The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living [Novel] Chapter 70

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Chapter 70

9. The Summer Wheat Showdown

The Archduke’s reception room.

After Dalia and I verbally agreed to the summer wheat contest, a meeting was arranged to discuss the official terms and conditions.

“A showdown, is it…?”

Alpheus, Dalia, and I sat side by side in a row.

Facing us were Hilbury and Duke Devostan.

Duke Devostan, the supreme ruler of the East, was an indecisive man.

He was incapable of standing up to his wife, while simultaneously being wrapped around the finger of his mistress, who was a merchant guild mistress.

Because of his wishy-washy nature, the atmosphere among his vassals leaned heavily toward backing his illegitimate second son, who couldn't even take his surname…yet the Duke failed to maintain a firm grip on his household.

“Well, you see, ah… dear me.”

Duke Devostan let out a heavy sigh.

This whole affair was entirely orchestrated by the Duchess of Devostan. Naturally, the Duke looked thoroughly uncomfortable being caught in the middle.

“So, you’re saying Miss Dalia and Miss Brisa will have a contest…”

“No,” I immediately corrected him. “My brother and I are against Dalia.”

I couldn't possibly win this alone; I absolutely needed Alpheus’s assistance.

This was akin to war. No matter how brilliant a strategist was, they still needed a capable general to field. In that sense, Alpheus was the ultimate commander.

“Brisa…” Alpheus looked at me with eyes brimming with emotion.

I glared at him sharply and gave his foot a stealthy, hard stomp under the table, preventing him from spouting any unnecessary nonsense like, “We really are each other’s only family under the heavens.”

Alpheus couldn't bring himself to be harsh with Dalia simply because she was a child.

Our main protagonist was steadfastly committed to protecting the weak and vulnerable. Therefore, as someone equally weak, I had to step up.

“And this contest… is to see who can harvest a greater yield of summer wheat?”

“Yes. Under equal conditions,” I explained calmly. “We will plant summer wheat in land previously deemed unsuitable for agriculture and compare the crop yields.”

In the past, farming wouldn't have even registered as a topic of conversation among nobility. But after enduring the last two months without warp gates, people’s perspectives had shifted.

Even Baron Foreman himself had quietly abandoned the Western etiquette of leaving a little food behind on the plate.

“Will that… be easy?” Duke Devostan knitted his brows and clicked his tongue. “Farming isn't something accomplished overnight. How could young noble ladies possibly…”

Dalia offered a bright, confident smile. “I have awakened a trait, Your Grace. So I am more than capable.”

“The Sayre trait, … Hmm…” Duke Devostan stroked his chin.

His frustrating demeanor was truly fitting for a man who made the rest of his family miserable.

Seeing my opportunity, I raised an eyebrow and asked, “Ah, by the way, have you handed over all the mana stones to the Magic Tower?”

“Ah, right.” Duke Devostan spoke as if he had only just remembered. “It had slipped my mind for a moment. I heard an agreement was reached with Gillab to hand over ten percent of the mana stones. Naturally, I shall provide them.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

There was no way he could have 'forgotten' an event involving the mass excavation of mana stones.

I hadn't dragged the Westerners to the Devostan Duchy back then to secure a firm pledge regarding the payment for nothing.

Of course, the Duke’s sudden willingness to promise them now wasn't due to any newfound honesty either.

The day a monster emitting strange noises appeared at the Devostan estate, causing the water level to rise unexpectedly.

He was undoubtedly trying to hush me up quickly before I could drop any hints about that incident.

Of course, broke as I was, I was more than willing to keep my mouth shut as long as he paid up as promised.

“Thank you. You may hand them over in raw mana stones. It saves on exchange fees anyway.”

“We’ve already sold all the mana stones to the Magic Tower… Given the legal complexities, wouldn't you prefer to receive cash instead?”

At this point, Duke Devostan stole a quick glance at Dalia.

I replied with absolute confidence. “His Grace, the Archduke of Nosen, promised to take care of those legal complexities for us.”

“But isn't that only if you win the contest?”

“I will win. With your permission, I shall send a letter to the Magic Tower myself.”

“Well, very well then.” Duke Devostan nodded. From his perspective, he had nothing to lose.

Thoroughly satisfied with securing the mana stones, I steered the conversation back to the contest.

“I intend to plant wheat in the herb field near the Seldoche Plains. Dalia will be needing a plot of land as well, will she not?”

It only made sense for the contest to be conducted under identical conditions, so I intended to request a piece of Western land from Hilbury on Dalia’s behalf.

However, Dalia interjected without hesitation. “Ah, in that case, how about the tomato field where the mana stones were recently excavated?”

“What?”

“I heard you turned the whole tomato field upside down to look for mana stones. You have to turn over your herb field anyway, so aren't we in a similar position?”

I blinked and retorted, “Dalia, you’re twelve years old now. Isn't it about time you start using your brain, even if only occasionally? The East and the West have completely different environments and climates. Do you honestly think a contest held in two entirely different regions is fair?”

I let out a sigh and added, “The West has been the breadbasket of the continent for generations. On top of that, what we’re planting is summer wheat, a specialized Western crop.”

I was far too fair-minded to let a handicap like this slide.

“This gives me an absolute advantage. Besides, how on earth is a field cleared of tomatoes even remotely similar to a field cleared of herbs?”

“It’s always the ones lacking confidence who cling to trivial details,” Dalia sneered. “How can I trust the West enough to hold the contest there? All the Western farmers will be on your side! For all I know, they might secretly sabotage my field!”

When Dalia openly voiced her distrust of Westerners, Hilbury’s brow furrowed in displeasure. I raised an eyebrow and tried to persuade her one last time.

“Still, Dalia, starting like this puts you at a severe disadvantage…”

“My trait doesn't care about things like that. It’s far too grand to be affected by minor environmental factors.”

At this point, pleading with her to hold a fair contest made me feel like an absolute fool.

I couldn't help but wonder what on earth this 'trait' of hers was that made her so brimming with confidence.

Right then, Duke Devostan interjected. “Well, if Lady Sayre’s side feels they have too much of an advantage, how about allowing Miss Dalia to select her summer wheat seeds first?”

I frowned slightly. Allowing her to choose her seeds first was undeniably a massive advantage in Dalia’s favor.

“I’m no expert, but I’ve heard that with summer wheat, the specialized Western crop, larger seeds yield taller stalks and more grain,” Duke Devostan added.

“Well, that is an accurate explanation,” I agreed with a slow nod.

Dalia immediately snapped, “Ah, then I’ll do that!”

At that moment, Hilbury, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke up. “Then it’s settled.”

He clearly deemed any further negotiation of unnecessary terms.

“The herb field in the West, and the tomato field in the East. Growing summer wheat on those two plots. The right to select the seeds goes to Dalia Harwin.”

In truth, it wasn't a losing deal for anyone.

The herb field had already been replaced with hydroponic farming, and the tomato field had yielded all the money it could possibly make from the mana stones.

In a way, the East and the West were simply providing idle land for the entertainment of the Central Capital’s gossiping nobles.

Hilbury wrapped up the discussion cleanly. “Unofficially, the issue at hand is whether to recognize or deny the Sayre trait that Miss Dalia claims to possess.”

It was a flawless summary.

“To ensure fairness, the land area, the number of wheat seeds, and the manpower allocated will be identical for both sides. You are not to consult local farmers and must make every decision on your own. The cultivation period will be set to three months.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

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