Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 68: The Most Noble and Impoverished (4)

“Lord Melverot of the North is known to all mages, but his family relationships aren’t as well-known, right?”

Denise, crossing the Elfontaine Salon in the noble district of Ebelstein, spoke casually to Dereck, who followed at a respectful distance.

“Lord Melverot… isn’t he the only combat-type mage among the known 6-star mages?”

“Yes. He’s famous for many things. Head of the Count Logost family, wielder of the 5-star magical wand ‘Dawn,’ nephew of the great mage Robenkheim, conqueror of the North, the sword of the royal family… he holds many titles.”

Currently, only four 6-star mages are alive across the continent.

Lord Melverot, the conqueror of the North; Chief Magical Advisor Kohella from the central royal family; Pine, from a minor baron’s family in the southeastern farmlands; and Drest Wolfte, a commoner from the southwest. Only four in such a vast continent—making them nearly untouchable figures.

Among them, the most famous is Lord Melverot, hailed as the hero of heroes for slaying countless monsters and leading the Dawn War to victory.

Despite the North’s harsh cultural environment, he loved art, cultivated refinement, and held warrior pride—making him a true great man of this era.

It’s said that anyone walking the path of magic dreams of meeting him at least once in life… So when she heard the royal family had requested a direct meeting with Dereck, Denise couldn’t help but be surprised.

“You know the North well, Dereck. It’s the closest region to the monster front lines—bloodshed and death are everyday occurrences. To rule there like a king and be recognized as a war hero? That’s no ordinary feat.”

“Well, true. But why are his family relations so unknown?”

“What other reason? Because there’s no one worth publicly mentioning. Except for the Countess and his sons, his only daughter—Lady Siern—is completely unmanageable.”

Dereck’s contract was ending soon. Denise could already see that the Beltus family wouldn’t try to keep him.

Denise wanted to keep Dereck around a bit longer, but if Lord Melverot extended his hand, she knew there would be nothing she could do.

So she felt the need to warn him now.

“You wouldn’t know as a commoner, but any noble lady who’s ever attended an event in the North knows. She’s not just difficult. It might sound crude, but… she’s insane. A lunatic. There’s no other way to put it.”

“…”

“Why do you think Lord Melverot—the continent’s most renowned magic master—wants to see you personally? He’s looking for someone to handle his daughter.”

The Elfontaine Salon corridor was full of noble ladies returning to their rooms after the gathering.

Denise continued speaking to Dereck, weaving through the crowd while smiling graciously at acquaintances.

“If possible, you should consider how to refuse Lord Melverot’s offer. I strongly advise against becoming Lady Siern’s tutor.”

“Is it that bad? Is she arrogant? Or oppressive? I’ve dealt with a lot of that already.”

“If that were all, do you think I’d be this concerned, Dereck?”

Dereck had already taught Diella and even had garbage thrown at him.

He was mentally strong, capable of enduring his duties without flinching—even under insult.

“There’s no proof, but the rumors are rampant. That she tortures and kills servants, bathes in blood, pulls out villagers’ fingernails with a euphoric smile…”

“…”

“Told you—she’s a lunatic. Unstable. Dereck, I know building your reputation as a magical instructor is important, but it’s not worth getting involved with someone that mentally unstable.”

“And how does she maintain her status doing things like that? Even with noble privilege, if she tortures or kills without cause, the Empire wouldn’t overlook it.”

“That’s why I said they’re rumors. She must have ways to cover it up. She’s already infamous in the North as the ‘Bloodstained Lady.’ Isn’t that nickname terrifying enough?”

It’s not fair to judge someone solely by rumors. But where there’s smoke, there’s often fire.

A noble lady with experience can have intuition about people’s true nature. Those who’ve seen Lady Siern, Lord Melverot’s only daughter, agree there’s madness behind her beauty.

It may sound cruel, but she’s completely unbalanced.

It would be tragic if Dereck got involved—falsely accused, tortured, or even killed. That’s why Denise was so serious.

“The North is remote, constantly battling demon tribes. Casualties are common. In a savage place like that, hiding deaths isn’t difficult.”

“…”

“So, Dereck. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Denise spoke with a grave expression. She was genuinely worried.

Feeling her concern, Dereck didn’t argue. But he couldn’t help wondering what kind of offer Lord Melverot would make to recruit someone.

That was his honest thought.

Of course, he didn’t say it aloud. But suddenly, Denise stopped, put her hands on her hips, and stared at him. Frowning, lips tight, she spoke bluntly.

“You’re seriously considering Lord Melverot’s offer.”

“You’re very perceptive in moments like this.”

“Not for the first time. Huff… By the way, did you help out with the Duplain situation?”

“They said not much was needed. They already received enough support.”

“Lady Aiselin said that?”

“Yes. The mansion didn’t seem very comfortable, but they appeared to be holding on.”

“Hmm… I see…”

Denise ran a hand through her silver hair and glanced around. No one was nearby. They’d reached a corner of the Elfontaine Salon. Most had already left.

She touched her chin and leaned toward Dereck with a tense look.

“D-Dereck… this is personal advice… If you can, you’d better keep some distance from Lady Aiselin…”

“What?”

“Don’t ask why. Just trust me. It’s for your own good…”

Seeing Dereck watching her silently, Denise coughed a few times and stepped back.

Noble ladies are expected to be perfect, elegant, and beautiful in every way—but their weakest spot is often love.

Even someone like Denise wasn’t immune. It wasn’t unusual for a noble lady like Aiselin, raised like a greenhouse flower, to not recognize her own feelings.

Denise, who considered herself an expert after reading countless romance novels, knew well that someone like Aiselin couldn’t clearly distinguish goodwill from affection. In a way, that was a blessing.

Even if her family had fallen, a noble was still a noble. A plebeian from the slums getting involved with a noble lady would only bring ruin to both.

So it was better to stop it early. And if someone like Denise noticed it, it meant action was urgent.

“There’s nothing to gain from getting close to a fallen noble, right?”

“I don’t judge people by that. Isn’t Lady Aiselin a good person?”

“Ugh… If you say it like that, I have no rebuttal… Anyway, I don’t give advice for no reason.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Anyone can tell that everything goes in one ear and out the other with you…”

Denise scratched her head, looking troubled. Living carefree was fine, but since Dereck arrived, the dynamics at the Rose Salon had begun to shift.

“I need to head to the cultural center to meet with the imperial delegation. Sorry I can’t escort you further.”

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t hire you as my personal secretary… A royal letter is much more prestigious and important. See you later at the mansion.”

Denise sighed and boarded the carriage.

Being too perceptive and intuitive makes life more stressful. People need to be a bit more careless sometimes.

She understood that clearly today.

*

Dereck crossed the opposite hallway, trying to leave the Elfontine Salon.

Since the Rose Salon meeting had ended some time ago, there was hardly anyone around except for the servants tending the corridor.

Being surrounded by all kinds of noble ladies wasn’t exactly pleasant.

Lately, quite a few people had been watching Dereck with interest.

Probably because they knew his contract with the Beltus family was about to end.

In a world where having a good magic tutor could make the head of a family appear in person, it was inevitable that Dereck would attract attention just before becoming available.

Still, everyone was busy with their own matters. It was unlikely anyone would stick around long after the meeting. That’s why Dereck walked through the hallway with a calmer mind.

Swish.

Dereck had developed keen senses. After spending so much time in labyrinths and living as a mercenary, one had to sharpen their senses to avoid life-threatening situations.

“…?”

He had felt someone following him for a while, which made him turn around several times as he walked. Then, he saw the hem of a dress disappear behind a corner of the hallway. Judging by the navy blue skirt, it was undoubtedly Aiselin.

‘…What is this?’

In short, Aiselin was following him.

If she had something to say, she could speak to him directly. Although there was a status barrier between them, Aiselin and Dereck had known each other for a long time and maintained a certain degree of communication.

Even so, there had to be a reason why she was trying to confirm his whereabouts without speaking to him.

Understanding Aiselin’s situation to some extent, Dereck decided to pretend he hadn’t noticed anything and keep walking. After all, he was supposed to meet someone from the royal family and discuss matters related to Lord Melverot. He would also be receiving recognition for his merits during the Duplain disaster.

As he kept walking, he still sensed Lady Aiselin following him, hiding here and there.

“…”

Finally, Dereck rubbed his chin and quickly turned, approaching her fast.

“…!”

By closing the distance so suddenly, Aiselin flinched and almost fell. She quickly grabbed onto the display case at the corner of the hallway to keep her balance, her pupils spinning as she swallowed hard.

“Lady Aiselin. Do you have something to say to me?”

“D-Dereck. Did you know I was following you?”

“I just noticed.”

To avoid embarrassing her, Dereck mixed a bit of truth with a lie.

“I see. Actually, I wanted to ask you something about the geography of the commercial district. I was thinking about how to approach you.”

“…You can just call me. Why worry so much about that?”

“Well, it’s just… you’re busy, right? I heard you were summoned by the royal family and you have personal matters too… So I was trying to think of how to ask without bothering you too much…”

Aiselin’s speech was oddly disjointed. Dereck immediately realized she felt uneasy around him.

“You don’t need to worry so much about me. Even if my status has dropped a little, aren’t you the eldest daughter of the Duplain duchy? It’s absurd for a noble lady to act so cautious around a mercenary from the slums.”

“Still, I must maintain basic courtesy. And I have to prepare… clear my throat… practice what to say… plan how to handle unexpected turns in the conversation…”

Seeing her fidgeting and touching the tips of her fingers for no apparent reason, her noble and elegant demeanor seemed to vanish.

The image nobles in Ebelstein had of Aiselin was that of a flower blooming on a cliff. Seeing her unable to maintain eye contact and stammering incoherently would make anyone question if it was really her.

Dereck felt the same. Seeing someone who reigned as the most noble lady of the Rose Salon acting like this was completely unusual.

Seeing her act that way, Dereck organized his thoughts.

Ah…! Lady Aiselin must be completely in love with me, so embarrassed she can’t act as usual — no, he didn’t think something that narcissistic.

In fact, it was natural.

Having grown up as the flower of an aristocratic family, she must have seen many handsome and well-mannered men.

Her relative Valerian was an attractive man who stole the hearts of maidens, and Leigh was a dependable man even in other men’s eyes.

To think that a noble lady with such high standards would fall in love with a mercenary who grew up eating scraps from the trash would be too far-fetched.

As a realistic man, Dereck thought something like that was unlikely, so he had to consider other possibilities while watching the shy and nervous Aiselin.

The only difference between the always-elegant Aiselin and the current Aiselin was the change in her family’s status.

The unstable situation of her household had seriously affected her once noble and proud self-esteem.

Although she showed a lively and brave temperament, it might no longer be easy for her to project that elegance. It’s hard to maintain dignity amidst constant rumors and slander.

That’s why, even when speaking to a mere mercenary, she couldn’t help but appear nervous. One couldn’t help but feel compassion for her. Dereck thought Aiselin was an honest and upright person.

“Lady Aiselin.”

There was nothing Dereck could do for her, except to convey his thoughts with conviction.

Dereck approached and placed his hands on her shoulders. It was a bold move considering their status difference, but no one was watching and he knew Aiselin would understand.

Looking her in the eyes, Dereck spoke in a confident tone.

“You don’t have to let your self-esteem be affected. The backing of the Duplain family was a great strength for you, but you’re still a valuable person even without it, right?”

“U-uh… De-Dereck… you’re… too close…”

Aiselin tried to say something in a voice as weak as a mosquito’s, but she couldn’t push him away, overwhelmed by Dereck’s presence. Taking advantage of the moment, Dereck raised his voice slightly and spoke firmly.

“Lady Aiselin, you are beautiful and valuable even without your family’s support. Please never forget that.”

“Huh… huh…”

Aiselin’s entire body trembled, her ears completely red.

With the hair on her forearms standing on end, she could only curl her toes, unable to say a word.

“Don’t you know what people say? Lady Aiselin is like a noble lily. So don’t lose heart. I’ll always support you.”

“A-a lily… a lily… a… lily…”

“Was I too bold?”

Dereck immediately lowered his hands and apologized politely. After all, touching a noble lady’s body without permission was disrespectful.

“I offer my sincere apologies. As you know, I’ve been summoned by the royal family, so I must move quickly. If your matter takes time, I’ll make room to visit you later. Have a good afternoon.”

Dereck bowed and quickly walked down the hallway. Aiselin stood there, her cheeks flushed, not even noticing the messy strands of hair sticking out. She was completely stunned.

Unable to regain her composure after the sudden shock… she held her cheeks for a long time, trembling.

And in the end, she simply let out a small hiccup… and a giggle.

*

The first thing Dereck saw upon arriving at the reception room of the cultural center was the royal family’s magical advisor, Roen.

“So you’re Dereck. I’ve heard about you.”

Emperor Gatrell had nine magical advisors under his command, each in charge of different magical fields and research methods, all under the chief advisor Kohella.

The research group included two combat mages, three transformation mages, two illusionists, one summoner, and one explorer. They often conducted magical experiments in the emperor’s name… many of which yielded results and even discovered new talents, granting them great influence within the royal family.

Roen was a third-class combat mage. Although his level was low for a royal magical advisor, he maintained his position thanks to his academic zeal, diligence, keen eye, and achievements.

He appeared relatively young, but was actually a man over forty. With much experience, he immediately recognized Dereck as someone extraordinary.

“Your fists are full of calluses, and your forearms have fine muscles. I thought a high-level mage would be more academic, but it seems your life has been quite turbulent.”

“No, I’m just a mercenary who rolled through the streets.”

“Modest. Modesty is the favorite tool of beasts to hide their fangs.”

The middle-aged mage, with thick leather gloves on both arms, chuckled and sank into a large sofa in the corner of the reception room.

“A distinguished guest will arrive soon. It’s an honor to see him even once in a lifetime. Be careful not to disrespect him.”

“…Will Lord Melverot come in person?”

“You catch on quickly. It’s a secret visit, so don’t make a fuss… Well, before that, I have some instructions from the royal family, so let’s take care of that first.”

Roen smiled slightly, resting his chin on his hand.

“What do you prefer, a wand or a staff?”

Dereck, a mercenary skilled at controlling his emotions… still couldn’t help his eyes from widening in surprise.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet