Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 73: To the North (4)

Crunch, crunch.

The crunching of Dereck’s boots on the snow was clearly audible.

In the snow-covered field whipped by the blizzard, Dereck finally appeared approaching the carriage, carrying Siern over his shoulder.

Her limp body swaying in the wind made it look as if he were carrying the corpse of a wild beast, causing the gathered servants to tremble in fear.

“I apologize for the commotion.”

“N-no… how…?”

Siern’s eyes rolled, unable to regain consciousness.

Although it wasn’t clear what kind of exchange had taken place between Dereck and her in that nearly zero-visibility blizzard, Dereck had nothing more than a faint trickle of blood running down his temple.

‘Did he subdue Lady Siern that easily, who is nearly equivalent to a three-star mage…?’

Butler Layton looked at Dereck in disbelief, but he, showing not the slightest concern, asked while carrying Siern.

“The carriage is completely destroyed. Is the Rochester estate far?”

“N-no… It’s not too far on foot. The weather is quite harsh, so it will be difficult, but…”

“Then let’s go quickly.”

With that said, Dereck stepped into the blizzard.

The extreme cold seemed to have no effect on him at all.

*

Crackle, crackle.

The Rochester estate rose like a tower amid the blizzard.

Although the building was of considerable size, its grandeur seemed diminished by the harsh surroundings.

Unlike the Duplain estate, which overwhelms you with its vast garden as soon as you pass through the gate, the Rochester estate felt purely functional.

Considering that monsters often appeared out of nowhere and attacked, it was completely natural.

“It must have been very hard to arrive like this in Rochester territory. As the butler, I feel deeply ashamed.”

“Don’t worry. I now understand what kind of person Lady Siern is.”

It seemed customary in this region to lead guests straight to the fireplace as soon as they arrived from afar.

Dereck, warming himself before a fireplace taller than a person, made a dismissive gesture when the butler brought the servants to greet him politely.

“Where is Lady Siern?”

“She’s unconscious. We’ve placed her in a private room in the tower.”

“I must go see her. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”

The butler swallowed hard as he looked at Dereck.

Even after being attacked without provocation by Lady Siern with dangerous aggression during their first meeting, he remained composed.

If he had been an inexperienced mage, he would have been defeated instantly. In fact, Siern often ambushed and seriously injured high-ranking mages when she caught them off guard.

“He’s even more formidable than I thought. I’m not sure I can fulfill my role…”

Aiselin, who was warming herself by the fire behind Dereck, spoke in a low voice.

Upon arriving in the north, she seemed to realize that this place was fundamentally different from the fertile and beautiful Duplain domain.

Although she had cheerfully shouted that she would take on any task due to the urgent need for money, she seemed terrified after actually facing Siern, who tried to kill her.

“Not only can’t I communicate, but I could be seriously injured if I try anything. Mr. Dereck has a lot of experience and skill… but I don’t…”

“Are you very scared?”

“…Yes.”

Aiselin spoke honestly.

Her gaze reflected a lack of confidence. However, she wasn’t someone who simply complained.

“But I have to do it. I’ll find a way in my own way.”

Soon, she clenched her fists tightly and spoke with determination.

“If I’ve already decided to do it, then I have to do it. Besides, nothing will change if I just complain.”

“That’s a good attitude. Actually, there’s no need to worry so much.”

“Huh?”

“Even though I suspected it would be quite tough, do you know why I asked you to come with me, Miss Aiselin?”

“…Because you thought I’d accept right away since I desperately need the money?”

“…That reason isn’t entirely absent.”

Dereck sat next to Aiselin by the fire and spoke to her.

“Because someone like you needs to accompany me.”

“Someone like me…?”

“Specifically, someone who is obviously elegant, refined, and beautiful.”

“Eh?”

At that sudden shower of compliments, Aiselin held her breath and awkwardly lowered her gaze.

“E-even if you flatter me like that all of a sudden… nothing special is going to happen…”

“I’m just telling the truth. Unlike me, who is a bit rough and vulgar, you’re clearly a cultured and elegant person. That difference is important.”

Aiselin’s face turned red at Dereck’s blunt words, but she knew he wasn’t saying them to flirt with her.

“I mentioned I had a plan. I’d already heard about Lady Siern, and there were aspects that would be difficult for me to handle alone. I planned to ask for your help with that.”

“Things like etiquette, social manners, and knowledge about dancing…?”

“No. All that is secondary.”

“What…? Isn’t that important…?”

After all, that kind of cultural knowledge could be taught as long as they managed to win Siern over. The most important thing was how to dominate Siern.

“We need a carrot-and-stick approach. I’ll be the stick, and you, Miss Aiselin, will be the carrot.”

“W-what do you mean by that…?”

“Hmm… I already have a plan. Want to hear it? Actually, it’s a strategy I learned from an old friend in the slums. It seemed pretty convincing, so I decided to adopt it.”

Dereck had many acquaintances in the slums, but few he could call “friends.”

Since he had always been treated as an outsider in noble circles, Aiselin felt curious to know who this old friend he mentioned was.

‘Why am I so interested in that…? I think I’m getting too nosy…’

However, she quickly shook her head and refocused on Dereck’s words.

“It’s called… the abused wife strategy.”

“…”

“Sounds strange?”

“Your friend’s family life… must not have been easy…”

Dereck remembered the young archer who used to run through the slums to support her elderly mother.

Now that her mother had passed away, her life as a total orphan wasn’t any easier than his.

“There’s no one in the slums who doesn’t have a story. I didn’t bring it up to talk about sad things. Miss Aiselin, you just have to play the role of the abused wife.”

What the hell did that mean? That was the question about to come out. Aiselin waited silently, thinking Dereck would explain soon.

“Then I’ll play the pathetic husband.”

“H-husband? W-what do you mean by that? H-husband… If someone hears that, they’ll get the wrong idea…”

“It’s a metaphor. I’ll explain the plan in detail.”

Dereck looked out the window at the swirling snowstorm.

Behind Aiselin, who twisted her fingers and looked around, the storm intensified.

Staying too long in this remote place wouldn’t be good. The best thing was to get everything they could from Lord Melverot and leave as soon as possible.

For that, they needed to reform Lady Siern’s mindset as quickly as possible. After all, she was the only daughter of the continent’s greatest mage.

Once they had her under control, it wouldn’t be surprising if rumors spread that there was no lady on the continent they couldn’t educate.

Personal gain was important too, and besides, there was a magical artifact that Dereck wanted to obtain from Lord Melverot.

There was no reason to waste time here. Dereck spoke with a more serious expression.

“Miss Aiselin. Are you good at acting?”

“Y-yes…”

As Dereck continued explaining his plan, Aiselin’s expression gradually hardened.

“D-Dereck… are you really okay with this?”

*

– U-Ugh! It’s a monster!

– Lord Melverot! No matter what, how can you bring something like that to the mansion! This isn’t something that can be taught or controlled! We must report to the royal family officially…!

– S-Save me! Please! Just my life… You can cut off my arms and legs… Just let me live…

– What… it’s you…?

Whoosh!

The moment countless fragments of memories surged from the other side of the dream, Siern’s eyes flew open.

The air was warm from the cozy fireplace. The scent of freshly washed blankets tickled her nose, and from time to time, the sound of a snowstorm striking the glass filled the room.

Siern, who sat up abruptly, remembered her last memory. It was the memory of having exchanged magic with a man named Derek.

He moved as if he knew exactly where Siern was heading, predicting every one of her movements, and without giving her a chance to counterattack, he had subdued her with a three-star spell.

Just before falling, when their eyes met, Siern had involuntarily swallowed dryly.

He was different from the magic instructors who had come to this far northern land to teach her.

He wasn’t a scholar locked away in books, but a man who had truly survived countless battles, ripping monsters apart entirely.

Although Siern had no prior information about him, she could feel it just by facing his murderous intent.

He had killed countless monsters. He was a man used to taking lives.

‘It’s better not to face him head-on. I should ambush him when no one is around or attack while he’s asleep and somehow drive him out of the mansion.’

Just as she was thinking that and turned her gaze away from the bed…

“Ah.”

“You’re awake?”

The white-haired man she had just been thinking about was sitting at the table in the corner, reading a book with his legs crossed.

He looked so relaxed that the image of him chasing her through the snowy field, bleeding, seemed like a thing of the past.

Siern quickly threw off the blanket and jumped to the opposite corner, taking a defensive stance.

“You… you… why are you here…?”

“You already know the reason, don’t you? Lady Siern, you will learn magic from me.”

“Why should I learn magic from you? You’ll probably just spout nonsense, then give up and leave.”

“That’s for me to decide. I’ll also set the class schedule starting tomorrow.”

“Go to hell.”

Siern used telekinesis to hurl the table. Dereck closed his book, lowered his stance, and rolled across the floor to dodge.

Crash! Crack!

Thud! Boom!

Several other pieces of furniture flew at him, but none touched his body.

Dereck dodged from side to side and, before she realized it, was already in front of Siern, grabbing her arm.

Snap!

“Ahhh!”

As he stared at her with an intimidating gaze, Siern’s body began to tremble again.

Even if his opponent was a haughty brat, Dereck was unfazed. His red eyes, filled with murderous intent, were excessively terrifying for such a naïve girl.

At that moment, Siern understood. Her opponent was an expert in these types of situations.

Surely, his goal was to subdue or manipulate people like her, taming them like docile sheep.

As soon as she grasped that objective, an even stronger sense of rebellion arose.

“You think I’ll listen to you? Don’t waste your time and go back to the southwest. There’s no place for you in the north.”

“Looks like you need a few more knocks to come to your senses.”

From any perspective, a commoner shouldn’t speak like that to a noble. How could he still have his head on his shoulders after doing such things?

It was incredible, but Dereck had already accumulated numerous merits. The reason he could act so arrogantly in front of nobles was that he had already proven himself as a certified magic instructor.

The story of how he slapped the infamous brat Diella of the southwest upon meeting her was no longer a family secret, but a fact known to those in the know.

Dereck’s unique sense of righteousness, which didn’t waver even before a noble lady, was something ordinary instructors couldn’t imitate. If a commoner without achievements did something like that, he would be treated as a traitor, but for an instructor with multiple merits, the meaning was entirely different.

Of course, he also had the skills to back it up.

No matter how great Siern’s magical abilities were, she couldn’t easily break free from Dereck’s grip.

Boom!

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.

Siern cast the two-star combat spell ‘Quick Explosion’, setting the room ablaze.

Fwoosh!

Dereck quickly used his magic to shield himself from the impact, but lost his grip on her wrist.

With her newfound freedom, Siern kicked open the door and dashed out of the tower. She was making it very clear that she had no intention of dealing with Dereck any longer.

Whoosh!

However, Dereck chased her quickly. He moved even faster than when hunting monsters.

The murderous intent in his eyes remained. He was a ruthless human, as if he had come to beat Siern mercilessly.

“Ugh…!”

Siern wrapped herself in magic and ran out beyond the mansion wall. As long as she could put some distance, Dereck wouldn’t find her in the vast snowy field.

Just as she was about to leap over the wall, Dereck, moving like a beast, grabbed her by the nape.

Snap!

Siern, still in her dress, rolled across the snowy ground, shook the snow from her hair, and glared fiercely at Dereck.

“Ugh… That hurts…”

“It needs to hurt more. Since you don’t listen to words, I have no choice but to correct you through pain.”

“You… think… this is okay?”

“I’ll take care of the consequences.”

With that, Dereck pulled out the staff he carried on his back. Seeing it, Siern’s eyes widened in shock, and she swallowed dryly.

It was the four-star staff ‘Footsteps’. Four old wooden branches intertwined, with a large gem embedded at the top.

‘He knows how to use a staff…?’

Using a magical weapon requires not only advanced magical skills but also experience.

Whether a wand or a magical weapon… just being able to use it already far surpasses the level of an ordinary mage.

She had already sensed something strange when he subdued her without causing serious harm, but now it was clear—Dereck had reached a level where he wasn’t intimidated even by nobles.

“Do you know the name of this staff? Since you’re from the north, you might know it, Lady Siern.”

“Made by Aidenbrew… ‘Wanderer’… or… ‘Footsteps’…?”

“No. Actually, I renamed it.”

It’s not uncommon for users to rename their magical weapons. Though the original name is usually more famous and, out of respect for the creator, it’s not customary… Dereck didn’t care.

“…It’s called the Whip of Love.”

“You’re… completely insane…”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Dereck swung the staff like a club. It was questionable whether he was even a mage.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of the staff cutting through the air was terrifying. Even a single hit would be enough to make her calves swell in pain.

Siern swallowed dryly again and tried to flee. But Dereck, already familiar with her patterns, easily made her trip.

Snap! Thud!

Siern rolled once through the thick snow, gritted her teeth, and got up on her hands.

Looking back, she swallowed dryly once more.

Holding the Whip of Love, a terrifying man, embodying love, dedication, and the virtues of a teacher, was approaching. He was truly a master of this era.

“I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing it for your sake, Lady Siern. Striking someone is never the right thing to do. When I swing this whip… my heart breaks. I feel a strong burning inside… My soul aches… But correcting people is my duty. Even if my heart breaks and my mind falls apart, I have to do it for you, Lady Siern.”

“L-Liar..! Your heart breaks… W-When has that ever happened…! Don’t come any closer…!”

“Now then, how many lashes do you think you deserve, Lady Siern? You decide. Tell me, and I’ll give you that number.”

Dereck’s eyes sparkled and his breath puffed in the cold air.

Seeing him as an uncontrollable monster, Siern took a step back in the snowy field.

However, she couldn’t shake off Dereck. Escaping from someone skilled in tracking magic using only acceleration and transformation magic was virtually impossible.

Just as Siern’s fingertips began to tremble, something unexpected happened. While she didn’t know how to escape and her vision dimmed…

“Mr. Dereck! Stop!”

Whoosh!

Aiselin, who had run through the snowy field, placed herself between Dereck and Siern.

With arms outstretched, she shielded Siern with a frown.

Having lived a long life as a high-ranking noble, she exuded elegance even while standing still.

Even amid the snowstorm, her nobility shone brightly.

Her bold figure was like that of a heroine shining radiantly in the midst of adversity. It was the kind of strength seen in the protagonists of Denise’s novels.

Dereck, a devoted reader of The Arrogant Lord Robain, admired Aiselin’s appearance in silence.

Soon, with a face full of determination, Aiselin shouted for all to hear.

“Violence! Is bad! Yes! It’s bad! Violence!!!”

Unfortunately, the heavens hadn’t granted her the same talent for dialogue as Denise.

“…”

Dereck, in essence, respected Aiselin, but he couldn’t praise her acting skills.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet