I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 25

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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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#25

Once again, Fillen couldn’t say anything.

Everything was true, and since he had said those words himself, there was nothing he could say.

Time passed meaninglessly while he remained silent.

When I suddenly thought that it would be better to look at even one more document during this time, I let out a hollow laugh.

What am I thinking about in a situation like this, like a fool.

This was all happening because I was with Fillen.

I thought it would be better to leave now and tried to pass by him, but Fillen opened his mouth again.

“…Did you think I would back down if you did this?”

Fillen’s golden eyes flashed brilliantly.

“Are you doing this thinking that if you protest by saying you can’t work, I’ll hesitate and apologize?”

“I’ve never thought that, and I have no intention of protesting.”

“This isn’t a protest?”

“That’s right. I’m just trying to realize my place and act accordingly, as you said.”

Fillen’s jaw tensed up.

His deeply furrowed brow looked as if he was very displeased with the current situation.

“So you’re going to come at me this way.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I shrugged my shoulders lightly as if I truly knew nothing.

“Well, it seems like we’ve finished talking about everything, so can I go now? I’m tired.”

Fillen didn’t answer, but I arbitrarily took it as a yes and left the room.

* * *

When I returned to my room, it had already been cleaned thoroughly.

The sofa and carpet I had asked to be replaced were also changed to new ones.

Sara, who was doing the final touches, spotted me and smiled brightly.

“I was just about to go report to you, but you came first.”

“It just happened that way.”

At my indifferent response, the smile on Sara’s face disappeared.

“Miss, did something happen?”

“Do I look like it?”

“Yes. You don’t look well.”

Is that so? I checked my face in the mirror.

It was an ordinary face, no different from usual.

I didn’t particularly look unwell or strange.

“Oh, while you were away, Jeonseogoo came with a letter.”

Sara approached me with a letter she had prepared in advance.

“It seems to be a letter from the advisors…”

“Stop.”

I raised my hand to stop Sara from speaking.

“From now on, take all letters sent by the advisors to His Grace the Duke.”

“What? But it says it’s a work-related letter.”

“Exactly. From now on, His Grace the Duke will handle the affairs of the Williot Duchy, so take it to him.”

While I was at it, I handed over all the documents I had brought to Sara.

“Take all of these to His Grace the Duke as well.”

“Did something happen between you and the master?”

A perceptive maid was both convenient and inconvenient.

I answered with silence and waved my hand dismissively, meaning for her to leave.

Sara quietly went outside.

Left alone, I collapsed onto the bed without changing my clothes.

My head hurt.

Despite having put down my burden, my heart felt heavier instead.

I was also anxious.

“It’s okay.”

I covered my eyes with my arm and muttered.

“It’s okay, Leilah. You did well.”

I was planning to hand over the Duke’s work to Fillen anyway when we returned to the domain after the banquet.

Giving up the Duchess’s duties was somewhat done in anger, but… I had no regrets.

Even if the same situation repeated, I would have made the same choice.

So there’s no need to be anxious.

Everything will be fine.

I comforted myself for a long time, but it was all futile.

* * *

“Ha!”

Returning to his room, Fillen let out an exasperated breath and practically threw the seals and documents he had brought onto the desk.

If Leilah had just humbled herself a little and come to apologize, he would have generously accepted it as if nothing had happened.

But instead of apologizing, she talked back as if she was superior, so he got angry and said harsh words.

However, Fillen didn’t think he was wrong.

Everything was started by Leilah first.

If only she had treated Sisly a little more warmly.

No, even if she had humbled her pride and come in when he went to find her, he wouldn’t have said such things.

Knowing how much Leilah had suffered all this time, he tried to endure and overlook her rude behavior.

But then she became increasingly arrogant.

How dare she say such things to him.

“This time I need to receive a proper apology.”

He was determined not to let it slide this time when he heard a knock.

“Master.”

It was the manor’s butler.

The butler had an armful of documents.

“What’s that?”

“Miss Tebesa told me to bring these to you, Master.”

“Ha.”

Is this woman really trying to challenge me?

Fillen swallowed his exasperation and ran his hand through his hair.

The butler, noticing that his mood wasn’t very good, asked carefully.

“What should I do?”

“What do you mean what should you do? It’s my job, so I have to do it. Put them on the desk and go.”

The butler placed the documents on the desk and quietly withdrew.

Fillen glared at the suddenly increased pile of documents as if they were Leilah herself.

“She thinks I can’t do it if she tells me to.”

He had never formally done the work of a duke, but he was still the heir in name.

Having received heir education since he started walking, he knew well what needed to be done.

He knew that theory and practice were different, but how could processing mere pieces of paper be as difficult as war?

Thinking that this would be as easy as drinking cold soup, and that he could get help from advisors for any lacking parts, Fillen confidently picked up the documents and began reading.

“…”

And soon his confident expression gradually crumbled.

Fillen narrowed his eyes and read through the documents several times, but he couldn’t understand what they were about.

All Fillen understood was that the rainy season was approaching and that they needed to repair the embankments in preparation for it.

The process of how this would be carried out, how much it would cost, what risks were involved, and when it needed to be completed were all written there, but he couldn’t understand any of it.

What he understood least was the cost.

Just preparing for the rainy season required a month’s worth of the domain’s operating funds.

“Why does this cost so much money?”

Could it be that they spent this much money every rainy season?

If so, someone must have been embezzling money along the way.

Otherwise, there was no way this much money would be needed every time.

There was no way Leilah would have embezzled money.

‘The culprit must be among the advisors or the middleman merchants.’

Or perhaps the mage hired to prepare for emergencies could be the culprit.

Who the culprit was could be confirmed once he returned to the domain.

“She acted so smart, but she was just a know-it-all.”

It was amusing that Leilah hadn’t figured out in several years what he couldn’t figure out in one attempt.

‘I’ll solve everything without Leilah knowing, then surprise her.’

Then she won’t be able to act so superior like now.

She won’t be able to look down on me either.

Just thinking about how flustered Leilah would be made him smile with joy.

As he remembered, the rainy season in the Tefra Domain he ruled was three weeks from now.

The documents said so too. That’s why all preparations for the rainy season had to be completed before then.

‘I should send these documents in advance.’

That way, all preparations could be finished before the rains began.

Before sending the documents, he needed to revise the amount, but he had no idea how much to adjust it to.

If his advisors were here, he would consult with them, but unfortunately they weren’t.

So what should he do.

“…Should I talk to Leilah about it?”

At the sudden thought, Fillen shook his head.

It was a ridiculous idea.

What would he discuss with her when she might not even know if there were any problems?

Moreover, right now he didn’t want to exchange even a single word with her.

Not just now. He planned not to exchange a single word with her until she humbled herself and came to apologize.

Absolutely not.

Wondering what to do, Fillen decided to look for precedents.

If he looked at the precedents set by the previous Dukes Williot, he should be able to solve this much on his own.

“Bring me the key to the study.”

Just as Fillen received the study key from the butler and was about to take the documents to the study.

“Fil?”

Sisly had come to see him.

Sisly hugged Fillen from behind.

“What were you doing?”

“I was looking at some documents.”

“Then you can’t stay with me.”

Sisly said with a gloomy expression.

“I was hoping Fil could stay by my side because of Princess Tebesa…”

How could he firmly say no when she spoke in such a pitiful tone?

“Of course not.”

Fillen put down the documents he was looking at on the desk and turned to her.

“I’ll stay with you.”

“Really? Didn’t you have work to do?”

“It’s something I can do later.”

At Fillen’s answer, Sisly threw herself into Fillen’s arms as if extremely happy.

While doing so, she glanced at the documents Fillen had put down.

Rainy season preparations, risk assessment, and…

“You’ve barely gained any weight even though you’re pregnant.”

Sisly’s gaze, which had been scanning the documents, turned to Fillen.

Fillen lightly pinched Sisly’s pale cheek.

“Being this thin. Who would think you’re a pregnant woman?”

“That’s not true. I’ve gained a lot of weight.”

“Except for your belly, you haven’t gained weight anywhere else. And this was already big.”

Fillen’s hand slyly passed over her chest.

At his touch full of mischief, Sisly blushed lightly and patted his chest.

“Fil, you fool.”

“You’re probably the only person who calls me a fool.”

Fillen laughed and affectionately pulled Sisly’s shoulder into an embrace.

Sisly snuggled into Fillen’s arms and again glanced at the documents Fillen had put down.

Specifically, at the word “mage.”

Sisly’s eyes trembled slightly.

Sisly nervously bit her lips then looked up at Fillen.

“Fil, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Promise me first that you’ll grant it.”

When Fillen didn’t readily answer, Sisly quickly added.

“It’s about the child.”

“If it’s something like that, I have to grant it.”

Only then did Sisly smile brightly and say what she wanted.

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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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