Chapter 57

Chapter 57
## Chapter 57

The schedule for noble festivities always revolved around the night.

This was especially true for an event like this, which celebrates debutantes. The stars of the event would only arrive at the mansion after the sun had completely set.

“Is this the first time you’ve attended a party like this, Dereck?”

Denise was sitting on the bed in her assigned room, arms crossed, explaining while humming.

As a young lady of the House of Beltus, she had also debuted in society and had experience being the star of such a grand event.

“The day of the social presentation for noble ladies is very busy.”

From the morning, they prepared, dressed in robes adorned with lilies and roses, traveled in elegant carriages to the imperial capital, and met with the Emperor.

They met with the royal family, formally introduced themselves as Lady Diella of the House of Duplain, received blessings, and presented themselves before the rulers of the imperial capital.

Afterward, they had tea with relatives working in the imperial palace, returned in a large carriage to the Duplain estate, and attended the ball.

In just one day… depending on the travel distance, they might have to meet all the influential figures of the social world over the course of two days, leaving them no time to rest.

Normally, they would nap in the carriage on the way to the ballroom, so the servants would bring blankets inside for them.

In short, Lady Diella would arrive at the ballroom at nightfall. Meanwhile, the guests of honor who arrived in the afternoon rested in their rooms, chatted with the early arrivals in the tea room, or strolled through the mansion gardens.

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“I read in an etiquette book that the rest time before the ball is called an interlude, and it is an opportunity to establish new relationships or gain recognition.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But that’s for lower-ranking nobles trying to make contacts. For someone like me, belonging to one of the three great noble houses, I was too tired to even leave my room.”

“…”

“Dereck. You look like you’re about to say it’s because I’m lazy. I can read your mind just by looking at your face.”

Dereck took off his cloak and hung it over a chair.

Although he had come as Denise’s companion, it didn’t seem appropriate to stay in the room where she was resting. So, Dereck thought about greeting some people from the House of Duplain.

However, Denise lay back on the bed as if she didn’t care whether Dereck was there or not, rolling up the hem of her dress to avoid wrinkles and arching her back.

She was a girl who mastered the art of lying down comfortably without staining her clothes better than anyone. Her movements were truly extraordinary.

“Miss Denise, are you going to rest in the room?”

“Of course. If I want to wear a smiling mask during dinner, I need to save energy now.”

“Then I’ll go say hello to some acquaintances. There are many familiar faces, and it would be awkward to stay silent.”

“…”

Denise, who had been relaxing until then, suddenly sat up and stared at Dereck.

Is something wrong?

“Well… there might be some young ladies who try to snatch you away if I’m not around.”

“I have an official contract with the Beltus Chamber. Do you think I would forget that?”

“That’s not something we can be sure of. Anyway, I’m a bit hungry, so let’s go together to the tea room in the main lobby. Ellen will probably be there too. She’s very energetic, so she’ll try to meet as many people as possible.”

As expected of someone representing the House of Beltus, Denise was immediately surrounded by greetings from all sorts of nobles the moment she entered the tea room.

From merchants who traded herring from the ends of the continent to the bishop of Olberon Cathedral—the largest branch of the Lamica Church—and the commander of the Kremlin Northern Mercenary Group, Vilak… just hearing their names was impressive.

“My goodness! Thanks to the furs you sent to our Beltus family from the North, last winter was much more bearable. My father also asked me to thank you, Lord Aldon.”

Leaving behind Denise, who had now transformed into a true high-society lady, Dereck took a glass of wine from a corner of the tea room and took a sip.

Stepping back and observing the room, he saw lower-ranking nobles with bright eyes, eager to speak once more with important figures.

Denise was already surrounded, and Ellen, on the other side of the room, was also immersed in conversation with so many people that it was impossible to approach her.

The room was full of people doing their best to be seen at least once.

They looked like wolves in search of prey.

From time to time, some nobles locked eyes with Dereck, but seeing the mercenary attire of the man standing alone in a corner of the tea room, they quickly looked away.

Time was pressing, and they didn’t want to waste a valuable moment on a commoner.

“These people lead exhausting lives.”

Dereck, who came from the slums, had almost never had direct contact with high society.

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He had become somewhat accustomed to it by tutoring noble girls, but he still found it hard to accept the calculated nature of their interactions.

Of course, Dereck was not one to actively socialize with others. He simply observed the nobles gathered in the tea room as if studying curious animals.

“Thank you, Bishop. I will certainly visit the family elders during the upcoming holidays.”

While passing the time quietly, he spotted a young woman conversing with some distinguished guests in a distant corner of his view.

‘…Who is that?’

Dereck had been in Ebelstein long enough to have a general idea of who the important figures were.

Especially in social circles, he knew enough to recognize names and faces. However, the young woman quietly eating pastries at a round table in a corner of the tea room was someone he had never seen before.

The dress she wore was in the style of the Eastern Empire.

Her jade-colored hair, elegantly braided and falling over one shoulder, seemed to require special care. That meant she had a dedicated maid to prepare it.

Her bearing was refined, and she smiled gracefully at those who spoke to her, thus proving she had studied etiquette. It was evident she belonged to a noble family just by seeing her at the event. However, compared to local nobles like Denise or Ellen, she didn’t seem to be as busy.

Could she be a foreigner?

Whenever she had a free moment, she would pick up Montblanc chocolates, apple tarts, croissants, and other pastries from the banquet table and return to her seat, eating happily alone.

Occasionally, she dipped them in cream here and there, broke the bread with a fork to examine the texture, and then brought it to her mouth, savoring the sweetness with sparkling eyes.

Seeing her tremble with pleasure every time she took a bite, anyone could tell how much she was enjoying it.

She seemed more like a food-loving tourist than a noble lady, and Dereck couldn’t help but observe her for a moment.

Then, he locked eyes with the young woman sitting in the distance. Not knowing what to do, Dereck nodded politely and set his glass down on the nearest table.

***

“Have you already considered the death penalty?”

“Excuse me?”

Denise, who had just finished a conversation with the guests, sat next to Dereck with a slightly tired expression.

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After all, Dereck had come under the pretext of helping Denise, so it made no sense for him to stray far from her side.

“That elegant lady over there is Lady Freya, from Count Elvester’s family. The head of the merchant guild just told me he greeted her a moment ago.”

“That woman?”

“Yes. By the way… I’m not sure if she’s here for the ball or for a food tour…”

“I heard that at the Duplain house, they have three pastry chefs who worked for the royal family. They usually brag that any sweet lover will adore their creations.”

“…As much as she likes sweets, I’m starting to worry that her brain is saturated with sugar. I had to take them away myself…”

Denise sighed deeply and took a sip of cold water.

She seemed to enjoy this moment of rest, knowing that if she stayed seated longer, more guests would approach to start another conversation.

“Luckily, it seems you have a breather now.”

“Of course. The person who could be considered the star of the event has just arrived at the mansion.”

“Are you referring to Miss Diella?”

“They say the young lioness arrives at night. Her older sister. She went out to help with Diella’s debut and seems to have finished early and arrived ahead of time.”

As she spoke, the tea room doors opened, and an elegant woman appeared leading a group of people.

Her black hair might have seemed dull at first glance, but combined with Aiselin’s neat and serene bearing, it resembled a flower petal opening gracefully.

With her entrance, tension was palpable in the tea room once again.

And who could deny it? Aiselin currently reigned as the queen of Ebelstein’s social circles.

Many guests wanted to approach and speak with her but hesitated, knowing there were other people of higher status in the small room.

Who would be the first to speak? Amidst the tension, Aiselin scanned the room.

Shortly after, Aiselin, followed by her maids, crossed the room toward Lady Denise. It was prudent to first greet those she saw frequently in the Hall of Roses. All the guests nodded their heads in understanding.

After Denise, it would be Ellen’s turn, and naturally, she would move on to the next person.

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Many of the guests who had finished their conversations were preparing to approach Aiselin.

Step, step.

As Denise took a breath, preparing to cough again.

“Mr. Dereck. You must have had a very hard trip. I also just arrived and feel disoriented, but I hope my companions haven’t treated you poorly.”

However, the first person Aiselin spoke to was Dereck, who was leaning against the wall behind Denise.

For a moment, the tea room fell silent.

Dereck, confused, felt the gazes of all the distinguished nobles turn toward him.

Aiselin was not one to cling to authority in her interactions with others. She simply approached Dereck with long strides and greeted him cheerfully upon seeing him among the guests. There was no political calculation in her actions.

The other nobles gathered there knew Aiselin’s character well, so they all watched Dereck’s face intently. It was the first time they had seen him at such a social event.

“…Ah.”

Only after seeing Dereck’s expression did Aiselin realize that her words and actions might have made him uncomfortable.

After all, this was the grand Duplain mansion, and Aiselin was in a position to capture the attention of all the invited nobles.

“Perhaps it’s not appropriate to greet each other here. I planned to greet the guests and then go see my father. Would you mind accompanying me?”

Whoever accompanied her to greet the Duke of Duplain would be treated almost like a member of the family.

Dereck, noticing that the expressions of the nobles watching him had completely changed, bowed his head and replied:

“How could someone like me accompany you? I also need to help Miss Denise, so if I have the opportunity and free time, I will greet him separately.”

“Really? My father would be happy… In any case, thank you for coming to celebrate Diella’s birthday today. She will be very excited to know you’ve come.”

“The honor is mine.”

Dereck responded with a brief, polite bow. It was a respectful expression that made it clear he had no intention of continuing the conversation.

From Aiselin’s perspective, it was evident that Dereck felt overwhelmed by the growing attention. With a look of regret, Aiselin nodded slightly and rejoined the group of nobles.

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As happy as she was, she couldn’t speak more than necessary at an event like this.

Such was the division of social status.

Dereck was used to it and didn’t mind, but Aiselin had to feel that subtle difference.

It was no longer new news.

“It seems the banquet preparations are going well. I was worried because I couldn’t contact anyone by letter or message, but it seems everyone was just too busy.”

As soon as Aiselin finished attending to Diella in the capital, she rushed to the mansion. She wanted to see with her own eyes if the ball prepared for Diella was unfolding perfectly.

She hoped her only sister’s social presentation would be flawless. With that in mind, she had been busy with various tasks all day.

“The nobles from the East and the North have already arrived, and Dereck, for whom Diella was most worried, is also here… I will check the schedule again and receive progress reports.”

After formal greetings in the tea room, Aiselin walked down the hallway leading to the main hall of the mansion.

The hallway was full of busy servants carrying dishes. From there, it was an indoor area accessible only to members of the Duplain family.

Seeing so many servants moving efficiently and without wasting any effort, Aiselin felt satisfaction, gratitude, and appreciation all at once.

Knowing how exhausting consecutive celebrations were, she decided to suggest to the Duke that once the event concluded successfully, everyone should have time to rest.

“Miss Aiselin. I have left your luggage in your room. Shall we head to the Duke’s office now?”

“Yes. First, I must see my father. By the way, everyone seems very busy. I haven’t seen Valerian or Leigh since I crossed the main gate and entered the garden.”

“Yes. Everyone is busy attending to the guests. But His Grace the Grand Duke wishes to see Miss Aiselin’s face.”

“I also want to see my father. I haven’t been able to return home often since I’ve been helping Diella in Ebelstein.”

Aiselin spoke humbly to the housekeeper Katarina as she passed by the very busy servants.

Katarina gave a discreet bow and followed Aiselin, helping her. Her movements were efficient, undoubtedly proving she was the highest-ranking servant in the house.

“By the way, Katarina, your skin looks beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you changed the incense you use? You look paler than before… I’m worried you might have a health problem. Have you been working too hard?”

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

As Aiselin chatted with Katarina on the way to the Grand Duke’s office, she felt a strange discomfort.

The Katarina she knew normally responded with more warmth to compliments and participated in the conversation. Noticing that the talk had abruptly cut off, Aiselin looked back at Katarina’s expression. She was worried she was too tired and exhausted.

However, Katarina simply looked at her with her usual expression. That made it even stranger.

“How odd… Why do the servants in the mansion seem restless today?”

The bustling atmosphere was the same as always, but today it felt more unsettling.

Observing their mechanical and efficient movements, they seemed more like tools than human beings.

Is everyone nervous? Diella’s social debut is an important event…

It was then that she climbed the stairs behind the main lobby, heading toward the Duke’s office.

*Whish!*

*Crack!*

“Ah!”

Katarina, who had been following Aiselin in silence, suddenly pulled a cloth from her chest and covered Aiselin’s nose and mouth.

Then, she twisted one of Aiselin’s arms and subdued her by force as she struggled.

“Ugh… Mmm! Mmm!”

When Aiselin realized what was happening and tried to resist, her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness instantly. The cloth Katarina used was soaked with extract of the “Shadow Flower,” known for its potent hypnotic effects.

Moments later, Aiselin’s body collapsed and Katarina held her in silence. Despite the hustle and bustle of the numerous servants, none paid attention to the scene.

A dark blue flash gleamed in Katarina’s eyes. Her gaze seemed distant, as if she were in a trance.

The other servants were the same.

***

The life of a mercenary on the battlefield, where life and death were constantly at stake, sometimes depended on inexplicable instincts.

After the exhausting meeting in the tea room, as the sun began to set.

Dereck, who was quietly reading a spellbook at the table next to Denise, who lay on the bed breathing softly, frowned.

A subtle magical energy was seeping through the cracks of the door.

“…”

Dereck closed the book and left it on the table, then turned his gaze toward the door.

He felt an inexplicable discomfort.

*Creak!*

Dereck pushed the chair back noisily and stood up.

Hearing the sound, Denise stopped snoring and suddenly opened her eyes. She still felt sleepy.

“Ugh… Is it dinner time already? Uf!”

As she stretched and struggled to get up, Denise tilted her head at the look on Dereck’s face.

What’s wrong, Dereck? Are you worried about something?

Without answering, Dereck walked quickly to the door and turned the knob. However, the door did not open.

It didn’t seem to be locked. Upon concentrating, he felt a bluish magical energy flowing around the handle.

“The door won’t open.”

“Eh? Really? Call a servant to check it.”

Still without answering, Dereck went quickly to the window. The banquet was about to begin.

It should have been a busy time, with guests walking through the garden, servants attending to their business, and carriages arriving late to the mansion.

However, the view from the window was eerily silent. The instincts of a mercenary, sharpened after long periods hiding in the noble quarter, remained on high alert.

His sixth sense detected an anomaly. It was a sensation Dereck had trained and perfected over countless hours.

Dereck briefly pressed his ear to the door to try to understand what was happening outside.

However, silence reigned outside. Although the noise of servants guiding guests to their rooms should have been heard, there was no sign of life.

Dereck silently closed his eyes and muttered a detection spell.

He felt a large amount of magical energy on the other side of the door.

“Miss Denise.”

“Yes?”

The serious tone in Dereck’s voice was not unfamiliar to Denise, who was now sweating nervously.

Without changing his expression, Dereck spoke.

“I’m going to break the window.”

His decision was as fast as a machine’s.

Dereck was a man who had spent half his life on the battlefield.

Indecision on the battlefield meant death.