The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 106

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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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Chapter 106

But what exactly did he know?

What exactly was this person’s scheme?

‘He was confident enough to stake himself and all the knights who follow him on it…’

So I asked again.

“Your Highness, what was your reason for luring Alpheus to this forest?”

“Well.”

I had hoped, but as expected, Maximus gave no answer at all.

He was of higher status than me, and had no obligation to answer my questions.

“…”

“…”

And so a rather uncomfortable silence stretched on for a long time.

Of course, I endured that awkward atmosphere. Because I was truly curious about Maximus’s thoughts.

“Young lady.”

Eventually Maximus was the first to break the silence and speak.

“If you say such things, don’t you think I might harm you?”

“I don’t.”

I shook my head.

“You probably see potential usefulness in me as well, Your Highness.”

Then I glanced at his expression and added.

“If that’s the case, it would be an honor for Sears. If both siblings are being splendidly utilized as loyal retainers of the Imperial Family…”

“Oh, please. If you’re not planning to mess with me, just speak comfortably. I’m so sick of that imperial palace rhetoric.”

As expected, the weakness I had identified in him was accurate.

I didn’t personally like imperial palace rhetoric, but I could use it well enough. The thought that I could always make him sick of it made me feel a bit better.

“Then conversely, don’t you have any thoughts of harming me? How much are you on guard against me?”

“Well.”

Still, since he disliked imperial rhetoric yet commanded with imperial etiquette, I had no choice. I had to strike appropriately and retreat.

“If Your Highness were walking along and suddenly said you wanted to eat some pretty mushrooms, I wouldn’t particularly stop you.”

Seeing me calmly warn him, Maximus chuckled. He had noticed that I had no intention of harming him.

‘Well… I can’t exactly say the reason…’

Maximus was now nineteen years old. He was a young man with a good build, but that meant he was still a minor.

A boy who had been traveling battlefields since childhood due to the Crown Prince’s surveillance.

When I occasionally encountered him in the imperial palace, he always had a dark expression.

So I was slightly surprised when I saw his sleeping face earlier. To think this person could also make such a happy expression…

Just, after seeing that face, I couldn’t help but overlap with myself who had thought ‘it would be better to just sleep.’ Even if he was annoying, I felt a bit sorry for him.

‘I roughly know what kind of life he lived in the imperial palace.’

Of course, I was the type who would rather offer poisonous mushrooms than utter such embarrassing words.

“Well, we should get out of this forest first.”

I sighed once and changed the subject.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything here, so shall we walk?”

“Good idea.”

Maximus nodded.

“There were civilian houses down there. There were no people, but there might be something to snack on.”

“Then let’s head that way first.”

I walked ahead briskly and said.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell Alpheus. If Alpheus finds out that Your Highness used him, he’ll be so shocked he won’t be able to get up for three months and ten days.”

Following alongside me, Maximus asked with apparent amusement.

“…The young lady seems to care for Alpheus quite a bit?”

“Of course.”

I answered immediately.

“Alpheus has a lot of work to do. If he stays bedridden, we can’t solve the Southern Region’s poverty.”

“You seem to have a way to solve this unfortunate situation in the south?”

“Roughly.”

I said primly.

The forest was obviously very strange.

Because time had stopped the moment it fell under the curse, different seasons from various regions were all mixed together.

If you looked to the right there would be autumn leaves, but if you looked to the left there would be spring flowers blooming.

‘The spring flowers will wither soon.’

Since the season is winter.

“In the meantime, Your Highness should tell Alpheus the truth yourself. So he won’t be too shocked.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Maximus chuckled.

“That the young lady cares for Alpheus.”

“If Your Highness is so inclined, I would ask that you remember those words well and say them to Alpheus exactly as they were.”

“Ah, then Alpheus would be so moved he’d forget all his hardships up until now?”

“No. Because those are words I would never say in my lifetime. I’ve always thought it would be nice if someone else could say them for me.”

Even while continuing the conversation, I was tense.

‘He seems more skilled at politics than I thought. He’s definitely not the same type as Alpheus.’

Indeed, Maximus skillfully changed the subject.

“By the way, it seems the young lady also agreed with Alpheus rescuing me?”

“Yes. Since the world has already started taking sides, I hoped Your Highness would become Alpheus’s ally. Of course, Your Highness wanted to use Alpheus.”

“The word ‘use’ is a bit inappropriate. It would be better to say I knew my friend’s characteristics well and applied them to the situation.”

The seasoned prince was skilled at packaging.

He made a sly expression and added.

“Anyway, that means we’re on the same side from now on.”

“As long as Your Highness doesn’t betray Alpheus’s goodwill like now.”

“The word ‘betray’ isn’t right either. Let’s say I hid some things for the best possible future. So will the young lady continue to be on my side?”

“Aren’t I too young to be recruited to Your Highness’s side?”

“Hmm.”

Maximus slowly nodded and showed a thoughtful expression for a moment. Then he stopped walking briefly and said.

“Actually, when I learned about Alpheus’s biological father, I thought the young lady and Alpheus might come into conflict.”

It was a reasonable judgment. Most people would probably think that way.

“In other words, the reason Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince are leaving the young lady alone now is… because they already think the young lady is in their grasp. They’re just staying put because they’re afraid of carelessly moving and earning the young lady’s resentment.”

I didn’t believe everything he said, but it was actually quite a rational statement.

“Even if things seem to be going well right now, conflicts can naturally arise between half-siblings who haven’t known each other long, and even if there aren’t any, they can be created, can’t they.”

At the mention of creating conflicts, I involuntarily swallowed dryly. Because it was exactly the kind of imperial behavior.

Talking with a member of the imperial family after so long made me rapidly mentally fatigued, just like when I was summoned to the imperial court two and a half years ago.

“In that case, it wouldn’t be strange at all for the imperial adults who have had connections since childhood to extend a hand to the young lady who has nowhere to go.”

Maximus continued slowly.

“Engagement between an adult and a minor is illegal. So the young lady has some time, but in the meantime, rumors that the Empress’s side has marked you as the next concubine can be spread sufficiently.”

The age difference between the Crown Prince and me was twenty years. So no one was thinking of the Crown Prince and me in that way.

But having been summoned to the imperial palace several times, I was always afraid of that possibility. I had heard such pointed jokes from the Empress quite frequently. Maximus was of course present at those occasions too.

“The young lady is clever but young and has no backing, making her good to use. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager recognized that early on.”

“…I’m not that remarkable. Even though House of Sears is a meritorious family, it has declined so much that we’re struggling just to make ends meet…”

“No, trust me. They’re targeting Sears. From a very long time ago.”

I stared at Maximus intently. Those words allowed me to form a hypothesis, having just calmed Delmia down.

Though there were still many things I couldn’t know, I felt like I had grasped a small clue.

“Is that also the reason for the trust Your Highness shows Alpheus?”

“So there’s something I’d like to propose… I won’t beat around the bush, young lady.”

Maximus didn’t answer my question and spoke seriously.

“Sears doesn’t have the power to directly confront the Crown Prince and Empress yet. And I want to continue being on the same side as Alpheus.”

Such a political person showing unconditional trust to a reckless warrior like Alpheus.

That itself was becoming a major hint for the hypothesis I had just formed.

“Young lady. So before you get caught up in unnecessary schemes, to clarify your position.”

Maximus looked seriously into my eyes and made a proposal.

“Won’t you get engaged to me?”

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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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