The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 160

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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 160

“Weren’t we the only two who had to sit there staring at those hands?”

Maximus spoke in a voice lost in reminiscence.

“You had to show the perfect image of sitting completely still without moving, and I had to receive punishment of not being able to say anything because of my posture that was even worse than yours.”

“That’s unexpected.”

Brisa answered in a low voice.

“I thought Your Highness would hate me back then. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager compared Your Highness to me every day.”

“Well, even if I didn’t learn etiquette, I didn’t live my years in vain.”

Maximus spoke leisurely.

“Seventeen years old isn’t an age to hate an unfortunate ten-year-old. And… I also knew that you didn’t look down on me.”

“I’m sorry, but I did pity you a little.”

“As you know, my situation wasn’t good enough to be hurt by something like that, right? There were more than enough things to be hurt by besides a ten-year-old’s sympathy. That much didn’t even catch my eye.”

His eyes sparkled as if he found it amusing.

“Of course, I did think that we might be on the same side someday anyway. There were some processes of misunderstanding and distrust, but we ended up like this in the end.”

“Well.”

Brisa said while elegantly drinking her tea.

“I’m grateful that you gave Alpheus the fruit wine. It was worth trusting and sending Alpheus to you last winter.”

“I was confident you’d be pleased if you knew. I’m truly glad to have lived up to your trust.”

Maximus replied cheekily as always.

“However, it was a bit of a loophole for a prince to use with a friend, so I hope you’ll keep it secret.”

“I’ll just record it in the history books. In that sense, how about preparing some for the Imperial Banquet too?”

“I actually looked into it… but the Magic Tower seems busy these days, they have no stock and said they can’t manufacture it in time for the date.”

Their conversation flowed like water.

While it seemed like they were just casually discussing business, there was an underlying trust mediated by the past. As if the threats they had exchanged with each other had never happened.

Leopold felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

He could barely understand any of their conversation. What was it about that made his insides boil and his head heat up?

He hated the very fact that Brisa had gone through painful moments, but he also madly hated that there was another man who fully knew those moments and felt sorry for her.

That there was something between Brisa and Maximus that he could never be part of…

“I’ll say it again, but you have too many righteous people around you. I think you need a strategist type like me too.”

As if Leopold was included among those ‘righteous people,’ Maximus smiled slightly toward him.

Brisa sighed and replied.

“A strategist type being the next emperor… That’s interesting.”

“Originally, the protagonist isn’t supposed to be the strategist. I’m a supporting character. So I’ll be satisfied with the emperor’s position.”

He retorted cheekily until the end.

“My mother and I need at least that position to preserve our lives.”

Brisa snorted as if she found it absurd, but she already seemed to firmly consider Maximus as an ally.

“Anyway, I’ll take care of making several fakes of this ring. I know exactly what it looks like. The problem is how to switch it…”

Maximus muttered while frowning.

“Actually, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has been staying secluded lately. She rarely comes out of her quarters unless absolutely necessary. There’s no problem with her health though.”

“Ah.”

Brisa slowly nodded.

“No wonder it seemed strange. If she heard that I came to the capital, there’s no way she wouldn’t summon me.”

“In the end, the only opportunity is the upcoming Imperial Banquet. It’s where we can meet the Empress Dowager, it’s a relatively open space, and perfect for incidents to occur.”

Maximus muttered lowly.

“But how on earth are we going to switch that ring that’s always on the Empress Dowager’s finger…”

It was a difficult problem. Brisa was lost in thought, letting out a groan.

After maintaining silence for a moment, she raised her head as if she had formulated a complete plan.

“Your Highness, do you remember Wolf-dog by any chance? That very clever dog who understands everything people say.”

“Ah, you mean that violent, cunning, and sinister hybrid?”

The prince who answered immediately glanced at Leopold, who was officially Wolf-dog’s owner, and added.

“No wait, I remembered wrong. I was confused for a moment. I don’t think it was Wolf-dog.”

Everyone knew it was a lie.

However, Brisa, who decided to let it slide, said quietly.

“Wolf-dog has a younger cousin, and it’s very small in size. But it understands everything just the same. If we ask that one for a favor… I think there might be a way.”

At this point, Brisa glanced slightly at Leopold.

“Leopold, would that be okay?”

“You seem to have forgotten, Brisa.”

Leopold answered while raising his eyebrows.

“The amount I paid to the Marquis Sears family as compensation for mediating so you could receive 【Purification】 was quite substantial. That’s how I came to have the reputation of being a ‘pushover.'”

At those words, Brisa chuckled.

It was a really subtle movement, but Leopold was satisfied with the corner of her mouth that had clearly risen more than before.

“It’s a reputation I obtained at a high price. To maintain it, I’m now prepared to grant all your requests.”

“You definitely said ‘all.’ I’ll never forget that.”

Brisa was also satisfied. Watching this, Maximus suddenly changed the subject.

“Ah, and.”

He said while gesturing toward Isabela.

“Since Princess Backhun is doing too well in high society, Her Majesty the Empress is quite displeased.”

Leopold sighed.

What a petty woman was sitting in the position of the nation’s mother.

“She would normally step forward and teach her a lesson, but she seems to be holding back because of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s recent seclusion. But who knows what might happen at the banquet.”

“Then the order of our plan to find the ring first will be slightly disrupted, and we’ll have to pay for our sins more quickly.”

Brisa said decisively.

“In a more public place.”

Even while saying this, she glanced at the clock.

“He’s really late.”

With a face that showed she had been worrying about Alpheus the entire time.

That’s when it happened.

“Wow! Your Highness! It’s been so long!”

With a clattering sound, someone hurriedly came up.

“Oh my, I’m sorry for being late! Ah, Bri-bri! Did you wait by any chance? Sorry for being late! Eh? Young Duke Leopold is here too? Nice to see everyone!”

It was a really noisy entrance.

“Bri-bri is forbidden.”

Brisa muttered as if she was fed up and picked up her teacup. She maintained a nonchalant attitude as if it was a lie that she had been constantly waiting for him.

But Leopold could observe Brisa’s tense shoulders naturally relaxing.

“What did the Magic Tower say?”

Brisa asked immediately, and Alpheus answered as if it was nothing.

“They said they’re analyzing it. Apparently it’s incredibly difficult magic.”

“You left in the morning and came back now, and that one sentence is all?”

“It took quite a long time to meet the Magic Tower Master.”

“Then you waited at the Magic Tower all this time? Did you eat? Weren’t you bored?”

“There are lots of people at the Magic Tower, right? I wasn’t bored at all!”

Alpheus grinned and stealthily sat down next to Brisa.

“But my little sister, were you worried about me just now? Our Bri-bri… no, Brisa was worried about her brother the whole time? Hm?”

Brisa stared intently at Alpheus with her arms crossed, then snorted once before turning her gaze away.

“Wow, even Your Highness is here with everyone, this is so exciting! Everyone’s going to stay for dinner, right? We can have a lively time together after so long!”

Alpheus even extended a dinner invitation in a cheerful tone, as if he had forgotten that this wasn’t his house but Isabela’s.

Of course, Isabela wasn’t offended at all.

“Th… then should I contact Marquis Naisar’s Estate too? It would be nice if La-Lady Delmia came too. Ah, Harrison is there too, you said.”

The Empire’s greatest beauty had been effective against Isabela’s ironclad ‘preference for being alone’ syndrome.

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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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