Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 12: Imam (2)

That night, Lady Aiselin had finished all her engagements at the Duplain estate and was ready to return to Ebelstain.

Jayden, who had been accompanying Dereck as a precaution, also decided it was time to leave, so Dereck readied himself to say farewell and stood at the mansion’s main gate.

“I’m glad I brought you to the duchy, Dereck,” Aiselin said with a bright smile by the carriage.

She genuinely looked pleased—lately the atmosphere at the duchy had improved, and that brought her joy. Although she now lived in the grand house in Ebelstain, her concern for her family’s estate remained a defining trait.

“Not at all. Even if I had, I haven’t done much,” Dereck replied.

“No need for false modesty. It must have been tough from your perspective.”

After all, Lady Aiselin’s request was that Diella learn first‑tier magic so she could enter society with confidence. Materializing magic was half the battle, so a satisfied look was natural.

“I wish I could stay longer with my family, but I must return to Ebelstain. There’s still so much left to do.”

With a grateful wave, Lady Aiselin climbed into the carriage. Jayden, also bound for Ebelstain, gave Dereck a friendly pat on the shoulder before he followed her in.

“Looks like my work here is done. I’m just a mercenary group’s lackey,” Jayden said.

“What about your fifteen Aidel gold coins commission?”

“Honestly, I hardly did anything. Take one coin as your fee—you’ll need it someday for a wand or staff, right?”

Since it had been arranged by the mercenary band, Dereck couldn’t walk away unpaid. If he’d been a lone mercenary, he’d never have secured such a noble commission.

Whenever Miss Aiselin had free time, she’d visit her family’s estate, so he’d likely see her again. Jayden, though, would be busy running the mercenary group for some time.

Dereck felt a bit wistful at that.

“Alright, take three coins.”

“Oh? Now that you’ve got a head on your shoulders, you turn generous?”

“Not to your taste?”

“Of course it is. Ha ha ha.”

They both laughed—Dereck a little hollowly.

After a moment Jayden stroked his chin:

“Finish up quickly. The Beldern mercenary group always needs mages.”

“You want me to abandon my cushy noble‑tutor gig?”

“See? I know you’re cut out for mercenary life. Talent like yours doesn’t belong in noble drawing rooms.”

Jayden’s words were laden with meaning. It was obvious that Dereck was cut out for the life of a mercenary, and his magical talent went beyond his current level.

Dereck himself knew this. He harbored a desire to surpass the two‑star rank. For a mage, the thirst for knowledge and the drive to ascend are akin to destiny.

But he was a commoner. Even a two‑star commoner mage might be seen as hardworking or somewhat gifted, but at three stars, the nobles’ attitudes change.

At four stars, one could be treated as a dangerous element capable of upsetting the system, and it would be difficult to display one’s abilities openly.

Historically, the number of commoners who reached four stars can be counted on one hand.

In the end, if one truly wants to climb higher, one cannot remain cradled in a noble family’s lap.

“If Pheline learns you’re teaching magic at a duke’s estate, she’ll blow a fuse. Hard to calm her when she’s mad. So finish quickly and come back.”

“And send word before you take your next job.”

“I’m not some feather‑quill noble. Come see me at the tavern if you want to talk.”

Laughing, Jayden climbed in.

“See you in Ebelstain,” he called as the carriage rolled away.

*

Bang!

“Dereck! I’ve materialized the power but it always veers off course!”

Bang!

“Dereck! I tried to infuse cold, but it’s uneven—why?!”

“Dereck! Look at this! I tried to imbue it with a sense of cold… but the power isn’t distributing evenly! Why is it doing this?”

—Crash! Bang!

“Dereck! I can feel the magical power, but when I try to materialize it, my senses get dull!”

“Dereck! Where have you been? Why are you here? I told you to stay near the pavilion!”

“Dereck! I managed to cast the spell like you said last time! What should I do now?”

Dereck! Dereck! Dereck!

Due to Lady Diella’s habit of seeking out Dereck at every opportunity, the pavilion servants were always tracking his whereabouts. They had to quickly report his location whenever their mistress’s mood worsened and she went out looking for him.

However, Dereck wasn’t always near the pavilion. Sometimes he could be found reading in the sitting room, wandering the mansion garden while pondering various magical theories, or—with the duke’s permission—reading spellbooks in the mansion’s library.

Though Dereck had come to teach Diella magic, from his perspective, the residence of Duke Duplain was an excellent environment to study various magical theories.

After all, it was one of the most renowned magical houses on the continent, with a collection of rare and valuable spellbooks.

Even though all the books were based on noble-class rule-bound magic and didn’t directly help him, Dereck was skilled at referencing magical theories and adapting them into his own. It was a familiar process for him, taught by his mentor in rule-based magic.

Magical theories were deep yet simple, and while the basics varied greatly from one academy to another, a closer look revealed many common threads.

Since opportunities to freely access magical texts were rare, Dereck was eager to make the most of this chance.

Thus, Dereck refined his magical abilities while also dedicating time to overseeing Diella’s magic.

It was only natural that they spent much time together, sharing many stories. The gap between a slum-born mercenary and a noble young lady was vast, so they rarely had anything in common.

On the contrary, they could share many fascinating tales with each other.

Dereck sometimes spoke of the stars he saw from the slums, his monster-hunting adventures with Katia on the outskirts of Ebelstein, and the power struggles between mercenary groups.

Unlike the charming fairy tales that had adorned Diella’s room since childhood, Dereck’s stories were vivid and filled with cold reality.

Diella would pretend not to be interested and act haughty, but as the stories grew more intense, her eyes would shine as she listened.

At times she seemed excited, sometimes sympathetic, but by the end of the stories, Diella would usually launch into a long speech about the greatness of her lineage.

In those moments, Dereck would wear an indifferent expression and return to his book, as if he were used to her craving attention and making a fuss.

Over time, both Dereck and Diella progressed toward their goals.

Diella aspired to use first-tier magic, while Dereck sought to expand the scope of the second-tier magic he could wield… and, if possible, step into the realm of third-tier magic.

*

It was late when Valerian, the eldest son and heir of the Duplain family, summoned Dereck to his room.

It was the year when spring was nearing its end. Amid the hustle of the servants cleaning up the pollen that flooded the mansion, Valerian abruptly called for Dereck.

“What’s going on?”

“Are you teaching Diella well? How is she doing lately?”

“There’s been some progress. However, mastering first-level magic still seems far off. I thought it would be quick, but the pace has slowed, so I’m looking for a new method.”

“I see… Understood.”

Valerian’s private room was almost twice the size of Diella’s room that Dereck had seen before.

As the future head of a prominent family, it was natural to be treated accordingly, but honestly, the room was so large that Dereck wondered if it had any real use.

In a corner of the room, near the desk by the window, Valerian sat with his legs crossed. At a glance, he was a handsome man—tall and well-built.

At times, he was the object of affection among the maids, a fairly attractive man. However, he seemed to spend most of his time managing the duties of a duke rather than indulging in worldly pleasures.

In his free time, he supervised Leigh’s training, wrote letters to Aiselin, or cared for his uncle and nephew—showing a deep love for his family.

“My mother, who went to a social gathering in the south, will likely return next week. Just so you know, she’s not easy to deal with.”

“Really?”

“The Duplain family may not be that strict, but nobles in general aren’t very friendly toward commoners like you who hold important positions. You know that, right?”

It was uncommon for a commoner to teach magic to a prominent noble lady. That was because Diella wasn’t an ordinary case. Normally, the position of magic tutor in a family like the Duplains would have many lining up if they had the ability. It wasn’t that capable people were scarce, but rather that many desired the role.

Once things returned to normal, it was likely that many veteran mages would try to push Dereck out and take his place. After all, Dereck’s goal was to teach Diella first-level magic, so he was focused on achieving that above all.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Is that why you called me here?”

“That’s an important matter, but… there’s something else I want to ask you.”

“What do you want to ask?”

Valerian stroked his chin and looked out the window, watching Diella as she practiced magic alone in the garden. Dereck was confused by Valerian’s hesitant attitude.

“I’m the future head of the Duplain family. The role of the family head is to embrace and guide all members in the right direction. To do that, one must sincerely understand and care for each member from the heart.”

“…”

The conversation seemed to be dragging on, but Dereck listened silently.

“But it’s not easy, is it? The human heart is so deep. Even living under the same roof, with different values and goals, there are often misunderstandings…”

“I see… May I ask what message you’re trying to convey?”

Valerian adjusted his noble attire, leaned back in his chair, and spoke awkwardly.

“Diella doesn’t want to play with me.”

“…”

Dereck remained silent but composed. He thought he understood why Valerian would say that. Since she began seriously studying magic, Diella had stopped looking down on commoners. She could still be sharp-tongued at times, but her days of acting like a spoiled child were almost over.

When Diella’s reputation started gradually improving, there was a moment when she and Dereck passed Valerian in the garden.

Valerian, who loved his family dearly, warmly greeted Diella, but she, startled like a cat seeing a predator, hid behind Dereck and looked on cautiously. Valerian had seemed quite shocked to see Diella unwilling to return the greeting, her eyes wide like a frightened kitten’s.

“When she was little, she was always smiling, showing off her drawings. There was no angel like her in this world.”

“…”

“My expression isn’t that bad… Tell me. How can I win Diella’s heart?”

“Why… are you asking me…?”

“Diella only follows you around….”

It was true that within House Duplain, Dereck was the only person Diella seemed to follow.

“…”

Valerian’s love for his family was truly admirable, but unfortunately, the emotional complexity of a teenage girl was a far greater mystery than any historical enigma to an adult man.

Still, if one had to guess, it was likely shyness. Given her reckless past, it wasn’t surprising that she’d suddenly feel uncomfortable around her family.

Normally, time would resolve a problem like that, but Valerian was seriously wondering if he himself was the problem.

“Look at this. I learned embroidery from the maids and made this doll to look like Diella. What do you think? Can you see the effort, the sincerity, and affection in it?”

Even someone as skilled as Valerian seemed to lack talent for fine needlework, as the doll looked more strange than cute.

An adult might be moved by the gesture alone, but unfortunately, a teenage girl would likely be horrified.

The maids didn’t seem able to speak the truth. Giving it to Diella as is would be a disaster, so someone had to intervene and be honest.

“To be honest… that would probably just… annoy her…”

“…Damn it.”

Valerian frowned, lost in thought.

All Dereck could do was offer moral support for the effort.

*

(New Magic Acquired)

One-Star Spell: ‘Shockwave’

One-Star Detection: ‘Life Detection’

Two-Star Transformation: ‘Earth Wall’

Two-Star Confusion: ‘Chaos’

“Lady Diella. It’s time for the lady of the house to arrive.”

“Already?”

The elegant maid approached Dereck and Diella, who were studying magic at the tea table in the garden.

Close.

Dereck closed the book he was reading with one hand and stood, brushing dust off the chair.

Over time, Dereck had made some progress. The magical resources of House Duplain were a great help. However, achieving his primary goal of reaching three-star level still seemed distant.

It might have been reckless to aspire to the three-star level at his age, but the desire to improve doesn’t heed age. Still, he was becoming increasingly aware that the realm of three stars was no ordinary level. It wasn’t something to be reached quickly.

Interestingly, his progress in combat and confusion spells was advancing rapidly.

Dereck’s quick mastery of combat spells was likely due to his mercenary background, full of battles, while his swift learning of confusion magic seemed influenced by his mentor, Katia, a three-star confusion mage.

On the other hand, he didn’t seem to have much talent for summoning magic. Despite investing a fair amount of time, he had only achieved minor successes. It was disappointing, but inevitable. As Katia often said, trying to master every branch might just be greed.

With a sigh, Dereck followed the maid toward the main hall of the mansion.

The mother of the Duplain family, Miriela Daybell Duplain, had returned from a social gathering in the south, and many servants were attending her welcome party.

Miriela, tired from the long journey, maintained her noble composure. Her purple dress, peacock feather fan, and gleaming accessories all looked like luxury items.

She spoke politely with her family, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

“Is everything alright in my absence?”

“Yes, Mother. In fact, we only have good news.”

“Oh, Valerian, if you say that, it must be delightful news.”

The woman’s face showed signs of aging, but she retained the dignity of a noble. Upon entering, escorted by Valerian, Miriela was immediately captivated by Diella’s appearance and seemed to realize the joyful news.

“Di-Diella! You’ve come out of the pavilion!”

Diella, dressed in a beautiful ruffled dress with a lovely bow, looked like a proper young noble. Finding her so charming, Miriela hurried to embrace her.

“Ah, hello, Mother….”

“Diella. My dear Diella. I was so worried….”

“Don’t be surprised, Mother. Diella recently managed to materialize magic and is now working hard to master a one-star spell.”

“Really? Diella! You’ve worked so hard! Oh, I must consider buying a wand or staff. Maybe I should look in the magic shops of Ebelstain…”

“Ha ha… Mother, it’s too soon for that.”

Valerian gently scolded his mother with a smile. Mages who carried their own wand or staff were typically intermediate-level practitioners of three stars.

Even then, many didn’t bother unless necessary, since such magical items were quite expensive.

It was an old habit of parents to get excited over their children’s achievements as a sign of joy.

“What’s happened to bring such progress in such a short time…? It’s like the world has changed.”

“Um… well….”

While Diella hesitated, Valerian answered with a gentle smile.

“The new magic tutor Aiselin brought has played a major role.”

“Oh. I must thank him. Is he here in the mansion now?”

“Here he is. This is Dereck, Mage of Ebelstain.”

Standing among the servants, Dereck met Miriela’s gaze and greeted her calmly.

Miriela approached with a sweet look in her eyes and spoke to Dereck.

“My daughter owes you so much. Are you a Mage of Ebelstain?”

“Yes. My name is Dereck.”

Miriela spoke in a soft voice, her smile warm.

“Diella has changed magic tutors often, but you’ve achieved such great results. I’m very grateful. I can’t just sit idle—I want to send a token of appreciation from our family… Could you tell me your affiliation? I must express the sincerity of House Duplain.”

At those words, Valerian looked away uncomfortably, as did the other servants.

Dereck, observing the situation from the corner of his eye, seemed to understand what was happening.

“I have no family affiliation.”

“…Pardon?”

“I am a commoner.”

With that declaration, an awkward silence fell over the main hall of the ducal residence.

The affectionate look Miriela had given him, as if seeing a philanthropist, vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

Dereck already knew, after hearing the news from Valerian.

She was the embodiment of aristocratic authority.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet