The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living
Chapter 35
Baron Forman knitted his brows.
Sylvia had mentioned that ‘Leo is completely consumed with looking for someone.’
Judging by his expression, it hadn’t been an exaggeration after all.
“Just who on earth is this person that you’re acting like this?”
Baron Forman asked slowly.
“Does the Grand Duke know as well? Have you tried asking His Grace for help?”
“……No.”
Leopold let out a low sigh. It was blatantly clear he had no desire to talk about it. He seemed not to have mentioned a word of it to Sylvia, either.
Baron Forman studied Leopold quietly. Then, setting his fork down completely, he spoke.
“That young lady of Sears… managed to substantially boost productivity in that tiny fief even while isolated. That is not something accomplished through ordinary knowledge. She must possess an incredible understanding of food and agriculture.”
Leopold crossed his arms.
“I had no idea she cared so much about food.”
“Not eating.”
Baron Forman corrected him at once.
“Living and sustenance—she is interested in people’s livelihoods.”
“Either way, I never imagined Brisa would have an interest in such matters. Nor did I ever expect to receive advice regarding wheat from her.”
“You didn’t know at all during your time at the Academy?”
“No one would have. Such things aren’t part of the formal curriculum…….”
That was true.
Baron Forman nodded slowly.
Agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing—such pursuits belonged to commoners. At most, medicine, law, accounting, and magic were considered acceptable disciplines for the children of nobles who would not inherit titles.
The so-called high nobility, by contrast, studied history, the arts, and philosophy.
“In any case, it seems you don’t know her very well. If you want my information on that young lady, Leo.”
Baron Forman raised an eyebrow and made an offer.
“You must offer corresponding information in return. Why are you searching for this person named ‘El’?”
Leopold lowered his gaze and fell silent.
Baron Forman noticed the fierce inner turmoil within him.
‘He must be terribly eager to hear about that young lady.’
It was the first time he had ever seen such a side to his grandson.
Words like conflict, anguish, and worry had always been entirely foreign to Leopold.
And naturally so—was he not the heir to the Grand Duchy, capable of possessing anything he desired?
A calm, unhurried composure, and a detached aloofness that made neither enemies nor friends suited him far better.
Of course, grandson or not, Leopold carried the blood of far too prestigious a lineage.
Thus, there was much about Leopold that Baron Forman did not know. Matters regarding the Grand Duchy of Nozen, in particular, were almost entirely beyond his grasp.
“It’s related to the curse of the Grand Duchy of Nozen.”
Leopold spoke slowly.
Baron Forman saw the agony etched on his grandson’s face.
Was it because he had lost his parents, or because of the immense weight of responsibility he bore on his shoulders? His grandson had matured far too quickly—so much so that it was hard to believe he was the exact same age as the carefree Sylvia.
As for the curse of the Grand Duchy of Nozen, Baron Forman knew very little about it either.
He only surmised that the curse had played a part in the deaths of his daughter and son-in-law. The world remained unaware, for it was kept an absolute secret from outsiders.
“I believe this person named El might hold a clue to lifting that curse.”
“Is that true?”
“That is why I ask that you do not tell Grandfather. It is still far too small a clue and nowhere near certain—I fear giving him false hope.”
“……I will not.”
Baron Forman nodded slowly.
If that was truly the case, it made sense why Leopold was searching for this ‘El’ in secret.
“As for that young lady, Brisa Seers.”
As promised, Baron Forman shared his information with Leopold.
“She is a scholar.”
“Pardon?”
“Due to the present circumstances, she wears the mask of an estate administrator, but at her core, she is a scholar who studies human sustenance and livelihoods.”
She did not farm the land with her own hands, yet she applied her knowledge of agriculture.
She did not tend livestock herself, yet she devised the methods to do so.
She did not cook with her own hands, yet she pondered the nutritional balance of ingredients.
At the pinnacle of all those endeavors lay profound, vast knowledge.
That was Brisa’s greatest talent.
“Human sustenance…… you say.”
“Through prolonged eras of abundance, many nobles looked down upon the matter of sustenance, deeming it none of their concern, but to my eyes, that too is a discipline. I only came to realize it this time through that young lady.”
Baron Forman stated resolutely, arms crossed.
“I am deeply curious to see how she will make her mark in these difficult times.”
At that, Leopold sighed and muttered.
“She is no longer the heir to Sears. If her half-brother turns out to be a wicked scoundrel, far from making her mark, she might……”
“That could well happen.”
Little was known about Alpheus Seers as an individual. Therefore, there was no telling how he would treat Brisa.
Baron Forman continued carefully.
“In that case, I don’t think it would be a bad idea for her to spread her wings here in the West.”
Leopold furrowed his brow.
Baron Forman shrugged.
“It has nothing to do with my grandson. While it is true the Grand Duke sent me to the Central region because of your eccentric behavior, this is an entirely separate matter.”
“…….”
“The West is the granary of the Empire, and I believe she could fulfill her ambitions here far better than in the Central region.”
Pausing for a moment, he sighed before delving into a delicate topic.
“If the new Marquis Sears proves to be vicious, then all the more reason—she is too valuable a talent to wither away there. That is precisely what I intend to report to the Grand Duke.”
Baron Forman meant every word.
She was a young lady who had fed and sustained an entire riverbank estate to prosperity. If her half-brother were to harbor even the slightest sense of rivalry toward Brisa……
‘He would snap her wings in an instant.’
This was a world where even full siblings raised together readily drew blades against one another in the face of power. That was how precarious the young lady’s standing had become.
“I am not suggesting we meddle blindly in another family’s affairs.”
Naturally, it was not something to be undertaken lightly.
There was no connection between Brisa and the Grand Duchy of Nozen. An overt move could easily be seen as interference and stir up trouble.
Nevertheless, Baron Forman’s conviction remained steadfast.
“The vast knowledge and execution she possesses……”
Baron Forman narrowed his eyes and murmured.
“……I am simply eager to see what kind of effect they might produce when combined with the vast expanses of the West. That is my evaluation of her.”
After a brief pause, he continued.
“And now, to answer your first question.”
Leopold’s first question had been: ‘What is the fastest way to see Brisa?’
“For the reasons I just mentioned, I plan to bring her to the West first.”
“……Are you planning on kidnapping her?”
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
“The new Marquis Sears might turn out to be a decent person.”
“He might. Which is why I won’t be kidnapping her; I simply extended a formal invitation to dine with me.”
Baron Forman leaned back into his chair, arms crossed.
“Once the warp gate is activated, surely we can share a single meal together, can’t we?”
There was nothing strange about that. Everyone had heard him invite her to visit the Forman residence.
“Leo, will you join us?”
“No.”
Leopold refused flatly.
“Absolutely not.”
“You’re far too quick to refuse. But if that’s the case, Leo.”
Baron Forman narrowed his eyes and asked playfully.
“Why did you send flowers? Anonymously, no less.”
“Grandfather.”
Leopold answered solemnly.
“It is precisely to avoid facing questions like that that I will not go.”
“Hmm.”
“Furthermore, let me inform you in advance that if Sylvia ever finds out about this, I will never show my face to you again.”
“Why? If she finds out, she would help you both materially and wholeheartedly.”
“She has a loose tongue.”
Leopold gritted his teeth.
“Just like Grandfather.”
“Haha.”
“There is absolutely, positively no chance I will run into her in the West. Especially not in front of family.”
“You really shouldn’t use the word ’never.’”
Baron Forman clicked his tongue.
“Life has a dreadful habit of answering to that word by smacking you right in the back of the head.”