The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 116

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 116

“From here on it’s circumstantial evidence, but think carefully. The Northern Region was the first place to strongly express dissatisfaction with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

And the Northern Region’s Bakahun ducal house collapsed miserably.

“The Southern Region refused His Highness the Crown Prince’s demand to give Lady Delmia as a concubine.”

Timing-wise, the Forest of Sleep appeared after that.

“The Eastern Region… probably had a succession struggle, so after cursing the second son, they gained unconditional support from the first son’s side. I’m not sure about the Western Region. It’s a place with no particular weaknesses.”

Suddenly Wolf-dog’s body tensed up completely.

“After weakening the power of the four houses like this… if they accompany Sears, who they’ve got in their grasp, to pacify those lands, that would become His Highness the Crown Prince’s achievement. Like the beginning of the ancient empire.”

“Then why exactly have they left me alone like this?”

“Young lady. Didn’t I tell you? They think they already have you in their grasp.”

Maximus crossed his arms and shook his head.

“It’s just that the situation got a bit complicated with Alpheus Sears’ appearance, and since they’re not in a hurry anyway, they’re simply waiting for you to grow up. I think you’ve already received a proposal.”

That was true. In the Eastern Region, Gillab had definitely told me to come over to his side.

To receive the Eastern Region’s protection.

Not to stay under someone of lowly blood like Alpheus.

“Moreover, the manifestation of abilities… doesn’t appear equally in everyone. It’s related to how the abilities of the Southern and Northern Regions are known to have been lost, so they’re probably considering the possibility that you won’t manifest <Taming>.”

“So… making me the Crown Prince’s concubine…”

If I don’t manifest <Taming>, then my children…

So I understood what he meant by ‘not in a hurry.’

Slowly watching while driving a wedge between Alpheus and me, then bringing me over would be a more natural and certain strategy.

“But I became certain in the Eastern Region. Alpheus used <Taming> to defeat the Eastern Region’s half-human half-demon. That’s why I called him to the Southern Region’s forest too. Because I was sure it would be fine.”

It was half right and half wrong interpretation.

It was true that Alpheus had some <Taming> ability, but what enabled him to defeat the half-human half-demon was the awakening herb.

Moreover, it was me who pacified Delmia, and it seemed like you needed to know the name to seal that demon…

“Then what relationship do Sears and the other world have?”

I stared at him intently and asked.

“You said that half-human half-demon is related to the other world.”

“Hmm? The one who helped the dark mage Hexan cast the other world’s curse in ancient times was the Queen of Riente. Sears has no particular relationship to that.”

I bit my lower lip hard to hide my shock for a moment.

Because I was the only one who inherited both Riente and Sears bloodlines.

Fortunately, Maximus didn’t notice and continued speaking.

“The reason the Crown Prince’s side silently watched your siblings’ trip to the Southern Region was probably… because they truly believed Alpheus wouldn’t have <Taming> ability.”

“What? Why?”

“Because they… truly think commoner blood is dirty. They can’t even imagine he could wield <Taming>.”

Maximus sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair.

“After Alpheus breaks this curse, I was planning to openly reveal that Alpheus seems to have <Taming> ability. That way Alpheus would become a hero of the Northern and Southern Regions through his own power.”

Considering Alpheus alone, it was a good plan.

“I thought that would be a way to announce the legitimacy of Alpheus’s marquis title while giving the Crown Prince’s side a big blow.”

“That would be so.”

“They’ve been targeting you since childhood, but the one who actually manifested <Taming> is Alpheus, who’s on my side and whom they’ve constantly kept in check… Isn’t that interesting?”

Looking at just the strategy, it was quite perfect.

“But with you coming in together… my plan needed major revisions. That’s why I proposed the engagement.”

I sighed automatically at the flood of information.

It wasn’t very different from my expectations, but I still needed time to analyze it calmly by myself.

“I understand.”

I nodded briefly.

I didn’t mention that I had sealed Delmia by calling her ‘true name.’

Anyway, it was obvious that Maximus hadn’t told me everything either.

“For now… it’s late today, so I’ll go in. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Then Maximus brightened up.

“Really? Then we too…”

“Of course. Naturally, Your Highness the noble prince should rest quickly.”

I said innocently.

“But dawn is such a cruel time for crops, so I’ll send Alpheus now to make even one more greenhouse. Of course, no matter how well he works, it would be a bit difficult alone, but Alpheus is labor of a different class from Your Highness the noble and great prince…”

“Stop!”

Maximus shouted urgently.

“I’ve slept too much! Ahaha! One night without sleep is fine! Ahahahahaha!”

I bowed deeply saying it was an honor, then headed to the marquis manor with Wolf-dog.

“Wolf-dog, don’t you like the strawberries? You’re not eating them well.”

I asked worriedly while petting Wolf-dog.

“They’re delicious enough… But I’ll grow them more sweet and sour in Sears, so would you like to try them again then?”

Wolf-dog nodded glumly.

* * *

For Leopold, ‘today’ had been a series of shocks.

He had run hard to reach Brisa, jumped into the Forest of Sleep, dreamed and woken up, and encountered Second Prince Maximus, whom he hadn’t been particularly interested in.

He had only thought of him as a capable prince with a commoner mother…

The engagement he had suddenly proposed to seven-year-old Brisa was absurd, but more shocking was that there were circumstances he didn’t know about.

“When you were in the capital, didn’t we often spend enjoyable time together in the Imperial Palace?”

What kind of time had the two of them spent together?

“If you had seen how you looked in the Imperial Palace, you wouldn’t have sent that divorce letter so easily.”

The Imperial Court was a realm Leopold couldn’t fathom.

Moreover…

“Think carefully about my proposal. Unlike the still wet-behind-the-ears Nogen Vice Duke, I will protect you to the end.”

He had thought he was protecting Brisa.

He had thought he was the most dangerous marriage prospect for her.

But had he been missing something?

…Because he was younger than that prince and didn’t know things?

Leopold felt anger and helplessness simultaneously for the first time.

Was my best effort actually not the best? If so…

“Is there a guarantee that Wolf-dog won’t be dangerous to you forever?”

Those words too…

But he was too annoyed with Maximus to stay dejected.

He wanted to prevent the engagement with Maximus somehow. Unlike when he had decided on divorce, even if he had to be a bit greedy.

Damn, if only he didn’t look like this, he could have immediately appealed to Brisa saying ‘Isn’t someone you’ve tried once better?’…

However, Brisa solved the engagement problem herself. She had conversely threatened Maximus to find out information on her own.

But there were things he could do precisely because he looked like this.

“If I’m on the protagonist’s side, won’t I win in the end? Even though the only thing I know in this world is the protagonist, things have gone well so far.”

Maximus was crazy. But he was pretending to be normal.

He had to let Brisa know that fact.

At least he was hiding from Brisa the fact that he was ‘insane.’

‘There are advantages to being in beast form. Above all, I’m a decent information agent.’

Leopold thought as he walked toward Marquis Naisar’s manor following Brisa.

‘Originally I was going to leave leisurely tonight since my form changes tomorrow at midnight, but I’ll have to leave tomorrow during the day.’

Fortunately, the Southern Region’s warp was operating normally.

So he had planned to roughly steal some servants’ clothes from Marquis Naisar’s manor, then stay in a deserted place near the warp, transform, and leave for the Western Region.

However, staying next to Maximus even a little longer seemed like he could extract more information.

Because information was the most important thing for them right now.

‘The day after tomorrow is Brisa’s birthday, so I can say I came to celebrate her birthday and check the Southern Region’s warp. And talk about Maximus being crazy.’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————