The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 174
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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 174
23. How to Prepare for War
“Brisa! Brisa!”
Isabela turned pale and looked around frantically. She broke out in a cold sweat, wondering if she had been kidnapped by a dark mage.
When exactly had she disappeared?
She should be fine since Baekgu is with her, right?
Speaking of that Baekgu, no, Wolf-dog. Seeing how he changes size according to Brisa’s commands, as expected…
However, not long after she started running around in earnest.
“I’m sorry, sister.”
Brisa appeared with Leopold.
Brisa’s face was a mess, but she was no longer crying. Still, it seemed she couldn’t put much strength in her legs, as she was being supported by Leopold.
“I had some business to attend to for a moment.”
She spoke calmly.
“Can we go to the Bacchan Townhouse? Harrison said he would contact us there.”
After that, she looked up at Leopold and pushed his arm away.
“You should go to Duke Nogen. Duke Nogen will need you too.”
Leopold only hesitated and didn’t move toward Hilberry.
At that moment, Isabela realized like a bolt of lightning.
‘Leopold likes Brisa.’
Since they had broken off their engagement, she hadn’t thought that far, but with Wolf-dog in between, it became all too clear.
This boy truly, really liked his former fiancée very much.
Leopold sighed while looking at Brisa.
Noticing his hesitation, Isabela carefully intervened.
“You should listen to Brisa, Leopold. I’ll take good care of Brisa.”
Unfortunately, Hilberry, who had suddenly witnessed his sister’s injury, was in the same state, so Isabela had to play the villain separating the two young people.
“But…”
When Leopold continued to not move his feet, Brisa said coldly.
“I haven’t cursed at anyone so far, including the Empress Dowager and Alpheus. But if you say one more word, I think the situation might change.”
Finally, Leopold slowly nodded his head.
Then he greeted Isabela.
“Please take good care of Brisa.”
Why do all these men keep entrusting Brisa to her…
Brisa stared intently at the boy without crying. Her face was clean as if she had never screamed.
Except for her swollen eyes and hoarse voice, she was similar to usual.
The nobles in the banquet hall glanced at the girl who was emanating a cold aura.
“I’ll manage well on my own, so don’t worry.”
Brisa slowly opened her mouth to Leopold.
“When the Grand Duke regains his composure, prepare to farm garlic.”
“…Huh?”
“First, it needs to be land that doesn’t retain water well, with good drainage. Look for areas that get plenty of sunlight but are cool. Start gathering seed garlic from now, and you can plant them in earnest in the fall.”
Suddenly, the area around Brisa became quiet.
Isabela realized why Brisa was saying this now.
“Everyone saw that monster is weaker to garlic than to swords.”
This was advice not just for the Western Region, but for all territories.
“For now, in Sears, I think the hills a bit far from the river would suit the cultivation environment well, so I’m planning to grow garlic there.”
Because not only the Empress Dowager, but other similar beings could be hiding.
Isabela looked down at the small girl and bit her lower lip tightly.
This girl had already begun the battle she could fight.
“Thanks to Lady Valerie, my brother survived.”
Brisa spoke calmly.
“This debt… how can Sears possibly repay it? I want to do something for her, so I’ll go personally to express my gratitude.”
Then Leopold seriously advised.
“You don’t need to do that. Even if you’re a child, great-aunt is someone who would definitely accept something if she heard such words. She’s not at all an ordinary kind grandmother, so there’s no need to get close to her unnecessarily.”
“Ordinary? That’s an excessive hasty generalization. It’s prejudice to think that rich grandmothers must be generous and warm. My own future aspiration is to be a merciless grandmother.”
“Of course I respect your unique future aspiration, but that can be achieved without doing it together with great-aunt. If you just grow up as you are.”
“Anyway, I’ll go soon, so I’ll see you then.”
Even though he said there was no need to come, Leopold didn’t actively dissuade Brisa.
“Well, if that’s really what you want.”
In Western dialect, that meant he’d be counting the days waiting.
With Leopold in front of her, Brisa turned around first.
“Let’s go, sister.”
The girl who had prepared everyone for garlic farming said.
“Let’s hurry back too. We need to receive Harrison’s contact quickly when it comes.”
Isabela quietly took that small hand.
They walked hand in hand into the crowd like that.
Until they completely left the banquet hall, everyone pretended not to see the trembling legs of the young child. Respecting the young acting lord of Sears who was trying not to show weakness in front of others.
* * *
I stayed up all night at the Bacchan Townhouse.
The next morning at dawn.
Contact finally came from the Magic Tower Master.
[There is no danger to Marquis Sears’ life. The magic power that should have been sealed in his heart was driven to his right arm thanks to his sword aura. However, at this rate, we’ll have to amputate his right arm.
For now, we’ve stopped the progression, so we’ll look for other methods.
Furthermore, the Magic Tower and this world owe a great debt to the House of Marquis Sears. We will absolutely not let the Marquis’ sacrifice be in vain. (continued)]
I read the letter over and over while watching the dawn break.
Of course, the fact that his life wasn’t in danger was truly a great relief. But…
I didn’t really understand the principles of how the body works.
But I could guess that not having a right arm would be a fatal injury for a swordsman.
It wasn’t just about not being able to swing a sword, but his body’s balance would be different from before.
“Brisa.”
Isabela stroked my shoulder comfortingly and said.
“Thanks to you preparing a good sword, Alpheus was able to survive.”
Of course, one arm was nothing compared to the heart.
“If Alpheus wakes up, I’m going to ask him how it feels to survive because he has such a good sister. I’ve been thinking, and that seems like the first thing Alpheus would be happiest to hear when he opens his eyes.”
I held back my tears tightly.
Still, my nose stung, so I hung my head low.
“Sister.”
My lips trembled quietly.
“I… I was so scared even while preparing for the worst.”
Now my hidden true feelings finally burst out.
“I hoped the things I was preparing for wouldn’t happen.”
During all that time preparing for various variables.
I did the groundwork because I couldn’t be helplessly victimized, but I wasn’t excited about it.
I hoped Cheria wouldn’t confess her crimes in front of others.
I desperately hoped Alpheus wouldn’t have to use his sword.
That’s why I didn’t tell others about it. I just hoped everyone would pass by unknowingly, and I could just obtain the ring.
“If I told others, those words would gain power and such things would definitely happen… That’s why I didn’t tell people around me… The phrase ‘words become seeds’ kept circling in my head.”
“Words… become seeds? Seeds? Ah, that’s a unique metaphor.”
Isabela completely didn’t understand the idiom from another world.
She just joked gently.
“It seems you have more literary talent than Alpheus too? I’ll have to tease him about that when he wakes up. No wait. Then he’ll be incredibly happy again. Saying ‘as expected of my sister.'”
I couldn’t bring myself to retort.
“Brisa.”
When I pursed my lips, Isabela tried to comfort me once again.
“Alpheus is good with his left hand too. He’s right-handed, but I’m sure his left hand would be more than enough to protect you. In fact, he’d probably be satisfied with that much.”
Still, I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘it’s okay.’
The letter said he would ‘look for other methods,’ but…
It was clearly a hopeless situation no matter how you looked at it.
…At least at the Magic Tower.
Perhaps somewhere else… there might be other possibilities.
Actually, I had thought of a solution ever since Harrison mentioned that he might not be able to use his right arm.
“Sister.”
So I slowly made a request to Isabela.
“Could I write just one letter?”
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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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