Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 149: The Youngest Disciple (1)

“Di-Diella, m-my lady. The weather is very n-nice today. For the end of winter it’s warm and already feels t-temperate.”

“If you don’t have any engagements today, how would you f-feel about having some tea at our Luden family’s mansion?”

“My father, Viscount Krox, s-says he would very much like to see you at least once, Lady Diella.”

To enter the Ravenclaw Academy and become a direct disciple of the baron, in the end one had to obtain the permission of his most senior disciple, Diella Katerine Duplain.

When that fact became public, Diella’s position within the Rose Salon shot up so high that she practically reached the very top.

The prestige of the Duplain family, which had already been on the rise, grew even more; it gave the impression that they had returned to the level they had before Valerian became involved with the magic of the spirit branch.

Naturally, the moment Diella appeared at the Rose Salon and walked among the people, all the young noble ladies watched her with extreme caution.

“That’s enough.”

Of course, there was no way Diella would yield so easily.

She knew very well that these young ladies were approaching her because they wanted to become Dereck’s disciples. Diella did not like at all that the number of Dereck’s disciples was increasing.

That is why, when they approached her in such an obvious way, she bristled and growled like a beast. It was not easy to gain favor with such a creature.

Therefore, the young ladies of the salon had to look for another strategy.

If they could not win over this girl, then they had to make a good impression on someone Diella could not do anything against.

As mentioned, in all of Ebelstein there were only two people capable of controlling Diella.

One was the baron Ravenclaw himself, but talking about him was useless, since he hardly ever appeared in the Elfontine building. However, the other person was a different case.

It was someone who could completely control Diella, who spoke better, was kind, and gentle.

“It’s been a while since you came to the salon, hasn’t it? L-Lady Aiselin, h-have you been well these days? I heard you’ve been very busy.”

Aiselin, who had been unable to attend the salon due to matters of the Duplain family and the Ravenclaw mansion, came after a long time, and instantly a huge group of young noble ladies gathered around her as if they were fans.

Aiselin had always received the admiration of many, but lately it had grown almost obsessive, something that left her bewildered.

‘I-It wasn’t to this extent…’

Aiselin had come to the salon to listen to opinions about the academy that would be built on Duplain land, receive admission requests, and review various changes.

But seeing such an exaggerated reaction, it almost seemed like Diella had climbed to levels unthinkable within the Rose Salon.

Perhaps even to the same level as Aiselin in her prime.

Thinking that, Aiselin smiled kindly and walked through the young noble ladies of the hall.

*

The three young ladies traditionally considered the most distinguished of the Rose Salon were Aiselin, Ellen, and Denise.

When the three sat together, no other young lady could approach due to the aura they emitted.

However, lately they had barely been able to meet, whether due to family problems or various incidents.

That day, sitting together again in the main seat, the three had an air quite different from before.

“It’s been a long time since we saw each other in the Elfontine building. Lady Denise, Lady Ellen.”

Aiselin, who had undergone the greatest personal changes, sat at one side of the round table and smiled.

Ellen and Denise, sitting across from her, looked at her.

Ellen still had her long red hair and eyes of the same color, like an embodied flame.

Although her appearance hadn’t changed much, her attitude did seem softer than before.

Perhaps because they now shared the same master, her caution had diminished quite a bit.

Even so, there was a strange nuance in the air—more than social rivals, they had become romantic rivals.

Of course, none of them was reckless enough to show it openly.

“Have you been well, Lady Aiselin? I heard many things have happened.”

“Yes, enough time has passed, so everything is partly resolved. So rather…”

Aiselin paused carefully and looked at Denise.

Her ash-gray hair looked even paler, and her slightly sunken eyes gave her a tired appearance.

She looked exhausted—not desperate, but very fatigued.

When Denise used to attend the salon, she was the perfect embodiment of a noble young lady.

But lately that mask had been breaking, and she showed more of her true self, which to Aiselin was even better.

She knew very well why—with so many internal and external problems, it was natural for the façade to crumble.

The internal situation of the Beltus family was, without exaggeration, complete chaos.

Seeing that tired face, which reminded her so much of her own in the past, Aiselin sighed inwardly.

“Don’t worry too much about me. Sometimes, if one runs enough, the family starts walking again—you know that well, don’t you, Aiselin?”

Denise spoke lightly, but her exhaustion was evident.

The three main young ladies of the Rose Salon had finally reunited.

Even though their status and positions were now different, their aura was as powerful as always.

While they were talking, something happened.

— Creak, tap.

In the most important seat of the salon, the one belonging to the true powers of the place, someone approached without any hesitation, pulled out a chair, and sat down without permission.

“May I sit?”

She asked, but without waiting for an answer.

Her crossed arms and the tilt of her head showed a strange mix of arrogance and elegance.

If it had been any other young lady, that would have been considered madness worthy of expulsion from the salon.

But when they saw who it was, no one could object.

It was Diella.

And behind her came someone even more fearsome.

“I’ll sit here too.”

At the huge round table, with almost no empty seats, the last chair was taken by Siern, the daughter of the Rochester family and the beloved child of the 6-star mage Melverot.

Her small body took the seat and leaned back.

Not a single young lady in the salon showed a displeased expression.

If one talked about who was at the top of the Rose Salon, many would think of three people; but since the Ravenclaw family entered the aristocracy, the structure had changed.

Now there were five at the top.

And four of them shared the same master.

In short, the aristocratic society of Ebelstein was already completely under the influence of the Ravenclaw family.

Moreover, each of those young ladies was someone nobody else could control.

At this moment, there was no one in the entire Elfontine building with enough authority to rule over them.

Diella placed the official document from the baron Ravenclaw on the table and said.

“Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, in charge of supervising the Ravenclaw Academy, has granted me direct authority to handle the disciples.”

Denise, Ellen, and Siern glanced at her, each with a gaze heavier than the other, as if they carried an entire continent on their shoulders.

It was enough to become enemies with one of them to endanger an entire family.

Even so, Diella puffed out her chest and spoke with complete confidence. In these kinds of matters, Diella never hesitated.

“Of course, I cannot interfere in family matters or daily life. But when it comes to the hierarchy among disciples, I am at the top, and you must respect me accordingly.”

It was rare to see Diella show courtesy.

Even with Denise, the first time they met, Diella had charged at her without thinking.

But now she spoke with manners for a clear reason—if she showed a minimum of formality, she expected the same from the others.

They were not facing weak nobles from the countryside, but heiresses of the fundamental families of the southwestern continent.

Seeing her, all the young ladies watching felt a cold sweat run down their necks.

With such monsters present, maintaining that bearing was something only Diella could do.

Depending on who heard it, that could be interpreted as a declaration of war.

But the round table remained silent.

Dereck had officially acknowledged Diella’s authority.

And everyone there knew exactly what that meant.

“If there are no objections, I’ll leave it like this.”

Diella placed the documents on the table and stepped down firmly. The crowd parted automatically.

If the hierarchy were measured by family prestige, first place would belong to Ellen of Belmierd or Siern of Rochester.

But among Dereck’s disciples, the undisputed number one was Diella.

In this place, that fact became completely clear.

Fourth, Siern.

Third, Denise.

Second, Ellen.

First, Diella.

Seeing each of them, the young nobles around had no choice but to swallow hard.

To enter as the new youngest disciple among those four—they had to think very seriously about it.

*

“A letter arrived from the Hergis family saying that they will return part of the mining rights of Mount Rodel that they had taken. In exchange, they are asking for the right to priority admission to the Ravenclaw Academy that is under construction.”

“The Riventeil family is the same. They say they apologize for having forcibly taken part of the tax rights of the Lebels plain, and they themselves requested to set a meeting to renegotiate. However, they are also asking for the right to priority admission to the Academy and also the right to negotiate directly with Baron Ravenclaw.”

The high vassals, the chief butler, and other servants were gathered, reporting the situation to the current head of House Duplain, Leigh.

Leigh was already busy reviewing the status of civil works within the territory, and following the changes among nobles from neighboring territories and central nobles.

On top of that, he had to review the administration of the mansion, so it was enough to make his head explode.

“Lady Miriela also sent a letter. She says she will soon finish her stay in her parental home and return to House Duplain—it seems she has recovered her health quite a bit.”

“We are also receiving many responses from collateral relatives with whom we had no communication. It seems that now that the recovery of House Duplain seems possible, everyone is turning their gaze back here.”

“Even among the relatives in central politics, several have shown intent to support. If negotiations go well, we might come out of the liquidity shortage soon.”

“…”

However, recently the situation had begun to improve in a surprising way.

When House Duplain seemed about to collapse and die, its atmosphere began to revive; and the relatives who had abandoned it to save themselves began writing again, somewhat ashamed.

Also, many more news items began to come from the noble society of Ebelstein.

“The Rodel family sent a gift. I-it’s… they were… 600 Adelton gold coins…”

“…”

“The Belmierd family also sent a high vassal to greet us. We received a ton of territorial specialties as gifts. Even the territory’s jurist came in person, so the servants were quite surprised.”

“……”

“The high vassals of House Beltus sent a plaque of gratitude. It seems they are sending greetings to the forces that helped them during the last incident.”

“News from the Renuel family…”

“Financial support for the construction of the Academy from the house of Viscount Callist…”

“The invitation to the banquet organized by the house of Viscount Sidmer…”

“The eldest son of the Clemtaine family will hold his coming-of-age ceremony, and they are asking that we attend…”

“Letters arrived from the Feldrix family of the north and the Rochester family…”

“H-handling all this at once won’t be easy… How should we set the priority…?”

“…..”

Leigh listened to the report and ran both hands over his dry face. Then he muttered to himself.

No, what is this? I’m scared too.

No matter how sudden the changes, that was already too much.

Just a few months ago, when the name of Duplain was crawling on the ground, Leigh, as head of the house, had to personally go around begging to obtain a few gold coins.

No matter how desperate the high nobles were for magical education for their children, he never imagined they would change their attitude so drastically.

Amid such an enormous upheaval, how was he supposed to keep his sanity?

For the young head Leigh, it was inevitable that cold sweat ran down his back.

Just as he was trying to organize the vassals’ information—

Creak.

“Ah, excuse me. It seems you were in the middle of a meeting.”

Suddenly, Dereck opened the door of the office, observed the situation, and bowed in apology.

“I’ll come back later.”

“No, no, no. W-what happened? Come in, please. Sit here. You all, bring the reception sofa. Butler! Prepare a comfortable seat for Baron Ravenclaw.”

“Y-yes, yes sir.”

Startled, Leigh stopped Dereck and gave quick orders to the vassals.

They also, attentive to Dereck, lined up immediately against the wall, indicating that they would suspend the house head’s meeting until he finished.

‘…’

Dereck had only come to lightly ask how the civil works of the territory were progressing.

It wasn’t something urgent enough to stop the main house meeting; but seeing all the vassals sweating cold while getting out of the way made him quite uncomfortable.

There was no thornier cushion than that.

Even so, Leigh, sweating buckets, ordered the maids to bring good herbal tea.

“O-of course. If Baron Ravenclaw needs something, I must listen first.”

“It seemed the meeting matters were very important. I should handle them fir—”

“No, no. Those things usually already come with preliminary conclusions from the vassals, they don’t take that long. Isn’t that right, butler?”

“Y-yes. I will prepare everything organized by order of importance.”

The vassals also responded with tension, moving quickly.

“Well then… What does our baron wish to know? Say anything you want, without pressure.”

Although Leigh spoke that way, Dereck was so uncomfortable he even had sweat running down his temple.

“I wanted to check something regarding the construction schedule…”

“The schedule! That is very important! Yes! Butler! Clerk! Bring the related documents immediately!”

“No, no. It’s enough to give me the progress verbally. I can verify later with the barony staff…”

“What are you saying? If you’re going to verify something, it must be done properly! Butler! Quickly!”

“Y-yes, understood.”

Leigh was the head of House Duplain and officially the successor to the ducal title.

Although his power had diminished greatly, his formal authority was still governed by noble law.

Because of that, Dereck wasn’t sure whether any of this was actually normal.

It was a sensation that almost made him dizzy.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet