The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 178

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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 178

“Moreover, if we stay in Sebon as ‘watchful eyes,’ the ongoing experiments will also slow down.”

Leopold continued speaking seriously.

“Actually, I wasn’t planning to leave urgently, but seeing the Empress Dowager’s condition at the banquet… the situation seems more serious than I thought. If I go around stirring things up there under the pretense of investigation, they won’t be able to proceed with experiments comfortably. Plus, I can find out more related information.”

Everything he said was right.

Though it felt unreal to me, I slowly lowered my head.

Leopold was leaving for Sebon.

Due to the curse’s influence, he was currently the strongest person on the continent. In this serious situation, his going was a rational decision.

But still…

But still, I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘I see, have a safe trip.’

Perhaps Leopold had been planning his departure ever since he encountered the Centauros.

What was needed to escape from this persistent threat wasn’t defense but offense…

The enemy was too strong to just sit idle and do nothing.

In a way, it was the same decision as Alpheus had made.

So that’s why his last request to me on the night of the banquet was to take a short walk together.

“The night breeze is cool, the grass smells nice, and the flowers are beautiful, so let’s walk together even if just for a moment.”

He wanted to endure many more hours with that moment we walked together by his side…

While I couldn’t say anything, Isabela asked Hilberry.

“Is this something His Grace the Grand Duke also agreed to? Sending your only heir to a dangerous foreign country.”

Then Hilberry answered with a heavy voice.

“When Leo first went out to the monster wave saying he would use 【Air Strike】, he was ten years old.”

Resignation and regret had already appeared on the old man’s face.

“When monsters fell in droves before that ten-year-old’s 【Air Strike】, everyone cheered. I too patted Leo’s shoulder saying ‘Well done, I’m proud of you’…”

Hilberry’s heart, having to send his only grandson to that dangerous land, must also be painfully torn.

“I knew that certain cheers and certain praise are like poison to a child.”

The weight of a ruler was carried in his words.

“Nevertheless, swallowing my tears, I told him the next battlefield to move to and kept that ten-year-old at the front lines of battlefields for three straight days.”

I knew well how much Hilberry cherished his only grandson.

He was the old man who had rushed all the way to the Southern Region carrying his grandson’s clothes and bag.

Just for protecting his grandson’s secret, the old Grand Duke had even knelt before me in front of others.

Probably Hilberry’s heart had been torn to pieces just like those shredded monsters back then.

That was the weight of the Grand Duke’s house.

Having much meant having to take much responsibility.

Hilberry had to send Leopold to Sebon with his torn heart along with the Emperor’s decree.

To that dangerous unknown land with no promise of return…

“Well, so Brisa.”

Leopold shrugged his shoulders and spoke with feigned cheerfulness.

“Don’t worry about my identity being discovered. I don’t have to answer anything. You can handle the rumors about controlling a monster that grows and shrinks by yourself.”

His annoyingly calm words made it even more heartbreaking.

It seemed he had no intention of allowing even the single guilt I felt toward him.

“Hmm, the method I recommend is simple. Since this was your first time with such things too, go around shouting ‘grow bigger, get smaller’ to every dog you meet.”

He advised with a serious expression.

“Then everyone will start avoiding you gradually, and you won’t need to receive bothersome questions.”

But I couldn’t respond to that joke as I usually would.

As I continued my silence, Hilberry and Isabela began glancing at me cautiously, reading my mood.

In that awkward atmosphere, Leopold called my name soothingly.

“Brisa.”

Unlike me, his face looked peaceful, having already prepared his heart for farewell.

“Let’s take another walk when I return. We promised, didn’t we?”

It seemed he had already thought about how to comfort me.

“Then… let’s go to Rudolph Village again. There’s a place we decided to go together. I’ll return as quickly as possible to go there soon.”

Then Isabela slowly rolled her eyes and muttered.

“Why that boring town again… You should suggest going to famous places in the Western Region instead…”

The Northern princess, unaware of the necromancy secret, coldly evaluated the promised place.

“What if you return in winter, of all places to choose… Young people have no sense…”

I quietly lowered my eyes.

Just as I couldn’t readily give up even Alpheus’s right arm…

The desire not to send Leopold away like this and meticulous calculations tangled chaotically in my heart.

After a bit more time passed, Valerie, who had been analyzing the marble patterns on the floor, muttered.

“I should go. I’m too tired.”

Then she rang a bell, bringing in a servant from outside. It was a maid who had been waiting to push the wheelchair.

I finally answered Leopold with a choked voice.

“…If you’re not going to break the ring right away, then yes, let’s go to Rudolph Village later as you said.”

Leopold, who had been staring at me intently, said carefully.

“If your heart is troubled, I could postpone going to Sebon. Just in case, really just in case my being by your side would help.”

“No. I’m fine. Do as you planned.”

I shook my head. And said coldly.

“How would you being here help my heart? What kind of relationship do we even have? Surely you won’t shamelessly utter words like ‘friends.’ Neither you nor I cultivate such things.”

“…Well.”

Leopold shrugged his shoulders.

“Grr, we’re at least that much, aren’t we?”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“That’s not such a great relationship. I have similar relationships, one each in the Southern and Northern Regions.”

If Delmia heard this, she would wail that her master had abandoned her.

“Anyway.”

Having regained my composure, I crossed my arms and glared at him.

“I have no intention of holding you back, so leave as planned. Alpheus will… be fine too. Instead, just grant me one request.”

“Anything.”

Leopold’s answer came easily. I knew it would.

“Right. Then before you leave.”

I made my demand calmly.

“Get engaged to me before you go.”

Everyone’s eyes, including Leopold’s, widened.

Leopold and I were both suffering from the same symptom.

The disease of ‘I’m not good enough for them, so I should let them go.’

Perhaps the reason Leopold never spoke directly to me all this time was because he himself had been anticipating that he would eventually have to leave.

The last bit of greed he showed before that was merely…

Walking together.

“Brisa?”

Leopold asked with a bewildered face.

“Were you perhaps thinking about something else just now?”

He slowly nodded and muttered.

“That could be it. Since Marquis Sears was badly injured.”

Even in his panic, Leopold showed remarkable patience by not saying something like ‘you’re not in your right mind.’ That was commendable.

“Even if you misspoke, no one here wouldn’t understand, so don’t worry.”

I looked at him silently with a distant gaze.

As if unable to accept my silence, he asked in an incredulous voice.

“Don’t tell me you’re serious?”

“When have you seen me talk nonsense?”

“Just now.”

He ran his hand through his hair once and spoke deliberately.

“I don’t know when I’ll return. I won’t come back until I’ve completely resolved the ‘Contamination’ and ‘Monster Wave.'”

“You’re planning to only do that and come back? While you’re at it, gather as much information about the experiments as possible too.”

“Alright, I will. But right now, what? An engagement? Even if you get engaged now, you can’t do anything with me.”

“There’s nothing surprising about that. My last engagement was exactly the same.”

“Brisa, an ‘indefinite absence’ is grounds enough to break even a perfectly maintained engagement.”

“Is such a regulation even written in the Legal Code? That would only apply to someone like you who freely hands out Annulment Letters.”

“Freely? It was only once.”

“Either way, you’re someone who broke 100% of all your engagements.”

“Please, Brisa. How can you attach 100% to a sample size of one?”

“Got a problem with that? Then why don’t you take this opportunity to increase that sample to two.”

Isabela, Valerie, and Hilberry kept looking back and forth between the two of us without pause.

From the corner of their eyes, it looked like they were watching an extremely fast-paced game of catch. Everyone seemed uncertain whether they were even breathing.

“Personally, I think this is a very appropriate time.”

I said confidently.

“Now it’s your turn. To experience an engagement that’s a burden to your partner. Do it fairly, one each. I can’t stand being in debt.”

Only then did pure shock begin to appear in Leopold’s eyes. He finally realized I wasn’t just talking.

Valerie glared at the maid who was approaching to wheel her away.

“Stop!”

At her whispered shout, the maid asked reluctantly.

“Pardon? You just said you were tired…”

“I take that back.”

Valerie instantly recovered from her fatigue. Instead, she held her breath and watched us.

Leopold ignored all of that and stammered.

“Brisa? No, I…”

I said decisively.

“So you have to come back, without fail.”

And I shrugged as I added.

“Unless you want to ruin my second engagement too.”

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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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