I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 59

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#59

Whoosh—

What started as a few drops of rain in the late afternoon had finally turned into a heavy downpour.

I was searching for materials in the library when the sound of rain loudly pelting the windows made me look outside.

The librarian, who was organizing books, also looked at the rain and spoke to me.

“It’s raining quite heavily. It doesn’t look like a passing shower. Did you bring an umbrella, Aide?”

“No.”

“Oh dear.”

The librarian said sympathetically, then added,

“I have a spare umbrella. Would you like to borrow it?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I take a carriage, so I don’t think I’ll need it.”

“I see.”

The librarian told me to let him know if I needed anything, then disappeared into the back with his book cart.

Even after he left, I continued staring out the window. The sky was full of dark clouds.

Looking at the sky, it seems like there might be thunder and lightning.

…Did I have sleeping pills at home?

I didn’t think so. Since coming to the capital, I hadn’t needed to look for sleeping pills, so I hadn’t thought to buy any in advance.

Then what should I do? It would be too late to stop by a pharmacy when leaving work.

I was pondering what to do when I happened to run into Baron Delrond and asked him.

“We don’t have anything like sleeping pills.”

“Really?”

Then what should I do? It might be a bit presumptuous, but should I leave work early to visit a pharmacy?

“Why do you suddenly need sleeping pills? Do you have insomnia?”

“Something like that.”

“Oh my.”

Baron Delrond clicked his tongue as if he felt very sorry.

“I don’t know what’s causing your insomnia, but relying too much on medication isn’t good. You might develop a tolerance, and then when you really need it, it might not work.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

I’m truly grateful, but… ‘That time’ is when I really need it most.

A night when I cannot sleep without medication.

A night when pitch-black darkness devours everything.

Just thinking about spending that night without sleeping pills made me feel dizzy already.

* * *

Fillen had been invited to dinner and visited the Giltian Duchy.

“Welcome, Duke Williot.”

Duke Giltian personally came out to the foyer to greet Fillen. A butler took Fillen’s rain-soaked coat.

Though they were both dukes, Duke Giltian was old enough to be Fillen’s father.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Fillen maintained appropriate courtesy as he shook Duke Giltian’s extended hand.

Duke Giltian laughed heartily as he introduced his family members.

“This is my wife, and over there are my sons and their wives, and next to them are my grandsons.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace Duke Williot.”

After the introductions were finished, they immediately moved to the dining room.

Befitting a ducal family, the dining room was large and magnificent. Sculptures visible throughout gave a sense of Duke Giltian’s tastes.

Duke Giltian sat at the head of the table with Fillen to his left.

The duke’s sons sat next to Fillen, while the duchess, daughters-in-law, and grandsons sat in a row to Duke Giltian’s right.

The meal proceeded in a quiet and calm atmosphere.

“At that time, so…”

“Is that so.”

Duke Giltian’s family members barely spoke, with only Duke Giltian and Fillen carrying the conversation.

Perhaps finding this boring, Duke Giltian’s young grandson fidgeted restlessly.

As a result, his spoon fell to the floor with a loud clang that echoed through the dining room.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Everyone’s gaze focused on the young grandson.

The young grandson trembled in fear, looking as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

The face of the child’s mother, Lili, who was Duke Giltian’s second daughter-in-law, also turned pale.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Lili hurriedly bowed her head in apology toward Duke Giltian and Fillen.

“To be so rude when we have a guest… Tian, you apologize too.”

“I-I’m sorry, hic.”

The terrified child hiccupped and finally shed a tear.

Fillen felt uncomfortable, as if he had become the villain tormenting a child when he had done nothing wrong.

“It’s fine.”

Fillen said while wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“He’s still just a child, mistakes can happen. You don’t need to apologize so much.”

Even with Fillen’s words, Lili’s pale complexion didn’t return to normal.

The child also couldn’t escape his fear.

He kept watching Duke Giltian’s expression nervously.

The same was true for everyone else. Fillen was the only one not watching Duke Giltian’s mood.

‘Duke Giltian must be quite strict.’

If they’re this nervous, he must be considerably strict.

Just how strict is he for everyone to act like this?

Curious, Fillen was staring at the child when he noticed a bruise on the child’s neck.

It was a mark from being hit hard by something.

Could it be… that Duke Giltian hit him?

From the child’s reaction, it seemed likely, but he had no intention of stepping in to discuss it.

It was a family matter. It had nothing to do with him.

“Haha, Duke Williot is quite magnanimous.”

Duke Giltian laughed heartily, forcibly lightening the heavy atmosphere.

The others smiled awkwardly and agreed with Duke Giltian’s words.

“Thank you for being so understanding about my grandson’s mistake.”

“Not at all.”

While Duke Giltian and Fillen were conversing, Lili quietly disappeared with the child.

“Come to think of it, Duke Williot.”

Duke Giltian took a sip of wine and spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

“I heard rumors that you and Princess Tebesa broke off your engagement. Is that true?”

“It’s just a false rumor.”

When Fillen firmly denied it, Duke Giltian nodded as if he finally understood.

“Then the rumor that Princess Leilah Tebesa is His Majesty the Emperor’s mistress must also be false.”

“…!”

Fillen’s eyes widened at words he was hearing for the first time in his life.

* * *

That day too, Kalian was returning after holding meetings at the Outer Palace until late.

The rain was pouring so heavily that even an umbrella was useless. To make matters worse, thunder and lightning were striking.

Because of this, Kalian was returning to the palace more slowly than usual when he saw the light on in the aide’s office window again and frowned.

Once again, the culprit was Leilah.

It had only been a day since she answered that she wouldn’t do it, and she was already breaking her word.

‘She needs to be scolded to come to her senses.’

If she wouldn’t listen to kind words, then there was no choice but to scold her.

Thinking he needed to give her a good scolding, Kalian headed to the official’s office.

As always, Kalian left his attendants outside and entered alone.

But Leilah was nowhere to be seen. Her desk was completely empty.

Did she forget to turn off the lights before leaving work?

Looking at how her desk wasn’t organized, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Maybe she went to the bathroom.

He was about to turn around to look for her when it happened.

Rumble, crash—!

“Hic…!”

Along with the loud thunder, someone’s groan could be heard.

Though it was barely audible beneath the thunder, Kalian’s sharp ears caught it and he turned his head again.

“Leilah?”

Soon he discovered Leilah crouched under the desk, covering both ears and trembling violently.

Kalian knelt on one knee and sat in front of Leilah.

Only then did Leilah notice Kalian’s arrival and look up at him.

Her eyes were soaked with tears and unfocused. Her pale blue lips trembled violently.

“Your… Highness?”

Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t completely lost her mind.

“Why are you like this…”

Rumble, crash—

Kalian’s voice was drowned out by the loud thunder.

“…!”

Even her blurry focus completely disappeared. Tears streamed down from her fear-stricken eyes.

Leilah covered her ears even tighter and buried her face in her knees. Her body shook like an aspen tree.

‘Is she afraid of thunder?’

It’s just a slightly loud sound, so why is she so scared like a child?

Though he was bewildered, he first needed to calm Leilah down.

“Leilah.”

Kalian grabbed Leilah’s shoulders and shook her.

“Leilah, look at me.”

“…Sob.”

“Leilah.”

No matter how many times he called, Leilah couldn’t seem to come to her senses.

She was gripping her ears so tightly that her nails dug into her skin, drawing blood.

Her condition is worse than I thought. Kalian’s expression twisted.

It seemed simple methods wouldn’t be enough to wake her up.

First, Kalian forcibly removed Leilah’s hands that were clawing at her ears without even realizing the pain.

Crash!

With bad timing, thunder struck again. Her unfocused eyes shook greatly.

“No, I don’t want it! I don’t want it!”

She had to cover her ears. She had to block out the thunder.

“Let go, let go! I said let go…!”

Leilah screamed and struggled wildly, trying to escape from Kalian’s grasp.

Her broken nails scratched Kalian’s cheek and other places.

But Kalian didn’t even furrow his brow. He didn’t push Leilah away or scold her harshly.

Instead, he pulled her into his arms. Leilah’s tear-soaked face touched his shoulder.

“My beloved daughter. I’m so glad to have met you, Leilah.”

Duchess Williot’s gentle voice echoed in Leilah’s ears.

“Leilah, I’ll be back soon.”

God is so indifferent.

“Miss! The master and madam…!”

I had just become happy. Why are you pushing me back into misery again?

Does God hate me?

If that’s the case, just kill me instead.

Why do you take away the people I love?

Just kill me, kill me instead!

“Your parents are dead.”

No, Fillen. They’re alive in my heart.

“How long are you going to cling to dead people and not forget them?”

You’re the same way though.

“Are you foolishly afraid of just thunder?”

I know too. I know I’m being foolish like this… But I can’t help being scared.

“You’re not a child, so don’t bother me with such things.”

Fillen, I…

“Pack your bags immediately and leave the manor, Princess Tebesa.”

Darkness came rushing in.

I was alone again.

I thought I had finally entered the embrace of a family, but it was all an illusion.

“I was… alone.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————