Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 86: Marriage Proposal (2)

Master,

I hope you are in good health.

It has been quite some time since the end of winter arrived. The cold seems to be subsiding, and it feels as if the eastern continent is already preparing for spring.

It’s been a while since I arrived in the north, at the Rochester family, and I think I will be returning to Ebelstein soon.

As a magic teacher, I feel I’ve grown a little, but as a mercenary, I’m worried I’ve lost some of my instincts. I should keep myself in shape with more real combat when I get the chance.

The reason I’ve taken up the pen to write this letter is because

…I’m getting married.

However… I don’t have a partner.

The mansion of the Marquis of Elvester, known as the headquarters of the eastern continent’s social circles.

A woman, sitting in a corner of the grand and luxurious garden, trembled as she read the letter sent by her lifelong disciple.

She had only read the beginning, but it already struck her as unusual.

Her disciple, who rarely contacted her except for important matters, had written to her first, and she was already bewildered.

The woman put the letter down for a moment, pressed her temples, and looked up at the sky.

How many years had it been since she parted ways with her little disciple in Ebelstein…?

She couldn’t imagine what kind of tumultuous life her only and dear disciple must be living.

*

To receive a title, one must belong to a family.

In this era, that was natural, but Dereck, an orphan from the slums, hadn’t given it much thought.

As he looked at the carriage prepared to depart for Ebelstein, Dereck scratched his head and sat beside the fireplace in the main hall.

Before Siern officially debuted in the social circles, they planned to visit Ebelstein to get a feel for the environment.

In the meantime, Dereck and Aiselin would also have the chance to step on their homeland after a long time.

It was a relief to escape that desolate snowy region and finally enjoy Ebelstein’s food. Aiselin, holding a wad of money given to her by Melverot, surely felt satisfied too.

However, Dereck could only hold his head in his hands.

‘I have three options.’

Be adopted by an existing family, find a trustworthy person to marry and form a family, or give up the title grant.

Since the title was essential to reach 4-star level, the last option was out of the question.

That left only two options.

“Dereck… you look deep in thought…”

Aiselin, who had somehow appeared on the other side of the fireplace, sat down shyly.

She had just finished all the lessons prepared for Siern that day and seemed to be getting ready to return to Ebelstein.

Despite the excitement of returning to the Duplain mansion and seeing familiar faces, Aiselin looked at Dereck with even more tension.

Dereck was now facing a lifelong decision.

“…Yeah. I never imagined I’d have to think about a partner so suddenly.”

“The title grant is quite strict. It considers not only the existence of a family but also magical skills, character, merits, and reliability…”

“I think I’m not lacking in magical skills, and Lord Melverot will speak well of the other aspects…”

Dereck sighed deeply and pushed back his bangs.

Undoubtedly, the existence of a partner was an unexpected variable. He thought of marrying just any woman, but remembered it wasn’t a problem that could be solved so lightly.

“You don’t necessarily have to find a partner… There’s the option of being adopted by an existing family, right? Who would refuse to adopt someone about to receive a baron’s title…?”

“Then I’d need someone to officially accept being my father. It’s not easy to grant recognition and authority as a parent to someone you don’t even know.”

Dereck wasn’t content with just the title of baron; he aspired to become a higher-level mage.

As his authority increased, so would that of the person who became his father. He didn’t want to introduce unnecessary variables.

“You just need to find someone trustworthy. Like Mr. Drest, who already holds the title of baron…”

“Master Drest is so fond of wandering that he’s impossible to find. No one on this continent can locate a 6-star exploration mage who has chosen to isolate himself from the world…”

“Then… yes. You mentioned you had another master before. Even though her family is almost ruined, weren’t they originally a noble family?”

“Master Katia is from the Viscount Flameheart family.”

“…”

There is always a reason behind the fall of a family.

The Flameheart Viscount family had rebelled against the empire and had been ruined.

Starting anew with a title, there was no benefit in using the name of a rebellious family.

“…Isn’t there anyone else?”

“Well, there’s Uncle Jayden and some other elders from the commercial district… but honestly, it’s not easy to ask such a favor of people with their own families.”

“Th-Then… Then…”

“There must be a reason why Lord Melverot told me to find a partner. Rather than belonging to another family, it would be much more efficient for me to found a family on my own. That way I can make all the decisions myself.”

Still, he needed a partner to found that family.

It might be easier than finding parents, but he still needed someone he could trust.

Aiselin played with her knees. She had a lot to say, but found it hard to speak at that moment.

“Then, would you marry me?”

She didn’t have the courage to say it, and even if it were possible, it made no sense for the young lady of House Duplain to marry an orphan with no background.

Even as a fallen family, a ducal house was still a ducal house. It was too unrealistic for the young lady of a ducal family to make a marriage proposal just to help someone obtain a baron’s title. Even if Aiselin agreed, the servants and relatives would never allow it.

Aiselin’s marriage proposal was one of the most powerful weapons left to House Duplain.

Dereck knew that well, which is why he rubbed his brow, not paying much attention to Aiselin.

“The ideal would be to meet a woman who deeply resonates with me, shares my values, fits my ideals, fall beautifully in love, confess to each other, and build a loving family together, but…”

“Ah…”

“I have to return to Ebelstein before the end of this week, so where am I going to find time for that? It’s not very realistic…”

“Right?!”

Dereck flinched at Aiselin’s elevated tone.

When he looked at her, she also seemed surprised at herself and covered her mouth as she apologized.

“…So, the best thing right now is to find a woman who understands my situation and cooperates.”

“C-Cooperates?”

“Yes. Someone who can pretend to be my partner in public… and receive proper compensation for it.”

It was a discouraging situation, but Dereck was serious.

Dereck, who usually showed no interest in anything but magic, was now looking for a wife, so in a way, it was the logical conclusion.

Even at the lowest level, a noble was still a noble. There would be many women willing to act as the lady of a baron.

The problem was that most of them were not trustworthy. Marriage, in the end, was a matter governed by heaven’s will. Once united, it would not be easy to separate.

If they married formally, the woman could turn against him and demand rights as a wife. That would be another headache.

At the root of it all, the problem came down to a single question: Is there a person he can trust?

“Dereck…”

“Yes?”

“No matter how you look at it… Marriage is a serious, once-in-a-lifetime matter for a woman… Do you really think there’s someone who would cooperate so easily with that?”

“It’s true. If you ask me if I can take responsibility for an entire lifetime, I can’t guarantee it…”

It’s the era.

It was a time when divorced or widowed women were scorned wherever they went.

If they accepted Dereck’s proposal without thinking, they might have to wander for the rest of their lives. There weren’t many women willing to go that far for Dereck.

“So, what I mean is… why don’t you consider other ways to solve this, instead of insisting on finding a partner?”

Aiselin felt like she was being subtly swept along by Dereck. Dereck, aware of Aiselin’s feelings, started to sweat nervously at her unusual reaction.

In any case, it was impossible to take the only flower of the Duplain family and marry her.

Women from families ranked above a baron would shake their heads at the idea of marrying Dereck. Why would they go against their family’s opposition and lower themselves?

A woman who is trustworthy, who won’t back out later, who isn’t obsessed with power and noble status, who voluntarily cooperates with Dereck, and who receives fair compensation.

Even going over the list of everyone Dereck had met in his life, it wasn’t common to find someone like that.

However… it wasn’t as if one didn’t exist.

A person who had no ulterior motives toward Dereck, who could at least pretend to be his partner in public, and who could receive proper compensation.

“…There is… someone…”

“What?!”

Aiselin looked at Dereck in astonishment. Dereck himself didn’t seem to realize it, but the news that he had taken someone as a partner would cause a great stir in the Rose Salon.

Even if it were just a formality to obtain a title, there were more than a few who would pay attention to who the partner was.

*

Thud!

Could it be called the return of the king? Dereck’s presence was already being talked about like that of a hero in the Beldern Mercenary Corps.

Dereck had been famous for his reliability since his mercenary days.

There wasn’t a single client who didn’t seek out Dereck, and on the days he wasn’t around, they began assigning jobs to other mercenaries, so work never ran short.

Thus, “The Tears of Beldern,” run by Jayden, was always full of clients and diners in the tavern. There wasn’t a single quiet day.

Although the owner had lost an arm while exploring the White Zone’s labyrinth, his sincere and cheerful personality had never changed.

In fact, he could focus more on tavern work and managing the mercenary corps, so the tavern soon prospered even more.

That’s why, when Dereck—the beginning of that virtuous cycle—opened the tavern door after several months, he couldn’t help but be warmly welcomed.

“Oh, Dereck…!”

Jayden, who was counting coins behind the counter, greeted the boy who returned after a long time with a big smile.

“Hey, Uncle Jayden.”

“I heard lately that you were up north, but now you’re back in Ebelstein. I’m glad to see you. Tavern street hasn’t changed, huh? Want something to drink?”

Jayden stood up with his usual warmth, but suddenly his expression hardened.

There were quite a few people accompanying him. Elegantly dressed butlers and servants were lined up at the entrance.

They didn’t follow Dereck inside, but the two people escorting him were different.

The girl clinging to Dereck’s neck, looking around, was Siern Alaina Rochester, the young lady of the Rochester family.

And the girl sticking close to her was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain, the young lady of the Duplain family.

It was unheard of for noble young ladies—just one look at them made it obvious they came from prestigious families—to set foot on Tavern Street, a place teeming with commoners.

And not just one, but two! Jayden’s smile vanished completely.

“She is Lady Aiselin of the Duplain family. And this is Lady Siern of the northern Rochester family.”

“…I’d heard you were working as a teacher up north, but you bring important guests without hesitation.”

Jayden, leaning on the counter-bar, respectfully bowed his head in greeting.

“I’m Jayden.”

“Oh, it’s been a while. You haven’t changed.”

“Yes. I’m glad to see Lady Aiselin looking healthy. I heard about the misfortune… I can only offer my deepest condolences.”

While Aiselin exchanged formal greetings, Siern hid behind Dereck, looking all around. Everything was unfamiliar to her, and she seemed a bit scared.

The usually lively and noisy tavern had fallen silent. The customers could only swallow hard and observe the atmosphere in the presence of the three figures.

Staying any longer would only cause more tension. Dereck, realizing this, quickly scanned the place.

And in a corner of the bar, he saw a drunk girl slumped over the table. Her neatly tied hair ended in a large bow beneath it.

She was his closest companion during his days as a mercenary on that street.

Dereck immediately walked over and shook her shoulder.

“Ugh… Ugh… When did I fall asleep…?”

“Pheline. Wake up, Pheline.”

“Huh? What, what… Dereck? Dereck? When did you come back to Ebelstein?”

Still not grasping the situation, she opened her eyes half-asleep and smiled, cheeks flushed from the alcohol. Just looking at her made Dereck feel drained.

He nodded and, sitting next to her, spoke quickly.

“Pheline… listen without misunderstanding.”

“Huh? What? You show up like a comet, and now what are you going to say? While you weren’t around on Tavern Street, where were you, what were you doing…?”

“Marry me.”

“…”

Hic. A hiccup escaped her, and soon, Pheline’s face stiffened.

The blush from the drink vanished, and all the color drained from her face.

“Dereck, you went north and came back with lame jokes.”

“I’m serious. Marry me.”

“…Did you eat something bad?”

Dereck even felt thankful for Pheline’s genuinely disgusted reaction.

Pheline had been his lifelong companion, but she didn’t see him as a man at all. She thought of him more like family or a close friend, so her shock at the sudden proposal was only natural.

She wasn’t just uninterested in noble power—she outright despised the nobility.

Having known her for so long, Dereck trusted her, could offer fair compensation, and since she was also an orphan with no family ties, there’d be no complications.

Where would he find someone better than her? Dereck looked at her seriously. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, unsure where to start or how to explain.

“…”

Pheline felt the alcohol quickly wearing off and finally began to look around.

At a glance, two women dressed in luxurious outfits had entered the tavern.

Anyone could tell they were noble ladies from distinguished families.

Even Jayden, who was watching them, had a rigid expression. It wasn’t easy to see that veteran mercenary—who smiled slyly even after losing an arm—looking so shocked.

Two noble ladies, prominent figures of their time, had appeared together and declared they would take a third woman and make her theirs.

A man should have the ambition to embrace the world, but this level was not something easily achieved. He had the ladies of Duplain and Rochester on either side.

And the third woman he chose was nothing more than a mercenary wandering Tavern Street… What kind of story and background were tangled up here?

Who in the world could resist such curiosity?

Meanwhile, the two women didn’t even show signs of anger; they simply glanced around, uncomfortable. It was a situation where they should’ve been furious, which only made the atmosphere even stranger.

Who knew what had happened in the North, but the once diligent young man who only knew magic… had become such a beast. Jayden finally managed to speak.

“Dereck… You… Your ambition as a man has grown tremendously since the last time I saw you…”

“…”

Dereck realized they were misunderstanding him.

It was time to go somewhere free of prying eyes.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet