The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 213

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Part 2, Episode 18
* * *
It didn’t take long.
Just as I’d predicted, Delmia hadn’t been making her rounds of “nutritious snacks beloved by children” for very long before people came flooding to Russell Count Territory with money in hand, eager to buy seaweed.
“At this rate, we can pay off the debts and set aside initial settlement funds for the fishermen, wouldn’t you say?”
Now that the monster was gone, I could gradually develop the territory. From here on out, it was the responsibility of Russell’s House, which had laid roots here long ago, to manage things themselves.
“Thank you.”
The elderly Count Russell bowed deeply several times.
“Truly… truly, I am grateful. It seems our second son has grasped the golden thread of fate.”
Alpheus, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, responded cheerfully.
“Our siblings do have golden hair! Ha-ha-ha!”
I whispered from beside him.
“No flippant remarks.”
Alpheus didn’t give up and continued.
“But the thread of fate newly woven between us—that is surely the golden thread, is it not?”
“No heavy-handed remarks either.”
Gerdian, standing beside Count Russell, kept twitching his lips. He seemed to have something to say.
“Um, uh… uh.”
“Yes? Did you have something you wished to say?”
“Ah, no, nothing.”
It seemed clear he wasn’t genuinely trying to say “nothing”—he was just stammering out of hesitation.
But I wasn’t the sort to wait patiently for a coward’s wavering.
“Well, since we’ve finished what we came to do, we shall take our leave now.”
I spoke calmly. There was truly nothing more to do in Russell Count Territory.
Alpheus likely had no thoughts at all about this, but my mind was rather cluttered.
‘So now I’ve made the Divostan Duke House an outright enemy.’
After harvesting all the seaweed, I gave Marcel no further orders whatsoever.
From that point on, his life was his own. Audrey would probably start some kind of succession struggle, but that wasn’t my concern.
‘He hardly seemed like the right person to rule the Eastern Region anyway.’
I hadn’t exactly taken Marcel’s side, yet I’d only managed to gain enemies in the process, and it felt uncomfortable. But there was nothing to be done about it.
Then it happened.
“Your Grace, Your Grace!”
Someone suddenly appeared in the reception room. It was Petro, the youngest of Russell’s House.
Though a classmate of mine at the Academy, we were still far from close.
“A letter has just arrived, most urgently!”
If the youngest of a count’s house was delivering it personally, it was no ordinary letter. And indeed, the Imperial seal was stamped upon it.
[Alpheus, and Brisa.]
It was a letter Maximus had sent from Behila, Gillab’s territory.
[I’m truly sorry, but would you not stop by Behila?]
He’d originally said he’d only stop by as a formality, nothing more…
Still, from the moment he hadn’t returned for days on end, I’d suspected as much.
“I suppose we’ll listen to that third son’s story adequately and then return.”
Though “adequately” would likely require far more than a month.
“An urgent request for aid.”
I said this while reading the brief letter.
“It seems Gillab was truly beyond his control.”
The situation seemed simple enough. Gillab’s whining had worn down Maximus’s composure.
“It’s certainly possible. The Second Prince was likely meeting Gillab for the first time.”
We’d originally intended to head straight back to Sears Territory, but we had no choice. When the Second Prince asked like this, we had to go.
Alpheus cried out with delight.
“What a chance to see our friend again! It seems the Second Prince wanted to see me once more.”
Even reading the same letter, our interpretations were so different.
“Do remember the one who called you ‘lowly blood,’ though. You’ll have to see him again.”
During our last visit, Gillab had been rude to Alpheus to the very end.
At that time, Alpheus had said “children change, so I should believe in him and wait,” exhibiting protagonist syndrome even then.
“Ah, that reckless little rascal… I’m curious how much he’s grown.”
I could swear Alpheus was the first person ever to call Gillab a “rascal.” Apparently, to Alpheus, Gillab’s rude remarks were worth treating as mere pranks.
“A cowardly child grows into whatever suits him as an adult.”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
“That cowardly child has grown into a cowardly adult quite smoothly.”
I clicked my tongue in disapproval even as I spoke.
“Must we really listen to that cowardly adult’s fussing as well?”
We had no obligation to grant Gillab’s request.
Of course, Alpheus’s position was firm.
“But it’s the Second Prince’s request! Of course we must grant it!”
I agreed.
“You’re right.”
We both added at the same time:
“For friendship!”
“For rank.”
Our reasons differed, but the conclusion was the same.
And so we immediately took a Warp toward Behila.
* * *
At that same moment, in Sebon.
“Really?”
Harrison’s eyes went wide with surprise.
“You’re really going? Just like that, all of a sudden?”
“Yes.”
Leopold spoke quietly.
“The situation is grave. I have to go myself.”
On the day he was completing the tenth magic circle, the information agents brought news along with a letter—grave news indeed.
“This… I have to tell him directly. A letter would take months to arrive. And security is a major concern.”
So Leopold decided to return to the continent immediately.
“Right, Leo. This really is a serious situation.”
Harrison nodded gravely.
“Because Brisa is about to meet both the Second Prince and Gillab.”
“It’s not just a personal matter.”
Leopold’s brows furrowed.
“It’s about the future of the continent. Worse still, the lord of that very land isn’t even sane.”
“So where will you go?”
Harrison asked as if he weren’t entirely paying attention.
“To the Western Region first?”
“I don’t know. It might be best to assess the situation first.”
“But still, shouldn’t you see the Grand Duke? You should at least inform him of your return. I suppose there’s no particular need for me to rush bad news to my parents, but things are different for the Grand Duke.”
“Then you go to the Western Region and inform the Grand Duke of our return.”
Leopold suggested they split up as soon as they reached the continent.
“You’ve aged another six years here—you’re certainly capable of delivering news of our arrival.”
He added gravely.
“I have to head directly to that ‘problem land’ in the Eastern Region.”
“Mm.”
Harrison folded his arms.
A brief silence fell between them.
It was Leopold who broke that silence first, in the strange atmosphere that hung between them.
“It’s the natural place. Right now the Western Region, the Southern Region, and the Northern Region are hard for the Dark Mages to reach. But the Eastern Region is different.”
Leopold explained earnestly.
“Though it became muddled, there was considerable suspicion that the Eastern Region was in league with Dark Mages, and the succession disputes there are stirring up trouble internally, making the Eastern Region the easiest place for Dark Mages to extend their reach. Do you understand?”
In truth, it was extremely rare for Leopold to speak more than Harrison.
“Mm.”
Harrison nodded gravely.
“The fact that you’re explaining yourself to me at this length tells me how entertaining this situation is. So what exactly is this problem land?”
Leopold let out an irritated sigh. Then he said flatly:
“Behila. Gillab’s territory.”
“Oh…”
Harrison let out a low whistle of appreciation.
Leopold leveled a warning glare at him.
“This is serious. Do you think I’m going on a pleasure tour?”
“Of course, of course. It must be serious.”
He let out a smirk.
“Since you’ll be meeting your fiancée for the first time in over six years.”
There was no point in sending word that they were leaving—Brisa and Alpheus would arrive faster than any message could.
Especially since something had been discovered that Sebon Kingdom must not learn of, Leopold planned to use only the pretext of “I’ve completed all the ancient curse magic circles, so I’m returning now” before departing immediately.
‘Brisa won’t see it coming when she meets her fiancé in the Eastern Region.’
Harrison’s eyes glinted mischievously.
“I wonder what kind of scene our Leo will stumble upon? You couldn’t even guard your fiancée properly for over six years.”
When Leopold ignored him, Harrison inched closer, wheedling insistently.
“Since I’m heading to the Western Region, I won’t even get to see it anyway. Give me an answer. For the sake of the friendship we’ve built over more than six years.”
At that, Leopold grew momentarily serious.
“If I answer your question, does that settle everything we’ve accumulated in the meantime?”
“…Are you saying our friendship is like a debt to you?”
“Yes.”
Leopold answered gravely.
“I want to clear it out quickly and nullify it.”
Harrison’s eyes drooped sadly, but in the end he couldn’t help but relent.
“Fine. If you answer truthfully, I’ll graciously cancel our friendship.”
He asked with eager anticipation.
“Which man terrifies you most when he’s with Brisa?”
Gillab, who’d been eyeing that position ever since Brisa had a fiancé, constantly reinforcing his internal sense of intimacy by thinking it “suited him”?
Or Maximus, who lacked Leopold’s substance but nonetheless possessed far more glittering credentials, allowing him to speak with Brisa as her “equal”?
“Answer quickly. Stake your heart, your conscience, and your sincerity on it.”
Harrison urged eagerly.
“Say the name itself! Just tell me!”
Leopold took a deep breath. And with a sincerity unburdened by any shame to the heavens, he answered:
“Alpheus Sears.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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