The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 54
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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 54
This was the main conflict in the original story as well.
In the Imperial Family, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, born of the Commoner Empress, were currently in opposition.
Similarly, in the Eastern Region, the First Son and the second son born of a commoner were fighting.
In the midst of this, Alpheus had become a marquis born of a commoner, so his very existence was bound to irritate certain groups.
“Good heavens. You’re fourteen years old, Gillab. Don’t you think the time for playing faction games has passed?”
“I’ll wait for your contact. Don’t say what you said today in front of Leopold.”
I had said that faction games were too late for us, but…
The world had already begun playing faction games.
If the original me had been alive, I might have ended up on the opposite side from Alpheus.
‘At least Mother would have definitely been on the opposite side.’
Then what about Leopold?
I looked at the handsome boy’s profile.
‘He probably wouldn’t care much.’
Since he had everything, he could observe peacefully.
In the original story too, while he helps Alpheus, he doesn’t particularly take anyone’s side. He just watches with the leisure of the strong.
‘Must be nice to have so much.’
While I, being weak, am already being forced to choose.
I climbed into the carriage with such thoughts.
When we arrived at the Grand Duke’s Residence, it was already night.
Having received word, the Grand Duke’s Residence already had rooms prepared for us.
“You may stay in Tulip Hall.”
At the same time, maids came streaming out behind the butler.
They looked at us and offered to guide us.
“Please follow us.”
Alpheus first strode after the maids.
When I too was about to follow with quick steps.
A small note was caught in my hand.
‘Hm?’
Leopold had slipped a note into my hand.
[Tonight at 9 o’clock, in front of the warehouse behind the Iris Garden. I’ll leave the door open.]
I swallowed dryly. There was even a map showing a rough route.
[I have something to say, so come alone.]
It was definitely going to be about the dark mage who was after my life.
He probably wanted to meet alone without Alpheus knowing, just in case.
[You need to come by 9:10. It’s a bit of a roundabout way, but you must use this route. Otherwise, the servants might catch you.]
I nodded slightly to Leopold.
* * *
Tulip Hall was very nice to stay in.
Although it was a bit away from the main building, it was rather cozy and pleasant. It was even very close to the Iris Garden that Leopold had mentioned.
Naturally, we each received our own room, and Alpheus personally took the trouble to check on my sleeping arrangements.
“I can’t make up my mind.”
After looking around my room once, Alpheus sat in a chair and sighed.
“Leopold Nogen, I don’t know whether I dislike or like that kid.”
“But you’re concerned about him?”
I sat across from him with a serious expression.
“Huh, just be honest for now. This is quite an important matter.”
Alpheus tensed up at my serious tone.
“Really? It’s important?”
“Of course, Alpheus.”
I sighed deeply and explained.
“All emotions start with being concerned about someone… He may be tall and mature, but Leopold is a minor. Don’t make up your mind and just fold those feelings.”
“Fold what! I wouldn’t unfold such multifaceted disgusting feelings even if I were reborn a thousand times!”
Alpheus jumped up.
“I’m just speaking from the perspective that he was your former fiancé. How dare he send an annulment letter to my little sister…”
“Then there’s even less reason to be concerned.”
I concluded firmly.
“It’s something we don’t concern ourselves with either. Whether we were engaged or when we broke off the engagement, our relationship is the same.”
“Ah… just friends?”
Hmm…
Leopold and I… friends?
“That doesn’t seem right either.”
I shook my head.
“Because Leopold doesn’t have friends.”
Even though there were people who casually hung around him, I could confidently say there wasn’t a single person he acknowledged as a friend.
Even if someone directly asked Leopold ‘Are you Brisa’s friend?’, he would probably say no.
The same went for me.
I don’t really know since I don’t have friends, but anyway, friends are supposed to be comfortable with each other… I wasn’t particularly comfortable with Leopold.
If anything, Harrison was more comfortable to be around.
Harrison was the youngest son of the Southern Naisar Marquis House. He was one grade above me, so we attended the Academy together for one year.
Anyway, it was difficult to consider Harrison a friend either. Because he was three years older than me.
Moreover, after he graduated from the Academy, we lost contact. I thought it was understandable since the Southern Region was in turmoil.
‘As expected, I don’t have friends either.’
The conclusion came quickly.
I spoke haughtily.
“Anyway, just treat the engagement as if it never happened and deal with Leopold normally.”
I was treating Leopold that way too.
In fact, I had been doing so for a long time.
“No, just don’t take any interest. Leopold probably isn’t very interested in you either. It’s just a relationship where you don’t need to worry about anything.”
Of course, their relationship in the original work was somewhat different.
Leopold helps Alpheus while also supporting the Northern Region’s independence.
The ending was Alpheus and the Female Protagonist establishing a new kingdom in the Northern Region.
The Western Region never gained independence until the end, so what would happen after that was unknown. At least in the original work, Leopold never married.
He never got engaged again either.
Alpheus tilted his head.
“Is that so? I thought I communicated quite well with him.”
That was truly a remarkable delusion.
I guarantee that Leopold would never think that way.
“Anyway, sleep well.”
I rested my chin on my hand and issued an order to leave. Nine o’clock, the time I promised Leopold, was approaching.
“You must be tired since you used your body a lot today.”
“Ah… right. I did shovel work in the Tomato Field.”
Alpheus scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“But Brisa, are you really going to Seldoche Plains tomorrow?”
“Yes. If I just check the site, I should have a way to solve it. You have work to do, so go to sleep early.”
Nevertheless, Alpheus didn’t get up. He must not have understood my indirect order to leave.
Normally, I would have coldly driven him out saying “Get out. I’m going to sleep.”
‘But…’
But today, for some reason, it was difficult to say such cold words directly.
Today, when he was ignored by Gillab and treated like an impurity by the Western Region people.
‘Even an adult would find it difficult.’
He wasn’t even using baseless analogies now. Seeing his speech becoming normal meant that his corruption was beginning.
I slowly stood up.
“Get up. I’ll escort you to your room.”
If the order to leave didn’t work, I had no choice but to leave myself.
“What? What are you talking about? Why would a child escort an adult?”
“I think such etiquette was written somewhere in some country’s etiquette book, so just quietly get up and follow me.”
“…B, Brisa?”
I haughtily moved my steps and opened the door.
Alpheus hurriedly followed after me.
After walking down the corridor for a bit, we came to Alpheus’s room. I flung open Alpheus’s door and went inside.
Come to think of it, I had never entered Alpheus’s room even back at the Marquis Manor.
The maids must have organized everything, as the room was tidy.
I pushed the back of Alpheus, who had hurriedly followed me in, toward the bathroom.
“Wash up properly and sleep well. Don’t think unnecessary thoughts.”
That’s when it happened.
Something caught my eye. It was a book on the desk.
【Understanding Livestock Volume 1 – Definitions and Classifications】
I blinked slowly. A bookmark was inserted quite far back in the book.
I recalled our first conversation that took place at my door.
“What book? I really love literature too! If it’s a book I’ve read, we could even have a discussion…”
“【Understanding Livestock Volume 17 – Mating and Breeding】.”
Had he been remembering this book since then?
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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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