Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 91: Baron (3)

The next day, a tiny girl was sitting in the tavern Tears of Beldern.

Compared to a burly man, her height barely reached his chest.

In fact, while it wasn’t unusual to see short girls walking around the noble district, her figure looked out of place on this street full of fierce mercenaries.

Just from the sight of her in a monochrome black and white chiffon dress and shawl, it was clear she belonged to a noble family.

There was no good reason for her to be in such a rough place, and yet, the girl sat at the bar with a gloomy expression.

‘Even though it looks like she doesn’t have an escort, there are two at that table over there.’

Jayden, serving apple juice, glanced around the tavern.

The two men sitting near the entrance, drinking beer, seemed to be servants of the Duplain family.

In short, the person sitting at the bar sighing for no reason was none other than Diella Katherine Duplain, the youngest of the Duplain family.

Lately, more and more nobles had been frequenting Tears of Beldern.

It was a good thing for nobles—known for their extravagant spending—to come often.

Usually, where high-class people gather, commoners with strange aspirations also tend to follow, which helps business greatly.

Even so, there were already too many.

Young ladies from the three great noble families of Ebelstein had visited at least once. Not even the tea house installed right next to the noble district, Elfontaine Salon, received so many distinguished visitors.

“Are you looking for Dereck? He’s currently busy with a job at the Kelvenrock Employment Agency.”

“Employment Agency? Is that different from the Mercenary Guild?”

“Yes. It’s a place that accepts simple job requests, not dangerous subjugation missions.”

“And why would Dereck go to a place like that? He can make enough just working as a mercenary.”

“He didn’t go to take a job, but to hire people.”

Diella tilted her head, confused.

A setting as rough as the tavern could seem odd or even intimidating for a lady like Diella, raised with delicacy. However, she showed no signs of discomfort.

She seemed to have innate courage.

“The founding date of the Ravenclaw Barony has been set, so he went to find maintenance staff for the mansion.”

“…Has the approval already been granted?”

“Yes. With the support of several nobles and a lot of behind-the-scenes arrangements, it seems everything went well. It’s likely Dereck will become the lord of the Ravenclaw Barony before spring ends.”

Still, it was an empty noble title, with barely two members in the family.

But Dereck had to go through many hardships to obtain even that hollow title. It was a valuable reward, after all.

“To properly manage the newly appointed Ravenclaw Barony in Rodelen, we have to start moving urgently. Once the mansion maintenance is done, staff will need to be hired and taxes negotiated with the local landowners.”

“Hmm… I see… Dereck will be very busy. But I didn’t come looking for Dereck.”

“Oh, really? Planning to submit an application to the Beldern Mercenary Guild? If so, I can give you a discount.”

“No, I’m looking for a mercenary named Pheline.”

At those words, Jayden’s fingers trembled slightly.

And hundreds of scenarios ran through his mind.

He knew well that Dereck’s network had expanded greatly in recent years, but he didn’t expect the ripple effects to come so quickly.

Jayden let out a hollow laugh and said:

“Ah, yes… You mean Baroness Pheline.”

“…W-What?”

“…?”

“No, it’s nothing… Yes. That person. I just want to see her once…”

The reason he referred to Pheline that way was to give Diella time to mentally prepare herself.

Regardless of the circumstances, it was true that Pheline had become Dereck’s wife, both in name and reality.

By reminding her of that well-known fact, Diella would surely accept the current situation.

“H-How is she?”

“Ha ha, how to put it? She’s one of the prides of our Beldern Mercenary Company. If it weren’t for the exceptional talent named Dereck, Pheline would have been the company’s star.”

“I-Is she that good?”

“Yes. Although young and with a striking appearance, she’s truly a promising figure. While she has the hurdle of coming from the suburbs, that probably doesn’t bother Dereck. In fact, he likely felt a great sense of affinity.”

Jayden spoke of Pheline with the heart of a father.

Since Pheline hated nobles so much, he thought it best to ensure she wouldn’t feel intimidated in front of Diella.

On the other hand, Diella looked at him with a pale face.

“Yes, pretty… how much?”

“Well, she wouldn’t compare to noble young ladies who’ve refined their beauty all their lives.”

“I-I see? I understand…”

“Yes. But can you judge a person just by their outward beauty? Her composure and strong character in the face of any adversity are already reasons enough to value the girl named Pheline. On top of that, the bond from coming from below—it’s only natural Dereck would feel a strong affection.”

Thinking he might be going too far, Jayden continued praising Pheline.

‘Pheline, please don’t feel intimidated anywhere…’

While Jayden spoke with such a cheerful expression, Diella couldn’t help but feel even more intimidated.

Even setting aside other qualities, the bond of having been born in the suburbs was something no noble could imitate.

“Why would anyone want to imitate such a vulgar origin?”

That natural question might arise, but Diella shook her head and tempered her voice.

“Yes, Dereck is the magic master I respect most. But he has no eye for women and is so absorbed in magic that I was just worried he might’ve fallen for some weird trick…”

“Then don’t worry. In my opinion, Pheline is the perfect wise and virtuous wife for Dereck.”

If the people involved had heard that, they would’ve felt disgusted, but Jayden said it with a laugh, as if it were nothing.

“T-That…! You shouldn’t judge so quickly!”

“Oh, no?”

“P-People have potential. Judging a bond as the best or not is premature…”

Upon seeing Diella spouting nonsense, the more perceptive ones nodded in understanding.

It might not have developed into love, but at the very least, the feeling of not wanting to give him up to someone else was there, growing.

The situation could have ended there, but this girl—who still didn’t fully understand how the world worked—didn’t even know what emotion was causing her anxiety.

She simply waited anxiously for the girl named Pheline to return, tapping her foot for no reason.

As she drank her apple juice, about ten minutes passed, and then the tavern door creaked open.

“Uncle Jayden~! The job’s done. Pay up quick, okay? And settle last month’s bill too~.”

“Oh, Pheline.”

Pheline entered the tavern with a lively voice. Then she quickly turned her head and locked eyes with Diella.

“…”

She was the lioness of the Duplain family. Just her gaze alone hinted at something out of the ordinary.

‘Uh…?’

Pheline instinctively knew the moment she saw her. That noble elegance she so despised radiated from the body of that tiny girl.

“…Who… are you…?”

“Diella Katherine Duplain, of the Duplain family. Dereck’s first disciple…”

“Oh… I see…”

Although Pheline usually responded cheerfully and loudly, her tone dropped as if she were in a bad mood in front of Diella.

Seeing that, Diella wasn’t in a good mood either, and from the beginning, the two couldn’t help but give each other the worst first impression.

“I heard you’re going to marry Dereck… I came to see what kind of woman you were.”

“…”

Now that she thought about it, there was that contract.

Lately, she’d only been focusing on subjugating monsters, and just imagining the content of that contract made Pheline’s skin crawl from her fingertips.

“Ah… yeah… that’s true…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

That was the whole response.

‘That’s all she said,’ thought Diella.

Dereck was a man who knew nothing but magic, who had risen from the depths of the slums, but his passion for magic was serious and unparalleled.

The fact that the person who married him treated the marriage so indifferently already made her deeply uncomfortable.

She thought Pheline would be glowing with joy, radiant with the happiness and romance unique to newlyweds. If that were the case, it would bother her—but if not, it also bothered her… She didn’t know what to think, and her mind spun with confused thoughts.

In truth, she wasn’t even sure what she was feeling, but either way, she didn’t particularly like Pheline. It was more emotional than rational.

On the other hand, Pheline felt the same.

From the start, she didn’t like nobles, and the way Diella looked her up and down in Tears of Beldern as if judging her was incredibly annoying.

Just discussing marriage with Dereck already tensed her face, and on top of that, this noble girl who was his disciple had shown up to scan her from head to toe. No wonder her rebellious spirit flared up.

Between the two was an unstable balance.

Though Diella’s status was infinitely higher, Pheline was Dereck’s wife.

In this inevitably tense situation, where neither could take the other lightly, Jayden—caught in the middle—watched with great interest to see how things would unfold.

‘…I’d love to put this arrogant noble in her place, but if I act carelessly, there could be consequences.’

Pheline hated nobles, but she wasn’t reckless.

So, after resting her chin in her hand and pretending to think for a moment, she soon put on an expression as if she’d had a brilliant idea and walked up to the bar. Then, she sat cheerfully next to Diella.

“You said you were Dereck’s first disciple, right? Then you’re no stranger to me~.”

“…”

The way she referred to him as “our Dereck,” so familiarly, sparked a strange repulsion, but Pheline was the kind of girl who could endure that sort of discomfort for a greater cause.

“Dereck’s always indebted to you~. It’s really reassuring that the young lady of the Duplain family takes care of him personally~.”

Saying that, Pheline clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly.

“…”

Diella stared at her with a complex and subtle expression.

For some reason, just seeing this girl named Pheline made her feel a burning anger.

She was speaking politely, but it felt like she was scratching her from the inside.

And in truth, Pheline really was.

She felt as though Dereck had been taken from her, so she was determined to stir Diella’s insides with all sorts of fake compliments and provocations.

Surprisingly, Pheline’s jabs were hitting the mark.

“I heard you helped him get the baron title~. Thanks to you, the Ravenclaw barony was approved. Thank you so much. Really, thank you so very much~.”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“Thanks to that, we were able to start renovating the barony mansion, and Dereck and I could build our nest. We’ll never forget Miss Diella’s help and will build a beautiful and loving family. Thank you so much~!”

It was a conversation full of compliments, but as Diella listened to Pheline’s nonstop words, her insides twisted, and a burning sensation rose within her.

But what could she say in response?

Pheline hadn’t done anything wrong. If she lost her temper now, it would be a pointless outburst and could cause big trouble for Dereck.

Thinking that, Diella couldn’t do or say anything.

‘Because she has Dereck… the lioness of the Duplain family can’t say a single word…?!’

Meanwhile, Pheline was wrapped in a tremendous euphoria she’d never felt before.

During expeditions with Dereck and Ellen in the labyrinth, she’d enjoyed playing with arrogant noble girls, but this—this was something else.

To push them around like this, with words—this was fun.

Then Pheline took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and let herself be carried away by the delicious ecstasy, with the most delighted expression in the world.

“My love… Oh, sorry… That’s what I call him when we’re alone. Our Dereck will be so grateful to you in the future, so if he ever offends you, please forgive him generously. And if anything happens, let me know. We’re like one body and soul!”

“Ugh… Ugh…”

“I should’ve prepared a gift… But as you can see, I just got back from a job, so I’m not in the best hygienic state and came empty-handed. Such a shame. Would it be okay if I send a thank-you present to the Duplain mansion? If not, there’s nothing to be done, but we can’t ignore the benefactor who did so much for my husband!”

“Ugh… T-that… Ugh…”

“Please! Let me help you, Miss Diella! If you’re the benefactor of my beloved husband, then you’re my benefactor too! For his sake, I want to help you with all my heart!”

“Ah… aaah! Aaah!”

Finally, at the limit of her endurance, Diella grabbed her hair on both sides of her temples and scratched at it, not caring if it got tangled.

Then she jumped up from the bar and ran out of the tavern, screaming as if she had seen some indescribable horror.

Though it all happened in an instant, seeing the escorts—presumably Diella’s guards—rushing out after her in a panic made it clear she wouldn’t be coming back.

Crash!

Creak, creak.

As she watched the tavern door swing loosely after being kicked open by Diella, Pheline smiled with immense satisfaction.

“Maybe I was born for this day…”

“Pheline. You’re truly ruthless.”

“Did you see the face of that noble lady who ran out? Uncle Jayden, she was as pale as if someone had splashed her with blue paint! Hahaha! Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!”

Seeing Pheline laugh so hard she clutched her stomach and could barely breathe, Jayden couldn’t help but laugh too.

He knew she had talent for crushing noble pride by any means—but he didn’t realize she was this ferocious.

“Wow, Pheline. You’ve got some thick skin.”

“Thick-skinned? I just moved my tongue a little, that’s all.”

“For just a little, your lines were pretty intense. How could you say those things?”

“Hmm…”

After laughing for a good while, Pheline finally caught her breath and drank the cold water Jayden offered her.

She exhaled deeply, set the glass on the bar, and began to calm down.

At last, Pheline started recalling the things she had said in front of Diella.

“Calling him that… darling, husband—there’s nothing I haven’t said. What if they really get married?”

“…”

“If Dereck had been in the tavern, his expression would’ve been priceless.”

This time it was Pheline’s face that turned pale.

“Ugh… Ugh… What did I even say…?”

In her frenzy to defeat a noble, she had gone overboard and blurted out all sorts of embarrassing phrases. But now that she’d regained her senses, she realized just how humiliating it all had been.

Pheline buried her face in the bar, her face as blue as Diella’s had been.

Though she hadn’t had a drop of alcohol, she felt nauseous, pressing her temples to hold herself together somehow.

At that rate, she was no different from Diella, who had run out scratching her head.

‘That one or this one… they both have disgustingly strong pride.’

That was the only thought Jayden had as he looked at Pheline.

Maybe she’d just wanted to humiliate the noble a bit, pretending to be Dereck’s virtuous wife—but no one knew how that could backfire on her.

At least, that’s how Jayden saw it.

*

——————

Letter of Opinion

— Considering there are no significant procedural flaws in the granting of the baron title to Dereck Ravenclaw, the Duplain family raises no objections to his appointment.

— Considering Dereck Ravenclaw’s magical abilities and reputation, the Belmierd family believes he has sufficiently proven himself worthy of the baron title and supports its granting.

— The Beltus family raises no objections to granting the baron title to Dereck Ravenclaw.

——————

Letter of Appointment

In the name of the Empire,

I, Guttrel III, hereby declare the following.

Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, in recognition of your loyalty and dedication to the Empire, as well as your outstanding achievements, I grant you the title of Baron of the Rodelen region.

Accordingly, you are granted the following rights and responsibilities:

1. Governance over the region of Rodelen, the Ravenclaw fief, and surrounding territories.

2. Eligibility to attend the Rotfail Council in the southwestern continent.

3. Judicial and fiscal authority within the territory.

4. Duty to contribute to the defense of the Empire.

5. Unwavering loyalty to the Imperial family and the Empire.

May your wisdom and just rule bring prosperity to the land, and may our Empire grow stronger.

This title shall be inherited by you and your legitimate descendants for generations, but will be immediately revoked upon any act of treason against the Empire.

Swear to strive for the peace and prosperity of the Empire.

Bearer of the radiant crown, protector of the continent, and navigator of the Milky Way,

Plakior Rovengard Guttrel III

*

Time passed with cruel speed.

Especially when one was focused on something, it seemed to move twice as fast.

Before he realized it, winter had passed, and now spring was in full bloom.

Under the warm sun, the green mountains and fields displayed their splendor in their own way.

Shhhh.

Dereck wiped the sweat from his forehead, sleeves of his robe rolled up, standing in front of a small mansion beside the vineyards of the Rodelen region.

He sat on a nearby stump and unfolded the letter that had just arrived.

It was his letter of appointment as baron, drafted at Lord Melverot’s suggestion.

The appointment, which Dereck thought would be delayed, progressed faster than expected.

It seemed that Linus had indeed managed to persuade Grand Duke Beltus behind the scenes.

‘…Nothing in this world is free. So what’s going on in the Belmierd family for that drunk to try recruiting me…?’

Just as Dereck was about to get lost in thought, he decided to focus on the present for now.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Creak! Crackle!

The workers Dereck had hired were repairing the worn-down mansions.

Dereck had been helping for a while, but now he stood aside, quietly watching the renovation work.

For a noble’s mansion, it was quite modest—but compared to homes in the commercial district, it was truly luxurious.

He slowly gazed at the nearly finished mansion, then folded the letter and tucked it into his pocket.

‘High-ranking nobles have grand coronation ceremonies or investitures, but low-ranking nobles like me, governing remote and forgotten lands, end up like this.’

There was no formal celebration, only a document with the emperor’s seal.

An imperial scribe probably copied it with care, but Emperor Guttrel III likely hadn’t even glanced at it for more than a few seconds.

Such was the fate of lower nobles.

Dereck had no reason to complain. In fact, for the first time in a long while, he felt quite satisfied.

The spring breeze drifted through the vineyards.

A lone stump stood in the flower-filled garden, butterflies fluttering about. Sitting on it with arms crossed and a calm gaze, he watched the mansion roof take shape.

He had hung his cloak by the stump, and his staff rested to the side.

In the middle of the meadow, where leaves whispered, Dereck silently watched the mansion and closed his eyes.

“…”

From the days when he slept under a rag in the snow of the slums.

To the long days reading magic books in the residence left by his mentor, Katia.

And the years spent in Tears of Beldern.

And now, as he opened his eyes, he had somehow acquired a fairly large mansion through his own abilities.

Life’s path doesn’t change so drastically. It usually shifts gradually, slowly and steadily.

Then, suddenly, one regains awareness and finds only faint footprints left along the path traveled.

Only then does one realize how far they’ve come.

In truth, when climbing the mountain of life, it’s often hard to see how high one has reached.

That’s why, from time to time, you look back to gauge your position from the landscape left below.

And thus, you pause briefly in life’s journey and reflect.

‘I’ve come a long way.’

That brief thought could remain as a memory.

Haa…

Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw.

That’s how he became baron of the distant region of Rodelen.

“I better get moving.”

Unfortunately, there was no time to get sentimental.

There were many things to take care of right away, and the worries only kept piling up.

And above all, the preparations to reach a new level were almost complete.

Step, step.

The sound of his footsteps on the path.

Having finished his rest, Dereck picked up his cloak and staff and returned to the mansion.

Countless tasks and goals lay ahead—but at the core, Dereck’s central objective was just one:

Level 4 Stars.

A level even those born of noble blood couldn’t reach without at least a dozen years of refinement.

A realm forbidden to plebeians without lineage. A level where one begins to transcend the laws of magic, harmonizing with the star system while casting spells that reflect their own nature.

A level where, depending on the person, one may even begin to create unique, personal magic.

Dereck wanted to reach that level.

And the foundation was nearly ready.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet