I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 39

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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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#39

The indoor training ground was located underground. The air below was stuffy due to the rain that had been falling steadily for the past few days.

I should tell the servants to ventilate it. And clean it again too.

I checked if there was anything else that needed attention as I entered the training ground.

Fillen was swinging a wooden sword with his upper body bare. Thick drops of sweat fell down his solid muscles.

It was a rather obscene scene, but I felt no particular stirring.

It was a scene I had often witnessed before.

So I looked at him calmly, and Fillen was the same. He showed no sign of being flustered even while exposing his bare skin to me.

“What’s the matter?”

“I came about the rainy season preparation issues.”

I set down the documents I had brought on a table near him and held out the documents he had newly written.

“When I checked the documents you wrote, you canceled hiring mages and changed the stones used for building the riverbank from dorestone to anam.”

“…So?”

This time I held out a report about quan.

“As you can see here, our domain’s water veins contain quan…”

“Why do you say ‘our domain’?”

“Huh?”

“You’re not Leilah Williot yet. So why is this domain ‘our domain’? It’s ‘my domain.'”

What kind of childish wordplay was this.

When I stared at him blankly without saying anything, feeling absurd, Fillen put down his wooden sword and approached me.

“Do you perhaps want to become the lord?”

“What?”

“If not, then why are you doing this kind of work when I told you not to?”

Fillen struck down hard on the documents I had held out. The papers scattered like snow and fell to the floor.

“I clearly told you not to interfere with the duchy’s affairs, so why are you stepping forward on your own?”

Fillen’s face was frozen frighteningly hard. He also looked hurt.

The servant’s words about being careful because his mood seemed quite bad echoed in my ears.

Should I have come later after all.

Belated regret set in.

“If you’re talking about what happened in the study that time, I had no choice. If we didn’t deal with it quickly, people’s lives would be in danger…”

“Then you should have told me instead of stepping forward yourself!”

His voice echoed loudly throughout the enclosed indoor training ground.

“You surely don’t claim not to know that’s the proper procedure, do you?”

“Of course I know. But sometimes there are times when people must be prioritized over following procedures. That time was exactly such a case.”

I met Fillen’s fierce gaze calmly and explained as clearly as possible for him to understand.

“As I said, that matter needed to be dealt with as quickly as possible. So I thought it would be faster for me to step forward directly rather than reporting to you one by one…”

“No, you wanted to show off your abilities to people, didn’t you.”

Fillen’s lips curved crookedly.

“You wanted to show that you’re more capable than me, that you’re suited for the lord’s position, isn’t that right?”

“That can’t be!”

“Well. I’d have to be able to trust your words. How can I believe you when you’ve even spread such rumors?”

Such rumors?

“This is my final warning, Leilah. Don’t step forward on your own.”

His ice-cold voice pierced my ears.

“Stay out of all affairs.”

Fillen tapped my shoulder and brushed past me.

“If you ignore my words one more time and act on your own, then I won’t go easy on you anymore either.”

His footprints were clearly imprinted on the documents that had fallen to the floor.

* * *

I don’t know what state of mind I was in when I left the training ground. When I came to my senses, I was in my room.

“Miss. You were here.”

Misa discovered me and rushed over urgently.

“Right now at the annex…”

“Stop, Misa.”

I held my throbbing head and waved my hand.

“If it’s about that matter, consult with His Grace from now on, not me.”

“What? However…”

“His Grace said he would handle it directly. So consult with His Grace.”

When I spoke firmly, Misa nodded as if she had no choice.

“More than that, Misa, are there any strange rumors going around among people?”

“What kind of strange rumors do you mean?”

“Well, rumors that I’m more capable than His Grace… something like that?”

Misa’s expression darkened instantly. It seemed strange rumors really were circulating.

“What exactly are these rumors?”

“They’re just groundless rumors. They’re not something you need to worry about, Miss.”

“I’ll decide that. Tell me.”

Misa let out a quiet sigh, then told me about the rumors circulating among people.

Starting with stories that I was more capable than Fillen.

All the way to the incredible story that there were those who wanted me, not Fillen, to become the lord.

So that’s why Fillen reacted that way.

Finally understanding Fillen’s reactions, I found it absurd that he thought I was the one who spread such rumors.

Spreading such rumors wouldn’t benefit me at all. It would only damage my reputation.

But even if I told Fillen this now, he wouldn’t believe me.

As the deepened emotional rift between him and me became clearly visible.

I thought that going to take the management exam would be an opportunity.

…In various senses.

* * *

I thought Fillen would immediately tell Countess Tebesa to stop the wedding preparations, but strangely, he didn’t.

According to what I heard from Sara, he actually pressured her to prepare for the wedding quickly.

‘So he still intends to marry me even in this situation.’

What on earth are you thinking, Fillen.

I truly wanted to look inside his head.

Time continued to flow in the quiet cold war, and we entered the 7th day since the rainy season began.

From the 5th day, the rain gradually became lighter, and by the 7th day, it was barely raining at all.

People cheered at this, but I couldn’t be happy.

Because there were only 5 days left until the management exam.

There was no more time to delay. I had to go to the capital quickly.

I packed only simple luggage and hurriedly went to find the coachman with Sara.

But.

“I can’t use the carriage?”

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

The coachman bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground.

“There’s only one carriage available right now, and His Grace said he would use that carriage today.”

This was the result of using carriages to rescue people.

Thanks to that, we were able to save many people, so I had no regrets, but it was still troublesome.

“I don’t mind using a cargo carriage either.”

“I apologize, but there are no cargo carriages available right now either.”

Oh no, there are no cargo carriages available either.

It would be nice if I could ride a horse. It was regrettable that I hadn’t learned horseback riding because I was too busy with other matters.

Then the only remaining option was to ask Fillen to lend me a carriage.

I didn’t want to face Fillen if possible… but I had no choice.

I couldn’t give up on the management exam.

There was no time to delay. I was about to go meet Fillen right away when I encountered him on the way.

Fillen wasn’t alone. Sisly was beside him.

When Sisly’s eyes met mine and she tried to curtsy lightly, Fillen wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“You don’t need to greet her like that when your body is heavy.”

“But…”

Sisly trailed off while glancing at me.

“It’s because her body is heavy, so Princess Tebesa will understand.”

Fillen pulled Sisly closer into his embrace while looking straight at me.

“She values people more than principles. Isn’t that right, Princess Tebesa?”

…Those are words I said before.

I never thought he would throw them back at me sarcastically like this.

I was dumbfounded. When I stared at him, Fillen smiled the smile of a victor.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“…No.”

I had nothing to say. What could I possibly say?

Should I get angry asking why he’s throwing those words back at me like this? Or should I complain?

Either way would be pointless.

It would only go against his mood, and I didn’t want to receive a greeting from Sisly that badly.

“Your Grace is correct.”

So when I obediently agreed, Fillen’s expression became subtly distorted.

Fillen looked at me intently as if trying to gauge my intentions, then opened his mouth.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m going to the capital.”

Fillen’s gaze turned to Sara behind me. More precisely, to the luggage bag she was carrying.

“The flood victim problem isn’t over yet, but you’re already going to the capital?”

“It’s not ‘already.’ There are only 5 days left until the management exam. Even if I leave now, time will be tight.”

I took a breath for a moment before adding.

“And thanks to Your Grace handling the flood victim problem so well, there’s nothing for me to do, so there’s no need for me to stay here.”

“Are you being sarcastic now, Princess?”

Does he think I’m being sarcastic even when I compliment him now?

While sighing deeply inside, I smiled brightly on the outside.

“Of course not.”

But Fillen seemed displeased as he clicked his tongue and turned his head away.

“If you’re going to the capital, I suppose I’ll see you in 2 weeks at the earliest. Have a safe trip, Princess.”

“I have a favor to ask regarding that, Your Grace.”

This was the main point. I had been thinking I needed to tell him, but now that I was about to speak, I was nervous and clenched the inside of my sleeve tightly.

“I’m told there’s only one carriage available at the manor right now.”

“So you want me to give you that carriage?”

“I won’t borrow it for long. Just until I reach the next village and can rent another carriage…”

“No.”

Before I could finish speaking, Fillen firmly refused.

I thought he might be spiteful, but I didn’t expect him to reject me so decisively.

“Just for one day, if you could lend it to me for just one day. I’ll send it back as soon as I reach the next village…”

“Princess, which is more important to you – saving people or the management exam?”

I was speechless at the sudden question.

I don’t know why he’s asking such a question, but if I had to choose between the two, obviously…

“Saving people.”

“I’m about to go do that work right now.”

Fillen passed by me with his arm still around Sisly’s shoulders.

As they approached, the coachman hurriedly opened the carriage door.

Fillen helped Sisly into the carriage first, then turned to look at me.

“So I hope the Princess, who values people above all else, will understand with her generous magnanimity.”

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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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