Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 28: Ellen (3)

When Aiselin entered the magical duel arena in the noble district, a large crowd had already gathered.

Magical duels between nobles were, essentially, an old pastime—a means to assess each other’s magical progress, hone skills, and engage in social activity.

However, once word spread that descendants of influential families would be dueling, many rushed to witness it, split into two distinct groups.

The first were those genuinely interested in magic itself, and the second, those with hidden motives, hoping to curry favor with the nobility.

The first group often included members of magical societies from the southwest or royal guests, while the second was typically made up of wealthy merchants or children from influential families.

As people gathered, knights and soldiers were mobilized to ensure safety, and commanding officers mingled among them, which inevitably caused congestion.

Being a descendant of an influential family always meant drawing public attention. Though Aiselin was aware of this, scenes like this often overwhelmed her.

‘This is a duel between the Duplain and Belmierd families, so of course, more people will gather…’

But it was only a practice duel.

The result of such a duel could easily be reversed over time. Even so, the spectators would talk about the outcome of this trivial magical duel.

Aiselin disliked the pettiness of such people, but she never showed it.

She was gracious to everyone.

*

“Hello, Lady Aiselin. It seems the cold has eased a little.”

“Yes, Lady Taniem, please take care of your health, especially in times like these.”

“I took a look at the book you mentioned at the last tea party, Lady Aiselin. As you said, it’s filled with touching expressions and descriptions.”

“Oh, you really read it? I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lady Lakail.”

As Aiselin greeted her followers with a radiant smile, her steps did not pause. She wanted to quickly prepare for the duel, warm up, and finish the magical match with Ellen.

The lower-ranked noblewomen accompanying her flinched at her busy demeanor, but they knew they wouldn’t get another chance to speak with her.

Among those eager to exchange words with her, crossing the old corridor was a rather exhausting struggle.

As she walked toward the center of the duel arena, a boy absorbed in reading a small book in a corner of the corridor caught her attention.

“…!”

When Aiselin quickly turned her head, her followers and attendants halted their steps.

“Excuse me a moment.”

Aiselin excused herself from the chattering girls behind her and moved quickly, walking with grace.

She approached the boy, nestled among the crowd in a corner of the duel arena corridor, reading a book on the history of magic.

His white hair and red eyes, his face that at first seemed soft but upon closer look revealed a firm temperament, were just as she remembered.

“Mr. Dereck!”

When Aiselin called out enthusiastically, the boy’s pupils trembled slightly.

Surrounded by such a crowd, he turned his head in surprise, as if unaware of her presence until that moment.

There stood Aiselin, as always, elegantly dressed in a beautiful gown, speaking in a lively tone.

Behind them, several minor nobles, followers, and maids watched intently. The boy had to quickly assess the situation.

“It’s been a long time, Lady Aiselin.”

A polite bow seemed the appropriate response.

From their farewell in late spring to now, in late winter… quite some time had passed since he last saw Lady Aiselin.

“Did you come to see the duel, Mr. Dereck? It’s been so long, but you haven’t changed at all.”

“Yes. Lady Aiselin, you are as beautiful as ever. You’ve become even more elegant.”

“Oh, you flatter me. Mr. Dereck, you’ve become skilled at charming ladies. Is it because you’ve been working in the noble district? Hehe.”

It wasn’t surprising that Aiselin seemed so pleased.

Dereck was the one who had resolved a deeply troubling issue Aiselin had kept for years, and he was also extremely talented in magic.

He was a courteous individual, though he retained the roughness typical of a mercenary. Lady Aiselin saw Dereck’s ruggedness not as rudeness, but as a sign of his free spirit.

However, the gazes from the surrounding followers and attendants were telling.

They were eager to gain Aiselin’s favor, so it wasn’t surprising that they looked at someone suddenly so close to her with envy and caution.

“…”

At first glance, Dereck appeared ordinary. A tunic and well-fitted trousers, leather boots, a cloak used in place of a mantle, a dagger at his right hip, and a longsword on the other side. Though he still bore traces of youthful innocence, he had clearly entered early adulthood.

The reason Aiselin greeted a commoner so warmly wasn’t hard to guess from their conversation.

“It’s winter, and here I am, inviting you to enjoy some good tea at the mansion.”

“I’m honored. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, but life has been quite busy.”

“I heard you’ve been managing Lady Ellen’s magical training.”

“You’re well-informed. We crossed paths by chance, and I offered a few pointers.”

Those nearby finally realized that the man before them was the roaming magic instructor Aiselin had spoken about.

He was the mercenary who had reformed the black sheep of the Duplain family and whom Lady Ellen fully trusted for her magical duel lessons.

Yet Aiselin seemed concerned.

“You haven’t been too harsh, have you…?”

“…?”

“Lady Ellen has seemed very tired lately… I’m a little worried.”

Aiselin knew well, from her sister Diella’s testimony, that Dereck’s magic lessons weren’t something an ordinary noblewoman could endure.

She wasn’t undergoing knightly training; where else would you find someone who put a refined and beautiful lady through training that even seasoned soldiers would struggle with?

But Dereck was someone who didn’t hesitate to use whatever means necessary to achieve a client’s goal.

Seeing the concern on Aiselin’s face, Dereck finally said:

“Don’t worry, Lady Aiselin. In fact, it’s not good to worry too much about others.”

“Is that so…?”

“Don’t be too soft.”

Dereck said this and gave a polite bow.

Aiselin, too, was busy with her schedule, and the gazes of the people around them were a heavy burden.

Realizing too late that the current situation might be overwhelming for Dereck, Aiselin said with an awkward smile:

“Next time, please visit the mansion to chat, Mr. Dereck. I have another engagement, so I must go.”

“Yes, of course.”

With that, Dereck pulled up the hood of his cloak and walked away, his steps firm and steady, in the opposite direction of Aiselin.

Though he was still a boy with one year left before his coming-of-age ceremony, he often seemed like an old man who had experienced all of life’s hardships. He was truly a mysterious boy.

*

Aiselin was also somewhat aware of the inferiority complex Ellen harbored toward her. In fact, it would have been strange if she hadn’t noticed it.

But she didn’t give it much importance. It was because she had a generous heart.

For those who had reached the top, feelings like envy and jealousy were simply part of life. Ellen wasn’t the only one who envied her.

Although Ellen’s jealousy was particularly intense and persistent, there were many others aside from her who tried to defame Aiselin.

Despite all checks and balances, only those who could remain firm truly deserved to be called the lady of House Duplain.

That’s why the emotion Aiselin felt toward those who envied her was sympathy.

She wished that those consumed by negative, corrosive emotions could free themselves from that useless cycle as soon as possible. It was good neither for Aiselin nor for them.

The same applied to Ellen.

Useless envy only consumed them. She wanted them to break free from those shackles, share conversations, cultivate culture, and become worthy rivals. However, she knew well that it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.

*

“Hello, Lady Aiselin.”

“Are you well, Lady Ellen? You’ve missed many parlor gatherings lately, haven’t you? I heard you’ve been busy preparing for the duel… I suppose I should be nervous.”

“…”

In Lady Ellen’s eyes, as she stepped onto the dueling field, there was a venomous intent.

On the grand stage of the duel, various influential figures and noble ladies had gathered in the stands, engaging in discussions about magic.

At the center of it all, Ellen and Aiselin were the stars competing in today’s event.

As the two beautiful roses adjusted their dresses on stage, warm applause echoed from the podium.

Protective spells had been cast around the luxurious dueling arena.

The rules of the duel were the usual: a 10-minute time limit, and the first to activate the protective spell embedded in her accessories would lose.

“Then, I hope for a good match.”

Aiselin gathered her magical energy and bowed her head to Ellen.

Ellen silently raised her head in response, repeating the same words. The coldness in her eyes was a familiar sensation.

“…”

An indescribable discomfort grew.

As always, Ellen remained composed, her beautiful red hair flowing freely.

However, the gleam in her eyes as she stared at Aiselin was tinged with an unusual unease.

Aiselin, lost in thought, silently observed Lady Ellen’s demeanor.

It didn’t take her long to understand the nature of this unease.

Every time she spoke with Aiselin, subtle emotional turmoil lingered in Ellen’s eyes.

But now, as she coldly observed Aiselin, focused solely on her magic, there was no such feeling in Ellen.

Ellen’s eyes, which once burned like fire, had somehow cooled into ice. She was focused on the duel.

Had Ellen finally been freed from the envy that tormented her for so long?

Had Dereck, skilled as a mentor, released Ellen from the chains of those dark, gloomy days?

It was a moment filled with hope. But it didn’t take long for Aiselin to realize that wasn’t the case.

When she opened her eyes after blinking, her entire field of vision was dyed red.

That was when Aiselin finally realized that Ellen’s blazing fire arrows had swept across the battlefield.

Amid the flames, Ellen, with her fiery gaze, rose like a phoenix.

*

‘You really can’t win by relying on pure magical power alone. Shift the battlefield somewhere else.’

‘…Shift it elsewhere? In a magical duel, if not through magical skill, what else determines victory?’

Noble ladies usually practiced magic with elegance in luxurious training halls under renowned instructors.

But Ellen had asked Dereck, seated on the ground in the middle of a labyrinth reeking of blood and rotting mucus.

Her body was completely exhausted, and after a day of watching monsters be torn apart, she felt dizzy. Her face was pale, resigned to the fact that this truly was the hell Dereck spoke of.

Though she looked disheveled, Dereck continued teaching. He was someone who always fulfilled his duty.

‘It’s mental strength.’

After hearing this, Ellen could only show a skeptical expression.

Who in the world didn’t know the benefits of mental strength? If one could win a magical duel with mental strength alone, why would differences in magical levels and superiority even exist?

However, Dereck wasn’t someone who spoke nonsense. Over the past few weeks of lessons, Ellen was sure—there must be a deeper meaning to his words.

‘Haven’t you been pushing your magical energy to the limit in every session?’

‘I thought that was just your twisted taste.’

‘I have no such hobbies. When both sides’ magical energy is fully depleted, it’s often a person’s mental strength, not their magical prowess, that determines the outcome.’

Dereck’s voice became more serious.

‘Unleash your magic as grandly and magnificently as you can—drag her into a battle of attrition. In the end… the one who somehow manages to cast a spell they seemed no longer able to will be the winner.’

‘…What if Aiselin has more magical power than I do?’

‘Then you lose.’

‘…’

‘Of course, a person’s magical capacity is largely innate, but Lady Ellen of House Belmierd is no slouch. So… believe in yourself.’

Dereck was covered in demon blood. He had just sliced apart a spider larger than a man with his sword and burned it with magic.

Watching him kill demons made him seem like an entirely different person. Every moment following him through the labyrinth, Ellen couldn’t help but think—if there were such a thing as a real demon, it would surely be this boy.

This wasn’t a safe magical duel arena, but a demon’s den where a moment’s carelessness could cost your life.

Someone who had lived in a place like this all their life would see a staged duel as child’s play.

Only in life-and-death battles can one reach their full potential.

Only on the thin ice where one misstep could cost everything do humans unlock all the power buried in their subconscious. That sensation can’t be learned easily, not even with all the money in the world.

That’s why Dereck pushed Ellen into the labyrinth.

He made her use magic all day.

Made her dodge axes among attacking goblins and scorch trolls’ noses.

Life and death. Scenes in between.

The pressure of not knowing when the multi-layered protective spell would break.

The cold sweat running even while still. Trembling legs. Blurry vision.

Only in such an environment could one feel, even just a little, the sensation of drawing out all the remaining power from within.

There’s a realm one can never reach while sitting in an ancient mansion playing with decorum.

Flowers in a greenhouse never know, until they wither with age, the feeling of clawing everything up from below and rising.

As a teacher, Dereck was someone who knew how to awaken such things.

–Whoosh!

–Boom!

The spectators watching the magical duel near the stage were stunned.

No matter how extraordinary one’s magical skill or how vast their magical power, the one-star limit still existed.

Yet even so, Ellen’s fire magic, which lit up the stage with a dazzling glow, was impressive to behold.

–Swoosh!

Aiselin quickly wrapped herself in magic to protect herself and tracked Ellen’s position.

On the flame-covered stage, amid the scorching heat, Ellen, cloaked in fire like a mage, stared directly at Aiselin.

In her eyes was envy, no doubt. A massive envy directed at the perfect Aiselin, mixed with a bit of self-loathing.

Reading those eyes, Aiselin understood.

Too emotional on one hand, but relentless in logic during a duel—those were the same eyes her sister Diella had when she faced Leigh.

Dereck’s students harbored a burning passion in their hearts and an icy gaze.

Their teacher taught them to combine the fiery desire for victory with the cold rationality of competition.

It was a display where heat and cold clashed fiercely, exuding an aura that made opponents swallow hard.

Only then did Aiselin understand why Leigh had to fight so hard against Diella that day.

Dereck’s students, unlike ordinary noble ladies, had a different hunger for competition.

When faced for the first time with their near-obsessive determination, anyone would falter.

However, standing before her was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain.

“Even so… I will win.”

She wasn’t one to boast about her achievements, but her confidence in her abilities was immense.

No matter how skilled Dereck’s students were, Aiselin was on the verge of becoming a two-star. Even against a one-star mage like Ellen, the difference in class was significant.

She was sure she wouldn’t lose if it came down to pure skill.

And so, icy magic began to surge from Aiselin’s body.

At the same time, Ellen’s eyes widened. A storm of fire arrows began erupting from the opposite side.

“…”

Ellen had spent the past few weeks observing Dereck’s world.

The traces of that world briefly reflected in her pupils. Most of it was blood. The rest was equally horrific.

Sticky fluids, pungent smells, severed monster limbs, poisonous spider eggs, scattered corpses, the cold of the stone floor, remnants of massacres, seas of blood, the screams of monsters.

Emerging from all that, standing firm in her original place, everything now seemed peaceful and warm—like a meadow.

Even this duel field, bombarded with countless spells, felt that way. The girl calmly assessed every situation amid this grand magical display.

When magic clashed with magic, a radiant glow began to envelop the duel arena.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet