It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 141
Information Guild, Rex Ruina.
True to its name as the king reigning over ruins, its roots lie in the shadows of every city on the continent, and even when one tries to dig, it’s impossible to find the end.
A girl selling flowers with bruises on her arms, a grimy young boy begging in the streets, a drunkard rolling on the floor of a mercenary tavern.
The Emperor of Lubarque himself failed to grasp the full extent of Rex Ruina’s existence, which was both everywhere, and nowhere.
He mistook Rex Ruina for his loyal vassal. He believed them to be traitors who had forsaken Solen and clung to power.
Each time Lionel made an unexpected move, just as the Emperor was thrown a solution at his feet, Rex Ruina would do the same. They were groveling, gluttonous, posturing as if money could buy anything.
That’s how they were allowed close enough to watch the Imperial family’s every move, without ever being doubted.
Had they chosen to run, if their goal had been to disappear where the eyes of the crown couldn’t reach, the Solen family would have long achieved their end.
But as far as Lionel knew, Solen had not chosen escape even once in these endlessly repeating cycles of life.
They tore at the Imperial family with brutal ferocity, as if declaring that they could not exist beneath the same sky.
And now, Solen had handed Rex Ruina, which was no different than their own limbs, over to Lionel. As if they knew he would never betray them after taking Serenia as his wife.
As if they were certain he would give everything he had to bring down the crown.
‘Of course. There was no other way.’
Today, as his memories returned once more, Lionel finally understood.
It wasn’t just Solen who couldn’t live under the same sky as the imperial house.
Lionel himself could never forgive them either.
He did everything he could not to show the burning pain in his chest.
If he let those turbulent emotions slip, Serenia would notice.
He didn’t want her to know what he’d seen, what he’d realized through the massive surge of divine power she had poured into him. He wanted to hide it until the very last moment, if he could.
So he spoke little about the matter, focusing only on what had to be done.
The power Solen Count and Vaikal had cultivated was far greater than he had guessed. Fusing it with what he possessed meant far more coordination than expected.
And because the Count and Vaikal planned to leave the capital again after closing out this matter, they had no choice but to move even faster.
By the time the rough sorting was done, it was already past midnight.
Serenia, who had been listening closely to their conversation for some time, began blinking slowly once the boring paperwork began, and eventually fell asleep leaning on the Count.
Her expression was relaxed, peaceful. Perhaps because she’d found comfort in her father’s arms after so long.
Count Solen, too, wore a rare but gentle expression.
Perhaps that was why.
Lionel had the courage to ask the count.
“Do you happen to know why I alone have incomplete memories?”
“Why wouldn’t you? Everything has its cause and consequence.”
The Count spoke as he carefully stroked his daughter’s hair.
“Don’t bother trying to reclaim what’s lost. If you need something, come ask me directly.”
“…It seems it’s already too late for that.”
Lionel’s voice was quiet, and hearing it, the Count raised his head.
“I need to know everything. Otherwise, I won’t be able to calculate anything correctly.”
The Count narrowed his eyes, staring at him for a long moment, and then, finally, opened his mouth.
“I don’t know how far your memory has returned, but I’ve never regretted answering my daughter’s request to save the young man who was dying. As the head of a family, I understand the circumstances that forced you to leave us.”
