The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 72
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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 72
“…Hmm.”
Everyone blinked as they looked at the wheat that grew differently each day. Especially the farmers from the Eastern Region exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow, it’s already grown this tall.”
“It doesn’t seem like Young Lady Brisa will easily beat this….”
During that time, the Western Region’s herb field hadn’t even been sown. There were even rumors that after pulling out the herbs, they had planted something other than wheat. It was beans.
“See?”
Dahlia said with a grin.
“She’s so crazy right now that she can’t even tell the difference between wheat and beans.”
* * *
“What?”
I frowned.
“The ants… got bigger?”
Rumors spread about the five large ants that Dahlia was using.
“But those ants are said to work incredibly well.”
“They would.”
I nodded at the farmer who brought me the news.
“Ants are strong.”
“Huh? Those tiny things? They’re still just ants, aren’t they?”
“Well, ants can lift at least 50 times their body weight.”
Of course, if they had only grown physically larger, there would be changes in their body composition ratio, so the story would be different. But hearing about their work speed, it didn’t seem like that was the case.
“From what I hear, it’s not just their size that increased. It seems like the ratio of abilities to body size is maintained. Then their speed would be very fast too.”
“H-how do you know that?”
“Knowledge about pests and diseases is basic for crop management.”
“Anyway… so they say it’s already grown this much.”
The farmer gestured with his hands to show the length.
“Sh-shouldn’t we be doing something too…. And why did you plant green manure beans instead of wheat….”
“Let’s wait and see for now.”
Everything regarding farming was going according to my expectations.
The herbs and leafy vegetables that started hydroponic cultivation were growing vigorously. I was also slowly selecting the wheat seeds that Dahlia had chosen first and sent over.
It was while I was looking at the field like that.
“Brisa!”
Suddenly, an unexpected voice came from behind.
“Leopold?”
I turned around in surprise.
Leopold hurriedly jumped down from his horse.
“He said he had business for about ten days?”
When I asked, Leopold answered calmly.
“Today is exactly the tenth day.”
Is that so?
It seemed like it might be.
I tilted my head and asked.
“But what brings you here?”
Alpheus and I had been staying continuously in the Seldoche Plains since the summer wheat competition was declared. Naturally, Leopold should be at the Grand Duke’s Residence, shouldn’t he?
Only after asking did I suddenly remember.
“Ah! Wolf-dog!”
I had something to tell Leopold about Wolf-dog.
Wolf-dog had been living well with me in the Seldoche Plains all this time. He hadn’t harmed anyone, charmed people well, and lived like an ordinary puppy.
Even Hilberry adored Wolf-dog and spent long hours with him.
“Coochie coo, my baby. How can you be so cute…”
Actually, it didn’t seem like they had the kind of relationship where Hilberry should be calling him ‘my baby’…
“Oh my, you listen so well, my darling… How long has it been since I held someone so tightly in my arms like this…”
I think it was probably the first time…
Anyway, Hilberry cherished Wolf-dog terribly.
To what extent? Enough that he came to take Wolf-dog away starting yesterday evening.
“Wolf-dog! I’m taking Wolf-dog with me to sleep tonight!”
It was true that Wolf-dog had been living very docilely all this time. Wolf-dog was even quite gentlemanly. Though I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to use such words for a wolf-dog…
‘Whenever I changed clothes, he would always close his eyes in the corner.’
He didn’t even sleep in my bed. Even though I said it was okay to sleep together.
He understood almost everything people said and ate human food. So while I was raising him with peace of mind, I was always anxious. So I tried to refuse.
‘What if his aggression suddenly manifested?’
I couldn’t forget that tremendous superhuman strength from when we first met.
But Hilberry shouted before I could say anything.
“I absolutely must take him tonight! You absolutely cannot let Wolf-dog sleep in your room! Please, I’m begging you! It’s an old man’s last wish!”
To that extent… I guess…
I was worried, so I even sent along a muzzle and leash.
But it was so sudden that I couldn’t ask when he would return him.
‘He’ll return him before lunch today, right?’
I had grown quite attached, so I kept thinking about Wolf-dog constantly in a corner of my mind.
But to meet Leopold first.
“Um, you know. Leopold… I have something to say.”
I awkwardly rolled my eyes.
“I heard the explanation from Grandfather.”
Before I could say anything, Leopold spoke elegantly.
“Wolf-dog. You found that one, right.”
“Ah, yeah. You were looking for my research paper to domesticate him, right?”
I nodded my head happily.
“But you had already tamed him well, hadn’t you? Of course his aggression was impressive, but that was only at first, and I had him for about a week without any problems.”
“Mm, that’s right.”
Leopold answered vaguely.
“It was quite fascinating.”
But since he always spoke ambiguously, it didn’t particularly bother me.
“Last night the Grand Duke took him, so later we can meet directly and…”
Thinking that I could talk about Wolf-dog with Leopold made me somehow excited and I was explaining enthusiastically, when Leopold calmly cut off my words.
“Ah. I already met him, and I sent him somewhere.”
“Huh? You sent Wolf-dog away? Where?”
“To the person who originally took care of him. I sent him quite far away, so you won’t be able to see him for a while.”
“…What?”
It felt like I had suddenly been hit in the head.
Even when I gave Wolf-dog to Hilberry, I hadn’t even thought of this. I naturally assumed I’d be able to see him again before long.
“You just now…”
I stared at him with a shocked expression.
“Did you… take Wolf-dog away from me?”
Leopold blinked slowly and then nodded.
“That’s… about right…?”
It was a perfect affirmation.
Since it was a farewell I had never imagined, my voice began to tremble.
“Without even telling me… who was taking care of him, you suddenly sent him somewhere?”
I was about to burst out in anger when I suddenly came to my senses.
Originally, Wolf-dog was Leopold’s property.
I quickly added follow-up words.
“…is what I was about to get angry at you about, right? I said it for you to save you the trouble.”
After all, I was the one who had suddenly brought the livestock he was taking care of all the way here.
Leopold slowly sighed and asked.
“Why, are you disappointed?”
“Not really. What right do I have.”
I raised my eyebrows to show some dignity, then continued with my true feelings.
“It’s just a bit empty. I grew attached to him over the week.”
“You have a personality that grows attached quickly. That’s a fact I never knew despite attending the Academy together for 2 years.”
He crossed his arms and continued speaking.
“…Well, I’m sorry for suddenly taking him away like that. But it was an unavoidable situation for me too.”
What kind of nonsense is this.
The owner is Leopold, and I’m the one who brought him here without permission.
I shook my head.
“No. He was the one you were raising.”
Then I cautiously made a subtle request while reading the mood.
“Then can I see him again later? Alpheus will miss him a lot too.”
“You’ll be able to see him again. If you want to.”
Leopold spoke in a strange tone.
I felt dejected with regret and asked.
“Oh, by any chance, what name did you give him?”
“I just call him Wolf-dog. He didn’t have a name.”
“I see.”
I nodded my head.
I thought that could be the case.
When trying to do purposeful domestication, it wasn’t good to become too attached.
For example, it was the same as not being able to slaughter chickens you’ve raised with love after giving them names.
Thinking about it that way, my conscience pricked me again. It was possible that I had unnecessarily introduced a child to the world first when he had deliberately kept him separated to avoid getting attached.
‘Did I catch the protagonist disease from being around Alpheus?’
I sighed and thought to myself.
‘Now that I actually see Leopold, I wonder if I was a bit rash.’
Of course, locking Wolf-dog back in that warehouse and leaving seemed like something I couldn’t do even if I could turn back time. Besides, Wolf-dog was definitely happy here.
However, taking a living creature without getting permission from its owner was definitely wrong.
Feeling like I owed Leopold a debt, I spoke enthusiastically.
“Really, I’ll help with anything I can do.”
Then Leopold raised his eyebrows and asked languidly.
“Anything?”
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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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