I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 216

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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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#216

Why is Fillen, who should be in Casiwood, here?

When I looked at him in surprise, Fillen smiled and answered.

“I had some business in Rahalbah so I stopped by briefly, but I didn’t expect to meet you like this.”

It was a statement emphasizing that our meeting in Rahalbah was coincidental.

Was it really a coincidence? I was suspicious, but since it was just a hunch, I let it pass without saying anything else.

“I see.”

Apparently dissatisfied with my response, Fillen frowned and stared at me intently. His eyes demanded a different answer.

What did he want me to say?

I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to know either. I had no obligation to respond to his every demand.

“Well then, we’ll be going now.”

“Leilah.”

I was greeting him and about to enter the castle when Fillen called my name.

I couldn’t ignore him with so many people watching. The fact that Fillen had higher status than me was holding me back like this.

Swallowing my irritation, I turned around as Fillen tilted his lips askew and asked.

“Is that all you have to say to me?”

“If there’s something you want, please tell me.”

Fillen’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“Aren’t you curious why I came to Rahalbah?”

“You said you had business here.”

“Right. Aren’t you curious what kind of business?”

“No.”

Why should I be curious about that?

When I answered with that nuance, Fillen scowled and glared at me as if he wanted to devour me.

Getting angry when things didn’t go his way was just like a child.

If he were actually a child it might be cute, but seeing a grown adult act like this was just unseemly.

When Fillen made a movement as if to approach me, Count Hiltain, who was behind me, stepped forward.

Fillen and Count Hiltain faced each other silently. Their gazes were so murderous that even I, who could barely read killing intent, felt my skin tremble.

“Why are those two acting like that?”

“I don’t know.”

People murmured while watching Fillen and Count Hiltain. Some even made strange comments about whether they were having a lovers’ quarrel.

I need to stop this before such nonsense spreads further.

“Count Hiltain.”

I grabbed Count Hiltain’s arm and pulled him back. Only then did Count Hiltain look away from Fillen and step back.

Fillen’s gaze shifted from Count Hiltain to me. It was a look full of things he wanted to say and complaints, but that wasn’t my concern.

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going now.”

I greeted Fillen again and entered the castle. I was secretly worried he might stop me again, but fortunately he didn’t.

The Lord’s Castle was modest. It felt like they focused on substance rather than showing off for people’s eyes.

“Welcome to my castle, Count Aster.”

A man in his mid-forties with a slightly protruding belly smiled brightly and extended his hand to me. This man was Count Rahalbah, the lord of Rahalbah Estate.

“Thank you for welcoming me, Count Rahalbah.”

“I heard you were coming, but I didn’t expect you to arrive so early. Ah, and these are my family members.”

At Count Rahalbah’s gesture, a plump woman who looked just like the count grabbed her skirt and curtsied slightly. Behind her were young children.

“It’s such an honor to meet you like this, Count Aster.”

“The honor is mine as well, Countess.”

Led by Countess Rahalbah, I was exchanging simple greetings with their children when Fillen entered.

Earlier he was alone, but now there was someone I’d never seen before beside him.

“Oh my, Count Aster.”

As soon as our eyes met, he bowed deeply and greeted me.

“It’s my first time meeting you, Count. I am Viscount Casiwood, the lord of Casiwood.”

“Ah, so you’re Viscount Casiwood. Nice to meet you.”

Seeing that even the lord of Casiwood came, it seems there really was legitimate business in Rahalbah.

Come to think of it, Rahalbah was an estate entangled with Casiwood through various interests.

It was said that since this place would be the first to suffer if Casiwood collapsed, they continuously provided help to prevent Casiwood from falling.

Probably their visit to Rahalbah this time was for that reason too.

“Now, rather than talking here, shall we move to the drawing room?”

Following Count Rahalbah’s suggestion, we moved to the drawing room.

Fillen, who had the highest rank, sat at the high table, with Count Rahalbah on his right and me on his left.

Viscount Casiwood and the other administrators who came with me didn’t follow.

Count Rahalbah patted his thigh, slightly hidden by his protruding belly, and laughed heartily.

“Well now, this is the first time such distinguished guests have visited my castle, so I don’t know how to properly host you.”

“We’re just staying briefly on our way to Casiwood, so you don’t need to worry too much about it.”

At my words, Count Rahalbah waved his thick hand.

“How could I do that? Since you’ve taken the trouble to visit my castle, I must host you with all sincerity.”

Saying this while glancing at Fillen, he seemed to want to make a good impression on him.

Well, Fillen was a duke after all. It was natural for a lord of such a remote region to want to establish connections with Fillen, since opportunities to meet a duke were rare.

Though Fillen himself seemed completely uninterested.

“I’m thinking of holding a small welcome party tomorrow, would both of you participate?”

“I don’t mind.”

Fillen spoke for the first time.

“But Viscount Casiwood probably can’t. As you know, Count, Casiwood’s situation isn’t that good.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“What’s happening in Casiwood?”

If there were problems, my return to the capital might be delayed, so I asked with slight concern.

Then Fillen answered while picking up his teacup.

“There’s no immediate problem. I just said it would be better for the lord to return since there’s a high possibility of one.”

Count Rahalbah added an explanation.

“When the rainy season approaches, monsters who sense danger get excited and rampage, so Casiwood’s security must be more thorough. That’s why we always send support troops from our Rahalbah to Casiwood around this time. That’s why Duke Williot personally came to our Rahalbah with Viscount Casiwood.”

“I see.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand Count Rahalbah’s explanation. Especially regarding sending support troops, I understood immediately since I had read about it in advance in the documents.

But I couldn’t understand why Fillen personally came to Rahalbah. This wasn’t something that required special requests just this time, and it was routine work, so why didn’t he send a letter instead of visiting personally?

Even if it were something requiring special requests, only the Casiwood lord needed to move, there was no need for him to move personally.

Well, there could be reasons like wanting to see how things progressed firsthand, but the Fillen I knew was absolutely not someone who would move for such trivial matters, so it seemed suspicious.

“Then how about sending the support troops and Viscount Casiwood first this evening, and having Duke Williot, Count Aster, and all their companions participate in the welcome banquet tomorrow evening?”

“As I said, I don’t mind.”

When Fillen expressed agreement, Count Rahalbah was very pleased and looked at me.

“What about Count Aster?”

“I don’t mind either.”

Actually, I wasn’t very enthusiastic about it. Not only did I lack confidence in genuinely smiling and enjoying myself with Fillen present, but more than that, I was very tired from the long journey.

I greatly wanted to rest completely without doing anything, but that was just my thought—it wasn’t the same for my companions who came with me.

Since I had occasionally overheard them talking about wanting to drink and eat delicious food to their heart’s content, I decided to endure the fatigue and discomfort and attend the welcome party.

Once the welcome party was decided, I conveyed the news to my companions.

“A welcome party?”

“Wow, then there’ll be lots of alcohol and delicious food, right?”

“Great! Let’s drink to our heart’s content tomorrow!”

As expected, my companions were delighted by the mention of a welcome party, practically dancing with joy.

I really did well to accept Count Rahalbah’s proposal despite being tired.

I smiled with satisfaction and looked at Count Hiltain and the other Crowd Knights. While everyone else was happy, their expressions were dark.

“Why do you all look like that?”

“We can’t attend the party… Gack.”

One soldier struck Count Art’s side to silence him.

‘Come to think of it, that’s right.’

The principle was that guards should never leave the side of their charge under any circumstances until their mission was complete.

So if they followed protocol, the guards wouldn’t be able to attend the welcome party.

“Everyone, don’t worry about guarding me tomorrow and just attend the party to enjoy yourselves.”

“Alright…!”

“That’s not possible.”

“…”

Count Art, who had been clenching his fist in excitement, opened his hand at Count Hiltain’s blunt response.

The other soldiers also drooped their shoulders dejectedly.

Oh no. I felt sorry for giving them hope only to take it away.

“I’m really fine, Count Hiltain.”

“I’m not fine with it.”

He needed to show some flexibility for me to even attempt persuasion, but he was blocking me so firmly that it was difficult to bring up the topic.

“Um, is it okay for Count Hiltain not to attend the party?”

“Yes.”

“The captain has no interest in things like parties.”

Count Art said in a gloomy voice. The other soldiers nodded vigorously, then shrank their necks like turtles under Count Hiltain’s sharp gaze.

“Are you not interested in alcohol and delicious food?”

I asked to confirm, and Count Hiltain nodded as if it were true.

I see. Then…

“Count Hiltain can take full charge of guarding me tomorrow evening.”

Everyone looked at me as if wondering what I was talking about.

“Anyway, I’ll be inside the castle all day tomorrow, so there won’t be any particular danger, and there’s no need to have guards hanging around me.”

I smiled brightly as I added my explanation.

“Besides, in the evening I’ll be at the party hall with lots of people. So tomorrow evening, Count Hiltain will take full charge of my guard duty. Instead, the next day, everyone except Count Hiltain can take charge of guarding me. How about it? It’s a good idea, right?”

“I, I agree!”

Count Art shouted first. The other soldiers also hesitantly watched Count Hiltain’s reaction before expressing their agreement with my suggestion.

“Then according to the principle of majority rule, we’ll do it my way.”

“…”

“You understand, right, Count Hiltain?”

Not only I, but the other soldiers also looked at Count Hiltain with earnest eyes.

Count Hiltain frowned as he looked over me and the soldiers, then let out a deep sigh and nodded as if he had no choice.

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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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