The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living
Chapter 21
I had a rough idea of what was going on.
It had to be because of the Riente blood flowing through half my veins.
These black magicians were all exiles in the Kingdom of Sebon. And except for my mother, every member of the Riente royal family had been killed or gone missing at the hands of the people of Sebon.
‘Which means I’m the only identifiable person left who carries royal Riente blood.’
I belonged to Sears and was a citizen of the Empire, but even so, the mere fact that I carried royal Riente blood might have made them desperate to eliminate me.
‘Then in the original story… maybe Baron Hawin didn’t just sell off his niece on a whim. The Sebon bastards might have specifically demanded they bring me.’
Of course, there was no way to confirm the whole truth of what happened back then now.
‘I didn't expect this.’
A sigh escaped me on its own.
To think they’d count me as royalty when I’d never set foot in Riente.
Besides, bearing the surname of one of the First 5 Families made me an official citizen of the Empire.
Harming me without cause meant the Kingdom of Sebon would have to face the entire Empire.
‘So they tried to use an illicit crime.’
In the original story, this must have happened a month earlier.
Because they hadn't established a symbiotic smuggling arrangement with us, Baron Hawin’s territory would have run out of food much faster.
‘He came to sell his own subjects and received an offer regarding me.’
Even though the timing had shifted, the fact that they were after me remained unchanged.
For now, the future was altered, and I had survived.
Returning to reality, I snapped my focus back into place.
“All right, three of you guard me.”
I gave orders to the other knights.
“The rest of you, head to that warehouse and bring back as much wheat as you can carry. You lot move it, too.”
I gestured toward the huffing intruders from Baron Hawin’s territory.
“You need to earn the potatoes you ate, don’t you?”
Feeding them until they were stuffed earlier had all been for this.
Spurred into motion, the knights and intruders rushed off to the warehouse in a mad dash.
I gave Wendy an order.
“Seal this back up properly, too. It’d be a waste to spill any on the way back.”
It was the sack of wheat the black magician had brought over earlier to show me.
I declared solemnly to the knights,
“These are grains the black magicians amassed illicitly through their wicked deeds.”
We couldn't leave such a thing sitting around in the world.
“Therefore, we must eat every last grain to wipe it from existence.”
The knights all chimed in in agreement.
“Indeed!”
“We shall eradicate it by consuming it all!”
“We won't let a single grain escape!”
Everyone exchanged glances glowing with righteous resolve.
“Excuse me.”
It was then.
“Milady?”
The one who approached my side was Baron Forman.
He had peeled off the burn disguise mask my knight had given him and taken off his hat.
No longer hunched over, the respectable old man looked straight at me.
“Could you explain what in the world is happening here?”
I met the old man's gaze squarely.
At that, Philip stepped forward in fury.
“How dare you look straight at Milady and boss her around with such insolence?”
Baron Forman asked uncertainly,
“Your manner of speech is remarkably archaic… Could you be from the Kingdom of Riente? I was under the impression only maids came from Riente…”
“Apologize to Milady this instant!”
Philip ignored him and pressed on.
“Instead of bowing your head in gratitude for saving you…”
It was at that moment.
“Is that true?”
A low voice drifted in from behind me.
My eyes widened as I spun around.
This voice was…
“Did Brisa truly save my maternal grandfather?”
Hair as pitch-black as a moonless night.
Tranquil golden eyes and a face gracing a gentle smile.
A boy as exquisitely handsome as a meticulously carved sculpture.
It was Leopold Nozen.
He had been leading knights nearby all along.
* * *
Monsters fell as if swept away by arcs of sword aura.
“Captain! Captain! No, Lord Marquis!”
From behind, the elite squad frantically ran after the platinum-blond youth.
“P-Please, just a moment! Let’s rest for just a moment!”
At his subordinates’ desperate pleas, Alpheus let out a sigh and pulled on the horse's reins.
Bringing his charge to a halt, he turned back with a refreshing expression.
“Good grief, really. You’re all so feeble.”
Despite being drenched in monster blood, his expression was the picture of pure innocence.
“Shouldn't we hurry to see our savior? Doesn't just thinking about that give you energy?”
Alpheus recalled the events from two months ago.
* * *
Leading his elite squad through the warp to reach the Imperial Palace took less than two days.
Yet once they arrived, just meeting an attendant took an eternity.
Not a single person among Alpheus's party knew the proper protocols, and no one stepped forward to help him.
Even after finally meeting an attendant, things hardly improved.
“…You claim to be the Marquis of Sears? Hmph.”
The attendant swept a contemptuous gaze over Alpheus's attire and said,
“Even if you look for the 2nd Prince right now, you won't be able to meet him. He has gone to the East to suppress a Monster Wave.”
He offered a perfunctory, dismissive explanation while looking at Alpheus.
“A Monster Wave struck the East as well, but unlike the West, the East doesn't deal with monsters often, so they were struggling. To make matters worse, an exceedingly bizarre monster has reportedly appeared.”
“Wait, what does the East have to do with the 2nd Prince…”
“It was only natural for the Imperial Family to dispatch the 2nd Prince, who had just concluded the civil war in the North.”
Alpheus and his elite squad were thoroughly at a loss.
Without the 2nd Prince, there was no one to verify his military achievements. Judging by the attendant's attitude, however, it was obvious they wouldn't even be permitted to enter the Imperial Palace.
“We’ve come all this way—if we return empty-handed, will Rancy let us off easy?”
The commander asked cautiously,
“Captain, how about we look for mercenary work around here instead?”
The attendant gasped in horror at the suggestion.
“Knights of a marquisate doing mercenary work? Good heavens. Are you people truly from a marquisate?”
The commander rolled his eyes once before offering a solution.
“We could hide our identities.”
“Nonsense,”
Alpheus snapped.
“It’s our first time in the capital. Finding work will take half a day on its own.”
Pondering for a moment, Alpheus turned back to his elite squad and said,
“It would be better to go help the 2nd Prince instead. A Monster Wave shouldn't take more than half a day if I step in, right?”
Without exception, the elite squad nodded in agreement.
“Of course. You’re worth a hundred men on your own, Captain.”
“We can earn money and help the 2nd Prince—it’s a wonderful idea.”
Alpheus picked out one of the knights and instructed him,
“Head to the Marquisate of Sears and deliver word that I’ll be a little late. It won't be too long.”
The selected knight nodded resolutely.
“Understood. Will you be warping straight to the East then?”
“Ah… while I’m in the capital, I should buy a present for Bribri.”
“Bri…bri?”
“It’s a nickname for my younger sister. Cute, isn't it?”
“Did you two, by any chance, mutually agree on that?”
“I agonized over it all night before deciding yesterday, so Bribri doesn't know yet.”
Of course, Alpheus hadn't managed to hold a proper conversation with Brisa yet, but he still held onto hope regarding his younger sister.
“Just think how eagerly she must be waiting for her Alphi oppa!”
The knight tilted his head at those words.
Considering how Brisa had slammed the door in his face on the night of the funeral…
“Bribri! Call me Alphi oppa from now on!”
“Everyone, what are you doing? Prepare an exorcism rite at once. An unclean spirit that has no place in the Marquisate of Sears has entered.”
It seemed far more likely that Brisa would turn pale with revulsion and say something precisely like that.
“W-Well. Oppa… is a term usually used by children who are exceedingly close… so wouldn't that be a bit difficult?”
When the knight voiced his doubt, Alpheus replied cheerfully,
“Well, it might be a little awkward at first.”
“Yes, and that 'first' might last quite a while…”
“Still, once we become close, won't she call me ‘Alphi oppa’?”
“Yes, if you wait about half a century…”
“You’re far too cautious. That’s your problem. Try harboring more hope for a radiant tomorrow and a beautiful future.”
Ever optimistic, Alpheus patted the knight on the shoulder.
“Anyway, safe travels.”
About half a day later, Alpheus and his elite squad used the warp to head East. However, unlike usual, the warp shook violently and took far longer than expected.
“Something… something feels off?”
“Indeed. Still, let’s wait it out for now. The direction seems correct.”
After all those twists and turns, the East they finally arrived in was in utter disarray due to the Monster Wave.
He had to search for traces of the 2nd Prince all the way to an island near the eastern territory.
And when he finally managed to locate the 2nd Prince, the prince lay unconscious on the island, collapsed on the ground.
“…Your Highness? Your Highness!”
Even the Imperial Knights he had brought along were all sprawled out across the ground.
There was no telling how long they had been lying there, as if sound asleep.
By some miracle, they were still unharmed, but if even a single wave washed over this spot and swept them out to sea, they were certain to be devoured by monsters.
Yet just as he moved to rescue him, a song drifted in from somewhere.
“■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■”
