I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 211

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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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#211

Casiwood was called the cursed domain within the Empire.

And for good reason—being bordered by other kingdoms, large and small problems constantly arose, and frequent attacks by bandits and monsters kept it perpetually troubled.

At least crops grew well thanks to the large river crossing through the center of the domain and the fertile land, but even here there was a problem.

The issue was that every summer, torrential rains would cause the river to overflow, resulting in massive floods.

The Williot Estate and other domains also experienced floods occasionally, but none as severe as Casiwood.

It was so bad that to reduce casualties and property damage from floods, the landfolk lived on mountainsides far from the river.

This made them even more vulnerable to attacks from bandits and monsters, but that could at least be prevented through human effort.

Of course, floods could also be prevented by building sturdy riverbanks, but the problem was that no matter how strong the riverbanks were built, they would quickly collapse.

Just like the Williot Estate before Leilah had established flood countermeasures.

“…For that reason, we would like to borrow Count Aster’s knowledge, so we earnestly request that you dispatch the Count to Casiwood.”

“What ridiculous nonsense they’re pulling.”

Kalian snorted and threw the letter from Casiwood far away.

Ber would normally have scolded him for handling correspondence carelessly, but this time he quietly picked it up without complaint.

Even to him, this letter seemed like Fillen’s scheme to summon Leilah to Casiwood.

“However, Your Majesty, it’s also true that Casiwood suffers from terrible floods. If flood damage could be prevented, the landfolk would move their settlements to the plains, which would also reduce damage from bandits and monsters.”

Kalian frowned at Ber’s explanation.

“So you’re saying we should send Leilah to Casiwood now?”

“I’m not saying that, but rather that this isn’t something we can simply dismiss as mere scheming.”

“You don’t want to help your hometown?”

Ber’s face stiffened slightly at the returned question.

As Kalian said, Casiwood was Ber’s hometown. He had lived there until he was eight, when his mother passed away and his father sold him to slave traders to make a living.

Realizing belatedly that he had crossed a line, Kalian grimaced and apologized.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be sarcastic.”

“No, it’s fine. I do have some of those feelings.”

Ber sighed and continued.

“As Your Majesty said, I’m not without feelings of wanting to help the people of my hometown, but it’s more for the Empire’s benefit. Casiwood is a strategic location bordering several kingdoms. If that place falls, the entire Empire could be in danger.”

“…I know that too.”

He knew it all too well, and that was the problem. It was also one of the reasons Kalian had sent Fillen to Casiwood among all the domains in the Empire.

If they had requested someone else, he would have sent them without hesitation, but not Leilah.

His reluctance to send her was partly because Fillen was there, but also because Casiwood was too far away.

Once he sent her, he wouldn’t see her for at least three months, so of course he didn’t want to send her.

He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense and ignore it, but there were too many complications for that.

Since it was an official dispatch request, he couldn’t openly ignore it without legitimate reasons.

Kalian frowned and held his head.

“Being too competent is also a problem.”

“Your Majesty was the one who gave Count Aster wings.”

Kalian smiled bitterly at Ber’s blunt words.

He had only given her wings so Leilah could do what she wanted to her heart’s content, but before he knew it, she had learned to fly on her own and was soaring high above.

That fact was both admirable and sometimes worrying because Leilah wasn’t just a simple aide, but his beloved lover.

If I had known this would happen, I would have told her to fly just a little slower.

“What will you do, Your Majesty?”

“…Let me think about it more. I’ll ask Leilah for her opinion too.”

Please let Leilah say she doesn’t want to go.

If she showed even the slightest reluctance, he would use any means necessary to avoid sending her to Casiwood.

Though he desperately hoped for that, he sighed knowing that the Leilah he knew would surely say she’d gladly go.

Still, just in case, he should ask Leilah for her opinion.

And tell her how he felt about it too.

Though he desperately wanted to talk to Leilah right now, there was a meeting scheduled right after.

Since he had too much to say to her to use the spare time, Kalian decided to discuss this matter with Leilah after the meeting ended.

“Please send Count Leilah Aster to Casiwood, Your Majesty.”

But then, unexpected obstacles appeared.

Near the end of the meeting about the proposed agenda items, Kalian paused while turning through documents at the sudden remark.

He looked at Duke Hudlren, who had raised the issue.

“I heard that Casiwood has requested support, asking us to send Count Aster to solve the annual flooding problem.”

Despite the cold stare directed at him, Duke Hudlren flinched but said his piece.

“Casiwood’s flooding problem has long been a headache that damages not only Casiwood but the surrounding areas as well.”

His brazenly smiling face was irritating.

“So I think if Count Aster can solve that problem, we should send her.”

“I think so as well.”

“I agree too, Your Majesty.”

The nobles friendly with Duke Hudlren took his side.

The wrinkles between Kalian’s brows deepened. Kalian tapped the desk with his fingertips and looked at Duke Hudlren sideways.

“Where did you hear about that? I haven’t even made that matter public yet.”

“I have some friendship with the lord of Casiwood. Since the flooding problem is a serious issue affecting not only Casiwood but neighboring domains as well, he contacted me a few days ago asking for help.”

Did the lord of Casiwood really contact Duke Hudlren out of pure concern?

Or did Fillen orchestrate it from behind the scenes?

He couldn’t tell which it was, but either way it was troublesome.

Before he could ask Leilah for her thoughts and discuss what would be best, he was now in a situation where he had to decide whether or not to send her to Casiwood.

“I’ll think more about that agenda item. I need to ask for her opinion as well.”

“That’s not like you, Your Majesty.”

Duke Giltian, who had been silently watching the situation, suddenly spoke up.

Everyone’s attention, including Kalian’s, turned to Duke Giltian.

Duke Hudlren looked at Duke Giltian with particular surprise.

Duke Hudlren and Duke Giltian were rivals.

No matter how right something was, they would tackle each other and oppose first, so Duke Hudlren was uncomfortable with Duke Giltian taking his side.

“Until now, Your Majesty has never asked for the opinion of administrators to be assigned to tasks. So why are you trying to ask Count Aster’s opinion? May I inquire?”

Of course it’s because Leilah is my lover before being my aide.

Those words circled in his mouth, but he forced himself to swallow them. He couldn’t publicly announce his relationship with Leilah yet, nor did he want to become a fool who couldn’t separate public and private matters.

“Count Aster’s role is as the Emperor’s advisor. She assists me with my work by my side.”

When he subtly indicated his reluctance to send her all the way to Casiwood, Duke Hudlren countered.

“Casiwood is a domain of the Empire, so caring for it is also Your Majesty’s work, and assisting with that work is Count Aster’s role.”

Duke Giltian added.

“The rainy season is approaching. Though the rainy season comes later to Casiwood than other domains, considering the time it takes for Count Aster to reach Casiwood, even departing next week would be tight.”

It was annoying and irritating when one person persisted, but with two people persisting, it was even more troublesome.

‘How do I resolve this?’

Actually, the solution was simple. If Kalian declared by imperial command that he absolutely wouldn’t send Leilah, this matter would be cleanly resolved.

However, doing so would likely put Leilah in the line of gossip.

The rumors that Leilah was the Emperor’s mistress, which had finally been suppressed, might grow again.

People originally had the nasty habit of persistently attacking someone for one mistake even after a hundred good deeds.

Leilah’s position was gradually solidifying among the provincial nobles, and he couldn’t let all that effort go to waste over something like this.

If Leilah solved Casiwood’s problems, her position would become even more solid.

No one would be able to ignore Leilah’s abilities, so thinking of Leilah’s future, sending her to Casiwood was the right choice.

‘Could Duke Williot have calculated all this?’

Did he move knowing I wouldn’t be able to refuse easily?

No way. That can’t be. Fillen had an excellent mind for warfare, but he was so clueless about this sort of thing that calling him an idiot wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

So there was no way Fillen had calculated all this into his moves.

It must just be a coincidence.

Anyway, if he stubbornly refused to send Leilah, not only would Leilah be put in a difficult position, but Kalian would be troubled as well.

After all, an emperor was supposed to always be cold-headed, rational, and act for the majority rather than being swayed by personal emotions.

He would surely be endlessly pointed at and called a trash emperor.

So no matter how he thought about it, sending Leilah was the right thing to do.

But Leilah.

“Right now I only have three direct aides. Moreover, one of them is a newcomer who hasn’t been here long, so they’re not yet skilled at their duties.”

I don’t want to send you to Casiwood.

“In such a situation, if Count Aster goes to Casiwood, my work could become paralyzed. The Casiwood problem is important, but I can’t let it paralyze other work as well.”

I want to keep you by my side always.

Even if it means clipping the wings I put on you with my own hands, I don’t want to send you to Casiwood.

“Besides, it’s not even a close distance—it’s all the way to Casiwood. Once you go, you won’t be able to return for at least three months, so I’m asking for Count Aster’s opinion. I hope there won’t be any unnecessary misunderstandings.”

But if it’s you, you’ll say you’ll go.

Not for your sake, but for mine, and for the Empire’s sake, you’ll say you’ll go to Casiwood.

Still, what if Leilah refuses.

If that happened, he had resolved to bear everything and not send her, even if it meant becoming trash himself.

“I will go to Casiwood.”

No miracle occurred.

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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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