Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 135: The Subjugation of Beltus (9)

“Most of the monsters in the west have already been eliminated. The mercenaries dispersed and nearly all the key points have been recovered. It’s a relief that Lady Denise doesn’t seem to be seriously injured.”

“Oh, Orel…!”

“Please be careful, Lady Denise. The members who went to scout around the mansion have already returned with their report. It was this man who subdued young master Robenalt, who was guarding the magic tower in the east. There is a high possibility that he’s related in some way to the chaos spreading through Beltus territory.”

Captain Orel was a man with good instincts.

Even in this chaos-covered situation, he instinctively knew that Dereck was not an ally.

He shook his sword once and then straightened, fixing a cold gaze on Dereck.

Orel was an older man, but he could not be treated as a washed-up veteran. His right arm stood out with muscle, and his belt, strapped to his thigh, was adorned with all kinds of adventuring gear.

Although he had been assigned as an escort in the noble house for a long time, it was clear that he continued training so as not to lose his combat edge.

As the leader of the largest mercenary group in the southwest of the continent, Orel’s maturity could not be ignored, regardless of his age.

“I heard you were part of the Beldern Mercenary Group that Jayden formed. Is that true?”

He seemed to be an old acquaintance of Jayden, the mercenary captain Dereck trusted.

When Dereck nodded without lowering his guard, Orel grinned broadly and said.

“So that Jayden, who went through so much hardship in the Dawn War, ended up retiring to serve people like you, huh?”

“To be honest, it’s more like living off odd jobs. The members should be arriving in Beltus territory now—it’d be nice to see Uncle Jayden again after so long.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not senile enough to reminisce about the past in a situation like this.”

Captain Orel stroked his beard and examined Dereck’s condition.

He had cut through monsters, infiltrated the tower, subdued Robenalt, and neutralized the protective magic.

And yet he didn’t seem tired. He was undoubtedly someone with extensive combat experience.

“I’m sorry to say this, but I’m not gentlemanly enough to fight fair one-on-one. So don’t get any stupid ideas.”

When Orel raised his arm to give the signal, about a dozen members who had been guarding Denise spread out and surrounded him.

They were elites personally chosen by Orel. Each one had enough experience to be called a veteran, so no matter how much of a genius Dereck was, offsetting the difference in numbers seemed difficult.

“We need to subdue you quickly and deal with the situation in the main house…”

“The main house goes first, Orel!”

But Denise jumped forward, spread her arms, and blocked Orel’s path.

Orel froze, trembling, and looked at Denise in bewilderment.

“Lady Denise?”

Orel had protected Beltus territory since Denise was barely able to walk.

He knew her well enough to be shocked by her outburst.

Denise was breathing roughly, confused even with herself.

She also saw Orel—who had protected the Beltus mansion for many years—as a more fatherly figure than the Grand Duke Beltus himself.

Even though he was just a mercenary who worked for money, he always fulfilled his duty with excellence.

During the time he was contracted, he was an absolute ally—a model mercenary.

That was why the mercenaries in the Ebelstein sector respected him as a role model.

“Look, look at the situation in the main house, Orel! You have to prioritize…! It’s more important to check Father’s condition than to capture that wandering baron over there…!”

Bang! Bang! Boom!

Just as Denise said that, a roar echoed from the main house.

It was the demon summoned by the Grand Duke Beltus roaring, and the sound of Rodelia’s unit fighting the Archlich in the main hall. The screams of fleeing servants overlapped.

The very ground of Beltus mansion trembled.

If the clearing of monsters in the surroundings was almost complete, the first priority was to run to the Grand Duke in the main house.

In fact, Orel had been heading there. He had found the two of them only by coincidence.

“Look at the state of the main house. Father probably won’t be safe…!”

Denise’s argument was correct.

Even in this chaos, her ability to prioritize showed her composure.

But Orel felt a strange discomfort at her desperate attitude.

“Are you trying to defend that man now?”

“Ugh…”

“…”

What Orel saw next left him speechless.

Everyone in Beltus mansion knew Denise well—the elegant, dignified lady who always prioritized practicality over emotion.

Defending Baron Ravenclaw, who was theoretically part of the chaos in the mansion, was completely contrary to her character.

Seeing Denise tense and breathing heavily, Orel ran a hand over his troubled face.

“Lady Denise. This is not the time for personal feelings to ruin things.”

“N-no… that’s not…”

“My long experience tells me this. In moments like this, there is no way a man wandering around the mansion is unrelated to the cause of the chaos.”

He had to be captured and forced to testify about the situation.

Orel’s words were so logical they were hard to refute.

That was why Denise had only one option.

Appeal to authority.

“You have to listen to me, Orel.”

Denise looked at him trembling.

“…”

Orel looked into her firm eyes with a complicated expression.

He had watched Denise grow up.

He knew she never involved herself in unnecessary matters.

She always acted according to the will of the Grand Duke Beltus, like a piece moved on a board.

It was the first time she showed such determination in front of him.

He briefly remembered her childhood.

The girl chasing a ball in the garden, the girl who cried after accidentally entering the barracks area.

Now she was no longer that child.

She had the face of an heir.

“Reanalyze the situation, Orel. Even as empty words—do you truly believe Father will be safe in this scenario? I… don’t think so.”

The Grand Duke Beltus was the law and justice of that house.

He distrusted everything, sacrificed family, and discarded whatever was necessary.

Orel knew that well.

Even the Grand Duchess, whom he claimed to love, was someone he would have sacrificed if it suited him.

If it hadn’t been for his astronomical salary, Orel would never have worked under someone like that.

“If something happens to Father, who do you think will take the helm of this faltering Beltus?”

Of course, it would be the official heir, Robenalt.

However, that was nothing more than the succession structure determined by family rules — in reality, if one had to choose who would become the true figure of power within Beltus, everyone would point to Denise.

And she had just openly defended Baron Ravenclaw.

The annual income of Orel’s mercenary group was covered by the contract fees granted by the Beltus family.

It was practically impossible for Captain Orel to oppose someone who was destined to become the true authority and decision-maker of the Beltus family.

‘I didn’t expect her to react like this.’

Orel let out a hollow laugh.

It was more of an amused reaction than a troubled one.

It was the first time he had seen Denise — usually indifferent — defend someone so vehemently.

Orel glanced sideways at Dereck.

Without showing surprise, Dereck assessed the situation, observing both Denise and Orel.

He seemed confident he could handle things even if all the present members attacked him at once.

But no matter how skilled he was, he couldn’t possibly avoid every strike unscathed against all of Orel’s veteran mercenaries.

“Even so, I have to ask. Lady Denise, why are you defending him?”

“He came to help with the situation in the Beltus mansion, which is being manipulated by necromantic magic.”

“That could be the justification.”

Unfortunately, Orel was someone who had gone through countless trials and crises.

Trying to convince him with superficial reasoning wouldn’t work.

“I believe there are only two possible explanations for this.”

“…”

“The first could be that Lady Denise is somehow involved in all this chaos.”

At those words, Denise held her breath.

In short, what Captain Orel was implying was that Denise had planned everything to overthrow Duke Beltus and become the true power behind the scenes.

Whether it was Denise or Robenalt, both had lived as Beltus’s puppets, ready to be sacrificed at any time.

It wouldn’t be strange if, at some point, they had reached their limit and wanted to change everything.

“…No, it’s not that.”

“Yes. I don’t think so either. Lady Denise isn’t someone obsessed with power. So the second hypothesis is much more likely.”

“…What’s the second hypothesis?”

“Lady Denise is simply a young woman of that age, so perhaps she’s fallen head over heels for Baron Ravenclaw and is blinded by her emotions. The power of emotion can be terrifying.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes, Orel.”

“I’m not joking.”

“…”

A brief silence.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Despite having known each other for decades, an awkward silence stretched between Orel and Denise.

At that moment, it became clear — Orel was completely serious.

However, there was something deeply frustrating for Denise.

Amidst her embarrassment, cold sweat, and trembling fingertips, she thought.

If someone asked whether Orel’s comment was entirely wrong, the answer would be — not really.

Is this what it means to be a battle-hardened veteran?

His intuition was so sharp it felt like he could read her mind.

“O-Orel. If you have time to say things like that…”

“Lady Denise. I’ve watched you grow up while protecting the Beltus mansion, but one must make rational judgments when the time comes. It’s fine to experience emotional upheaval in youth, but even that has a proper time and place…”

“No, it’s not that…! Agh!”

“…”

Denise, who had raised her voice for no reason, blushed bright red like a carrot and, after taking a deep breath, said.

“Let’s just go with the first hypothesis.”

“…”

“The idea that I was driven by a desire for power and tried to overthrow my father sounds more serious and coherent. Many people have suffered under his tyranny. Better to be seen as a revolutionary who toppled her family for the greater good than as a fool blinded by some ridiculous crush.”

“Lady Denise… I know you’ve always lived your own way, but this is too much. Just because you give something a reason doesn’t make it valid…”

“Orel. Listen closely. I’m ashamed too.”

At that point, she had practically admitted everything.

However, Denise stepped forward resolutely and spoke without caring about the consequences.

Her burning face made her inner conflict all the more obvious.

“Fine. I’ll admit it. There was a tiny, tiny emotional current. But! It’s not like I’m lost in a field of flowers like you think.”

“I didn’t think that far.”

“I’m a rational person, Orel.”

“…”

Orel pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed.

It was an incredibly awkward situation.

It was the first time he had ever seen Denise so flustered, and he didn’t know how to respond.

If Denise — the one destined to become Beltus’s true authority — was losing her head over Dereck, it would be a delicate situation for Orel, whose survival depended on the Beltus family’s favor.

He looked at Dereck again, now wearing a baffled expression.

In a situation where he should have been charging forward to subdue Dereck, they were instead trapped in a stalemate, exchanging pointless dialogue.

Orel’s gaze turned meaningful.

Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, Baron.

He had heard the rumors.

He managed the Ravenclaw Training Center in the Rodelen region and had earned the enmity of Grand Duke Beltus.

It was also said that he had a close relationship with Aiselin and Diella of the Duplain family and had once greatly aided the Belmierd family.

He didn’t know all the details, but it was clear Dereck had ties with all three great families.

Not just acquaintances — even their future heads and influential figures supported him.

Aiselin, Ellen, Denise.

‘In my experience, those favored by the powerful never have an easy life.’

Orel knew enough.

To be favored by those who would become the most influential powers on the continent meant that sooner or later, one would become the target of a recruitment war.

If all three great families tried to bring him under their control, it was obvious who would end up torn apart — Dereck.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the future heads of the families glaring at each other with him caught in the middle.

Just thinking about it was enough to cause a headache.

He even considered a moment of silence for that inevitable future.

But one thing was certain.

If they hurt each other, they’d all suffer — but having him on their side would never be a loss.

Right now, the urgent matter was resolving the situation in the main house of Beltus.

Thus, Orel raised his hand, and his men lowered their weapons.

“…?”

The most bewildered expression was Dereck’s.

Captain Orel sheathed his sword, stepped toward Dereck, and extended his wrinkled hand.

“After hearing Lady Denise, it’s clear I gain nothing from opposing you now.”

“…That sudden?”

“Isn’t it better this way? You said you came to help clean up this mess in Beltus. How fortunate. We’re short on hands to deal with all these monsters.”

As Orel took the first step, Dereck was finally able to lower his guard slightly.

The members, watching every move of their captain, also put away their weapons — like a pack following its leader.

Dereck, who had been prepared for a bloody chase, stood stunned as Orel laughed and extended his hand.

And of course, to have once served as Commander of the Imperial Guard required more than brute strength.

Orel was a veteran in both intuition and tact.

“In any case, since Lady Denise spoke with such conviction, I’ll trust what I can.”

“…”

Denise, blushing and fidgeting with her fingers, seemed out of place, but Orel’s decision to completely lower his guard was sincere.

“Seriously…?”

Just as Dereck was about to shake his hand—

Boom, boom! Boom!

Crash!

Screech!

A swarm of bat-like monsters rose back into the sky.

The spirits wailed, trying to engulf the main house of Beltus.

Amid the deafening roars, the Archlich’s magic also flared.

If this continued, the mansion would soon become a labyrinth of monsters and spirits.

“…”

The eyes of both men, just about to shake hands, narrowed.

It was time to go capture that demon.

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