The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 1

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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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Episode 1

 

1. Potato Farming

 

“Miss Brisa, I regret having to deliver such news.”

 

The day before the Capital Academy graduation ceremony.

 

“Marquis Sears has passed away in a carriage accident. Please accept my condolences for the deceased.”

 

I was reading a book in the Library when I heard the news of my father’s death.

 

“Also, they have found Marquis Sears’ eldest son, who had been missing until now.”

 

At the same time, I heard news of my half-brother’s return.

 

“So the position of Marquis Sears will be…”

 

The teacher who delivered the news wrapped her arms around my frozen shoulders.

 

“According to the Will, it has been decided that the eldest son will inherit it.”

 

My father’s death didn’t deal me a great blow. There had never been any affection between father and daughter to begin with.

 

During the two years I was at Capital Academy, I hadn’t gone down to the Marquis Territory even once.

 

However, it was shocking that my half-brother, whom I had never even seen, had become the Marquis Sears.

 

I had been educated as the heir to the marquis family since I was very young. But now I wouldn’t be able to inherit the marquis title…

 

If my mother, who passed away two years ago, heard this news from the afterlife, she would kick open her coffin right now and rush out to turn the Marquis Manor upside down.

 

“Surely that maid’s eldest son won’t return, will he? The fact that they haven’t found him until now means they’ll continue not finding him.”

 

My father, Marquis Sears, had married twice.

 

His first marriage was a wedding ceremony held at a countryside temple where he had secretly eloped with a maid from the Marquis Manor.

 

A few days later, the family found out and he was forced to divorce.

 

‘The maid, who was pregnant with a son, disappeared without a trace.’

 

Ten years later, my father married my mother for the second time.

 

In fact, my father had been constantly searching for his eldest son ever since the divorce. All he knew about the child in the womb was the gender that the doctor had told him when the pregnancy was confirmed.

 

Also, he desperately wanted to pass the marquis title to him.

 

So my mother would mutter anxiously every day.

 

“There’s no way that lowly thing would suddenly appear one day. With commoner blood mixed in, there’s no way he could become a proper Marquis Sears.”

 

My mother was the last princess of the Riente Kingdom.

 

Although it had perished through defeat in war, the Riente Kingdom was a nation with a long history.

 

So my mother always insisted that my bloodline was far superior to that eldest son’s.

 

“He probably just farmed melons among the commoners. How dare someone like him live as a person worthy of the prestigious Marquis Sears title.”

 

But all those expectations were wrong.

 

My half-brother, Alpheus Sears, was no ordinary man.

 

Though Alpheus grew up as a mercenary among commoners, his abilities were so outstanding that he caught the eye of the Second Prince who had gone to resolve the Northern Region’s civil war.

 

Called a war hero in the Northern Region, he was even promised a title by the Second Prince.

 

After finishing the Northern Region’s civil war, on his way up to the Capital, he learned who his real father was.

 

Unfortunately, just before hearing the news, Father died instantly in a carriage accident.

 

Having heard all these circumstances, I headed to the Marquis Territory anyway. I had to attend Father’s funeral.

 

* * *

 

I first encountered Alpheus at the funeral hall in the Marquis Territory.

 

A remarkably handsome face and sturdy body.

 

The same platinum hair and sky-blue eyes as mine.

 

The young man in mourning clothes walked over with long strides and carefully greeted me.

 

“Brisa? Are you Brisa?”

 

My mind went blank for a moment.

 

“I’m, um, called Alpheus… I heard you’re ten years younger than me. So you’re twelve now, right? I don’t know if you’ve heard, but, um, I’m your older brother…”

 

After that.

 

I couldn’t remember how the funeral proceeded or in what state of mind I entered my room.

 

My memory was completely cut off.

 

Because…

 

‘Am I going crazy?’

 

The moment I looked at Alpheus’s face, strange memories flowed into my head.

 

This world I was living in was the world of a novel I had read in my previous life.

 

‘The male protagonist is Alpheus. He’s a kind and innocent young man now, but he’ll soon turn dark.’

 

Moreover, the future that would unfold before me was desperate.

 

After the funeral ended, I locked myself alone in my room.

 

“Miss, Miss!”

 

“What’s wrong with you? Huh? Huh?”

 

All the loyal maids in the Marquis Manor were at a loss. But I wasn’t in the right mind to respond.

 

The death of a father I had barely seen a few times, and the appearance of the half-brother my mother had been so wary of during her lifetime—none of that mattered at this moment. What was more terrifying than anything else was that I wasn’t in my right mind.

 

This world being inside a novel is such an absurd story.

 

‘I became an orphan, a half-brother I never knew existed appeared, and I suddenly lost my marquis title – the shock must be too great.’

 

Holding a thick book in my hands as usual, I caught my breath.

 

‘First, I absolutely can’t let anyone find out that I’ve gone crazy.’

 

I could never say out loud something like suddenly knowing the future.

 

“You know what? The last princess of Riente… they say she had madness.”

 

“Really? Then what about her daughter? Isn’t Brisa Sears also not in her right mind?”

 

“That’s highly likely. Why else would Marquis Sears keep going around looking for his eldest son born from a maid?”

 

Recalling the sounds I had been hearing from behind all this time, I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

If I talked about past lives or reincarnation, everyone would say I finally went crazy just like my mother.

 

‘Maybe it’ll get better with time? I don’t have hallucinations or auditory hallucinations yet…’

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Um, Brisa. I’m, well, Alpheus.”

 

A deep voice came along with a knocking sound. It was Alpheus, whom I had met at the funeral earlier, knocking on my door.

 

“That, I’m the person from earlier who became your family starting today. Um, so even though your father passed away, you’re not alone…”

 

The war hero’s way of speaking gave off a strong scent of being a pushover.

 

“Um, well, would it be okay if I came in now?”

 

I immediately answered.

 

“It’s not okay.”

 

“Um… would you like to talk for a bit?”

 

“I wouldn’t like to.”

 

“Then could I at least see your face for a moment…?”

 

“You couldn’t.”

 

The delusions started after seeing Alpheus’s face…

 

‘What if the symptoms get worse if I face him again.’

 

Turning him away at the door was easy. I wasn’t originally a gentle or kind person anyway.

 

“Ah… are you busy right now?”

 

“Very busy.”

 

“Is it something I could help you with?”

 

“I’m reading, so it would be very helpful if you left now.”

 

“What book? I really love literature too! If it’s a book I’ve read, we could even discuss…”

 

“【Understanding Livestock Volume 17 – Mating and Breeding Edition】.”

 

“…”

 

The literary young man outside the door finally shut his mouth.

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

I thought he might leave now, but cautious words followed.

 

“I’m leaving for the Capital now. The Imperial Family, um, I need to receive the war compensation as quickly as possible.”

 

“…”

 

“The Marquis Territory’s financial situation doesn’t seem very good. Of course! It’s absolutely, definitely, not even slightly something you need to worry about.”

 

I could tell right away.

 

‘This is very, really, extremely something to worry about.’

 

Since I had returned to the Marquis Manor today for the first time in two years, I didn’t know much about the territory’s situation yet. However, the territory’s situation had never been particularly good.

 

“I’ll be back within ten days at the latest. I hope I can see your face then… I’d like that. Take good care of yourself.”

 

I breathed anxiously.

 

Right now, Alpheus was saying exactly the same things as in the ‘future I had learned about.’

 

‘Don’t tell me the butler was also kicked out for embezzlement being discovered?’

 

As soon as that suspicion ended, Alpheus added.

 

“Oh, and… I sent the butler away. It’s just, well, it happened due to adult circumstances. Instead, I’ll leave my adjutant behind, so if you need help, feel free to find him anytime.”

 

I was devastated.

 

‘Could it be that I’m not actually crazy? Is this really the future that’s about to come?’

 

But among truly crazy people, no one thinks they’re crazy.

 

Even my mother never acknowledged her madness until the day she left this world.

 

‘Still, if my delusion is definitely the real future…’

 

Then Alpheus would return to the territory not in ten days, but three months later, covered in injuries.

 

Moreover, when he returned to the territory like that, no one would be there. Everyone would be dead.

 

‘If I say those words out loud, I’ll really become a crazy kid… Or maybe I am already a crazy kid…’

 

While I was agonizing, Alpheus’s footsteps began to grow distant.

 

I definitely seemed to be crazy, but everything was proceeding exactly according to my delusions.

 

If things continue like this… if I send Alpheus away just like in the original story…

 

‘Aaaaaaaah!’

 

In the end, I rummaged through my bag, pulled something out, and shouted toward the door.

 

“Wait a moment!”

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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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