The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 228

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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 33
I led the people upstream along the Erenta River, where the hills began.
With the Monster Wave gone, we could now traverse the hills with ease, though we hadn’t planted anything here yet.
“All right, Langsi. Take out what you’ve prepared.”
Langsi carefully produced the items I’d requested by letter the day before.
Thick protective clothing to prevent bee stings, a mesh veil to cover the face, and matches and sugar water.
“The afternoon is clear and mild, so the timing is perfect…….”
I surveyed the surroundings once, then selected a gap between trees where the sunlight wasn’t too intense. The interior space was deep enough to provide shelter from rain and wind.
“The wind direction is…… good. Start a smoke fire here.”
Smoke had a calming effect on bees. As pale smoke began to spread, I spoke to Alpheus, who was now suited up in protective gear.
“Now, move slowly and transfer the beehive frames in here little by little.”
In truth, truly trained beekeepers could move hives without wearing nearly this much protective equipment.
But since none of us were experts, Alpheus was the obvious choice for the work—his right arm could afford to take a sting or two.
Fortunately, the buzzing was low, so the bees remained calm.
“The bees mustn’t scatter at unfamiliar scents. Could you spray some sugar water around the entrance?”
Soon scout bees began circling around the opening.
Langsi and Philip blinked at each other in puzzlement.
“Young Lady…… what is all this, now? Are we really going to raise honeybees for food here, right after shrimp?”
In truth, beekeeping was not a common concept in these lands.
“Most people probably assume one eats honey, not honeybees, don’t they?”
I pointed out Langsi’s rather callous remark before continuing.
“There are plenty of wild flowers blooming here, and these bees are a strain bred to collect large quantities of honey in a short time. In other words…….”
Soon the bees began to disperse slowly.
“We’ll have a stable supply of honey.”
And bees transfer pollen, increasing crop yields. This is why beekeeping is often practiced near orchards and strawberry farms.
We grow hothouse strawberries, and there are no fruit trees here now, but there are still many Territory Residents living in small vegetable gardens along the river valley.
“I placed the hive far from Warp to keep people from getting stung, but we’ll also obtain beeswax and such. It’s a stable source of income, in any case.”
I placed my hand on Alpheus’s shoulder as I spoke.
“I can’t butcher a pig to celebrate your return, but I can at least give you royal jelly. Just be patient a little longer.”
“Royal jelly? What’s that?”
“It’s a special nutritious substance that worker bees feed the queen bee. Think of it as a health food.”
“That’s not happening!”
Alpheus shook his head firmly.
“How could I take away the queen bee’s friend’s special food?”
“Then you don’t get to eat honey either.”
I spoke coolly.
“How is it right to steal the precious food stores of young bees?”
In fact, when keeping bees, one cannot take too much honey. The bees might not survive the winter otherwise.
“Goodness.”
Philip’s eyes lit up.
“Strawberries dipped in honey would be absolutely delicious.”
“It would taste wonderful in pudding too.”
I shrugged.
“So no more complaining about having no sweet snacks.”
“As expected!”
Langsi clapped his hands with a satisfied expression.
“Whenever the Young Lady goes out and comes back, our Territory grows prosperous, I tell you. At first you told us to buy candy from the market, but I always knew your taste ran to long-term cultivation rather than one-time purchases, yes indeed.”
“Quiet, you traitor! You who fell for shrimp and abandoned the plum trees!”
“Langsi is definitely a traitor.”
Alpheus spoke solemnly.
“He even approved the Western engagement all on his own.”
“I’ve never betrayed anyone, sir.”
Langsi answered without much impact to the words.
“My standard has always been money, yes indeed. Anyway, since we’ll be making plenty of honey, the children will be absolutely thrilled.”
Thinking of the children of Sears, I felt a twinge. I remembered the seasoned seaweed we’d made in Russell Count Territory.
It was truly wonderful as a snack for children, but I hadn’t brought it to Sears because seaweed is vulnerable to moisture and must be eaten quickly.
So when Delmia needed to sell the seasoned seaweed quickly, I’d told her she didn’t need to stop by Sears Territory specifically.
“Our children only eat salted shrimp, and can’t have the seasoned seaweed…….”
There would likely be quite a few children with crustacean allergies.
“Does that disappoint you so much, Brisa?”
Alpheus asked, probing gently.
“How much?”
I answered immediately.
“About as much as I worry about tasteless meat.”
Though I couldn’t simply stop eating meat.
‘Is there any way to make poor-quality meat as delicious as possible…….’
As we made our way back to the Sears Estate,
“Young Lady, Lord Marquis! You’ve returned!”
The older maids bowed their heads in unison to greet us.
And Masa, now the Head Maid, stepped forward.
“Well, you see…… we’ve had a visitor arrive in the meantime. A guest who came before the master, no less, and without even sending an advance letter…….”
She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“For now, I’ve shown them to the Reception Room.”
“Who is it?”
Alpheus asked cheerfully.
“Surely not Isabela? If it’s Isabela, take her to the Training Grounds instead of the Reception Room. She was the witness at our Brisa’s engagement. Late as it is, tell her I’m challenging her to a duel.”
“As it happens, the Young Lady Isabela has sent five crates of lamb meat, with word that she won’t show her face nearby until her anger cools.”
“What? Is she planning never to see me again?”
Well, at any rate, the unprecedented situation of the male and female leads dueling each other was at least postponed for now.
“It’s…… Jerdian Russell of the Russell Count household, they said…….”
My eyes and Alpheus’s widened.
Why on earth would Jerdian come here? Could something have happened in Russell Count Territory?
“Let’s go see him at once.”
I urged Alpheus forward, quickening my pace.
* * *
Eastern Region, Cardipol Estate.
“Marcel.”
Audrey smiled gently and smoothed her son’s hair.
“Now it begins. My son, truly returned—I welcome you with all my heart.”
The seaweed harvesting had ended, and Marcel was free.
Until now, he’d had no choice but to comply with Brisa’s commands. Or, to be honest, he had possessed enough free will to resist.
But his mental strength was so weak that contradicting Brisa, who had been learned as his “master,” was impossible. He had never resisted Audrey’s instructions either.
Unaware of this inner truth, Audrey saw Marcel’s inability to resist and believed it was merely a side effect of Taming.
“I have no further need to summon you beyond the seaweed work. I’ve never enjoyed using people like slaves. Least of all someone I cannot trust.”
So when Brisa said this after finishing the seaweed harvest, Audrey was overjoyed.
“We’ll be returning to Sears anyway, and there’s no particular work for a mermaid there.”
Being able to command four Half-Human, Half-Beasts was a formidable ability, but she seemed to have no interest in such matters. Rather, she seemed exhausted by it.
“Thank you, Young Lady. With the life you’ve given our son, I shall ensure he lives it to the fullest.”
Alpheus was satisfied with Audrey’s words, but Brisa muttered slowly,
“That’s…… rather a terrifying thing to say, actually.”
In any case, the Sears siblings departed, and Marcel returned to being the illegitimate second son of Duke Dibostane.
Audrey gazed at Marcel’s features, which bore a striking resemblance to Duke Dibostane himself, and spoke with satisfaction.
“The Duke lacks certainty about Ethan.”
Marcel blinked, looking at himself in the mirror.
Since the moment he came into the world, he had been subjected to the pressure of “You must take Ethan Dibostan’s place.”
Being irresolute by nature, he had never truly questioned those words.
His biological father, Duke Dibostane, who visited him often, had never said “absolutely not.”
Rather, when he saw him, he would say things like this.
“You…… you resemble me so much. Not just in appearance, but in temperament as well.”
Didn’t that mean Father didn’t dislike the idea of him becoming the heir?
Marcel didn’t quite understand what it meant to become Duke Dibostane, but he knew no way to escape his parents’ will.
Audrey raised her eyebrows and spoke.
“The Duchess of Dibosthan…… that woman has definitely joined hands with the Dark Mages. If I can just find the proof, it’s straight to prison, and Ethan Dibostan will have no choice but to relinquish his position as Young Duke.”

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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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