The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 242

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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 47
“What?”
“Don’t worry so much. There won’t be any bloodshed.”
With that, he quickly started running toward the opposite side of the mansion.
I turned my head urgently and caught sight of light brown hair tied back in a ponytail far in the distance.
So the urgent matter he needed to handle was…
It seemed the object of his “don’t worry” wasn’t Alpheus, but Isabela.
I was staring blankly at the backs of the two figures who had vanished in an instant when a low voice reached me from behind.
“Welcome, Brisa.”
Leopold offered his hand with a gentle smile.
“I asked the Princess to play bait. I wanted to be your escort.”
His face looked immaculate, as if nothing had happened at all.
“Will you give me the honor of giving you your best day?”
At that same moment, a burst of rainbow smoke erupted from the garden with a sharp pop.
Dozens of advanced Magic Tower items used only for Imperial protocol were consumed in mere seconds.
I stared at Leopold blankly.
The person I had only hoped would remain safe appeared right before my eyes, and suddenly my words failed me. At the same moment, the coachman behind me shed tears of emotion.
“It’s a complete success for the surprise party…”
Ah. So the surprise started from here?
“Our young lady surely didn’t see this coming.”
The coachman misread the tremor in my eyes.
“Starting from this morning, no less…”
As I murmured blankly, Leopold whispered.
“This matched the Marquis’s tastes.”
True enough. Alpheus had always loved birthday celebrations that started the moment he opened his eyes.
I examined Leopold carefully. There didn’t seem to be any wounds, and I couldn’t detect anything strange about him.
“…I’m so relieved you’re safe. I thought I might not see you today.”
When I spoke softly, Leopold replied with an apologetic expression.
“You have every right to criticize me. Not only was I away on a distant continent for so long, but after I returned, we couldn’t even spend a full day together.”
That wasn’t what I meant at all.
“You’re certain nothing went wrong?”
“What are you talking about, Brisa?”
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
“What could possibly be more significant than your coming of age? The Western Region has actually been preparing for your twentieth birthday for two months. Fortunately, I joined in at the final stage and managed to barely preserve the honor of Nogen Grand Duke.”
“…You know what I mean.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about. Everything is fine.”
“…”
“I haven’t contacted you in so long that I must have seemed to disappear. I’m sorry. But it took an unexpectedly long time to persuade the Princess.”
He continued with utmost gravity.
“It was essentially a request that would stake my life, so the Princess couldn’t reasonably agree easily. But I wanted to see you for even a moment without the Marquis.”
“Well, as long as you’re safe, that’s what matters.”
I accepted his escort and spoke.
“I’ve been praying all this time that your limbs and features remained intact.”
“Prayers seem quite effective.”
He took my hand and laughed brightly as we followed the ornately decorated path toward the banquet hall.
“But even if you’ve belatedly manifested a talent for prayer, you’re already engaged, so you can’t enter the Temple.”
“Still, I can spare a prayer for the Princess to arrive safely, can’t I?”
I shrugged.
“So she reaches Lord Valerie without incident.”
“I’ve already mapped out the entire route.”
Leopold reported like an aide explaining strategy.
“The Marquis will find it difficult to catch up easily. Even with an innate ability advantage, the Princess has geographic advantage.”
“So…”
I looked up at him and asked.
“What did you promise the Princess in return for her sacrifice?”
“Three boxes of pepper.”
Leopold held up three fingers with utmost seriousness.
“The Princess didn’t lose in this deal. Rather, I played the fool.”
Hah.
At this point, I truly couldn’t contain my pride any longer.
“You know, my territory has enormous jars absolutely full of pepper.”
Leopold then knit his brow and murmured earnestly.
“I just realized I need a wealthy bride…even for Nogen, three boxes of pepper is a substantial drain, so if possible, I’d like to sell off Harrison’s organs to cover it.”
“Then I’d recommend the brain. You’ll get the best price.”
I offered my advice with equal seriousness.
“Hardly used, so it’s practically like new. Basically unused.”
By then, we had entered the banquet hall.
People had already gathered in the banquet hall, which the servants of Nogen Grand Duke’s Residence had decorated with painstaking care.
“Happy birthday, Brisa!”
“Happy birthday, Young Lady Brisa!”
“Happy birthday, Brisa.”
Everyone cheered without exception. Present were Hilberry and Valerie, Duke Backhun and Former Marquis Naisarr and his wife, Harrison and Delmia, as well as Shania and Maximus.
“Ah, my maternal grandfather only sent a gift.”
Leopold whispered.
“He came down with a severe cold and couldn’t help it. But he asked me to tell you how much he congratulates you on your coming of age and how truly sorry he is.”
Indeed, Baron Forman was nowhere to be seen. And there was another scene that exceeded my expectations.
“Goodness, if the Princess could have seen this, how happy she would have been.”
“I’ll commit every detail to memory. So I can report to the Princess in the afterlife, one by one.”
The Knights of Sears and the Maids were also present in the banquet hall.
Their names were written on the place cards prepared with the tables. They had been formally invited. It was rare for commoners to be invited in such numbers.
In truth, I had never cared for rites of passage. But I hadn’t insisted seriously that “my birthday will simply be passed over without ceremony” precisely because of my Maids.
They must have anticipated this day since the moment I was born.
My Maids were all quite old now. I didn’t want to rob them of their joy.
I expected them to follow along naturally once they’d had their hair trimmed and nails tidied. But I never imagined the Western Region would treat them as honored guests so formally.
“Those who have stood beside young Brisa through all these long years.”
Hilberry spoke gently.
“I wanted to express gratitude to those who have struggled and endured together.”
Seeing the Maids’ faces, as though they’d welcome death without regret, something deep inside me tightened and ached.
There had been a reason the Western Region took the trouble to invite me this way. At least for this day, they wanted to honor my Maids as well.
‘My goodness, they all knew.’
That I wanted to celebrate not my own coming of age so much as the people who had walked beside me all this way.
Even though I was sharing a table with Maids and Knights—commoners—no one showed the slightest displeasure.
“Today there are no dances, no opening remarks or anything like that.”
Leopold spoke gently.
“Just enjoy the day together.”
“That’s impossible. Noble houses don’t hold ceremonies like that.”
“Nogen can manage it.”
He lazily handed me a glass filled with wine as he spoke.
“No matter how much they might criticize you, they can hardly call Nogen unbecoming. And what an honor it is. That I should be the one to offer Brisa her first drink.”
At that moment, jealousy seized me and I asked darkly.
“Surely Harrison wasn’t the one who offered you your first drink?”
Leopold had come of age in Sebon, so if he had someone to share a drink with, it would have been Harrison alone.
He shrugged.
“If you don’t like that, would you hand me a glass? Then you’ll be the one to offer me my first drink too.”
He revealed the shocking fact that he hadn’t touched a single drop of alcohol even now, well past his coming of age. Though truthfully, there had been little reason to drink while moving busily in enemy territory.
“Fine. Then I’ll claim your first toast. In exchange, you get mine.”
I handed Leopold a glass and we clinked quickly.
His golden eyes softened warmly.
“Congratulations on your coming of age, Brisa.”
And he uttered the sort of line common boys might say.
“Let’s have real fun together until the night gets deep.”

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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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