Chapter 103

Chapter 103
### Chapter 103

“It seems the student dormitory building will be finished by next week, but the classroom building will still take longer. Progress is acceptable, but I’m not sure if we can meet the deadline.”

“Please maintain the current pace. We can consider the possibility of delaying the start of classes, but let’s see how the situation evolves for now.”

Aiselin was sitting at her desk, playing with her hair, surrounded by a pile of account books, architectural plans, and labor reports.

The next date for cash acquisition, the status of the construction, the details of the young women arriving for classes, the hiring of assistant instructors, the manor’s finances… She was deeply immersed in all that vast content, looking every bit like a businesswoman.

“…”

Outwardly, Pheline played the role of the baroness, but she didn’t even know how to read an account book, whereas Aiselin seemed to have already taken full control of the finances.

*Why can’t this person simply be the baroness?*

Pheline was sweating in a corner of the office, dressed in an outfit that didn’t suit her at all.

Despite the heat, Aiselin was completely absorbed in the training center’s work, going back and forth between the construction site and the office without any concern.

“Oh, dear… Pheline. I’m sorry. As you can see, Baron Ravenclaw is going through a great transition. I haven’t been able to properly attend to our guest.”

“Ah, no. Technically, I am the hostess and Miss Aiselin is the guest.”

“Ah, right… I’m sorry. When I focus too much on work, I sometimes lose track of time…”

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This young noblewoman, who was practically the pillar of the Duchy of Duplain, was buried in the account books of this remote barony for unknown reasons, but Pheline assumed Dereck had some purpose.

“As I already mentioned, Miss Pheline, you must perform the role of hostess at the inauguration of the training center. As the baroness, you will receive the utmost respect.”

“…But, where is Dereck?”

“Lord Dereck is currently at Count Belmierd’s estate on urgent business. He said he would return shortly after finishing his work, so we must resolve the important matters before that happens.”

“The Belmierd estate…?”

It wasn’t exactly close, so Pheline couldn’t help but tilt her head, puzzled by the sudden visit.

“I’ve heard that Lady Ellen is in great danger… I’m truly worried. They say necromancy is involved, which makes it even more terrifying.”

Aiselin had heard the details from the Belmierd family and had written a letter just as Dereck had asked her.

She drafted a text that would help defend Ellen. Dereck took the letter and returned to the Belmierd estate, so the main problems would soon be resolved.

“Why is Dereck… helping with Count Belmierd’s affairs?”

“Well, it’s partly due to some coincidences… Additionally, the former heir, Lord Linus, asked Dereck for a favor.”

The former heir, Linus, had asked Dereck to support Ellen during her crisis in exchange for helping him obtain the title of baron.

Therefore, it was natural for Dereck to actively support Ellen, although there were some unsatisfactory aspects.

*«Now that I think about it, why did Lord Linus renounce the title of heir to the Belmierd estate?»*

And how did he predict that Lady Ellen would fall into such a crisis?

*«It also seems strange that he asked specifically Lord Dereck for help. If he needed the support of a nobleman, there were many others he could have turned to…»*

The actions of that young man named Linus, who seemed free-spirited, were too difficult to understand at first glance.

In any case, given that he had been one of the most decisive people in helping Dereck secure the title of baron, Dereck didn’t seem to have many questions.

*I hope everything ends well and without major problems.*

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Thinking that, Aiselin moved her pen again.

As Pheline watched from a corner of the office, she wondered if that girl was truly the cream of the crop of the Duchy of Duplain.

When observed closely, she looked simply like an employee of Baron Ravenclaw.

***

The following day, the Margrave of Belmierd gathered all the high-ranking vassals and direct relatives in the main hall of the manor.

Behind the butler and the head maid, several key servants stood in a line with their heads bowed; and from the grand administrator, the mercenary commander, the treasurer, the legal advisor, and the intelligence officer, to the magic counselor, the veteran vassals who were like the arms and legs of the Margrave of Belmierd were seated.

They were all busy people, but the reason for forcing them together in one place was obvious.

It was about deciding Ellen’s fate that day and announcing the result to the whole family.

Depending on how the Margrave of Belmierd, her father, handled the case of Ellen—accused of practicing necromancy—the course of the family would be deeply affected.

*Creak.*

*Thump, thump!*

The main door opened and Lienclof, the wife of the Margrave of Belmierd, entered.

The middle-aged woman, whose hair was beginning to turn gray, asked the Margrave with a serious expression.

“Why… did you gather the vassals like this…?”

“…”

“Have you… made a decision…?”

Countess Linclaire was a submissive and kind person. She rarely voiced any objection to the Margrave of Belmierd’s educational policies or his management of the family.

Once again, Linclaire simply lowered her gaze in silence with a somber expression.

Seeing her, the Margrave of Belmierd couldn’t help but feel a small ache in his heart, but he didn’t show it.

He simply spoke in a grave voice, tightening his lips.

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“Enter.”

When Countess Linclaire went to sit in the top seat, the youngest son, Leonard, followed her.

Leonard also wore an extremely serious and somber countenance. After greeting politely, he sat in a corner.

When almost everyone who should be present had arrived, the key figure of this meeting finally appeared.

She entered accompanied by her servants, with her red hair loose and her back straight like a noble rose.

Without changing her expression, Ellen placed herself right in front of the vassals.

Regardless of the situation, everyone present thought the same thing. She fit the expression “beautiful” perfectly.

“From early morning, everyone has gathered in a great hurry. Being locked in a room for so long is so exhausting that I almost appreciate the current situation.”

Before anyone could say anything, Ellen addressed those gathered there in a low voice.

“I haven’t heard anything, but it doesn’t seem like you’ve gathered here to apologize for some misunderstanding… May I assume you’ve gathered to condemn me?”

“That depends on you, Ellen.”

Count Belmierd, who occupied the highest seat, took the floor.

He placed all the materials the vassals had investigated on the table and continued the conversation in a grave, dull voice.

“I find myself in a position where I must judge your fate, Ellen.”

“…”

“And during last week’s investigation, many things came to light from your room. Not only were traces of necromantic magic found in the basement, which had been abandoned for many years, but also a large quantity of your belongings, such as jewelry and magic artifacts.”

“Oh, my! Is that true?”

Ellen remained serene.

Leonard, seeing Ellen’s attitude, rested his chin for a moment. He had observed her closely in recent days and had noticed she was mentally cornered.

However, the Ellen who appeared here seemed to have regained her composure.

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*‘What is this…?’*

Leonard had completely isolated her in the manor.

He had bribed some servants to spread false rumors, manipulated letters and the basement, and if there was anyone who could become her ally, he had stepped forward to recruit them.

The biggest unknown had been Dereck, who suddenly appeared at the Belmierd manor in the middle of everything, but even he had cooperated with Leonard, thus avoiding further setbacks.

However, now it seemed as if someone was supporting her psychologically.

Her eyes, once withered, had regained their luster, and her disheveled hair was neatly combed again; she had once again become the girl who could be called the flower of Belmierd.

“And it was also discovered that you sent a letter to Valeriano, the Duke of Duplain.”

“I see.”

Ellen walked directly toward the center of the main hall where the vassals were sitting, letting her beautiful dress flutter behind her, and smiled radiantly.

Leonard couldn’t decipher the origin of that constant feeling of incongruity.

According to his expectations, by now Ellen should have nervously swallowed her saliva at least once.

And she should be desperately trying to prove her innocence by denying the accusations the Count of Belmierd was citing.

However, Ellen only nodded her head at Count Belmierd’s words.

She was so calm it was almost inappropriate.

When Leonard narrowed his eyes, he suddenly met Ellen’s gaze.

Ellen, who should have raised her voice to refute something, remained silent.

She simply held Leonard’s gaze and then smiled slightly.

*What is this? What is she trying to do?*

It was at that moment when Leonard monologued to himself.

“Unfortunately, it seems everything has been exposed.”

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With that, her words fell and spread throughout the main hall, which had remained as silent as a pristine mirror.

It was a reaction no one expected.

Whether it was Count Belmierd, the Countess, Leonard, or any other high-ranking vassal, they all thought Ellen would try to prove her innocence at all costs.

Many had even prepared counterarguments for the refutations she would predictably make.

However, Ellen did not utter a single word in her defense.

“W-what do you mean… Lady Ellen?”

“No, Lady Ellen…! Is that true?!”

Whispers began to spread through the crowd.

At Ellen’s unexpected and explosive declaration, everyone present could only open their eyes wide.

*Bang!*

However, the scene fell silent again when Count Belmierd struck the table with force.

The most authoritative figure in the room, the one with the power to judge everyone’s fate, was about to speak.

“Ellen…”

His expression, which had always shown a strong character, now seemed divided between anger, sadness, and doubt.

No words could express his feelings.

In his infinitely complex heart, Count Belmierd barely managed to speak with difficulty.

“What… what do you mean, Ellen… that you have been researching necromancy?”

“Father. You, who know me better than anyone, will understand me, right?”

Finally, Ellen spoke with a soft smile.

“To reach power, one needs a weapon that no one else can obtain… a weapon only for oneself. A hidden dagger in the heart, ready to stab the opponent when they least expect it. For me, that blade was necromancy.”

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“Ellen!”

“But now that we’ve come to this, I must tell you. Yes… I used necromancy as my weapon and intended to make it the base of my power. No matter how cursed and forbidden it is, depending on how it’s used, it can become a sword to defeat enemies.”

Then she let down her hair and laughed louder, curving her lips upward.

Her appearance began to transmit an uneasiness that went beyond beauty.

*«Dismembering corpses, painting with blood, kneading flesh… it may seem ghastly at first. But human life is ephemeral, and if it can be used for a greater cause, it is an effort worth undertaking. Please, understand my philosophy… Father.»*

The high-ranking vassals watching Ellen began to break into a cold sweat. Even Briana and Milton, who still held a shred of loyalty to her, swallowed hard.

“A… a witch…”

A mercenary muttered.

It was a blasphemous comment, but no one could refute it.

After those words, the crowd did not utter a single further comment.

A tension like being on the edge of a sword. The servants’ throats trembled.

The most bewildered of all was, undoubtedly, Leonard.

Because he knew.

Ellen had never studied necromancy. Everything had been orchestrated by Leonard, and she had only been falsely accused.

Even so, why was she admitting to all those crimes?

Leonard had foreseen every move Ellen might make upon arriving here.

He had calculated every scenario two, three, ten times, and was prepared for any possible outcome from that point on; however, he had not foreseen this situation.

He couldn’t see.

He couldn’t understand the intention hidden behind Ellen’s apparently warm smile.

He felt as if his entire body was being dragged to a place full of unknown variables, and not to the board he himself had designed.

*For what purpose fight on the battlefield created by the opponent? Let’s redesign the board, where we are the masters.*

Dereck’s words, spoken while drying rainwater in the dark room, resonated in her mind.

Clinging to the brilliant idea that man had given her, she smiled again, with the smile of a madwoman.

“Everyone, your expressions are not good. But it’s not fair for you to see me as a lunatic. Manipulating corpses and dealing with human lives is not exclusive to necromancy. Do not forget the essence of humans who wage wars and shed blood at the slightest opportunity. If you forget that humanity has advanced thanks to blood, you will only regress forever.”

“Ellen! You… you…!”

“Father! I told you since I was little! I will use any means and method to take power!”

Ellen whispered in a more melancholic voice.

“This is my means and my method.”

A moment of silence.

Count Belmierd took a few steps back and then collapsed into a chair.

“Ellen… I trusted you…”

“Oh, my god… In the end, not even my father can understand me…”

The last words of Count Belmierd.

They meant that even her last ally, the Count, had abandoned her.

That was the signal.

With the Count, her greatest ally, turning his back on her, all the servants of the family completely lost trust in her.

Her confession was proof that she had betrayed the faith of all the servants who had followed her.

“How… how could you…! I trusted you and followed you…!”

“She’s a witch…! A witch who seeks curses, rummaging through blood and corpses…!”

“We cannot repeat the tragedy of Duplain…! Right now…! We must, by all means, cut this disaster off at the root!”

“I have served Lady Ellen for more than ten years…! How could it end like this…?!”

“I vaguely sensed it for a long time. Someone who only talked about power, someone who would one day cross the line…”

“I knew it too…! But I didn’t expect it to be this serious…!”

And then, the arrows of criticism fell upon her.

The loyalists who had sworn to believe in Ellen and follow her all their lives now criticized her with disappointment.

Ellen closed her eyes gently, sketched a slight smile, and raised her head.

The looks of admiration and respect that had always been directed toward her had now turned into lights of criticism and hatred; she surrendered herself completely to that situation.

In the midst of all that, the girl expanded her chest and monologued.

*‘So, this is what it means to be at the very bottom.’*

This pit of despair and frustration is something one must experience at least once to be able to fly high.

The world is full of people struggling in deep despair.

There is a girl whose family was devoured by necromancy overnight, and a boy who fought his way up from the lowest of the slums since birth.

In comparison, how sweet and comforting this fire pit feels!

If one cannot endure this temporary pain, how can one speak of grand ambitions?

Ellen smiled even more radiantly.

And then, she fixed her gaze directly on Leonard’s eyes.

***

*Thump, thump!*

Leonard walked quickly down the hallway.

At first glance, he had the elegant appearance characteristic of the young master of the Belmierd family, but his steps were twice as fast as usual.

*What is this? What on earth is happening?*

Things were slipping out of Leonard’s hands.

The situation itself seemed favorable to him. Just as he had planned, Ellen was falsely accused of investigating necromancy, abandoned by all her vassals, and fell into ruin.

After the meeting in the main hall, the desperate Count Belmierd was the first to leave.

After that, the vassals raised their voices, discussing what to do with Ellen, and Ellen, standing silently among them, looked like a sinner.

All of that fell within Leonard’s plan.

However, Ellen’s conduct was completely unexpected. There was undoubtedly something hidden in her plan.

But Leonard still hadn’t realized her trick. That was clearly a bad sign.

He had to find out what she intended. This was no time to be intoxicated with victory.

Then Leonard headed quickly toward the successor’s private chamber.

It was a large room that Ellen had used until now, and which Leonard would soon be able to use himself.

In the basement adjoining that room, Leonard had installed some amenities by bribing a servant.

The laboratory, stained with corpses and blood. The servant who had helped Leonard prepare that place was already mixed among the pile of bodies in the basement.

Leonard was a man who left no loose ends.

*«There may still be something I haven’t discovered. I must thoroughly inspect every place that may have been influenced by my sister Ellen, starting with the private room.»*

He couldn’t let his guard down. Leonard gritted his teeth and pulled the secret lever located behind the bookshelf in the private room to open the door.

*Creak.*

The heavy secret door opened and he went down the stairs to the basement.

While he racked his brain trying to anticipate what Ellen might do, everything remained uncertain. What could she do in this situation?

The girl who only knew how to give orders to her vassals—what could she do when everyone turned their backs on her? In reality, she couldn’t do anything, right?

This was not the battlefield Leonard had designed.

Upon reaching the end of the stairs, the view of the basement appeared, still permeated with the stench of blood.

Just as he was about to open the wooden door and enter…

*Creak.*

“…?!”

“Oh.”

There was a guest.

In the darkness of the basement.

A pair of red eyes glowed among white hair, briefly observing Leonard.

The man, wrapped in a cloak, adjusted the sleeves of his leather tunic and, sitting in a chair, polished his sword.

The man’s blade gleamed with a blue glow, reflecting the light coming from behind Leonard.

“What the hell…?”

“Young Master Leonard.”

“Baron Ravenclaw… what are you doing here…?”

“Who knows.”

Leonard felt an ominous foreboding and instinctively stepped back.

The man, hunched over and polishing his sword, looked like a beast before its prey.

So, who was the prey?

In the instant Leonard instinctively asked himself that question, Dereck stood up.

Although it was the warm season of late spring, it felt as if a glacial cold flooded the basement.