Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 122: Characters (3)

“D-Dereck. It seems you’ve become busier since the last time we met. It didn’t seem like such a big deal during the opening ceremony of the Ravenclaw Training Center.”

“That’s how things turned out. But when winter arrives, I plan to take a period of rest, so I think I’ll have more free time and be able to focus more on my training.”

“It seems that the finances of the barony have also stabilized quite a bit.”

“The issue of livelihood has already been resolved. It’s a considerable improvement compared to when I was wandering through the slums.”

Dereck took off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair, then sat down in front of her with a polite greeting.

Although he could already be considered an expert in magic, he couldn’t handle the situation surrounding Ebelstein on his own. His power was still weak compared to that of the great nobles.

Therefore, if he was going to involve himself in a psychological war with the powerful, he would inevitably need the help of other forces.

Fortunately, Dereck was in a position to maintain a fairly solid relationship with the Belmierd family.

“I heard that Lady Aiselin is not in good health, so I brought some medicinal herbs and potions. The butler should have received them separately.”

“Yes, I’ve already been informed. Lady Aiselin said she would come personally to thank you.”

After exchanging some courtesies and chatting about trivial matters related to the Belmierd and Ravenclaw territories, Dereck got straight to the point.

“It seems that the Beltus family sees me as a thorn in their side.”

“…”

At those words, Ellen’s fingers trembled slightly. It seemed she too had anticipated a similar reaction from the Beltus family.

“Since the Duplain family faced a great crisis, the Belmierd and Beltus families have ruled as the true powers of Ebelstein. To be honest, if the Beltus family decided to crush me, I’d be in serious trouble.”

Dereck spoke frankly, looking downward.

No matter how high he had risen among magical instructors, he could not raise his voice against a ducal family that had devoured an entire region.

The number of Dereck’s vassals barely reached a few hundred, so he couldn’t even imagine competing with the size of the Beltus territory.

“…The Grand Duke of Beltus is a man who takes power struggles very seriously, especially in the southwestern part of the continent. Although Count Renouel has gained a lot of influence and begun to stand out, he wouldn’t easily accept the emergence of another new force.”

Ellen sighed deeply, crossing her arms.

The Grand Duke Beltus was also a troublesome adversary for the Belmierd family.

He was a 5-star summoner, a collateral member of the royal Guttrel family, and a competent official who monopolized high-ranking positions in the capital.

However, compared to the other three great families, the Beltus family had a shorter history, and despite its vast territory, its foundational power was weak.

Its military strength was worthy of the high nobility, but half of it consisted of mercenaries under the command of General Orel, a former soldier.

They were brave and loyal, but their loyalty lasted only as long as the gold kept flowing.

Moreover, maintaining such a large force required astronomical amounts of money.

The Grand Duke Beltus’s expeditions to the White Zone labyrinths to monopolize treasures were carried out precisely under the pretext of maintaining the stability of his domain.

Given his position, it was natural for him to react sensitively to the appearance of new powers.

If he managed to crush Dereck and subdue him, that would be one thing; but as Count Belmierd had said, Dereck was more like a lone wolf roaming the wild mountains than a loyal servant who obeyed his lord.

“But it’s strange. Didn’t the Grand Duke Beltus vote in favor when you were granted your title?”

“That… I did receive some help. Young Master Linus interceded with the eldest son of the Beltus family.”

“Linus…? You mean my brother Linus? Now that you mention it, I think he did say something about that…”

The one who had helped Dereck the most when he obtained his baron title had been Linus, the eldest son of the Belmierd family.

It had been quite some time since he had last set foot in the main house.

Whenever Ellen remembered that unkempt brother who always smelled of alcohol and tobacco and laughed loudly, she couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

“It’s understandable if that reckless brother of mine pulled a few strings. At least he had a wide network of contacts. He must have talked too much to Prince Robenalt of the Beltus family.”

“You don’t get along with Young Master Linus, do you?”

“Rather than not getting along, I’d prefer not to talk about that person.”

Ellen had never felt affection for Linus, though it seemed more like a natural sibling aversion than true resentment.

“…”

In fact, even for Dereck, Linus was someone difficult to sympathize with.

Despite his sharp and handsome face, he was a man who burped with the smell of alcohol, never shaved, and tied his greasy hair into a ponytail while wandering through gambling dens.

He was the complete opposite of noble ladies, who always had to maintain an impeccable image, making it hard to believe he was the firstborn of the Belmierd family.

Compared to Valerian, the eldest son of the Duplain family, the difference was abysmal.

“Although it might not sound good, if he had been a man like Valerian of the Duplain family, the line of succession of the Belmierds might have changed. I don’t know if that would have been a blessing or a curse…”

“Certainly. Brother Valerian was truly a man worthy of a high-ranking noble.”

“…!”

At that moment, as Ellen spoke with a complicated expression, Aiselin, who had just finished getting ready, opened the door of the reception room and entered.

It was a curious coincidence—just as they were talking about the late member of the Duplain family.

*

The three-way meeting between Aiselin, Ellen, and Dereck began without warning.

None of the three felt comfortable in that situation.

Ellen had already declared war on Aiselin, and Aiselin didn’t feel at ease with Ellen either.

As for Dereck, he couldn’t act lightly in front of two women regarded as the flowers of Duplain and Belmierd.

As a result, the scene of the three of them watching each other from opposite sides of the round table looked like a triangular battle.

In reality, it was nothing more than a silent war of glances between Aiselin and Ellen.

“I misspoke, Lady Aiselin. The subject of Prince Valerian must have been a sensitive one.”

“It’s all right. It’s my fault for entering so suddenly. You came worried about my health, so how could I hold a grudge?”

“I see. Still, I can’t deny that I acted rashly. Please accept my formal apology.”

“My, someone called the Flower of Belmierd shouldn’t bow her head so easily. I’ll accept your apology in spirit.”

“Hoho, as expected of Lady Aiselin, your heart is as vast as the sea.”

“Rather, Lady Ellen, you seem very considerate and open-minded. Hoho.”

“That can’t be. Hoho.”

“Ahahat.”

“Hoho.”

“Ahaha.”

To the casual ear, the conversation sounded like a warm chat between elegant ladies, but the butler Delbriton, who stood behind Dereck, was drenched in sweat.

Ellen showed open hostility toward Aiselin, while Aiselin tried to smooth things over with delicate grace.

The tension between the two had changed quite a bit from what they displayed in the social circles of Ebelstein.

One sought to steal away the old-fashioned man who only knew magic, and the other sought to protect him.

The situation felt far more mundane—and harder to interpret.

Meanwhile, Dereck sipped the tea Delbriton had served him, lost in thought.

No matter the war of nerves between the two women, Dereck was focused on anticipating how Grand Duke Beltus would act.

As a noble responsible for a mansion, personal disputes had to take a back seat to political and strategic decisions.

Aiselin and Ellen watched each other in silence until both sighed at the sight of Dereck’s serious expression.

Finally, Aiselin lowered her head and spoke.

“The maneuvers of Grand Duke Beltus against new powers are already an open secret. Just by listening to the rumors circulating in Ebelstein’s social circles, there are many unsettling things.”

She had only just recovered from her collapse due to overwork, yet she was already up to date on the social news surrounding the Ravenclaw Barony.

“Baron Lotoel, famous for his labyrinth conquests, and Lady Crella, who was once an adventurer, both suffered severe setbacks from the pressures of Grand Duke Beltus. I thought Dereck would be safe, but it seems that as the training center grew, the Duke’s opinion changed considerably.”

Aiselin spoke in a subdued tone, barely audible.

“And I had a part in creating that center. If I think about it, it’s largely my responsibility that Dereck has fallen out of favor with Grand Duke Beltus.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I’m not wrong, am I?”

Indeed, it had been Aiselin who took the initiative to establish a training center of such scale for Dereck.

She had never intended for things to become so complicated.

Feeling responsible, Aiselin spoke with determined eyes.

“I promise that the Duplain family will support and protect Dereck, no matter what happens.”

“It seems Lady Aiselin trusts Dereck deeply. With due respect, that trust is noble and beautiful, but it doesn’t carry enough weight to change the situation.”

At that moment, Ellen intervened with a refined voice.

Those words could have sounded hurtful, but Aiselin couldn’t deny them.

The Duplain family, once more powerful than Beltus, had lost much of its influence.

That was why Aiselin called herself a fallen lady.

“But with Belmierd, it’s a little different.”

Ellen smiled and looked at Dereck.

“My father, Count Belmierd, holds you in high regard. And at this point, he has delegated nearly all of his political authority to me. I also believe you are someone who can be completely trusted.”

Whatever their pasts, Aiselin and Ellen now stood on different levels.

To emphasize that, Ellen brushed her red hair aside elegantly and smiled with confidence.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Dereck, you are the person I trust most in this world.”

While Dereck hesitated, unsure how to respond, Ellen stood up, leaned forward, and looked straight at him.

“And I am Belmierd.”

Her seductive smile was full of meaning.

Whatever the Duke of Beltus tried, Belmierd would not stand idly by.

That was as good as gaining a thousand allies—but even so, it remained uncertain what kind of moves the Grand Duke would use.

“Lady Ellen, thank you for saying that…”

“Yes! Exactly!”

Aiselin, who had remained quiet, suddenly cut in with a sharp, nervous voice.

“T-that’s right! Lady Ellen’s words are very encouraging for us in the Ravenclaw Barony.”

“Us?”

“Us…!”

“…”

With narrowed eyes, Ellen sighed and sat back down.

“In any case, it’s still unknown what kind of move Grand Duke Beltus will make. When he crushed Baron Rotoel, he only spread slander and rumors to ruin his reputation. But when he destroyed Lady Crella and Baron Bilton, he imposed border tariffs and incited their servants to betray them. It was truly despicable.”

“Despicable.” Using such a word to describe the leader of one of the three great families of the southwest was an act of insolence.

Ellen would never make such a mistake. On the contrary—she did it deliberately, to make her position clear to Dereck.

It was her way of showing that she stood by his side; by insulting a common enemy together, the bond between allies naturally deepened.

“It’s something only a few know, but he’s also instigated family assassinations or kidnappings to use as threats. It’s an old story, but unpleasant to hear. If he finds an excuse, he might even take military action. He’s the type of person who would.”

“…”

Seeing Aiselin lower her head without surprise made it clear that this was already a well-known rumor among the high nobility.

Grand Duke Beltus was desperate to maintain his power. Once someone fell from his favor, something inevitably happened.

“If it’s just rumors, Lady Aiselin and I can handle them—we have influence in social circles. But if it goes beyond that, Dereck, your reaction will be crucial.”

“B-but Dereck has a lot of experience as a mercenary, right? He wouldn’t fall easily to a simple assassination attempt. He might even track down the source.”

“That’s right, Lady Aiselin. But the problem is that Grand Duke Beltus isn’t unaware of that fact.”

With a serious expression, Ellen stood up and walked toward the salon window.

In her line of sight, she saw a silver-haired girl being guided by the servants from the central garden toward the main building.

That elegant bearing, her loose silver-gray hair flowing freely, made it clear she was coming to greet Aiselin upon hearing of her arrival.

Her name was Denise—and she was one of the most capable pieces employed by Grand Duke Beltus.

Ellen’s eyes narrowed even further.

Dereck trusted Denise greatly—but Ellen did not.

“Then, what would be the most extreme move Grand Duke Beltus could make?”

Aiselin asked, her face tense.

“Whether assassination or kidnapping, attempting something direct against Dereck wouldn’t be wise. If he does act, he’ll probably target someone close to him. Someone whose disappearance wouldn’t cause too much commotion, but whose loss would deeply affect Dereck emotionally—someone like…”

Aiselin swallowed hard.

It seemed both she and Ellen thought of the same person at the same time.

The person officially closest to Dereck.

Someone whose status wasn’t high enough to provoke repercussions if touched, but whose safety Dereck deeply cared about—there was only one possible candidate.

A moment of silence.

The worried faces of Ellen and Aiselin.

And amid that tension, Dereck finally spoke in a low voice, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple.

“That… wouldn’t be a very wise move…”

*

“Ugh, I’m getting drunk…”

After completing the subjugation of the harpies in the Roben Mountains, Pheline, who had returned to the tavern Tears of Beldern after a long time, was slumped over the counter, letting out pitiful groans as she drank mead.

The place was almost empty, as closing time was approaching.

A few mercenaries were still drinking beer and swearing, while at a table in the back, a suspicious group in cloaks watched Pheline.

The tavern owner, Jayden, had already gone to prepare for closing.

It was nighttime—the hour when even the moon seemed ready to sleep.

Amid the tavern’s noise, if a drunken girl were enchanted with a confusion spell and disappeared into the dark streets, few would notice.

Three hooded men approached the counter where Pheline was still groaning.

They watched her from behind as she hummed an unfamiliar tune, and just as one of them was about to place a hand on her shoulder—

Thud!

Without warning, a dagger sank into his shoulder.

Blood sprayed into the air.

“Wha—!”

The man reacted, but a sharp pain shot through his shoulder.

The strike had been measured precisely not to be fatal—but the pain that followed was anything but merciful.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“Do you want to die?”

Beneath the bloodied shoulder, a pair of red eyes glowed.

She had the delicate appearance of a noblewoman, but beneath that skin lurked a bloodthirsty wolf.

She was a comrade who had shared half her life with Dereck on the battlefield, surviving in the brutal mercenary world without a single scar.

A beast raised on the streets is born with a sixth sense for detecting hostility.

Proof of that was how Pheline, without giving them time to react, kicked the hooded men in the face.

Crash! Bang!

One of the burly men was thrown against the counter and rolled across the floor with a loud crash.

The blood-stained dagger still trembled, embedded in his shoulder.

The other two, still standing, stared at her with trembling eyes.

Pheline, swaying from drunkenness, steadied herself on the counter as her eyes began to shine again.

“Ugh… I’m already feeling dizzy…”

She was officially the consort of Baron Ravenclaw, and if she dressed properly, she could look like an elegant and refined lady.

However, in reality, the number of lives she had taken far exceeded double digits.

The killing intent was already part of her being, clinging to the corners of her eyes like a ghostly aura.

To survive in the underworld, that, in a way, was completely natural.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet