Chapter 68

Chapter 68
## Chapter 68

“Lord Melverot of the North is known to all mages, but his family relations are not as well known, are they?”

Denise, crossing the Elfontaine Hall in the elegant district of Ebelstein, spoke informally to Dereck, who followed her at a respectful distance.

“Lord Melverot… isn’t he the only combat-type mage among the known 6-star mages?”

“Yes. He is famous for many things. Head of the Count Logost family, wielder of the 5-star magic wand ‘Dawn,’ nephew of the great mage Robenkheim, conqueror of the North, swordsman of the royal family… he holds many titles.”

Currently, there are only four 6-star mages alive in the entire continent.

Lord Melverot, the conqueror of the North; Chief Magic Advisor Kohella of the central royal family; Pine, from a minor baronial family in the southeastern farmlands; and Drest Wolfte, a commoner from the southwest. Only four in such a vast continent, making them almost untouchable figures.

Among them, the most famous is Lord Melverot, acclaimed as the hero of heroes for having killed countless monsters and leading the Dawn War to victory.

Despite the harsh cultural environment of the North, he loved art, cultivated refinement, and felt warrior pride, making him a truly great man of this era.

It is said that anyone who walks the path of magic dreams of meeting him at least once in a lifetime… So when Denise learned that the royal family had requested a direct meeting with Dereck, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

“You know the North well, Dereck. It is the region closest to the battlefront; bloodshed and death are everyday occurrences. To rule there like a king and be recognized as a war hero? That is no small feat.”

“Well, it’s true. But why are his family relatives so unknown?”

“What other reason is there? Because there is no one worthy of being mentioned publicly. Except for the Countess and her sons, her only daughter, Lady Siern, is completely uncontrollable.”

Dereck’s contract was about to end. Denise already realized that the Beltus family would not try to retain him.

Denise wanted Dereck to stay a little longer, but she knew that if Lord Melverot reached out to him, there would be nothing she could do.

That’s why she felt the need to warn him now.

“As a commoner, you wouldn’t know, but any noble lady who has attended an event in the North knows it. It’s not just difficult. It might sound rude, but… she’s crazy. A lunatic. There’s no other way to put it.”

“…”

“Why do you think Lord Melverot, the most renowned magic master on the continent, wants to see you personally? He is looking for someone to take care of his daughter.”

The corridor of Elfontaine Hall was filled with noble ladies returning to their rooms after the meeting.

Denise continued talking to Dereck, making her way through the crowd while smiling kindly at her acquaintances.

“If possible, you should consider how to decline Lord Melverot’s offer. I strongly advise you not to become Lady Siern’s tutor.”

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“Is it that serious? Is she arrogant? Or overbearing? I’ve already dealt with a lot of that.”

“If that were all, do you think I would be so worried, Dereck?”

Dereck had already taught Diella, and they had even thrown trash at him.

He was mentally strong, capable of fulfilling his duties without flinching, even in the face of insults.

“There’s no proof, but rumors are rampant. That she tortures and kills servants, bathes in blood, pulls out the fingernails of villagers with a euphoric smile…”

“…”

“I told you: she’s crazy. She’s unstable. Dereck, I know building your reputation as a magic instructor is important, but it’s not worth getting involved with someone so mentally unstable.”

“And how does she maintain her status doing things like that? Even with noble privileges, if she tortures or kills without reason, the Empire wouldn’t overlook it.”

“That’s why I said they are rumors. She must have some way of covering it up. She is already infamously known in the North as the ‘Blood-Stained Lady.’ Isn’t that nickname terrifying enough?”

It’s not fair to judge someone based solely on rumors. But where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.

An experienced noble lady can have intuition about people’s true nature. Those who have seen Lady Siern, Lord Melverot’s only daughter, agree that behind her beauty lies madness.

It may sound cruel, but she is completely unbalanced.

It would be tragic if Dereck got involved: if he were falsely accused, tortured, or even killed. That’s why Denise took it so seriously.

“The North is remote, in constant struggle against demonic tribes. Casualties are frequent. In such a wild place, hiding deaths is not difficult.”

“…”

“So, Dereck, don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Denise spoke with a serious expression. She was truly worried.

Perceiving her concern, Dereck did not argue. But he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of offer Lord Melverot would make to recruit someone.

That was his honest thought.

Of course, he didn’t say it out loud. But suddenly, Denise stopped, put her hands on her hips, and stared at him. Frowning, with her lips pursed, she spoke bluntly.

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“You are seriously considering Lord Melverot’s offer.”

“You are very perceptive at times like this.”

“It’s not the first time. Ugh… By the way, did you help with the Duplain matter?”

“They said not much was needed. They had already received enough support.”

“Did Lady Aiselin say that?”

“Yes. The mansion didn’t seem very comfortable, but they gave the impression that they were standing their ground.”

“Mmm… I see…”

Denise ran her hand through her silver hair and looked around. No one was near. They had reached a corner of Elfontaine Hall. Most had already left.

She touched her chin and leaned toward Dereck with a tense look.

“D-Dereck… this is personal advice… If you can, it’s better to keep some distance from Lady Aiselin…”

“What?”

“Don’t ask why. Just trust me. It’s for your own good…”

Seeing Dereck watching her in silence, Denise coughed several times and stepped back.

Noble ladies are expected to be perfect, elegant, and beautiful in every way, but their weak point is usually love.

Not even someone like Denise was immune. It wasn’t rare for a noble lady like Aiselin, raised like a greenhouse flower, not to recognize her own feelings.

Denise, who considered herself an expert after reading countless romance novels, knew well that someone like Aiselin could not clearly distinguish between goodwill and affection. In a way, that was a blessing.

Even if her family had fallen into disgrace, a noble was still a noble. A commoner from the slums getting involved with a noble lady would only bring ruin to both.

So it was better to stop it in time. And if someone like Denise noticed it, it meant action was urgent.

“Nothing is gained by getting close to a disgraced noble, right?”

“I don’t judge people by that. Isn’t Lady Aiselin a good person?”

“Ugh… If you put it that way, I have nothing to counter… Anyway, I don’t give advice for no reason.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Anyone can tell that with you, everything goes in one ear and out the other…”

Denise scratched her head, looking worried. Living without worries was fine, but since Dereck arrived, the dynamic in the Rose Salon had begun to change.

“I have to go to the cultural center to meet the imperial delegation. Sorry, I can’t accompany you any further.”

“No, no problem. I didn’t hire you as my personal secretary… A royal letter is much more prestigious and important. See you later at the mansion.”

Denise sighed and climbed into the carriage.

Being too perceptive and intuitive makes life more stressful. Sometimes, people need to be a bit more carefree.

Today, she understood that perfectly.

***

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Dereck crossed the opposite corridor, attempting to exit Elfontaine Hall.

Since the Rose Salon meeting had ended a while ago, hardly anyone was around except for the servants attending the hallway.

Being surrounded by all sorts of noble ladies wasn’t exactly pleasant.

Lately, quite a few people had been observing Dereck with interest.

Probably because they knew his contract with the Beltus family was about to end.

In a world where having a good magic tutor could make the head of the family appear in person, it was inevitable that Dereck would attract attention just before becoming available.

However, everyone was busy with their own affairs. It was unlikely anyone would stay long after the meeting. Therefore, Dereck walked down the hallway with a calmer mind.

*Whistle.*

Dereck had developed very sharp senses. After spending so much time in labyrinths and living as a mercenary, one had to sharpen their senses to avoid life-threatening situations.

“…?”

He had felt someone following him for a while, which made him turn several times as he walked. Then, he saw the hem of a dress disappear behind a corner of the hallway. Judging by the navy blue skirt, it was undoubtedly Aiselin.

‘…What is this?’

In short, Aiselin was following him.

If she had something to say, she could speak directly to him. Although a social barrier existed between them, Aiselin and Dereck had known each other for a long time and maintained a certain degree of communication.

Even so, there had to be a reason why she was trying to confirm his whereabouts without speaking to him.

Understanding Aiselin’s situation to some extent, Dereck decided to pretend he hadn’t noticed anything and keep walking. After all, he had to meet someone from the royal family to discuss matters related to Lord Melverot. Additionally, he would receive recognition for his merits during the Duplain disaster.

As he kept walking, he still felt Lady Aiselin following him, hiding here and there.

“…”

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Finally, Dereck rubbed his chin and turned quickly, approaching her in a hurry.

“…!”

Shortening the distance so suddenly, Aiselin was startled and almost fell. She quickly grabbed the display case at the corner of the hallway to maintain her balance, her pupils spinning as she swallowed hard.

“Lady Aiselin, do you have something to say to me?”

“D-Dereck. Did you know I was following you?”

“I just realized.”

To avoid embarrassing her, Dereck mixed a pinch of truth with a lie.

“I see. Actually, I wanted to ask you something about the geography of the commercial district. I was thinking about how to approach it.”

“…You can just call me. Why worry so much about that?”

“Well, it’s just… you’re busy, right? I heard the royal family had summoned you and that you also have personal matters… So I was thinking about how to ask you without bothering you too much…”

Aiselin’s speech was strangely incoherent. Dereck realized immediately that she felt uncomfortable around him.

“You don’t have to worry so much about me. Although my status has decreased a bit, aren’t you the eldest daughter of the Duchy of Duplain? It’s absurd for a noble lady to act with such caution with a mercenary from the slums.”

“Even so, I must maintain basic courtesy. And I have to prepare… clear my throat… practice what I’m going to say… plan how to handle unexpected turns in the conversation…”

Seeing her restless, touching her fingertips for no apparent reason, her noble and elegant bearing seemed to fade.

The image the nobles of Ebelstein had of Aiselin was that of a flower blooming on a cliff. Seeing her unable to maintain eye contact and stuttering incoherently made anyone doubt if it was really her.

Dereck felt the same. Seeing someone who reigned as the most noble lady of the Rose Salon behaving like this was completely unusual.

Seeing her act that way, Dereck organized his thoughts.

*Ah…! Lady Aiselin must be completely in love with me, so embarrassed that she can’t act as usual;* no, he didn’t think something so narcissistic.

In fact, it was something natural.

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Having grown up as the cream of an aristocratic family, she surely must have seen many handsome and well-mannered men.

Her relative Valerian was an attractive man who conquered the hearts of maidens, and Leigh was a reliable man even in the eyes of others.

To think that a noble lady with such high standards would fall in love with a mercenary who grew up eating scraps from the trash would be too far-fetched.

As a realistic man, Dereck thought something like that was unlikely, so he had to consider other possibilities while observing the shy and nervous Aiselin.

The only difference between the always elegant Aiselin and the current Aiselin was the change in her family’s status.

The unstable situation of her home had seriously affected her self-esteem, once noble and proud.

Although she showed a lively and brave temperament, perhaps it was no longer easy for her to project that elegance. It is hard to maintain dignity amidst constant rumors and slander.

That’s why, even when speaking with a simple mercenary, she couldn’t help but be nervous. It was inevitable to feel compassion for her. Dereck thought Aiselin was an honest and upright person.

“Lady Aiselin.”

Dereck couldn’t do anything for her except convey his thoughts with conviction.

Dereck approached and placed his hands on her shoulders. It was a bold gesture given the difference in status between them, but no one was watching and he knew Aiselin would understand.

Looking into her eyes, Dereck spoke in a steady tone.

“You don’t have to let your self-esteem be affected. The support of the Duplain family was a great help to you, but you are still a valuable person even without it, right?”

“U-uh… De-Dereck… you’re… too close…”

Aiselin tried to say something in a voice as weak as a mosquito’s, but she couldn’t push him away, overwhelmed by Dereck’s presence. Taking advantage of the moment, Dereck raised his voice a bit and spoke firmly.

“Lady Aiselin, you are beautiful and valuable even without your family’s support. Please, never forget that.”

“Eh… eh…”

Aiselin’s whole body was trembling; her ears were completely red.

With the hair on her forearms standing up, she could only curl her toes, unable to utter a word.

“Don’t you know what people say? Lady Aiselin is like a noble lily. So don’t be discouraged. I will always support you.”

“A lily… a lily… a… lily…”

“Was I too bold?”

Dereck lowered his hands immediately and apologized politely. After all, touching a noble lady’s body without her permission was a lack of respect.

“I offer my sincerest apologies. As you know, I have been summoned by the royal family, so I must act quickly. If your matter requires time, I will find a gap to visit you later. Have a good afternoon.”

Dereck bowed and walked quickly down the hall. Aiselin stood there, her cheeks flushed, not even noticing the messy strands of hair sticking out. She was completely stunned.

Unable to regain her composure after the sudden shock… she covered her cheeks with her hands for a long time, trembling.

And in the end, she simply let out a small hiccup… and a giggle.

***

The first thing Dereck saw upon arriving at the reception hall of the cultural center was Roen, the magic advisor to the royal family.

“So you are Dereck. I’ve heard about you.”

Emperor Gatrell had nine magic advisors under his command, each in charge of different magic fields and research methods, all under the supervision of Chief Advisor Kohella.

The research group was composed of two combat mages, three transformation mages, two illusionists, one summoner, and one scout. They often performed magic experiments on behalf of the emperor… many of which bore fruit and even discovered new talents, granting them great influence within the royal family.

Roen was a third-class combat mage. While his level was low for a royal magic advisor, he maintained his position thanks to his academic zeal, diligence, visual acuity, and achievements.

He looked relatively young, but in reality, he was a man over forty years old. With his vast experience, he immediately recognized that Dereck was an extraordinary person.

“Your fists are full of calluses and your forearms have well-developed muscles. I thought a high-level mage would be more academic, but it seems your life has been quite turbulent.”

“No, I’m just a mercenary who roamed the streets.”

“Modesty. Modesty is the favorite tool of beasts to hide their fangs.”

The middle-aged mage, with thick leather gloves on both arms, let out a giggle and dropped onto a large sofa in the corner of the hall.

“A distinguished guest will arrive soon. It is an honor to see him, even once in a lifetime. Be careful not to disrespect him.”

*Will Lord Melverot come in person?*

“You realize it right away. It’s a secret visit, so don’t make a fuss… Well, before that, I have some instructions from the royal family, so let’s take care of that first.”

Roen smiled slightly, resting his chin in his hand.

“What do you prefer, a wand or a staff?”

Dereck, an expert mercenary at controlling his emotions… couldn’t help but have his eyes go wide with surprise.