I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 190

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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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#190

 

For all the long time and effort put into it, their interrogation ended relatively simply.

 

It was thanks to Andante, who had been beaten to a pulp and fainted, bursting into tears and confessing everything as soon as he opened his eyes.

 

Sisly also unexpectedly didn’t resist and obediently spilled all her crimes in detail.

 

As expected, Andante was both a drug cultivator and dealer.

 

He sold drugs here and there, and one of his customers was none other than Sisly.

 

Not only that, it was also Andante who had been supplying the milk used in the drug milk riots.

 

And it was Sisly who mixed Molentze powder into that milk and distributed it to the children.

 

The reason Andante could bring in large quantities of milk without getting caught at checkpoints was because he had a capable accomplice.

 

“That capable accomplice is you.”

 

Kalian said as he threw the report containing the interrogation details in front of Fillen.

 

Fillen’s face darkened after hearing all the contents.

 

He had helped with good intentions when told it would help him tell his story well to Leilah, but who would have thought he’d be betrayed like this.

 

It was absurd and ridiculous.

 

“It wasn’t intentional.”

 

“Of course it wouldn’t be.”

 

Kalian sat crookedly and rested his chin on his hand.

 

“If the Duke had intentionally helped Andante Tebesa, you would have faced me in the underground prison, not here.”

 

Those words could be interpreted in two ways.

 

First, that he could immediately link Fillen as an accomplice with Andante and throw him in prison.

 

Second, that there was another reason for calling him here instead of doing that.

 

Fillen, who was only quick-witted about such things, let out a deep sigh inwardly and asked Kalian.

 

“What is it that you want from me?”

 

“Good that you’re quick on the uptake.”

 

Kalian smiled as he picked up his teacup.

 

“Though it’s regrettable that quick wit wasn’t displayed before things came to this.”

 

“….”

 

At the clearly sarcastic words, Fillen’s expression hardened stiffly.

 

How foolishly unable to manage his expressions.

 

Kalian coldly sneered at Fillen as he brought the teacup to his lips.

 

While Kalian drank his tea, a heavy silence flowed through the study.

 

Fillen was clenching his two fists placed neatly on his knees.

 

“You asked what I wanted.”

 

It was Kalian who broke the silence first.

 

“What I want is simple. Duke Williot, voluntarily go to Casiwood. And resolve all the conflicts happening there before returning.”

 

Casiwood was a city at the western edge of the Empire, and as a region bordering several kingdoms, conflicts constantly arose there.

 

But to resolve all conflicts there before returning.

 

‘He means never to return.’

 

Fillen let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

 

Even an Emperor couldn’t arbitrarily send someone of Duke rank to a frontier region.

 

So Kalian was making a threat disguised as a suggestion for Fillen to voluntarily go to Casiwood.

 

He desperately wanted to refuse outright.

 

There was no way he’d want to go to a frontier city where he didn’t know when he could return.

 

But to refuse, he was troubled by having unintentionally helped Andante.

 

Moreover, if Kalian was determined to link him with Andante and punish them, he could do so, making it impossible to readily refuse his proposal.

 

Not wanting to accept it either, Fillen remained silent with his head bowed.

 

Kalian twisted his lips as if such a Fillen was amusing.

 

“Accepting my proposal would be good for the Duke too.”

 

Fillen raised his head again and looked at Kalian.

 

“The Duke says it wasn’t intentional, but people might not think so.”

 

Kalian continued with an extremely benevolent face, as if he had never twisted his lips.

 

“So it would be good for both the Duke and the Duke’s family if this matter doesn’t become known to the public.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m saying all this thinking of Duke Williot, so don’t refuse.”

 

You’re not thinking of me, but of yourself when you say this.

 

At the ridiculous nonsense, Fillen let out a small bitter laugh and rubbed his face wearily.

 

“What will you do?”

 

“…Do you want to separate me from Leilah that badly?”

 

When Fillen asked directly, Kalian looked at him with slight surprise, then soon chuckled.

 

“What if I do?”

 

Though he had asked outright, not having expected such a frank answer, Fillen hesitated for a moment before asking again.

 

“You said you think of Leilah as just an aide, but you care for her excessively.”

 

“Ah, that. Let me correct that.”

 

“Correct…?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kalian leaned back crookedly and smiled sweetly.

 

“Leilah isn’t just an aide, but someone I like.”

 

What did he just say….

 

Fillen’s eyes widened for an instant.

 

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but when a strange bug keeps hovering around someone you like, it’s extremely bothersome.”

 

Kalian stared directly at the wavering golden eyes and spoke clearly.

 

“So please stop hovering around her pointlessly and disappear, Duke Williot.”

 

* * *

 

Since Sisly had been captured, there was no longer any reason to impose on the Duchy of Cloud.

 

Though the Duchess was regretful, I returned to my mansion.

 

The next day, I immediately returned to my aide duties as well.

 

Having been away for so long, there was a mountain of work to do.

 

Trying to handle them quickly made overtime essential.

 

While I had been working overtime like eating meals for several days, Kalian suddenly suggested we have dinner together.

 

Just the two of us, at that.

 

Having refused once before, I couldn’t refuse this time and answered that I would.

 

And so, dinner time.

 

“Sisly Helios will receive dismemberment by horses.”

 

Kalian said plainly while scooping his soup.

 

His tone was so calm that I stared at him blankly, then understood belatedly and asked in shock.

 

“Did you just say dismemberment by horses?”

 

“Yes.”

 

My goodness. I thought I had misheard, but I hadn’t.

 

Dismemberment by horses.

 

A punishment where arms and legs are each tied to beasts like cattle or horses, and the beasts are driven to tear the criminal apart.

 

No matter how much of a criminal, it was evaluated as too cruel, so it had rarely been carried out in recent times.

 

As far as I knew, the last time dismemberment by horses was carried out in the Empire was about 100 years ago.

 

But to perform dismemberment by horses. I was bewildered.

 

“Will you really sentence that woman to dismemberment by horses?”

 

“Yes. The execution will be carried out in the Colosseum, and it will be a public execution that all adults can watch regardless of status.”

 

As a sharp knife cut lengthwise through the steak, blood flowed between the undercooked meat.

 

“And the torn limbs will be buried in the town square where many people pass by, while the head will be given as feed to wild beasts.”

 

Does that mean he’ll carry out every punishment allowed by law?

 

Just thinking about it was horrifying and cruel, but considering what Sisly had done, it was understandable.

 

That woman deserved even harsher punishment than this!

 

“When is the execution?”

 

“In two days.”

 

Two days? Even though Sisly’s crimes had been fully exposed, it seemed too soon.

 

As if reading my mind, Kalian added.

 

“Considering what that woman did, I’d like to torture her slowly and let her die in agony, but if we delay too long and she tries something strange again, it would be trouble, so we decided to punish her quickly.”

 

True, that woman was certainly capable of such things.

 

“I spoke too cruelly during our meal.”

 

Kalian put down his knife and smiled awkwardly.

 

“If I’ve ruined your appetite because of me, I apologize.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

To show I was unaffected, I cut a large piece of steak and put it in my mouth.

 

Kalian said he was relieved and tilted his wine glass.

 

“If there’s any additional punishment you’d like to add, let me know.”

 

A mischievous smile appeared on his lips.

 

“Just so you know, this time I can’t spare her life. For everyone’s sake, that woman must die.”

 

“I agree completely.”

 

It wasn’t that I didn’t want Sisly to live and suffer more, but I put aside such thoughts since causing problems with unnecessary greed would be terrible.

 

“I don’t want to add any other punishments.”

 

The punishments already added were more than I had expected.

 

“What happened with Andant Tebesa?”

 

“Andant Tebesa will be sent into exile. To the coal mine that woman was supposed to go to.”

 

“That’s an appropriate punishment.”

 

Since Andant not only helped Sisly cause the drugged milk incident but also cultivated and sold drugs, he deserved severe punishment too.

 

Of course, Andant claimed he helped Sisly without knowing anything, but no one would believe that at face value.

 

Even if it were true, I had no intention of believing him.

 

So his going to Aobis Coal Mine was a very appropriate punishment.

 

Not a single person exiled there had ever returned alive.

 

The same would be true for Andant. The thought that I’d never have to see his face again made me feel very good.

 

“This time we’ll need to be thorough with security during the exile.”

 

“Of course I plan to. That’s why I’m thinking of assigning Hiltain.”

 

Ah, Count Hiltain will go as the escort commander.

 

My mind was completely at ease and I laughed.

 

“Then I’m relieved.”

 

“….”

 

Kalian put down his wine glass and stared at me intently.

 

Why is he looking at me like that?

 

“Is there something on my face?”

 

“Yes, there is.”

 

I didn’t expect it, but there really was something there.

 

I hurriedly wiped around my mouth with a napkin.

 

Kalian smiled and pointed to my left cheek with his index finger.

 

“Not there, over here.”

 

“Here?”

 

“A little higher.”

 

I wiped diligently as he directed, but no matter how much I wiped, nothing came off on the napkin.

 

Had it dried up in the meantime?

 

I was seriously considering whether I should go to the bathroom to look in the mirror when Kalian burst into quiet laughter.

 

Why is he suddenly laughing?

 

“Haha.”

 

When I looked at him puzzled, Kalian laughed louder and waved his hand.

 

“Ah, sorry. I was just joking, but you were wiping so seriously it was funny.”

 

“Does that mean there’s nothing on my face?”

 

“Right. As always, you’re just pretty, so don’t worry.”

 

“You’re teasing me again.”

 

“I’m not teasing.”

 

Kalian propped his chin on one hand and gazed at me intently.

 

“You’re really beautiful, Leilah.”

 

His voice, sweet as cotton candy, helplessly melted my heart that I had tried so hard to harden.

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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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