I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 181

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

#181

 

On the way to the Cloud Duchy by carriage.

 

I cautiously asked Countess Cloud, who was sitting across from me.

 

“Madam, if it’s not too presumptuous, may I ask you for a favor?”

 

“Of course.”

 

I had been worried about what I’d do if she refused, but fortunately the Duchess readily agreed.

 

“What kind of favor?”

 

“About two months ago, I hired people to do a major cleaning of the manor. It seems like someone among them did something terrible to my mansion at someone else’s behest.”

 

“You’re talking about planting the Molentze, aren’t you?”

 

She knew about it. Well, she came all the way to my mansion, so there’s no way she wouldn’t know.

 

“That’s right.”

 

It’s not something I could hide even if I wanted to.

 

If I tried to hide it and got caught, she would be very upset from her position of being asked a favor, so I told her the truth.

 

“We need to know who was instructed by whom to catch the culprit, so I was wondering if you could help me find that person?”

 

I desperately wanted to handle it myself, but unfortunately I didn’t have the capability to do so right now.

 

But if I tried to solve it myself and the culprit noticed and destroyed evidence, it would be a disaster, so I shamelessly asked Countess Cloud for help.

 

“Of course. I’ll send people to investigate as soon as I return to the mansion.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Shortly after, the carriage arrived at the Cloud Duchy.

 

Sara, who came in a different carriage, stuck close behind me and exclaimed in admiration.

 

“So this is the great mage’s mansion I’ve only heard about!”

 

The great mage’s mansion. It was another name for the Cloud Duchy.

 

People called it this because the Cloud Duchy had produced great mages for generations.

 

And also because there were many practical magic spells cast throughout the mansion.

 

Like the front door that opens automatically.

 

“Wow, wow.”

 

“Amazing.”

 

Sara and Nes marveled at the door that opened by itself without anyone touching it.

 

Paul and Hanson showed similar reactions.

 

Countess Cloud smiled softly as she watched them.

 

“Your servants are cute.”

 

I couldn’t tell if it was a compliment or sarcasm, but I apologized for now.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ll keep them in line.”

 

“No, no. They’re really cute, so you don’t need to do that.”

 

Like little chicks.

 

The Duchess went inside, leaving traces of her smile.

 

“Have you returned, my lady?”

 

“Welcome, Baron Aster.”

 

Having been contacted in advance, numerous servants were lined up on both sides waiting for us.

 

“Your coat, please.”

 

When a maid approached and extended her hand, I took off the coat I was wearing and gave it to her.

 

“Please give me your luggage too, Baron.”

 

“No. I’ll carry this myself.”

 

Because there were precious things inside.

 

There was a reason I didn’t entrust it even to the servants.

 

“Where is he?”

 

Countess Cloud handed her coat to the maid at the front and asked the butler.

 

“He went to the Wizard’s Tower. Shall I contact him?”

 

“Yes. Tell him to come back for dinner since we have a guest.”

 

Is that guest perhaps referring to me?

 

“I’m fine, madam.”

 

I said this because it didn’t seem right to call a busy person because of me, but the Duchess said firmly.

 

“What are you talking about? When a guest comes, the host should naturally come and greet them.”

 

That’s true, but…

 

“More than that, you must be tired, right? I’ll have you shown to your room right away so you can rest well until dinner.”

 

When the Duchess gestured, a middle-aged woman approached me and bowed politely.

 

“It’s nice to meet you, Baron Aster. My name is Nova.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Nova.”

 

Perhaps because she was around Misa’s age, I felt an immediate sense of familiarity.

 

“Nova, the Baron will be staying at the mansion for a while. Take good care of her.”

 

“Yes, my lady. Baron Aster, please come this way.”

 

“Then I’ll see you at dinner.”

 

I greeted Countess Cloud and followed Nova.

 

Unlike the Williot Duchy, which felt grand and splendid but cold, the Cloud Duchy felt warm and welcoming.

 

You could say that Countess Cloud’s touch was evident everywhere.

 

‘When the Dowager Duchess was alive, the Williot Duchy was like this too.’

 

I suddenly felt a surge of longing for the late Dowager Duke and Duchess Williot.

 

“Here we are.”

 

Nova stopped at the room at the end of the 3rd floor east wing.

 

It was an elegant yet welcoming room. All the furniture decorating the room was also luxurious.

 

“I’ll prepare rooms for the servants you brought right next door. That way it’ll be more convenient for you, Baron.”

 

“Thank you, Nova.”

 

“Not at all. Please rest comfortably, and call me anytime if you need anything.”

 

After Nova left, Sara and Nes unpacked the luggage they had brought.

 

Paul and Hanson helped Sara and Nes.

 

I also unpacked the bag I had brought.

 

Although there were many things in the bag, the first thing I took out was Misa’s memorial tablet.

 

I placed Misa’s memorial tablet on the bedside table right next to the bed.

 

Even when I was at my mansion, this was where the memorial tablet belonged.

 

“You said you’re meeting Duke Cloud at dinner, right?”

 

Sara, who was organizing clothes, asked.

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then I should prepare a dress in advance. What would be good to wear?”

 

Sara hummed as she looked through dresses and accessories.

 

“You look happy.”

 

“Of course I’m happy! I get to dress up the Baron beautifully!”

 

“You like that?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Sara nodded her head vigorously as if asking why I would ask something so obvious.

 

“I’ve always wanted to dress you up beautifully, Baron, but I couldn’t, so it was so disappointing.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Nes chimed in.

 

“You usually don’t dress up, so it was so disappointing. We should at least dress you up beautifully at times like this.”

 

“Right, right.”

 

I wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, that doing it moderately would be fine, but they were so fired up with determination that I couldn’t.

 

“So what would be good to wear?”

 

“How about this?”

 

Nes took out a dress and showed it to me. It was the dress I received from Kalian during the New Year festival.

 

“Good. Let’s go with that.”

 

“No.”

 

Though I wanted to grant her wish since she had longed for this so much, the dress Nes had brought out was far too extravagant.

 

This wasn’t a party, and if I wore that to dinner, I would surely be ridiculed.

 

“I’ll wear a more modest dress.”

 

I pointed to a light beige dress among the ones Sara had laid out.

 

“That should be fine.”

 

Sara visibly deflated with disappointment when she saw the dress I had chosen, her shoulders drooping.

 

“That one is too plain.”

 

“That’s perfect. I won’t be wearing flashy accessories either, so choose something appropriate.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Nes also nodded with clear disappointment written on her face.

 

After they left, I collapsed onto the bed alone.

 

My body and mind were completely exhausted from all the various incidents that had erupted since early morning.

 

‘Why do these things keep happening?’

 

I wanted to live quietly while being faithful to my role, but those around me wouldn’t leave me alone.

 

Fillen, Andante, all of them seemed desperate to torment me.

 

I could tolerate them doing terrible things to me, but I couldn’t stand them touching the people around me.

 

Moreover, Andante had done something no human should ever do.

 

‘So prepare yourself.’

 

This time, I would absolutely not back down.

 

I vowed deep in my heart, again and again, that I would definitely repay Andante for everything they had done.

 

***

 

Sisly paced anxiously around the room, biting her neatly manicured nails.

 

“He’s too late.”

 

It was close to noon.

 

According to the plan, he should have arrived with time to spare, but that man still hadn’t returned.

 

There had been no other contact either.

 

‘Did something happen?’

 

If so, it was because that stupid man had made a mistake.

 

Her plan had been perfect. If he had followed the plan, there was no way it could have failed.

 

But what if it really had failed?

 

What if the consequences came back to her?

 

“…That can’t be.”

 

If that man had any sense, he wouldn’t tell the truth.

 

So it would be fine, she tried to comfort herself, but her anxious heart wouldn’t settle.

 

“I need to find out.”

 

When Sisly rang the bell, a neatly dressed servant entered.

 

“He promised to return at a certain time, but it’s been quite a while past that and he still hasn’t come back, so I’m worried.”

 

Sisly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her thin, long sleeves as she spoke tearfully.

 

“Could you please find out if something has happened?”

 

With her eyes reddened and her brilliant blonde hair flowing long, Sisly looked both incredibly beautiful and pitiful.

 

It felt as if one could pluck stars from the sky if she asked for them.

 

The servant nodded as if entranced.

 

“Of course, Miss.”

 

When the servant returned shortly after, his face was deathly pale.

 

Having closed the door firmly behind him, despite there being only him and Sisly in the room, he approached closely and whispered in a small voice.

 

“Miss, they say the master has been dragged to the Imperial Palace!”

 

“Ah…!”

 

Though she had thought it might fail, she never imagined he would be dragged to the Imperial Palace.

 

The situation was more serious than expected. Sisly bit her nails anxiously as her mind raced.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

If he had been dragged to the Imperial Palace, there was a high chance that man wouldn’t withstand interrogation and would confess everything.

 

Then I won’t be safe either.

 

In the worst case, they would realize her identity and come looking for her with fire in their eyes.

 

No, they would definitely figure it out.

 

That foolish man didn’t know who she was and would spill everything in detail.

 

‘I need to escape before then…’

 

Could she really escape?

 

Without that man, and with security tightened, using her feminine wiles to slip away like before was nearly impossible.

 

Still, she had to escape no matter what.

 

Having survived this far, she couldn’t die like this.

 

‘Even if I die, I won’t die alone!’

 

She would die together with that woman who had made her miserable and was now living well all by herself.

 

Sisly’s eyes blazed with furious determination.

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