Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 85: Marriage Proposal (1)

The original purpose of debuting in high society was to foster cultural, artistic, and magical exchanges with people of high standing, as well as to cultivate and refine oneself.

However, those were just surface-level reasons. The real reason young ladies gathered in one place to showcase their beauty and manners was, in many cases, to secure a good marriage proposal.

Especially for lesser nobles or those of ambiguous status, the sole intent was to catch a good noble and achieve social elevation.

Such people focused more on attending dances and banquets to mingle with nobles than on debating philosophical speeches or advancing their magical prowess in cultural centers.

If they managed to catch the attention of a man from a ducal family and marry him, it meant a total life change, so families often pushed their daughters in various ways. That was, essentially, the logic of social circles.

Between high-ranking territorial nobles and lesser nobles, there existed an unbridgeable gap.

There were almost no marriage proposals between the two levels, so the eyes of powerful nobles naturally turned to the top of Ebelstein’s social circle, rather than to lesser noblewomen obsessed with marriage.

Those at the top were clearly defined.

They were Aiselin of Duplain, Ellen of Belmierd, and Denise of Beltus.

If someone managed to marry one of the three, even a weak peripheral noble could quickly rise to power.

That’s why, from border nobles to influential lords, they often wrote passionate letters or sent fresh, expensive flowers as gifts to the three of the Rosea Salon to make a good impression.

The competition was so fierce that the daily routine of a designated maid began with clearing away letters filled with flirtatious words and organizing the flowers that arrived at the mansion entrance to plant them in the garden.

That’s how many marriage proposals rained down on the daughters of powerful families.

There were also many daughters of lesser nobles in Ebelstein’s social circle who were obsessed with getting a marriage proposal.

And once one reached the level of being among the top three of the Rose Salon, countless nobles cast seductive glances their way. Knowing these two facts, it wasn’t hard to predict what would come next.

“Duplain is no longer a family worthy of being at the top of the Rose Salon.”

Denise thought that, at last, the inevitable had come. This was said during a late afternoon meeting in the Elfontaine Salon.

When Duplain’s name was at the top, such words would’ve been considered blasphemy, but none of the young ladies present at the salon meeting could refute it.

The tale of the Duplain family’s decline had long ceased to be a mere rumor and had become a known fact.

That Aiselin had gone north to earn money, and that Diella was going door to door asking for loans, was well known.

They had lost all the dignity a leading noble family should possess.

Even if a wealthy family falls, it is said to endure for three generations, but at least in noble society, where justification and dignity reign, they could no longer raise their voice.

Therefore, it was considered absurd for the Duplain family to retain one of the three coveted spots in the Rose Salon.

“So I think we should choose someone to take that place instead of the Duplain family.”

Ellen, who was silently seated beside the refreshment table, frowned, and Denise, who was listening from the other end, sighed as well.

The speaker was Trisha, daughter of Viscount Renouel.

Her beautiful wavy hair was charming, but her occasional freckles slightly ruined her elegant aura.

She was someone with a strong desire to climb the social ladder by catching a good marriage proposal, rather than dedicating herself to studies or self-cultivation.

‘It’s a predictable story even without hearing it.’

Denise felt she could understand Trisha’s intentions without needing her to finish speaking.

She wanted to remove Duplain from the top three and take that place herself. The motive was all too obvious.

Denise was already fed up with young ladies who only thought about marriage.

They believed that Aiselin, Ellen, and Denise had reached their positions solely due to their family prestige.

They thought that if they could push Duplain out and ride on the name value of their own family, they too could ascend to a position where they received flirtatious attention from all the nobles.

“Is there anyone who disagrees with me?”

Trisha, standing on the podium with her hands on her hips, wore a triumphant expression.

Viscount Renouel, who stood behind her, had considerable influence despite his rank.

If Duplain fell, one of the three families—Renouel, Pellobel, or Logwalz—would take that place. She seemed more than ready to jump into that competition.

‘None of them compare to Belmierd or Beltus in power, but Duplain’s fall does seem inevitable.’

Denise watched the situation with her arms crossed. Glancing at Ellen, she noticed she was thinking the same.

In the end, noble decisions were primarily influenced by the battle for justification.

“…No, one of you will object.”

When Trisha said that, all eyes turned to one corner.

Diella, who was sitting at the far end of the meeting hall sipping black tea, received their stares.

‘…So that’s how they want to play it.’

Diella put down her tea and stared silently toward the podium for a moment.

Everyone who knew her personality swallowed nervously.

As Dereck’s first disciple and the youngest of the Duplain family, she was known for her explosive temper.

If something displeased her, she never hesitated to lash out—one example being against Denise of the Beltus family, the treasure of that house.

But that had only been possible thanks to the Duplain name.

Even if she was still a noble lady, in a family struggling to pay their servants’ wages, she could no longer display the same grandeur as before.

“What an interesting declaration, Lady Trisha. You speak as if you see the Duplain family as a toothless tiger.”

“And isn’t it?”

The tone was openly defiant. Some young ladies still afraid of Diella held their breath.

But Trisha just crossed her arms and smiled arrogantly.

“History moves on. If it’s time to disappear quietly, then disappear quietly.”

“Even if Lord Marcus of Viscount Renouel’s family is considered powerful, I wonder if that authority is enough to be rude to a ducal family.”

Rumors had long circulated that Viscount Renouel’s family would receive a larger territory in the capital.

Duplain was a falling star, and Renouel a rising sun. Everyone present knew that fact.

But Diella was still Diella.

She wouldn’t cause a scene by recklessly using magic in the middle of the meeting, but she also wouldn’t sit idly by.

Seated with her arms crossed in that tense atmosphere, Diella looked up and said:

“Well, there’s nothing wrong with what you’re saying.”

‘….!?’

Everyone present inwardly reeled.

Even Trisha, who had launched openly hostile attacks, looked taken aback. She had come to the meeting expecting Diella to speak out.

But Diella spoke calmly, her tone restrained.

“I acknowledge that the name Duplain no longer carries the weight it once did. However, to consider it a toothless tiger may be nothing more than Lady Trisha’s arrogance.”

Diella rose with her hands resting on the table, her eyes shining.

“If Duplain’s power ever returns, be ready — they might bite your arm off.”

“…”

“Remember that the name Renouel, Viscount of Renouel, has been etched into the memory of I, Diella Katherine Duplain.”

Even as she admitted the decline of her authority, the young lioness lifted her head with a force that bordered on murderous.

Though everyone knew Duplain was faltering, witnessing Diella, it seemed as if the wounded lion would one day rise and bite the neck of Viscount Renouel.

What strength remained with a noble family whose head had died, had no proper successor, and had lost nearly all its lands and privilege?

Even so, seeing Diella made it feel like the wounded lion might one day rise again.

Trisha, who had tried to mock, swallowed painfully in the face of Diella’s spirit.

A single drop of cold sweat trickled down her cheek — the final touch to the moment.

Click.

Stepping through the main door of the Elfontaine Salon, Diella looked up at the sky where the sun had already risen.

Twisting the ends of her blonde hair with discomfort, the young ladies around her swallowed nervously and stepped back.

“Sigh…”

Sighing as if lamenting something, Diella shielded her eyes from the sun with her fingers and murmured softly.

‘What a mess… And all of this is happening while my sister is away…’

Aiselin, who had departed north with Dereck, would soon return.

When she came back to Ebelstein and saw that there was no longer a seat for her at the top of the Rose Salon, what would she think? From Diella’s perspective, it was a deeply uncomfortable situation.

‘I… also miss Dereck…’

Diella felt utterly alone.

There was much to do, no clear path forward, and the situation only grew worse.

This incident would not benefit Dereck either.

The three people at the top of the Rose Salon were either disciples of Dereck or linked to him.

Yet if Duplain withdrew from that position, whoever took its place would likely have no connection to Dereck.

‘The odds that someone favorable to Dereck will sit there are extremely low…’

To occupy the position left by Duplain, not only was family prestige required, but also an overwhelmingly outstanding quality.

At least in the current social circle of Ebelstein, there weren’t many families capable of aspiring to that position.

If Lady Trisha truly took that seat, it was impossible to know what impact that would have on Dereck.

It was a moment filled with bad news.

*

“Yesterday, Lady Siern called me ‘Sister Aiselin’ again. It was the eighth time. Now she calls me sister naturally, and I don’t know… my heart is overflowing… Is this love…?”

As for Aiselin — she already had that “street‑cat collector” vibe, feeling a tickle of emotion in earning the trust of the lost Siern.

The next morning, she went to find Dereck and boasted so eagerly that Dereck, still half asleep, scratched at his tousled hair and sighed.

“Ah… I came too early, didn’t I? I wanted to show someone… but there’s no one else but you, Lord Dereck…”

“No, it’s fine. I was due to get up anyway, and I wanted to go over the schedule.”

Dereck shook his head, opened the door to his private room, invited Aiselin in, and stretched.

He sat before Aiselin, who had already settled at the table, and naturally poured some tea.

“Let’s return to Ebelstein next week.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Lady Siern hasn’t attacked anyone with her killer instinct in the past weeks, right? Once she begins to control it to some degree, there isn’t much more magical instruction to give.”

Because Dereck wasn’t particularly good at making tea, Aiselin naturally brought out the teapot and began to serve herself.

In fact, she could’ve asked a maid to do it, but since becoming a fallen noble, Aiselin had taken on many duties herself.

From the perspective of an untitled commoner, it was quite awkward—and Dereck had told her many times, but Aiselin did not care.

“If we want Lady Siern to debut in Ebelstein’s social circles, we have to bring her there first.”

“Even so, if the blood of Noir becomes unrestrained again, it could become a serious problem.”

“We just have to stay vigilant. Fortunately, I am a mercenary stationed in Ebelstein, and you, Lady Aiselin, frequent those circles—so you can keep watch.”

Dereck sat across from her, dusting off his clothes and smoothing his disheveled locks with his fingers. Seeing him, Aiselin laughed.

“…Is something wrong?”

“No. It’s just that you’re normally so pristine, Dereck, but seeing you relaxed like this is refreshing.”

“Because of my work, I deal with nobles often—so I have no choice. When I’m on a mercenary job, I’m even more unkempt than this.”

When he and Pheline went hunting for days, they often didn’t wash or change clothes.

Indeed, this level of disarranged appearance might not even qualify as ‘dirty.’

“If Duplain’s prestige were still intact, you wouldn’t dare address me so familiarly, Dereck.”

“Even now, I try to show you the proper respect due your nobility. I don’t adjust my attitude based on a family’s prestige.”

“Honestly, I feel like I’ve grown close to you a lot, Dereck. Unconsciously, the gap between our statuses has shrinked compared to before—and that shows in everything.”

“If I’ve been disrespectful, I apologize.”

“No, on the contrary—I like it. Sometimes, a fall can be beneficial in that sense.”

It may be an overly optimistic view, but maintaining that attitude even on small matters is beneficial in a precarious situation.

Dereck nodded softly at Aiselin’s words.

“I can’t deny your words, Dereck. You don’t change your attitude based on family prestige, but… hmm… there’s no guarantee that the people of the Rose Salon will do the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said we should return to Ebelstein, right? If we do… there’s a strong chance my seat at the top of the Rose Salon might no longer belong to me.”

At those words, Dereck went silent for a moment. For a noble lady, to be degraded in status and expelled from the top is a shocking event.

Loss of status weighs far more than the joy of rising. That’s how the world works; loss always hits harder.

“Who do you think will occupy that seat?”

The people in the salon would decide after considering the family’s prestige, magical achievements, culture, and dignity.

“At this point, I think it might be Lady Trisha of the viscount Renouel’s family or Lady Prim of the count Pelobel’s family… but, well, who knows.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Soon, someone like a storm will debut in the social circles of Ebelstein.”

“…”

Those words were undeniably true.

Dereck’s new disciple, Siern Alaina Rochester, was none other than the daughter of Lord Melverot.

She was the young lady of the ducal Rochester family, capable of handling three-star magic at such a young age, and had received direct cultural education from Aiselin.

While wandering through the snowy plains, it wasn’t noticeable, but when dressed in a pretty ruffled dress and sitting modestly, she looked like a beautiful and delicate porcelain doll.

Although the single white strand of hair falling over her forehead gave her a slightly gloomy impression, it was safe to say that hardly anyone could match her overall.

Dereck and Aiselin had worked tirelessly over the last month to mold her into a suitable person, and most of her flaws had already been corrected.

If she were to sit at the top of the Salon Rose, she would support Duplain and Dereck more than anyone else.

“However, sometimes I feel a… strange air…”

“Really?”

Aiselin, who spent a lot of time with Siern, had had many emotional exchanges with her.

But sometimes, when she looked at Siern, she felt an inexplicable chill or her skin would crawl.

Siern was human. Aiselin affirmed that fact with more conviction than anyone. However, at times, when speaking with Siern, there were moments when human logic and reason didn’t apply.

Once, while they were bathing together, Siern said something strange while in Aiselin’s arms.

— Sister Aiselin. What is your relationship with Dereck, the magic teacher?

— Me? Well… we just know each other from the social circles…

— Really…?

— Yes, of course… Why? Are you curious about Dereck?

— Yes… He’s quite popular in the social circles of Ebelstein… I’m worried he might not pay enough attention to my condition or my magic once we return…

— Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. Dereck is a very responsible person.

Although Aiselin tried to reassure her, Siern, blowing bubbles, spoke with a displeased expression.

— But I really would prefer if he only cared for me… What should I do to make that happen…?

— Is there even a way? Just work hard… and keep up with the classes, isn’t that enough?

— I can’t help but feel uneasy. There are more… secure methods, you know? Like locking him in a tower… or tying him up…

— Do you really think such… scary things?

— No, it’s just a joke… Besides, I basically already live locked in a tower…

The mere fact that she said something like that so naturally was enough to send shivers.

In any case, if one only looked at her appearance, she was a charming and adorable girl. Only, her way of thinking had become a bit wild from being confined during her stormy adolescence.

Aiselin took it lightly, but upon returning to Dereck, she once again felt an indefinable unease.

“Dereck…”

“Yes?”

“Just in case… be careful.”

“…?”

Dereck could only look at Aiselin with a puzzled expression while sipping his tea.

*

“Yes. Before debuting in society, it wouldn’t be bad to show Siern the noble circles of Ebelstein. Allow her to accompany you.”

As always, Lord Melverot didn’t bother to look at those reporting to him.

Without even glancing at them, he simply gazed out the window, maintaining his arrogant posture, barely paying attention.

Aiselin and Dereck reported on Siern’s condition and confirmed that the conditions were sufficient for her to accompany them to Ebelstein.

There were still some dangerous aspects, but they were manageable if both were careful.

“If Lady Siern debuts in the social circles of Ebelstein, it will be like a great storm, attracting much attention. Lady Siern is worth it.”

“It’s fine to praise her, but attention isn’t always favorable.”

“That… is true, but…”

Aiselin, very aware of the gloomy atmosphere of Ebelstein’s social circles, couldn’t refute Melverot’s words.

“On the way back, pass through the territory of Rodelen. You can take a quick look if you cross the lands of the Duke of Beltus.”

The Rodelen territory was the land that would belong to Dereck if he were granted a title.

It was so small it was almost embarrassing to call it a “territory,” and most of it was vineyards, so there wasn’t much to see except for the delicious wine.

Even so, it was the place he would manage if granted a title.

“I’ve heard there’s a mansion, but it’s old and deteriorated, so it’s not much. Just be thankful it exists.”

“I’m grateful.”

“I’ve informed the territory management staff of your appointment, so there shouldn’t be major issues with the handover. However, the problem lies in the granting of the title itself.”

Melverot, resting his chin on his hand and crossing his legs, sighed deeply as if he had a headache.

“I expected a lukewarm response from the central nobles, but the Grand Duke of Beltus, in the southwest of the continent, has expressed opposition.”

It was not expected that Duplain or Belmierd would oppose granting Dereck a title, but Beltus was completely different.

Especially since the Rodelen territory, where Dereck would settle, bordered the Duke of Beltus’s lands. It was inevitable they’d react more sensitively than other families.

“This is a problem I have to resolve myself, so you don’t have to worry too much. However, there’s another matter you two must resolve.”

“What is it?”

“The fact that you’re an orphan.”

Melverot dropped the line coldly.

It was a blunt comment that startled Aiselin, but Dereck didn’t flinch. It was an obvious truth.

“If you want to receive a title and claim to be head of a noble house, you must have a family and a house. However, you are only known as Dereck, with no surname to represent a house. Moreover, you have no connections whatsoever.”

“Is that such a big problem to receive the title?”

“Of course it is. If the formal requirements aren’t met, the process can’t proceed, right?”

No matter what people say, this is an era of bloodlines. The existence or not of a family was an essential criterion for determining title eligibility.

If one wanted to consider magical lineage, political stability, duty succession, economic base, education, reliability, and reputation, in the end one had to examine the family the person belonged to.

That’s why, for an orphan like Dereck, entering the closed aristocratic society was like reaching for the stars.

“Even if they’re not too strict about granting a minor barony in the outskirts, you still need to meet the minimum requirements.”

“Then, can I choose my own surname?”

“That’s not enough.”

Aiselin thought Siern’s social debut would be a bombshell for Ebelstein.

But reality was even bigger than that.

An even bigger bomb was about to explode in the social circles of Ebelstein.

“Find a suitable partner. Even if only for formality, form a house and prove you belong to it.”

That was the marriage proposal for Dereck.

Aiselin’s eyes widened like full moons upon hearing the conversation between the two.

Looking at Dereck, who was sweating profusely, he also seemed deep in thought, resting his chin on his hand.

“…”

It was the first time in her life Aiselin saw Dereck sweat.

She couldn’t foresee what would happen if this news reached Ebelstein.

Unfortunately, their departure was scheduled for next week.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet