Chapter 150

Chapter 150
## Chapter 150

As soon as dawn broke, the frigid winter air also seeped into the garden of Count Renuel’s residence.

Upon exhaling, a puff of vapor floated out, and small droplets of water formed on the hem of her winter coat.

Trisha looked at the droplets that lingered in the air for a moment with an expression of annoyance and then ran her hand over her face.

She had gone out early to get some fresh air, but her heart was filled only with worry.

‘Mom is going to ask me again how things are going with the Ravenclaw family.’

Every time she went down to the main house, Countess Rodelia would open her eyes wide and ask Trisha.

Seeing how she always checked if there was anything she could do to help, it was evident that she wanted at all costs to bring that Baron Ravenclaw under her protection.

“Even if I enter the Ravenclaw Academy and get good grades, I’m not sure I can become his direct disciple…”

There was no need to explain how difficult it was to obtain Diella’s approval; everyone already knew.

That girl named Diella, who on this occasion officially ascended to the highest position among Dereck’s direct disciples, clearly demonstrated that she did not want to accept any more disciples.

It had nothing to do with personal resentment between Trisha and Diella.

She rejected all young nobles as if she were an iron wall, crushed them with her mere presence, and reigned as the queen of the Rose Hall.

Feeling as if she had crashed against a massive wall, Trisha could only sigh deeply over and over again.

Even if everything went well and she managed to enter as Dereck’s direct disciple, it would be a problem.

Diella, Ellen, Denise, Siern… among such dazzling figures, Trisha would have no way to lift her head.

Furthermore, if she entered now, she would practically end up in the position of the youngest; something so terrible it almost seemed preferable to swim in a hell of fire.

But in this inevitable situation, she could not ignore Rodelia’s expectations.

Lost on the edge of a precipice, not knowing what to do, almost a month had already passed.

“I have heard that he will come to Count Renuel’s house to talk about support for the construction of the Academy. We should receive him splendidly. Even if he is a baron at the head of a remote and distant region, he has harvested many merits, so we must treat him with respect.”

And so, disaster always arrived suddenly.

Lately, Baron Ravenclaw had been running from one place to another due to the construction of the Academy and the stabilization of the territory.

The truly strange thing would have been if he had not come to Count Renuel’s residence during the winter, when there were no classes at the training center.

Count Renuel’s house was one of the most influential in the southwestern region of the continent.

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It seemed that Countess Rodelia wanted to take this opportunity to formally unite Trisha with Baron Ravenclaw and was planning how to organize the situation.

“I have ordered a new dress with pretty ruffles. We have also brought new jewelry; see which one suits you better.”

“Ah… yes… t-thank… y-you… m-mother…”

“As I already told you, your mother does not have good taste in these things, and I am not interested in external appearance. You, who have cultivated an aesthetic sense through social activities, should choose what suits you best, so tell me if something bothers you.”

Countess Rodelia was not completely ignorant of noble feminine etiquette, but since she had hardly participated in social activities and had spent most of her life on the battlefield, she was a rather blunt person.

That she paid so much attention to clothes was something very unusual.

Her intention was to take this opportunity to capture Baron Ravenclaw properly.

Politically, he had the support of Melverot, and economically he already enjoyed a secure financial situation thanks to his collaboration with Duplain.

The only thing that could unite them now was a connection between a man and a woman.

That was the origin of Rodelia’s determination, capable of using any method if necessary.

Trisha said goodbye to Rodelia with a slight smile and entered her room, sitting in front of the mirror.

While she sat there, sighs escaped her on their own.

She wiped her face, sweating a little, and thought.

«Yes, if the other disciples are not present at the Count’s residence, maybe I can persuade him as I desire. Lately I have lost confidence, but I must stand firm. I am Trisha, the young noble of the house of Count Renuel.»

After holding her breath several times, Trisha finally straightened her back to regain her arrogant attitude.

She opened her chest, put her hands on her waist, lifted her chin, and let out an arrogant giggle.

Now she felt that she had regained some of her elegance.

Just as Rodelia said, her appearance was more than acceptable, and the house of Count Renuel was not something that could embarrass her anywhere.

So there was no reason to feel intimidated before Baron Ravenclaw.

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The only thing she had to do was continue being the same as always: proud, self-assured, letting her elegant laughter flow.

After looking at herself several times in the mirror to convince herself, she began to feel a bit lighter.

However, there were figures that rose like shadows behind her.

People with such authority that they could silence an entire room with just a glance.

Whether it was Diella, Ellen, Denise, or Siern.

All of them were people who could crush her without effort.

From the perspective of an ordinary person, Trisha, daughter of a count, would be someone who lived among the clouds.

But from the point of view of those who truly lived in that sky, Trisha was nothing more than one of many ordinary young nobles.

Of course, the authority of the Renuel family grew endlessly, and Trisha’s name was not something that could be easily ignored.

But between the only daughter of a rising lineage and the lineages that had dominated the region for generations, there existed a chasm impossible to explain only with titles.

Neither ignoring, nor boasting, nor adopting an arrogant attitude could shorten that distance.

Much less with Baron Ravenclaw, who was above all of them; it was a distance that could not be described with words.

Trisha lowered her gaze again.

In worldly authority, magical ability, innate personality.

Baron Ravenclaw’s disciples were on a different level than her.

There was no way she could include her name among them.

Even so, she could not allow her spirit to be broken.

Lowering her head like one defeated, hiding her tail, and living hunched over.

In high society, that was equivalent to receiving a death sentence.

Losing confidence was accepting death.

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That was the unwritten code of the women’s battlefield: high society.

***

Although recently he was the most famous person in Ebelstein and the entire southwest of the continent, Baron Ravenclaw always dressed simply.

A leather vest, a tunic, tight pants that allowed freedom of movement, and well-oiled boots.

On top of that, he wore a cape as an outer garment.

At first glance, his attire seemed more like that of a wandering mercenary than that of a noble.

For this reason, even among the nobility, he was often considered a singular case, and when the servants saw him step down from the carriage, they could not help but feel uneasy.

It was a level that went beyond austere and bordered on the total absence of ornamentation.

Depending on the person, it could be interpreted as a lack of etiquette or dignity, but in the eyes of Countess Rodelia, it actually made him seem practical and trustworthy.

Perhaps Rodelia’s gaze was already clouded by him, but it was also a consequence of the long years she had spent living on the battlefield.

“The wounds you suffered in the last battle must have been deep, but it seems you have almost recovered. I feel more at ease. You must be tired from having come from so far.”

—It is nothing, Madam Countess. Thanks to the help you provided me that day, the matter did not worsen. I should have come sooner to express my gratitude; I apologize to you for not having done so.

“Express gratitude? I saw with my own eyes how gravely wounded you were. Besides, I have common sense, you know?”

Rodelia, who had not seen Baron Ravenclaw for some time, showed a smile of total satisfaction.

For her, Baron Ravenclaw was practically already her future son-in-law; she was thinking about what dowry to give them when they married and what lands to grant them so they could live separately as newlyweds.

Unlike when she massacred black mages of the necromancy branch on the battlefield, at times like this she showed a surprisingly naive side; that contrast was part of Countess Rodelia’s charm.

Every time Trisha observed from afar that sweet gaze and that smile of satisfaction that her mother directed at Dereck, she could not help but feel a cold sweat run down her neck.

Apparently, Rodelia still did not realize how truly inaccessible that man named Dereck was.

She seemed to believe that someone with Trisha’s appearance and personality could conquer him without difficulty, but that was the thought of someone like Rodelia, who did not fully understand the emotions between men and women.

Dereck was, in essence, a madman who only knew magic; he had accepted countless brilliant women as disciples, and yet, not even a hint of romance appeared.

To provoke an emotional reaction in him was almost like trying to climb a mountain.

Trisha could only wish that her mother would finally understand how irrational the demand she was imposing on her daughter was.

“Ah, this is my daughter Trisha. Surely you already know each other, but as a mother I am always worried that you do not greet each other properly.”

“Ah… hello, Baron Ravenclaw. We meet again.”

Trisha bowed her head with a tense tone, and Dereck, after looking at her in silence, returned the gesture.

“Do not worry. I have spoken with Miss Trisha on several occasions, and last time she even visited the main house of the Duplains.”

“Ah, that’s right, she did. My body is already old and my memory fails. Well, then, I hope our dear Trisha hasn’t caused you any trouble, right?”

“Not at all. Miss Trisha, as befits the daughter of Count Renuel, always treated me with dignity and courtesy. The servants told me the same: they told me that throughout her visit she was so kind and considerate that it moved them deeply.”

One of the habits that Dereck had developed upon joining high society was to avoid unnecessary enemies.

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In reality, both in the Ravenclaw house and the Duplain house, Trisha’s conduct had been more arrogant and haughty than dignified.

However, Dereck made sure to perfect his behavior so as not to have problems at Count Renuel’s residence.

That consideration had already become natural for him.

Trisha was surprised by the treatment Dereck received.

Although he held a noble title, his behavior used to be more like that of a commoner.

She had subconsciously assumed that he lacked refinement, so she held her breath for a moment.

Does the fact of becoming a noble truly change a person so much?

Trisha cleared her throat several times, adjusted her tone and, lightly lifting the edges of her dress modestly, made another bow.

“Baron Ravenclaw is very considerate toward me. Compared to the other young ladies of the Rose Hall, I am far behind.”

“That is not true.”

When it was necessary to affirm something, Dereck did so without hesitation; it was evident that he knew how to treat a lady.

Seeing this, Rodelia smiled again with satisfaction and immediately led him into the interior of the Renuel mansion.

Trisha swallowed hard, gripped the edges of her dress tightly, and followed her.

The tension was so great that she felt her vision blur, so she forced herself to take courage and harden her expression.

To overcome the situation, she only had to face the crisis with determination.

«When you participate in society, you encounter people with a much more imposing presence than your own, who seem superior in every aspect.»

Her father, Hutton, a famous merchant who died at the hands of a black mage, had been an extraordinary man.

He had gained prestige by financing commercial branches in the western continent and selling insurance to merchant ships.

Despite being of humble origin, he had managed to build a wide network of contacts in society.

That he had captured Rodelia’s attention and married her was almost incredible; their personalities were opposites.

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Rodelia was brave and just; Hutton, a timid opportunist.

Rodelia dedicated herself to martial arts; Hutton mastered business strategies, rhetoric, and persuasion.

Rodelia was upright and firm; Hutton, a man whose values changed according to the situation.

But they say that people are attracted to what is opposite to them.

From Trisha’s point of view, that passionate love story between the young Rodelia and Hutton was not difficult to understand.

The romance between a tycoon who traveled the world accumulating gold from a young age and a warrior who lived her whole life absorbed in the sword and magic was romantic enough to spark anyone’s imagination.

But all that was already history.

The stories that Hutton told the young Trisha while stroking her hair were things that the virtuous Rodelia could never have taught her.

With her eyes wide open, full of curiosity about the world, Trisha listened as he ran his hand over her head again.

«Even if it seems that everyone is above you, even before people who could crush you with a single glance, you must keep your head held high. That is how one survives in society.»

«If I found myself in a situation like that, I think I would be very scared…»

«Of course. Being human, it is impossible not to feel fear. The important thing is not to show it. Wear an arrogant smile and a mask, act as if the whole world belongs to you. Even at a disadvantage, never be subservient.»

In life, a moment will come when everyone around you will seem like monsters running among the clouds.

You will find yourself in front of a huge wall and ask yourself if you are nothing more than a weak and mediocre creature.

Before people who shine with their own light, one can feel like an insignificant worm or a hedgehog covered in quills.

In those moments, never show your true nature.

Even if a single misstep could make you fall into the mud, you must smile calmly, straighten your back and chest, and sit with arrogance.

Even on the top of a sandcastle about to collapse, you must be able to lie down as if nothing were happening.

Among extraordinary people, ordinary beings will always be tested in that way.

«If you do that, even those who perfectly understand your situation will not be able to look down on you so easily.»

That was what Hutton said, the man who went out into the world without a single penny and became a renowned banker.

He was no longer in this world, but thanks to those memories, Trisha still vividly preserved his voice.

They were memories from many years ago.

“Is it some matter related to the Clementine territory? It probably needs to be decided immediately.”

While they walked down the hallway of the Renuel mansion toward the reception room where refreshments had been prepared, the butler approached to whisper something to Countess Rodelia.

Something must have happened on the outskirts of the territory and required her immediate judgment.

Rodelia frowned, showing her displeasure, and then looked toward Dereck and Trisha.

“A matter has arisen that I must attend to immediately. I will go to the office for a moment; you two can converse in the reception room.”

Upon hearing that she would be left alone with Baron Ravenclaw, Trisha held her breath.

She felt the air leave her lungs, but she had no other choice.

“I am sorry to have to leave you like this, after you have come all the way to the mansion.”

“It is nothing.”

“Trisha, Baron Ravenclaw is our guest of honor; behave properly so as not to be disrespectful to him.”

“Yes, mother.”

After saying this, Countess Rodelia quickly headed toward the main hall.

Most of the servants followed her, so, apart from a couple of maids, no one else remained.

Only Trisha and Dereck were left. Silence filled the hallway.

“…”

Trisha swallowed hard and, after clearing her throat, spoke.

“Ah… thank you for speaking well of me in front of my mother. B-but… it wasn’t necessary for you to be so considerate. I know how to maintain my place in the family… and my mother always notices those very obvious courtesies… it could be counterproductive, you know?”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes. So, just be as you are. Just as you are. My mother doesn’t like those very evident formalities. Although she saw it was a show of consideration toward me, so she was satisfied… we were lucky this time. Do you understand?”

She felt that she was starting to talk too much, so Trisha cleared her throat again and lifted her nose slightly.

“T-then… there is no need for such consideration. I can take care of my—”

“Miss Trisha.”

Dereck’s sudden interruption made Trisha flinch.

It was rare for him, always so attentive and respectful, to interrupt someone in that way.

Without showing surprise, Trisha quickly turned her head and took a look at him.

Dereck observed her in silence for a moment and finally said, as if letting the word slip.

“You don’t need to try so hard.”

*Creak.*

After saying that, he opened the door to the parlor and entered first.

“…”

Trisha didn’t know if he was ignoring her or if he was annoyed; she stood there tense, waiting for some reaction.

But his response, so direct and calm, was completely unexpected.

She held her breath.

She stood staring fixedly at the open door for an instant, with her eyes wide open.

She didn’t know if it was a product of her imagination, but she felt as if Dereck had seen through the depths of her mind, and for an instant, her mind went blank.

‘Oh…’

Trisha swallowed hard again and, clutching her dress, ran inside. A thin trail of cold sweat ran down her back.