Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 145: How the Sun Rises (5)

“Trisha. Have you made any progress with the Ravenclaw family or the Duplain family?”

“Trisha, if there’s any part where you need your mother’s help, make sure to tell me.”

“Trisha. I heard a new training center is being opened on Duplain property. It would be good if you could get involved in that.”

“It would be good to check the conditions of the training center from time to time, Trisha.”

Trisha was sweating profusely.

Every time she returned home, Countess Rodelia looked at her with eyes full of expectation, waiting for her only daughter to have made some kind of contact with the Ravenclaw family.

Countess Rodelia was already desperate to bring Dereck under her command.

With the head of House Renwell looking at her with such anticipation, Trisha, who lived under her protection, couldn’t help feeling pressured.

After enjoying the splendid and luxurious banquet at the Renwell mansion, Trisha returned to her private room and immediately held her breath and pulled at her hair.

‘What am I supposed to do…! This is too much…!’

Even now, she thought of telling her mother honestly that she and the young lady of the Duplain family were practically like cats and dogs, so she shouldn’t expect anything—

but considering Countess Rodelia’s tiger-like personality, that would be suicide.

She remembered the moment she poured tea over Aiselin’s head, mocking the Duplain family, thinking they would collapse soon.

Trisha wanted to go back in time and beg her past self not to do that.

‘Calm down… calm down…’

Trisha sat down and wiped her face several times.

‘What mother ultimately wants is to draw Baron Ravenclaw under her command. So even if it seems a bit irrational, maybe it’s better to visit Baron Ravenclaw directly.’

Even though she had already been rejected once before, that time she went to make a request, and this time she would just go for social interaction.

The baron also seemed to have a rather good impression of Count Renwell, so from Trisha’s perspective, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

All things considered, Trisha looked quite pretty when she kept her mouth shut.

No one knew better than herself that her appearance was acceptable.

‘…’

However, no matter how much self-esteem Trisha had, she knew perfectly well that what is not meant to happen will not happen.

How could a man who regularly saw women like Aiselin, Ellen, and Denise be moved by Trisha?

Even so, she had to do it…

No matter how much she thought about it, winning over Diella was impossible. Next time they met, she looked ready to bite her arm off.

To satisfy Countess Rodelia, she had to do something, anything.

“I’m going to visit Baron Ravenclaw directly, give him a few gifts, and have a pleasant conversation.”

“Oh, Trisha. How nice it is to hear you say that.”

“So I made a list of several gifts together with the servants. And I think it would be good to also make some handmade items!”

“Although I’m a woman, I understand a man’s heart better. The more impenetrable a person is, the more moved they are by handmade items rather than mundane or material gifts.”

Rodelia smiled in satisfaction.

Seeing Rodelia’s expression, Trisha also smiled awkwardly, feeling that for the moment things were okay.

After a brief warm moment between mother and daughter, Trisha spoke with an uncomfortable smile.

“Well, anyway, I need to visit Baron Ravenclaw’s territory as soon as possible.”

“Yes. But… as I mentioned before, Baron Ravenclaw is not in his territory right now. Did you forget?”

“…Yes, y-yes, I definitely forgot. Now that I think about it, where did you say he was?”

“I told you. He is at the Duplain duke’s mansion.”

Trisha hit her forehead.

Looking at her pale complexion was like watching livestock in front of a slaughterhouse.

*

Creak.

“We have arrived, Lady Trisha.”

“…”

Is this place really hell?

The Duplain duke’s mansion, which had finished its restoration work, looked like a neat Western house from the outside, but to Trisha’s eyes, it looked like a gloomy den exuding a sinister aura.

Who mainly resides here?

Aiselin Eleanor Duplain. The one on whose head Trisha had poured tea directly.

And next to her, Diella Katherine Duplain. The one who had delivered a loud slap to her cheek.

But since she had come all the way here, she could not turn back. If she returned to Countess Rodelia with no results, she might receive a reprimand like, “So what were you doing then?”

Trisha held her breath.

‘Yes. Living as a noble lady, there are places you don’t want to enter but must, things you don’t want to do but must do, and moments when you have to bow your head.’

With tears in her eyes, Trisha walked quickly and was guided by the Duplain family’s maids.

As she passed through the mansion with the servants, the interior already felt somewhat chaotic.

“I would like to apologize. Due to the business plan being carried out within Duplain, there is a lot of external staff moving frequently, causing some disorder.”

“I-it’s fine. I heard Duplain had difficult times, but seeing new projects starting… it seems you have recovered quite a bit.”

“Yes. The training center project led by the Baron of Ravenclaw is going better than expected, bringing great vitality to the Duplain family.”

That damned Ravenclaw again.

Originally, Duplain — who should have collapsed and been trampled under Trisha’s feet — was revived after receiving a transfusion from that damned Ravenclaw.

The efforts of Aiselin, who had rolled up her sleeves and run everywhere like a fallen noblewoman, were bearing fruit.

They say even if the night is long, the sun eventually rises.

It seemed a ray of light was shining on Duplain’s future, which once appeared lost in eternal darkness.

In fact, even the servants’ faces were full of color. They were imagining a hopeful future in which the family would be reborn.

Not long ago, the family had lost its head and its eldest son, and was stripped of all rights for being involved in necromancy, carrying a stigma.

But now it was hard to imagine that these lively servants belonged to such a grim house.

‘R-really… Duplain is rising again…’

And the one at the head of all this was Aiselin.

Although Leigh sat in the seat of head of family, the true power was Aiselin, no matter what people said.

The very same Aiselin on whose head Trisha had poured tea.

‘God…’

It was time to repay the karma of the past.

The bad decisions she had made — mocking, insulting, humiliating — were returning to her like a boomerang.

The positions had been completely reversed.

To establish any connection with the Baron of Ravenclaw, it was impossible to ignore the ladies of the Duplain family, who were practically his closest assistants.

This was because the Baron of Ravenclaw completely trusted their words, considering them in a special relationship.

While Trisha crossed the hallway with a gloomy expression, she saw a familiar face in the distance.

‘Eek…!’

It was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain. They say even a tiger appears when spoken of.

At the Rose Hall she wore a dress that looked noble and sacred at a glance, but at home she wore something more comfortable.

The cotton dress looked simple. She had her sleeves confidently rolled up, but she did not look vulgar.

Aiselin radiated elegance merely by existing, so no matter how much someone adorned themselves, they would pale when standing next to her.

This was because her beauty did not come from adornments or cosmetics, but from the elegant dignity that flowed from the person herself.

“…!”

Aiselin, who was moving as if busy, made eye contact with Trisha.

Just by looking at her for a moment, she could understand the entire situation. She was a quick-minded person.

Arrogant Trisha had come all the way to the Duplain mansion to meet Baron Dereck, who was staying here.

Why? Because it was obvious he would soon become a major name in social circles.

What would she think of such an obvious action?

The girl who had looked at Trisha with eyes full of spirit while tea was pouring over her head.

How would she declare her victory now?

As Trisha was about to bite her lower lip to endure the torrent of emotions about to come — humiliation, defeat, misery —

“Oh, Lady Trisha!”

“…?”

Contrary to what Trisha expected, Aiselin called her with a bright tone.

“I heard you were visiting the Duplain mansion, but I was so busy that I couldn’t come out to greet you. For the young lady of Countess Rodelia to come in person — such discourtesy… I don’t know where to hide from embarrassment.”

“…”

Aiselin offered an elegant apology with a radiant smile.

Her smiling face was so refreshing it was almost intoxicating. Only then did Trisha, with her gloomy expression, understand the situation.

‘Ah, that’s it…’

There are many ways to mock a defeated person whose status has been overturned. Trisha knows that better than anyone, because she did it more than anyone.

In fact, mocking openly is too simple and crude.

The most insidious and malicious way is to smile kindly and show sympathy like this.

Oh dear, what a tragedy. You should have been more careful. Poor thing.

Smiling like this, lowering your gaze behind a feather fan, is what drives people mad.

Now it was her turn to suffer. Thinking that, she clenched her teeth.

Thud.

“Uh?”

“I heard the Renouel family provided great help in this matter. From our position, having a close relationship with the Ravenclaw family, we must also be grateful.”

Aiselin, who had approached, firmly took Trisha’s hands and showed a surprisingly bright smile.

It was not a hypocritical smile made to mock or show false sympathy. Aiselin was sincerely grateful to Trisha.

“Y-yes?”

“I heard that Lady Trisha also made a lot of effort under Lady Rodelia’s orders. It must have been difficult for you. Our Duplain family also received benefits, so please accept my gratitude.”

“N-no… I didn’t do that much…”

Trisha stepped back, overwhelmed by such a pure, malice-free smile. The smile was so clean and beautiful it seemed flowers bloomed around her.

Aiselin tilted her head slightly at Trisha’s awkward reaction.

“…?”

“N-no… it’s bold of me to say this, but…”

“Yes?”

“I… the other day… at the tea house… I spilled tea… and acted somewhat inappropriately… do you remember?”

“…?”

Aiselin tilted her head again, then clapped as if she had just remembered.

“Oh, now that you mention it! At that time… Lady Trisha was quite mischievous.”

“Don’t cross the line, Lady Trisha.”

The image of Aiselin, eyes cold, speaking while drenched in tea, came to mind.

The difference was so enormous it was hard to believe they were the same person.

Normally warm and kind, Aiselin’s cold attitude could make people shudder even more.

But now she seemed not to care at all.

Why?

The humiliation that Trisha had made Aiselin suffer that day was not something easily overlooked.

But Aiselin laughed it off indifferently and spoke gently.

“That is already in the past.”

“Ah…”

At that moment, it seemed as if a halo radiated from behind Aiselin.

“We all make mistakes. Lady Trisha may have acted driven by a moment of emotion. If I cling too much to those memories and keep pointing them out, I won’t be able to apologize when I make mistakes myself. For my own sake, it’s better not to hold on to such things too long, don’t you think?”

When she first entered the Ebelstein social circle, she endured harassment and bullying from many young noble ladies, and yet she became recognized as the lily of the Rose Hall.

How would Trisha have acted if she were in Aiselin’s position?

She would have shown all kinds of cynicism and looked down at her with pity. After all, the girl who had once been arrogant and wild was now tail-between-legs, bowing in defeat.

But Aiselin did not do that.

She was in the process of raising her family through her own strength. She might have wanted to shout to the world that had ignored and humiliated her.

But even so, she maintained her dignity as a noble lady to the very end.

Flap — a hallucination of wings sprouted from Aiselin’s back.

Choral music flowed. The halo shone even brighter, almost blinding. Feathers fell, and a holy light descended from the sky.

What else could explain it? One might wonder if this girl was an angel descended to earth.

‘Th-this can’t be…’

Trisha felt the difference in class.

This is what a true noble lady looks like.

One who guides countless followers, controlling them with just a smile.

A mind that firmly points out mistakes, but embraces others with a heart as vast as the sea. Even if the other person insulted her, she never forgets to show respect with elegance.

Once you recognize her benevolence and wisdom, you are left speechless.

When an unbearable light suddenly illuminated her dark heart, filled only with petty desires for recognition — Trisha could only stammer and take multiple steps back.

The light was so strong she felt she was about to go blind.

“Th-that… th-that…”

“Lady Trisha?”

Is Aiselin a goddess?

Even the proud and arrogant Trisha, upon realizing the difference in their very natures, had no choice but to follow her.

*

“I was wondering what brought you to the Duplain mansion…”

“To repent for my past mistakes and seek the forgiveness of the noble Lady Aiselin… I came to repent…”

“…”

When Dereck heard the news and arrived at the reception room, Trisha, who had already finished her confession, was speaking with tears in her eyes.

Dereck wondered what on earth had happened for this to occur, but decided not to ask.

Aiselin was sweating profusely and smiling awkwardly, while Trisha, sitting beside her, spoke with her hands clasped, crying.

“I am nothing but a miserable creature compared to Lady Aiselin…”

Had she used some kind of high-level confusion magic or was she under hypnosis…?

Dereck alternated his gaze between the two with a confused expression.

“In comparison to Lady Aiselin’s ocean-like generosity, a petty person like me is nothing but a pathetic beggar…”

“…”

Dereck, who had come to discuss the specific agenda of the Duplain reconstruction plan, had to set aside the documents he brought.

It seemed better to start once Trisha regained her sanity.

After all, she was the final piece in the noble structure of the southwest that Dereck was designing.

Dereck planned to turn the homeland of the Duplain into a huge academy.

Whether he liked it or not, he also needed the help of Count Renouel to carry out a project of such magnitude.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet