kalian hardened his expression and let out a deep sigh.

 

“Esramel, could you protect Baron Aster and her servants at the Duchy of Cloud for a while?”

 

Then he said something I couldn’t understand.

 

Looking puzzled, I turned to see Kalian holding my shoulder as he spoke.

 

“There was a fire in the garden, and it seems someone is targeting you, so stay at the Cloud Duchy for the time being.”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

“I’m not fine with it. So stay at the Cloud Duchy.”

 

Kalian spoke firmly.

 

“If I had my way, I’d want to take you to the Imperial Palace, but bringing all your household to the Imperial Palace would be too much, so the Cloud Duchy is the next best option.”

 

“Well, I never.”

 

Duchess Cloud snapped her fan shut and interjected into the conversation.

 

“Shouldn’t you ask for my opinion first, Your Majesty? What if I said no?”

 

“So are you going to say no?”

 

Duchess Cloud’s eyes curved pleasantly.

 

“Of course not.”

 

In the end, I decided to stay at the Cloud Duchy until the incident was resolved.

 

Kalian told me not to even go to work until everything calmed down.

 

Sara and the other servants who heard the news quickly packed.

 

“Shall we go first then? Tell the servants to come separately later.”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

There was something I needed to check before leaving.

 

I asked Count Hiltain.

 

“What happened with what I asked you before?”

 

I asked, but I didn’t have high expectations.

 

If Count Hiltain had found out something, he would have told me already.

 

But the fact that he had been watching Andant until this morning meant he hadn’t discovered anything.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

It was as I expected.

 

“I see.”

 

I felt disappointed, but I didn’t show it outwardly.

 

I shouldn’t show such feelings to someone who had worked hard until this morning to fulfill my request.

 

And I was able to escape danger thanks to Count Hiltain.

 

“Thank you for helping me, Count Hiltain.”

 

When I greeted him sincerely, Count Hiltain’s expression changed subtly.

 

“….”

 

The same was true for Kalian.

 

“Pfft.”

 

On the other hand, Duchess Cloud found something so amusing that she covered her mouth with her fan and laughed for a while.

 

Then when our eyes met, she lowered her fan slightly and mouthed the words.

 

‘You’re quite popular.’

 

Popular? Who, me?

 

That couldn’t be. Either I misunderstood what Duchess Cloud said, or she was definitely mistaken about something.

 

Kalian, who had been staring at Count Hiltain, asked.

 

“Wasn’t there anyone Andant Tebesa met regularly?”

 

“Except for Countess Tebesa, there wasn’t really anyone like that. He barely left the inn and stayed holed up there.”

 

“An inn?”

 

“Yes. Currently, Andant Tebesa has rented an entire inn in District 11 and has been staying there with Countess Tebesa for a month now.”

 

Since there’s no Tebesa County residence in the capital, of course they’d stay at an inn, but I never imagined they’d rent an entire inn.

 

“I know Tebesa County isn’t particularly wealthy. Is the inn perhaps a shabby place?”

 

“No. It’s a high-class inn that aristocrats frequently visit.”

 

“And they rented such a place entirely for a whole month.”

 

Kalian’s lips curved at an angle.

 

“Leilah, it seems there’s something to Andant Tebesa as you said.”

 

I indicated agreement with my silence.

 

While we were talking, Sara, who had finished packing, reported that everything was ready.

 

Kalian ordered Count Hiltain.

 

“Hiltain, continue monitoring Andant Tebesa’s actions. Use knight order members if necessary.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Esramel, please take good care of Baron Aster until everything is settled.”

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

Duchess Cloud smiled brightly and looked at me.

 

“Shall we go to my mansion then, 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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