Chapter 87

Chapter 87
## Chapter 87

“A baron? Becoming a baron? Does that mean Dereck is becoming a noble? Did I hear that right?”

When Dereck nodded, Pheline took a step back, pressing her hands to her temples as if she were dizzy. They were in a dark alleyway behind the “Tears of Beldern” tavern.

After causing an uproar inside the tavern, Dereck had led her outside, thinking that staying alone would only cause more misunderstandings.

He had left Aiselin and Siern with the escort and hurried to pry the truth from Pheline’s tongue to resolve the matter quickly.

“I need a title. Pheline, as you know, I want to become a high-level mage. At this point, to increase my magical power without consequences, I need to raise my status and prestige.”

“You went north to work… and this is what you had in mind?”

“It’s not that I planned it, but the opportunity arose and I took advantage of it.”

Pheline, leaning against the shadowy wall of the alley, stroked her chin with a serious expression.

“You know perfectly well that my hometown, Radel, was completely destroyed by those damn nobles. I deeply loathe dealing with those pretentious aristocrats.”

“Don’t worry. I only need the charade. Who else but you, Pheline, could I ask for something like this?”

“No… are you asking me to pretend to be married to you…?”

Pheline touched her thigh as if trying to imagine it, and then spoke with a pale face.

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“Dereck… this is physically difficult for me…”

“Do you think I want to do this…? I’m having a hard time too… I just hope I don’t vomit…”

“…The way you say it makes me uncomfortable.”

“Do you think I like this?”

Dereck and Pheline stared at each other for a while.

To a stranger, their attitude of repulsion might seem strange, but Dereck and Pheline had participated in mercenary missions together since childhood, sharing a bond closer to that of family than lovers.

Of course, they didn’t treat each other with the same affection as a real family, but at least there was a level of trust where neither would betray the other.

Pheline crossed her arms and finally spoke in a serious tone.

“I’m sorry, Dereck. I have no intention of living a married life that isn’t my destiny. I just want to survive fighting with Uncle Jayden or the guild members.”

“Is there really no way, no matter what happens?”

“Dereck.”

Pheline stood up, straightened her pinned-up hair, and spoke firmly.

“No matter how much you insist, it’s not going to happen. Dereck, I would do almost anything you asked, but this is too much.”

“…I’ll give you money.”

“Ugh… as stingy as I may be, there are things I can do and things I can’t. Even if you’ve earned money among the aristocracy, how can you think of buying a marriage proposal with money…? I’m still a woman, Dereck!”

“…I’ll give you a lot. I know how hard you work, so I’ll reward you well. And when I get the title and everything improves, I’ll give you a large reward and let you go again… I promise. It will be a considerable sum.”

“How can you say something like that? I like money, but I know very well that not everything in the world can be solved with money.”

Dereck took a large step toward her and whispered the exact amount into her ear.

“…”

Upon hearing it, Pheline shuddered.

“……”

Finally, Pheline spoke with her eyes wide open.

“Take care of me… my lord!”

“…”

In this world, there are no absolute truths.

Pheline was a very skilled mercenary archer.

She wore a reddish-brown leather blouse, light wooden armor over it, and a wide, old skirt with two or three leather belts tied around it. She had many pockets and pouches.

Her wrists were wrapped with black bandages or leather gloves, and she carried potion vials on her thighs. The weapons she carried on her back were imposing, but she always covered them with a reddish-brown hooded cloak.

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Her platinum blonde hair was tied up, giving her a sophisticated look.

It was evident she had been killing monsters since she was a child. Had it not been for Dereck, she would have been the rising star of the Beldern Mercenary Corps.

But that person was now wearing a simple linen dress and a straw hat as she entered the tavern.

She had carefully chosen an outfit that didn’t look luxurious, as if she were the wife of a rural baron.

“…”

Seeing her, Jayden commented:

“She looks like a gorilla in a dress.”

“Jayden, sir…”

“…I’m sorry.”

The tavern had already closed.

Almost all the customers had left, and only Dereck, Aiselin, and Siern remained seated at the central table.

“I asked them to choose the simplest clothes from my mansion in the noble district. This… shouldn’t draw too much attention.”

Aiselin looked at them with a worried expression.

Pheline seemed somewhat downcast and absent, while Dereck, observing her, clenched his jaw with an expressionless face.

To a stranger, she might look like an ordinary woman, but to those who knew Pheline, the scene caused an indescribable discomfort.

One must not be fooled by her fragile appearance.

Pheline was a girl capable of dismembering four or five goblins with a single stroke of a dagger.

That was why Dereck always took her with him on dangerous missions.

“Dereck… right now… I am disillusioned with my whole life…”

“Pheline, don’t think so negatively… the clothes suit you…”

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“Look me in the eyes and say that.”

“Damn… I have dust in my eyes…”

Dereck, who desperately needed Pheline’s help, was trying to encourage her as best as he could.

Meanwhile, Aiselin, watching them, felt a strange sense of relief. In reality, Dereck and Pheline didn’t look like a romantic couple at all.

When you live as a mercenary, surviving day to day, romance eventually dies out.

Dreaming of a prince on a white horse or a northern duke who only treats you with affection is a privilege reserved for those who live comfortably in a greenhouse.

Aiselin, for her part, had been raised since childhood in the noble and peculiar environment of Duplain, so she still retained some romantic ideas.

But Pheline was a practical person. She touched the loose linen dress and pointed out its flaws, saying, “I can’t even run in this.”

“Dereck… I’m… sleepy…”

Siern was drinking a sweet infusion that Jayden had given her, and she curled up in Aiselin’s arms as she fell asleep.

And there were Pheline, frowning, and Dereck, planning his next move.

Jayden watched them in silence from the side and thought.

“I don’t know what happened in the north, but this is a complete disaster.”

There was nothing that didn’t worry him. He wondered if they could really receive the title of baron under these conditions.

There wasn’t a single aspect that didn’t concern him. He wondered if they could really receive the title of baron under these conditions.

***

“Dereck… is getting married…?”

The news of the marriage of Dereck, a magic master active in southwest Ebelstein, spread after the meeting held the following week at Rose Hall.

“Yes…”

“Wow… this is a bit sudden…”

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It was the day that Aiselin, who had traveled north to earn money, finally returned to Rose Hall.

She no longer belonged to any of the three great families. Aiselin, who now moved from place to place like a disgraced noblewoman, must have seemed quite pitiable to them.

Most of her followers had left to live their own lives, and the few who remained only felt sorry for her.

Therefore, Ellen and Denise wanted to ask her about her current situation during that meeting, moved by the affection they had shared in the past.

Although the tension between the three great families had been intense, Aiselin had always behaved in a mature and sensible manner, even in those difficult relationships.

Ellen and Denise could not be entirely happy with Aiselin’s downfall.

However, what Aiselin told them in private after the meeting was so shocking that, for a moment, they forgot their compassion.

“He met a woman named Pheline, from the Beldern Mercenary Corps, and they are going to form a beautiful home… a love nest…”

Aiselin did not mention that it was all part of a desperate struggle to obtain the title. She didn’t want to add unnecessary words that could cause him trouble later.

As a result, Ellen’s and Denise’s expressions hardened.

In reality, if asked whether they saw Dereck as a potential romantic partner, the answer would be no.

He was a good teacher, a trustworthy person, and someone they would hire if the opportunity arose; nothing more. Or at least, so they thought.

But the news of Dereck’s marriage was so unexpected that it left them speechless.

Ellen set down the teacup she was about to bring to her lips and, sweating a little, asked Aiselin:

“R-Really…? That woman named P-Pheline… When did they start dating for them to already be talking about marriage…?”

“I heard they’ve worked together as mercenaries since childhood… They reunited after returning to Ebelstein, and she is certainly a strong and determined woman.”

“…Really?”

“She was an archer with pinned-up platinum blonde hair. Her skills were almost perfect, and many mercenary groups tried to recruit her.”

Upon hearing those words, Ellen suddenly remembered the image of a woman buried in her memory.

It was the same archer Dereck had brought as reinforcement for the escort when they were having difficulties in the labyrinth during one of their classes.

She seemed to be roughly the same age as Ellen, but she was already accustomed to blood-stained battlefields.

‘Of course… Dereck would be more attracted to a companion with extensive combat experience than to a noble lady who knows nothing of the world…’

Ellen thought as she slid her fingers along the rim of her teacup. It was completely natural.

While she lost herself in her thoughts, Denise, taking a sip of tea on the other side, had already finished analyzing the situation.

‘…Lady Aiselin is lying.’

Denise was very quick-witted.

The news had surprised her a bit, but after taking a sip of tea and calmly organizing her thoughts, she quickly understood what was happening.

Before Aiselin left for the north, Denise had already realized she harbored unusual feelings for Dereck.

If Aiselin had received a marriage proposal from Dereck, she wouldn’t be telling others about it so naturally.

If it were true, she would clearly be distressed or upset.

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She wasn’t the type of person who could have such a relaxed conversation. Aiselin was intelligent and knew how to behave in society, but in this regard, it was evident she lacked experience.

‘A letter recently arrived regarding the granting of the title of baron to Dereck. Since not having a family disqualifies him, it seems they are planning a forced marriage to meet the requirement.’

Denise’s intuition and insight were unparalleled in Rose Hall.

If Dereck received the title of baron, the territory assigned to him would be the Rodelen region, which borders the Duchy of Beltus.

In a way, that would make him a neighbor of the Beltus family. The physical distance would be considerable, but they could see each other often if disputes over tariffs or trade routes arose.

‘It’s a barony in a remote area that everyone avoids, but if he meets the requirements, he could become a true noble. And as for magic skills… he lacks nothing. Should I start treating him with the courtesy of a noble the next time I see him?’

As she thought about it, the image of that man who only focused on magic came to mind.

‘He really aspires to reach the 4-star level or higher.’

His magical feats were hard to believe even when witnessed in person.

Being a 3-star mage at that age meant he really could reach the 4-star or even 5-star level in the future.

If he reached the 4-star level at such a young age, the entire continent would not leave him in peace.

Among the best-known figures who reached the 4-star level at an early age, there were only two: Melverot and Kalimford. Both eventually reached the 6-star level.

At that point, he had already surpassed the level of a simple magic master.

‘The elders of the imperial capital don’t know it. They can’t even imagine what will happen when Dereck receives the title of baron and joins the ranks of the nobility.’

Denise thought calmly, narrowing her eyes into half-moons.

It seemed that someone much more extraordinary than she had imagined had taught her.

“Oh, but if it isn’t Lady Aiselin.”

It was at that moment, while Denise reflected on the power dynamics among the nobility.

In the midst of the lively conversation about Dereck’s partner, a girl dressed in a beautiful and luxurious dress approached them from behind.

The young woman, smiling as she placed a tray of desserts decorated with flowers on the table, was Trisha, from the family of Viscount Renouel.

Although her smiling face seemed cheerful, her true intentions were obvious.

She was someone who craved taking the place among the three great families, now vacant after the fall of the Duplains.

‘…’

Denise strongly suppressed the urge to frown. In Ebelstein’s social circle—which was like a thin layer of ice—mastering facial expressions was a basic skill.

“Oh, Lady Trisha. It’s been a long time!”

Aiselin affectionately greeted Trisha, who was smiling. Trisha, for her part, maintained a meaningful smile while staring intently at Aiselin.

Denise almost clicked her tongue. It was obvious why Trisha had come to that informal meeting.

The Duplains in decline and the Renouels on the rise.

She wanted to make the contrast clear and, somehow, take effective control of Rose Hall.

The dark and sinister power struggles among the noble ladies were something Ellen and Denise had experienced to the point of feeling nauseous. Even so, they never got used to it.

She had come to crush Aiselin.