The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 50

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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 50

 

That was something beyond Hilberry’s expectations.

 

Since Leopold’s father had manifested the curse in his mid-twenties, he had vaguely thought that even if it was inherited, it wouldn’t appear until around that time.

 

Moreover, the manifestation of the curse was more frequent than expected. Three months came around quickly.

 

After going through all of this, Leopold spoke calmly.

 

“I agree that this curse must not be revealed to the outside world. However, I think we need to break off the engagement.”

 

“Break off the engagement?”

 

“I don’t want there to be any victims. Brisa Sears got engaged without knowing this fact, didn’t she?”

 

“So you’re saying you’ll end the Nogen lineage?”

 

“I’ll do everything I can to solve this curse. But I can’t be engaged to someone who knows nothing about it.”

 

Hilberry let out a deep sigh at his grandson’s words.

 

Of course, he was the one who had arranged this engagement. But back then, it was just a suspicion that ‘the curse might manifest after marriage and living together.’

 

But now that the curse had actually manifested during his youth, it became difficult to openly argue ‘let’s keep deceiving her.’ Hilberry wasn’t someone without a conscience either.

 

“Do you know that Sears also hid that mother’s madness from us?”

 

“That’s all the more reason why we can’t do this.”

 

Leopold’s opinion was firm.

 

“That child needs a proper family. Her life so far has already been harsh enough.”

 

The sudden manifestation of a curse in the family was something even Hilberry hadn’t anticipated. So he too couldn’t help but feel confused.

 

However, he had no intention of forcing it through when his grandson was so against it.

 

“If that’s really your opinion, let’s break off the engagement immediately. I’ll send the annulment letter right now.”

 

It was originally a marriage where Nogen had made overwhelmingly many concessions. Even if they sent an annulment letter, everyone would obviously think ‘well, of course.’

 

Of course, there would be talk like ‘Brisa Sears was indeed lacking for Nogen’ or ‘That mother really did have madness after all.’

 

But that wasn’t his concern.

 

However, Leopold, who he expected would immediately nod in agreement, hesitated.

 

“…No.”

 

He rolled his eyes for a moment, then muttered.

 

“The timing doesn’t seem right. The Marquis Manor has troubles right now too…”

 

“Doesn’t that house always have troubles?”

 

“Just… if you give me full authority, I’ll send the annulment letter when it’s convenient for me. We still have plenty of time.”

 

It was true that there was plenty of time.

 

After all, there were still 12 years left until Brisa came of age.

 

Hilberry had given permission for that. He figured an annulment letter would be sent within a year anyway.

 

However, Leopold didn’t send an annulment letter for the next four years. Not even while they attended the Academy together for two whole years.

 

Though he did hear that both of them remained distant from each other, maintaining an ordinary relationship that was neither good nor bad.

 

So he had completely lost interest in Brisa Sears.

 

‘If they just end up getting married as things are, that wouldn’t be so bad either.’

 

But Leopold eventually sent that annulment letter.

 

On the very night when Marquis Sears died and they found that half-brother.

 

The timing was perfect. Everyone would think Brisa was broken off with because she was no longer the heir.

 

Well, up to that point, it wasn’t strange.

 

But sending an anonymous bouquet along with the annulment letter was definitely strange, wasn’t it?

 

So he had Baron Forman investigate her background…

 

“That Young Lady is truly an extraordinary lady.”

 

Baron Forman, who had somehow returned even before Warp came back, said this decisively.

 

“Like all those people who testified five years ago that her mother had no Madness, you must have received something from Sears as well.”

 

“I received quite a lot indeed… I’ve never been fed so shamelessly and generously in all my life as Ronald Forman.”

 

Hilberry had made a joke to the upright Baron Forman, only to find himself in a situation where he had no idea how to respond.

 

“You absolutely must not let that Young Lady slip away, Grand Duke.”

 

“Really? Is she a lady Leopold needs?”

 

“No.”

 

Baron Forman spoke seriously.

 

“She’s a lady this Western Region needs. To the extent that trivial matters like Leopold cannot act as variables.”

 

“Trivial? That boy is the heir to the Grand Duchy…”

 

“But that boy still needs to make a living, doesn’t he? I can’t bear to see my grandchild go hungry either.”

 

Hilberry could only laugh helplessly, not knowing what to say in response.

 

He had lived as Grand Duke Nogen for far too long.

 

Since he had his son quite late in life, he was much older than even Baron Forman. Therefore, he was weary.

 

He took pride in having always maintained political neutrality and protected the Western Region well.

 

Even when the Imperial Family was in turmoil, he had tried to maintain balance well.

 

Since they were called the Empire’s granary, they had lived generously, giving abundantly to other regions.

 

Nevertheless, misfortunes continued to strike one after another.

 

He had wanted to stand firm like Mount Tai at least until Leopold came of age.

 

‘Sigh…’

 

Hilberry sighed and closed the report about Brisa.

 

‘How wonderful it would be if this were a time when I could take interest in my grandson’s innocent love affairs…’

 

Once Warp became operational, everyone was demanding the Western Region’s grain as if it were their right. Even though the Western Region’s productivity wasn’t what it used to be.

 

And now Dark Mages were appearing on top of that.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Grand Duke! This is terrible!”

 

The Adjutant burst in.

 

He brought news of a disaster that would make all those other worries seem trivial.

 

“In the end, not a single sprout emerged in the Seldoche Plains. So a Mage came from the Magic Tower, but the results…”

 

Hilberry took the report from the Adjutant.

 

The Old Man’s face turned ashen after confirming the results.

 

* * *

 

After Leopold discovered Mother’s Madness on the day of the engagement ceremony.

 

I naturally expected an Annulment Letter to arrive.

 

After all, none other than the person directly involved had discovered our fraudulent scheme.

 

But there was no contact, no condemnation whatsoever.

 

After that, there was no particular reason for interaction until we met at the Academy.

 

It was because I had enrolled two years early.

 

“Brisa, do you know why I try so hard to make you perfect?”

 

On the day I left to take the entrance exam, Mother held me tight and said this.

 

“It’s because I can’t trust your Father and your Elder Brother. I will soon leave this world, and the only one who can protect you is yourself. When your Elder Brother with tainted blood returns, you with perfect blood will be a thorn in his eye.”

 

Mother said she did it because she loved me. The harsh education, the rushed engagement to a good family while she was still alive.

 

“Go to the Academy as quickly as possible too. The tuition is expensive. If your Elder Brother happens to return in the middle, he might not pay for your tuition.”

 

So I achieved an unprecedented early enrollment.

 

As I left home to take the entrance exam, I had this thought.

 

If Mother was going to leave this world soon, I wanted to stay with Mother even one more day.

 

In reality, that became the last conversation Mother and I shared.

 

I loved Mother.

 

Even if she wasn’t in her right mind sometimes, I couldn’t help it.

 

Even if Mother’s love was questionable, Mother was precious to me.

 

So I didn’t show any sign of being grateful that Leopold hadn’t brought up breaking off the engagement.

 

‘It’s a bit shameless, but still…’

 

I was afraid that if I brought it up unnecessarily, I might actually get the engagement broken off.

 

But at the same time, I wanted to prove it. That I was normal, that I wasn’t crazy, so it wasn’t a fraudulent engagement.

 

That nothing you need to worry about would happen. That I wasn’t shameless to that extent.

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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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