Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 36: Denise (2)

The massive Raspah Cave on Ramhel Hill had been abandoned for quite some time.

Long ago, it housed a treasure-filled labyrinth, but a maze so close to a metropolis like Ebelstain would surely have been conquered swiftly.

Now, it was nothing more than an empty maze—yet merchants still avoided the area.

It wasn’t a major thoroughfare, and roaming monster tribes frequently wandered into the desolate place.

No one wanted the trouble of crossing a seldom-visited, danger-filled zone. Thus, it was the perfect hiding place for Dereck and Drest.

Observing the cavern entrance from a distance, Denise maintained a composed expression, though Bella, her chief maid, was deeply worried.

“Lady Denise, I think it’s unwise to go too deep. Let’s explore around the cave first, and if it seems difficult to find him, we can alert the master and consult the private guards, alright?”

She was eager—excited to be the first to pinpoint Dereck’s whereabouts—but it seemed unwise for a noblewoman to venture inside with only a few guards.

If Dereck was simply near the cave entrance, locating him wouldn’t be hard, but if he was deeper inside, prudence would call for retreat.

Still, Denise had no intention of backing down.

“There might be monster tribes… The interior is vast and complex, so entering cautiously is wise. But Bella, if we report from here, all my effort will have been wasted.”

“Really?”

“If we bring in all the private guards, the other houses will notice. And Dereck, inside, wouldn’t want to deal with nobles arriving in force.”

“So you intend to go in?”

“Talk is wasted words.”

Bella exchanged anxious glances with the guards.

The men responsible for Denise’s protection looked at each other. If she were injured inside the cave, they’d all be doomed.

But stopping her wasn’t an option: her magical status had been assessed, and she was steadily moving into the cave. Their only choice was to follow.

Denise formed a glowing orb of light with magic to illuminate the path, stepped forward—and the guards immediately followed, scanning the area.

The maids wondered if she planned to go all the way to the cave’s depths.

“Ah…!”

Thankfully, it happened before they ventured too far. There, seated on a wide, flat boulder, sat a man.

He looked far more gaunt and exhausted than when last seen from a distance—during the magical duel.

His thick white hair, unkempt, fell over his eyes; his worn gear showed neglect.

It was impossible to guess how much he had endured in the past week. The mage, motionless on the rock, seemed to have reached some form of enlightenment.

He wore no flashy attire nor carried an aura of dominance. Yet his silent presence, calmly waiting on the rock, was quietly compelling.

Indeed, he was different. Denise recognized this and approached him.

“What brings you to a place as modest as this?”

Her words came out extremely polite and formal. He looked up and responded directly to Denise, his tone measured.

The maids accompanying her swallowed hard.

They were tense, not knowing who this “Dereck” might be. Yet Denise herself wore a confident expression upon seeing him.

‘He may appear shabby and humble, but perhaps it’s due to immersion in training… He’s courteous—surely reasonable. He looked impressive during the magic duel, after all.’

The mage before her was the much-coveted tutor sought by both the Belmierd and Duplain families.

If she could persuade him, Grand Duke Beltus would gain influence at the upcoming tripartite negotiation. The Count Belmierd and Duke Duplain would do anything for their daughters, and the Beltus family could leverage his position in many ways.

If she could bring him into the Beltus fold, all the praise would fall to Denise.

She cleared her throat and smiled, lifting her chin.

“Mr. Dereck… it is you, isn’t it?”

Her face glowed with the innocence of someone unversed in worldly ways.

Having straightened her outfit in the carriage and restyled her hair en route, she presented herself exquisitely. With sleek silver-gray hair pulled back, she looked almost like a living work of art.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I—I found the right place…! I’m just… so nervous… I lost my words for a moment… please excuse me…”

“Huh?”

“I-I wanted to meet you, Dereck. I searched so diligently… just… to speak with you, even once…”

Her poised but gentle demeanor, striving to maintain composure, made Bella—standing behind her—swallow hard.

Indeed, now in noble attire, Denise was almost a different person.

*

What is the art of captivating someone?

Denise, who spent her days studying the works of a famous romance novelist and upholding the dignity of a noble lady in society, had a solid philosophy on how to captivate someone.

First of all, one must be beautiful. With confidence in her appearance that could pierce the sky, she lacked nothing in that regard.

However, not every character in the world can be captivated by looks alone.

To make others want to follow you and be with you, one must possess a dignity and charm that go beyond mere appearance.

Even Denise herself did not consider herself internally perfect. However, she had the ability to make it seem like she was.

Denise humbly brought her hands together, her face blushing.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Mr. Dereck in my dreams. There are quite a few rumors among the ladies. They say there’s a skilled and reliable magic mentor, and if you learn magic from him, you can rise several levels overnight. He’s also personally admirable—a true gentleman.”

“That’s an exaggeration. And those I teach do receive direct help from me, but many achieve success on their own. I can’t create qualities that don’t exist, and as a commoner, it’s hard for me to accept such admiration.”

“That humility is one of the reasons you are so respected, Mr. Dereck. Even so, I sincerely wish to learn magic from you.”

Denise’s gaze, full of pure admiration, seemed wrapped in awe. Anyone’s heart would soften seeing the respectful expression of such a beautiful girl.

Men have a strong desire to be recognized. When a noble lady like Denise looks at them with pure admiration, their hearts melt.

Denise knew how to use her noble heritage and beautiful appearance to her advantage. No matter how skilled Dereck was in magic and teaching, he was still a young man.

How could he easily ignore the advances of a lady from the Beltus family? Denise, wearing her mask of innocence, spoke kindly to Dereck. However, Dereck was not as swayed as Denise anticipated and did not become someone who nodded at everything she said.

“Why are you speaking in such a theatrical tone, Lady Denise?”

“…”

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen. They praised you as someone perceptive and wise.”

It was expected. Dereck was well aware that Denise was not as naive and pure as she appeared.

Bella, who stood three steps behind Denise with her hands clasped, adjusted her expression. If she were Denise, she would surely want to die of embarrassment at that moment.

But Denise was a strong-willed character. What could be done? Even if one was aware, it was known that beauty could still deceive.

“Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen praised me too much. I’m just one of the three of the Rose Hall, always trying not to bring shame.”

“I see. I apologize for judging someone I hadn’t met based solely on others’ opinions.”

“No need, Mr. Dereck. It’s fine. You think kindly of me.”

‘…Did Lady Denise’s act work…?’

Dereck’s intentions were hard to read.

The young magician seemed kind to Denise but also maintained a certain distance… It was unclear what he truly wanted.

Denise sensed the same but remained unfazed. She never thought he would be an easy target. Not even Aiselin or Ellen had managed to sway him.

‘Now… how should I handle this…’

Denise looked at Dereck calmly and deliberately blushed again.

“Anyway, what I wanted to say is… the Beltus family is looking for a magic tutor. I came here personally because I really wanted to ask you to consider it.”

Hadn’t the young lady from the Beltus family come all this way after reflecting deeply?

No matter how talented someone was, if they came from the slums, they were just a commoner. The gap born from inherent status difference would surely be a heavy burden.

Indeed, Dereck wore a slightly troubled expression. He surely hadn’t expected to be found in such a remote place while hidden in training.

If they just needed a mercenary, there were many replacements. However, Dereck was the only one sought after by the three great houses. Even though Dereck himself, hidden in this cave, seemed unaware of recent events in Ebelstain’s social circle, this was rather advantageous for Denise.

After all, she was the first of the three houses to find Dereck. If she hesitated, the others would soon catch up.

If she couldn’t persuade Dereck today, things would only get more complicated. And Denise, who hated complications, was determined to bring Dereck back today.

“I truly appreciate that someone like you found a commoner like me. However, as you can see, I’m not sure I’m capable of teaching or doing that kind of work.”

“Is it because you’re focusing on your magical training?”

“Yes. I’m currently facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My sincere wish is to focus on my own training.”

There was an exchange of glances among the maids.

The young lady from the Beltus family had come in person, and he rejected her directly? There might be a major reason, but brushing off her request just to train wasn’t easy.

Denise wasn’t the kind of person to give up. If a noble lady decided so, it wasn’t hard to play with a commoner.

However, Dereck had risen to a position where he wasn’t easily looked down upon. His origins were humble, and he lacked connections, but he was a talent coveted by all major families.

Raising one’s voice in pride here risked ruining everything. Of course, Denise was the type who could handle such insult gracefully, like a snake sliding through grass.

“Thank you for your honesty, Mr. Dereck. But I am desperate too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. In the last magical duel, the efforts of Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen in their training deeply impressed me. You, having seen them closely, Mr. Dereck, must know better than anyone how hard they worked to uphold the dignity of a noble lady.”

Denise spoke with a firmer and more sincere expression than ever. Watching her, Bella was speechless.

Denise knew exactly what moved people’s hearts: sincerity. It was ironic that Denise was the one talking about sincerity, but at least her external charm was unmatched.

With clenched fists and teary eyes, her pleading gaze awakened anyone’s protective instincts.

Even Bella, who knew her well, found herself swallowing dryly upon seeing her.

“Being left behind is a sad thing.”

“…”

“When everyone steadily ascends to a higher realm, being the only one left behind destroys self-esteem and weakens the heart. I won’t hide it anymore; I fear not being able to match their achievements.”

Denise took a step forward and grasped Dereck’s thin, tanned hand with her soft, pale ones.

Without hesitation, she held it, looked him in the eyes, and pleaded with all her heart.

“That’s why I came to find you after all this time, Mr. Dereck.”

Denise asked with an anxiety that seemed on the verge of breaking her.

“Please, I beg you. Save me from the swamp of anxiety I fall asleep in every night. With my own magical progress… it’s too much to bear.”

“…”

Dereck silently watched Denise.

In the dark cave, Denise, with teary eyes, looked longingly at Dereck. She maintained eye contact with him for a long time.

How many men could endure that fragile and ghostly gaze without wavering? Not just Bella, but even the guards sworn to protect her couldn’t help but shake their heads in their hearts.

However, Dereck spoke softly.

“Lady Denise, it seems you don’t have strong ambitions for magical accomplishments. You used a one-star light spell on the way into the cave, didn’t you?”

“Eh? You sensed that from here?”

“Yes. Although the amount of magical power is exceptional, it doesn’t feel like it’s refined daily. It’s not about talent—it’s about will.”

Denise’s pupils widened for a moment before returning to normal.

“What do you mean…?”

“Lady Denise. With all due respect, it’s unwise to feign sincerity about magic in front of someone immersed in it.”

Dereck was a man who could be called obsessed with magic. Those to whom Dereck had dedicated time to teach had one thing in common: whether Diella or Ellen, all were individuals genuinely devoted to magical achievement.

“Some might consider it an insult.”

Faced with his cold gaze, Denise had no choice but to realize the truth. She wore a thick mask, but this boy had seen through her from the beginning.

“I’m not sure why you need me, Lady Denise. But it doesn’t seem to be for magical accomplishments.”

Dereck brushed himself off and stood. He had been so absorbed in magic that he could barely sleep, yet he managed to restrain himself.

“How can I accept a task when I don’t even know what the client wants? I don’t take on work I can’t handle. That would be disrespectful to the client.”

With that, Dereck bowed his head. It was a polite but firm refusal.

“So please, find someone more suitable than a humble wandering mercenary like me. Someone fit for your stature, Lady Denise.”

His demeanor was so respectful and formal that there was nothing more to say in reply.

“Eh…?”

Denise felt like she had been hit on the head with a hammer. Her performance—one that could surprise the heavens—was rendered useless, and she stood in silence. Soon, she felt a deep scratch in her pride.

She had prepared, knowing that even Aiselin and Ellen had failed to acquire such talent.

But she never imagined Dereck would reject her so swiftly. Even a bit of hesitation on his part would have spared her this feeling.

“No, how could it be that I, a lady of the Beltus family, went to such lengths to find this place, and bowed openly…?”

The sting surely came from aristocratic pride… But there was another, deeper reason.

“How could it be that I, who look so beautiful, shed tears…?”

What was the point in saying it? The axe wound to her pride was already severe.

“Then, I’ll go and finish my training for today.”

“Wait a moment. Mr. Dereck. First…”

Before Denise could call him, Dereck lightly leapt from the rock and walked toward the depths of the cave.

The maids watching were left speechless. They had heard rumors of the boy who lived like a hermit, but they hadn’t expected him to be such a mystical figure.

“Should we… should we follow him, my lady?”

When Dereck disappeared into the darkness, Bella quickly approached and asked. If they were going to follow, they had to act fast.

However, Denise just stood there with a broad smile.

“Lady Denise?”

“Hmm. I thought he was someone with clear convictions, but I didn’t know he was this resolute.”

Bella looked anxious.

“Yes, it seems so. I came here with tears in my eyes, wearing lovely makeup and expensive perfume, and he just threw me a cold look.”

“My lady, please calm your anger and think rationally. We need to report the cave’s location to the main house first…”

“Eh? Anger? Why would I be angry? That’s funny, Bella. Anyone would think I’m mad.”

Though she said it, Denise was smiling only with her eyes, while a vein visibly throbbed on her forehead. Bella swallowed hard.

Frankly, she wondered if this was about her pride being hurt because her beauty hadn’t worked, but she bit her tongue for fear of the consequences.

Denise was someone who found everything bothersome and rarely got motivated—but once she rolled up her sleeves, she was relentless.

“Just… a little… the stubbornness is starting to show… hehehe…”

Bella had to press her temples and suppress a headache as she looked at Denise. After so long together, Bella knew her well.

She was the type to bite harder and cut deeper if a tree didn’t fall.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet