The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 260

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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 65
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Gillab’s territory, Behila.
Gillab gazed out the window with a melancholy expression.
“This is my home now. I’m never leaving here. Never.”
A few days earlier, his father—Duke Dibostane—had been laid to rest.
His brother and the Duchess had gone ashen-faced. It was because the Will lay in Audrey’s hands.
That his hale father had suddenly fallen to his death was hard to believe; that the succession had become shrouded in mystery was even worse.
‘Hadn’t Father already made up his mind long ago?’
Gillab brooded darkly.
‘What Father truly loves is that woman. And Marcel too…….’
Ethan was the legitimate eldest son. He had borne the title of Young Duke since before Marcel was born.
Even with such an ironclad succession structure, the Duke had wavered irresolute. Of course he had imposed no restraint on Audrey whatsoever.
Looking at it that way, Father must have secretly wished to elevate Marcel as his successor.
In reality, even if Marcel had not inherited the original bloodline, in appearance alone he was the son who most resembled the Duke.
‘The only thing was, there was no justification, no precedent—so Father lacked the courage.’
Looking at the situation objectively, apart from his brother and mother, that truth seemed almost obvious.
‘If there had been a legal way to remove him from the Young Duke title, matters might have gone differently.’
But a few years ago, the Northern Region had descended into chaos over succession.
What if the Eastern Region were swept into civil war too? It was a very real possibility.
‘Mother and my brother certainly won’t stay idle…….’
They had likely made a pact with the Dark Mages.
He had no intention of reporting his brother and mother directly, but war terrified him.
‘I don’t care. I’m just going to stay here and live a long life, come what may.’
But what if, when civil war breaks out, Cardipol’s private forces attack Behila thinking it sides with Ethan?
‘A wall…… a very high wall. I’ll build one that rings our entire territory. So high no one can breach it. And I should stockpile plenty of provisions, just in case.’
Gillab, gripped by anxiety, bit at his nails.
It was strange how little sadness he felt at Father’s death. Now he wondered if his father had even remembered his age or his face.
‘Besides, this isn’t the time to be mourning. Father caused all that chaos before he left.’
He was consumed with worry about the Eastern Region’s rapidly shifting circumstances.
Even if he hid well enough to survive, once either Ethan or Marcel became the next Duke of Dibostane, he doubted they would leave him in peace.
‘They certainly won’t help me manage the territory, but eventually they’ll need money, won’t they?’
The private wealth he’d set aside was considerable, but it gave him no comfort.
‘Is there no way to increase the territory’s profits? Something long-term…….’
One thought kept circling his mind.
It was one of Brisa’s suggestions from the last time she’d looked at the herb fields.
“Since your population density is higher than the Western Region, try planting something more labor-intensive and expensive.”
But what was it?!
He’d scribbled notes frantically at the time, but when he tried to review them, the answer was gone.
‘What am I supposed to plant? Why did she just leave me hanging?’
He had just picked up a quill pen to send a letter when—
“Um…… Gillab.”
His butler knocked cautiously.
“Brisa’s adjutant has arrived outside.”
Brisa had an adjutant?
This was an opportunity. He had to meet them at once.
He scrambled to his feet and shouted instructions to show the highest hospitality.
“First give them garlic to eat, affix a Defense Scroll, then bring them inside—understand? Have a doctor see them first in case they’re carrying a plague! And of course we search their belongings and their person!”
* * *
Rain had fallen on the Eastern Region too.
“Brr, it’s a bit chilly. Maybe these clothes are too thin.”
“It’s winter rain, that’s why. What if our Brisa catches cold?”
Upon arriving at the Cardipol Estate and stepping down from the carriage, Alpheus hastily stripped off his outer coat and draped it over my shoulders.
The Cardipol Estate was, in a word, magnificent. And there was one other, extraordinary feature.
“Brisa? I think I’ve been here before.”
In front of the estate, Alpheus tilted his head.
“It feels familiar…… like it’s in my memories. But I’m sure this is my first time here?”
“Something very rare is happening.”
I looked around and spoke.
“You’re right about everything. It’s all like Duke Dibostane’s Estate.”
Alpheus’s eyes went wide.
“I mean, it’s rare to model a building after an identical one, isn’t it?”
“What I meant by rare is that you’re right about everything…… but well, building a similar structure is odd too.”
To be honest, it was more splendid and beautiful than Duke Dibostane’s Estate. I thought that if the Duke’s Estate were renovated and expanded, something like this might result.
The symbolic sculptures of the family and all the historically important elements, even the structure of the mansion—everything was perfectly identical. Though of course it was all newly made replica.
“We’re still in the midst of renovations.”
A servant spoke apologetically.
“We’re making adjustments to several areas…….”
Those words meant: ‘We’re making it even more similar so it can serve as a new ducal estate.’
But because it was still ‘new,’ the Cardipol Estate shone more brightly than Duke Dibostane’s Estate.
“The corridors are completely identical…… if I’d been caught under some strange spell and fallen into an old memory, I’d believe it.”
Thus we were guided directly to the Reception Room. Even that space mirrored every last decoration of Duke Dibostane’s Estate.
“In this space that looked exactly the same, remember how Gillab disrespected you a few years ago?”
I picked at Alpheus’s conscience a little.
Alpheus answered lightly.
“Well, that’s forgivable. Seems like it was because he had an unrequited love for you for so long. He even said ‘come to me instead’ last time.”
Remarkably, that childish line struck Alpheus’s fancy.
“The twisted heart of a young boy…… one can understand it.”
It was only after Baekgu bared his teeth that Alpheus jumped in alarm.
“Ah, don’t worry! That earnest affection won’t be returned! Brisa was completely serious about it! My sister doesn’t compromise!”
He laughed heartily and openly.
“Sigh, Baekgu. You can’t help what’s in someone else’s heart, can you? People like people! Even I got plenty of confessions from people I wasn’t interested in back when I was a teenager, and I never thought it was wrong!”
I found the original protagonist’s old popularity unsurprising. Just from his face, he’d be the type to receive marriage proposals walking down the street.
It was surely because he’d become a Mercenary Company captain that he lost the people who would have been timid around him, and thus he talked more.
“When you think about it, isn’t an unrequited love more pitiful? The one who suffers most is the one doing the pining themselves, so isn’t the proper stance for all of us to hold them with compassion?”
Alpheus deployed an irrefutably ‘virtuous argument.’
“Of course, if it crosses the line, I’ll step in, but up to a point I can let it slide.”
Baekgu’s jaw dropped.
I offered cold comfort to Baekgu.
“Even if Gillab confessed, it wouldn’t have moved my heart. Don’t worry about it.”
Baekgu made a whimpering sound as if he had much to say.
Just then—
“I’m glad we all get to see each other this way.”
Maximus entered the Reception Room.
“It was truly an unexpected circumstance, though…….”
“Your Highness!”
Alpheus greeted him warmly.
“Have you been well? You must have been quite busy?”
“The Vampire Flower has kept me occupied. I feel like I’m at the Magic Tower every other day.”
Maximus sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
“Has there been nothing unusual in House of Sears? And Baekgu, it’s been a while.”
Maximus, who had quickly grasped Baekgu’s identity, greeted him cheerfully.
Baekgu watched Maximus with wary eyes.
“By the way, Brisa. I wonder if you were surprised by the sudden appointment as observer.”
Having dispensed with pleasantries quickly, Maximus rummaged through his pouch and produced a deck of cards.
“Waiting grows tedious—how about we play a card game? Last time there were too many ears listening, and I was sorry we couldn’t join in.”
Alpheus’s eyes went round.
“A card game? You mean from the coming-of-age ceremony? And we just met—how can it be tedious? I still have so much to…… ow!”
I stepped on Alpheus’s foot. ‘Too many ears listening’ clearly referred to the present situation, so I accepted the deck Maximus offered without protest.
The cards he handed me were three in number. Different suits, but numbered 1, 2, 3 in order.
“You haven’t seen cards like these before, have you? I bought them at a shop in the Eastern Region last time, and I heard the shop has since closed. A pity.”
He held three cards of his own and spoke with ease.
“Just follow the rules I explained before. Do you remember?”
And Maximus had never once taught me the rules to any card game whatsoever.

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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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