The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 259

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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 64
“I knew this would happen!”
Alpheus came rushing down the corridor, huffing indignantly.
“You shameless wolf, transforming in front of everyone! How improper!”
I exhaled deeply and grumbled.
“This direction of transformation isn’t improper at all. It’s the reverse direction that’s the problem.”
“Ah, I see. That makes sense.”
Only after hearing my explanation did Alpheus nod in understanding, his eyes widening.
“Then give me those clothes. Make sure you transform into human form only in my room from now on.”
“They’re soaked anyway. I was going to have them laundered.”
“Oh right, Baekgu’s all wet too! Let me carry him. I’ll handle the laundry. I can’t very well drench all your clothes, can I?”
Unbothered by the rainwater, Alpheus scooped up both the clothes and Baekgu in one motion.
I stretched and nodded in agreement.
“All right, I’ll be getting ready. Bring him to my room after he’s played a bit.”
Baekgu looked at me with betrayed eyes.
Alpheus, his face bright with satisfaction, spoke cheerfully.
“Baekgu, since you’re already soaked, how about we throw a disc around in the rain? There’s nothing quite like splashing through the mud when it rains!”
Leopold would absolutely hate getting rained on and rolling around in the mud.
“And then you can bathe with me afterward!”
Baekgu’s pupils trembled wildly.
“We’ll have a good romp together, and then I’ll scrub you spotless!”
There was no malice in that cheerful voice whatsoever—which, in its own way, was rather tragic.
Even though I’d accepted Leopold as my fiancé, Alpheus had become a considerable obstacle to his life in more ways than one.
“See you in a bit, then.”
I pretended not to see the desperate plea in Baekgu’s eyes as I headed to my room. I had my own preparations to make.
No matter what, I couldn’t let my fiancé see me changing clothes, even if he was in dog form.
* * *
Imperial Palace.
“So we’ll be able to meet with Lady Brisa today, then.”
The aide flashed a deep smile toward Maximus.
“True to form for the Cardipol Guild Master—quite bold indeed. Showing capability right away, no less.”
The aide compared this situation to the “sample presentation” method the guild frequently employed.
Though a deal with Maximus hadn’t yet been struck, if one came to pass, the Guild Master’s abilities would certainly be sufficient to arrange an introduction to Brisa Sears.
“It will be an opportunity for the two of you to converse freely.”
Alpheus likely wouldn’t be able to attend.
The aide gazed at him with satisfaction.
“Impeccable, sir. Lately you receive handkerchiefs from noble ladies quite regularly, don’t you?”
His formal dress uniform was indeed immaculate.
“Think of it rationally. Lady Sears is the logical answer to taking hold of the imperial throne.”
“Hmm.”
Maximus raised an eyebrow.
“Do you know why Lady Sears shows even the slightest kindness toward me?”
His voice was light, but his words carried absolute sincerity.
“Because she hasn’t the faintest idea of my feelings. She and I are seven years apart, yet she regards me solely as Alpheus’s friend—treating me as though we’re nearly ten years apart.”
He was perceptive. He understood exactly what sort of feelings Brisa held toward him.
“The moment I reveal even a hint of my true heart, she’ll cease to speak with me so naturally. That would be good for neither of us.”
The aide had no ready answer, his mouth opening and closing uselessly.
Maximus smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere.
“Still, I intend to cooperate with the Cardipol Guild Master in this matter.”
“A wise choice, sir.”
“With that in mind, I’ll stop briefly at the Magic Tower before proceeding. I need to see the Master of the Magic Tower.”
The Master had become perfectly aligned with him. Seeing her throw her full support behind the vampire poison flower incident had won her over.
Maximus glanced at the mirror one last time as he passed.
“No trouble in Nogen lately?”
The aide responded at once.
“None, sir.”
* * *
Baekgu arrived in my room with an expression that was practically begging for mercy.
I was already nearly finished with my preparations and sat before my vanity, greeting him with a gentle smile.
“Did you have fun?”
Baekgu’s yellow eyes fixed on me, filled with resentment.
He let out a small whine and collapsed at my feet, utterly exhausted.
“Don’t worry—from now on, not a speck of dirt will touch your paws. I’ll just carry you the whole way.”
Even someone who’d attended the imperial reception would find it difficult to remember Baekgu’s appearance. Still, I murmured thoughtfully.
“Maybe I should pin a large flower on him for an image makeover.”
Baekgu shook his head, clearly disapproving of the idea.
The maids had drawn near without my noticing.
“Oh my, isn’t this the little dog the Marquis was playing with earlier?”
“The Marquis washed him himself and gave him a bath! He said he brought him from the Western Region?”
Leopold’s suffering was truly a tale told without dry eyes.
Since it was time to add accessories, I spoke to Baekgu tenderly.
“Just be patient a moment. We’re almost done.”
The maids began selecting bracelets and necklaces.
“Nothing too extravagant for where we’re going—just pick something appropriate.”
Even with that reasonable range, the pieces Valerie had given me were so numerous that trying them on took considerable time.
“Oh, Miss? What’s this?”
One of the busy maids pulled something from my vanity.
“Was this here? You don’t usually wear perfume, do you, Miss? Did Valerie give you this?”
It was the perfume Silvia had given me. Calling it perfume was a stretch—the bottle itself was tiny, and the liquid inside barely filled more than the tip of a finger.
But before I could answer, the maid dropped the perfume bottle.
“Oh no! What do I do!”
The bottle was small and slippery; the elderly maid had simply lost her grip.
In that instant, Baekgu, who’d been lying exhausted nearby, reacted immediately.
“Ruff!”
Just as the maid cried out, he batted the falling bottle away with his front paw—likely intending to keep it from staining my skirt…
It shattered with a sharp, tinkling crash.
“Baekgu!”
I scooped him up in alarm, worried he might have hurt himself.
As the maids fussed over sweeping up the shattered bottle…
“Wait, what?”
I noticed the small amount of perfume had clung to Baekgu’s front paws.
I was about to wipe it away with my skirt when the liquid suddenly gleamed and vanished in the blink of an eye, completely absorbed into his fur.
Baekgu looked up at me in shock, his eyes asking what on earth that was.
“Well, um, that is… so…”
I stumbled through an explanation in my confusion.
“It’s a perfume from the Magic Tower that’s supposed to make one rush forward boldly toward someone they care about? Silvia gave it to me as a birthday gift…”
At the mention of Silvia’s name, Baekgu’s eyes filled with despair. Come to think of it, he’d warned me about her just this morning.
But the maids, having overheard my mumbling, launched into a serious discussion.
“Ah, so she gave it to you to use when meeting His Highness the Young Grand Duke of Nogen? Baron Forman’s daughter is two years older than you, I believe?”
“Noble ladies gathering together and sharing such information is one of the most important social activities among their circles. For you to have made such a useful friend, Miss—we couldn’t ask for better!”
“You’re practically a young lady now, Miss, so we’ve been thinking it’s time we gave you some proper education… but to hear you’re building connections with that young lady is wonderful!”
“Perhaps you wanted to meet your niece soon? Why not hold a tea party and invite her next time? We could prepare some carefully selected books on the topic?”
If His Highness the Young Grand Duke of Nogen ever learned the contents of that discussion, my maids would undoubtedly dig their own graves with their own hands and lie down in them respectfully.
I rolled my eyes and spoke carefully.
“If I recall correctly, ‘rushing forward boldly’ isn’t limited to that kind of… physical meaning.”
I examined Baekgu’s paws, but they were perfectly clean. All the perfume had already been absorbed.
“It should be effective for two or three hours, but since he’s a dog, it shouldn’t matter…”
Baekgu’s expression turned blank with dismay.
I patted him gently and whispered.
“Besides, you’ll be in dog form until the medicine wears off anyway, right? Well… as long as there are no female dogs in the Duke’s Estate, we should be fine.”
Baekgu let out a thin sigh, looking deeply offended.

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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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