Chapter 78

Chapter 78
## Chapter 78

— Before teaching her anything else, the first thing Lady Siern must learn is the weight of death.

— Do you think I haven’t tried something like that?

— It is not something that can be taught with words and actions alone. If Lady Siern’s homicidal impulses stem from her instincts, we must use a method strong enough to engrave them into those very same instincts.

The following day, Dereck visited Lord Melverot’s office. He asked for his understanding in advance and explained his plan to integrate Siern into society.

— And then what? Are you going to push Siern to the brink of death? It is quite a violent method.

— Of course not. But it is difficult to deny that we might resort to somewhat violent means. That is why I have come to ask for your understanding.

Dereck explained to Melverot what would happen in the future.

Melverot listened in silence, his face impassive. It was evident he understood that Dereck was no ordinary person.

However, he did not oppose the plan.

He simply nodded.

— If you have no further objections, I shall take my leave.

The sound of Dereck’s footsteps as he bowed and left the office was unusual.

It seemed he had no intention of prolonging this matter.

***

How is Lady Siern’s food delivered?

“Every meal is brought to the tower by the servants. They enter protected by all kinds of magic and equipment. After all… it is a dangerous task…”

The next place Dereck went after leaving the office was to find the head of the domestic staff, Serena.

She was supervising the organization of the mansion’s warehouse and, upon meeting Dereck’s gaze, she bowed. Judging by her still-bruised body, it was clear she had been through a lot.

Dereck expressed his gratitude for her efforts and asked several questions that had been lingering in his mind.

Does Lady Siern often go out into the snowy fields?

“Yes… She often returns covered in blood. Most of it is from beasts or monsters… but not always…”

“…”

“How long has this been happening?”

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“About seven or eight years. Before that, she was a normal girl. She laughed, learned well, played…”

Dereck’s expression did not change, but Serena’s became a bit more complex.

She had been caring for Siern for a long time. Although it would have been natural for her to harbor resentment, she seemed sincerely concerned for her.

After all, the children are not to blame. The culprits are the adults who did not teach them. That was what Dereck believed.

And someone like Siern, in particular, was not someone just anyone could teach.

“The scarlet ribbon is impressive. Was it made here, in the mansion?”

“Eh…? So suddenly? Normally we use ready-made products, but the head servant’s clothing usually has additional ornaments or patterns.”

What kind of dye do you use? Do you have a separate workshop in the mansion for that?

“Eh…? Why do you ask that all of a sudden…?”

“I am curious to know how the mansion staff works.”

“…We use madder or similar plants for dyeing, but for Lady Siern’s clothes, we usually use flower petals like safflower or balsam. The scent is also important… And the work itself is usually done by a craftsman from Levelton. We only receive the dye and use it.”

“There must be many people connected to the mansion through distribution.”

“That’s right…”

It wasn’t clear why he was interested in the mansion workers, but Serena didn’t ask.

The virtue of a maid is not to be unnecessarily curious.

“I am also interested in the protective magic the servants use before entering Lady Siern’s room. Additionally, I want to know how her meals are prepared.”

“I can tell you everything in detail. Lord Melverot gave us specific instructions to cooperate actively.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As Dereck walked away with a firm stride, Serena bowed and followed him.

As long as he had Melverot’s protection, no one could oppose him acting as if the mansion were his own.

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Aware of this, Dereck thought he should gather as much information as possible while he had the chance.

In any case, Dereck already had everything planned. It was time to personally train the leading actress. Most likely, he would also be the director.

“From today on, I will inspect all meals that enter Lady Siern’s room.”

As he crossed the hallway, Dereck gave that order.

Someone was watching him secretly from afar.

‘…’

Aiselin swallowed hard as she watched Dereck’s actions.

***

“I don’t care if Lady Siern doesn’t trust me. Even if she plans to use me and then discard me, it doesn’t bother me.”

Aiselin, who had returned to the room through the snow, took off her cloak and hung it by the bed, speaking with a determined expression.

Siern, trembling inside the room, looked at Aiselin’s resolute figure and remembered Dereck again.

She remembered the image of that man who looked like a beast, walking firmly through the snowy field.

In that snowy world where the only option was to kill or be killed, he had the aura of a supreme predator.

In that mansion, few could match Siern’s magical abilities, but at least that man, Dereck, seemed capable of defeating her with ease.

“I… I have to do what I believe is right. Even if Sir Dereck tries to kill Lady Siern, I will protect you with all my strength.”

“Why… why do you try so hard for me?”

“…You won’t believe me, but there is no specific reason.”

That was precisely the main reason Dereck recognized Aiselin. She had the ability to connect with people.

The way to earn someone’s trust and make them feel you are worthy of it is simpler than it seems. You only need one thing: sincerity.

When all personal benefit, success, and reward are discarded, and one acts solely based on what they believe is right and just, the other person perceives 그 sincerity.

Sincerity is a quality that only the sincere can possess.

That was why Aiselin’s noble and bright eyes were engraved into Siern’s pupils. For an instant, Siern almost nodded.

However, the terrible memories she held in her heart could not be erased with a single kind look.

The expressions of fear and disgust shown by countless teachers when looking at Siern pierced the gaps in her memory.

At first, they all approached her smiling, telling her they were different.

They promised to guide her to a better world with beautiful words. In her more naive days, she harbored hopes. But the accumulation of frustrating experiences made her give up.

“I don’t believe it.”

Siern, curled up in a corner of the bed, hugged her knees and growled.

“I don’t believe in anyone.”

“You don’t have to believe me. Distrust me. It’s better for you, Lady Siern.”

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“Of course. After all, you are the one accompanying that… lunatic named Dereck. Why should I… trust you?”

“That… is true…”

Aiselin looked down and spoke as if she didn’t have the courage to look up.

“Even so, I believe in Sir Dereck. To you, Lady Siern, he may seem cold and ruthless… but I still believe there is humanity and goodness in him.”

“Lies. What you are doing now is betraying that magic master named Dereck.”

“That… is true. But please, wait a little longer. I will do my best to convince Sir Dereck.”

Aiselin slowly approached Siern.

Siern backed away, pushing the sheets with her bare feet, but Aiselin approached with a sweet smile and took her hands firmly.

— It is natural that you distrust me now, Lady Siern. But please, trust me for now. I will try to gain time by avoiding Sir Dereck’s schemes, and I will do everything possible to make him change his mind.

— Do you really think that heartless monster is going to change his mind? I’d rather… tell my father everything. Tell him that crazy man is trying to kill me and beg him to kick him out of the house.

“At this moment, Sir Dereck has the full trust and support of Lord Melverot. In this Rochester mansion, having Lord Melverot’s backing means there is no way to stop him.”

Siern showed an expression of disbelief.

To think that a magic teacher she didn’t even know, who came from somewhere in the southwest of the continent, could have so much confidence in her.

However, once she calmed down a bit, she quickly realized the situation was not in her favor.

A killer who murdered people when he had the chance, against a competent magic master recognized in the southwestern empire.

It didn’t take much thought to know who Melverot would believe. In the end, she would need Aiselin’s help. If that man named Dereck really tried to kill her, she wouldn’t be able to escape alone.

“Alright. Keep distrusting me, Lady Siern. I will do what I can.”

However, in Aiselin’s serious face, with lips pressed tight, sincerity could be perceived.

It was not an act or a lie, but the look of someone who sincerely cared for Siern.

‘Don’t let yourself be fooled.’

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Siern grit her teeth and pushed Aiselin away. A cold even more frigid than that of the vast northern snowy fields washed over her.

No matter how hard Aiselin tried to welcome her with warmth, she could not win the heart of that prickly girl.

Siern glared at her with fury. Even so, Aiselin maintained a resolute expression.

She was a person with a strong heart.

Thus, Aiselin began to visit the tower in secret several times, whispering information to Siern.

She even warned her that Dereck was poisoning the food. She repeatedly stressed that she should not let her guard down, as it was a slow-acting poison, and not to touch any food brought by Dereck or the servants.

Although she doubted Aiselin’s words, Siern never tasted the food that Dereck brought with the servants.

She pretended to eat just enough, but then spat it all out, surviving solely on the food Aiselin brought separately. Aiselin removed the meals prepared by Dereck and disposed of them completely.

Occasionally, Dereck would examine Siern’s body with his icy gaze, as if checking her condition, and each time, Siern suppressed her growing fear and pretended it didn’t affect her.

Every time Dereck spoke to her, she responded coldly, provoked him, and thought about how to kick that arrogant commoner out of the mansion.

Meanwhile, Aiselin did not stop moving.

Fearing for Lady Siern’s health, she checked on her several times and, whenever possible, begged Dereck to reconsider the idea of killing her.

On each occasion, Dereck firmly rejected her pleas, but she continued her double life without losing her determination.

Thus, one day became three, and three days became a week.

During that long time, Aiselin barely slept and gave most of her food to Siern, enduring the intense cold.

At night, she visited Siern’s room to inform her of the latest news, and during the day she discussed Siern’s educational policy with the servants or monitored Dereck’s movements.

As time passed, Aiselin’s face became paler and more exhausted, but thanks to her, Siern remained alive.

“There’s nothing abnormal with your health, right? I hope you never let your guard down, Lady Siern. When Dereck notices the medicine isn’t working, he might resort to other methods. I’ll try to find out what he’s thinking as soon as I get a chance.”

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“…”

— Don’t worry so much, Lady Siern. I’ve told you many times. Dereck may seem cold and ruthless, but he has a human and altruistic side. As someone raised in the Duchy of Duplain, I know it better than anyone.

“That’s enough.”

When she regained consciousness, Siern was already speaking informally to Aiselin.

Her unwavering righteousness was admirable, but everything has a limit.

What is the point of continuing to endure this?

“Lady Siern…”

“Life is like the jungle. Kill or be killed. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Siern let her bluish hair fall as she got up from the bed and looked directly at Aiselin.

“You… what are you? You’re not on my side, nor on that man’s side…”

“That… that is…”

Although she was deceiving Dereck solely to save Siern, she could not completely abandon the fundamental trust she had in him.

Siern could not understand Aiselin’s way of thinking. How could she feel empathy for such a monstrous man, who acted with such violence and arrogance? How was that different from a wife who says she’s fine while being beaten daily?

However, she couldn’t say it out loud because she herself was not free from accusations of being violent and arrogant.

That girl named Aiselin trusted and believed even in people like them. She was someone who extended her unwavering faith even to the possibility represented by that man named Dereck.

That was why Siern felt frustrated.

“Enough already. Let me die. If that man kills me, so be it. I don’t want the pity of someone with a head full of flowers like you, nor do I want to beg for my life.”

**Slap!**

Just as Siern said that, brushing the edge of despair, Aiselin grit her teeth and slapped her.

In an instant, Siern’s pupils dilated.

If someone had to choose the kindest and most benevolent person in the world, many would name Aiselin.

It was rare for someone so simple to resort to violence. Even Siern was so surprised she couldn’t help but tremble.

“Don’t accept death so easily. Don’t you know that everything ends when you give up?”

Aiselin pronounced every word through grit teeth. She was a girl raised with care in a noble family. Normally, people like that lack a sense of reality and only speak of ideals.

However, Aiselin was a young woman who rolled up her sleeves to stand firm even in the ruined mansion of the Duplain family.

The truly strong do not show their swords. The poison hidden in sweetness is what has true value.

She was a person with an iron will to live, capable of spreading manure with her own hands to plant and selling household items despite the shame.

That’s why she couldn’t ignore those who gave up.

Ever since she wandered through taverns in search of Diela’s teacher, her strong character was already evident.

Siern felt she was seeing Aiselin’s true nature and could say nothing.

“You can live. I won’t ask you to learn magic or etiquette. You don’t need any of that. Just… don’t waste your precious life because of a nature you don’t even understand. That… just that… I can’t stand…”

“What… what… why… why are you crying…?”

“Did you understand what I said?”

Aiselin’s eyes reddened and she burst into tears. It was an undignified reaction, but at that moment it didn’t matter.

Aiselin knew someone in a similar, though subtly different, situation to Siern. Her sister, Diella.

Now Diella aspired to become the true power behind Ebelstein, with the qualities of a ruler, but during her wandering days, she had been a girl who despised her own life, just like Siern.

Aiselin knew better than anyone how sad, lonely, and painful that was. That was why she couldn’t leave Siern alone.

“I… I…”

“I will try to deceive Sir Dereck a little longer. While he changes his mind, we will gain time. And somehow… I will convince him…”

Aiselin tried to speak with a deeply serious expression.

“That won’t work.”

**Bang!**

It was Dereck who burst into the inner room.

Both Aiselin and Siern shuddered and looked in that direction. The man, dressed in mercenary clothes and with an icy expression, stood there.