I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 33

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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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#33

At such an absurd statement, I doubted my ears and stared at Fillen.

“How admirable that she offered to help first.”

As if unable to read my gaze, he continued spouting nonsense.

“If it were an ordinary woman, I would have refused, but Sisly is a princess. She must know this kind of work well, so I gladly told her to go ahead.”

Gladly gave permission? On whose authority?

Lost for words, I let out a hollow laugh and pressed my hand to my head.

Fillen looked at me as if puzzled.

“What’s wrong?”

“…What’s wrong, you ask?”

Was he really asking because he didn’t know?

Or was he acting this way to upset me?

Based on my experience so far, I was certain it was the former.

Not knowing might not be a sin, but to this extent, it certainly was.

My heart was full of bruises from the stone he had carelessly thrown.

“In Physis Kingdom, it might not be socially problematic for a mistress to handle wedding preparations instead.”

I swallowed my rising anger and irritation, spitting out each word deliberately.

“But not in the Cardin Empire. Ha, if other people found out that a mistress handled the wedding preparations instead, they’d all laugh at us. I’d rather do it myself.”

When I quoted his own words back at him, Fillen’s face contorted sharply.

“Do you have to talk like that?”

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”

When I shot back as if daring him to try me, Fillen closed his mouth, apparently having nothing to say.

The deep furrows in his brow showed his mood was far from good.

At other times, I would have read his mood and appeased him appropriately, but this time I didn’t want to.

He would have tilted his head in confusion even if I mentioned the name of a distant relative he’d never met, but Sisly?

It was so absurd that I couldn’t even laugh.

“If you’re thinking of leaving it to her, I’d rather leave it to Countess Tebesa.”

When I showed how much I disliked Sisly, Fillen’s brow furrowed even more.

“You still don’t have an ounce of consideration.”

“When you don’t consider me, why should I consider That Woman?”

When I retorted without backing down, Fillen clicked his tongue and turned his head away.

An awkward silence flowed through the carriage.

Fillen, who had been staring out the window with his mouth firmly shut, let out a deep sigh and opened the window connected to the coachman’s seat.

“Stop the carriage.”

At Fillen’s single word, all five carriages including the luggage carriage stopped at once.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Fillen jumped out without even saying goodbye.

Through the thin carriage door, I could hear the sound of his footsteps growing distant.

I wasn’t curious where he was going. Obviously, he was heading to the carriage where Sisly was.

I had been worried about having to continue riding in the same carriage with him, so I was relieved that he got out.

He seemed angry, so I was slightly worried about the aftermath, but what could I do? The water was already spilled.

Even though I thought I should stop worrying and just read a book, I couldn’t quite concentrate.

* * *

Clatter, bang-!

The carriage door closed noisily.

Sisly stared intently at Fillen as he sat in the opposite chair with a deeply furrowed brow.

Judging by his expression, he must have had a big fight with Leilah.

‘Of course he would.’

If she had stayed quiet after hearing such words, she would be a saint, not a person.

She had known this would happen when she sent him.

Sisly smiled triumphantly inside, but outwardly looked at Fillen with concern.

“The conversation didn’t go well, I see.”

“…Well, that’s right.”

Fillen let out a deep sigh and spread his arms toward Sisly.

It meant for her to come and act cute to improve his mood.

Sisly quickly nestled into his embrace and pressed his furrowed brow.

“Don’t be too angry, Fil.”

“I want to, but I get irritated just thinking about what Leilah does.”

“What did That Woman say?”

Instead of answering, Fillen buried his face in her shoulder. It meant he didn’t want to talk about it.

She could guess what kind of reaction Leilah would have shown without having to ask.

Since asking would only worsen Fillen’s mood, Sisly didn’t ask further and rested her head on his shoulder.

Pleased with Sisly’s behavior, Fillen smiled faintly and gently stroked her hair.

“I’ve thought this before, but I wish Leilah had as much tact as you do.”

Now might be a good time to drive in a wedge.

Since they’d even talked about marriage, if she delayed any longer, she felt she might miss the timing forever.

Sisly glanced at Fillen’s mood and carefully spoke up.

“I think That Woman doesn’t lack tact, but rather thinks she doesn’t need to read Fil’s mood.”

“…What?”

Fillen’s brow immediately narrowed.

Seeing Fillen’s reaction, Sisly didn’t miss the opportunity and continued.

“You need tact even when working, but That Woman does her job well, right? Then she’s not lacking in tact.”

“…That’s true.”

“Could it be that she’s disrespecting Fil…”

Though she had said it deliberately, Sisly acted flustered as if it were a mistake and covered her mouth with her hand.

“S-sorry. Forget what I just said. This is just my opinion.”

“No, you’re right.”

Fillen’s gaze turned coldly serious. He let out a small bitter laugh and leaned back against the seat.

“It seems I need to reestablish discipline. I should make her clearly recognize who I am.”

“I think that would be better too.”

Sisly, who had moved to sit beside Fillen, smiled sweetly and took his hand.

“For a mere count’s daughter to dare disrespect you, a duke. Such a thing could never happen in our kingdom.”

* * *

After that, Fillen didn’t look for me until we arrived at the domain.

I didn’t look for him either.

We did encounter each other once during each rest stop, but there was no conversation between us.

We quietly passed by each other, treating each other as if we didn’t exist.

Until we arrived at the manor, there was no conversation between us.

“Welcome back, Master. Miss.”

The butler and servants had come out to the main gate to greet us.

Fillen acknowledged them with a light nod, then swept into the manor taking only Sisly with him.

The butler and servants glanced at me, left alone and forlorn.

I could see pity in their gazes toward me.

Since nothing good would come from staying here longer, I entered the manor with a deliberately calm expression.

“Miss.”

As soon as I entered the manor, Wizard Baron came running to me urgently, carrying an armful of documents.

“Miss, do you have a moment?”

“I do, but what’s the matter?”

“There’s something regarding preparations for the rainy season that I’d like to discuss with you.”

“That’s no longer my responsibility. Please discuss it with His Grace.”

“Of course I intend to, but before that I wanted to ask for your opinion…”

“Wizard Baron.”

Before the baron could finish speaking, Fillen suddenly appeared from the eastern hallway.

Wizard Baron swallowed the words he was about to say to me and bowed to him in greeting.

“What were you trying to say to Princess Tebesa just now?”

His voice was cold. The gaze directed at Wizard Baron was filled with frigid air.

“I had some questions about preparations for the rainy season and wanted to ask…”

“Why are you asking Princess Tebesa instead of me? Ah, don’t tell me.”

Fillen twisted his lips as he continued.

“Are you also disrespecting me?”

Was it my imagination that Fillen seemed to glance at me for a moment?

“How could that be!”

Wizard Baron jumped up and denied Fillen’s words.

“How could I dare disrespect Your Grace!”

“You’re saying you’re not?”

“Of course not!”

“Then!”

A sharp blue flash appeared in Fillen’s eyes.

“Explain why you’re asking Princess Tebesa such things instead of me!”

“Th-that is…”

“Don’t stutter and speak properly!”

Fillen pressed Wizard Baron as if he would devour him at any moment.

Overwhelmed by his intensity, the baron couldn’t speak properly and trembled. His face turned pale as a sheet of paper.

“That’s enough, Your Grace.”

Unable to watch any longer, I stepped forward, and only then did Fillen turn to look at me.

His gaze toward me was thick with dissatisfaction.

What on earth was he so dissatisfied about?

“Wizard Baron was simply trying to seek my counsel.”

“Wizard Baron, who has worked for the duchy for over 30 years, seeking counsel from a princess who has only worked for a few years. How interesting.”

Unlike his mouth that burst into pleasant laughter, his eyes remained coldly hardened.

For some reason I couldn’t understand, Fillen seemed very displeased that Wizard Baron had sought my counsel.

Though I didn’t think it was necessary to consider it disrespectful.

“Let me make this clear on this occasion.”

Fillen’s gaze turned back to Wizard Baron.

The baron didn’t dare look directly into Fillen’s eyes and kept his gaze lowered.

“Never again discuss or reveal matters concerning the duchy or the domain to Princess Tebesa.”

The phrase “never again” was meaningful.

Did those words mean not to consult with me even after I became the duchess?

Or… did he have no intention of welcoming me as his duchess?

Though we had discussed marriage just a few days ago, since it had ended badly, I still wasn’t confident that I could marry him safely.

Rather, seeing his words and actions now made me more anxious. The word “broken engagement” seemed to flicker before my eyes.

“If this happens one more time, you’ll have to remove your advisor’s robes.”

Fillen left his final warning and departed abruptly.

“Are you alright, Miss?”

Wizard Baron spoke to me cautiously. His face was full of worry and concern.

I wasn’t alright at all, but I didn’t want to show it.

“I’m fine.”

“But your expression doesn’t look very good.”

Is that so? I awkwardly brushed my cheek.

“I’m probably just a bit tired from the carriage journey. Don’t worry.”

“Miss…”

“I’m really fine. Ah, I am tired though.”

I created an opportunity to part with him as naturally as possible.

I was curious about what Wizard Baron wanted to ask me, but I couldn’t inquire after Fillen had spoken so firmly.

The baron didn’t seem inclined to speak either.

“Well then, I’ll see you later, Baron.”

“Yes. Have a good day, Miss.”

Would I really be able to have a good day?

I headed to my room, adding unnecessary doubt to the customary greeting.

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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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