Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 42: Spell (4)

“Dereck has been working as an instructor for the Beltus family for quite some time now.”

While listening to the lecture on magical theory at the conference, Ellen of the Belmiard family—known as the Rose of the Rose Salon—couldn’t help but lose focus.

She remembered the mercenary instructor with whom she used to talk about magic late into the night.

Ellen let her red hair fall loosely and sighed softly.

The Belmiard family had been left out of the race to recruit Dereck, who ultimately went to the Beltus family.

The rivalry among nobles to acquire talented individuals was always unpredictable, but losing Dereck was particularly painful. Count Belmiard had even apologized to Ellen, feeling sorry for her.

It was the first time Ellen had actively requested an instructor, so Count Belmiard must have gone to great lengths for her.

Had I just been a burden to my father…? Though, what kind of offer did the Beltus family make to secure Dereck?

In any case, Dereck, in Ellen’s opinion, was an exceptional magic instructor.

In an era where talented magic instructors were worth their weight in gold, it was inevitable to wonder how much the Beltus family had offered for him.

In truth, Dereck’s intention to form a connection with the Beltus family was the most important variable… but Ellen didn’t know that part.

When Aiselin was rejected, it became clear that not just anyone could be accepted as a student.

Hmm… perhaps I should invite Lady Denise for tea and subtly sound her out…

Ellen, who was not particularly fond of the complex social maneuvering of high society, found it unusual for herself to be scheming to involve a lady from a rival family in her affairs.

However, Ellen was also curious about how Denise was learning magic from Dereck.

Yes, arranging a meeting should be fine. I’ll ask the butler to contact her.

Denise, as seen in the social circles of Ebelstein and the Rose Salon, always gave off a mysterious aura.

Like the other noble ladies, she was kind and dignified, but there seemed to be something hidden beneath the surface—something not openly revealed. Among the trio of the Rose Salon, she was the most enigmatic.

Lady Denise… she’s definitely not someone easy to approach…

Teaching someone so reserved wasn’t simple. After all, teaching ultimately meant having to guide someone.

How exactly did Dereck teach the mysterious Denise?

Ellen wanted to see it with her own eyes, at least once.

When the magic conference ended, Ellen rose from her seat and smoothed the hem of her dress.

For the first time in a long while, she felt a surge of motivation.

*

“What kind of plan are you plotting? I can’t understand it… but in the end, the servants should be on my side. Structurally, they all belong to the Beltus family.”

The next morning, after breakfast, Denise stood in the hallway and spoke to Dereck.

Dereck, with his hands clasped behind his back, tilted his head and looked directly at Denise.

“Yes?”

“It seems you’ve been trying to get close to the servants lately… Scheming behind the scenes like that isn’t good. Aren’t we supposed to only teach and learn magic?”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding… Yes, I’ve been trying to get more familiar with the servants, but it’s not for any hidden agenda.”

Denise swallowed hard.

She had openly used Dereck, and he was surely aware that the Beltus family saw him as a pawn in the noble power struggle.

Even so, Dereck maintained a calm expression. Denise had trouble reading his true intentions.

“It’s true, as you said, Lady Denise, that I should be closer to the servants. There is a purpose behind my actions, but it’s nothing suspicious, and I can tell you if you ask.”

“Then, what is it…?”

“What else? The servants who have supported you for years are the ones who know you best, aren’t they?”

Denise pressed him for an answer, but Dereck spoke as if it was nothing, maintaining eye contact with her.

“I need to know more about Lady Denise. As an instructor, it’s only natural that I want to understand even the smallest details of the person I’m teaching.”

“There’s no need to be so roundabout… I mean, as the lady of the Beltus family, you must have heard all the rumors at the Rose Salon, right?”

“It’s true, but information based on rumors has obvious limitations.”

Dereck always grew very serious whenever he talked about magic.

His dedication and passion were enough to impress anyone who saw him.

“Magic is extremely complex, and the way each person handles magical power varies slightly. One must consider a person’s temperament, thoughts, habits, values, and worldview in a comprehensive manner. While the classification of magic academies is important, just as crucial is understanding the temperament of the magician themselves.”

“…So, as I was saying…”

“How could I truly understand Lady Denise based solely on superficial information from the Rose Salon? What I want to know are not the surface-level accomplishments of the lady of the Beltus family… but Lady Denise herself. Understanding her is the key to teaching her magic more effectively.”

There was certainty in Dereck’s firm tone.

Having risen from humble beginnings, he had his own insights into how people became skilled in magic.

The lessons from the elder, Katia, and Drest. The insights gained from teaching Diella and Ellen. And the understanding obtained through exploring and learning magic on his own.

A lifetime of experience had fused into his philosophy on what was most important when teaching magic to others.

“Then, you’re saying… you asked the servants about me?”

“The people who assist you know things that rumors can’t convey. Of course, I didn’t say it out loud, as it might embarrass Lady Denise.”

“W-What did they say…?”

“The servants respect you a lot. They said that even though you often seem distracted and reluctant, you know when to roll up your sleeves for important tasks.”

Dereck relayed the words he had heard from the servants without omitting anything.

Of course, hearing it directly from him made Denise feel a bit embarrassed.

“I heard that you could achieve great things in magic or academics if you truly applied yourself… That although your attitude appears indifferent and aloof, you treat the servants kindly. They also mentioned your piercing gaze… and your exceptional handwriting.”

“T-The servants said that about me? Ah… ahaha… ehehe…”

“…”

“Did they say anything about my appearance? That I’m prettier than Aiselin or Ellen…”

“…”

“…”

Dereck wasn’t one to give empty compliments. Although Denise’s beauty was certainly remarkable, comparing her to Aiselin and Ellen would surely give anyone pause for thought.

“You really don’t give empty compliments, do you?”

“I must be honest. Only then can my words be trusted when I speak.”

“Having that conviction is good, but I worry you’ll get hurt out there.”

“I’ve already been hurt a lot.”

“I’ve thought a lot, too.”

With a long sigh, Denise finally relaxed her shoulders.

I think I’ve come to understand this guy a bit more. The reason he was interacting with the servants—who he didn’t even need to impress, especially when Dereck wasn’t around—was simply to teach magic to Denise in the best way possible.

Unlike Denise, a greenhouse flower, he had surely traversed numerous labyrinths and experienced all kinds of hells.

However, when unnecessary, he never stubbornly opposed others, often treating them with a polite attitude.

It was a stark contrast to how he looked when immersed in magic, holed up in a dirty cave with a disheveled appearance.

Just like the city of Ebelstain, he seemed to have a thousand faces. That’s why it was hard to grasp his true intentions at a glance.

“Even so… I’m proud that the servants think so highly of me. I didn’t give it much thought… but they said I have a piercing gaze… and that I write well… right?”

“…”

“How do you know I write?”

“I heard it from the butler.”

“What, how would the butler know?”

Suddenly, Denise’s face paled. Dereck had already anticipated this, but as he said, he didn’t speak lightly and conveyed things without exaggeration.

“The servants have seen you many times, sitting at your desk before bed with a pen in hand. If there’s a scratching sound in the room, wouldn’t they look in?”

“No, I… I always check my surroundings!”

“Don’t underestimate the servants. They’re like shadows, always following and helping you. Wouldn’t they notice? If the hinges are well-oiled, opening the door a bit won’t make noise. You should check around the door more carefully.”

At this point, Dereck had nothing more he could do.

He simply conveyed what he had heard without omission. The servants had surely been thinking about how and when to bring it up.

“I also heard about the story… the pink book from the third drawer next to your bed.”

“You mean the servants know about that?”

“Yes. Don’t you write every night? The title is… The Arrogant Sir Robein, isn’t it?”

“…”

Suddenly, Denise’s breath caught in her throat.

“I heard that the psychological descriptions infused in your elegant prose and strong strokes are truly exceptional.”

“…”

“I didn’t intend to read it… but the servants insisted… I saw it several times when you were at salon meetings… Of course… um… the descriptions and narrative moved me. There are quite a few devoted readers among the servants… and I understand why.”

“…Hic.”

Denise hiccupped—an act that didn’t quite suit her.

And then, for a while, she said nothing.

Dereck watched Denise’s expression for a moment. He felt he needed to choose his words carefully, adding weight to his voice. After all, it wasn’t unusual for someone her age to harbor such childish fantasies.

“You don’t need to feel so embarrassed. Creation is fundamentally a shy endeavor… And even a stranger like me can tell your writing is really impressive.”

“…”

“Reading about the tragic situation of the protagonist Tracy broke my heart. Especially since I come from the slums, I was struck by the details. However, I’m not sure characters like Sir Robein actually exist in real life… Of course, the jealous yet tender emotions of a man harboring love from afar for Tracy were compelling.”

“…”

“The obsession and possessiveness, the attitude toward Tracy… and the seven pages dedicated to describing Sir Robein’s fierceness seemed a bit excessive, but… who knows, maybe men like that are out there. It’s not impossible, right? I respect that.”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Unable to bear listening to Dereck any longer, Denise grabbed her head and ran to her room.

Dereck, resting his chin in his hand, reflected silently.

Certainly, the sensitivity of a girl her age was hard to keep up with. He had said a lot, but Dereck hadn’t lied.

The reason he interacted with the servants was truly to learn more about Denise.

More precisely… to see if she had any weak points.

*

“Good morning, Lady Denise.”

The next morning, Denise, with messy hair, was being groomed by a maid.

Her eyelids were swollen from having slept little the night before. The maids, whose job it was to keep her looking beautiful at all times, were perplexed.

“Did you write something last night? You look really tired. You shouldn’t let it interfere with your daily life, you know?”

“Hah…”

Dereck said this casually, and the maids around them flinched. In fact, the maid who reacted that way was one of those who diligently read Denise’s works.

“What are you talking about, Dereck? Writing, you say…?”

It seemed Denise was plotting to pretend the previous day’s conversation had never happened.

Of course, Dereck wasn’t one to let such blatant denial slide.

“I was talking about The Arrogant Sir Robein… The scene ends with Sir Robein covering Tracy with a blanket as she relives a childhood nightmare involving sleepwalking…”

“…”

“I remember it clearly because it was the last scene. Sir Robein’s tender heart, treating the fragile Tracy like a glass artifact that could shatter with the slightest touch…”

“Dereck!! We have to train hard in magic today! Why are you wasting time on such nonsense!”

Denise shot up, sweating profusely. It was the first time she had voluntarily initiated magic training.

Her usual laid-back attitude was gone, and she walked nervously, drenched in sweat.

“…”

All the maids watching held their breath.

Denise was known to be resilient, but Dereck was even more tenacious.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet