Chapter 149

Chapter 149
## Chapter 149

“Di-Diella, m-my lady. The weather is very n-nice today. For being the end of winter, it is warm and already feels t-temperate.”

“If you have no commitments today, how would you like to have tea at our family mansion, the Ludens?”

“My father, Viscount Krox, says he would very much like to see you at least once, Lady Diella.”

To enter the Ravenclaw Academy and become a direct disciple of the Baron, one ultimately had to obtain permission from his eldest disciple, Diella Katerine Duplain.

When that fact became public, Diella’s position within the Rose Salon soared so high that she practically reached the top.

The prestige of the Duplain family, which was already on the rise, grew even further; it gave the impression that they had recovered the level they held before Valerian became involved with spiritual branch magic.

As expected, the moment Diella appeared in the Rose Salon and walked among the people, all the young noble ladies observed her with extreme caution.

“That’s enough.”

Of course, there was no way Diella would give in so easily.

She knew perfectly well that those young women approached her because they wanted to become Dereck’s disciples. Diella did not like at all that the number of Dereck’s disciples was increasing.

Therefore, when they approached her so blatantly, she bristled and growled like a beast. It was not easy to win the favor of such a creature.

Consequently, the young ladies of the salon had to seek another strategy.

If they could not win over this girl, then they had to make a good impression on someone against whom Diella could do nothing.

As previously mentioned, in all of Ebelstein, there were only two people capable of controlling Diella.

One of them was Baron Ravenclaw himself, but speaking of him was useless, as he almost never appeared in the Elfontine building. However, the other case was different.

It was someone who could completely control Diella, someone who spoke better, and was kind and gentle.

“It’s been a while since you’ve come to the salon, hasn’t it? Miss Aiselin, are you well these days? I heard you’ve been very busy.”

Aiselin, who had been unable to attend the salon due to matters concerning the Duplain family and the Ravenclaw mansion, arrived after a long time, and instantly a large group of young noble ladies gathered around her as if they were admirers.

Aiselin had always received the admiration of many, but lately, it had become almost obsessive, something that left her bewildered.

*’No… it wasn’t to this extreme…’*

Aiselin had come to the salon to hear opinions about the academy to be built on the Duplain grounds, receive admission applications, and review various changes.

But seeing such an exaggerated reaction, it almost seemed that Diella had reached unthinkable levels within the Rose Salon.

Perhaps even at the same level as Aiselin in her prime.

Thinking of that, Aiselin smiled kindly and passed among the young noble ladies in the salon.

***

The three young women traditionally considered the most distinguished of the Rose Salon were Aiselin, Ellen, and Denise.

When the three sat together, no other young woman dared to approach due to the aura they emanated.

However, lately, they had barely been able to see each other, whether due to family problems or various incidents.

That day, sitting together again in the main seat, the three had an air very different from before.

“It has been a long time since we saw each other in the Elfontine building. Lady Denise, Lady Ellen.”

Aiselin, who had experienced the greatest personal changes, sat on one side of the round table and smiled.

Ellen and Denise, sitting across from her, looked at her.

Ellen still kept her long red hair and eyes of the same color, like a living flame.

Although her appearance had not changed much, her attitude did seem softer than before.

Perhaps due to the fact that they now shared the same master, her caution had diminished quite a bit.

Even so, a strange nuance was perceived in the atmosphere: more than social rivals, they had become romantic rivals.

Of course, none of them was so reckless as to demonstrate it openly.

“Have you been well, Lady Aiselin? I heard that many things have happened.”

“Yes, enough time has passed, so everything is partially resolved. So rather…”

Aiselin paused and looked at Denise.

Her ash-gray hair looked even paler, and her slightly sunken eyes gave her a tired appearance.

She looked exhausted; not desperate, but very fatigued.

When Denise frequented the salon, she was the perfect personification of a young noblewoman.

But lately, that mask had been breaking, and she showed more of her true personality, which for Aiselin was even better.

She knew very well why: with so many internal and external problems, it was natural for the facade to crumble.

The internal situation of the Beltus family was, without exaggeration, total chaos.

Seeing that tired face, which reminded her so much of her own from the past, Aiselin sighed to herself.

“Don’t worry too much about me. Sometimes, if one runs enough, the family walks again; you know that well, don’t you, Aiselin?”

Denise spoke lightly, but her fatigue was evident.

The three young protagonists of the Rose Salon had finally gathered.

Although their status and position were now different, their aura remained as powerful as ever.

While they spoke, something happened.

— *Creak, thud.*

In the most important seat of the salon, the one belonging to the true powers of the place, someone approached without hesitation, pulled out a chair, and sat down without permission.

“May I sit?”

She asked, but without waiting for an answer.

Her crossed arms and the tilt of her head showed a strange mixture of arrogance and elegance.

If it had been any other young woman, that would have been considered madness deserving of expulsion from the salon.

But when they saw who it was, no one could object.

It was Diella.

And behind her came someone even more fearsome.

“I will sit here too.”

At the huge round table, with almost no free seats, the last chair was occupied by Siern, the daughter of the Rochester family and the beloved daughter of the 6-star mage Melverot.

Her small body took a seat and leaned back.

None of the young women in the salon showed an expression of displeasure.

If one were to speak of who occupied the top of the Rose Salon, many would think of three people; but since the Ravenclaw family entered the aristocracy, the structure had changed.

Now there were five at the top.

And four of them shared the same master.

In short, the aristocratic society of Ebelstein was already completely under the influence of the Ravenclaw family.

Furthermore, each of those young women was someone whom no one else could control.

At that moment, there was no one in the entire Elfontine building with enough authority to rule them.

Diella placed the official document from Baron Ravenclaw on the table and said:

“Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, in charge of supervising the Ravenclaw Academy, has granted me direct authority to address the disciples.”

Denise, Ellen, and Siern looked at her, each with a gaze heavier than the last, as if they carried an entire continent on their shoulders.

It was enough to antagonize one of them to put an entire family in danger.

Even so, Diella puffed out her chest and spoke with total confidence. In these types of matters, Diella never hesitated.

“Of course, I cannot interfere in family matters or daily life. But regarding the hierarchy among the disciples, I am at the top, and you must respect me accordingly.”

It was rare to see Diella show courtesy.

Even with Denise, the first time they met, Diella lunged at her without thinking.

But now she spoke with good manners for a clear reason: if she showed a minimum of formality, she expected the same from others.

They were not facing weak nobles from the countryside, but heiresses of the most influential families in the southwest of the continent.

Seeing her, all the young women watching felt a chill run down their necks.

With such monsters present, maintaining composure was something only Diella could do.

Depending on who heard it, that could be interpreted as a declaration of war.

But the round table remained silent.

Dereck had officially recognized Diella’s authority.

And everyone present knew exactly what that meant.

“If there are no objections, I will leave it at that.”

Diella placed the documents on the table and stepped down firmly. The crowd parted automatically.

If the hierarchy were measured by family prestige, the first place would correspond to Ellen of Belmierd or Siern of Rochester.

But among Dereck’s disciples, the undisputed number one was Diella.

In this place, that fact became completely clear.

Fourth, Siern.

Third, Denise.

Second, Ellen.

First, Diella.

Seeing each of them, the young nobles surrounding them had no choice but to swallow hard with difficulty.

To enter as the youngest disciple among those four, they had to think about it very seriously.

***

“We have received a letter from the Hergis family in which they state they will return part of the mining rights of Mount Rodel that they had expropriated. In exchange, they request the right of priority admission to the Ravenclaw Academy, currently under construction.”

“The Riventeil family is in the same situation. They apologize for having usurped part of the tax rights of the Lebels plain and have requested a meeting to renegotiate. However, they also claim the right of priority admission to the Academy and the right to negotiate directly with Baron Ravenclaw.”

The high-ranking vassals, the head butler, and the other servants gathered to report the situation to the current head of House Duplain, Leigh.

Leigh was already busy reviewing the status of the civil works within the territory and closely following the changes among the nobles of the neighboring territories and the central nobles.

In addition to all that, he had to review the administration of the mansion, which was enough to make his head explode.

“Lady Miriela also sent a letter. She says she will soon finish her stay at her parents’ house and return to House Duplain; it seems her health has improved quite a bit.”

“We are also receiving many responses from collateral relatives with whom we had not had communication. It seems that now that the recovery of House Duplain seems possible, everyone is turning their attention back to this place.”

“Even among the relatives who occupy central political positions, several have shown their intention to provide support. If negotiations progress favorably, we could soon overcome the liquidity shortage.”

“…”

However, recently the situation had begun to improve in a surprising way.

When it seemed that house Duplain was about to collapse and disappear, its atmosphere began to revive; and the relatives who had abandoned it to save themselves began to write again, somewhat ashamed.

Furthermore, much more news began to arrive from the noble society of Ebelstein.

“The Rodel family sent a gift. It was… 600 Adelton gold coins…”

“…”

“The Belmierd family also sent a high-ranking vassal to receive us. They presented us with a lot of typical products from the territory. Even the territory’s jurist came in person, so the servants were very surprised.”

“……”

“The high vassals of House Beltus sent a plaque of appreciation. Apparently, they are sending greetings to the forces that helped them during the last incident.”

“News from the Renuel family…”

“Financial support for the construction of the Academy from Viscount Callist’s family…”

“The invitation to the banquet organized by Viscount Sidmer’s house…”

“The eldest son of the Clemtaine family will celebrate his coming-of-age ceremony, and they ask us to attend…”

“Letters arrived from the Feldrix family of the north and the Rochester family…”

“Managing all of this at once will not be easy… How should we set priorities…?”

“…”

Leigh heard the report and ran both hands over his dry face. Then he muttered to himself.

*No, what is this? I’m scared too.*

However sudden the changes were, this was already too much.

Only a few months ago, when the name of Duplain lay in the foundations, Leigh, as head of the family, had to go personally to beg to get a few gold coins.

No matter how much desperation the high nobles had to provide magical education to their children, he never imagined they would change their attitude so drastically.

In the midst of such a commotion, how was he supposed to maintain his sanity?

For the young director Leigh, it was inevitable that a cold sweat ran down his back.

Just as he was trying to organize the information from the vassals…

*Creak.*

“Ah, excuse me. It seems I was in the middle of a meeting.”

Suddenly, Dereck opened the office door, observed the situation, and bowed in apology.

“I’ll come back later.”

“No, no, no. W-what happened? Please come in. Sit here. Bring the reception sofa. Butler! Prepare a comfortable seat for Baron Ravenclaw.”

“Y-yes, yes sir.”

Startled, Leigh stopped Dereck and gave quick orders to the vassals.

Furthermore, attentive to Dereck, they immediately lined up against the wall, indicating they would suspend the meeting of the head of the house until he finished.

‘…’

Dereck had only come to ask, informally, how the civil works of the territory were progressing.

It was not something urgent enough to interrupt the main meeting of the house; but seeing all the vassals breaking into a cold sweat as they moved out of the way made him quite uncomfortable.

There was no thornier cushion than that.

Even so, Leigh, sweating profusely, ordered the maids to bring a good herbal tea.

“O-of course. If Baron Ravenclaw needs anything, I must listen to him first.”

“It seemed that the matters of the meeting were very important. I should take care of them first…”

“No, no. Those things usually come with preliminary conclusions from the vassals, they don’t take that long. Right, butler?”

“Yes, I will prepare everything organized by order of importance.”

The vassals also responded with tension, moving quickly.

“Well, then… What does our Baron wish to know? Say whatever you want, without pressure.”

Although Leigh spoke that way, Dereck felt so uncomfortable that sweat even ran down his temple.

“I wanted to consult something related to the construction schedule…”

“The schedule! That is very important! Yes! Butler! Secretary! Bring the corresponding documents immediately!”

“No, no. It is enough for me if you inform me of the progress verbally. I can verify it later with the barony staff…”

“What are you saying? If you are going to verify something, you must do it right! Butler! Quick!”

“Y-yes, understood.”

Leigh was the head of House Duplain and officially the successor to the ducal title.

Although his power had diminished considerably, his formal authority was still governed by nobility law.

Therefore, Dereck was not sure if all that was really normal.

It was a sensation that almost made him dizzy.