I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 22

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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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#22

I blinked my eyes wide as I stared at him.

Fillen was looking down at me with frightening eyes. He looked angry.

Why was he so angry? Could he have heard about what happened with Sophia?

“Why…”

Rather than guessing, I thought I should ask directly, but the moment I opened my mouth.

Fillen gripped my shoulders hard and asked fiercely.

“Why are you having an affair?”

An affair? Who?

Could he mean me?

I was dumbfounded. At such an out-of-the-blue statement, I stared at Fillen with a bewildered expression.

Perhaps thinking my expression was an admission, Fillen’s face grew even more menacing.

“Having an affair so openly in a place like this. You’ve got some nerve.”

“…Who had an affair?”

I frowned and shook off his hand that was gripping my shoulder painfully.

Since no one was watching, I dropped my formal speech too.

“I don’t know where you heard such nonsense, but that never happened.”

“I saw it clearly with my own two eyes, and you’re saying it’s not true?”

“Saw it clearly with your own two eyes… Are you talking about me having a conversation with His Majesty?”

“That’s not all. You even fell into His Majesty’s arms.”

Ha. I had a suspicion, but I never thought it would really be because of that.

I pressed my temples and answered irritably.

“I didn’t fall into his arms. I was about to fall and His Majesty caught me. I simply received help.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Believe it or not, that’s your choice, but I’m innocent.”

When I spoke confidently without batting an eye, Fillen’s expression wavered slightly.

“Then why did you smile so brightly in front of His Majesty?”

“Should I have frowned while talking to His Imperial Majesty? Hm? Should I have yelled at him in annoyance?”

Fillen, who seemed to have lost his words, kept his mouth shut tight before speaking resentfully.

“You’ve never smiled so carelessly in front of me.”

“I never smiled carelessly.”

Like all aristocrats, I had simply put on an appropriate social smile.

“And the reason I don’t smile in front of you is because there’s nothing to smile about. How can I smile when you’ve been acting strangely lately?”

“I’ve been acting strangely?”

When Fillen asked back as if he had no idea, I felt deflated.

I had expected it, but Fillen really didn’t know what he had done wrong.

Where should I even begin to point out and teach him?

No, even if I taught him, would he understand?

I was certain he wouldn’t understand.

He would probably just treat me like some strange woman.

“Is this about Sisly?”

Fortunately, he hadn’t completely lost his wits, as Fillen asked.

When I affirmed with my silence, Fillen sighed.

“As I said before, I’m taking care of Sisly because she’s carrying my child. Once she gives birth, I’ll send her away from the manor immediately.”

“I don’t believe that at all.”

When I shot back sharply, he spoke as if frustrated.

“Why won’t you trust me?”

“Look at how you’re acting toward That Woman now. Who would believe your words? No one would.”

“But you should trust me.”

“You need to act in a way that deserves trust for me to believe you.”

Once my mouth opened, it wouldn’t stop.

I began to let out everything I had been holding inside.

“Whenever something happens, you go running to That Woman, you only move for That Woman’s sake. You don’t pay any attention to me at all. How can I trust you like that?”

“That’s because Sisly is alone, and Leilah, you handle things well on your own…”

Why don’t you understand that I’ve been handling things on my own all this time because I was worried it would be hard on you?

“No matter how much That Woman is carrying your child, the person you should prioritize is me. Not That Woman.”

I glared at Fillen with intensity in my eyes.

“Tell me honestly. Do you really intend to marry me? You’re not planning to put That Woman in the duchess’s seat, are you?”

“That’s impossible.”

“I can’t believe it. Nothing you say is believable.”

“Leilah.”

“If it’s really true, then show me through your actions so I can believe you.”

For example, by throwing out That Woman Sisly.

I wanted to say that, but it seemed too petty of me, so I didn’t.

After all, That Woman was carrying Fillen’s child.

That alone was reason enough for Fillen to keep Sisly around.

At my words, Fillen thought for a moment, then spoke with a resolute face.

“I just need to show you definitive action that you can believe in, right?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

Fillen grabbed my hand firmly and led me into the foyer.

His appearance was so determined that the attention of the people scattered about focused on us.

Because of this, I missed the chance to shake off Fillen’s hand and had no choice but to follow him.

The place Fillen led me to was in front of Kalian.

“Your Majesty.”

Kalian, who had been talking with other aristocrats, turned to look at Fillen.

“What is it, Duke Williot?”

“There is something I would like Your Majesty to permit, so I have come to you.”

Fillen continued with a more resolute face than ever.

“I, Fillen Williot, wish to marry Leilah Tebesa, so please grant your imperial permission.”

What is he talking about now?

At his sudden words, I looked back at Fillen in confusion.

Kalian also looked bewildered.

A heavy silence fell over the banquet hall. Everyone was holding their breath and watching us.

“Ha.”

Kalian was the first to break the silence.

He smiled more cheerfully than ever and answered.

“That won’t be possible.”

* * *

Kalian let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Fillen, who was staring at him as if shocked by his refusal.

Did he think I would give permission?

There were more reasons to refuse Fillen’s request than could be counted on one hand.

Half of them were reasons that most of the aristocrats here knew about.

But unfortunately, the young duke before him seemed to have no idea why Kalian had refused.

Well, if he had known, he wouldn’t have come so boldly to make such a request.

What a foolish and obtuse man this was.

Kalian tilted the corner of his mouth crookedly. He looked at Leilah standing beside Fillen with a troubled expression.

From her expression, it seemed Leilah knew why Kalian had refused Fillen’s request.

Yet her face remained calm and thoughtful without showing any panic, which was impressive.

To be able to stay composed even in a situation like this.

Kalian’s cold gaze warmed considerably.

Kalian’s eyes remained fixed on Leilah for quite some time.

“Your Majesty.”

Then, hearing Fillen call out, he shifted his gaze to him. His warm look instantly froze cold again.

“May I ask why you won’t grant permission?”

Not only a fool, but one with a hobby of digging his own grave.

Kalian didn’t hide the scornful laugh that escaped as he asked Fillen.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know, Duke Williot?”

“Perhaps…”

Just as Fillen was about to question Kalian with suspicion layered over wariness.

“Of course Your Grace knows the reason.”

Leilah stepped forward gracefully and interjected into the conversation.

Kalian’s gaze shifted back to Leilah.

Leilah gently took Fillen’s hand, giving him a look that said not to speak further, then continued.

“When there are great celebrations in the Imperial Court, there’s a custom that aristocrats don’t hold separate celebrations for three months. Your Grace couldn’t possibly be unaware of this.”

At Leilah’s additional words, Fillen’s eyes trembled slightly. His earlobes turned faintly red.

Fillen looked as if he had just remembered that fact.

Though Leilah had cleverly positioned herself so that only Kalian could see that foolish expression.

That seemed to be why she had stepped forward.

To have calculated even that far.

Kalian was once again amazed by Leilah’s abilities.

And he desired her even more.

“So you knew.”

Curious to see how far Leilah could make excuses, Kalian deliberately pressed further.

“Then why did you come to get permission from me?”

“Because we need to receive marriage permission now to be able to marry within this year.”

Leilah responded as if she had been waiting for this question.

“As Your Majesty knows, the higher the nobility, the longer marriage takes due to the preparation process, the wedding ceremony, and various complex procedures afterward.”

Noble marriages took a minimum of six months, and up to a year at most.

Imperial family marriages took even longer.

“Therefore, His Grace wanted to marry me within this year, so he came to receive Your Majesty’s permission first. Isn’t that right, Your Grace?”

Leilah asked Fillen with a shy smile. To anyone watching, she looked like a fiancée truly in love with her betrothed.

“Of, of course.”

Fillen nodded with a reluctant expression.

Having received the answer she wanted, Leilah stepped back while maintaining her shy expression.

This revealed Fillen’s slightly reddened ears, causing the onlookers to murmur regardless of age or gender.

“Look at those red ears. Duke Williot must really care for his fiancée.”

“That’s why he tried to get marriage permission in advance.”

“I thought their relationship had grown distant because of his mistress, but I guess not.”

“Well, a mistress is a mistress, and a wife is a wife.”

Though Fillen’s earlobes had reddened for a different reason, such details didn’t matter to people who only believed what they could see.

The public opinion that had been stirred by Fillen’s impulsive action turned favorable thanks to Leilah’s quick thinking.

Everyone cheered for Fillen’s courage and envied Leilah for receiving Fillen’s love.

“I see.”

Since continuing to press the matter would only make him look petty, Kalian concluded the conversation.

“But I have a somewhat narrow-minded personality, so I’d like to discuss this matter again in a month. You can wait that long, can’t you, Duke Williot?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The dangerously precarious conversation came to a safe end.

Kalian sipped his champagne while watching Leilah turn away with the exhausted face of a soldier just returning from war.

‘No matter how I look at it, I want her.’

She was too valuable a talent to let rot beside that fool for the rest of her life.

He wanted to let her freely display her talents in broader waters.

For that, he needed to bring her as his aide as soon as possible.

‘I need to hold the civil service exam quickly.’

Though Ber would be shocked to hear this, that’s how much he desired Leilah.

Kalian decided this was what he would do and called for Ber, who was obliviously enjoying himself.

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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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