Chapter 11

Chapter 11
## Chapter 11

The following morning, when Lady Diella led the servants to the main house, a great stir arose among the staff. This was because she usually remained secluded in the annex.

As Housekeeper Katarina entered the central hall of the annex, a young woman leading the servants brushed past the nobles with a frown.

The sky-blue ruffled dress she wore as casual attire seemed more sweet than elegant, perhaps due to the wine-colored ribbon adorning her chest.

The servants from the annex hurried after her, and the passing nobles quickly bowed their heads, sweating profusely.

Everyone was tense, knowing that even the slightest mistake could trigger a wave of insults.

It had been far too long since the girl had visited the main house directly, and not knowing where Dereck was, she randomly stopped a noble passing by.

“You there.”

“Yes, Lady Diella. Good morning.”

The servant, who had been carrying ropes since early morning to repair the garden, stood firm, sweating buckets.

Housekeeper Katarina took a deep breath and hurried down the lobby stairs. The lower-ranking servants, who performed heavy physical labor in the garden from early morning, were often tired or lacked proper hygiene.

Katarina had to intervene immediately, lest he smell of sweat or look like a beggar; receiving a blow would be a problem.

“Do you know where the mage of Ebelstein is staying?”

“Ah, the mage of Ebelstein… do you mean the mercenary Lady Aiselin brought?”

“Yes. Answer me.”

“I’m sorry! I’ll find out right away!”

The servant stood stiffly, sweating profusely. He pressed his lower abdomen, anticipating a punch or a kick that could come at any moment.

But Diella wasn’t very interested in wasting time on such matters.

“Forget it. I’ll ask the housekeeper.”

“…?”

“What’s wrong with you? Do you have a problem?”

“No! I’m going, I’m going!”

The servant quickly gathered the ropes and ran off, and the housekeeper, who had rushed down, approached and bowed. She was inwardly surprised that the servant hadn’t been hurt, but she spoke with the utmost courtesy.

“Lady Diella, I apologize for the commotion. If you had informed us, we would have prepared properly.”

“Forget it. Just take me to where that mage of Ebelstein is.”

“Yes. He is staying in the guest room on the second floor.”

With that, the housekeeper moved forward three steps calmly, swallowing nervously.

From time to time, she glanced sideways at Lady Diella, but she didn’t seem too annoyed. It was completely different from when she would scold her over the most insignificant things.

*‘Oh, it seems she’s in a good mood today. I’d better be careful not to irritate her too much.’*

No matter how difficult Diella was, she would never hit the housekeeper, one of the three head maids of the mansion. At the very least, the housekeeper could deal with the infamous Diella.

As the housekeeper guided Diella, all the servants and followers passing by remained silent. Her sacrifice was well worth the title of “Holy Mother.”

Thus, Diella and the housekeeper walked in silence for a while, until they finally reached the guest room on the second floor.

When the housekeeper knocked gently on the door in a gesture of courtesy, a groan was heard from inside, as if someone were dying.

*—Creak*

The wait was brief. The door opened and a figure emerged looking like a corpse, or perhaps a corpse with a human appearance.

“What is happening?”

Dereck had spent the previous night unleashing his magic during the pursuit, and after returning Lady Diella to the annex, he had returned to the main house to discuss future plans with Jayden.

Only after his routine of studying spellbooks and training his powers was he finally able to sleep. According to the clock, he had only rested for three hours.

His face, full of exhaustion, the dark circles under his eyes, and his messy white hair made it clear he had just woken up.

Housekeeper Katarina, seeing the exhausted Dereck, felt pity, but also prayed silently for a solution to the disaster named Diella who had appeared that morning.

After all, Dereck now possessed the full trust of Duke Duplain and educational authority over Lady Diella.

“Lady Diella is looking for you, so I have come to guide you.”

“Lady Diella?”

When Dereck asked, Diella stepped forward quickly, looked at him, and said:

“Teach me to control the magic that has materialized. I tried it myself, but it didn’t work.”

“…”

“You said you would teach me.”

Katarina doubted her ears upon hearing Diella’s words. The servants who had worked in the mansion for a long time had practically lost hope in Diella’s supposed magical progress.

*Has Lady Diella materialized magic?*

This had to be reported immediately to Duke Duplain. The entire nobility would likely be shocked. It was understandable that Diella had arrived at the main house so early. Newly awakened mages were often euphoric over their growing achievements.

Captivated by that sense of accomplishment, many dedicated themselves to magic training as if bewitched. That overwhelming emotion was more addictive than rumors of the finest wine, at least until they reached their growth limit.

It was understandable that the young lady had made such an effort to arrive so early. The thirst for knowledge among mages who had just discovered magic was unimaginable.

And now it seemed clear why Diella wasn’t lashing out at the servants. Once she found something to focus on, it was to be expected.

Katarina looked at Dereck with bright eyes. Perhaps this boy could save the staff from the clutches of that demon.

Just as she was about to say something…

“Come back in the afternoon.”

*—Slam!*

The exhausted Dereck said it and closed the door. In front of the closed door.

The housekeeper and Diella stood motionless for a long time.

“What is this?! Are you kidding me?! You’re shutting the door in my face?! Who do you think you are?!”

Finally, Diella pounded on the door, raising her voice, but Dereck simply put in his earplugs and got back into bed.

Dereck, experienced under the tutelage of two masters, knew it well. The relationship between master and apprentice, ultimately, must be guided by the master for it to function correctly. It didn’t matter if the apprentice was a noble from one of the most important families in the empire; it was the same. After all, hadn’t Duke Duplain granted him full authority?

*—Bang! Bang! Bang!*

“Open the door! Open it now!”

Even amidst the racket, Dereck was ready to sleep soundly. After a life as a mercenary, one naturally acquires the ability to sleep despite noise.

Witnessing the scene, Housekeeper Katarina could only rub her face.

Both the master and the apprentice were stubborn to the core.

***

“Today, Lady Diella did not break a single plate during her meal.”

“Ha, she didn’t hit me once. But she seemed to be in a bad mood…”

“This morning, she was definitely using magic with that hand.”

Valerian, the first prince, sitting at one side of the Duke’s desk, had a surprised expression. Although his mouth was hidden by the hand resting on his chin, his slightly dilated pupils betrayed his thoughts.

He looked toward Duke Duplain, who was sitting at his desk, and their eyes met.

The Duke, fiddling with his pen, set it down for a moment and asked the servants who had come to report.

“Is it true?”

“Yes. I verified it several times before reporting. It seems Lady Diella has finally materialized her magic.”

“Did you hear that, Father? What a relief! A true relief.”

Valerian sighed in relief, as if the worst had been avoided.

Of course, it was strange to celebrate the mere materialization of magic, especially for someone born into the Duplain family. But given Diella’s recent behavior, this was a significant and positive development.

“Father, I told you Diella could do it.”

“It seems there is progress. We will postpone her transfer to the monastery and observe if the situation warrants follow-up.”

Duke Duplain stroked his chin, absorbed in thought.

“However, to be honest, her achievement still shows deficiencies.”

“Father… but think of all the effort Diella has made. Please, take that into account.”

“Then let us not speak of the monastery. However, granting her her own land to prepare for her social debut is another matter.”

At the very least, one had to be able to cast a one-star spell to claim they knew magic. In the nobility, that was the standard. Even that wasn’t a point of pride, but simply proof of not being completely incompetent.

“Of course, manifesting magical powers is something to celebrate, but it is still unknown if she has truly reformed, Father.”

At that moment, Leigh, sitting next to him, made a sharp comment. Valerian frowned upon hearing it.

“What do you mean by that, Leigh?”

“Seriously, brother? When someone materializes magic for the first time, they get so excited that nothing else matters. But once that excitement fades and they realize their situation again, who knows when they will go back to being their old self?”

She might have made progress as a mage, but as a noble lady, she could still remain superficial. That was what Leigh meant.

Valerian saw Leigh’s expression and, as always, maintained his composure.

Frankly, Leigh felt a deep aversion toward Diella. Although one could forgive past feelings, it was hard to feel affection for someone who had caused so much trouble for the family as a delinquent.

Valerian understood, to some extent, Leigh’s feelings. It was admirable that Valerian and Aiselin continued to patiently embrace Diella instead of blaming Leigh for having lost hope.

“The true nature of people does not change easily, Father.”

“Leigh. But since there has been progress, can’t we trust Diella a little more?”

“Brother, your approach is too soft. Especially at times like this, we need to be firmer. Don’t be so quick to rule out sending her to the monastery, Father. There, she truly will listen to you.”

Duke Duplain picked up his pen again and drew a line on a document while speaking.

“Leigh’s words have merit. However, since some progress has been made, a more subtle approach is not entirely wrong. It is better to observe her for a longer period.”

Leigh had a look of displeasure, but Valerian’s face relaxed. Duke Duplain drummed on the desk for a moment before lowering his head to focus on the document.

*‘That commoner mage. He is truly extraordinary.’*

The Duke had been thinking this since the boy, with such boldness, formulated his question in the main office. However, being extraordinary and getting results were two different things. The Duke had no choice but to raise his estimation of the boy named Dereck.

Yet, in the end, he was still a commoner. That status had its limits. While he had reached a fairly high level for his age, he was still within the bounds of the lower class.

“Let’s set aside the matter of Diella for now. The next priority is the Christmas conference.”

“…Duke Beltus and Prince Belmierd will also attend. I’ve heard Duke Beltus will come in person, and Prince Belmierd will be represented by Lady Elente.”

If the three most influential families in the western part of the Empire where Ebelstein was located were mentioned, the answer was always the same: Beltus, Duplain, and Belmierd.

It was not common for the heads of such influential houses to gather in one place.

Evidently, they would discuss matters such as trade routes near Ebelstein and changes in the Empire’s tax laws.

“Sending Lady Elente to represent us in a meeting like that? Not even a senior advisor?”

Duke Duplain felt a strange sense of insult. It wasn’t that the other directors were too lazy to attend, but that the meeting was important.

However, Prince Belmierd was a wise man. He could not ignore the discourtesy this implied. A truly strange incident.

Duke Duplain sat with his hands clasped, deep in thought. Known for his deep contemplation, his two sons had already begun organizing the documents.

“I’m leaving now.”

With a look of displeasure, Leigh left the office.

Evidently, he was not pleased that Diella had escaped her fate of being sent to the monastery.

***

Dereck slept soundly, woke up to eat the food prepared by the servants, bathed, breathed the fresh air, and took a sip of tea.

In the afternoon, he headed to the annex only to find Diella completely dejected, hugging her knees in a corner of her bed.

“Are you upset?”

“It’s not sarcasm, I’m angry.”

“It doesn’t matter how angry you get. Everything has its order.”

“I’m not sulking, I’m angry.”

“Rushing with enthusiasm after manifesting something magical will only exhaust you. I say this from experience.”

Dereck pulled a wooden chair in front of her bed. Calmly, he placed it beside her, sat down, and brushed the grass off his pants.

“Rest is as important as study. Always prepare yourself thoroughly for anything you do. Don’t forget that.”

“Listening to you reminds me of that boring ethics professor reading a textbook.”

“…Should I make it less boring?”

Recalling that “not at all boring” night running through the forest, Diella shivered. She decided it was better not to draw too much attention.

“Forget it.”

“Come here. It’s time to practice magic materialization and build the foundations for one-star spells. Don’t you want to learn magic?”

Diella did not like being given orders by a commoner.

Like a cautious cat, she stared with wide eyes, then fixed her golden hair several times before crawling across the bed to sit up.

With her lips forming a puckered triangle, she looked ready to pout at any moment, but when Dereck manifested magic in his hands, her eyes widened in awe.

The way his magic manifested was very different from her family’s. The colors varied and the movement patterns were diverse.

“To learn the magic of the Savage School, you must first free yourself from stereotypes and rules. It will be difficult at first, but once you get used to it, you can learn advanced spells on your own.”

“Dereck, did you learn on your own?”

“No. I also had a teacher. He was from the Disciplined School, so I learned half of it on my own.”

Dereck demonstrated how his magic moved freely in his hands, proving that controlling energy with freedom was the first objective.

“Wow, this looks harder than I thought.”

“It’s fine. The essence of the Savage School is self-learning. The lack of a strict system is, in fact, an advantage in times like this.”

“Can I try?”

“I’m not saying this to flatter you, but honestly, Lady Diella, you have talent.”

Upon hearing those words, Diella’s eyes sparkled.

“Really?”

“Although your efforts were unsuccessful, the magic knowledge you memorized and the various exercises were not in vain. After all, you not only recognized and materialized magic power, but you also imbued it with cold to create ice pillars, right?”

“Uh, yes…”

“That’s not something ordinary people can do immediately. With a little refinement, it could become a one-star spell.”

The talent was there. The girl, ruminating on those words as if harboring deep resentment, reflected in silence. Looking back, it wasn’t strange. The simple word “talent” had the power to move the heart.

“Having self-esteem is good, as long as it doesn’t turn into arrogance. So it’s okay to feel proud.”

“I have never been arrogant in my life.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Why do you speak so rudely? Do you want to die?”

“Your mouth is too foul. Have some dignity.”

Dereck dispersed the magic energy gathered in his hands and ended the demonstration. Then, staring at Diella, who had been watching intently, he gestured for her to try it herself.

It wasn’t something that could be imitated just by looking once, but Diella tried seriously to feel the magic in her own hands.

After repeating it several times, she began to feel more comfortable with the magic within her. Progress was evident. Honestly, it was fun.

Learning something was fun. It was a feeling she had forgotten long ago.

Realizing she was smiling, Diella quickly composed herself and put on a face of feigned indifference.

“Wow, I think I’ve mastered it! Like you said, Dereck, maybe I’m a bit of a genius.”

“…”

Dereck, resting his chin on his hand, said:

“You have talent, but I never said you were a genius.”

“…You really aren’t like the others.”

After that, Diella took every opportunity to learn magic from Dereck.

Though she complained at first, she quickly became absorbed in the magic, and it became clear that she hadn’t always been a demon from the start.

Taking classes solely in the annex every day was a bit limiting, so sometimes they enjoyed the sun in the rose garden or on the lawn near the main house.

If time permitted, they wandered through the nearby woods and rivers, where they could perform more elaborate spells. In their wake, they often drew the attention of the nobles and servants passing by.

Seeing young Lady Diella following Dereck everywhere, bombarding him with questions, often reminded people of how she was when she was younger.

Finally, the shouting within the Duplain family began to fade.

For the servants, there was no greater relief. In a short time, Dereck became the savior of the mansion staff.

“Hmm…”

In the private office of the second son of the Duplain family, Leigh, after hearing the rumors about Diella, sat alone with his legs crossed, drumming his fingers distractedly on the desk.

Although some favorable rumors were circulating about Diella, he couldn’t imagine she had changed so easily.

He had been one of the victims of Diella’s worst days. She would rant and spread malicious gossip at every opportunity, tormenting and despising even her most beloved personal maid. One of them had worked with Leigh for over a decade.

No matter what was said about new beginnings, accumulated hatred does not disappear so easily. That was the nature of karma.