The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 224

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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 29
Though Monster Waves no longer occurred, in the past they had erupted frequently along the Territory’s borders, leaving dangerous stretches of land abandoned and, in effect, making them natural boundaries.
Few people ventured into that region even now. It made for ideal concealment—perfect for a hive to hide away. After all, no one would think twice about honeybees, flowers, or honeycomb in such a place.
“Typically, the forests at a Territory’s border don’t have defensive scrolls posted on them. Too few people pass through. That’s why vampires could wander that way, feeding at the boundary and moving about as they pleased.”
I arrived in an empty room and instructed them to set the wooden box on the desk, speaking in a low voice.
“We nearly had a disaster on our hands. Thank goodness we caught it early. And we have Leopold to thank for that.”
If Leopold hadn’t come running all this way, I too would have simply concluded there was nothing amiss and returned to the Territory.
‘Who inspects a bee’s honey sac?’
At that, Gillab bounced excitedly to his feet.
“It was because of me! I gave the warning, and that’s how we managed to save the entire Empire! Isn’t that right?”
Maximus chuckled softly at this.
“The Imperial Family also deserves credit for not dismissing that warning.”
Both men were making their claims on my gratitude.
Maximus opened the wooden box first.
“Well then, I’ll take possession of this honey. Phew—it’s unmistakably bright red, isn’t it?”
The viscous crimson honey looked ominous at a glance.
Maximus continued with gravity.
“I’ll go to the Magic Tower and request a study of it, then inform His Majesty the Emperor of this discovery. We need to distribute guidance on how to handle this flower once it’s identified—and quickly, to every Territory.”
He turned to the practical considerations of administration and posed his question seriously.
“Young lady, what would you recommend we do if such a flower were to appear in a Territory?”
“That’s precisely the problem.”
I sighed as I spoke.
“As I told Gillab, simply burning it might cause the seeds to spread further. And eliminating all the bees is realistically impossible either. There are several complications to contend with.”
Even knowing the cause, eradication was difficult—the population was simply too large.
“For now, we’ll have to manage the areas where it’s spread in such quantities.”
There was no way to completely root out that flower.
However, since one or two flowers couldn’t produce honey in such massive quantities, the superior strategy was to eliminate as many individual plants as possible.
“Seal the entire flower field with plastic sheeting, then place high-temperature Mana Stones inside.”
It was a method to prevent seed dispersal and denature plant proteins, thereby extinguishing the seeds’ life force.
“For the time being, we’ll do that, and any isolated flowers that appear can be uprooted and disposed of in sealed containers.”
“Ugh……”
Gillab groaned, his face going pale.
“Plastic sheeting is expensive, and high-temperature Mana Stones are expensive too!”
“There’s no helping it.”
I shrugged once.
“The Prince might very well provide support. This phenomenon could appear in other Territories in the future.”
Maximus laughed awkwardly at that.
“It won’t be easy, but I’ll do my best…… In any case, I should depart soon. I need to visit the Magic Tower first, and it’s already completely dark.”
Then he turned to me and said:
“And Brisa—you’ve involved yourself in something that wasn’t your concern, so I’d very much like to repay you.”
“Ah.”
I looked at him and answered slowly.
“Actually, there is something I’d like.”
“Name it. Anything at all.”
Maximus instinctively checked his clothing—apparently verifying whether he wore any valuable brooch.
I pointed to the wooden box and said:
“These bees.”
Then I declared to Gillab:
“Gillab, I’m taking these with me, all right?”
The bees had remarkably high beekeeping efficiency. The honey’s contamination was humanity’s fault, not theirs—they bore no guilt.
I gave a soft laugh.
“The residents of Sears’ Domain have been whining because they haven’t had anything sweet. You should hear how sorrowfully they mourned when I felled those plum trees……”
Then, gesturing to Alpheus, I added:
“Even the Lord himself.”
Alpheus looked startled.
“You remembered that? I’m so moved, Brisa! But…… so our Territory gets honeybees instead of plum trees? The bees are relocating? To Sears? Are we going to be keeping pet bees now?”
“It’s not quite like that……”
There was a queen bee in the hive we’d brought. So we could certainly establish them in our Territory.
I spoke matter-of-factly.
“We’re simply going to start beekeeping.”
* * *
Thus, the incident of “Behila’s Strange Flower” was, for the moment, resolved.
We designated that “strange flower” as the “Vampire Feeding Flower.”
“Tomorrow morning, cover that flower field with plastic sheeting immediately and administer high-temperature treatment. Then, just as I did, follow the bees and destroy every hive.”
I gave Gillab his instructions.
“It’s best to burn the hives, and eliminate all the queen bees without exception. And from now on, order everyone that any Vampire Feeding Flower that blooms must be uprooted and destroyed immediately.”
Complete eradication wasn’t possible, but we had to minimize the population as much as we could.
“You tell the workers directly tomorrow morning.”
Gillab whined.
“What if I forget something when I’m relaying the message? What if the Territory falls into even greater danger because of it?”
I let out a long sigh.
Since everything was resolved, I could have left for Sears’ Domain immediately, but staying another day wasn’t difficult if that’s what Gillab needed.
“In exchange, tomorrow’s breakfast will have to be absolutely exceptional.”
“You got it, Brisa!”
Alpheus agreed without much thought.
“We can head to the Territory tomorrow!”
Maximus, meanwhile, departed at once for the Magic Tower.
“I’ll request immediate analysis of this red honey. And I must have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor to ensure nationwide announcements are issued.”
He looked at me with a smile.
“Then I’ll see you again, young lady. I suppose when I come to Sears, I can expect to enjoy pancakes dripping with honey, yes? I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’ll have Alpheus serve you directly.”
I spoke while meeting his agreeable green eyes.
“If I were to entertain you myself, my Fiancé would not be pleased.”
At my words, Maximus shrugged.
“Is that so? I don’t have any bad blood with the Nogen Grand Duke.”
“Then I must have been mistaken.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“I suppose I took your jesting too seriously, given that you’d even mentioned dueling……”
At that, the smile faded slightly from Maximus’s face.
‘Did he think I wouldn’t notice?’
When Leopold first appeared, I’d caught on immediately that Maximus’s joke had left him embarrassed.
But not knowing the reason, I’d let it pass—until that quip about breaking the engagement and snapping off flowers. Maximus didn’t speak carelessly.
‘Is he already vying for position against the Nogen Family?’
True, Nogen in the Western Region had long been both the Imperial Family’s steadfast companion and a subject of vigilance……
‘Does he favor me? But nothing has happened between us until now. We’ve only seen each other every few years.’
Of course, there was no need for awkwardness anymore. Leopold never lost in that sort of verbal sparring.
Still, until we’d defeated the true enemy, internal discord would be most inconvenient.
Sure enough, Maximus—who had faltered for just a moment—laughed easily and said:
“No, no. The lesson of this whole affair is that we must take seriously what appears trivial. I never would have guessed such a secret lay hidden in that flower, so innocent-seeming.”
He smoothly changed the subject.
“Well then, I’ll see you soon. Even if I don’t receive honey-drizzled pancakes, I’ll need to explain the situation, after all.”
“There’s no chance Sears won’t offer honey-drizzled pancakes.”
I stated it plainly.
“I’ll even top them with strawberries, so don’t worry about that.”
Providing food to guests was a separate matter entirely.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
With that, Maximus left, smiling to the very end.

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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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