Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 93: Awareness (1)

Near the Elfontaine Salon, in the noble district of Ebelstein, there were many tea houses set up for noble ladies.

In one of them, Trisha, sitting under the warm spring sunlight, wore a serious face and a deeply worried expression.

“Why has the lady from the Duchy of Rochester come all the way to the southwest of the continent…?”

Ever since the Duplain family had been displaced, the authority of the viscountcy of Renouel had shot up to the heavens.

If the head of the Renouel family were granted the title of count at the upcoming birthday celebration, it seemed it wouldn’t be long before they could mingle with the ladies of the Belmierd or Beltus families.

Trisha’s pride had already reached its peak, and every moment she spent in Ebelstein’s noble society felt like a dream.

However, the sudden appearance of the lady from the Duchy of Rochester within Ebelstein’s nobility had changed everything.

No matter how much the Renouels’ authority had grown, it couldn’t compare to the Duchy of Rochester, led by Lord Melverot.

‘Of course, status isn’t determined solely by the secular power of the main family…’

No matter how strong Siern’s backing was, if she could surpass her in other aspects, it wasn’t entirely impossible to displace her.

Even if secular authority favored Duplain, the very fact that Trisha could voice her opinion was already proof of that.

However, that didn’t mean it would be easy.

‘It’s absolutely impossible to surpass Lady Siern in magical skills. When it comes to social etiquette and noble culture, I believe I have a much better understanding…’

If she didn’t take full advantage of this opportunity, she might lose forever the chance to reach the top of the Rose Salon.

Aware of this, Trisha sought to gain more influence within the salon than Siern.

But Siern was far too mysterious, impenetrable.

The killing intent she conveyed with just a glance was terrifying, yet she still maintained basic manners and etiquette.

To be able to displace that enigmatic snow woman, she needed to find her weaknesses or her vulnerable point.

‘Now that I think about it, they said all three from the Rose Salon learned magic from the same teacher… wasn’t Lady Siern one of them as well…?’

In the end, the silent battles of the nobility were wars of information.

Trisha had already gathered all possible information about the Belmierd and Beltus ladies.

All the influential figures in Ebelstein’s noble society had been taught by that magic teacher named Dereck, and that fact seemed strangely relevant.

‘Am I the only one without any academic connection to him? This is troublesome…’

Of course, since Dereck was a private instructor, there were hardly any group lessons or direct ties among his students.

Even so, it wasn’t favorable for Trisha to be completely isolated.

‘To change this situation, I need to meet that magic teacher. They said he became the lord of the Ravenclaw Barony and received a small border territory… it’s not that far from Ebelstein.’

Trisha stood up, determined to go herself.

She was someone willing to do whatever it took to obtain more power.

*

It had already been quite some time since the Ravenclaw Barony began to function properly.

During that period, many distinguished visitors had arrived, and over time, the place had taken on a fairly orderly appearance.

In the back courtyard of the barony, there was a small clearing.

Compared to the training grounds of an average ducal house, it was extremely modest.

But for Dereck, who had practiced magic in distant mountains or in meadows, this space was not only sufficient—it was a luxury.

Sitting at the center of the place, Dereck gathered his magical power, holding the large staff called “Footprints.”

He focused, extending the accumulated mana in his fingers directly toward the sky.

The flow of magic traveled through the staff and rose into the clear sky. Finally, upon reaching a certain height, the magic stopped and began to spread.

At that moment, Dereck furrowed his brow and clenched his fist tightly.

The magic transformed into a different kind of energy and began to take the form of clouds.

Drip, drip, drip.

And slowly… raindrops began to fall.

[ Recently Acquired Magic ]

Three-star transformation magic: “Rain Cloud”

Manipulating the weather is fairly high-level magic, but if the range is limited and the duration sacrificed, it is not impossible to manifest it with three-star magic.

As a result, he could now make it rain over a limited area for a short period, enough to soak everything. It was an efficient scale for creating variables on a complex battlefield.

‘No doubt, I’ve already gotten used to learning three-star magic.’

Dereck, without loosening his fist, remained standing under the rain.

Moments before, the sun had been shining brightly. Despite the sudden downpour, he showed no signs of surprise.

It was natural. It was rain he had summoned himself.

‘But four-star magic seems difficult to learn on my own. Now that I think about it, every time I learned a new level of magic, there was always a master who guided me…’

Dereck was not only an excellent magic teacher, but also an excellent student.

He had learned one-star magic from a beggar in the slums.

Two-star magic, from a disgraced noblewoman.

Three-star magic, from an old wandering wizard.

Up to level three, that was enough. But finding someone capable of teaching four-star magic was no easy task.

Especially because four-star magic varies greatly according to each individual’s abilities and inclinations.

In terms of variety, four-star magic even surpasses that of five or six stars.

Even if two people used the same four-star fire magic, one might produce bright, exuberant flames, while the other might summon a calm, blue fire.

Even if two used the same summoning magic, one person raised in a warm environment might call forth a beautiful spirit, while another, marked by struggle, might summon a bloodied hound.

There are not many masters in the world capable of properly teaching that wide range of four-star magic, because the learning process is completely different for each mage.

That was why Dereck could not help sinking into thought.

‘It would be great if Lord Melverot could teach me, but he’s not the kind of person who kindly instructs others.’

He had already granted him a barony, a mansion, and even financial support. Asking for more would be far too shameless.

As Dereck sank into thought, the rain began to intensify.

Swoooosh!

“Kyaa!”

Just as the rain was about to grow even heavier, a woman’s voice cried out.

“Hmm?”

“Ugh…! I wasn’t expecting this…”

When Dereck stopped the magic and quickly turned, there was Ellen, soaked from the rain, looking visibly uncomfortable.

*

“I’m sorry. When I focus on magic training, I usually don’t pay attention to my surroundings.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s my fault for sneaking in to watch.”

Even in the most relaxed situations, Ellen always wore clothing adorned with ruffles and rose-shaped decorations.

The blouse lent to her by the mansion’s lowest-ranking maid was far too simple for someone from the Belmierd family. But she had no choice—the clothes she had been wearing were soaked.

As if it didn’t bother her in the least, she dried her reddish hair while wearing the plain garment.

The maid, who was carefully passing her a soft cloth to wipe away the water, trembled with nerves.

She had never imagined that a low-ranking servant from a baron’s house would ever get to touch the hair of a lady from the Belmierd county.

Only veteran maids, with more than ten years of service, were permitted to attend to such distinguished people.

The young freckled maid, with barely a month of experience, swallowed hard and clenched her fists tightly.

“By the way… three-star transformation magic… Dereck, you never cease to amaze me.”

“There are still parts I need to perfect, but I think I’ve gotten quite familiar with three-star magic.”

“…”

Ellen, as if at a loss for words, observed him in silence for a moment before sitting down on a wooden chair in the corner of the clearing. While still drying her damp hair, she pressed her temples firmly.

“I recently mastered two-star magic. I did it just last week.”

“Really? That’s something worth celebrating.”

“I came running to brag about it to you, Dereck, but the first thing I saw was you using three-star transformation magic as if it were nothing… Now I feel a little embarrassed to say it.”

Although she said it that way, the fact that Ellen could use two-star magic at her age was an admirable achievement.

Officially, she was right after Lady Aiselin, who had manifested two-star magic some time ago.

Of course, if Lady Denise was counted—who had secretly also reached that level—Ellen was in third place.

“At least among the commoners I’ve met, there’s no one who’s achieved magical progress as quickly and solidly as you.”

Although it was high praise, Dereck didn’t bother to give a formal response.

He simply said “thanks” quietly. That reaction was very typical of him, and for that reason Ellen let out a small laugh.

After drying her hair, the maid served the tea.

Compared to the hospitality of Count Belmierd, it was a simple cup with inexpensive tea leaves, but Ellen accepted it with a satisfied expression.

“Now that I think about it, this barony is already quite organized. They even serve tea to visitors…”

“The Duke of Rochester sent a rather capable person as a butler. Since he took over management, I haven’t had to do much.”

“There’s no greater fortune than having reliable talent. The more I learn about the duties of the head of the Belmierd family, the clearer that becomes.”

Ellen gathered her hair again.

When she divided her reddish hair into two and tied it, the authority she always projected seemed to fade, revealing a livelier side befitting her age.

“Now that you’re a baron, you’ll end up realizing it yourself.”

“I’m barely the lowest of the low.”

“Whether you stay that way or not is something we still don’t know. By the way, how was it that the Grand Duke Beltus granted you the title? I doubt he was happy to see a new noble rise in the borderlands…”

Ellen spoke as if she were truly curious.

Dereck, looking at her, rested his chin on his hand and fell into thought for a moment.

He felt he should tell her about a certain person he had met at the tavern before receiving the title.

“The truth is… there was someone else who helped me.”

“Really? That couldn’t have been easy… Who was it?”

“…It was Young Master Linus of the Belmierd family.”

At that, Ellen’s expression hardened.

She set down the cup she had been about to raise to her lips and frowned with visible displeasure.

“…That bastard brother of mine went to see you?”

“…Yes.”

“What did he look like? He hasn’t returned to the main house in a long time. I heard he only hangs around gambling houses in big cities, drunk and wallowing in debauchery…”

Ellen spoke with genuine disgust, as if she truly despised the drunkard named Linus.

“Is he still going around with a messy beard, drinking all the time?”

“…Yes.”

“Oh… Why did he come back to Ebelstein? If that impulsive brother of mine caused any trouble, I apologize.”

“No, it’s not that. In fact, he helped me convince the Grand Duke Beltus. I made him promise that if I managed to become a baron, he would help you.”

“…Me?”

Ellen blinked several times with her bright red eyes, then tilted her head as she adjusted her hair again.

“…That scoundrel wouldn’t care about me…”

“Isn’t some major change happening in the Belmierd family? I don’t think Linus would do something so unusual without a reason.”

“I don’t fully understand the actions of that miserable drunk… Hmm… Either way, it’s something I should thank you for, Dereck—for helping me secure the title.”

Although it didn’t seem like a drastic change was coming that could sink the Duplain family, it could at least be assumed that something might be about to happen to Ellen.

Seeing Dereck’s face, which showed a strangely concerned expression, Ellen ended up speaking with a smile.

“Well, don’t worry so much. I have a general idea of what’s going on.”

“Oh, really?”

“He must be trying to secure me some backing, fearing that Leonard will return to the family. If Leonard takes power, things will get complicated.”

Ellen, who seemed to have the situation well calculated, stopped touching her chin and opened her eyes wide as she spoke.

“Leonard… Wasn’t he the youngest son of the Belmierd family?”

“My, Dereck. You’re already so deep into the nobility that you even remember the Belmierd family tree. Yes, that’s right. He’s now devoted to religion and is on a pilgrimage, not showing up at the main house.”

The male children of the Belmierd family never stayed at the main residence.

The reason Ellen had been able to secure herself as the heir was precisely because of that.

“In reality, the heir to lead the Belmierd family wasn’t me, but my brother Linus. Leonard went on pilgrimage because, even if he stayed, he would have no way to access the family’s power while Linus was there.”

“Did Leonard have ambition for that power?”

“Well… I don’t know anymore. It’s been a long time. In any case, he gave up the succession early and went wandering across the continent, living his own way.”

“But Young Master Linus gave up the succession.”

“That’s right. Very sharp, Dereck.”

No further explanation was needed.

For some reason, Linus had given up being the next head of the powerful Belmierd family. He chose to waste his life in gambling and drunkenness. Only he knew why.

As a result, no one but Ellen remained to occupy the position of heir. Leonard, the youngest son, was still wandering far from the main house.

However, no one knew what Leonard would think if he returned and found that Ellen had become the heir.

It wasn’t unusual for a daughter to inherit, but generally, there was an unwritten rule that the son should do so.

“What kind of person is that Leonard? If he’s on a religious pilgrimage, he should be decent…”

“Well, I don’t think he’s such a good person. His devotion was a political decision. As you said, religious people often seem morally upright.”

Dereck had never met Leonard, but he could tell from Ellen’s expression that he wasn’t exactly trustworthy.

“If that guy tries to remove me from the Belmierd family, I don’t plan to stand idly by. I’ve worked too hard to keep my place as heir.”

“…”

“If he ignored the family’s situation and wandered across the continent, and now intends to return and claim the succession just because he thinks he has a chance—am I supposed to kneel and hand over the position to that younger brother? And do you think our father would accept that?”

Ellen’s red eyes seemed to burn fiercely.

Family power struggles were common, but it seemed the Belmierd had deeper conflicts than expected.

In fact, what was unusual was for a family to be harmonious, as was the case with Duplain.

In Duplain, perhaps it was possible because they had a strong heir like Valerian.

When there were disputes over succession, it was normal for even the closest relatives to end up shouting at each other. That was the norm.

“I have no intention of giving up the right of succession to the Belmierd family to anyone. And there’s no one who can force me to do so.”

Ellen lifted her chin and smiled at Dereck with confidence.

“I’m strong.”

That confidence seemed to be the key to how she could stand firm as the legitimate heir of the Belmierd.

Dereck looked at her with a worried expression, one that was slightly different.

She was, without a doubt, the legitimate heir. She had authority, ability, and was recognized for her elegance even in the Rose Salon.

She was already being educated as the future head of the family, and was being trained both in magic and culture.

There was no reason to give that place to Leonard, who came late. Ellen would be countess, and she would lead Belmierd. That was a fact.

Therefore, if Leonard wanted to take her position, he had only one option.

Destroy Ellen’s authority and tarnish her honor.

No one knew what he might be capable of doing to achieve that.

When Dereck’s thoughts reached that point, he tried to open his mouth. But Ellen stood up, let the hem of her simple blouse fall freely, and placed a finger over her lips.

“Don’t worry so much, Dereck. You might be the expert in magic, but when it comes to intrigue and power struggles, I can handle myself.”

“…”

“You haven’t been a baron for long, so you must be busy and under pressure. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with my brother Linus’s personal requests.”

Ellen smiled brightly and put her hands on her hips.

“Wearing these simple clothes makes me feel fresh, like a country girl. If I were a girl working in a mill or a chicken farm, would you still be able to speak to me so casually?”

“If it were you, Miss Ellen, I think you would have left the mill to start your own business.”

“Ahaha. You have such a peculiar way of giving compliments. That’s why it’s so fun talking to you, Dereck.”

Ellen shook her arms and let her now completely dry hair fall.

Her long hair swayed with the warm breeze of the Rodellen region.

“The spring breeze is so warm and pleasant. Since we’re here, you should see my magic, Dereck.”

“I have no plans for the afternoon, so that’s perfect. You said you’d learned two-star magic—can I see it?”

“Of course. Just don’t be too surprised at how quickly I’m progressing.”

Ellen’s carefree smile bloomed like a spring flower.

*

It was around the time Trisha arrived at the Ravenclaw Barony.

Despite arriving unannounced in a carriage, the butler received her with complete composure, showing not a trace of surprise.

‘…The servants are used to receiving unexpected visitors. For such a small and remote barony, they’re well trained.’

As soon as Trisha stepped down from the carriage, the maids skillfully lifted the hem of her dress. It wasn’t the first time they’d done that.

In truth, Trisha had no way of knowing that the servants of that mansion were accustomed to attending to various noble ladies on a regular basis.

This was her first visit to the Ravenclaw Barony.

“Thank you for coming to such a humble place. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“I wanted to meet the Baron of Ravenclaw in person. I heard he’s excellent at teaching magic, so I was intrigued.”

“It’s a great honor. However, at the moment, the baron is occupied with the magic lessons of another noble lady.”

Trisha frowned upon hearing that.

The Renouel Viscountcy was, at that moment, the fastest-rising power in Ebelstein.

For the daughter of such an influential family to appear in person and not be attended to immediately… it was a great disrespect.

Trisha didn’t hide her displeasure and spoke sharply.

“Who could be so important as to keep someone like me from being received in person?”

“…It’s Lady Ellen of the Belmierd family. This morning, Lady Aiselin and Lady Diella also took tea here.”

“…”

At that name, Trisha closed her mouth.

Others she could overlook, but not Ellen.

With that thought, she backed down immediately.

She bared her teeth at the weak, but quickly bowed her head to the strong.

Some might call it cowardice, but Trisha considered it a shrewd and intelligent move.

“Very well. I can wait a while. There must be a reception room, yes?”

“It’s a rather modest place, I hope you understand.”

“Hmph. I don’t expect much from such a remote and neglected mansion. Just bring me some tea.”

“Understood. However, there’s another guest, so it might be good if you could converse with her.”

“What? Another guest?”

What could be drawing so many visitors to this out-of-the-way barony?

Still, hearing that there would be at least someone to talk to, Trisha snorted and entered the reception room.

“…”

“…”

There, seated in silence, was Siern Alaina Rochester, the lady of the Rochester family, quietly waiting for Dereck.

“…A pleasure to see you again, Lady Trisha.”

This was no ordinary person. She was the heir to the Duchy of Rochester, ruler of the north, patiently waiting for Dereck.

How could such a remote and insignificant barony keep the lady of the largest duchy in the north waiting without complaint?

It was a scene so absurd that it defied logic and protocol, but the lady in question didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable.

Although at first glance the situation made no sense, that wasn’t the most important thing.

“…”

Trisha still clearly remembered the killing intent she had felt in Siern’s eyes the day they met.

That gaze, as sharp as a wild beast’s, had frozen her blood. It was a relief she hadn’t wet herself in fear.

Being alone with her was like sharing a cage with a tiger that could pounce on you at any moment.

“Ah, yes… A pleasure to see you, Lady Siern. You look as radiant as ever. It was an honor to see you. Forgive the interruption, I’ll take my leave immediately.”

Trisha quickly backed away, closed the door softly behind her, and stepped into the hallway.

The whole process was so smooth it was as if the world’s time had been rewound.

“…”

However, in that small mansion there was only a single waiting room for distinguished visitors.

Butler Delbriton promptly recited that hopeless reality.

Things, in this world, never go as one plans.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelCet