The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 74
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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 74
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“If it’s urgent, we could exchange letters.”
“It’s not urgent. I just wanted to see your face while I’m at it.”
I couldn’t say ‘because something not in the original story happened’ here.
Besides, I couldn’t reveal the secret that Harrison was a magic genius on my own. Harrison wasn’t fifteen yet.
There were about two months left until he turned fifteen.
“Is that okay?”
“Oh, well.”
Leopold answered nonchalantly.
“It’s fine. I’ll send the letter. Should I say Brisa wants to meet but it’s not urgent?”
“Yeah. That’s accurate. Thanks.”
Thinking the topic was roughly finished, I asked without much thought.
“But Leopold, why are you here? Did you come to see the Grand Duke?”
“Well… something like that.”
“Then you should go soon.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere? You’re not going to stay here forever.”
“How novel, hearing an eviction order on my own land.”
“Don’t misunderstand. I meant there’s nothing more to talk about, not that you should get lost. Actually, I do have something to say. When… when can I see Wolf-dog again?”
“Why’s that?”
At Leopold’s indifferent question, I muttered in a shrinking voice.
“Because I miss him…”
Whenever Wolf-dog came up as a topic, I really felt ashamed in front of Leopold.
Leopold asked as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Is that mutt so precious to you? Why did you get attached? What’s so good about that disgusting, creepy mutant monster that’s neither beast nor monster?”
“Listen, I’m really sorry.”
Even while feeling ashamed, I said what I had to say. Actually, I was a bit angry too.
“Could you not call him a mutant monster? He’s a kid who communicated well with me and lived peacefully. He’s already a precious existence to me.”
“What?”
“Saying he’s creepy, disgusting. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say those things anymore. You didn’t say such things in front of Wolf-dog, did you?”
“…”
“Anyway, you’re Wolf-dog’s owner. If you’re going to say such things, just give him to me instead.”
Then Leopold let out a deep sigh with a strange expression. Then he answered in an ambiguous voice.
“…I’ll think about it.”
“About what?”
“The next meeting.”
After that, before I could respond, he turned around and disappeared.
* * *
Duke Nogen’s Residence.
Leopold sent a letter about a week later. Delaying any longer than that weighed on his conscience.
To Harrison Naisar
The weather is just so-so.
The Southern Region is just so-so too, right?
Brisa Sears is currently in the Western Region due to circumstances.
But she says she wants to meet you.
She says it’s not particularly urgent.
It seems like you could finish all your work and if you’re really bored by then, you could slowly come visit around that time.
P.S.
Even if you politely decline thinking that meeting in someone else’s territory would cause me trouble, don’t worry because I’ll convey it very well.
P.S. 2
I’m not in any hurry either, so send a reply when you happen to think of it.
Leopold Nogen.
Even though he didn’t need to reply immediately, Harrison sent a reply right away.
To Leopold Nogen
The midsummer sun has been quite harsh lately.
I heard that green is sprouting again in the Western Region where the monsters have disappeared.
There, did you see a proper letter introduction?
Asking about the weather and well-being so half-heartedly is quite uncomfortable.
So I should hurry and go meet Brisa so I can make you uncomfortable too.
Then we’ll be fairly even.
Where should I go?
P.S.
The Warp in the Southern Region has been too unstable lately, so mages are coming every other day.
Even if you don’t worry, I won’t suddenly appear tomorrow with a poof. I’m thinking of just riding horses even if it takes some time.
Leopold suppressed an irritated groan.
He had written it to say ‘don’t come’ as much as possible, but Harrison accepted the invitation.
He couldn’t understand why he disliked Harrison either. He just had memories from when he was Wolf-dog.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t just memories. Originally, he had acted purely on instinct without reason, but from the moment he made eye contact with Brisa and heard her say ‘I won’t hurt you,’ he was able to regain half of his human consciousness.
He said ‘half’ because the other half still acted on instinct.
For example…
“Hand.”
Like extending his hand at times like this…
It was truly a complicated feeling that he couldn’t describe.
That day, Leopold was so confused that he tried to return to Duke Nogen’s Residence.
But Brisa, who remained on the Seldoche Plains, said this to Alpheus.
“Alpheus, you should go back to the Marquis Territory. There’s no need for you to stay here for three months too. Besides, at times like this, we need to protect our territory well.”
When he thought about it, she was right.
There was no need for Alpheus, the lord of the territory, to stay here as well. The summer wheat harvest would take place three months later.
Hilberry didn’t know what to do, seeing Brisa somehow stuck in the Western Region.
Then she said this to Hilberry.
“If the wheat harvest goes well, please give about half to Sears at wholesale price.”
Then she whispered this to Alpheus.
“There’s no competition with better cost-effectiveness than this to feed the Sears Marquis Territory. The Western Region’s good harvests are over now. Grain prices will rise.”
Brisa was right.
Other lands were also experiencing sharp drops in productivity. They might be able to survive this year with the hydroponic cultivation she had devised.
But if this trend continued, next year would likely be even worse.
Hilberry didn’t hide his displeasure at Brisa’s proposal.
“Half at wholesale price? That’s really nonsense…”
He declared firmly.
“Just take it! Do I look like such a shameless old man?”
Brisa was satisfied.
Of course, Alpheus was not satisfied.
“You, how can I leave you alone in someone else’s land! Are you saying we should live apart? For three whole months?”
“What are you talking about? You need to come here on this day, this day, and this day. Since those are days you’ll need to work hard, eat plenty before coming.”
“But how can I leave you here alone! His Grace the Grand Duke will have to return to his residence too!”
“There’s Wendy and the maid.”
“Still, I can’t leave my cute raccoon-like little sister alone!”
“Raccoons prefer living alone.”
Brisa, blinded by the prospect of free wheat, soothed the whining Alpheus.
However, Leopold also agreed with Alpheus’s words.
Did it make sense for a twelve-year-old child to suddenly stay on someone else’s land?
Therefore, Leopold stepped forward without hesitation.
“I’ll remain in Seldoche. And I’ll host Brisa as my guest throughout.”
Leopold was Nogen’s heir, but he didn’t have any assigned duties at the Grand Duke’s Residence yet.
If he stayed with Brisa, the safety issue would be resolved. It would also mean giving Brisa the highest courtesy.
So it was an appropriate arrangement.
Of course, Sears’s adjutant looked somewhat uncomfortable.
“What is this, newlywed life?”
Still, Brisa agreed.
“To be precise, it’s broken engagement life.”
Thus, Brisa and Leopold came to stay together at the mansion on the Seldoche Plains.
“Perfect timing. Look at this. These are the things you requested back then.”
What Brisa handed to Leopold after remaining at the mansion were research papers.
Brisa had collected only what ‘El’ had written about livestock, as Leopold had requested.
In fact, Leopold had secretly called Brisa to the Iris Garden at Duke Nogen’s Residence for two reasons.
The first was to ask about El. At that time, he thought El’s domestication papers were the only way he could coexist with people.
But from that meeting, coincidental events followed, and a new world opened up.
‘If only Easy is there… if only I can keep my sanity.’
Forget domestication—if he could just avoid attacking others like during his last transformation, wouldn’t his goal be achieved?
‘Will it be possible next time too? Why exactly was Easy there this time?’
Now something called hope began to sparkle in his heart too.
Even if he transformed into a monster… maybe it would be okay.
“Could you not call it a mutant monster? It’s a creature that communicated well with me and lived peacefully.”
If only he could communicate and live peacefully with someone during that time.
“Saying it’s creepy, disgusting. I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say those words anymore either.”
With someone who doesn’t find her repulsive, who doesn’t feel disgusted by her.
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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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