Chapter 43

Chapter 43
## Chapter 43

“The Arrogant Lord Robein” tells the story of a young woman named Tracy who, after a difficult childhood, begins working at a noble mansion and becomes involved in a relationship with an aristocrat named Lord Robein.

As a fictional character, Lord Robein lacks realism. In fact, he borders on the personification of the ideal man.

Broad shoulders, a penetrating gaze—every one of his gestures is refined; he always carries roses and possesses a bearing that is simultaneously courteous and aristocratic.

At work, he is cold and rational, but with his beloved, he is affectionate: he enjoys baths with rose petals, savors wine while contemplating the night landscape, and, for unknown reasons, prefers low-cut pajamas. If he falls in love with a woman, he caresses her chin and smiles at her with tenderness. Despite his defiant attitude, the woman whose chin he caresses always blushes with shame.

Furthermore, when it comes to the protagonist Tracy, this normally serene man often allows himself to be carried away by emotions.

He corners her against the wall to whisper to her (usually something trivial), or he strokes her hair softly for no reason, trying to guess the scent of the incense she used that day… If an ordinary person did that instead of the handsome Lord Robein, they would be arrested immediately.

On a quiet afternoon, Dereck read Denise’s elegant manuscript, tilting his head from time to time in a sign of reflection.

At first, there were some rather embarrassing passages, but as he progressed, he found narratives and reflections that captivated him. Even Dereck, who was not an expert, was immediately hooked, which clearly demonstrates the seriousness with which it had been written.

When the family secret is revealed and adversity strikes the love between Lord Robein and Tracy, in the end—even setting aside his authority—the image of Lord Robein running through the storm calling for Tracy is majestic.

Finally, they reunite in the middle of the storm, embrace tightly, and enter a nearby log cabin in the rain (the reason for a cabin’s presence in the gardens of a noble mansion remains a mystery). There, they dry their clothes and he sits by Tracy, who has a cold. Seeing her talk in her sleep about her late family by the fireplace, Lord Robein covers her with a blanket, ordering his confused thoughts. The final scene shows the solitary back of Lord Robein, who has lived without ever knowing family love… and then the story breaks off.

“Perhaps because the historical background of Lord Robein’s family is not entirely clear… It is a truly fascinating scene…”

“…”

“It’s true, I can understand why even the servants of the mansion read this in secret. Lady Denise, your writing is truly masterful.”

“Enough… I made a mistake… I’m just… I’m sorry for everything… Let’s end this now…”

This occurred after the day’s classes had ended, before Dereck returned to his room and passed by Denise’s.

Denise lay face up on the bed, as if her whole body ached.

That day, at Dereck’s request, she had exerted herself to the limit in training, to the point of appearing more pitiable than admirable, and Bella, with tears in her eyes, massaged her shoulders.

“…”

Dereck had a complex expression.

Seeing Denise suddenly taking her lessons so seriously, apparently embarrassed by her mortifying creation, and Dereck using that shame as leverage…

There was a small misunderstanding. As Dereck had repeatedly said, he really thought Denise’s writing was good.

Sure, he didn’t understand the deep shame she felt, but from Dereck’s typically indifferent perspective, was it really something to worry about so much?

Unfortunately, Dereck was too rational to fully comprehend the sensitivity of a young woman going through difficult years.

That’s why he tried sincerely to convey to her which aspects of Denise’s work impressed him and what he liked, but apparently, he only succeeded in killing Denise a second time.

The victim lay on the bed as if she had been murdered, but the culprit could not be found.

That paradox made Denise wish for death even more.

***

About ten days had passed since Dereck began teaching magic when Ellen sent a separate letter, bringing high-quality tea to visit the mansion.

Unlike the meetings at the Rose Salon, visiting the mansion directly had a special meaning.

As a member of the Belmierd family, she could not arrange informal appointments due to her status, so even a trivial meeting required a valid reason.

While the visit was considered a gesture to foster goodwill between the families, no one really knew the political impact of such a small meeting. As expected, the servants were somewhat tense.

But in reality, Ellen simply wanted to know how things were going between Dereck and Denise.

It might seem too bold… but it was better than beating around the bush.

Denise was not easy to educate, even with kind words. She had always been a mysterious figure, who established boundaries quickly when someone tried to cross them.

In the Rose Salon, she always laughed elegantly and engaged in polite conversation, but it was all superficial. Ellen had been noticing Denise’s reserved character for some time.

There was a clear difference between her and someone like Ellen, who was open about everything important.

It was likely that Dereck was having a hard time. If he now thought he wasn’t the right person for the Beltus family, Ellen planned to make him a favorable proposal.

But that would be difficult without Duke Beltus’s approval.

Even so, Ellen hurried over, not to spy, but to strike up a friendship.

Her first objective was to feel out the enigmatic Denise.

“…Thanks to Lady Ellen’s visit, I can finally rest…”

But the Denise who appeared in the reception room looked so haggard that one might wonder if she was the same person from the Rose Salon.

To say she looked exhausted might not be accurate. She looked thinner, her movements more agile, as if she had been doing intense exercise.

But her expression did not match her physique. While makeup and accessories enhanced her beauty, the underlying fatigue was evident.

The servants had rushed to fix her up as best they could, but this was the most they had achieved.

“…You look very tired. Lady Denise, you haven’t stopped practicing your magic, have you?”

“…Yes, yes… that’s right. Instructor Dereck is quite enthusiastic.”

After all, this was a visit from an honorable lady of the Rose Salon.

Denise managed to show her best smile, striving to maintain her usual appearance.

“I had high expectations for someone with such a reputation as a magic instructor… but his methods are a bit different from what I imagined. They are physically demanding… and… they also generate emotional pressure…”

Denise, who never lacked grace, now showed a complex expression.

Seeing this, Ellen suddenly remembered her own time learning with Dereck.

— From here on out, this is a true hell.

— Eek!

In an instant, fear ran down Ellen’s spine.

Like many things in this world, difficulties often seem insignificant in retrospect. Painful memories fade, leaving only the pleasant moments and achievements.

However, the memories of Dereck’s unceasing presence while she ran, his endless spell-casting until exhaustion, and his obsession with magic theory even at the cost of sleep, flooded back to her mind all at once.

Even now, just remembering it makes one unconsciously swallow hard.

Dereck was the most stubborn magic instructor she had ever known. In that instant, Ellen’s gaze met Denise’s.

Denise seemed to understand Ellen’s thoughts just by seeing her expression.

Ellen thought to herself:

*In the social circles of Ebelstein, it is common for women who share a mentor to form factions or create connections. After all, every connection is a weapon, and those who share experiences naturally create bonds.*

*Perhaps, instead of simply being members of the Rose Salon, connecting as students of the same mentor could be an option. But forming a faction…? I’m not sure how others would see it…*

*Even so… if we unite, maybe we can connect in a way that’s different from the Rose Salon… The culture there demands too many appearances, which has its uncomfortable aspects…*

On the other hand, Denise, after putting down her teacup, was absorbed in completely different thoughts.

*So Ellen also suffered under Dereck’s teachings… It’s like a group of victims, how complicated…*

Denise had been closely observing Ellen’s slow deterioration since she accepted Dereck as a mentor. Unfortunately, it was no longer someone else’s problem.

However, all was not lost.

Denise quickly understood the reason for Ellen’s unexpected visit. Clearly, Ellen was evaluating the situation with Dereck to feel out Denise’s reaction.

In essence, the Belmierd family had not yet given up on recruiting Dereck. That was good news.

Denise wanted to get rid of that instructor as soon as possible. But once hired, he couldn’t be returned. Regardless of Duke Beltus’s intentions, Dereck was determined to turn Denise into a great mage.

With so many noble ladies in the Ebelstein social circle eager to learn—and even Aiselin wanting to learn from him—why did he have to bother Denise?

For Denise, who was unaware of Dereck’s desire to maintain ties with the three great families, it was infuriating. Dereck’s frantic teaching method had gone from being disappointing to admirable and bewildering.

If he lacked social skills, it wouldn’t matter, but he integrated well with the servants and fit perfectly into the mansion, becoming a sociable monster.

‘Ugh… my head hurts again…’

However, to other women, Denise’s worries might seem like those of privileged people. And that was the worst part.

She didn’t understand why Aiselin and Ellen were so desperate to bring Instructor Dereck into their families.

Do noble ladies enjoy torturing themselves? Observing Ellen closely, Denise couldn’t help but think about how vast the world was.

“By the way, how is Lady Aiselin? I feel I’ve neglected my duties in the Rose Salon due to my magic training. I’ve only attended the important events and haven’t properly greeted everyone… I hope she isn’t too displeased.”

Denise quickly changed the subject.

She needed to think more carefully about how to deal with Dereck, and she wasn’t sure how to respond to Ellen’s attitude.

“Lady Aiselin has returned to her family home. She is attending her brother’s naming ceremony and helped with her younger sister’s social debut. It’s always better to have the help of someone with experience.”

“If it’s about her sister’s debut… Will Lady Diella be coming to Ebelstein?”

“Yes. From what I’ve heard… her magical achievements go far beyond the rumors.”

Aiselin’s younger sister, who had reached the level of two-star magic, was born into the Duplain family.

If another figure like Aiselin appeared, it would have a huge impact on Ebelstein’s social circles.

“They say she will be at the next meeting… If you attend the regular meeting, you might meet her. I’m also a bit nervous, as it will be the first time I see her.”

The next meeting was the following week.

*Now I also have to worry about social hierarchy…? Ugh… my head hurts…*

At that moment, Denise just wanted to lie down. But once Ellen left, she would have to go back to her horrible training routine.

It was a sad reality, but talking to Ellen now was her only consolation.

Dereck, as always, would be waiting downstairs in the visiting room, having finished the preparations for the class, with a smile of satisfaction on his face.

Gradually, his expression began to take on a wicked look.

***

“Miss Diella, here are the documents for the Rose Salon meeting next week.”

Attachments from the Duplain family.

Diella’s private room was spacious but sparsely furnished. On one side, there were easels with various landscapes scattered randomly, and on her lace bed, books on magic.

In the center, a blonde girl stared blankly at the ceiling, skillfully using magic: an untamed mage born into the nobility.

Her thick golden waves framed her like a doll, and the ruffles of her dress fell over her knees like a blanket.

Sitting in silence, her eyes watched the magic manifesting openly, which already exhaled an extraordinary aura.

Her achievements were unparalleled since Dereck taught her. She had completely mastered the basic theory of the wild academy, and most one-star spells were trivial to her.

Although her appearance hadn’t changed, her rate of magical improvement far exceeded anyone else’s, even Dereck’s.

“Rose Salon? Why there, all of a sudden?”

The girl was already walking the path of a master. Hearing her butler’s report in a tired voice, she finally lowered her gaze with a cold expression and said:

“Why should I go there?”