I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 183

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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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#183

 

Duke Cloud returned in the late afternoon, close to evening time.

 

I had been preparing in advance, and upon hearing news of Duke Cloud’s arrival, I immediately went down to the foyer alone.

 

“You came early.”

 

Countess Cloud was already out and conversing with Duke Cloud.

 

“I thought you’d be later.”

 

“I heard there was a guest.”

 

Duke Cloud answered curtly as he took off his coat.

 

The Duchess naturally took the coat from him. The sight of them looked affectionate and intimate, pleasant to watch.

 

Since interrupting their conversation now seemed rude, I watched them from a few steps away.

 

“Did you have lunch?”

 

The Duchess answered with a small smile.

 

“It’s already almost dinner time.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Duke Cloud scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

 

“So where is the guest?”

 

“She said she’d come down soon… Ah, there she is.”

 

Both their gazes focused on me.

 

I grabbed my skirt hem and greeted them politely.

 

“It’s my pleasure to meet you, Duke Cloud.”

 

“So the guest was Baron Aster.”

 

Duke Cloud looked at my face with slight surprise, then lowered his gaze.

 

Then he stared intently at my neck area.

 

Why is he staring like that? Is something strange?

 

I smiled awkwardly and touched around my neck.

 

My fingertips caught on a necklace with a blue gem. It was the necklace I had received as a birthday gift from Kalian long ago.

 

“Is there something on Baron Aster?”

 

Countess Cloud asked what I wanted to ask instead.

 

Only then did Duke Cloud turn his gaze away from my neck and shake his head.

 

“It’s nothing. I’m late with my greetings.”

 

Duke Cloud smiled faintly and extended his hand to me.

 

“Welcome to my manor, Baron Aster.”

 

To me… is he offering a handshake?

 

Usually, one didn’t offer handshakes to female nobles. The custom was to lightly touch lips to the back of the hand.

 

But Duke Cloud offering me a handshake first was both surprising and pleasing.

 

It meant more people were recognizing me as an administrator rather than just a woman.

 

Moreover, he extended his left hand, considering that I had injured my right hand.

 

From rumors alone, I’d heard he was an eccentric obsessed with magic, but seeing him in person, that didn’t seem to be the case.

 

He was considerate and a good person.

 

“Thank you for welcoming me.”

 

I smiled brightly and grasped Duke Cloud’s extended hand.

 

“Then rest comfortably and we’ll see each other at dinner time. Luen, follow me.”

 

“Yes, master.”

 

Duke Cloud disappeared into the inner hallway with the butler named Luen.

 

“Then I’ll see you later, Baron Aster.”

 

“Duchess.”

 

Before returning to my room, there was something I wanted to confirm, so I called out to Countess Cloud as she was turning away.

 

“How did the matter I asked you about earlier go?”

 

It felt somewhat pushy, but I had no choice due to lack of time.

 

“If you mean that, I sent people out earlier.”

 

I had asked considering the Duchess might be displeased, but fortunately she answered with a smile.

 

“I’ll let you know as soon as information comes in, so please wait a little.”

 

* * *

 

Esramel parted from Leilah and headed to the room where her husband, Duke Cloud, was.

 

Duke Cloud was changing clothes when he paused upon seeing Esramel enter.

 

He refastened the buttons he had half-undone and turned to look at Esramel.

 

“What about Baron Aster?”

 

“She returned to her room. Do you have business with her? You were staring at her quite rudely earlier.”

 

“It’s not like that…”

 

Duke Cloud thought for a moment, then asked Esramel.

 

“Baron Aster, is she really just a simple aide to His Majesty?”

 

Flustered by the meaningful question, Esramel remained silent for a moment before answering.

 

“Why do you ask such a thing?”

 

“The necklace Baron Aster was wearing had His Majesty’s power imbued in it.”

 

“What? I didn’t sense anything like that.”

 

“That’s because you’re not a mage, my lady.”

 

Though not a mage, she could use water-related magic thanks to receiving the Blue Dragon’s blessing.

 

However, Esramel was weak for a legitimate imperial princess born of the Empress. She was arguably the weakest among all imperial family members in history.

 

‘I couldn’t sense anything because my power is weak.’

 

Duke Cloud surely knew this fact, which is why he spoke so indirectly.

 

Esramel smiled bitterly, grateful yet bitter about his consideration.

 

“My lady?”

 

Then Duke Cloud asked worriedly.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

As if she had never smiled bitterly, Esramel asked Duke Cloud back with a bright face.

 

“So? Because of that, you suspect the relationship between His Majesty and Baron Aster?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Duke Cloud answered while seating her on the sofa.

 

Then he sat across from her and picked up the teapot.

 

“Baron Aster has been through many hardships recently, so maybe he gave it to her to protect herself?”

 

“That would be excessive for such a purpose.”

 

Duke Cloud poured tea into an empty cup.

 

“That necklace contained quite strong power. He must have spent at least three days carefully infusing mana into it.”

 

Three whole days. That meant Kalian cherished Leilah that much.

 

Well, that’s why he personally taught her how to ride and even gave her a lap pillow.

 

He even gestured for me to quietly withdraw, worried she might wake up.

 

“It seems like something is clicking for you.”

 

Duke Cloud asked as he pushed the teacup toward Esramel.

 

“Could the rumors be true? That Baron Aster has become His Majesty’s mistress…”

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

Esramel corrected Duke Cloud’s words as she picked up the teacup.

 

“Those two are currently just in a simple superior and subordinate relationship.”

 

“‘Currently’ means it might not be so in the future.”

 

“Who knows.”

 

Esramel answered after taking a sip of tea.

 

“It will depend on what His Majesty does going forward.”

 

* * *

 

Like most aristocrats, Countess Cloud’s marriage was also a political arrangement.

 

The only difference was that she could directly choose which of the three ducal houses to marry into.

 

Still, the fact that it was a political marriage remained unchanged.

 

Usually couples in political marriages didn’t get along very well, but rarely, harmonious couples would appear.

 

Duke and Duchess Cloud were exactly that rare case.

 

“Please try some of this, Your Grace.”

 

“You should eat plenty too, my dear.”

 

During dinner with them, I could clearly see how much Duke Cloud cherished and loved the Duchess.

 

Watching the affectionate couple made my heart feel warm too.

 

I also felt sorry for seemingly interrupting their tender time together.

 

I wanted to find the culprit as soon as possible and return to my mansion, but it wasn’t easy.

 

Much time had passed, and since so many people had come and gone, picking out suspicious individuals among them was quite a task.

 

Meeting each of those people individually to interrogate and question them was also troublesome and time-consuming.

 

Three days had passed since I became indebted to the Cloud duchy mansion.

 

The newspapers recorded the fire at my mansion as merely an unfortunate accident.

 

There was no mention of Molentze in any newspaper, no matter how thoroughly I searched.

 

It seems Kalian handled the aftermath well.

 

While I felt relieved, I was also uncomfortable about causing him trouble again.

 

I should have been more careful and observant of my surroundings. A sigh escaped me naturally.

 

This wasn’t the only thing weighing on my mind.

 

With me being forced to rest, I was also worried about Baron Delrond who would be working alone.

 

The foreign diplomatic missions were still here, and there must be plenty to do because of the Molentze incident.

 

Documents from various domains needed to be processed, and there were diplomatic matters and the royal marriage…

 

“…”

 

At that moment, I bit my lips tightly at the sharp pain spreading through my heart.

 

Though I had resolved countless times to give up and it was time to let go, human hearts don’t easily bend to one’s will.

 

‘That’s not what’s important right now.’

 

Finding the culprit was the priority. So let me set aside these thoughts and feelings for now.

 

I wanted to know if Andante was really involved in this incident, or if there was another mastermind behind it.

 

To do that, I would need to go see Kalian.

 

“I need to go to the Imperial Palace. Could you prepare for me?”

 

“Yes, Baron.”

 

After finishing preparations with Sara and Nes’s help, I was walking through the long hallway toward the central stairs.

 

“Baron Aster?”

 

Countess Cloud was walking from the opposite hallway. She was even wearing an overcoat, as if planning to go out.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“I was about to go to the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Oh my, what a coincidence. I was planning to go to the Imperial Palace too.”

 

Countess Cloud said, striking her folded fan against her palm with a tap.

 

“Shall we go together then? There’s no need to trouble ourselves with moving two carriages.”

 

It was a proposal I had no reason to refuse.

 

“Then I’ll take you up on that offer.”

 

I headed to the Imperial Palace together with Countess Cloud.

 

Throughout the journey, Countess Cloud told me various stories, most of which were related to Kalian.

 

“So when His Majesty was young…”

 

If it had been someone else’s story, I would have given appropriate responses while letting it go in one ear and out the other, but this was about Kalian.

 

At the fact that I could learn about Kalian’s childhood that I didn’t know, I unconsciously focused on the story.

 

So much so that I didn’t even notice when the carriage arrived and stopped in front of the Imperial Palace.

 

“Oh my, we’ve already arrived.”

 

“Ah.”

 

At Countess Cloud’s words, I let out a small exclamation.

 

It was because I was disappointed that I couldn’t hear more stories about Kalian.

 

“Hoho.”

 

Countess Cloud looked at me and smiled meaningfully.

 

Her pleasantly curved blue eyes seemed to see right through my heart, making me smile awkwardly.

 

“I have business in the Imperial Palace, but are you also going to the Imperial Palace, Baron Aster?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then let’s go together.”

 

Again, I had no reason to refuse, so I agreed.

 

We were on our way to the Imperial Palace together with Countess Cloud.

 

“Why did you refuse?”

 

A pitiful voice could be heard from inside the corridor.

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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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