Chapter 109

Chapter 109
### Chapter 109

Ellen had an intuition.

The woman named Aiselin Eleanor Duplain, standing with her hands on her hips and a radiant smile on her face, her eyes sparkling, was a vessel destined to devour Dereck and rule the world if left to her own devices.

In reality, Ellen couldn’t exactly explain the connection between being close to Dereck and ruling the world, but one thing was certain: she was a tigress disguised as a rabbit.

The mere fact that she had personally come looking for Dereck, even though he had only been away from the mansion for a short time, was already unusual.

Therefore, Ellen’s reaction was, in fact, appropriate.

“Dereck will be staying at the Belmierd mansion for a while. There is something we must ask of him on behalf of the Belmierd family…”

“Ah… really…? But Dereck is also the rightful lord of a territory and the ultimate authority in the decisions of his manor. While the affairs of the Belmierd family are undoubtedly important, neglecting the administration of his own lands is a great dishonor for a noble.”

Ellen decided to lead her to a separate reception room, serve her expensive tea and refreshments, and speak to her calmly, step by step.

“I think we should first see Dereck and inform him of the situation at the manor.”

However, the logical arguments Aiselin laid out were irrefutable from Ellen’s point of view.

It was also questionable why the young lady of the Duplain family was doing something akin to the work of an advisor in the Barony of Ravenclaw, but if Dereck approved of it, there was nothing more to be said.

—

Ellen squeezed her knees with her hands and looked askance.

Seeing her sweating and avoiding eye contact, Aiselin tilted her head.

“The Lady Ellen I saw in the Hall of Roses always seemed confident and noble, but here, in her own home… she seems more intimidated than I thought.”

Seeing that, Aiselin thought with a radiant smile:

*That difference is so charming! People who have hidden facets that others don’t see always have a mysterious appeal!*

To be precise, Ellen felt intimidated by Aiselin.

Ellen had always lived in Aiselin’s shadow since the days when the Duplain family still held power.

Now, authority had passed to the Belmierd family, but Aiselin was a girl who shone on her own, regardless of her family’s power.

If the world were a story, this girl would undoubtedly play the role of the protagonist.

Aiselin was a person who knew how to shine brighter than anyone in any situation, to the point that such thoughts were inevitable.

Upon seeing her lively smile, Ellen suddenly lowered her gaze, and her expression darkened.

“Every time I stand before this girl, I feel like a withered rose.”

Ellen was always in the audience, and Aiselin was always on the stage.

Aiselin Eleanor Duplain was like the lead in a play, with the ability to turn everyone around her into mere secondary characters.

Ellen had dedicated half her life to trying to surpass her. The passing years did nothing but fuel the feeling of inferiority that lay deep within Ellen’s heart.

Aiselin’s natural temperament was something that people like Ellen, scarred by the hardships of the world, could neither easily understand nor respect.

Geniuses born with that kind of temperament were usually the downfall of those who struggled to get ahead from the bottom.

If they were at least arrogant or vain, one could criticize their character. But these people also tended to have perfect personalities… Ellen slowly closed her eyes and opened them again.

Because they have everything, it is natural that they shine.

But if they have everything, couldn’t they at least offer up a single thing?

Having lived always in Aiselin’s shadow, Ellen’s competitive spirit, bordering on obstinacy, resurfaced.

Feeling cornered in that way, her mind became even more agitated.

“Unfortunately, Lord Dereck will not be able to return to the Barony of Ravenclaw immediately, Lady Aiselin.”

“What?”

“Because I plan to propose marriage to him.”

And with that, her world ended.

***

“The lady of the Duchy of Duplain has visited the Belmierd mansion. It seems she wishes to meet with Lord Dereck. Could you spare a moment for her?”

“The lady of the Duchy of Duplain… Do you mean Lady Aiselin?”

Briana, a high-ranking maid of the Belmierd mansion, nodded her head.

Briana, known as Ellen’s faithful servant, continued to look at Dereck with an expressionless face.

Curiously, she was more polite than before.

“Now that I think about it, the servants and officials of the Belmierd mansion have been more respectful to me these past few days…”

Dereck rested his chin on his hand and tilted his head slightly.

In the past, servants and squires simply bowed their heads in greeting, but lately, they had begun bowing at a ninety-degree angle as soon as they saw him.

As a noble in name only and without real power, Dereck understood why the high officials of the Belmierd mansion had treated him with some informality.

Especially the assistants closest to Count Belmierd, who were often older men with wrinkled faces; they could not be compared in number of subordinates or authority to a rural baron… so they often observed only the bare minimum of etiquette.

However, lately, even high officials, such as advisors and legal counsel, had begun to bow their heads before Dereck, which he found quite uncomfortable.

Although he had contributed to the recent incident at the mansion, he didn’t believe he had done enough to deserve such treatment.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t been able to review the affairs of the Barony of Ravenclaw. Surely Lady Aiselin came here for that. It must have been a very long journey for her.”

“She is waiting in reception. You may go now. I will accompany you.”

“No, that won’t be necessary… Briana, you are the head of the maids, aren’t you? Don’t you have a lot of work?”

“Would it not be unreasonable to let Lord Dereck move alone? Please, do not feel pressured.”

As expected, the treatment was excessively polite for someone who was only a noble in name.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Dereck decided he would ask Ellen about it later.

It was at that moment that Dereck rose from his seat.

*Creak.*

The door to Dereck’s private room burst open, and Aiselin appeared, her face pale with worry.

Although she had been told to wait in reception, she had come directly. Dereck would have left on his own if she had waited a bit longer, so he wondered what could be so urgent.

Aiselin, who looked as if she had seen a ghost, swallowed hard upon seeing Dereck’s face.

“Miss Aiselin. Long time no see!”

“D-Dereck…”

Aiselin took a quick glance down the hallway and then spoke to Briana with a trembling voice.

“I’m sorry. I need to speak about a confidential matter regarding the Barony of Ravenclaw. Could you leave us alone?”

“Eh? Ah, yes… I understand.”

Since both Aiselin and Dereck were trusted individuals, there was no problem leaving them alone.

Briana bowed her head and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Aiselin, still pale, opened the window and looked around nervously.

Immediately after, she hurriedly drew the curtains, locked the door, and sat silently across from Dereck.

“D-Dereck. I’m sorry. Some time has passed and I’m a bit restless…”

“No problem… Did you see something you shouldn’t have seen?”

“No, it’s not that. Dereck, you’ve been staying at the Belmierd estate for quite a while. I’ve come to tell you that it’s time for you to return.”

“Ah, really? You could have sent a letter. It must have been a very long trip for you.”

Dereck looked at Aiselin.

Sitting at the tea table, Aiselin shifted restlessly as if she were uncomfortable, and the truth was that she looked quite distressed.

He didn’t know whether to pretend he didn’t notice or express his concern, but before he could decide, Aiselin spoke.

“If you no longer have any business at the Belmierd estate, it would be best for you to leave soon.”

“I haven’t been able to attend to the affairs of the Barony of Ravenclaw for some time. It must have been hard for you, Lady Aiselin.”

“No, that is also important, but…”

Still pale, Aiselin looked around again and whispered.

“Dereck… I’ll tell you the truth… Even if I tried to lie, you would realize it immediately…”

“What is happening?”

“Could you come with me right now to the Ravenclaw manor? Don’t ask questions… Just for me… I didn’t want to pressure you like this, but…”

Dereck felt a great sense of unease seeing Aiselin sweating profusely.

She was asking him to go with her without asking questions. It was the first time that Aiselin, who always considered Dereck’s feelings, had been so insistent.

“Just… don’t ask why… Please, pack your things and come with me to the Ravenclaw territory… okay…?”

Dereck swallowed hard while looking at Aiselin, who was clearly not well.

It was the first time Aiselin had acted with such urgency. Dereck, perceptive in his own way, asked her with a serious expression.

“Are you being threatened by someone, or is there some secret you can’t reveal because you’re being blackmailed?”

“Ugh…”

Aiselin shook her head vigorously at those words, but she looked as if she were about to cry.

Seeing her expression, as if she were begging him not to ask any more, Dereck did not insist.

In reality, he didn’t have much left to do at the Belmierd mansion, and he had planned to leave even if Aiselin hadn’t come looking for him.

Given that it was the first time Aiselin had insisted in such a way, it wasn’t too much to give in to her this time.

In fact, saying he was “giving in” wasn’t entirely correct. He had already been thinking about leaving.

When Dereck nodded, Aiselin jumped to her feet.

“Then… shall we pack immediately?”

“Right now? It would be proper to say goodbye to the Count.”

“I’ll leave a letter. I’ll say that monsters have appeared at the Ravenclaw manor and immediate help is needed. I’ll say it’s a matter of life or death.”

“Is that true?”

“No, it’s not true. But let’s go to the Ravenclaw manor for now. Okay?”

Seeing Aiselin run as if fire were chasing her, it seemed as though someone were pursuing her to snatch away a treasure.

Then Aiselin rolled up her sleeves and began packing Dereck’s mercenary supplies into a leather backpack.

What kind of noble lady packs such crude items herself? But Aiselin didn’t care about those things.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Lady Aiselin with such a serious expression…”

***

After her conversation with Aiselin and returning to her room, Ellen felt an inexplicable joy flood her chest.

Even when her family fell into disgrace, when tea was spilled on her, even when she was slapped, Aiselin never lost her dignity.

But now, her face was completely pale and her eyes moved restlessly.

She repeatedly asked Ellen about the meaning of her words, and her hands trembled while she held the teacup.

“…”

As soon as she returned to her room, Ellen ordered her maids to dry her sweat and fix her hair, which was slightly disheveled.

Then she tossed some magic books onto the bed and sat by the nightstand, letting out a deep sigh.

She remembered Aiselin’s expression during their recent conversation.

When Ellen said she would take Dereck, Aiselin’s entire body trembled, and she even stuttered.

In philosophical debates or political conversations at gatherings, Aiselin had never reacted that way.

She was nobler and more radiant than any other lady Ellen had ever known.

Seeing Aiselin like that made Ellen feel as if the sickness of inferiority that had eaten away at her for years was slowly disappearing.

Yes. If she could have Dereck, even Aiselin would shudder.

The value Ellen placed on the man named Dereck grew more and more.

That meant the heir of Belmierd desired him.

“Mmm.”

Ellen was sitting in a dark corner of the room, imagining herself walking through the Belmierd garden with Dereck, and she snapped out of her daydream with a twisted smile.

It was not appropriate for the lady of Belmierd, who must always appear dignified, to wear such a sinister smile.

However, the wings of imagination refused to fold.

The young woman couldn’t help but lose sleep, thinking about how to capture Dereck along with Count Belmierd.

The Belmierd mansion was Ellen’s exclusive domain.

As long as he remained there, she could devise countless ways to trap him.

“…”

*Creak, creak, creak.*

And the next morning, Dereck was no longer at the mansion.

He had too many things to do to stand still. He was like a wandering wind.

There was no way to contain a wind that could not be caught.

However, he was not the type to disappear without a word.

Surely someone must have informed him.

‘Aiselin…!’

In front of the empty guest room, Ellen’s eyes burned with fury.