The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 81

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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 81

It was 2 years ago.

When I was attending the Capital Academy.

I had been summoned to the Imperial Court because of my early admission and top entrance scores.

But then the tragedy of catching the Empress Dowager’s eye occurred.

“Oh my, how can such a young child be so well-behaved and doll-like? Your etiquette is already perfect.”

After that, the Empress Dowager often summoned me to the Imperial Palace.

“Every time I see you, you’re so uncommonly well-behaved and quiet for a child. I remember when the Crown Prince was this age, far from sitting still like this, he pestered me daily about going hunting in the Northern Region.”

The Crown Prince was a scoundrel. He had caused many problems since childhood.

There were even rumors that in the Northern Region, which witnessed his childhood because of its vast hunting grounds, the Crown Prince’s name was secretly used as a curse word.

“If only you had been born 10 years earlier, you would have made a good match for the Crown Prince.”

After hearing those words, I thought how fortunate I was to be born now.

Then the Empress, who had been present, interjected.

“Oh my. What’s wrong with a twenty-year age difference? Brisa, what do you think about the position of Imperial Consort?”

I silently sipped my tea and lamented that I should have been born about 10 years later.

Even now wasn’t safe. In fact, I didn’t have the freedom to say ‘no’ in that situation.

But if I carelessly answered ‘yes,’ I might unluckily be held accountable for that answer someday.

Fortunately, I had something to say.

“It would truly be an honor, but I am already engaged…”

“Ah… right, that’s true? I forgot for a moment.”

Forgot for a moment, my foot.

There was no way the Empress could forget about the engagement with the Nogen Duchy.

She simply didn’t think the engagement would last until the end due to the difference in family status.

The fact that she offered me the position of Imperial Consort rather than Empress showed that.

Valerie, who had been standing behind us the whole time, said nothing. She was just watching me with hawk-like eyes.

“Well… we can’t steal the Nogen Vice Duke’s fiancée.”

The Empress Dowager said, raising her eyebrows.

“Grand Duke Nogen doesn’t listen well to the Imperial Family when it comes to marriage matters. There’s precedent, isn’t there?”

There was a barb in those words.

Only then did Valerie open her mouth heavily.

“My elder brother and nephew couldn’t tell heaven from earth. However, I believe they have already paid the price for that.”

“Ahahaha, the price for refusing marriage to an Imperial Princess being death… Valerie, that’s really too much. The Imperial Family isn’t that extreme. I’m afraid the child might get scared.”

“I apologize.”

Of course, I was scared.

‘What if they ask for my thoughts in a conversation like this? I wish they’d quickly move to lighter topics. Something like the weather or teacups – topics with no room for debate and no interest…’

I wasn’t scared of the Imperial Family, but of the situation itself.

At that time, Valerie didn’t add any more words, but she didn’t take her eyes off me either.

I remembered that gaze being even sharper than the Empress Dowager’s.

‘But now Valerie is coming here?’

And it seems like she’s coming to see me?

‘Surely she’s not really coming to consider me as the Crown Prince’s match.’

Marriage was certainly a way to draw someone’s family to one’s side.

It was possible that they could get a firm answer now and take me away as soon as I became an adult to make me a second wife.

Good heavens, it seemed like I should quickly flee to Sears Marquis Territory.

‘What if she comes early under the pretense of sightseeing? No, there’s definitely a risk of that. The Western Region is Valerie’s hometown.’

If I unluckily ran into her and heard something like ‘Let’s go see the Empress Dowager together soon,’ it would be difficult to refuse.

Now even if I heard nauseating words like ‘How about the position of Empress,’ I couldn’t even say things like ‘I have a fiancé.’

While I was panicking, the farmer spoke with a subtle smile.

“Perhaps she wants to… capture you again as Leopold’s match?”

That was an ignorant thing to say.

Valerie didn’t take Leopold’s side in the original story. That meant she was a person of the Imperial Court.

The farmers exchanged glances and then carefully asked.

“Um… do you really have no lingering feelings for the Young Duke?”

“They’re overflowing.”

I answered in anguish.

“It’s no joke. Actually, I want to cling to his trouser legs and not let go, but if I showed such disgraceful behavior, Leopold would probably sue me for retinal pollution, so I’m desperately holding back. Given our territory’s circumstances, it’s tight to hire professional legal professionals.”

And I added my sincere feelings while swallowing a sigh.

“If I were still Nogen’s fiancée, I wouldn’t have to worry about being forced to marry some ridiculously older man.”

“Oh come on, Young Lady. Even if they’re nobles, where would you find people who actually marry like that?”

“My mother.”

The farmers fell silent.

Just then, the maid came running in saying she had finished packing.

“There.”

Now I had no more regrets.

I spoke resolutely.

“Then I’ll be going.”

And I made a firm request.

“Make sure to send the wheat to the Central Region as promised. Got it?”

Regardless of emotions, food was always precious.

“If even one sack is missing, I’ll write down all your names and record them in the Sears Family History Book.”

I used our friendship as a weapon.

The farmers giggled and laughed.

“Oh, what a joke… What are nobodies like us that our names would be recorded in the Sears Family History Book? Can Sears really record such things in their history books?”

“You still don’t know me well. I don’t make jokes.”

I answered with a snort.

“Most of Sears’ history books have been lost. So I’m preparing to record everything in detail starting from my era for future generations.”

I wasn’t keeping my eyes wide open to record others’ dark histories in the history books for nothing.

“If you try to cheat, I’ll write down not only your names but your appearances too, so keep that in mind.”

* * *

Duke Nogen’s Residence.

“Ah, why are you coming again? We agreed to meet at the summer wheat harvest festival.”

Hilberry showed irritation as if tired.

Valerie, who had barged into the office, snorted.

“I came to tell you I can’t go to that harvest festival.”

Hilberry got angry upon hearing that.

“Then you should have sent a letter! In the end, I ended up seeing you once anyway! The total amount of facing your face during the year hasn’t decreased!”

“I wanted to do that too! Do you think it’s easy to use Warp at this age? But I needed this kind of excuse to deliver something while I’m at it!”

Valerie also stood her ground confidently.

At this routine conversation that had continued similarly for about 60 years, the adjutant quietly closed the door and left.

“Ha.”

Hilberry crossed his arms and tapped the floor impatiently with his prosthetic leg.

“So what’s this ‘something’ you want to deliver? Did you come to tell me not to oppose the Crown Prince again?”

He clicked his tongue.

“Nogen is neutral. Actually, I have no intention of supporting the Second Prince either. So don’t worry and just go back.”

That was his sincere feeling. To blindly support him just because the second son was superior to the first, the Second Prince lacked the justification of legitimacy.

He knew the Crown Prince was quite lacking, but unless there were just grounds to bring him down, he still had to wait and see.

The Emperor also didn’t seem to have any intention of passing down the throne yet, and seeing how he kept sending the Second Prince to dangerous places, he seemed to be continuously testing his second son.

For Nogen to step forward in matters even the Emperor hadn’t decided on, the Western Region’s influence was too significant.

Hilberry waved his hand dismissively and declared.

“If you’re going to say again that you need power to maintain neutrality, why don’t you stop by Seldoche? There’s still no major problem.”

“…I already stopped by and saw it. It was surprising.”

Valerie lightly bit her lips. Then she sighed and muttered.

“Hilberry. I have something to say. Logically, do you think it makes sense for an ordinary twelve-year-old girl to solve the Western Region’s food shortage with just her mind?”

“Even the monster wave from early spring doesn’t make sense, so what’s wrong with one child being unusual.”

“I… I don’t know if it’s a phenomenon that can simply be explained with words like that.”

Valerie spoke with confused eyes.

“About 20 years ago, there was a massive secret disposal of books at the Imperial Library. I happened to be there at the time, so I remember it – most of them were books related to the history of the House of Sears.”

Hilberry raised his eyebrows.

This was a story he had never heard before.

“But those books also briefly mentioned words like ‘another world,’ you know? Such words don’t appear in other families’ history books.”

Another world… did that mean a different world?

The nuance of the unfamiliar word felt alien.

“Isn’t it strange? Records about the House of Sears’ history and special abilities are strangely absent.”

In truth, he hadn’t been particularly interested since it was another family’s affairs.

But… now that he thought about it, that was really the case.

“The Imperial Library is the place with the lowest accessibility for ordinary people. Perhaps they were trying to thoroughly conceal the last remaining records about something related to Sears?”

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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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