Chapter 42

Chapter 42
## Chapter 42

“Dereck has been working as an instructor for the Beltus family for quite some time.”

While listening to the lecture on magic theory, Ellen, of the Belmiard family—known as the Rose of the Hall of Roses—could not help but lose her concentration.

She remembered the mercenary instructor with whom she used to discuss magic until late at night.

Ellen let down her loose red hair and sighed softly.

The Belmiard family was left out of the race to recruit Dereck, who ultimately joined the Beltus family.

Rivalry among nobles to capture talented individuals was always unpredictable, but the loss of Dereck was particularly painful. Count Belmiard even apologized to Ellen, feeling pity for her.

It was the first time Ellen had actively requested an instructor, so Count Belmiard must have done everything possible for her.

*Was I just a burden to my father…? Though, what kind of offer did the Beltus family make to get Dereck?*

In any case, in Ellen’s opinion, Dereck was an exceptional magic teacher.

In an era where talented magic instructors were worth their weight in gold, it was inevitable to wonder how much the Beltus family had offered for him.

In reality, Dereck’s intention to establish a connection with the Beltus family was the most important variable… but Ellen did not know that.

When Aiselin was rejected, it became clear that not just anyone could be accepted as a student.

*Hmm… perhaps I should invite Lady Denise to tea and subtly test the waters…*

To Ellen, who did not particularly like the complex social intrigues of high society, it felt strange to be plotting to involve a lady from a rival family in her affairs.

However, Ellen also felt curious to know how Denise was learning magic from Dereck.

*Yes, arranging a meeting shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll ask the butler to get in touch with her.*

Denise, as she was seen in the social circles of Ebelstein and the Rose Hall, always exuded a mysterious aura.

Like the other noble ladies, she was kind and dignified, but there seemed to be something hidden beneath the surface, something that was not openly revealed. Among the three members of the Hall of Roses, she was the most enigmatic.

*Lady Denise… she is definitely not someone easy to approach…*

Teaching someone so reserved was not simple. After all, teaching ultimately involved guiding someone.

How exactly was it that Dereck taught the mysterious Denise?

Ellen wanted to see it with her own eyes, at least once.

When the magic lecture ended, Ellen rose from her seat and smoothed the hem of her dress.

For the first time in a long while, she felt a surge of motivation.

***

*What kind of plan are you hatching? I don’t understand… but in the end, the servants should be on my side. Structurally, they all belong to the Beltus family.*

The next morning, after breakfast, Denise stayed in the hallway talking to Dereck.

Dereck, with his hands clasped behind his back, tilted his head and looked directly at Denise.

“Yes?”

“It seems you’ve been trying to get closer to the servants lately… Plotting secretly like that is not right. Aren’t we just supposed to teach and learn magic?”

“There seems to be a misunderstanding… Yes, I have been trying to become more familiar with the servants, but it is not for any ulterior motive.”

Denise swallowed hard.

She had openly used Dereck, and he surely was aware that the Beltus family saw him as a pawn in the power struggle among the nobles.

Even so, Dereck maintained a serene expression. Denise found it difficult to decipher his true intentions.

“It is true, as you say, Lady Denise, that I should be closer to the servants. My actions have a purpose, but there is nothing suspicious, and I can explain it to you if you ask.”

“Then, what is it…?”

“What else? The servants who have supported you for years are the ones who know you best, aren’t they?”

Denise pressed him for an answer, but Dereck spoke as if it were nothing, maintaining eye contact with her.

“I need to know more about Lady Denise. As an instructor, it’s natural that I want to understand even the smallest detail of the person I teach.”

“There’s no need to beat around the bush… I mean, as a lady of the Beltus family, you must have heard all the rumors from the Hall of Roses, right?”

“That is true, but information based on rumors has obvious limitations.”

Dereck always became very serious when he talked about magic.

His dedication and passion were enough to impress anyone who saw him.

“Magic is extremely complex, and the way each person handles magic power varies slightly. It is necessary to consider the temperament, thoughts, habits, values, and worldview of each individual in a comprehensive way. While the classification of magic academies is important, just as crucial is understanding the temperament of the mage themselves.”

“…So, as I was saying…”

“How could I truly understand Lady Denise based solely on the superficial information from the Hall of Roses? What I want to know are not the superficial achievements of the lady of the Beltus family, but Lady Denise herself. Understanding her is the key to teaching her magic more effectively.”

There was certainty in Dereck’s firm tone.

Having risen from humble origins, he had his own ideas about how people acquired skill in magic.

The lessons from the old woman, Katia, and from Drest. The teachings obtained by instructing Diella and Ellen. And the understanding acquired by exploring and learning magic on his own.

A lifetime of experience had merged with his philosophy on what was most important when teaching magic to others.

“So, are you saying that… you asked the servants about me?”

“The people who help you know things that rumors cannot reveal. Of course, I didn’t say it out loud, as it might embarrass Lady Denise.”

“W-What did they say…?”

“The servants respect you very much. They say that although you often seem distracted and reluctant, you know when to roll up your sleeves for important tasks.”

Dereck relayed the words he had heard from the servants without omitting anything.

Of course, hearing it directly from him made Denise feel a bit embarrassed.

“I heard that you could achieve great things in magic or studies if you truly set your mind to it… That even though your attitude seems indifferent and distant, you treat the servants with kindness. They also mentioned your sharp gaze… and your exceptional calligraphy.”

“D-Did the servants say that about me? Ah… hahaha… hehehe…”

“…”

“Did they say anything about my appearance? That I am prettier than Aiselin or Ellen…?”

“…”

“…”

Dereck was not one to offer empty flattery. While Denise’s beauty was undoubtedly remarkable, comparing her to Aiselin and Ellen would surely make anyone pause for thought.

“You don’t really give empty compliments, do you?”

“I must be honest. Only then can my words be trusted when I speak.”

“Having that conviction is good, but I worry you might get hurt out there.”

“I’ve already been hurt a lot.”

“I’ve also thought a lot.”

With a long sigh, Denise finally relaxed her shoulders.

*I think I understand this guy a little better now.* The reason he interacted with the servants—whom he didn’t even need to impress, especially when Dereck wasn’t present—was simply to teach Denise magic in the best possible way.

Unlike Denise, a greenhouse flower, he had surely navigated numerous labyrinths and experienced all kinds of hells.

However, when it wasn’t necessary, he never stubbornly opposed others, often treating them with courtesy.

He contrasted greatly with his appearance when he was immersed in magic, locked in a dirty cave with a disheveled appearance.

Like the city of Ebelstein, he seemed to have a thousand faces. That’s why it was difficult to discern his true intentions at a glance.

“Even so… it makes me proud that the servants have such a high opinion of me. I didn’t give it much thought… but they said I have a sharp gaze… and that I write well… right?”

“…”

“How do you know I write?”

“I heard it from the butler.”

“What? How could the butler know that?”

Suddenly, Denise’s face turned pale. Dereck had already anticipated this, but as he had said, he did not speak lightly and expressed things without exaggeration.

“The servants have seen you many times, sitting at your desk before bed with a pen in hand. If they hear any scratching in the room, wouldn’t they look inside?”

“No, I… I always check my surroundings!”

“Don’t underestimate the servants. They are like shadows, always following and helping you. Would they not notice? If the hinges are well-oiled, opening the door a little won’t make a sound. You should check around the door more carefully.”

At that point, Dereck could no longer do anything else.

He simply transmitted what he had heard, without omitting anything. Surely the servants had been thinking about how and when to mention it.

“I also heard about the story… of the pink book that is in the third drawer next to your bed.”

“You mean the servants know about it?”

“Yes. Don’t you write every night? The title is… *The Arrogant Sir Robein*, right?”

“…”

Suddenly, Denise held her breath.

“I’ve heard that the psychological descriptions present in your elegant prose and powerful strokes are truly exceptional.”

“…”

“I had no intention of reading it… but the servants insisted… I saw it several times when you were attending the salon meetings… Of course… uh… the descriptions and the narrative moved me. There are quite a few devoted readers among the servants… and I understand why.”

“…Hiccup.”

Denise got the hiccups, a gesture that didn’t quite suit her.

And then, for a while, she said nothing.

Dereck observed Denise’s expression for a moment. He felt he should choose his words carefully, giving more weight to his voice. After all, it was not uncommon for someone her age to harbor such childish fantasies.

“You don’t have to feel so embarrassed. Creation is, in essence, a shy activity… And even a stranger like me can see that your writing is truly impressive.”

“…”

“Reading about the tragic situation of the protagonist, Tracy, broke my heart. Especially since I come from a slum, I was struck by the details. However, I’m not sure that characters like Sir Robein exist in real life… Of course, the jealousy, as well as the tenderness, of a man who harbored a hidden love for Tracy, deeply moved me.”

“…”

“The obsession and possessiveness, the attitude toward Tracy… and the seven pages dedicated to describing Sir Robein’s ferocity seemed a bit excessive, but… who knows, maybe men like that exist. It’s not impossible, right? I respect it.”

“Ahhhhhh!”

Unable to bear listening to Dereck any longer, Denise grabbed her head and ran to her room.

Dereck, resting his chin in his hand, reflected in silence.

Without a doubt, it was hard to keep up with the sensitivity of a girl her age. He had said a lot, but Dereck had not lied.

The real reason he interacted with the servants was to learn more about Denise.

More precisely… to see if she had any weak points.

***

“Good morning, Lady Denise.”

The next morning, Denise, with her hair messy, was being attended to by a maid.

Her eyelids were swollen from having slept little the night before. The maids, whose job it was to keep her always looking beautiful, were perplexed.

“Did you write something last night? You look very tired. You shouldn’t let that interfere with your daily life, you know?”

“Ha…”

Dereck said it naturally, and the maids around him shuddered. In fact, the maid who reacted that way was one of those who regularly read Denise’s works.

“What are you talking about, Dereck? About writing, you say…?”

It seemed Denise was plotting to pretend the conversation from the day before had never happened.

Of course, Dereck was not one to let such a blatant denial pass.

“I was talking about *The Arrogant Sir Robein*… The scene ends with Sir Robein covering Tracy with a blanket while she relives a childhood nightmare related to sleepwalking…”

“…”

“I remember it perfectly because it was the last scene. Sir Robein’s tender heart, treating the fragile Tracy as if she were a glass object that could break at the slightest touch…”

“Dereck! Today we have to train hard in magic! Why are you wasting time with such nonsense?”

Denise sat up abruptly, sweating profusely. It was the first time she had voluntarily initiated magic training.

Her usual relaxed attitude had vanished, and she paced nervously, drenched in sweat.

“…”

All the maids watching held their breath.

Denise was known for her resilience, but Dereck was even more tenacious.