I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 86

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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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#86

 

From the moment I heard the news that Fillen had returned to the capital, I thought he would be connected to Leilah, but causing a disturbance in front of someone else’s house.

 

It was absurd and outrageous. It wasn’t something befitting a duke to do.

 

If Leilah’s house had been a proper aristocratic manor with formal structure and layout, he wouldn’t have been able to act like that.

 

Kalian felt very displeased, thinking it was his own fault for not providing her with a proper house from the beginning.

 

[What should we do?]

 

He wanted to tell them to drag him out immediately, but doing so would reveal that he was monitoring him, so he held back his words.

 

After thinking for a moment, Kalian told them to call the estate guards.

 

He didn’t forget to tell them to keep their eyes on Fillen at all times.

 

The report ended there.

 

Kalian stared blankly at the fully wound messenger bird before suddenly speaking up.

 

“Ber, look into a manor.”

 

“A manor?”

 

Suddenly, why a manor?

 

Ber tilted his head at the unexpected words.

 

“Ah, don’t tell me you’re planning to give it to Count Tebesa?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Kalian continued as he put the messenger bird in the drawer.

 

“It’s fortunate that Leilah isn’t home right now, but if she had been there, she might have been in great danger, so it would be good to prepare in advance.”

 

That’s true. Ber agreed with Kalian’s words.

 

Even from his perspective, Fillen’s obsession with Leilah was abnormal.

 

“Understood. I’ll look into a proper aristocratic manor.”

 

“Also look into a butler and servants to take care of the manor.”

 

“Me? Since they’ll be people serving Count Tebesa, wouldn’t it be better for her to look into it directly?”

 

It was a reasonable point. Kalian instructed him to do so, then asked about something else.

 

“How is the establishment of the childcare institution going?”

 

“It’s proceeding without any problems. Thanks to Count Tebesa organizing the materials so thoroughly, the work has been smooth.”

 

“I see.”

 

Kalian smiled proudly as if he had been praised.

 

Ber, who found this strange and stared at him intently, took out the report about the childcare institution from among the reports he had brought and placed it in front of Kalian.

 

“This is the current progress.”

 

Kalian skimmed through the entire report.

 

As Ber had said, it was proceeding without problems. If it continued like this, the childcare institution bill would pass within a month.

 

The only concerning part was…

 

“The temple won’t stay quiet.”

 

Until now, caring for orphans had always been handled by the temple.

 

In return, the imperial court provided massive donations to the temple.

 

But once the childcare institution was established, all the orphans would go to the childcare institution, and then there would be no need to give donations to the temple anymore.

 

With donations about to be taken away before their very eyes, the temple wouldn’t stay quiet.

 

“That’s something I’m concerned about too, but I think it would be best to watch the situation for now. We can confirm how the temple responds and then act – it won’t be too late.”

 

Kalian nodded.

 

“Let’s do that. Leilah should be returning soon, so we can discuss it with her once she’s back.”

 

“I wanted to finish it before Count Tebesa returned if possible, but it’s not easy.”

 

“It’s a matter of passing a new bill. Of course it’s not easy.”

 

Knock knock-

 

There was a knocking sound, and Rahel announced that someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had come.

 

“They must be here to report about the diplomatic talks with the Kingdom of Natsha.”

 

“That must be it.”

 

He had already received a report from Hilltain, but it wouldn’t hurt to hear it again.

 

There might be something Hilltain had missed.

 

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

 

“Don’t forget about looking into the manor.”

 

“I’ve got it firmly in my head, so don’t worry.”

 

Ber left the study with a playful retort.

 

Ber lightly bowed his head to greet the official standing outside.

 

However, the other person cleanly ignored him and entered the study.

 

“How rude.”

 

Ber clicked his tongue lightly and returned to his own study.

 

The empty, desolate study greeted him with no one there.

 

Ber’s gaze naturally turned to Leilah’s desk.

 

He had used this large study alone for several years, and it had only been a month since he started sharing it with Leilah.

 

But her absence felt significant. A corner of his heart felt empty.

 

Was it because his workload had decreased and then increased again?

 

“…That must be it.”

 

There was no other reason for him to feel this way.

 

When Leilah was there, it was convenient in many ways.

 

He didn’t have to work overtime, and he could discuss work together and share opinions.

 

…Unlike other nobles, she didn’t ignore him either.

 

It had been just over two weeks since Leilah had left.

 

“I hope she comes back soon.”

 

He missed Leilah as if it had been two months.

 

* * *

 

I didn’t participate in the meetings after that, but I continued to hear news about how they were progressing.

 

From Diane, who wasn’t a noble of the same empire.

 

To hear such news from a foreign diplomat. It was embarrassing.

 

But I was curious about how things were progressing, so I swallowed my embarrassment and continued to receive updates.

 

I was a bit worried because everyone had acted so foolishly when I attended the diplomatic talks, but fortunately the diplomatic meetings were proceeding smoothly.

 

I guess diplomats are diplomats after all.

 

That was fortunate, but I became annoyed for a different reason.

 

“Count Tebesa, think about it carefully.”

 

It was because the nobles were bothering me by clinging to me.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the face of the empire. But if rumors spread that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs couldn’t do its job properly in talks with other countries, what would happen to the empire’s image? It would plummet immediately!”

 

“That’s right. So what you did during the talks should be kept secret from the outside…”

 

Even if they had proper reasons, I would find them annoying, but hearing such nonsense made my irritation soar.

 

I held back my urge to yell immediately and told them.

 

“I have no intention of doing that, so go back immediately.”

 

“Are you perhaps worried about your evaluation?”

 

Why is that topic coming up here?

 

When I looked at them in disbelief, the noble exclaimed “Ah, I see.”

 

“Baron Valdyr said he would speak well of you to Duke Giltian about that.”

 

“That’s right! Baron Valdyr said he would tell Duke Giltian that thanks to your great help, he was able to lead the talks successfully!”

 

Ah, I wondered why they were putting so much effort into persuading me, but Baron Valdyr was behind it.

 

That made sense. He must be frantic since the princess he had ignored was about to steal his credit.

 

“We’ll tell other nobles too! Then everyone won’t be able to ignore the princess anymore. Wouldn’t that be good for the princess too?”

 

“It would be good.”

 

“Right? So…”

 

“I refuse.”

 

For that very reason, I had no intention of handing it over to them as their achievement.

 

When I firmly refused, they hesitated for a moment.

 

They glanced at each other before asking me again.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

“I said I refuse.”

 

“What?”

 

It was Marquis Malpen who clicked his tongue.

 

He glared at me with displeasure and said.

 

“Does the Princess intend to damage the Empire’s prestige for her own personal gain?”

 

So I went from Count back to Princess again.

 

Their forms of address were as arbitrary as their personalities.

 

“Don’t you think this kind of behavior from the Marquis is what damages the Empire’s prestige?”

 

“Princess!”

 

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

 

I bowed to them and turned around.

 

I thought they wouldn’t come looking for me anymore since I had firmly refused, but I was wrong.

 

“We’re not asking to take away your Achievement. We’re just asking you to be flexible and adjust things.”

 

They were more persistent than I had expected.

 

“If the Princess would just compromise once, Baron Valdyr will remember this favor and be grateful to you.”

 

Even when I tried to ignore them and not engage, I couldn’t because they kept clinging to me except when I was sleeping or washing up.

 

Meal times were no exception. They chattered beside me so much that I couldn’t tell if the food was going into my nose or my mouth.

 

If I left them alone, they would probably intrude on my upcoming tea time with Diane too.

 

That wouldn’t do. I let out a small sigh and turned to look at the chattering nobles.

 

“Oh, have you finally decided to listen to what we have to say?”

 

There are limits to delusion.

 

“Not at all. I turned around to refuse you definitively.”

 

“We explained it so well, yet you still don’t understand what we’re saying?”

 

“No. And I have no desire to understand either.”

 

“Princess Tebesa!”

 

“I’ll say it once more – I have not even the slightest intention of accepting that proposal.”

 

“So you’re going to disgrace the Ministry of Foreign Affairs like this?”

 

“If you didn’t want that, you should have conducted proper investigations from the beginning.”

 

I didn’t want to say such things, but since they kept spouting nonsense, harsh words came out without me realizing it.

 

At my words, the nobles all frowned in unison.

 

I suppose their lofty pride had been cracked.

 

“Please tell Baron Valdyr as well. I will never change my mind, so don’t waste any more effort.”

 

I emphasized the words “waste effort” before turning around.

 

This time, perhaps their pride was properly wounded, as they didn’t follow me.

 

“Count Tebesa.”

 

Just as I was relieved by this fact, another person appeared.

 

“Baron Hutton.”

 

I had no ill feelings toward Baron Hutton, but having just dealt with those troublesome people, I felt slightly annoyed.

 

Of course, I didn’t show it outwardly.

 

“I heard you played a major role in the talks with the Kingdom of Natsha. Impressive. You accomplished something quite difficult.”

 

“I was just lucky.”

 

“Luck only follows those who have the ability.”

 

Baron Hutton smiled with a kind face and patted my shoulder lightly.

 

“It’s very reassuring to have someone like you as an official of the Empire. Please continue to do well as you have been.”

 

Does this person also acknowledge me as an official?

 

Excluding Kalian and Ber, Baron Hutton was the first noble to acknowledge me as an official.

 

My heart swelled with emotion, and I gained confidence that someday I would be recognized by many more people.

 

“Thank you.”

 

I bowed with all the overwhelming gratitude I felt, and Baron Hutton smiled kindly.

 

“…”

 

That lasted only briefly, as Baron Hutton suddenly hardened his expression and looked around sharply.

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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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