It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 20
This space, touched by generations of heads and mistresses of the family, exuded an old-world elegance.
Every piece of furniture, tapestry, carpet, and ornament harmonized, none out of place.
The wealth, power, and prestige of a great house, built up over centuries, were embedded in every corner.
‘It wouldn’t hurt to look around, would it?’
There hadn’t been any explicit instructions to stay seated quietly, after all.
Knowing I might not get another chance to be in this room, I stood up from the sofa and wandered around, inspecting the paintings on the walls, the suits of armor, and the ornate swords displayed in the glass cabinets.
Each one looked valuable enough that selling even a single piece might buy a mansion in the capital.
Not that I had any greedy intentions. They had to be the right level of extravagance for their setting.
‘I wonder if Lionel wears armor like that when he goes to battle?’
I imagined Lionel decked out in gleaming golden armor, then stifled a laugh.
For some reason, the image in my mind insisted he should be clad in pitch-black armor that would strike fear into his enemies.
Like a dark knight, or something.
‘I doubt Lionel would stand here looking at the display cases with pride, though.’
Turning to scan the room again, I tried to picture Lionel spending time in this space.
He’d likely sit here to have a light breakfast while reading the newspaper and reviewing his day’s schedule.
He wouldn’t be in formal attire but something comfortable—perhaps a robe and soft slippers.
‘Hmm… even Lionel must wear slippers… right?’
Even my brother, who would don somber suits for outings, used to shuffle around the house in the pink fuzzy slippers I’d gifted him.
It was hard to picture, but Lionel surely had some humanizing habits too.
“Maybe they’re around here somewhere.”
Since his attendant would bring his shoes to this room, I figured Lionel’s slippers might be near the sofa…
“Huh?”
While leaning down to peek under the furniture, I spotted something sticking out—not slippers, but a piece of paper.
It was wedged between the sofa and the carpet, with just a corner sticking out. Gently tugging at it, I pulled it free to reveal a sheet covered in dense writing.
“I really shouldn’t read other people’s documents.”
Whether it was classified or not, it was best to avoid doing anything that could be seen as suspicious.
…Though, if that were the case, I probably shouldn’t have pulled it out in the first place. Still, if it turned out to be an important document Lionel had misplaced, wouldn’t it cause him trouble?
Like a mouse pretending to care about a cat’s wellbeing, I rationalized my actions as repayment for putting Dantère Ortatum in his place yesterday.
I circled behind the sofa and slipped the paper back into the same spot, leaving just a third of it sticking out.
It was positioned so Lionel would easily spot it on his way to the bedroom from the sofa.
Dusting off my hands, I returned to my seat and leaned back against the sofa, sipping tea as a thought crossed my mind.
‘Lionel has taken an interest in my family, huh.’
Even though I hadn’t meant to look, the word”Solen” had stood out prominently on the document.
‘Of course, he could easily learn about it if he wanted to.’
Lionel had made an offer when he brought me from the monastery—he’d promised to ensure my family lived comfortably.
At the time, I’d refused direct support, worried about Lionel reaching out to my family. Instead, I’d asked him to deposit funds with the information guild my father had mentioned on the day he sent me away.
“Solen. And Rex Ruina.”
The document I’d seen briefly appeared to be a detailed report about that guild, Rex Ruina, and my family, the Solens.
It made sense for him to investigate the background of an outsider he had brought into the estate. Not doing so would have been strange.
Still…
“Was this from before or after his visit to the monastery?”
