The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 256

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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 61
“That makes no sense.”
Isabela shook her head, her brow furrowed.
“Since when have the First Five Families and the Imperial Family each appointed their own Will Witnesses? Even if Duke Dibostane’s House is in complicated circumstances right now, that’s…”
Baron Forman answered with an uncomfortable expression.
“It appears they named those two for precisely that reason.”
The former Intelligence Agent assessed the situation objectively.
“His Highness the Second Prince is not yet the Crown Prince. Moreover, Miss Brisa has no succession rights. It’s a grave matter, but they have the pretext that they didn’t summon anyone of such paramount importance.”
On the surface, that was true. The real power behind Sears was me, and the real power behind the Imperial Family was Maximus, but…
Apart from Duke Dibostane’s House, the only person from the First Five Families without succession rights was myself, Harrison, and Delmia. But Harrison had an intelligence issue, and Delmia had severe social anxiety.
“However, one thing is certain. Whose interests the Will serves.”
I couldn’t easily guess what calculation Audrey had made.
I lowered my eyes and murmured quietly.
“When on earth did Cardipol prepare that Will?”
Isabela, who had been frowning, raised an objection.
“What if that woman sweet-talked the Duke into writing the Will to her liking, then killed him?”
At that, Baron Forman frowned and shook his head.
“I doubt it. Neither would be easy. The Duke certainly loves that woman and their illegitimate child, but probably not more than his own life.”
Of course, Alpheus showed little interest in the Duke’s death. He only worried about me, so he worked hard to put his modest mind to use.
“I don’t know the detailed procedures, but I remember when my father passed, the Will Witnesses changed constantly. If circumstances didn’t permit, they’d call someone else, that sort of thing.”
I had been at the Academy at the time, so I didn’t know how the Will was presented then. But it was clear that distinguished Witnesses weren’t needed. There was little enough left behind.
“Why doesn’t Brisa just say she has personal circumstances and can’t attend? It’s not an obligation.”
Alpheus continued with concern.
“Does our Brisa really need to go to such a controversial scene?”
“That’s right, Brisa.”
Isabela nodded emphatically.
“Say you’re ill. If one of the First Five Families is needed, I’ll go instead.”
Even Leopold, who had been silent, added his voice.
“Right now the ones most bewildered are probably the Young Duke and the Duchess. Think about what they’ll do. This could be the beginning of the Eastern Civil War.”
He spoke low as well.
“So I also oppose sending you to that place.”
Everyone’s concern was understandable. If I were as I’d been before, I would naturally have hidden away, saying ‘It’s not my business. I’ll draw no attention to Eastern affairs.’
But yesterday, I changed my mind.
‘It was the same when I was young.’
Before my thirteenth birthday arrived, I learned that the Dark Mages of Sebon were targeting me—and my first thought was to hide.
It couldn’t be helped. I wasn’t the type to face the world courageously or overcome hardship. But when Alpheus pulled me out into the world, I came to understand the value of confronting things actively.
Leopold, who shared my temperament, probably didn’t volunteer to step forward because he wanted to either. But having faced Monster Waves since childhood, he knows: hiding and evading aren’t the answer.
‘I won’t let you rest.’
Whoever had manipulated Leopold’s father.
I couldn’t leave him as he was.
Both Alpheus and I could die yet become puppets in someone’s hands, unable to rest even in death.
Honestly, if I thought about my mother coming back alive and attacking me… Leopold and Hilberry had undoubtedly endured sorrow I couldn’t even imagine.
It wasn’t the sort of wrongdoing you could ignore or pretend not to see.
So I declared firmly.
“No, I’m going.”
The Dark Mages’ minions are concentrated in the East. I decided not to overlook Eastern affairs—not for the sake of ignoring them.
While Alpheus slept and Leopold was away, in truth we’d all been too busy defending against Vampire attacks. And this was the result.
“It’s a chance to get involved in the East.”
I explained calmly.
“If the Will contains anything about transferring the Ducal title to Marcel, the Young Duke won’t accept it. And where they lean will be clear.”
Perhaps we should have uprooted the problem from the start.
“So I should go. Leaving everything to His Highness the Second Prince alone…”
Originally I’d meant to entrust everything to Maximus, but this affair taught me otherwise.
Maximus was the sort who moved for his own security, not for justice.
Naturally, since it all happened in one night, he wouldn’t know yet, but frankly, even if he did find out, I doubted he’d care much. It had little to do with his Imperial Throne.
I’d thought of him simply as ‘one of us,’ but ultimately we—bound by emotion rather than politics—were of a different grain.
“I lack complete trust.”
So I decided to do as I wished. My mother in the afterlife would be horrified, but I’d made puffed rice and tried beer in commoner’s clothes before, just as I pleased.
And the reason I could do as I wished was…
“All right. Do everything you want, Brisa.”
Because Alpheus was there, steadfast behind me and supporting me.
“I’ll protect you. Anywhere we go together is fine.”
Isabela let out a serious groan and then struck the Dining Table with a bang.
“Then let’s do this. Since we can’t go to Rudolph Village this winter anyway, we’ll clean out all the Dark Mage minions in the East by then.”
The eyes of our most militant member blazed.
“Our two most important military assets have returned. What reason is there we can’t sweep the Vampires off the Continent? That’s right—Brisa’s got it. This is our chance. Our chance to root out every last pest in the East!”
According to additional information, the Will would be revealed days after the Funeral was held. That left us considerable time.
In fact, that was odd too. Usually they didn’t leave much gap in time. But we were outsiders, so we weren’t in a position to question such things.
“Then I’ll send word that I’ll come on the appointed date.”
At my words, Leopold, who had been silent until then, slowly opened his mouth.
“They might restrict entry to Witnesses only and forbid outsiders from the venue. The Marquis or the noble lady can’t stay at your side the entire time.”
“Then His Highness the Second Prince would be there beside me, wouldn’t he?”
Whether or not Maximus was on Nogen’s side, he was certainly on Sears’s side. We were the Noble House closest to Maximus, both outwardly and in reality.
Alpheus nodded vigorously.
“That’s right. The Prince could easily protect Brisa! We can trust His Highness.”
Then Leopold shook his head.
“A bit more caution would be acceptable.”
It meant ‘I’ll oppose this with my life on the line.’
“So I shall go with you.”
Everyone blinked.
Understanding came late. Outsiders might be forbidden entry, but a companion animal had a good chance of being let through.
Among us, only Silvia and Baron Forman didn’t understand this exchange.
Since we couldn’t reveal someone else’s secret to them, confused as they were, Alpheus and Isabela couldn’t even object to his proposal.
“All right, then.”
In the end, I clarified the situation.
“Come to the Sears Marquis Estate on the appointed date. We’ll go together.”
And before that, while I had some time, there was something I wanted to cultivate at Sears.
“Before then, could I ask you to find something for me in the Western Region?”
It was a fairly common tree, not found at Sears. In the broad, expansive Western Region, it would certainly be easy to obtain.
“I want to plant something at Sears in the meantime.”
The low Hill that had served as the border with Count Joachim Territory.
Until now, with the Monster Waves, there’d been no chance to cultivate anything. But now that Leopold had resolved the Monster Waves, that land too had become fit for planting.
“Planting now would be perfect.”
Before stepping back into the world, there was a crop perfectly suited to plant in Sears Territory at this very time.

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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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