Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 37: Denise (3)

“Lady Denise. Are you serious?”

“I was the first to discover the mage’s location. We hold the strongest position in this competition. We need to persuade him as soon as possible, before the other families find out and come after him.”

“But—but staying here like this… The mistress of the house will be furious once she learns.”

“Don’t worry about the servants; I’ll make sure they go unharmed. Just say it was my decision.”

After Dereck rejected her, Denise had no choice but to return to the cave entrance.

Bella thought she would board the carriage and head back to the mansion to report, but Denise shook her silver-gray hair and shook her head.

Then she ordered that various supplies be gathered before dusk and instructed that a simple camp be set up at the cave entrance.

They brought fine firewood, a thick tent, high-quality carpets, and a fluffy emergency bed; by the time everything was set up, the sun had already set. Everything was so luxurious it hardly felt like camping, though it was clearly not proper for a noble lady to stay.

Yet Denise seemed completely unbothered.

*

The next morning, just as the sun rose, Lady Denise entered the cave again where Dereck was training.

Dereck was alone in the open area, perfecting his magical power. Denise approached him smiling primly, setting down all kinds of food and supplies, and said:

“Training is important, but it’s not good to overexert yourself to this point of being gaunt. I’ll help so you can focus on your magical training, Lord Dereck!”

Dereck looked at Denise puzzled. She blinked her innocent eyes and clasped her hands together, smiling broadly.

“I may not be able to do much, but at least I can help you focus on your magical training.”

“This won’t change my mind.”

“I was inspired seeing you train, Lord Dereck, and it helped me achieve my own magical progress. Please don’t worry about it—it’s all my fault!”

Denise clenched her fists and smiled.

There are many ways to win someone’s heart, but generosity is the most fundamental.

Denise trusted in her strategy of winning hearts openly—though it was uncertain if it would work on someone like Dereck.

To persuade someone, the most efficient method is to make them feel indebted first.

Even if your gifts have ulterior motives, the recipient still feels a bit of gratitude, fully aware of them. That’s how deals are made.

‘I must tell the mansion’s maids to bring all the supplies needed for magical training.’

It was a common strategy among merchants who came to the mansion for supplies. Whether their intentions were obvious or not, it didn’t matter much. The important thing was having the courage to act.

As she maintained this connection, his heart would gradually soften, as if dampened by a drizzle. Human hearts cannot remain hard forever.

“Then I will accept it gratefully.”

Dereck had been considering going out to gather supplies, so he wasn’t too bothered. In fact, he felt awkward turning down a noble lady’s humble gesture.

So he calmly accepted the supplies Denise brought each day. But Dereck was stubborn in his own way.

“Today I brought food and magical crystals.”

“Thank you. However, working for the Beltus family is a bit difficult.”

“Good morning! I brought prized fish from Ebelstein. The house chef prepared it—please try it!”

“I appreciate it greatly. But this doesn’t mean I’ll work for the Beltus family.”

“Mr. Dereck, look at this. It’s a Light Crystal—a stone that helps observe surrounding magical energy more efficiently.”

“This valuable item… Thank you. But working for the Beltus family is another matter…”

“Mr. Dereck! I brought hygiene items. You must stay clean even while training!”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. But still…”

Days passed, and while Denise tried to be around Dereck as much as possible, he erected such a complete barrier that she wondered whether he even had a human heart.

Honestly, by then, one might feel overwhelmed or even regretful—but Dereck, without hesitation, accepted all of Lady Denise’s kindness and continued focusing solely on his magical training. He was not the type to refuse hospitality outright.

After about five days, it felt like she had been aimlessly chopping down a resistant tree with an axe.

‘I didn’t expect it’d take this long…’

The noble lady of the Beltus family, setting pride aside, visited the cave daily to chat, offer supplies, and bow her head—but he remained firm in his convictions.

‘I wonder if someone like this even exists,’ Denise mused. But then she thought perhaps that’s precisely why he could teach magic without being intimidated by noblewomen.

‘If I’d known it would be so troublesome, I’d have left it alone…!’

Denise sat at the corner of the camp, clutching her hair. Her policy was to finish tasks quickly and then relax for the rest of the time.

However, despite trying everything over the past week—flattery, accommodations, even gentle pressure—the man remained like a mountain, entirely absorbed in his magic training all day.

It felt to her as though Denise was merely background scenery, visiting the cave occasionally. And not just any figure, but the most noble Lady of the Beltus family.

He was obsessed with magic. Dereck was the type to discard anything if it meant improving his magical mastery.

‘Now that I think about it… I haven’t seen a trace of Drest. Surely if he met this mage Dereck, they would train together…’

Dereck had had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and now he wanted to devote himself entirely to magic training.

It was obvious that the opportunity referred to meeting Drest. Yet the mage Drest Wolftail never appeared to Denise.

In truth, Drest Wolftail wasn’t someone you could meet just by wanting to.

Since his relationship with nobility wasn’t good, it wasn’t surprising that he avoided showing himself to Denise.

‘If he’s Drest’s apprentice, he must know where I am and when to meet… He’s not deliberately avoiding me. That could be a good sign.’

She felt strange thinking that.

If he truly wanted to avoid Denise, with Drest’s help, he could easily avoid her in the cave labyrinth.

‘That he still met with me isn’t too much of a burden… So there’s still hope. At least he’s not avoiding me intentionally.’

Persuading Dereck had become more than just a family matter—it had become one of Denise’s own pride.

Still, applying authority wouldn’t work. She was someone who could join the Belmierd or Duplain families if she wanted.

The method to make him join the Beltus family to teach Lady Denise—without offending him too much—must be devised as soon as possible, before the other families discovered him. There wasn’t much time left, and time had already been wasted.

While Denise was lost in thought, the moment came.

“Lady Denise! The Duplain family’s butler is at the cave entrance!”

“What does he want?”

Although Denise had first pinpointed Dereck’s location, it was only slightly earlier than the other families.

With the passage of time, that initial advantage began to fade.

However, another thought crossed her mind.

‘Even after all my efforts, he’s still unimpressed. Could another family have a better chance?’

He was a man obsessed with magic.

He wouldn’t teach anyone before he was satisfied with his own training. It seemed impossible that even the Duplain family could break his obstinate dedication.

His firm stubbornness now actually comforted Denise. Until a method was found, he wouldn’t be swayed by any family.

“Did Lady Aiselin herself send the message? Hmm…”

‘…Why doubt?’

Lurking behind the butler of the Duplain family, Delron, Denise clenched her teeth in frustration.

Sitting on a rock, Dereck—who seemed to know Butler Delron—greeted him warmly and began reading the letter he had brought.

Denise had expected him to reject the Duplain family’s request as firmly as he had hers, but there he was, resting his chin on his hand, tired from training yet deep in thought.

Aiselin, Ellen, Denise.

Among the trio of the Rose Hall, Aiselin was the one Dereck respected the most.

She was a young woman who had reached the two-star rank before her coming-of-age ceremony, with exceptional mastery of the discipline school of magic.

Teaching Ellen had made Dereck realize that the act of teaching itself contributed greatly to his own magical growth. Engaging in magical exchange with someone as grounded in their field as Aiselin would offer him meaningful insights as well.

“Lady Diella has shown results after your magic instruction, so the Duke has high expectations. And as you know, the Duke generously rewards those who deliver.”

Dereck was well aware of the Duke of Duplain’s nature. He was the type of man who would casually give a three-star grimoire to a commoner—so long as they produced results.

“It’s an honor, but as you can see, I’m entirely immersed in magical training. I’ve seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m completely absorbed in it.”

‘Just as I thought…’

Though his tone was much more polite than with Denise, Dereck was still turning them down.

As expected, his magical achievements were his top priority. He wouldn’t be easily swayed.

However, Dereck’s next words weren’t what Denise had anticipated.

“So, once I finish my training, could we revisit this discussion? It would also benefit Lady Aiselin. The higher the level of the instructor, the faster the student’s growth, right?”

“Hmm… For a reason like that, the Duke could be persuaded. For the family, what matters most is finding a good magical mentor for Lady Aiselin.”

Dereck clearly had a much more favorable attitude toward Lady Aiselin.

He hadn’t even mentioned discussing things after training to Denise.

After all the support, the help, even swallowing her pride to come here—he was now offering to help Aiselin with no hesitation.

Denise frowned, a groan of frustration escaping her.

It was true—closing that gap wouldn’t be easy. No matter what, urgent action was needed.

*

“Have we confirmed Dereck’s location?”

“Yes. The butler delivered the letter in person. I heard he’s near the Raspah Cave.”

“Training in a dangerous place… Well, that’s just like Dereck.”

Some time had passed since the Ebelstein customs convention ended.

Lady Aiselin, who had returned to the Duplain estate to chat with her family, was delighted to hear the report brought by the butler Katarina.

Since her last magical duel, the urge to learn magic from Dereck had suddenly flared. She had suggested long ago to send him a request.

“I heard other families have approached him too, so there’s no guarantee the mercenary will join House Duplain. However, Butler Delron is skilled in these matters, so have faith and wait.”

“No. Just waiting is hard. I’m busy with social activities, but now that I have time, it seems better to act myself.”

“Really?”

Aiselin held a unique position in Ebelstein’s social circles. Her schedule was always full, but while at the Duplain estate, she could make some time.

“Actually, if I want him to teach me, it’s better to go in person. If it’s Raspah Cave, I can easily divert the carriage on my way to Ebelstein.”

“Oh… it’s a bit dangerous to go alone.”

“I’m a two-star mage now. I won’t lose to simple magical beasts, and I’ll bring plenty of guards—what’s there to worry about?”

Aiselin already had a feeling.

Dereck might not be interested in teaching now, but he would surely become a prominent figure centered around Ebelstein.

In the future, when his skills became more widely known, more rivals would come seeking him.

Not only Diella and Ellen, but other young women he’d taught could be said to be proven talents.

Before, she simply wanted to learn more magic. Now, it made sense to seek his instruction directly.

“Please prepare the carriage. I must go straight to Raspah Cave. The sooner I act, the better… I’ll greet my family and leave right away.”

Rarely was Aiselin this urgent.

Before Katarina could respond, she had already risen from the tea table.

“First… should I say goodbye to Diella before I leave?”

“Lady Diella isn’t available for greetings at the moment.”

“She’s busy? I heard she’s preparing for her debut party.”

“Besides that… after diving into magical training, she doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

After receiving magic instruction from Dereck, Diella’s magical abilities had skyrocketed at an astonishing rate.

The Duplain lineage was already known for producing high-level mages, but even by those standards, her growth was astounding.

“Then… nothing can be done about it…”

Aiselin had been observing quietly from afar.

Sitting serenely on the pavilion terrace, gazing out with eyes glowing with magical power—the aura of the young mage was odd and extraordinary. Perhaps she would even rival the achievements of Valerian or Aiselin herself.

Diella Katherine Duplain.

The world didn’t know that name yet, but her younger sister, Aiselin, watched carefully.

She was Dereck’s first student.

Soon, she would debut in Ebelstein’s social circles.

Like Dereck’s first magical masterpiece presented to the world.

The second was Ellen—but Aiselin wanted to be the third.

Before the world recognized Dereck’s worth as a master of magic, she wanted to claim him first.

When you discover a hidden treasure before anyone else, it’s only natural to feel joy.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet