The Girl Who Was Forced by Her Stepsister to Marry the Cursed Duke

Chapter 45: Where Are We Going…? 

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“Miltia, good job today…. Thank you for curing the disease from the farmland on my behalf.”

I was having a pleasant conversation with Maricle-sama as we drove through the peaceful countryside in the duke’s magic carriage.

“No, I… I didn’t do anything great at all… I… I only… Helped make limestones for them… I mean.. The one who… Actually cured the soil were Soncho-san and the other farmers…”

“Yes, I see…”

Maricle-sama smiled as he gazed at the fields. There were still some areas with withering plants left. But beneath those withered plants, the new sprouts were already growing and flourishing! It was as if the sprout were looking at us while saying, “in a short while, this place will be covered in lush greenery again!”

“By the way, did you notice anything unusual or dangerous while working in the field?”

“There wasn’t anything dangerous… Umm… Everyone… Everyone has been very kind to me….”

In fact, I was the one feeling guilty for not being able to help them plowing the field with a hoe. 

“There’s nothing particularly unusual…. Oh! That’s right. Maricle-sama, in the corner of the farm…”

I then told Maricle-sama about the food scraps with foul stench. While we were scattering the limestone powder, we found another two rotting food scraps. In total, we found three rotting food scraps and they all began shrinking the moment we covered them with limestone powder. They all kept on shrinking until they were the size of shriveled up earthworms. 

Those three shriveled scraps were now being fermented with the other manure after Soncho-san threw them into the slurry pit. 

“I see… Three food scraps that gave off a foul stench… And the shrieking sound coming after you sprinkle them with limestone powder…. Three….”

H-Huh?

I only thought those were nothing but ‘slightly unusual’. Contrary to my expectation, Maricle-sama’s expression turned sharp all of a sudden. Seeing him looking all serious like that somehow, made my heart choke up a little. 

“Umm… Maricle-sama… Could it be… We should’ve taken the food scraps matter more seriously? S-Should we have gone through with legal procedures?”

“Hm? Oh, no. That’s not it. As long as no harm is done to Miltia and the others, there’s no problem at all. It’s just… I’m afraid those scraps might be related to some sorcery….”

“Sorcery…?”

“Yes. Well, as you can see, I’ve earned the title of the『first』magician even though I’m still this young and on top of that, I have a close relationship with Ars. All of these made a lot of people get jealous of me easily.”

“Is that so…”

Yeah… Turns out being a high ranking noble is pretty dangerous….After all, people of the same rank can only feel ‘jealousy’ toward each other to some extent… As for me, I could understand if someone were to ‘admire’ Maricle-sama but if it’s ‘jealousy’….

Even though I’m sitting next to him, even though I’m holding his hand and I can easily touch his face if I so much as outstretch my hand toward him…. I’m still not sure if it’s really alright for me to live in the same world as him? As of now, I still feel like I’m sticking out like a sore thumb. 

“Which reminds me, Maricle-sama.”

“What is it?”

“This carriage, where is this carriage heading to?”

After picking me up from the farmland, we returned to the mansion. He then told me to change into a slightly more formal dress and then… Here I was, sitting in the carriage once again. 

“…. That’s right. After we’ve arrived… Why don’t we go and have some fun?”

Maricle-sama said that before he suddenly turned his gaze elsewhere. 

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T/N: I just love how oblivious and chill Miltia is (ಥ_ʖಥ)