The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 150
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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 150
When Maximus’s name came up, I shrugged my shoulders.
“You tried to set me up with Harrison too, didn’t you? Compared to that, if it’s the Second Prince, shouldn’t you at least be my bridesmaid at my engagement ceremony?”
“That was when Harrison was depressed about family matters and had holed himself up in the library, barely speaking.”
Leopold pointed out elegantly.
“I thought Harrison had low grades because he lacked nothing, but it turned out he was just stupid. I didn’t let you go just so you could get engaged again to that kind of fool.”
“Then what about the Second Prince?”
“He’s coming of age soon. For now, it’s not allowed. Besides, I have no intention of sending you to the center of such complicated political dynamics as the Imperial Court. I let you go because I want you to have peace.”
“Peace? Oh, then what about the northern vassal who supposedly owns the entire Northern Arohol region? Nowhere could be more peaceful than there.”
“Northern winters are harsh. Do you think I let you go just to send you to some baron’s son from such a desolate place?”
In the end, I let out a hollow laugh and got annoyed.
“Excuse me, Young Duke Nogen? At this point, you haven’t let me go at all, have you?”
“That can’t be.”
Leopold raised his eyebrows and denied it.
“I simply hope you’ll find a better fiancé than me. But what can I do when other men don’t catch my eye?”
He continued with an arrogant expression.
“Of course, I don’t think I need to lower my standards. There are still 7 years left until you come of age.”
“Right, I can see that Young Duke Nogen has incredibly picky taste in men. In another sense, you and Alpheus make a perfect pair.”
In my inexplicable irritation, I ended up severely insulting Leopold.
“No way.”
Leopold vehemently denied it. Then he continued slowly.
“Anyway, that’s why I’m saying that this summer social season, I too…”
“No.”
“You haven’t even heard me out yet.”
“It’s obvious, so no. You’re not a particularly necessary card here. Isabela is enough.”
“Well. If social influence is the goal, wouldn’t it be better for me to step forward?”
“If you appear with me frequently in front of the Capital people, it would make for a really interesting picture, wouldn’t it?”
I shrugged and spoke sarcastically.
“We could say you’re personally screening my new fiancé, and we’d become the most attention-grabbing cool couple in high society, beating out all the marriageable singles.”
“Really? Then we could get invited to even more gatherings? Cool is good. It’s summer, after all.”
Leopold didn’t back down.
“Brisa, I might not have known before, but now that I’ve learned about the ridiculous rumor that you were mentioned as the Crown Prince’s concubine…”
As if it wasn’t a joke, his eyes darkened.
“I absolutely cannot leave you alone in front of those people. Don’t give me nonsense about how your Elder Brother or the northern duchess could help you here.”
“Argue all you want. You know this is ridiculous even as you’re saying it. I’d rather take Wolf-dog with me than bring you along.”
“That’s a good idea. Do that if possible. I’m in favor.”
“Are you serious? You hate transforming into a wolf, don’t you? Wasn’t that the case?”
“Who would like such a thing?”
Leopold said with a snort.
“But it’s better than me not being able to accompany you at all.”
Even so, I couldn’t take a wolf to banquets and such places.
But at that moment.
A very good idea suddenly occurred to me.
“Ah.”
I looked seriously into his eyes and asked.
“By any chance, could you become smaller?”
Leopold’s eyes narrowed.
I spoke again.
“If I’m the master, owner, grrr, something like that, wouldn’t the wolf inside you obey all my commands? So far I’ve only given the command ‘come out.'”
“You don’t need to say ‘grrr.'”
Leopold pointed out elegantly.
“To be honest, your pronunciation isn’t even accurate.”
“That makes sense. Among the five languages Mother taught me, dog sounds weren’t included.”
“I’ll teach you when I get the chance. It’s a rare language, so the tuition will be expensive – I’ll accept Sears strawberries as payment.”
He responded cynically, then muttered thoughtfully.
“Well, anyway, it’s quite a decent idea.”
He narrowed his eyes and continued carefully.
“Considering that I gathered intelligence about the Second Prince in Wolf-dog form, that would be more helpful.”
The Imperial Court probably only cast the curse and didn’t know that Leopold could transform into a wolf. Even Maximus had no idea.
So far, I had traveled to various regions with Wolf-dog, and if the Imperial Court had noticed, they would have created an awkward situation.
Moreover, unlike the Eastern Region or Southern Region, the Western Region had thoroughly hidden the curse until now.
‘Besides, each region knew nothing about each other’s curses. They only knew that ancient curses existed, but everyone was ignorant of the details.’
Even here, if Leopold became smaller, it would be hard to distinguish him from a dog.
In other words, he could really be disguised as a puppy. I knew from seeing it firsthand that small Wolf-dog was truly adorable.
“Alright, let’s try it.”
“If you want to try, turn around.”
Leopold warned as if to remind me.
“If that’s too troublesome, at least close your eyes.”
In the end, I closed my eyes and covered my face with both hands. Then, imagining the cute Leopold from when we first met, I commanded.
“Come out, Wolf-dog. In that young form I first saw.”
Not long after that.
With a thud and bouncing sound, I felt warmth on my knees.
“Wow, Wolf-dog!”
I unconsciously hugged Wolf-dog tightly out of joy. It had been so long since he was small enough to fit in my arms.
The small Wolf-dog from when we first met struggled with his front paws and pushed me away. With solemn golden eyes, as if this shouldn’t be happening.
“Alright.”
I awkwardly let Wolf-dog go and said.
“Actually, because of fur allergies and such things, it’ll be hard to accompany you to every social gathering. But at least I can take you to the Imperial Palace. Because Empress Dowager keeps a cat.”
That cat was a gift from a foreign delegation. It was a very precious breed, so the Empress often brought the cat when receiving guests at the Imperial Palace.
“So she’s very generous about bringing companion animals.”
Being able to enter the Imperial Palace together was more helpful than anywhere else.
“So that means we can be together in truly important places.”
After saying that, I felt incredibly reassured.
Even though we’d be together as a ‘puppy,’ somehow I felt like I’d need to look after him less than Isabela or Alpheus. He might even be more helpful than both of them.
“Woof…”
Wolf-dog nodded once as if steeling his resolve.
Then he looked at his clothes and let out a deep sigh.
“Oh, right.”
I said reluctantly.
“You have to put them back on…”
Wolf-dog waved his front paw at me, signaling me to turn around.
I covered my eyes and turned around again. Soon after, I heard the rustling sound of clothes and Leopold’s voice.
“By the way, you know we need to come up with a new name, right?”
Right, since I couldn’t say ‘Wolf-dog got smaller,’ we needed to create a new name.
“That’s right.”
I muttered, trying not to be conscious of the rustling clothes.
“We’ll probably need to create a new identity, like Wolf-dog’s cousin or something.”
“I’m saying this now, but your naming sense was terrible, Brisa. The siblings are at the same level.”
Despite being in the position of changing clothes in my room, Leopold boldly insulted me.
“I’ll refuse names like Wolf-dog the Second or anything like that.”
“Then how about Alexander II, something like that?”
“That’s my great-grandfather’s name, so no.”
He flatly refused, then lifted his chin as if nothing had happened and walked toward the window. He was already perfectly dressed.
“Think it over well until we meet next time.”
It really was an enormous task.
With the window behind him, the boy smiled faintly.
“Well then, Brisa, see you again in the capital.”
After that, he gave a casual farewell as if tossing it aside, then leaped over the window and disappeared. As if he couldn’t tolerate the two of them being alone in the room any longer now that his business was finished.
“Honestly… If being the Nogen Vice Duke doesn’t suit him later, I should tell him to become an etiquette teacher.”
I muttered toward his vanished figure.
“There’d be more demand for that than being a dog training teacher.”
Even so, the casual farewell he had lightly thrown out lingered in my ears.
See you again…
In truth, I had never once thought of it as a natural greeting.
Even when I was engaged to him.
Because I liked those simple words, I belatedly returned the greeting.
“See you again, Leopold.”
Somehow, even the capital’s social gatherings that had never been enjoyable seemed like they might be alright this time.
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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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