I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 38

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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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#38

Other advisors and department heads were already in the study.

They were engaged in heated discussion, unaware that Wizard Baron and I had arrived.

“The damage to crops is severe. At this rate, there won’t be anything left to harvest in the fall.”

“Not just the downstream areas, but the upstream riverbanks are also gradually collapsing, making flood damage worse. We need to stop it immediately.”

Fillen nodded with a serious expression as he listened carefully to each advisor’s opinion.

“Let’s start by repairing the riverbanks.”

“Don’t say such ridiculous things!”

I had been trying to follow Fillen’s lead, but I couldn’t stay quiet after hearing such nonsense.

Only then did the advisors realize I had arrived, looking at me in surprise.

Fillen looked at me with displeasure.

“Why is the Princess here?”

“Is that what’s important right now? What matters is preventing flood damage!”

I strode up to the table where they were sitting and pointed to the window where rain was pouring down.

“With rain falling this heavily, sending people to repair the riverbanks will only increase casualties. So right now, instead of repairing riverbanks, we should evacuate people and wait for the rain to subside.”

“Then what about the crops?”

Worrying about crops when people are dying.

“Crops can be replanted, but people cannot be brought back to life once they’re dead!”

When I raised my voice in frustration, Fillen looked at me in bewilderment.

The other advisors were the same.

After a moment, Fillen came to his senses and nodded.

“I understand. Then let’s discuss how we can save people as the Princess suggests…”

“Where’s the time for discussion! People are dying even as we speak!”

It was too frustrating. Unable to wait for Fillen’s decision any longer, I turned to the estate’s guard captain.

“Lord Rohen, gather all the guards in the manor’s foyer immediately. We’re going to rescue people.”

“Understood, Miss.”

As Lord Rohen left with quick steps, I turned to the butler next.

“Bring out all the carriages the manor has and gather everyone who can drive them. We’ll transport injured victims who can’t walk on their own in the carriages.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After the butler came Misa, the head maid.

“We’ll have flood victims who lost their homes stay in the manor’s annex until the rain stops. Clean up the annex right now and call all the physicians for the injured.”

“I’ll implement this immediately.”

After Misa left, I paused to think about what to do next, then suddenly turned to Fillen.

He was looking at me with an utterly incredulous expression.

He seemed displeased that I was doing his job for him.

Of course he would be.

He had threatened me never to interfere in duchy affairs, yet here I was not only interfering but taking command as I pleased.

But what could I do?

There was no time to explain everything to him, convince him, and wait for his approval.

Every minute and second was precious.

“I’ll gladly accept punishment later for disobeying orders. If problems arise, I’ll gladly accept punishment for those too.”

I bowed to Fillen.

“Right now, saving people is the priority, so please be lenient.”

Fillen didn’t respond to my request, but there was no time to wait for his answer.

In that time, I needed to save even one more person.

I hurried toward the manor’s foyer where the guards were gathering.

* * *

An early rainy season and an unexpected flood.

It was a series of misfortunes, but thanks to Leilah’s quick response, the damage wasn’t severe.

Not only that, she carefully looked after the flood victims by having them stay in the manor’s annex.

As word spread that it was Leilah, not Fillen, who had directed all these efforts, people praised Leilah.

“As expected of Miss Leilah! It’s so reassuring to have you here.”

“I hope she becomes the official duchess soon.”

“Right. So she can look after us for a long, long time.”

“But why did the riverbank suddenly burst?”

This sudden question spread widely among the people, one leading to another.

The one who answered their question was a maid who worked at Williot Manor.

The maid informed people that it was Fillen, not Leilah, who had prepared for this rainy season.

And also that Fillen had threatened Leilah never to interfere in duchy affairs.

Upon hearing this news, people unanimously clicked their tongues.

“Oh my, the foolish lord nearly got several people killed with his unnecessary pride.”

“Really, my lord. If you don’t know anything, just leave it to Miss.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Our Miss is so capable.”

The more capable Leilah appeared, the more Fillen’s incompetence stood out.

Some jokingly said they wished Leilah would become the lord and govern the domain instead.

The jokes people casually made became sharp weapons for someone.

And those weapons tore someone else’s pride to shreds.

* * *

Though not as large as the main building, it was still the Williot Duchy’s annex.

It was large enough to accommodate hundreds of flood victims.

I was only worried that there wasn’t enough manpower to care for them all.

Fortunately, able-bodied domain residents volunteered to help, eliminating my concerns.

Once flood damage recovery was somewhat complete, I investigated why the riverbank had burst.

That way, as soon as the rainy season ended, we could repair the riverbank and fill in any inadequate parts.

Though this was originally Fillen’s job, since I had decided to do it, I wanted to see it through to the end.

I carefully examined the documents about rainy season preparations that Wizard Baron had brought.

I couldn’t see anything problematic. It was exactly as I remembered.

Then what was the problem?

Was it simply because there was unusually heavy rain this year?

Or shoddy construction?

Considering various possibilities, I checked the last page of documents and found something different from my memory.

“Wizard Baron.”

The riverbank collapse wasn’t due to unusually heavy rain this year, nor shoddy construction.

“Why is the budget cut in half?”

Actually, it was shoddy construction.

There was no way proper construction could be done with a budget half of what I had allocated.

“Who cut the budget like this?”

“…His Grace the Duke.”

Wizard Baron answered with a gloomy expression.

“I actually wanted to discuss this matter with you, Miss, but His Grace kept interfering, so I couldn’t say anything. I apologize.”

“The Baron has nothing to apologize for.”

I already knew that Fillen had been interfering.

His previous attempts to speak with me must have been about this.

“If the budget was reduced, new documents matching it must have been prepared.”

“Yes. Here they are.”

I checked the new documents that Wizard Baron handed me.

Most parts were similar except for the budget section, but there were two noticeably different points.

The hiring of mages had been canceled, and the stone used for building the riverbank had been changed.

I could understand canceling the mage hiring, but changing the stone to anam of all things.

“Didn’t you explain to His Grace that our domain’s water veins contain high levels of ‘kwan’?”

“I did explain it. But he said other rivers also have high kwan content, so why make a fuss about it…”

Wizard Baron didn’t finish his sentence, but I could predict what he was going to say.

Fillen must have ignored his words and forced it through.

It wasn’t unreasonable that Fillen didn’t understand Wizard Baron’s words.

Even the Previous Duke and Duchess didn’t know that Williot Estate’s water veins contained high levels of ‘kwan’.

I too had discovered it by chance while analyzing various things to solve a drought that struck the domain.

‘Kwan’ was harmless to humans, animals, and plants, but unfortunately had terrible compatibility with ‘anam’.

‘Kwan’ was the main factor that rapidly corroded anam.

That’s why I chose dorestone instead of the commonly used anam when building the riverbank.

Dorestone was several times more expensive than anam and more difficult to handle, but there was no choice.

It was better than having flood victims from flooding.

…Was I the only one who thought that way?

“So you did the repair work with anam?”

“That’s correct. And…”

“All the repaired parts must have holes in them now.”

It was obvious without even hearing it. Wizard Baron nodded awkwardly with a smile.

If they had completely removed the embankment made of dorestone and rebuilt it entirely with anam, it would have withstood corrosion at least once.

But because only the repair work was done with anam, the thin anam corroded quickly, resulting in flooding.

The damage cost was several times the amount Fillen had saved.

The time it would take to restore everything back to its original state couldn’t be calculated in money.

“…This is absurd.”

Though it was disrespectful words to say about a duke, there was no other way to describe my current feelings and the situation.

Wizard Baron must have thought the same, as he sighed silently.

“I need to see His Grace first.”

This was work that Fillen would have to handle from now on.

So it would be good to inform him where the problem occurred and what should be done going forward.

“Should I come with you?”

“No. I’ll go alone.”

That way we could speak freely and have a comfortable conversation.

I gathered both the previous documents and the new ones Fillen had prepared.

Oh, just in case, I should also bring the report on kwan. That report happened to be in my room.

After gathering everything, both my hands felt heavy. I held the armful of documents to my chest and left the room.

When I asked a servant about Fillen’s whereabouts, they said he was at the indoor training ground.

“Thank you.”

“Um, Miss.”

I briefly thanked them and was about to go to Fillen when the servant cautiously called me.

“I think it would be good for you to be careful.”

“Be careful? About what?”

“His Grace the Duke. He seemed to be in quite a bad mood.”

Fillen was in a bad mood? Had someone touched a nerve again?

“Thank you for telling me in advance.”

After thanking the servant once more, I headed to the indoor training ground where Fillen was.

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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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