The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 146
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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 146
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A major battle had already taken place at the Duke’s estate.
When the dark mage in the reception room realized he was trapped, he desperately lunged forward. He began pouring out all kinds of dark magic using his own life force.
“You can’t use up all your life force! We need to keep you breathing somehow so we can get something out of you!”
Harrison commanded only with his mouth while hiding in the closet.
“Please subdue him quickly!”
One who had given up his life and was using all kinds of forbidden magic, versus one who had to avoid all those curses while capturing his opponent alive.
It was natural that the latter was at an overwhelming disadvantage.
But even at a disadvantage, Alpheus succeeded.
Though the reception room was devastated, Alpheus eventually captured the gasping dark mage alive.
“It seems he doesn’t have much lifespan left though.”
Harrison said while quickly drawing a magic circle.
“I’ll try to stop the progression of dark magic here for now. So we can investigate at the Magic Tower for at least a few minutes.”
That amazing scene of Alpheus dealing with the dark mage was broadcast live to the major northern retainers who had accompanied them.
They watched that sight and swallowed dry saliva once again.
They had started a civil war trying to somehow claim that position while the ducal family had fallen, but with that war hero present, they now thought they should absolutely never cause internal strife again.
‘Now that Duke Backhun has returned too, we must show absolute obedience.’
In fact, Brisa had sent him to Borem and Isabela’s side with that effect in mind.
Soon Borem and Isabela appeared in the hall of the Duke’s estate.
The retainers each bowed their heads before them.
“We pledge our loyalty again to the returned Duke.”
“Now that the true master of the north has returned, we gladly kneel.”
While the major retainers from each region welcomed their returned master, Isabela glanced at Alpheus.
Judging from his earlier battle with the dark mage, Alpheus seemed to have grown once again.
That is, after being knocked unconscious by the centaur in one blow.
Alpheus woke up every dawn to train alone.
Brisa didn’t seem to notice, but Isabela realized he was driving himself like crazy.
‘Of course he would.’
He worried so much about his sister, yet he had been knocked unconscious by a single kick from a half-human, half-beast. His confidence must have dropped.
Shadows began to appear on his face that had only been cheerful. But he never showed it to Brisa.
Had hardship finally come to the hero who had roamed the world without difficulty?
As Isabela sighed with mixed feelings, Brisa entered the Duke’s estate accompanied by Wolf-dog.
“Wow, Brisa! Wolf-dog!”
Alpheus ran out with a bright smile as if he had never worn a dark expression.
“You worked hard! Good job! Wow, looking at Wolf-dog’s claws, did you do some hunting? Did you want to eat some sheep? Is your hidden wild nature finally coming out? But you’ll still give me your ‘paw’ when big brother says ‘paw’, right? ‘Paw’! Oh, so cute! ‘Paw’! ‘Roll over’! ‘Lie down’!”
Wolf-dog instantly looked tired.
Isabela hurriedly ran out to Brisa, who had a calm expression.
No matter what anyone said, the person who had created this situation was Brisa.
This small girl who had returned her father and saved the north from the crisis of dark magic.
She couldn’t even imagine how everything would have gone wrong if she hadn’t met this girl.
“Brisa, everything turned out so well thanks to you.”
She pledged conspicuously in front of the retainers.
“I swear by the wind and grass, glaciers and reindeer of the north that I will give everything for you.”
All the retainers’ gazes focused on the small girl standing next to the wolf.
Even while receiving all those gazes, there was no embarrassment at all in the expression of the girl wearing a traditional northern village dress.
“I don’t need everything… As I mentioned beforehand, I’d like you to give me full authority over the Duke’s estate sheep.”
The northern princess, having been refused everything, answered somewhat reluctantly.
“Sheep? Uh… mm. Of course. Whether you take wool or mutton, do as you please.”
“Yes. Since you said full authority, you’re entrusting me with everything else besides those two, right?”
Then the Marquis of Pofontsel, who was in the same position of raising sheep, tilted his head.
“Besides wool, is there anything else sheep can give other than mutton?”
The lord blinked slowly and muttered.
“Hmm, there would be sheep milk, but I wonder if it has any particular meaning…”
“It does have meaning.”
Brisa said promptly.
“Feta cheese (*cheese made from sheep milk) has a different flavor from cheese that comes from cows, so it will help the taste experience of Sears Territory residents.”
Indeed, sheep milk cheese had a unique flavor that some people occasionally sought.
But compared to cows, the amount of milk obtainable per animal was very small. So the majority of commercial cheese was being produced at large-scale cattle farms.
The Marquis of Pofontsel, who knew this fact, slowly nodded his head.
“Ah… Well, if it’s just for tasting.”
Brisa calmly suggested.
“So I was thinking, I’d like to try increasing that cheese yield a bit.”
Several lords swallowed dry saliva and asked back.
“Ch-cheese yield?”
Milk spoiled quickly, but cheese was easy to store and transport, making it good for winter food.
Being resistant to decay, it was even used like currency in some regions with inconvenient transportation.
Brisa answered calmly.
“Yes. So it can be commonly applied to other livestock that produce milk besides sheep.”
It was a statement that would shock various cheese workshops in the north if they heard it.
Increasing cheese yield – that was easier said than done.
In the north, cheese was an extremely important preserved food and source of income.
So Brisa’s words sounded like saying ‘Want to be rich? Then just make money.’
“If we increase the cheese yield of all the north while we’re at it, I think I’ll be able to keep my promise to the Young Lady about ‘increasing northern production’ without any shame.”
Originally, she had tried terraced fields in Rudolph Village, but she often expressed that she felt consistently guilty about charging for 【Purification】 with that.
Of course, everyone in Rudolph Village had been happy. But Brisa herself didn’t think it was a wide-scale solution, so she wasn’t very satisfied with it.
Looking at her, the northern retainers muttered reluctantly.
“Ah… I, I see you think that way.”
At that moment, the reason they couldn’t laugh at the girl’s words was simple. Because Brisa was Alpheus’s sister.
No one knew Alpheus’s abilities better than the northern people.
Moreover, according to what they had just witnessed, Alpheus’s abilities had become even more remarkable.
The retainers who couldn’t laugh at the girl all looked at the returned Duke Backhun…
Borem, who had regained the dignity of the northern master, said.
“Do as the owner pleases with that.”
The northern retainers’ eyes widened.
‘Owner?’
Now, just because he had returned the ducal title, was he planning to dedicate the entire north to that girl?
“Yes, then while the Duke and Young Lady handle various matters, we’ll try to increase the cheese yield a bit.”
Brisa said elegantly. Then she added as if she had just remembered.
“Oh, that doesn’t mean I’m only taking feta cheese. I’ll take good care of the wool too.”
Even though she had handled some money lately, the territory owner’s young lady was still thrifty.
Brisa subtly brought up the topic.
“Young Lady, you’ll go to the capital after organizing the north, right? Since you’re a princess of marriageable age, you’ll spend the summer in the capital’s social circles. I’ll show results quickly before then. I’m also planning to spend this summer in the capital.”
Of course, Isabela was very far from being an ordinary young lady of marriageable age…
She remembered the fact that ‘Solomon’s Ring’ that Leopold had asked the centaur about was in the Imperial Palace and nodded.
She knew that eventually she had to go to the Imperial Palace, and to do that, she had to immerse herself in the capital’s social circles.
Brisa seemed to be saying she would spend this summer in the capital for that reason too, and she would need to help Brisa then.
Brisa added seriously.
“And probably, whether it’s goat milk or feta cheese… all of this will be a great help for the Princess’s adaptation to the capital’s high society.”
…Goat milk? Help with… high society life?
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, but Alpheus proudly swung his fist and declared.
“That’s right, Brisa! We’re comrades now, aren’t we? We should help each other. They say that when you travel together, even long journeys aren’t difficult! Since it’s come to this, let’s unite through goat milk and move forward together!”
The northern retainers looked at the well-defined muscles clearly visible on his arms and swallowed their bewildered confusion.
And so, Brisa’s party came to stay at the Bakahun Duke’s estate from that day forward.
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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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