The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 111
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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 111
“H-here it is.”
The strawberry farmer’s field was quite large. And green strawberries were growing there.
It was a sunny morning, and fortunately the temperature wasn’t too low since the Southern Region had mild weather even in winter. But at this rate, it was obvious they would soon suffer frost damage.
“Oh my… oh my…”
The farmer began wailing and caressing the wilted strawberry leaves.
The strawberry fruits were indeed still green. They would ripen red when the weather warmed up, but the current climate was completely unsuitable.
Brisa stood in front of the farmer and crossed her arms.
“There’s no point harvesting them now. So I’ll call spring for you.”
“If you could use such shamanic magic…”
The farmer glanced at the prince while hoping for shamanic magic.
However, a little later, the farmer witnessed an even more precious sight. The sight of the marquis and prince laboring in his field.
* * *
“Now, strip all the leaves from the nearby vinyl trees and attach them with adhesive. The area should be… enough to cover this field in an arch shape.”
I drew diagrams on the ground with a tree branch as I explained.
Square frames collapse easily, but curved arch structures can distribute weight to the sides.
“Right now I can’t calculate precisely to build it perfectly. We need to raise the temperature quickly before nightfall.”
We decided to cut down nearby trees for the framework.
“Fix ground stakes to the floor… we need to prepare for wind pressure. Water shouldn’t pool, so attach the leaves with their veins aligned in the same direction.”
And I aimed for natural drainage by having them overlap and adhere the leaves.
“Some will definitely fail due to leaves lifting or excessive adhesion, but we’ll have to fix them as we go.”
The advantage of vinyl tree leaves was that they were scattered everywhere.
Even if they collapsed or had defects, there would be no problem with material supply.
For now, blocking the immediate cold wind was important.
Under Alpheus’s direction, the work proceeded smoothly. The Imperial Knights who had regained their senses continued to join in, making the work speed increasingly faster.
‘He has a good reputation.’
I thought as I watched no one object to me.
‘Since he solved the food shortage in the Western Region, everyone trusts me for now.’
Moreover, the farmer who originally owned this field had witnessed Harrison following my instructions without complaint.
So he had completely entrusted everything to me.
After the first ‘simple greenhouse’ was completed in the strawberry field.
“Wow, this is really amazing.”
The farmers marveled and poured out their emotions inside the greenhouse.
“It’s definitely warm!”
“It’s really not cold? But it’s winter outside!”
“How is this possible? It doesn’t seem like magic, so it’s shamanic magic, right? Right?”
I answered seriously at the mention of ‘shamanic magic.’
“It’s just that sunlight comes in and heat doesn’t escape.”
Anyway, everyone was excited and rushed over, so everyone was busy that afternoon.
“Us, us too! Us too!”
“Our field stopped in March!”
“Our field is… ah, you don’t recommend wheat fields? Then would a spinach field be possible?”
I calmly gave instructions to the hopeful farmers.
“Now, line up over there.”
The farmers lined up with hope that they could continue growing crops they thought would have to be discarded due to frost damage.
“Don’t loiter around interfering with work, line up and attach vinyl tree leaves. Overlapping this much.”
The farmers rushed to start attaching vinyl leaves. When warmer temperatures were needed, they had to cover with several layers.
“While the knights are doing physical work, you should work too.”
“Yes! But if someone cuts in line…”
“Just say I’ll curse them directly.”
“What? A cur… se? You, Young Lady? But you said you’re not a shaman. What kind of curse…”
“Frost damage after frost, pests after drought, mold after rain.”
At my firm words, the farmers lined up in horror.
“Just hearing about it sounds terrible…”
“She was quite cruel.”
“Even if it’s not a shaman’s curse, it would be very unsettling.”
Meanwhile, Alpheus was diligently giving instructions like a capable ace worker.
“Come on, spread your arms wider like this, farther! Set up the supports properly! That wooden pillar there!”
The Imperial Knight Order were very good workers.
Since Maximus himself was laboring alongside Alpheus, they had no choice.
“Fortunately the ground still holds warmth, but we need to change the season quickly, even temporarily.”
The goal was to save as many crops as possible before sunset.
“Cover the strawberries first. Strawberries die instantly if they get frost. Quickly before nightfall.”
Strawberries were even expensive.
The farmers glared at the vinyl trees sprouting from the ground and said.
“At one time, we feared these trees so much. They suddenly grew tall and devoured the land and people. Really, we hated them tremendously…”
“That’s an appropriate emotion.”
I said calmly.
“So we need to quickly ‘use’ them.”
Then Maximus, who had been trying to sit and rest because he was getting tired, suddenly stood up and began setting up wooden supports.
‘He must be quite concerned. He’s desperate.’
I thought as I watched Maximus’s back.
‘He really doesn’t want to become enemies with Alpheus.’
It wasn’t easy for the cunning prince who knew everything to take the lead in laboring.
But for him to step forward like that meant he sincerely didn’t want to be at odds with Alpheus.
“Young Lady?”
Maximus kept approaching me and speaking earnestly.
“Please, I am working hard like this.”
He meant for me to protect his friendship with Alpheus.
He seemed afraid I would tell on him, saying ‘Maximus used Alpheus!’
He was working hard so he could retort ‘Do you have evidence? I’m a prince but I worked together with you like this! My friendship is true!’ if such a situation arose, but he had noticed that even then, Alpheus would trust my words more.
I didn’t know why he was so obsessed with Alpheus, but since it made him very easy to use, there was nothing bad about it for me.
“Please look favorably upon me…”
Then Wolf-dog, who had been stripping branches from vinyl tree leaves beside me, threw down the branch and bared his teeth.
“Grrrrrrr…”
Maximus flinched and stepped back.
“Calm down this mon… I mean, dog too.”
“Woof, stop it.”
I sighed and held Wolf-dog back.
“He’s on our side.”
But he only put away his teeth; Wolf-dog’s eyes still flashed with killing intent.
Wolf-dog, who had appeared like lightning when Maximus proposed engagement, consistently disliked him.
Anyway, at my words, Maximus chuckled and said.
“Right, I never would have known two years ago that we’d be on the same side.”
I narrowed my eyes and looked at him. And being conscious of listening ears around us, I spoke as vaguely as possible.
“Personally, since I’ve reunited with Your Highness after so long, I do want us to become definite allies.”
Tell me quickly why you lured Alpheus here, why you’re so flustered about him!
Tell me quickly what secret you’re hiding!
Then Maximus sighed once and murmured wistfully.
“When Young Lady was in the capital, didn’t we often spend enjoyable times together in the Imperial Palace?”
‘Pleasant times.’
Those were words the Empress always had on her lips.
“With everyone gathered here enjoying the afternoon sunlight, this truly is a ‘pleasant time.'”
I ate cookies given by the Empress Dowager in the shade, while Maximus stood motionless in the blazing sun throughout the entire tea party. This was because the Empress had ‘educated’ him about his improper posture.
Maximus spoke slowly.
“From that moment, I thought that Young Lady might not be so different from me.”
I can guarantee that the only people not truly having a ‘pleasant time’ in that place were Maximus and me. So I couldn’t say anything.
“But… I could never understand Young Lady’s heart.”
Maximus’s eyes gleamed seriously.
In the end, didn’t this mean ‘I can’t reveal all my cards yet’?
“Well, however, when I heard news of Young Lady’s broken engagement.”
Maximus smiled mischievously.
“I thought that even the noble Nogen Vice Duke was just a greenhorn. No matter how clever he seemed, he was just a child who couldn’t calculate the future at all. To let Young Lady go over a mere Sears marquis title.”
“That is entirely our private matter. It’s not something that can be explained so simply either.”
I kept a straight face while placing my hand on Wolf-dog’s head.
“Nogen Vice Duke showed me sufficient consideration, and we still have a good relationship. Just by sending Wolf-dog, you should have been able to see how much effort Leopold puts into protecting me.”
“Really? Is sending such a dangerous creature truly worth that much?”
“Wolf-dog is not a monster…”
“Right, it’s not a monster. It’s neither dog nor wolf. Is there any guarantee that Wolf-dog will never be dangerous to Young Lady?”
Maximus asked, raising his eyebrows.
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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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