The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 229

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

Part 2, Episode 34
In truth, I’d planned to grab his hand the moment Maximus extended it.
But from the instant he exposed Marcel’s identity to the Russell Count Territory, that alliance was as good as shattered. A mere commoner like Audrey had nothing to offer Maximus.
The alliance was lost, but from the start, Audrey had never cared about who would seize the next throne. Her sole obsession was that Marcel must have Divostan.
“But… Mother, I don’t possess a Special Ability………”
“Don’t the other First Five Families also lose their Special Abilities? Except for the Western and Eastern Regions, they were never stable to begin with. Besides, when that vampire appeared last time, didn’t the Duke of Dibostane’s House do nothing?”
Audrey spoke with unwavering conviction.
“Now no one worships Nullification. Unless you step forward like the Nogen Vice Duke of the Western Region and use Air Strike… who would follow a leader who never sacrifices?”
Marcel swallowed hard, his throat dry.
Audrey might have been outrageous, but she wasn’t foolish. She was a formidable woman who had seated the Cardipol Guild atop mountains of wealth and finally even resolved her son’s curse.
“But rumors are already spreading that I was the Eastern Region’s monster………”
“That’s not a major problem. The Duke of Backhun in the Northern Region and Lady Delmia in the Southern Region are living perfectly well, aren’t they? Rather, it’s powerful evidence that you inherited the blood of the Duke of Dibostane.”
After taking a blow from Alpheus, Siren had remained quiet all this while.
Thanks to that, aside from those in the Russell Count Territory, no one had suffered harm for years.
Even if someone raised an objection, Audrey was confident she could suppress it with money.
“So now all we need to do is proceed to the next phase. I cannot stop, not for revenge against those who made you a monster.”
She burned with resolve, grinding her teeth.
“Well, your former fiancée whom you broke the engagement with has already married………”
Their chronic problem was status.
Audrey intended to resolve that status through Marcel’s marriage.
“While I was away from the Continent, the landscape of the Eastern Region’s noble houses has changed considerably, so even a foreign princess isn’t necessary. Things have worked out well for us.”
She laughed deeply, placing her hand on Marcel’s shoulder.
“Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, the circumstances of many nobles who backed the wrong side have deteriorated, haven’t they?”
Swift in her calculations, she had begun searching for a suitable match the moment she returned from the Continent.
A house from an old, prestigious Eastern family that could sow discord among Eastern nobles already dissatisfied with Ethan; a house whose daughter of marriageable age and unmarried status lacked sufficient funds to manage her territory and thus could not ignore the Cardipol Guild’s financial ties.
“I’ve already made an active betrothal proposal to the Johnston Count House. And the Count responded that he would consider it positively for now.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Though the matter had proceeded without his consent, Marcel nodded without resistance. He had no decision-making power anyway, and no desire to wield it.
He hadn’t even asked a question when Audrey added kindly.
“The young lady of the Johnston Count House has just turned twenty-two, I’m told.”
That would make her seven years younger than Marcel.
“Her name is Leah Johnston.”
Audrey smirked.
“Once mentioned as a prospective fiancée of the Nogen Family—a young lady of very high worth. Would you like to see her face at least once?”
“No, there’s no real need………”
Marcel tilted his head, asking uncertainly.
“Could such a proud young lady really agree to become engaged to me?”
“Well, my son?”
Audrey shrugged.
“From the moment the Count of Johnston began considering this marriage arrangement, that young lady’s will becomes irrelevant.”
* * *
Jerdian still wore his tattered cloak.
It was an appearance perfectly suited to be dismissed by our maids, who judged people by their clothing.
“Wearing clean, fine clothes is the foundation of courtesy. In Riente, we were taught that even without a home, one must wear fine clothes in the presence of others.”
In my childhood, I was deeply moved by that teaching.
“And so the nation fell. Consistency of purpose.”
He’d sold seasoned seaweed to pay off his debts and provide initial settlement funds for fishermen, yet I couldn’t fathom why he’d come now.
Now that Marcel and Ethan had begun trading blows, the Eastern Region would split in two. Therefore, I had no desire to become involved in any part of the Eastern Region, including the Russell Count Territory.
“What’s the matter?”
Alpheus asked the moment he faced him.
I too furrowed my brow and spoke.
“Coming from so far away without even sending word………”
Jerdian’s expression crumpled as he muttered.
“Coming from far away and greeting us like this………”
This bastard.
My eyes widened in surprise, and Jerdian quickly continued.
“……I apologize for meeting you in someone else’s reception room. I actually sent a letter to the Behila Residence yesterday evening, but I heard this morning that both of you had returned to the Sears Territory, so I came looking for you.”
Dark circles hung deep beneath his eyes once again.
He suddenly stood, then promptly prostrated himself.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Brisa. Last time you said seaweed could be cultivated—could you tell me the method?”
I furrowed my brow.
I’d thrown out those words carelessly, never expecting Jerdian would remember them.
“Actually, inquiries have kept coming in. People wanting to purchase more seasoned seaweed………”
It was as I’d anticipated.
“A certain noble from the Southern Region said that her child wouldn’t eat, but when wrapped in seaweed, he finished an entire bowl. She said money doesn’t matter—just please sell it to us.”
The south was humid and warm, so many people made rice rather than wheat their staple food. Seasoned seaweed paired beautifully with rice.
“But as you know, wild seaweed doesn’t grow that quickly, washing takes considerable time, and without that monster, it’s difficult to harvest at all.”
That’s why I’d said it was a one-time affair to begin with.
“We have our pride, so we can’t ask you to come again, but… if you could just explain the method in words, then we could try to………”
Jerdian continued, rolling his eyes.
“On the way here, I saw a shrimp farm! Would that be how you do it? If so, I think we might be able to manage it somehow.”
I crossed my arms and let out a deep sigh.
These people had so little knowledge of seaweed that they called it “black waves” or “rotting grass.”
If I were to send them away having explained seaweed cultivation only in words, and the cultivation actually succeeded, then just about anyone could farm seaweed.
And seaweed had a complex life cycle. It was nothing like shrimp farming, where you simply caught young shrimp and raised them in tanks.
“Of course, I know it’s shameless to ask with mere words, Young Lady.”
Jerdian suddenly took one deep breath, then struck his own chest with a sharp sound. After that, he declared with determination.
“So I’ll give myself to you!”
A brief silence fell.
I rolled my eyes once and asked.
“Alpheus, am I correctly remembering that I’ve received two confessions today?”
Alpheus answered slowly.
“It seems so. Gillab just brushed it off as coincidence, but if this is what the life of an older brother with a beautiful younger sister is like, I should humbly accept it………”
He slowly drew out his Mechanical Nails.
“If I have to deal with suitors every day going forward, I should first make an example of one to minimize the inconvenience………”
“No! That’s not it! Young Lady is already engaged!”
Watching the glimmering Mechanical Nails, Jerdian leaped up.
“I simply thought I might serve as Young Lady’s Adjutant………”
“Adjutant?”
I stared blankly.
“A Count’s Young Master as my Adjutant? What could you possibly be lacking?”
“I’m not someone who only moves when there’s something I lack………”
Jerdian reflexively began to respond with his typical sarcasm before hastily catching himself.
“Besides, I have no succession rights anyway. The position of Adjutant to the Grand Duchess would be sufficient.”
Adjutant… to me?
It was something I’d never once considered.

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