Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 150

What did I just hear?

 

He wants me to come back to the Williot estate?

 

“I will refuse.”

 

Without a doubt, it was a no.

 

Baron Wizard then looked at me with a very surprised look as if he had not expected it.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

When I asked bluntly, Baron Wizard smiled awkwardly and fiddled with his hands.

 

“I thought you would think about it a little bit… but you refused like a knife.”

 

“Do I have a need to think about it?”

 

I picked up the teacup and answered indifferently.

 

“I had decided long ago that I would never return to the Duke of Williot.”

 

At my answer, Baron Wizard bit his lip. Troubled feelings flashed vividly on his face.

 

What’s the problem? 

 

Is there no one to take care of the Williot estate for Philen? Or is he troubled because he couldn’t fulfill Philen’s orders?

 

Baron Wizard said he didn’t come under order from Philen, so it wouldn’t be the latter. But he could have lied to reassure me, so I couldn’t put my mind at ease.

 

“Will you reconsider that decision?”

 

“No.”

 

“The situation in the Williot estate is very bad. The people are hoping for My Lady’s return.”

 

Is he trying to evoke sympathy?

 

It was a good strategy, but my determination was stronger than that.

 

“I’m sorry, Baron Wizard.”

 

“If you are concerned about the Duke, I will do my best to prevent him from using such abusive language to My Lady again.”

 

Although I had politely refused, Baron Wizard was still persistent. It meant that the situation in the estate was not that good.

 

It certainly bothered me, but that’s all. My determination to never return to the Duke of Williot had not changed.

 

“The Duke is also reflecting a lot on what he did to My Lady. So, for the sake of everyone…”

 

“If I were Baron Wizard’s family, would you still say that?”

 

I cut off Baron Wizard’s words and asked sternly.

 

“If I were Baron Wizard’s daughter, after being subjected to all kinds of insults and humiliation by the Duke, I finally left the mansion.”

 

Baron Wizard’s eyes shook greatly.

 

“Can you still tell me to return to the Duke of Williot?”

 

Baron Wizard pondered, then closed his eyes and bowed his head.

 

“I have said something improper. I know what My Lady has been through, yet I’m talking about something like this. I’m really sorry.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

I put down the teacup and held out my hand.

 

“Since I have listened to what the Baron wanted to say, please give me Misa’s keepsake as promised.”

 

I was worried about what would happen if he asked for more talk, but fortunately, that didn’t happen.

 

I received the keepsake box from Baron Wizard and swept it.

 

Finally, I got Misa’s keepsake.

 

Even though it was a mere keepsake, not her remains, my heart was full, and my eyes were warmed.

 

I wanted to hug the keepsake box and cry loudly, but I couldn’t because there was Baron Wizard across from me, so I just kept sweeping the box.

 

Baron Wizard, who was looking at me like that, said abruptly.

 

“You have changed a lot, haven’t you?”

 

When I looked at him at his unexpected words, Baron Wizard said with a faint look.

 

“You weren’t like this before, My Lady.”

 

“You’ve been making mistakes since earlier. It’s Baron, not My Lady.”

 

“I’m sorry for my rudeness, Baron Aster.”

 

After correcting the title, Baron Wizard slightly bowed his head and apologized.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

I had no intention of criticizing him, so I accepted his apology right away.

 

“But… I’ve changed a lot?”

 

“Yes. You really have changed a lot.”

 

Is that so? I don’t feel any change at all though.

 

“You don’t have to worry because you changed in a good way. I’m sorry to have seen you as the vassal of the Duke of Williot.”

 

“Baron Wizard.”

 

“Ah, don’t worry.”

 

Baron Wizard smiled cheerfully and shook his hands.

 

“Because I won’t cling to the Baron in a bad way anymore.”

 

I’m glad to hear that…

 

“Oh my, it’s already this time.”

 

Baron Wizard, who checked his pocket watch, stood up.

 

“Then, I’ll get going now. I’m being very rude to stay this late.”

 

I also stood up to see him off, but Baron Wizard waved his hand.

 

“I can go alone. Even though I’m a little old, I’m still in shape.”

 

“The Baron is old? You are still young.”

 

“Haha, for that reason, I’m already at an age where my grandchildren are already born, and I’m being called grandfather.”

 

Baron Wizard scratched his cheek awkwardly, then turned around.

 

Before leaving the drawing-room, Baron Wizard stopped and looked back at me.

 

“Baron Aster.”

 

Does he still have something to say to me?

 

I didn’t know what it was, but I didn’t think it was a very good one, so I looked at him nervously.

 

“You really have done a great job all this time.”

 

However, the words that came out of Baron Wizard’s mouth were really out of the blue.

 

As I stared blankly at him, Baron Wizard smiled kindly.

 

“I may be presumptuous, but I think the late predecessor Duke Williot would definitely want to say this to Baron Aster. It’s the same with me.”

 

Baron Wizards politely clasped his hands and bowed to me.

 

“You really have done a great job in taking care of the silly Duke Williot. Baron Aster.”

 

*****

 

Since the black market in the north had already been visited several times, Kalian could easily infiltrate using his ability to handle water.

 

Kalian looked around the black market, wearing a hood to hide his noticeable hair and eyes.

 

It’s the same, huh?

 

Not much had changed since the last time he came. The goods sold were the same, and the sellers were also the same.

 

No, there’s only one that’s different. 

 

Kalian stared down at the purple fruit on the stand.

 

If his eyes and memory weren’t wrong, it was definitely Molenche fruit, one of the drugs strictly controlled by the Imperial family.

 

When the Molenche fruit was ground finely and burned, and the smoke was inhaled, you could see hallucination. A powerful hallucination that never broke until the effect was over. In addition, it was highly addictive. Those, who had inhaled it once, would struggle to obtain the Molenche fruit, even risking their own lives.

 

Crimes abounded in the process, so the Imperial family came forward and strictly controlled it. Thanks to that, it didn’t appear on the black market for years, but for it to reappear again…

 

“Hey, bachelor. Are you interested in this?”

 

When Kalian was looking at the Molenche fruit, the merchant laughed and picked up the fruit with a tong.

 

It would be a big deal if he touched it with his hand and accidentally got the powder on his finger, that’s why he picked it up with a tong like that.

 

“If you’re interested, buy it. One gold each.”

 

“It’s more expensive than I thought. I don’t think it used to be this expensive.”

 

When Kalian spoke as if at a loss, the merchant shook his hand.

 

“I can’t help it. I don’t have a lot because it hasn’t been long since they grew it again.”

 

They started growing it again, huh? 

 

What a headache.

 

Molenche fruit was very easy to grow in comparison to its dangers. If it’s planted in the right soil and given just enough water, it would grow well on its own. Moreover, it had more vitality than weeds, so it would continue to grow unless the roots were removed completely.

 

Because of that, it was very difficult to control it, and that’s why the thought of doing it again already gave him a headache. But it wasn’t to the point where it was impossible. Control was possible if he went out as strictly as the previous emperor did.

 

He would need to shed much blood, but this time, it had to be uprooted unconditionally, so he couldn’t help it.

 

I’ll go back and look into it right away because I don’t think I can find what I was looking for even if I looked around more. 

 

“I see.”

 

When Kalian turned around, the merchant waved his hand in bewilderment.

 

“Hey, are you not going to buy? There’s no other place to get this but here right now, you know?”

 

So, there’s only one cultivator, huh? 

 

Since drug dealers moved systematically, there was a high possibility that there would be an organization around the black market.

 

I’ll have to check it out on my way back.

 

Kalian hastened his way without answering.

 

*****

 

After Baron Wizard returned.

 

I was lost in thought for a while, then I changed into black clothes, packed Misa’s keepsake box, and left the house.

 

“Take me to Aster Orphanage.”

 

“I understand, Baron.”

 

On the way to the orphanage in the carriage, I checked the items in the box.

 

Inside the box were the clothes and notebooks Misa had while still alive.

 

What was written in the notebook was Misa’s schedule. As she was a chief maid, it was a schedule related to the Duke of Williot. Among them, I knew quite a bit.

 

Maybe that’s why I missed her very much.

 

“My Lady.”  

 

I missed the moment when I talked about various things with Misa, so I was overwhelmed with emotions.

 

“…”

 

I was wiping away the tears from my eyes with a handkerchief when the carriage stopped before I knew it.

 

I had arrived at the orphanage.

 

“Oh my, Baron.”

 

As I entered the orphanage, Adrina greeted me with a slight surprise.

 

“What brings you here at this late hour?”

 

“This.”

 

I held out Misa’s keepsake box that I had brought to Adrina.

 

“It’s a keepsake of someone I think of as my mother.”

 

Adrina, who was about to receive the box, stopped.

 

“I know that Director Adrina has taken off her priest uniform, but the only person I can think of is the Director.”

 

I said, holding out the box a little more toward Adrina.

 

“Would you mind commemorating Misa’s death?”

 

Misa’s bereaved family must have taken good care of it, but I wanted to do it too.

 

Usually, memorial services were held at the temple, but since it happened only a while ago, it’s hard for me to believe the temple. It was also difficult to go there at this time. So, I shamelessly brought it to Adrina.

 

“Can you do it?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Adrina smiled gently and took the box.

 

“Then I’ll have to ask the others for help to hold the memorial service. Could you please wait for a moment?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Adrina went inside with the box. Left alone, I went out to soothe my frustrated heart.

 

There were times when I needed a place to quietly relieve my sadness by myself.

 

I was looking around the yard to see if there was a place like that, but then I felt someone’s presence.

 

Who’s here?

 

Is Director Adrina back already?

 

The sound of bruises and footsteps stopped a short distance away.

 

And…

 

“Leila?”

 

An unexpected voice was heard from behind.