Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 136: 4-star (1)

“We’ll see each other again after winter, Lady Aiselin.”

With Lady Rointel’s farewell, the first semester of the Ravenclaw Training Center came to a flawless close.

Due to a major external incident, Dereck had been unable to take up his position as an instructor, but since he had done some work during the semester, it didn’t become a significant issue.

The scenery of the Ravenclaw estate, once filled with fallen leaves, began to look more desolate.

Although it was a place full of young nobles who spent their time in their own ways, it was still difficult to endure the harsh winter in such a remote barony.

When the winter ended and the weather began to soften, more nobles would visit the Ravenclaw Academy.

‘Next semester we won’t be able to manage with this number of staff.’

The classes held during this semester had already received considerable recognition, and rumors were spreading among the nobles of Ebelstein.

If things were already like this from the very first semester, when everything was still new, they might truly need to expand the center.

‘Well, that’s something I can consider gradually during the winter… I should rest too.’

Watching Lady Rointel return home, Aiselin silently gazed over the empty campus.

“…”

Dereck was absent, urgently dealing with the conflict against Duke Beltus.

Since the Ravenclaw Center had to keep operating, it was only natural for Aiselin to remain at the estate.

And so, after completing her assigned duties, only the empty barony remained.

Whiiing.

When a place that was always full of people becomes completely empty, sometimes an inexplicable sense of loneliness arises.

Especially in winter, when not even leaves remain on the ground and the bare branches begin to show.

“Now that I see it clearly… we really have grown too much…”

As if she had regained a bit of clarity, Aiselin sighed deeply while looking over the estate.

If one calmly observed the barony, one might start to wonder if it could truly be called that.

The main building of the center, located at the most strategic point, was undoubtedly where Dereck lived. There resided all the staff who served Baron Ravenclaw, and all living facilities were concentrated there.

But the rest of the buildings existed solely for the center—it was inevitable to wonder if that was really a noble’s private residence.

She had heard that Count Elvester, on the far eastern side of the continent, had also turned his domain into a cultural hub for that region’s society.

But she had never imagined that the Ravenclaw Barony would end up becoming something similar.

‘I feel like I’m quite to blame for how this turned out…’

It wasn’t just a feeling. It was a fact.

With a strange sense of responsibility, Aiselin was about to cross the garden.

“…Oh.”

In one corner of the garden, there was a girl sitting, her ash-gray hair cascading down her back.

Most of the young noble ladies had already returned home. It was far too difficult to endure such a harsh winter in the baron’s residence.

However, the girl wore no coat, as if even this cold weather felt warm to her.

It was understandable. She came from the Rochester territory, located in the heart of the northern snowfields.

“Lady Siern. You’re outside.”

“…”

Siern had begun to acquire a basic air of dignity, but the peculiar wildness within her showed no sign of fading.

Living in Dereck’s mansion had somewhat tempered her untamed nature. However, lately she had been sulking and complaining more often—and the reason wasn’t hard to guess.

Dereck was so busy that he couldn’t pay her any attention.

That was, essentially, the entire problem.

Siern felt a kind of possessiveness toward Dereck, and seeing so many people coming to the Ravenclaw Center as his students, she had unknowingly built up a lot of frustration.

Aiselin, accustomed to Siern’s childish behavior, sat down beside her with a gentle smile.

“Sir Dereck seems very busy.”

“Yes. I thought I’d be able to learn a lot after leaving Rochester territory…”

“Don’t worry. During the winter, this residence will be empty, so Sir Dereck will have plenty of free time.”

When Aiselin patted her shoulder, Siern dropped her pout and let out a deep sigh.

It seemed she wasn’t unaware that Dereck was involved in something important.

From time to time, Siern would gaze fixedly toward the western sky from the mansion rooftop—the direction of the Beltus estate, where Dereck had gone with his key personnel.

When asked what she was looking at, she would reply that she sensed an immense, indescribable magical energy emanating from that direction.

A mutant among mutants, heir to the blood of the great demon Noir.

If she could sense such magical energy, its nature and scale must have been truly extraordinary.

“…I’m uneasy, Sister Aiselin.”

“Don’t worry, Lady Siern. Sir Dereck is strong and wise; he won’t suffer any serious harm.”

“No, it’s not that…”

“…?”

Siern hugged her knees, pouted, and muttered indifferently.

“I just have this feeling that… he might bring someone back again…”

“…”

No matter how one interpreted it, that was seeing Dereck as far too flirtatious.

Aiselin wanted to refute her, but in truth, human relationships rarely unfolded as one wished.

“…Surely not.”

Delbriton, the head butler who had been attending to Siern from behind, shook his head.

No matter how chaotic the situation, there were limits.

Things were already complicated enough with Lady Ellen—formerly known as Ellen—that thinking he would add someone else was inconceivable.

However.

Siern’s intuition was often shockingly accurate.

That was why both Aiselin and Delbriton couldn’t help but swallow hard.

*

“…”

The woman’s finely sharpened senses were so precise that, at times, they displayed a power close to mind reading.

There were occasions when a sudden sense of foreboding would appear in her mind, setting off internal alarms loudly—and that was exactly the sense of crisis Ellente of the Belmierd County was feeling.

The mansion of Duke Beltus.

Among the various forces that had come to support Dereck, Ellen, the future lady of Belmierd, was the first to arrive at the scene, excluding Countess Rodelia.

Despite wearing a beautiful dress, she handled her horse with great skill.

It was very different from her usual image—sitting elegantly inside a luxurious carriage.

Given her talent in all areas, it wasn’t difficult for her to advance through the forest, where even visibility wasn’t guaranteed, while leading her troops.

However, the first thing she saw upon crossing the north gate of the Beltus mansion was Denise, her face strangely flushed, walking inside the estate behind Dereck.

“You’ve arrived, Lady Ellen. As you can see, the mansion grounds are almost cleared. But we can’t enter the main building. An Archlich is blocking the main hall, and other high-ranking monsters are guarding the mansion.”

Dereck gave a quick report while checking the number of soldiers coming from the Belmierd territory.

While Ellen was advancing with her troops toward Beltus, he seemed to have carried out a series of tasks inside the mansion.

For some reason, Denise was blushing and glancing sideways, and the legendary mercenary captain Orel was also at his side, surprisingly on friendly terms.

In such a short time, Dereck had subdued those who showed hostility and persuaded those who could be persuaded.

Although his efficiency was impressive, it was almost too fast to be real.

“I see. Dereck, you seem to have many injuries. Shouldn’t you take care of yourself first…?”

“I’m fine. The situation is too urgent to rest. Once we subdue the Beltus main house, I’ll have time to do so.”

Dereck’s expression as he said that certainly wasn’t relaxed. And it would have been strange if it were.

The souls spiraling up into the sky right above the Beltus main house were like glimpses of hell itself.

The demons roaring and spewing monsters, the sounds of battle from every direction—speaking of relaxation in such a setting was absurd.

“I am Orel. I’m in charge of security in the Beltus mansion. It’s an honor to meet the future lady of Belmierd in person.”

“I’ve heard you were the most trusted commander of Emperor Guttrel. I’m sorry I can’t show proper courtesy in the middle of a battlefield.”

“Of course. As you can see, the duchy’s situation is chaos. This isn’t the time for small talk.”

Ellen nimbly dismounted her horse and joined the other three beside Dereck.

Denise had several scratches, Robenalt was completely unconscious and carried on Orel’s back, and Dereck looked quite exhausted.

‘I said I’d face Beltus, but I didn’t think it would turn out like this. Necromancy…’

Ellen swallowed hard and looked at the main house turned into a hellish scene.

Dereck had told her beforehand there would be a confrontation with Duke Beltus, but she never imagined such a development.

The idea that Dereck had used necromancy to corrupt Duke Beltus simply didn’t make sense.

Especially for Ellen, who had seen him defeat Leonard and hunt necromancers alongside Countess Rodelia in the Belmierd mansion.

“The situation has become rather peculiar, Dereck.”

“Even so, the task doesn’t change.”

Dereck decided not to mention Fina’s massacre to those around him.

Imagining that uncontrollable necromancer punishing Duke Beltus just to “properly educate a beloved disciple”… would only complicate matters further.

However, it was different with Denise.

She had been directly involved and could deduce that Dereck was involved in something related to necromancy.

Moreover, the ornament that had started all of this was a gift Fina had personally given to Denise.

But for now, Denise kept silent.

She looked at Dereck and then at Ellen, narrowing her eyes.

‘For now, it’s best not to say anything.’

Especially because, if Dereck hadn’t intervened, the outcome would have been disastrous.

Denise had defied Duke Beltus at a critical moment, just before receiving severe punishment.

Many high-ranking vassals and collateral members had been executed for opposing Duke Beltus.

The likelihood of her survival had been practically zero.

Paradoxically, if not for Dereck, Denise’s fate would have been terrible.

Even so, Denise was surprisingly calm.

She had never felt attachment to the Beltus family.

In a relationship where one is only used and uses others, familial affection cannot be born.

Duke Beltus had never shown Denise a shred of genuine affection.

‘Dereck has a secret.’

Denise’s thoughts churned restlessly.

That baron from the outskirts, apparently obsessed only with magic, was hiding something.

An important secret that neither Aiselin nor Ellen knew, and one he would never reveal, even if he opened his heart.

She was the one closest to that secret.

And if she was the only one who could get near something so deep.

‘…’

The moment she realized she was feeling competitive toward Aiselin and Ellen, Denise understood she had gone too far.

But the wave of self-reproach that followed was something only she could face alone.

“Lady Denise… it seems you have many things on your mind.”

The sudden voice brought her back to reality.

She blinked, looked up, and saw Ellen watching her with a meaning-laden expression.

Denise, unusually nervous, swallowed hard.

“Y-Yes… I’m sorry, Lady Ellen. As you can see, the family situation is chaotic. It’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed.”

“I understand. That’s why we should focus on resolving the immediate issue first. We’ll reclaim the main house of Beltus, and then we’ll carefully examine everything that happened.”

Feeling Ellen’s strange hostility, Denise swallowed several times.

Indeed, she now understood why Aiselin always seemed oddly intimidated whenever she saw Ellen.

Ellen had an imposing presence that crushed anyone with an uneasy conscience.

Why did it sting so much?

It was obvious.

And also impossible to deny now.

Denise had fallen in love with Dereck.

Upon realizing it, the hostility Ellen radiated toward Denise could only be of one very specific kind.

Denise—the one who had always appeared indifferent, always resting her chin on her hand, showing interest in nothing.

No one knew how she would react once she stood up and took something seriously.

If Denise became a rival in that regard, she would be a fearsome enemy—far more formidable than Aiselin.

Ellen lowered her gaze slightly and stepped closer.

A sharp, firm aura began to emanate from her.

Denise swallowed dryly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet