I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 31

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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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#31

…So that’s how he’s been thinking of me all along.

A deep sense of doubt filled me as I wondered just how much he must look down on me to be able to say such things so casually in front of others.

“I’m giving you advice for your own good, so don’t waste your time on useless things.”

It seemed like I was hearing the word “useless” a lot today.

But having no intention of moving according to his will, I looked straight at him and said,

“It’s my time, so I’ll use it as I see fit.”

“So you’re determined to challenge the administrative exam to the end.”

“Any citizen of the Empire can take the exam regardless of gender. There’s no reason I can’t.”

“I guarantee you will absolutely never pass that exam.”

“What if I do pass?”

His confident assertion was so irritating and annoying that I shot back at him.

As if he hadn’t expected me to react this way, Fillen looked at me with slightly flustered eyes before chuckling and lifting his chin.

“If you pass this administrative exam, I’ll grant you anything you want—one thing.”

I reflexively almost asked if that included kicking out Sisly and her child, but I held back.

It wouldn’t be possible anyway, and if I brought that up, he’d treat me like a woman blinded by jealousy again.

Even if it were possible, now wasn’t the time to bring it up.

Later, after I actually passed the administrative exam—that’s when I should say it to make sure Fillen couldn’t make a peep.

“Then please notarize it.”

With Sisly’s situation and all, I thought it would be good to get a definite answer, so I demanded notarization from him.

Then Fillen showed signs of discomfort.

“Do we really need to go that far?”

“Why? Is there some reason you can’t notarize it?”

When I stared at him as if telling him to speak up if there was, Fillen let out a hollow laugh.

“Fine. Let’s notarize it. But you’ll have to put something on the line too.”

“Alright.”

I nodded readily.

“Should I make a wish like you did, Duke?”

“Well, yes. Though what I want is already decided.”

“What do you want?”

“To Sisly.”

Just hearing her name made my body automatically react and flinch. I had an uneasy feeling.

“You will bow your head and apologize politely for everything you’ve done, Princess Tebesa.”

As always, my uneasy feelings never missed the mark.

* * *

If he had told me to apologize to Fillen, I wouldn’t have felt this bad or annoyed.

Even if it was slightly irritating, I would have accepted it with resignation, but if the target was Sisly, that was a different story.

Sisly was a woman desperate to crush me by any means necessary.

So what would happen if I bowed my head and apologized to her?

She would definitely lift her chin and be triumphant. And that wouldn’t be all. She would look at me and flash that disgusting smile.

Just thinking about it made my irritation surge. I absolutely didn’t want to apologize to that woman of all people.

To avoid that, I had to pass the administrative exam no matter what… But could I really do it?

A sigh escaped at the sudden doubt.

If, as Fillen said, many renowned prodigies from the Imperial Academy were challenging this exam, my chances of passing were significantly reduced.

It might as well be considered nonexistent.

Had I made a mistake betting with Fillen?

I regretted it, but it was too late for regrets. Having even notarized it, there was no turning back.

And I didn’t want to disappoint Kalian. I really wanted to repay him for creating this opportunity.

So let’s study hard and definitely pass the exam.

I made a deep resolution and opened the book on tax law first.

* * *

I focused on studying, reducing not only my sleeping time but even my meal time.

Fillen clicked his tongue at me, saying I was foolishly wasting time, but I ignored him.

The exam was what mattered. Instead of listening to other people’s words, I tried to read even one more character from my books.

Studying frantically like that, a week passed in a flash.

Sara came to tell me that it had been decided she would return to the domain tomorrow.

“So I need to pack, and if there’s anything you absolutely must take, please let me know in advance.”

“Pack?”

I looked away from my book and turned to Sara.

“I was planning to stay in the capital for a while?”

“Pardon?”

Sara blinked as if this was the first time she was hearing this.

“Didn’t you hear about it?”

“No. From what I can see, the Duke ordered the butler to prepare two carriages, so it seems he doesn’t know either.”

“What?”

Sara was one thing, but Fillen didn’t know either?

It was absurd. I had clearly said I was taking the administrative exam, yet he was planning to take me back to the domain.

Maybe he didn’t think of it because I hadn’t directly said I was staying in the capital.

“Where is the Duke?”

Feeling like I needed to meet with Fillen and discuss this, I went to find him.

Fillen was doing sword training at the training grounds.

“Your Grace the Duke.”

Only then seeming to notice I had come, Fillen turned to look at me.

“What is it?”

“There’s something I’d like to discuss. Do you have a moment?”

“Withdraw.”

Fillen handed his sword to a servant standing nearby and spoke.

The servant took the sword and quickly withdrew.

Fillen also dismissed all the other servants and maids.

“You withdraw for a moment too.”

I dismissed Sara and then approached Fillen.

Fillen casually sat down in the shade of a tree and wiped the sweat flowing down his face with a towel.

“What did you want to say?”

With no one watching, Fillen immediately dropped his formal speech.

The same went for me. Since Fillen started it first, there was nothing to be reserved about.

“I heard you’re returning to the domain tomorrow, is that right?”

“Yeah. We’ve been in the capital for a long time, so we should head back to the domain soon. That way I can check if preparations for the rainy season are being done properly.”

Everything he said was correct. If I had continued handling the ducal family’s affairs, I would have made the same decision.

“So, what about it? Is there some problem?”

“There’s no problem with you going back. The problem is with me.”

Fillen’s hand, which had been wiping sweat trickling down his chin, stopped.

“There’s a problem with you?”

“I want to stay in the capital until the administrative exam is over.”

I expected at least a response like “I see” or “Right, of course,” but Fillen remained silent.

Could it be that he didn’t understand even after I explained it so kindly?

The thought that it couldn’t be possible crossed with the thought that if it were Fillen, it might be possible.

“There are only 3 weeks left until the exam.”

Since the latter was also a possibility, I kindly added an explanation.

“But it would be a waste of time traveling back and forth to the domain, and if I get stuck in the domain due to the rainy season, it would be troublesome, so until the exam is over, I’ll stay in the capital…”

“You, don’t tell me you forgot what’s happening this weekend?”

Fillen cut off my words and asked.

What did I forget? I tried to recall my memories, but nothing particular came to mind.

It wasn’t Fillen’s birthday, and the Previous Duke and Duchess’s memorial day wouldn’t be too late even if I went after the exam.

“You really did forget.”

When I remained silent, Fillen smiled and lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“To forget something important because of an exam you won’t pass anyway. That’s not like you.”

Words that would have been unpleasant even separately became even more annoying when put together.

I spoke while clearly showing my displeasure.

“An exam I won’t pass anyway? What will you do if I pass?”

“Because it’s certain you won’t.”

“As I said before, you have to try to know whether something is long or short…”

“No, I know without trying.”

There was a strange confidence in his words. He seemed to have something definite to rely on.

What could it be? Could he have pulled some trick to make me fail?

But he wasn’t the type to do such things.

“Do you know Raymond Logan?”

Of course I did. Raymond Logan, the second son of the Logan Family that had produced famous scholars for generations, was a famous figure renowned as a genius of the century.

“I heard he’s taking the administrative exam this time.”

“What?”

At the unexpected words, I was slightly surprised and asked back.

“Raymond Logan is already an administrator. So why is he taking the administrative exam again?”

“I’m not the person involved so I don’t know the details, but from what I hear, he’s wanted to become His Majesty the Emperor’s aide for a long time.”

I see. If that was the reason, it made sense.

As well as why Fillen was asserting that I absolutely wouldn’t make it.

“Are you thinking of giving up now?”

“No.”

When I answered firmly, Fillen shrugged his shoulders.

“I kindly let you know it’s a persimmon you can’t eat, but you want to keep trying until the end. Can’t be helped.”

Just from the words, it seemed like he was being considerate of me, but I could tell from his eyes that wasn’t the case.

“Do as you please about that part. But I can’t allow you to stay in the capital. There’s a domain inspection this weekend.”

Come to think of it, that schedule was next week.

Before the rainy season came, the Duke would go on inspections to make final checks on whether there were any special incidents or accidents in the domain, and whether the domain residents had any difficulties.

But what does that inspection have to do with me?

I’ve already withdrawn from the Duke’s household affairs, haven’t I?

“Don’t tell me you want me to go on the inspection with you?”

“That’s exactly right.”

Fillen sighed as if things had become troublesome.

“I don’t want to take you along either, but Wizard Baron said that if you, my fiancée, don’t come, rumors of discord between us might spread.”

While it was true that there was discord between us, there was nothing good about letting the domain residents know that.

It would only greatly damage the Duke’s household prestige.

My reputation as well.

So it was better to accompany Fillen during the domain inspection if possible.

Sigh, it can’t be helped.

I didn’t feel like going around with him, but I couldn’t abandon what needed to be done because of personal feelings.

“Alright. I’ll return to the domain.”

Once the inspection is over, I’ll come straight back to the capital.

Then I won’t have to worry about getting stuck in the domain because of the rainy season…

“You don’t seem very pleased.”

“I’m not happy about it.”

With the schedule getting tangled up and the situation becoming tiresome in various ways, there was no reason to be happy.

I spoke honestly without hiding my feelings.

Then Fillen frowned deeply and clicked his tongue.

“I gave you permission to take the administrative exam since you said you wanted to, but don’t think about getting cocky over it.”

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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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