Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 89: Baron (1)

Those who had been taught by Dereck knew.

The young noble ladies who were his disciples not only improved their magical abilities but also developed a peculiar tendency to become more straightforward in their thinking and behavior.

It was clear they had been influenced by Dereck, once a rough mercenary, but even so, they never went as far as to disregard the basic etiquette ingrained in noble society.

However, Diella wasn’t bound by such things.

She had been the first to be taught by Dereck, the girl who embraced his influence the most, learning to suppress personal feelings for a greater good—but she didn’t hold back when it came to her sister Aiselin.

If someone hit her, she hit back tenfold. She pounced, crushed, bit ears, and jabbed fingers into eyes to make sure they never dared again.

That was her style.

“With the achievements of the Renouel Viscountcy on the rise, you think it’s all your doing, right? You think you’ll be promoted soon and the whole world will bow before you, right?”

“Ah!”

She lifted her skirt and stomped on Lady Trisha’s chest with her boot, looking down at her with the eyes of a beast.

Trisha was a girl who stood out by insidiously and subtly suppressing others.

She was an expert at dodging consequences by claiming it was an accident or that she had no such intentions, all while chipping away at someone’s self-esteem.

At least in noble circles, where grace and dignity were key, such tactics could be useful.

But her opponent this time wasn’t the right one.

Diella knew.

Living in the luxurious world of nobility, it was common to forget that one could be hit at any time.

Those who didn’t grasp this cold, logical fact—who became obsessed with superficial authority and crossed the line—needed to be trampled so they could come to their senses.

Those who’ve been hit know how to hit well, and Diella knew exactly when to lunge in and shatter an opponent’s psyche.

When she was convinced her opponent thought they were untouchable, when their arrogance peaked… that was the moment to smash them into the ground and make them see reality.

“That’s why you can’t do it.”

Slap!

When she slapped Trisha on the cheek once more, Trisha finally came to her senses, clenching her teeth as she got up.

She grabbed Diella’s hair, casting aside all dignity, and screamed as she lunged.

“What… what are you doing?! Aaah!”

“Let go of me! Let go!”

She shoved Diella, growling in fury, but Diella kicked her in the lower abdomen with her boot.

Crash!

Trisha fell to the ground again but didn’t let go of Diella’s hair.

Dragged down as well, Diella bit Trisha’s wrist with her teeth.

“Aaah!”

Trisha screamed and let go of her hand. Diella got up and tried to grab her by the collar again.

At that moment, the alarmed servants rushed in and held Diella’s arms to stop her. If she were seriously hurt, no one would come out of it unscathed.

Bang! Crash!

“Lady Diella! Please, calm down!”

“Let me go! Let me go! That’s an order!”

Growling and still glaring at Trisha, Diella was restrained by the servants.

Seeing her like that, Trisha slowly sat up, panting. Her hair was half undone and drenched in sweat. Her pupils trembled—a mix of confusion and fear.

“W-what is this…? No matter what, this is so undignified…!”

“Dignity? Right. I don’t give a damn about dignity or whatever if someone touches my reverse scale. But do you think you have dignity?”

Diella looked at Aiselin, who was too shocked to speak.

Drops of tea still dripped down her cheek. Seeing that, Diella’s rage rose again, and she spoke in a cold voice.

“Rather than clawing people from behind and scheming, it’s far more dignified to slap someone to their face. Talking about dignity while being a two-faced snake is ridiculous.”

“You think you’ll get away with this?”

“And what if I don’t? Has the Renouel house already been promoted?”

Trisha brushed off her clothes and stood up, regaining her composure.

“It seems you want me to be blunt, so I won’t hold back. You’d best bow your head and apologize to me right now.”

Having caught her breath, Trisha adjusted her hair and stared with wide eyes.

“At least within the Rose Salon, I can easily expel Duplain.”

Trisha glared at Diella.

Current secular power may place the Duplain family far above the Renouel, but everyone knew that gap would soon be reversed.

The attention of socialites didn’t follow explicit titles. It leaned toward whoever held real power.

The ladies of the Rose Salon would watch Trisha. Perhaps a few still sympathized with Aiselin’s character, but no one would side with reckless Diella.

And once you earned a bad reputation in noble society, the harassment that followed was indescribably insidious.

Aiselin, who had experienced such ostracism firsthand, knew that better than anyone.

It was a mistake to believe all ladies of the three great families were open-minded and just.

People follow power and authority more than you think.

Especially minor nobles, whose hunger for power and upward mobility made them easily swayed.

“Even so, Lady Diella is still young and inexperienced, so her mistakes are understandable. We could see her rash judgment as an act of love for her family. However, an apology is necessary.”

“Do you want to die? If you keep spouting nonsense, you won’t be walking home today.”

“I didn’t expect much from Lady Diella. But you, Lady Aiselin, should bow your head for your only sister’s mistake.”

All eyes turned to Aiselin.

Denise, who had been watching the situation while fiddling with her dress, furrowed her brow.

Trisha seemed to have calculated exactly how to play this. She thought pressuring the gentler Aiselin would be far more effective.

“Lady Aiselin, you know how harsh it is to be excluded by the salon ladies in this cold social world. I know, so I want to forgive Lady Diella’s rudeness as much as possible.”

From the start, Trisha wanted one thing—to crush Aiselin and make sure she never interfered with her social climb again.

The message was clear: bow your head and apologize, and I’ll let it go.

Aiselin, who always tried to resolve things peacefully and calmly, would surely bow her head soon. Trisha had already made up her mind about her.

“Aiselin, sister! Stay still! We didn’t come to Ebelstein to care about what the Rose Salon thinks! Don’t bow your head!”

She was of the same blood as Diella but had a completely opposite nature.

Thinking it’d be easy to break her, Trisha smiled in satisfaction.

Drip, drip, drip.

Cold tea began to run through Lady Trisha’s hair.

Not only was Aiselin’s white dress, but also Trisha’s navy-blue skirt now stained with tea.

“What, what…?”

At that moment, Trisha met Aiselin’s eyes.

The gaze that poured from above as she shook the empty teacup over Trisha’s head was icy.

Her lips pressed tightly, her eyes wide and glaring… It was an expression no one had ever seen on Aiselin before.

Aiselin was furious to her core.

Drip, drip, drip.

“What, what is this…?”

“Don’t cross the line, Lady Trisha.”

Although her voice was just as cold, it was different from Diella’s ever-angry tone.

Aiselin, who always welcomed everyone with a warm and kind expression, now appeared strikingly cold. Even Ellen and Denise widened their eyes—for a very different reason this time.

She tried to maintain her dignity, even soaked in tea.

Carefully placing the empty cup on the table, she pushed it together with the saucer to make cleaning easier for the servants.

“I’m well aware of the merits Viscount Renouel earned on Rodentz Island. At the upcoming imperial birthday celebration, they’ll surely be granted a higher title. On the other hand, our Duplain family is a fading star. I won’t deny it.”

The way Aiselin spoke, as if refuting point by point, was so unusual that everyone at the table swallowed hard.

“But that doesn’t give you the right to threaten me using Diella’s condition as an excuse.”

“Ha…”

“The apology should come from Lady Trisha, not from me. If she doesn’t, I’ll have no choice but to get angry.”

Although her tone was calm, there was an inexplicable pressure in her words.

The weight of anger varies from person to person.

Aiselin, who was always positive and energetic, seemed to have her anger under tight control. That’s why her fury carried a weight that pierced deeper than anyone else’s.

At that moment, Trisha should have backed off.

But she made the wrong choice, spurred by her family’s rising prestige, the arrogance of nobility, and her ambition to climb in the Rose Salon.

“You’ll regret this, Lady Aiselin. Don’t think you’ll continue thriving in this Rose Salon. Like it or not, I’ll be the one to push Duplain out and take your place.”

“…”

“When that happens, you’ll bow your head to the ground and beg for forgiveness for today’s disrespect. I can already feel the pity rising in me just imagining how miserable you’ll look. That’s how it will end for the daughter of a fallen family.”

With that, Trisha let out a laugh.

In any case, the minor nobles would side with Viscount Renouel’s family. Many had already been won over.

The taste of power was sweet. Leading others, using them, having followers—all of it sent a chill of pleasure through this noble’s heart that was impossible to resist.

Trisha was about to fix her disheveled clothes.

‘I can’t stay quiet any longer.’

Just as Ellen was about to stand up and call out Trisha’s arrogant behavior, someone else spoke. It was a voice she had never heard before.

“Is the weather so pleasant here that everyone plays games of pride over trivial matters? Must be because the threat of death feels like a distant tale to you.”

“…?”

“Just because the land is rich and fertile doesn’t mean the people are always noble and good.”

Most present hadn’t noticed the arrival of the new person.

She was an expert in transformation magic, able to move at extreme speeds with only a small amount of mana.

Only someone versed in detection magic—the natural enemy of transformation—could notice her presence. That’s why only Denise noticed the girl’s sudden appearance.

Whoosh.

When Denise turned her head, the unknown figure was already sitting in the chair Trisha had occupied moments ago.

She was small in stature, reminiscent of Diella.

Although her face was hidden beneath a mage’s robe embroidered with golden thread, the glimmer of her dress through the fabric showed it was beautiful and ornate.

“W-what? Who are you…?”

Trisha startled and turned sharply when she saw the girl suddenly seated behind her.

The girl in the mage’s robe slowly raised her small hand and removed her hood. Her white hair fell like waves.

Her skin was like white jade, and her eyes were as pale as northern snowflakes.

A single strand of hair falling between her brows gave her a slightly clumsy air, but even that transformed into elegance through her purity.

She looked like a finely dressed porcelain doll come to life.

However, the moment Denise recognized the girl’s face… she had no choice but to rise with a serious expression.

She was a student Dereck had trained during his journey to the far northern lands.

Since Denise was the first to learn about Dereck’s trip north, she couldn’t help but swallow hard.

“A… no… Lady Siern… why are you here…?”

“…You know me?”

Siern had no interest in famous noble figures.

She had accompanied her father to a few social gatherings on the outskirts, but held no interest in other young noble ladies besides herself.

However, Siern’s notoriety was already well known even in the southwest.

Her personality was vile, and her arrogance exceeded all bounds. If something displeased her, she killed without hesitation.

Though the facts weren’t yet clear, at least the high nobility had heard of Siern’s atrocious nature.

Siern Alaina Rochester.

Upon hearing that name, the others present also froze.

It was rare for the girl, usually confined in the Rochester family’s tower on the northern continent, to appear in the noble district of Ebelstein.

“I finished checking the mansion, so I thought I’d come see sister Aiselin’s face…”

Her voice was youthful, but the pressure it carried was intense.

She called her “sister Aiselin.” It was strange to refer to the daughter of a completely fallen family like that, but no one found it odd.

Siern slowly stood, and upon seeing Aiselin’s ruined state, narrowed her crescent-moon-shaped eyes.

She approached Aiselin, and seeing her completely wrecked, bit her lower lip.

Beside her stood Diella, still seething with rage. To the left, Diella. To the right, Siern.

Just looking at that scene made one swallow hard. You’d wonder if there was anyone in the world who could control those two girls—except their teacher, Dereck.

However, surprisingly, the girl soaked in tea and looking like a drowned rat showed no sign of fear.

In fact, she looked slightly confused. She hadn’t expected Siern to suddenly intervene in this situation.

“Lady Siern… you said you were going to check the mansion where you’ll be staying…”

“I finished earlier than expected, sister Aiselin. But still…”

Siern turned her gaze to Lady Trisha.

The murderous intent in her eyes wasn’t that of a mere troublemaker. It was the look of a lunatic who had already killed countless people.

Killing intent, at times, exudes an oppressive force as if it had physical weight.

Rumors of Siern were already widespread among the high nobility. And when Trisha felt that bloody intent coursing through her entire body, her legs nearly gave out.

Siern’s level of magic was already beyond ordinary. Her movements were impossible to follow.

Sensing murderous intent is instinct engraved in the realm of senses.

It’s more like facing a giant bear alone in a snowstorm than standing before a strong lady in a refined social circle.

Suddenly, you close your eyes and open them to find yourself in the middle of a snowy field.

Red eyes glowing in the darkness, white breath rising with every panting breath.

The bright red flesh visible between the beast’s snarling fangs seems to symbolize your future.

“…”

While Trisha stammered, unsure what to say, Siern looked toward Aiselin and whispered.

The questions she asked weren’t the kind you’d expect from someone gentle or kind—like asking if she was okay or saying Trisha was mean.

“Should I kill her? Considering the place.”

There was no deep meaning or grand intention behind those words. It was simply a direct expression.

It wasn’t a threat or an empty phrase. She truly was asking for permission.

If Aiselin shook her head, she would really do something. Trisha’s face turned completely pale.

“L-Lady Siern. Please, calm down. I’m fine. Lady Trisha surely had her reasons. It’s hard to judge just from the surface. That’s how social activities are.”

Eventually, Aiselin began to defend Trisha.

If Siern really lost her temper in anger, no one there could stop her unless they brought Dereck.

“L-Lady Trisha… right? It’s not like she really meant to hurt me… it was just… a mistake… right?”

“Y-Yes…?”

“R-Right? Yes?”

“Ah, yes? Yes…”

Siern grabbed the edge of her robe and looked back at Trisha.

She watched her for a few seconds as she stammered, and finally remembered the etiquette Aiselin had taught her.

When she bowed her head with her small stature, her messy hair swayed.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Siern Alaina Rochester.”

It was just a simple greeting—but the words that followed hit Trisha like a bolt of lightning.

“Before late spring, I think I’ll debut in Ebelstein’s social circle. We’ll be seeing each other often.”

It was news that the young lady of the Rochester family, led by the northern hero Melverot, would be making her debut in Ebelstein’s social circle.

It was obvious she would enter the Rose Salon.

Trisha’s expression began to stiffen.

*

“Here, put this on for now.”

“…”

When Dereck handed her the ring, Pheline looked at him with a repulsed expression.

It was like receiving an engagement ring from a brother she’d been fighting with for years—reacting as if her entire body broke out in hives.

Of course, Dereck felt the same, so he couldn’t say anything. It was clear he was trying hard to endure the discomfort crawling over him.

“Dereck… When you give something like this, shouldn’t you say something romantic…?”

“Would you like that?”

“…Just imagining it was so awful I got dizzy.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome…”

The tavern “Tears of Beldern.”

The two were sitting side by side at the counter. To anyone looking, it would’ve been hard to believe they were nobles in training.

Thud.

“A celebratory drink. Take it. I’m so happy the members I considered like my own children are getting married and starting families.”

“…”

“…”

Jayden, who had served them Pheline’s favorite apple wine and honey mead, laughed heartily.

He knew full well those two didn’t look even remotely like a couple, so the situation was entertaining to him.

Of course, Dereck and Pheline only stared at their drinks with expressions like they were chewing sand.

“Relax a little. Since you’re doing something necessary, try to approach it with a positive attitude.”

“Yeah… Anyway, I’ve finished all my preparations to receive the title… I should try to think positively.”

“Since you’ve been expanding your contacts and gaining the attention of many nobles, our Beldern Mercenary Company has benefited quite a lot. We’ve got lots of work, and tons of requests from nobles… It’s a treasure. I’ll never charge you for drinks, so remember that.”

Jayden would never abandon his materialistic nature.

Dereck, whose prestige was growing day by day, was like a gold coin magnet.

That’s why Jayden’s ever-cheerful laughter sounded even livelier lately.

Dereck also enjoyed seeing that satisfied face, so he said nothing.

“By the way, when you brought those young noble ladies last time, and when the Duke of Belmierd came looking for you personally… Ever since you started mingling with nobility, more nobles have been coming to Tears of Beldern.”

“Well, most of the people I know are young nobles from the noble district…”

“Really? A young noble came here recently to drink… Don’t you know him?”

There’s more than one young noble out there.

Of course, nobles are easy to recognize, so Jayden couldn’t treat them lightly.

“If they’re coming to our tavern to drink, I figured they must be connected to you…”

“Well… Don’t you know his name?”

“No. But he always leaves a tab open, which is a pain. He’s got a strangely noble aura… Makes me wonder if he’s broke… And he seems to have high status, so I can’t treat him carelessly… It’s a dilemma.”

It was the first time he’d heard of a noble leaving tabs unpaid instead of tipping generously.

Dereck scratched his head, trying to remember, but didn’t know any noble who came here and left unpaid tabs.

That’s when, while he was sitting at the counter—

“Oh, what an insensitive owner. I always pay on time. Hic.”

When had he entered the tavern? Even Jayden, with his trained eye, flinched and shuddered. In that instant, he couldn’t help but feel something was off. Jayden was a mercenary who lived by his instincts.

Weren’t they just gossiping about nobles?

Despite the awkward situation of eavesdropping, the man plopped down beside Dereck, swaying and hiccupping happily. He didn’t seem bothered at all by what Jayden had said.

With long red hair tied back and a scruffy beard.

His clothes looked expensive, but his appearance was anything but neat. He suddenly threw an arm around Dereck’s shoulder, grabbed the mead in front of him, and toasted.

“Hic… I thought I was friends with the owner… So sad… Very sad…”

“Oh, sorry. I’m just trying to survive day to day…”

“I’ve been gambling for seven years… I feel like I’ll win big soon. When that happens, I’ll pay off all my debts and treat everyone, so hang in there. Hic…”

Then he chugged the mead and belched without even wiping the liquid off his lips.

“Oh… I’m getting drunk. It’s sweet but strong. Ladies would get tipsy without noticing. Wow, this is Ronen mead.”

“…”

“Oh, right. Dereck. You’re Dereck, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. Your name is well known in Ebelstein’s social circle. Wow, what an honor to see a celebrity in person.”

“Who… are you?”

“Didn’t the owner tell you? Have I never mentioned my name? Hic…”

Jayden exchanged glances with Dereck and shrugged.

“Sure I said it once… Hmm… Did I dream it? Everything’s blurry from the booze… Maybe I was slurring too much for anyone to understand…”

The man, already reeking of alcohol, scratched his greasy head hard, then took his arm off Dereck’s shoulder and slumped over the counter.

“Linus, that’s it, Linus. Yeah. Dereck. I always wanted to meet you. Ugh. Ugh. I’m Linus, you’re Dereck.”

Dereck, who had been silently observing the man too drunk to stay conscious, looked at Pheline with a stunned expression.

Pheline also looked disgusted.

She hated nobles and she hated drunks. A drunk noble was practically her natural enemy.

‘That name sounds familiar…’

Linus. He felt like he’d heard it somewhere before, but he was sure it was the first time they’d met.

If he could trigger his memory, he might recall it—but for now, nothing came to mind.

“…Just one favor, Dereck. You can’t resist magic, right? Then maybe this will interest you.”

Still, he was a customer.

That meant his attitude had to shift.

Of course, checking his ability to pay was also necessary.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet