The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 161

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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 161

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Imperial Palace, the Empress’s residence.

A teacup that the Empress had violently thrown crashed against the wall and shattered into pieces.

The Empress threw another glass vase on top of it.

“Everyone… why is everyone suddenly acting like this? Huh?”

The plan had gone awry.

She had prepared everything to thoroughly humiliate Baroness Backhun. But what did that damn cosmetic say—the elderly ladies were subtly treating Isabela with respect.

The nobles her age who were supposed to thoroughly belittle and humiliate Isabela could only stand by and watch this situation. They couldn’t interfere with their grandmothers receiving those cosmetics.

“Those old women, all of them unable to accept aging gracefully…”

The elderly ladies were difficult to handle, even for an Empress.

The only person who could control them was the Empress Dowager. The Empress had prostrated herself before the Empress Dowager and offered up the crown of high society.

She had no choice. The person who possessed the ring was the Empress Dowager.

But the Empress Dowager had consistently maintained an unbelievably unresponsive attitude.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager’s eccentric behavior didn’t end there. She had directly asked the Emperor to ‘hold this banquet grandly.’

“But wouldn’t that be supporting the Backhun ducal family…”

It felt like just yesterday that she had sided with the Empress and Crown Prince, casting a curse on Backhun, so why suddenly…

That’s when it happened.

The door burst open. Thinking it was a servant who had come to clean, she whipped around to yell at them to get out immediately.

A gentle voice was heard.

“How truly pathetic, child.”

It was the Empress Dowager, who hadn’t even met with her lately.

“Really… so very pathetic.”

The Empress was so shocked she forgot to breathe.

The Empress Dowager, who had several large jewels pinned in her hair ornaments, clicked her tongue as if finding her pitiful.

“You move exactly as I expected.”

“Em, Em, Empress Dowager…”

While the Empress trembled, the Empress Dowager slowly walked over and sat in front of her.

The white-haired, splendid old woman was excessively elegant amidst the chaos, and her silver-gray eyes hidden in wrinkles gleamed menacingly.

“I’m already bored with everything due to my age.”

In the silent room where she had already dismissed the servants, the old woman’s eerie voice resonated low.

“Since you’re this uninteresting, I cannot give you the ring…”

The Empress couldn’t even give a proper response. Her hands trembled at the old woman’s overwhelming presence.

“Um, Em, Em, Empress Dowager… Em, the Crown Prince, that is, thinking of Your Majesty’s eldest grandson…”

The Empress quickly tried to apologize by selling out the Crown Prince. She wondered if the Empress Dowager had heard the inner thoughts she had blurted out in anger.

However, the Empress Dowager answered indifferently without showing particular anger.

“Enough, that son of yours who only knows how to whine in your skirts has also become quite boring lately.”

The old woman’s assessment of her grandson in his thirties was merciless.

“You mother and son are both acting like idiots who can’t do anything on your own… When your lacking son throws a tantrum, you just soothe him saying grandmother will take care of everything.”

The old woman’s insight was accurate. It had happened just a few days ago.

“Unable to properly establish the authority of the legitimate heir, aside from asking my ring for curses, what exactly have you accomplished on your own?”

Nevertheless, it was the first time she had heard such direct criticism.

While the Empress hung her head and trembled, the Empress Dowager’s voice continued.

“So show me what you can do at this banquet.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Step forward yourself, I mean. Don’t seek advice from similar fools like the Duchess of Divostan.”

The Empress Dowager clicked her tongue once in displeasure and slowly made a suggestion.

“If you accomplish something on your own and give me some unexpected entertainment… I’ll give you the ring.”

The Empress was bewildered and slowly raised her head.

Before her eyes came the snake-shaped ring on the Empress Dowager’s third finger.

Among all the precious and splendid accessories the Empress Dowager wore, it was the most unremarkable and modest, yet it had never once left her finger.

In truth, it was that very ring she had always wanted…

“Th, th, the ring… you’ll give me the ring?”

The Empress found herself asking back without realizing it.

She had certainly thought the Empress Dowager would never give up that ring until she died of old age.

“Yes.”

The Empress Dowager spoke indifferently.

“It means I’ve grown older and no longer find much meaning in playing leader with you people.”

Then she slowly stood up and turned around without regret.

“I look forward to it.”

The Empress blinked. And she stared blankly at the old woman’s retreating figure disappearing like a painting.

Do something… alone?

In truth, all of this was to eliminate those around Brisa, to leave that child alone…

‘I’ve always done things too! I tried to prevent the Baroness of Backhun from even setting foot in high society!’

Of course, she had failed.

‘No, if I step forward myself, I won’t fail.’

The Empress thought while gasping for breath.

‘It’s all because others did poorly. If I step forward myself, I can succeed.’

Eliminating those around Brisa.

Making it so that child couldn’t go anywhere and becoming that child’s benefactor.

‘I can do it.’

The Empress picked up her quill pen.

It felt as if both the ring and Brisa were within arm’s reach.

* * *

Bacchan Townhouse was bustling. Harrison and Delmia had come to join us for dinner.

Perhaps because there was nothing urgent to discuss, we didn’t talk about things like rings or curses.

“Brisa, don’t you want to come to the Southern Region again? Now I can properly host you as a guest…”

When Delmia gathered courage to speak, Harrison shrugged and interrupted.

“Well. There might not be anything interesting for Brisa in the Southern Region anymore.”

“Why not? I’ve always wanted to see the Southern Region vineyards.”

I answered seriously.

“The cheese yield in the Northern Region has been very good lately… I think we could do something by properly connecting with the Southern Region’s wine farms.”

Then Isabela excitedly jumped in.

“The Northern Region has always been waiting for the day to trade with the Southern Region!”

It was something that would make Duke Backhun neigh in protest, saying it was news to him.

Alpheus also jumped in, not to be outdone.

“No way. A minor shouldn’t be interested in alcohol.”

In the midst of this, I quietly stood up, saying I was going to the restroom for a moment. And I wrote a letter in my room.

I pulled the bell cord, handed it to a maid, and was coming back out to the corridor when.

“It doesn’t seem like a letter written to me.”

Leopold was leaning against the wall opposite my room, looking at me.

“Is there some problem?”

I answered, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t know you’d follow me to the restroom.”

“I followed because you didn’t go to the restroom.”

Leopold shrugged.

“My senses have developed like a wolf’s lately. I can even sense which direction you’re going. If we don’t quickly destroy that ring, I feel like I’ll eventually become a wolf wearing human skin.”

“We should destroy it quickly. Since you’re starting to show promise as a skilled stalker rather than a great Grand Duke.”

I retorted sourly and then leaned against the wall beside him. I didn’t want my expression to be seen.

“I had something on my mind, so I did some work.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Alpheus, obviously.”

Still unable to hide my worry, I eventually let out a deep sigh.

“It seems like something happened at the Magic Tower. He’s lying.”

“…Lying?”

“Earlier he said it wasn’t boring at the Magic Tower because there were many people there.”

I continued with confidence.

“But there’s no way the mages would have bothered with Alpheus. Mages absolutely hate people like Alpheus who are all brawn, no brains.”

Leopold slowly nodded at my words.

“That’s true.”

“Actually, this time I wanted to quietly aim for just finding the ring. When multiple things happen at once, it becomes hard to explain to Alpheus. But…”

I rolled my eyes, hesitated for a moment, then spoke as if making a declaration.

“Whether it’s the Empress or the Empress Dowager, if they cross the line for their evil purposes at this banquet, they’ll pay several times the price.”

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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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