Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 59: Drop of Blood (5)

Drip, drip.

“It’s raining.”

Diella Katherine Duplain was exhausted.

After completing her debut events near the imperial city over two days, she had barely slept and only eaten in a hurry.

There were several banquets in between, but when dressed elegantly and acting like a refined lady, she often had to forgo meals.

Maintaining a beautiful appearance amidst hunger and fatigue was mentally draining.

Somehow, she managed to complete the schedule in the capital, and now the major event was nearly over.

But it wasn’t entirely finished yet.

Now she had to return to the mansion and attend the ball, showcasing her splendor as the star of the event. By conversing with many distinguished guests and making her presence known, she would finally be recognized as the lady of House Duplain.

Diella sighed deeply as she looked out the carriage window.

The maid serving tea beside her had accompanied her for a long time, even back in the pavilion. This person had followed Diella when she was assigned the mansion in Ebelstein.

“Since the ball is indoors, the rain shouldn’t be a problem, right? I just hope my dress doesn’t get wet on the way…”

“Please don’t worry too much, Lady Diella. The main house has surely prepared everything.”

As the raindrops grew heavier, Diella took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

This arduous process was almost over. She wanted to arrive at the mansion and thank her beloved family for their support.

For Diella, who rarely expressed emotions, making such a decision was uncommon.

“My sister Aiselin, my brother Valerian, and my brother Leigh have all suffered for me…”

“…”

“If not for this opportunity, I would never be able to thank my family. So I must take it…”

Everyone knew how hard Valerian and Leigh had tried to get close to Diella, even discussing their preferences in women to win over a teenage girl. A truly shocking sight.

Though she felt overwhelmed and pushed them away, she couldn’t help but acknowledge their sincere efforts. Diella thought maybe she should open her heart a little more to her family.

Inside the carriage that moved through the rain, Diella reflected.

She hoped this debut would mark a turning point in her difficult life.

*

Bang!

Upon entering the mansion’s main hall, many servants were moving food in the dim light.

“Gasp…!”

The servants, carrying trays and dishes or moving fabrics and blankets, all turned their heads sharply toward Dereck and Denise.

In the hallway leading to the staircase, near the main stairs, beside several antiques displayed along the walls, even at the entrance to the basement stairs… the sight of so many servants turning simultaneously toward Dereck as if they were a single body.

Feeling an unexplainable chill, Denise swallowed hard.

She had just witnessed the butler Delron transform strangely. It was no surprise that the other mansion servants were also not in a normal state.

As the tension rose, just when Dereck was about to draw his sword—

“Excuse us.”

All the servants bowed in unison and then returned to their tasks.

They prepared the banquet in the ballroom, the butler cleaned the marble floor, and the pages moved ropes and fabrics… all busily working as if Dereck and Denise’s agitation meant nothing to them.

They seemed like machines programmed to follow orders.

Not even a hint of panic appeared at the sight of the corpses rushing the door. Their unfocused eyes stared blankly ahead in the direction they moved.

Denise felt a deep, inexplicable fear.

Among necromantic spells, there were many that charmed people, similar to confusion spells. Dereck was well aware of this. The servants were likely under such enchantments.

As long as they weren’t attacked, there would be no major problem. Thinking this, Dereck blocked the mansion’s main door and kicked over a nearby display cabinet toward the entrance.

Crash! Bang!

The blocked door shook with a heavy blow. The corpses on the other side began to struggle to enter.

Dereck grabbed Denise’s arm and ran upstairs toward the main hall.

On the way, they passed many servants and attendants. Yet, not the slightest reaction came from them at Dereck’s urgent movements—they simply stood back up and resumed their work.

When they first arrived at the mansion and were guided through it, it hadn’t seemed abnormal.

But now the influence of necromancy was clearly growing stronger.

“D-Dereck… It looks like the servants have already been consumed.”

“If we do nothing, the guests will be in danger too. Let’s rescue as many as we can. There’s somewhere we need to go first.”

The outside was swarming with corpses, but if they grouped with people who could fight, they might be able to break through.

As Dereck headed to the room where the guests had gathered—

“Gasp…!”

Denise covered her mouth with both hands in shock.

When Dereck and Denise reached the hallway, it was full of servants dragging unconscious guests along the floor.

Most were powerful mages.

‘Poison? Or a surprise attack? They must’ve taken down all the mages before everything began.’

Dereck calmly assessed the situation.

There was no focus in the eyes of the servants doing the dragging.

The Duplain mansion was the safest zone, free of external threats.

It was hard to imagine something important happening in such a place. Therefore, the distinguished guests had mostly relaxed and enjoyed the party.

Moreover, the Duplain family’s servants were among the most professional and capable among noble households.

So it was inevitable to let one’s guard down. After all, they were in the safest place with the most experienced staff.

Whether it was offering drugged cold water, pretending obedience and using chemicals to knock someone out, or just outright clubbing someone unconscious… the opportunities were endless. The servants approached guests without raising suspicion.

“Excuse me, we’re moving some luggage. Could you step aside?”

One servant, dragging the unconscious Baron Olden—head of House Rodelail—spoke to Dereck. He was unconscious, foam at the mouth.

It was a bizarre sight, but the servant made the request with an unchanged expression.

The scene was so eerie that Denise swallowed hard several times.

“Hurry, the guests…”

“Please, go ahead.”

Dereck raised his arm to stop Denise and stepped back against the wall. The servant bowed politely and dragged the old man toward the ballroom staircase.

If left alone, the servants didn’t attack. They were merely enchanted to fulfill their given orders.

Still holding Denise to the wall, Dereck silently waited for all the servants to pass.

The procession of servants dragged all sorts of distinguished guests. Witnessing it from the side was a truly surreal experience.

‘Dereck…!’

Denise clamped her mouth shut and trembled like a leaf. She clung to Dereck’s neck with her other hand, her body shaking so violently she could barely breathe.

All kinds of prominent figures were dragged past them. People foaming at the mouth, others with arms twisted at odd angles, bleeding individuals, and some with eyes rolled back… all once-proud attendees.

After the procession passed, Dereck quickly moved again.

Most rooms along the hallway had their doors open. Few suspected an attack by House Duplain’s own servants.

‘Even so, perhaps some sensed the danger early and hid well. We must find as many as we can.’

Dereck grabbed Denise’s arm and pulled her into the room labeled “Baron Olden.”

He pushed her into the closet.

“D-Dereck…! Ah!”

“This is Baron Olden’s room. You just saw him being dragged away by the servants. Since it belongs to someone already subdued, the servants won’t return here. Stay here until the situation changes.”

Identifying a safe place was vital.

At this point, this room was the safest bet.

“Dereck. And you?”

“I’m going to search for survivors. Outside, the place is crawling with necromantic enchantments and corpses. If we move recklessly and trigger hostility, it will be dangerous. Lady Denise, please stay here.”

“I’m going with you. At least I can use basic detection magic.”

“It’s better if you stay safe here.”

“No. Dereck. You mean to enter that death trap alone? Do you think I’d allow that?”

Denise swallowed and spoke firmly.

“I can’t let you go.”

“Lady Denise, your hands are shaking.”

“Eek!”

As Dereck said, Denise’s entire body was still trembling.

She had seen too many horrifying scenes of twisted, deformed corpses just moments ago. She was completely exhausted from merely trying to control her rapid breathing.

Even so, Denise couldn’t let Dereck go alone.

It was obvious what Dereck would object.

I can’t leave Lady Denise alone. Lady Denise is a valuable person, so please take care of your health. If Lady Denise gets hurt, it would be a huge problem.

The cliché phrases used for noble ladies would surely come out. Denise was ready to argue that status didn’t matter in a situation like this.

However, Dereck was a pragmatist.

“Lady Denise, if you follow me, you’ll only be a burden.”

Dereck’s words were harsh but true. In an urgent situation like this, there was no time to choose words carefully.

Denise’s breath caught in her throat. After witnessing the gruesome results of necromancy, she couldn’t move properly.

If she followed Dereck out of worry, she would be lucky not to get caught and become a liability.

“This is just a guess, but it’s very likely that Valerian is involved in this situation.”

“Va-Valerian? Isn’t he the eldest son of the Duplain family? I heard he was a good and upright person… Is he the one leading this disaster?”

“I can’t explain all the details, but…”

‘If he’s dabbling in necromancy, you must kill him.’

Dereck’s mentor, Drest Wolftail, had once told him.

If things got out of control, Valerian might use dark arts.

Was it possible he had nothing to do with the necromancy that ravaged the Duplain mansion? It was too much of a coincidence to ignore.

Somehow, Valerian was involved in this mansion-centered disaster.

“Once the situation is clearer, we’ll know the truth. For now, survival is our priority.”

“Promise me one thing, Dereck.”

Even while trembling, Denise clenched her teeth and looked at Dereck.

“Don’t die. No matter what happens, never die.”

“Don’t worry. That’s my specialty.”

Creak.

After firmly closing the closet door, Dereck checked the condition of the longsword at his hip and the dagger at his thigh.

They were always well-maintained and clean.

After taking a deep breath, he wiped his face and walked out into the hallway.

Many busy servants simultaneously turned to look at Dereck.

“…”

Dereck stood still, staying alert.

The servants moved solely to fulfill their tasks. As long as he didn’t interfere with their movement, they wouldn’t pay him any attention.

Just like the servants in the main hall, the ones in this corridor were the same.

Then it happened.

A high-ranking servant at the front asked Dereck:

“May I ask your name?”

He looked young, but his voice was bizarre. Blood dripped from his mouth as though his throat were filled with it.

Without showing any sign of surprise, Dereck replied:

“Why are you asking?”

“We’ve been ordered to kill all visitors except for the designated mages.”

A cold voice came from the servant’s mouth as if it were nothing.

“May I verify if you’re a designated mage or a target for elimination?”

“…Dereck.”

“Ah, Sir Dereck. You’re a visitor sent by the Beltus family. My apologies for not recognizing you. The Duplain family has instructed us to treat you with respect due to your nobility. My apologies.”

“No problem. Then is your business resolved?”

“Yes. However, Sir Dereck, you are a target for elimination.”

Even before he finished speaking, a rotten arm sprang from the servant’s left shoulder.

Slash! Whoosh!

As the claw flew at Dereck, he had already lowered his stance.

He had hoped to avoid a fight with a bit of luck, but that hope was in vain.

When that hope was betrayed, Dereck swung his sword without hesitation and beheaded the servant.

Splash! Swish!

A spray of blood erupted, and a red stream splattered across Dereck’s face.

The metallic scent of blood hit his nose, but Dereck shook his head indifferently.

Thud!

The servant’s headless body fell to the floor.

At that moment, other nearby servants turned cold eyes toward Dereck.

Even before they could emit any strange sound, Dereck’s magic arrows struck their necks.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As he fired magic indiscriminately and tried to advance through the corridor, the corpse of the servant he’d just cut down moved and grabbed his ankle.

Dereck quickly drew a reverse-grip dagger from his thigh and swiftly cut the servant’s arm off.

And when the uniformed butler servants lunged at him, he summoned his magic again.

Woosh!

The second-level spell Fireball erupted from Dereck’s hand. Its target was just beneath his feet.

The corridor was too narrow on both sides to use as an escape route. To create a new path, Dereck’s fireball struck the floor.

Bang!

An explosion rang out, and the mansion shook.

Just beneath this VIP corridor were the private rooms of the Duplain family members.

Dereck planned to drop to the lower floor and head for Valerian’s private room.

If Valerian was truly behind this, subduing him might end it all.

Swish!

Crash!

A cloud of dust filled the hallway, and the broken floor began to reveal itself.

To reach the lower floor’s corridor, Dereck prepared to roll. It seemed best to draw the servants away from the room where Denise was hiding.

Splash!

With his cloak billowing, he jumped down and rolled once on the floor.

He rose, brushed the dust from his body, and looked around—only to find it wasn’t the lower corridor.

To assume that breaking through the corridor would land him in the lower hallway was perhaps too simplistic.

It was a luxurious and spacious private room. If someone used a room this grand, they had to be a direct descendant of Grand Duke Duplain.

The room was filled with armor and training equipment, furnished with a desk and sofas for receiving guests.

On one side of the room was a large map of the continent, along with books on military terminology.

At a glance, it was clearly the room of someone exceptional. As Dereck stood, there was a figure seated confidently at the desk in the center of the room.

Even amid this chaos, the fact that someone sat calmly in their private room was already strange.

“…What are you doing here?”

The figure seated alone among so much equipment was someone familiar.

With short hair and a solid build, eyebrows raised sternly, dressed in noble clothes adorned with all kinds of insignia.

Yet there was no trace of awareness in his vacant eyes. He didn’t even flinch at the sight of Dereck falling from the ceiling.

Dereck immediately sensed something was wrong. He gripped his sword tightly and gathered magic in his other hand.

Clang.

A metallic sound rang from the light armor he wore over his noble attire.

When he stood up, he was definitely a man of sturdy build.

“…Dereck.”

It was Leigh, Valerian’s younger brother.

The second son of the Duplain family, and one of the family’s pillars who, though he pretended otherwise, deeply loved Diella and Aiselin.

The brawny man stared at Dereck with a cold gaze.

He opened his mouth and said something. His words were incoherent.

“Death… will come… Death… sweet, painful, noble… the embrace of death will come…”

Whoosh.

Dark red blood dripped from his mouth.

A reddish spiritual aura glowed in his eyes.

Dereck could feel it.

Leigh was in no condition to communicate.

“Dereck, yes… Dereck, agh… aghghgh… kuh, khuhuk…”

“…”

“Kukuk, kigegek aghgh… not dead yet.”

Twisting and making bizarre noises, he suddenly spoke to Dereck in a normal, cold tone. At some point, his eyes also focused clearly on Dereck.

The contrast alone was enough to make the skin crawl.

The burly Leigh burst forth in a dark red magical aura.

Bang!

At the same time, a magic arrow flew and struck where Dereck had been.

A cloud of dust rose, but Dereck rolled to the side to dodge. Dereck’s reflexes weren’t something a mere magical manifestation could match.

Watching Leigh’s condition through the rising dust, Dereck took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

“Hooh…”

No matter how he looked at it, Leigh was already insane.

It was time to make a decision.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet