Chapter 159

Chapter 159
Chapter 159

Katia’s life trajectory had always been descending.

In Katia’s turbulent life, if one were to speak of the so-called nobles, there would be much to say.

From being the lady of the luxurious Flameheart family, she became a disgraced noble, then sank even further to become a mercenary wandering the battlefields, and yet, in the end, she re-emerged once more as the magic instructor of the Elvester family.

Throughout that restless life, the expressions shown by those who called themselves nobles changed time and time again.

When they dealt with the lady of the Flameheart family, who enjoyed a certain fame in Eastern society, they always smiled kindly at her; when she fell from grace and wallowed in the mud, they began to spit at her; and when she became known again as a magic instructor, they began to offer her hypocritical smiles.

Even within those attitudes that changed as easily as flipping one’s palm, what could be vaguely perceived was a subtle contempt toward Katia, someone who would never be a noble again.

Their attitudes, which changed depending on who they were facing, were like those of a chameleon.

In the eyes of Katia, who had lived a life more unstable than anyone, all nobles were like that.

Perhaps those who had lived stagnant in one place could not understand that gap.

Young noble ladies could live until the day of their death believing that the benevolent and warm images of the nobles they saw were their true faces.

In reality, when a person’s position changes, it is natural for their attitude to change as well.

At this point, Katia no longer felt indignant or emotionally hurt by it.

She had long since accepted with serenity the fact that she had been demoted to a status not much different from that of a commoner.

However, while living as if she were wandering in the middle of a whirlwind, she sometimes wondered about something.

Unlike her own life, which never ceased to descend, one of her former disciples seemed to be ascending endlessly, rising toward some distant place.

Undoubtedly, contemplating the landscape that changes during the fall and contemplating the landscape that changes during the ascent must be a different experience.

Or perhaps they are the same. She could not know, because she had never experienced it.

That is why, every time she folded one of Dereck’s letters and kept it in a drawer, Katia would silently contemplate the southwestern sky visible through the window and begin to think.

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When the time comes, will you also be able to tell me what you have seen?

With that thought in mind, the old teacher embarked on a journey to reunite with her disciple after a long time.

***

“I am Orel, commander of the Orel mercenary company. I have heard that you worked for a long time as a mercenary in the Ebelstein tavern district; judging by your attire, it gives me a pleasant feeling, as if I had met someone from my homeland.”

“…”

Since the days when Katia wandered through Ebelstein, they had not ceased hearing stories about the mercenary commander Orel.

That Orel, already revered as a legendary figure among mercenaries, was in command of the Beltus family’s private troops was surprising enough, but that he had even personally brought soldiers to receive Katia was even more striking.

Seeing the number of soldiers gathered under the pretext of a ceremonial escort, Katia frowned, visibly confused.

“Miss Denise… what is all this…?”

“Um… well…”

For her part, Denise was having difficulty deciding how to treat Katia.

Basically, Denise interacted with Dereck quite naturally.

They had known each other since before he received a noble title, so, except at public events with many eyes on them, they did not strive to use overly formal manners.

In fact, if they behaved too formally, the relationship became awkward, so both maintained a fairly relaxed teacher-disciple relationship.

But then, how should she treat Katia?

In formal terms, Katia was a commoner who had lost both her status and position.

Seeing that she treated Denise with respect and even adopted a subordinate’s etiquette before Trisha, it seemed that she herself did not place much importance on that.

However, from the perspective of Denise or Trisha, she was not someone they could take lightly.

“Lately, the internal situation of the Beltus family has been quite complicated, but in any case, upon hearing that Dereck’s teacher would be coming in person, we thought that, at the very least, we should offer you minimum courtesy…”

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“No… there was no need to go to that extreme… Miss Denise is very considerate.”

“No… to be exact, it is something we must do for the prestige of the Beltus family…”

Denise decided not to adopt a false attitude.

She had already heard several times from Dereck’s own mouth what Katia was like, and she knew that any clumsy facade would be discovered immediately.

“From what you did before with Miss Denise and also with Trisha… it seems that you are not yet aware of the influence you have in the southwest of the continent.”

“Huh?”

“You will probably also pass through Ebelstein society, right? If your goal is to travel discreetly, perhaps it is better not to reveal your name. If it is discovered that you are Baron Ravenclaw’s teacher, many will pounce on you with angry eyes…”

While watching Denise speak and swallow nervously, Katia tilted her head with a bewildered expression.

As had already been said, the only way Katia could find out the news about the surroundings of Ebelstein was by reading Dereck’s letters.

While working as an assistant for the Elvester family, her days had been so busy and hectic that she found it difficult to be interested in anything beyond the situation of a city on the opposite end of the continent.

And what Dereck wrote was nothing more than a sober account of his daily life.

Katia had sensed that this would have a great impact on the balance of power in the southwest of the continent, but she could not know exactly how turbulent the situation had become.

Denise cast a sideways glance at the dilapidated carriage following her, let out a deep sigh, and said.

“I will not ask who is inside the wagon. I think it is better not to know.”

And in the end, what Dereck had written had been nothing more than an arid enumeration of his current situation.

Katia had also assumed that this would have a great impact on the power structure of the southwest of the continent, but it was impossible to know exactly to what extent everything had been upended.

Denise cast a sideways glance at the dilapidated carriage moving behind them and, after letting out a long sigh, said.

“I will not ask who is inside the wagon. I think it is better not to know.”

The moment she said that, it was practically the same as having noticed the presence of Miss Freya, who would be resting inside the carriage with the help of her assistants.

She has a good sense of smell and knows how to handle herself. On the outside she seems naive, but on the inside she is as cunning as a snake.

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Katia’s gaze, an expert in reading people, was rarely wrong.

And Denise also instinctively understood that Katia had already completely figured her out.

“She’s a smart girl. Dereck has managed to get a good disciple.”

People with agile minds often become cunning easily, but in Denise there was barely a trace of that kind of malice.

Rather, her cautious behavior, for fear of offending Katia, conveyed a remarkable firmness.

The fact that even Miss Denise of the Beltus family was being so careful with her made it inevitable to wonder what on earth Dereck had done in the southwest of the continent.

Katia smiled with satisfaction and spoke softly.

“I have heard a lot about you through the letters, Miss Denise. Dereck always said that, among all his disciples, you were the smartest and the one who best judged situations, someone he could always trust.”

“D-Did Dereck say that…?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“W-well… that’s true, but…”

Suddenly, Denise looked away and checked if any other member of the family was listening to the conversation.

Then she ran a hand through her silver hair, moved a little closer, and asked in a low voice.

“And… and what exactly did he say?”

“Pardon?”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but… just… how did he express it, what words did he use, how did he explain it…”

“…”

Seeing Denise ask with an awkward expression, but clearly unable to contain herself, Katia could not help but feel concerned.

She did not know the details, but she could only come to one conclusion: Dereck must also be having a hard time.

***

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“I can accompany you up to here. If you keep crossing this plain, you will reach the Ravenclaw territory, with vineyards stretching along the way. Surely Dereck has already sent people to wait for you.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Miss Denise. For someone of a position as humble as mine, it has been a too generous welcome.”

“It is nothing. It is nothing extraordinary. Rather, I apologize for having caused such a stir when, if you had come alone, you would have arrived without any problem.”

“Please, don’t say that.”

Katia smiled and formally expressed her gratitude to Denise.

After saying goodbye, she took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

Spring was advancing at a steady pace, but in the shaded areas along the path there were still remnants of snow that had not melted.

The sky, viewed from the border between winter and spring, had a pleasant clarity, balanced at just the right point.

As she exhaled, the vapor coming out of her mouth showed that it was not yet time to take off her coat, although the warm sunbeams seemed to insist on the contrary.

Katia had always loved that ambiguous landscape of the transition season.

Just as her life had changed incessantly, the seasons also showed a different facet just when one began to get used to them.

A life without turmoil might have its own value, but Katia certainly preferred a turbulent existence.

The feeling of liberation that this long journey brought her after so long was the best proof of that.

“The Ravenclaw territory…?”

That white-haired boy with a haggard appearance who in the past devoured hard bread in a corner of the slums, now possessed, under his own name, an entire territory.

Compared to the lands that the Flameheart family had possessed in its heyday, it was a modest domain, but knowing that this achievement was the fruit of Dereck’s desperate efforts made it feel extraordinarily valuable.

— Kii-ruuk, kii-ruuk

Under the sunlight, the orchards preparing for the next harvest descended in rows along the hills.

They said it was a region famous for its wine, so the busy harvest season must have already ended.

The landscape that stretched before her eyes conveyed a strange sense of calm.

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Everything was the home that that little boy, fighting with all his might, had managed to build for himself.

Closing her eyes, memories of the past inevitably flooded her mind.

During her stay at Count Elvester’s residence, there were many nights when, lying in bed, those memories resurfaced.

Katia, who had tried not to get attached, was always serious before Dereck, and he, clutching the hem of her clothes, followed her with his short steps.

Hard and violent streets, dominated by mercenaries.

Mud-covered roads.

A filthy beggar child and a fallen noble.

A son without parents and a mother who had lost her son.

Surviving by clinging to each other in such a wild environment, where everyone only thought about exploiting their neighbor, was perhaps very far from what could be called happiness.

And yet, if she kept remembering those moments, perhaps it was because they had meant something to her.

When Katia opened her eyes after having been lost in those unusual thoughts, a familiar voice sounded beside her.

“It’s still quite cold, master. You should consider your age.”

A young man with a familiar appearance approached and, naturally, placed an elegant shawl over her shoulders.

Now that she thought about it, Denise had already told her.

Dereck would soon come to receive her in person.

Katia, narrowing her eyes, looked at the man in front of her and let out a short laugh.

“You’ve grown quite a bit.”

“I’m past my growing stage.”

“You can still grow more.”

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“…”

After so many years apart, they reunited as if they had seen each other the day before, exchanging simple words.

That was how they were.

Both Katia and Dereck.

“I have prepared quite a bit of strong liquor. You couldn’t drink all you wanted at Count Elvester’s residence, could you?”

“It cost me quite a bit to lower my tolerance, and now my own disciple encourages me to drink…”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to do it.”

“Do they also have rum in addition to wine?”

Both smiled naturally, as if this reunion were something inevitable.

The season was situated somewhere between winter and spring.

A slight cold was still perceived in the air, but it was a moment full of expectations for the warmth that was about to arrive.