The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 39
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 39
‘Collecting information about Dark Mages?’
This wasn’t in the original story.
‘It’s because I caused the Dark Mages to be caught!’
Originally, the Dark Mages weren’t discovered when they used the Western Port.
But Leopold ended up arresting them at the scene, which changed the future.
‘If things I don’t know about keep happening like this, won’t I eventually become sane? Just like ordinary people who don’t know the future.’
Anticipation slowly crept up.
“I haven’t seen any Dark Mages in the Central Region.”
Alpheus said calmly.
“Of course, there could be some, but they haven’t caught my eye. Oh, I did encounter some in the Eastern Region on my way to the Central Region.”
“I see. If you have any other information, please let us know anytime.”
In any case, Baron Forman was very pleased when we offered him dinner.
“Oh, veal steak. I suppose we can eat beef now that trade with Count Joachim Territory has begun.”
It was actually cattle we had started raising ourselves, but I didn’t bother to point that out.
Baron Forman hesitated greatly before emptying his plate.
“The etiquette of leaving food little by little should disappear now.”
I agreed.
“Baron, I’ve always thought so. Leaving food is the most terrible of all Western etiquette.”
It was truly an anachronistic custom during times of food shortage.
Baron Forman smiled gently and asked while looking out at the garden. It was the land where Alpheus had been diligently farming until just a while ago.
“What are you planting, Young Lady?”
“Corn.”
We were planting corn in both the garden and the rear garden.
Since it was midsummer, there were limits to what grain we could choose. Corn seeds were difficult to obtain, but fortunately, as soon as the Warp started working, we had just managed to get some from another region.
We had to raise the money by selling the remaining potatoes.
‘We really had no money back then… We still don’t now.’
Alpheus said that now that the Warp was working, he would try asking the Second Prince for compensation money again.
But this was the response from the Imperial Court.
[The Second Prince was dispatched to the Southern Region yesterday under imperial orders to investigate the ‘Curse of Sleep’.]
“Well, since it’s just an investigation, he’ll return soon. When His Highness arrives at the Imperial Palace and contacts us, I’ll go right away then. I’ll just wait.”
So Alpheus was farming while waiting for the Second Prince’s contact.
There was no point in contacting the Southern Region anyway. According to procedure, the Second Prince had to personally ask the Emperor for the compensation money.
“But why corn all of a sudden…”
“It seems like the Western Region’s grain productivity won’t be normal this year.”
Baron Forman flinched as if I had hit the mark.
“How did you know?”
“Well, that’s news you can find out just by going to the seed market.”
I had actually gone to the seed market myself. It was the most important matter, after all.
That’s when it happened.
“Well then, shall we depart?”
Alpheus appeared, neatly dressed in fresh clothes.
“So, um, you’re saying we’ve been invited? Well, I’ll get ready right away! Let’s go as soon as you finish your meal!”
“Pardon?”
Baron Forman stopped his spoon mid-bite while eating his milk pudding dessert, bewildered.
He smiled awkwardly and said.
“Ah… The Marquis is going too? And you want to leave right now?”
Alpheus tilted his head and asked.
“Brisa is still young, so, um, shouldn’t a guardian accompany her? Oh, is there a set date for the invitation?”
“Ah, well, that, that’s true. As for timing, well, there’s no rush, so just let us know whenever it’s convenient and visit then.”
“Aha! Then let’s go now! This is convenient for us!”
Alpheus said cheerfully.
“Actually, I need to collect money from… no, beg… no, ask a favor of the Second Prince, so, um, if not now, I don’t know when I’ll have time.”
When contact came from the Second Prince, he’d have to rush to the Imperial Palace like lightning, so his intention was to handle his schedule as quickly as possible.
Baron Forman glanced at me with a troubled expression.
“Um, what does Young Lady Brisa think about what he said…?”
“I don’t think it’s good.”
I said with a sigh.
“I’ve told you several times not to make ‘um’ sounds in the middle.”
I was the one who received the invitation, but there was no particular reason not to bring Alpheus along.
I had been wanting to give Alpheus some experience with noble families anyway. If Baron Forman’s house was the first, that would be excellent. At least Baron Forman wasn’t the type to openly disrespect Alpheus.
“Then I’ll get ready! Baron, you should come with us too!”
Alpheus declared heartily.
“A trip with our Bribr… no, Brisa! I’m so excited!”
I sighed and gave him a warning.
“Don’t get too excited. When we go, you need to have a serious expression. You heard it yourself. The Western Region is having a headache because of dark mages.”
“Oh, really? Sorry…”
“You shouldn’t say sorry so easily either. It makes it seem like you should repay it with something.”
“Ugh, I see. Then I should do this.”
Alpheus silently bowed his head deeply toward Baron Forman.
I stepped hard on Alpheus’s foot.
“Bowing your head is even worse. Especially to someone of lower rank – that’s absolutely something you should never do. It makes both parties uncomfortable.”
“Really? Then, um, what if I’ve already bowed my head like now?”
“Just lie down flat. And call for a doctor, saying you didn’t bow your head but collapsed from anemia.”
Listening to our conversation, Baron Forman smiled awkwardly. His expression showed he hadn’t expected us to say we’d leave for the Western Region right away.
‘Of course, no one departs immediately after being invited.’
Still, I had no particular intention of opposing Alpheus’s opinion.
‘According to the original story, the warps will continue to be unstable.’
In the original work, it was described that only the Southern Region’s warps were completely messed up, but I couldn’t be certain that the Western Region’s warps were fine.
It was possible that the Western Region’s problems weren’t described and were just glossed over because they were outside the protagonist’s sphere of activity.
‘So let’s move quickly while we can say there are no major problems.’
Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I sided with Alpheus.
‘If we go to the Western Region, might I be able to meet Leopold? Baron Forman’s House is even Leopold’s maternal family.’
But now I had a new purpose.
‘I need to hear Leopold’s side of the story.’
I wanted to live. To do that, I absolutely had to find out the identity of those who had targeted me.
Even if the Dark Mages of Sebon Kingdom simply wanted to kill me because I had Riente blood mixed in, I still needed to know all the circumstances of the situation.
‘I can’t get caught up in something and get hurt without knowing anything.’
And one more thing.
This was something that might or might not happen, but I wanted to see the Western Region’s land once.
‘According to the original story, that vast land keeps having problems…’
No matter how much we were trying our best to be self-sufficient, it would be most beneficial if the entire continent’s productivity improved.
The Western Region’s vast land was an irreplaceable resource in itself.
‘I won’t meddle unnecessarily… but if they ask for help, I should at least take a look.’
Of course, the possibility of that was slim.
‘I wonder if there will really be a situation where a guest needs to step forward directly.’
I was a child who knew my place.
Anyway, for various reasons, I wanted to go to the Western Region quickly. Despite it being a decision that went against noble common sense.
‘Well, it’s not my decision but Alpheus’s decision.’
Baron Forman, thinking it over, apparently judged it was no big deal and readily nodded his head.
“Then since you’re here, please stay for a few days.”
He suggested gently.
“Please also visit our territory’s pride, the Magic Library.”
And so, an hour later.
We gathered our party and decided to move to the Central Warp.
“Now, Western Region… Nogen… Magic Library… front Wesean Cave.”
Baron Forman calmly input the coordinates into the warp.
Usually warps were installed in remote areas where people didn’t pass through. So the Central Warp where we were now also existed on top of a hill.
“Now, we’re departing.”
And as we all stood on the massive warp and were about to be enveloped by the magic circle.
“Ugh, ughhh?”
“Wh-what, what, what, something’s strange?”
Both Alpheus and I felt our toes trembling and sensed a strange energy.
‘This can’t be! The warps are already messed up?’
Just when I was engulfed in panic and wanted to scream.
“Kyaa!”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Eventually, unable to hold back my screams, I clung to Alpheus.
“Brisa! Brisa!”
Like a miracle, the ground touched the soles of our feet.
But that place… wasn’t the inside of a cave as we had expected.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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