I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 23
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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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#23
My heart churned like a storm had passed through due to Fillen’s sudden outburst.
It was fortunate that it was resolved well, otherwise it would have become a laughingstock among people for a long time.
Not just Fillen, but me who was standing beside him as well.
Just thinking about it was terrible. I stroked my chest in relief once again that we had safely gotten through it.
On the other hand, Fillen had a displeased expression.
“What’s wrong, Your Grace?”
“…No, nothing.”
Who would believe him when he says no with that kind of face.
I was curious, but he seemed unwilling to talk, so I didn’t pry deeply.
Then Fillen’s face became even more dissatisfied.
His sullen expression continued throughout the entire party.
Other nobles were looking at him strangely, so I poked his ribs telling him to manage his expression, but it wouldn’t ease up.
It was the same even in the carriage on the way home after ending the banquet.
He was radiating ‘I’m sulking’ with his whole body while only looking out the window, so I had no choice but to ask him once more.
“What on earth are you being like this for?”
As soon as I spoke up, Fillen asked back as if he had been waiting.
“Why didn’t you tell me in advance?”
he said.
I didn’t know what he meant, so I just stared at him quietly, then Fillen added.
“Why didn’t you tell me in advance that such a custom existed?”
Custom?
Ah, could he be talking about not holding other celebrations when there’s a great occasion at the Imperial Palace?
From the looks of it, that seems to be right.
I was dumbfounded. He acted on his own whim, so why is he questioning me about it?
This time I stared at him blankly in disbelief, and Fillen furrowed his brow deeply.
“Did you want to see me get humiliated by the Emperor?”
What on earth could be in his head to think such thoughts?
I sincerely wanted to peek inside his mind.
“There’s no way that’s true.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me in advance?”
“Did you even give me a chance to speak?”
When I retorted as if it was absurd, only then did he remember that he hadn’t done so, and Fillen relaxed his expression and said complainingly.
“Still, it would have been good if you told me in advance.”
“How am I supposed to know when you’ll do what kind of thing and how, and tell you in advance? Sorry, but I don’t have precognitive abilities.”
And I was about to say that I never thought he would have forgotten such basic common sense, but I shut my mouth.
If I said that much, that prideful Fillen would definitely throw a fit.
Even now, as I pointed out his mistakes one by one, he was keeping his mouth tightly shut with a sullen expression.
It was an expression showing he knew his actions were wrong but didn’t want to admit it due to his pride.
Really, he was needlessly prideful.
As the heir of a ducal house at the pinnacle of nobility, having lived his whole life being revered, it was natural for his pride to be so strong, but at times like this it was a bit frustrating.
Thinking about having to continue living with him in the future, I was already feeling suffocated and my vision was growing dark.
Am I really going to be okay like this?
I had doubts, but the answer was already decided.
Even if I wasn’t okay, I had to endure it no matter what.
If not for this position, I would become just a useless count’s daughter.
If that happened, even harder trials would come than now, so I had to endure it somehow.
After that, there was no conversation between us. A heavy silence flowed.
But it wasn’t burdensome at all.
Rather, it was welcome. Having pointless arguments with him was more tiring.
Soon the carriage arrived at the manor, and Fillen opened the door with his own hands and got out before the coachman could even open it.
“Fil!”
Sisly greeted such Fillen enthusiastically.
Fillen drew a smile on his lips as if he had never been sullen and hugged Sisly tightly.
Anyone could see it was the appearance of affectionate lovers.
Sisly aside, it was certain that Fillen liked Sisly.
But he would kick that woman out of the manor once she bore a child?
Nonsense.
Did Fillen think I was such a clueless fool to believe such an obvious lie?
Or was he looking down on me?
It seemed more likely to be the latter than the former, making my mouth taste bitter.
The doubt about whether this was really okay deepened a bit more.
I entered the manor with a slightly frowning expression.
Sara also glared disapprovingly at Fillen and Sisly, who were still radiating an affectionate atmosphere, then followed behind me.
As soon as I returned to my room, I changed clothes and sat at my desk.
Though it might look like just eating and playing, participating in parties was draining both physically and mentally.
I wanted to rest thoroughly, but I had too much work to do to afford that.
If nothing else, I had to quickly review and send the documents about preparing for the rainy season to the domain.
So I worked diligently without resting for even a moment.
It was the same the next day.
Even meal time felt precious, so I holed up in my room looking at documents and roughly solved my meals with sandwiches.
The only time I went outside was when seeing off Fillen as he attended parties.
Since the next day’s party that only men participated in was held during the day, Fillen left the manor a little past noon.
For some reason Sisly didn’t come out to see him off, but I didn’t question it much.
Right now I was busy with other matters and had no leisure to pay attention to Sisly.
I returned to my room and was working frantically when I heard a knock.
“Come in.”
In the manor without Fillen, the only people who would come looking for me were the servants, so I naturally spoke casually.
“Are you very busy, Princess Tebesa?”
Unexpectedly, the person who came was Sisly.
For her to come looking for me.
At the appearance of someone I never expected, I stopped what I was doing and looked at her.
Behind Sisly, I could see Sara fidgeting and stamping her feet, not knowing what to do.
When our eyes met, Sara made a tearful expression.
Sara kept apologizing with gestures and movements, saying she was sorry for not being able to stop Sisly.
Though Sisly’s visit was annoying, I didn’t blame or resent Sara.
This was something she couldn’t have stopped with her power.
How could a mere maid dare to stop a woman carrying the master’s child?
“You may leave now, Sara.”
“Miss, what about tea…?”
“It’s not needed.”
I had no intention of having a cozy chat over tea with Sisly.
After sending Sara away, I asked Sisly while turning through documents.
“What is it?”
“You seem very busy.”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
Since she was a very unwelcome person, my words came out bluntly.
“I don’t know what it’s about, but as you can see I’m busy. Could you come back another time?”
It was an empty phrase. I wished Sisly would never come looking for me again.
So I hoped there would be no occasion to face each other and exchange words, and I wished I wouldn’t have to hear news about her either.
“Just for a moment will do.”
After showing such obvious dislike, she should have felt offended and just left, but Sisly didn’t do that and instead sat on the sofa with a friendly smile.
I didn’t even give permission to sit, so who gave her the right to take a seat on her own?
My brow furrowed automatically. I was about to say something to Sisly, but stopped when I saw her swollen belly.
The fact that she was pregnant served as a shield that protected all her actions from criticism.
And there was also Fillen excessively protecting her.
“I have something to discuss, so would you come sit here?”
So that’s how she could lift her chin so haughtily and speak to me in such a commanding tone.
I didn’t like anything about Sisly – her actions, her expressions, or the words she spoke.
I looked at the documents again and answered.
“As I said, I’m busy. If you have something to discuss, come back next time.”
“Don’t you have even a moment to talk?”
“No. I don’t.”
It was true, and even if I did have time, I had no intention of spending it on her.
“Then just listen to what I have to say.”
Was she determined to say what she came to say no matter what?
I pressed my throbbing temples and looked at Sisly.
If she wouldn’t leave on her own, I could have the servants drag her out.
But then Fillen would surely have something to say about it later, so I couldn’t do that.
“What is it you want to talk about?”
It seemed best to just quickly listen to what she had to say and send her away.
When I showed my willingness to listen, Sisly became extremely pleased and clapped her hands together.
“I heard from Fil that we’re returning to the domain next week, is that right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Are you planning to go out anywhere before then?”
Why was she suddenly asking about my schedule?
Was she suggesting we go out together?
If that was the case, I was ready to send her away without hearing another word, but that wasn’t it.
“There’s something I’d like you to buy for me personally.”
Instead, Sisly said something even more absurd.
I asked Sisly back in a bewildered tone.
“There’s something you’d like me to buy for you personally?”
“Yes. I’d like you to buy clothes for the child to wear. And toys too, if possible.”
It was already ridiculous that she was commanding me to buy something for her, but asking me to personally buy things for the child?
It was so absurd that what little sense I had left seemed to disappear.
Flustered, I stared at her blankly, not even noticing that the ink from my quill pen was staining the paper.
Then Sisly tilted her head and asked.
“Why are you looking at me with that expression?”
“…Don’t you know what you just did wrong?”
“I don’t understand.”
Snap-
The quill pen broke completely. As the paper became covered in ink, I let out a small sigh and threw the broken pen into the wastebasket.
“Why should I do such a thing?”
“Well, you’re going to be this child’s adoptive mother, aren’t you?”
Sisly answered as if wondering why I was asking something so obvious.
“A mother should do at least that much for her child, shouldn’t she?”
I didn’t want to admit it, but it was true.
Fillen had said he would register the child Sisly bore in the family records, and as long as I married Fillen, I would become the mother of the child she bore.
Even if I didn’t want it.
Just like Countess Tebesa had been.
“I’d like to go myself, but as you can see, my belly is swollen and I can’t even stand for long these days.”
Sisly continued, gently stroking her swollen belly.
“If I were in the royal palace, the maids would take care of it, but there are none here, so I’m asking you, Princess, since your status is similar to that of maids.”
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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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