Chapter 88

Chapter 88
## Chapter 88

The idyllic landscape of the Rodelen region was so peaceful and comforting that simply gazing upon it brought a sense of calm; however, it was understandable why the central nobles did not visit.

The vineyards, arranged in terraces over the mountainous terrain on the outskirts of the Duchy of Beltus, were not of a particularly impressive scale.

It was said that the artisans living in these border areas were so devoted to the quality control of the wine that they vehemently opposed any expansion of the cultivation scale.

“I thought all noble houses would be luxurious and ostentatious, but that isn’t always the case, is it?”

Dereck had been riding since early morning for nearly half a day to reach the outskirts of Rodelen.

Pheline, who was stroking the horse’s rump beside Dereck, looked at the noble mansion built next to the small vineyard and seemed surprised.

The elegant two-story building, constructed of light limestone, had aged too much and was covered in cobwebs due to a lack of maintenance.

The ceiling was high and the floor was marble, so with proper care, it could become a decent base, but the labor required would not be free.

“This is quite good. If you look closely, there’s a stable next to it, and although it’s a bit of an exaggeration to call it a garden because of its size, there is also a circular one. It’s just full of weeds.”

Dereck shrugged as he dismounted from his horse. Pheline, who had been observing the mansion with an indifferent expression, also dismounted.

“Would it be too early to start with real repairs…? I suppose that will be done after receiving the title and obtaining authority… But I still wanted to see what state it was in.”

“Wow, our lord is already excited about receiving his title and making a name for himself… And on top of that, he comes to inspect a mansion that isn’t even his yet!”

—

“Just by looking at it, you can tell there’s a lot to do. I can’t take care of this mansion by myself, so I’ll have to hire staff… I also need to check the situation of the tenants… And since I love to travel, I need to establish a system so that everything functions even when I’m not here.”

Dereck’s goal had never changed. He wanted to become a high-level mage.

And to achieve that, the best thing was to quickly take care of the necessary tasks.

For some, a noble title might be the goal of a lifetime, but for Dereck, it was nothing more than a tool to achieve a greater purpose.

He had no intention of exercising authority or flaunting the title.

“There are so many expenses.”

“And where are you going to get so much money? At a glance, it’s obvious that the maintenance costs will be enormous.”

“When I receive the title, I will also be granted authority over taxes, so it won’t be a big problem. However, I’m not sure that the local nobles, who have lived without a feudal lord, will be willing to accept my decisions. It’s one problem after another.”

Dereck was sitting on an old wooden chair in a garden covered in weeds.

Sitting in silence, he could hear the buzzing of insects under the warm sunlight.

It was certainly a good place to come and rest in old age, but not a property that a major noble in the prime of his life would covet.

“The location is pleasant.”

“Yes… *sigh*.”

Pheline still wore an expression of disinterest.

She had agreed to accompany him for money, but she seemed to flatly reject the idea of pretending to be royalty.

She preferred to draw the string of her bow on a blood-soaked battlefield than to maintain her composure in a refined setting.

“Have you already chosen a noble surname?”

“Ravenclaw.”

“…Hmm.”

Dereck, who was looking distractedly at the sky with one arm resting on the back of the chair, answered without hesitation.

The fact that he didn’t hesitate for a second meant he had already made the decision a long time ago.

To Pheline, to whom the name sounded familiar, she rested her chin on her hand and began to think. There was a reason why it felt so familiar.

Although he was part of the Beldern Mercenary Corps, Dereck used to visit the slums where he spent his childhood from time to time.

It wasn’t frequent, maybe once or twice a year… He used to walk along the riverbank that ran through the Ebelstein slums.

Intrigued to know why someone like him would go there, Pheline followed him on one occasion.

And when she finally did, she found nothing unusual, so she didn’t give it much importance.

Before going to work, he would wake up at dawn and buy warm bread with butter at a shop or bakery in the commercial district.

Then, he would place the bread in front of a modest grave made of old planks under a dilapidated bridge in the river, in the slums, and sit by the water, silently watching the flow of the river.

Without showing any particular emotion, he simply sat there from time to time.

She didn’t know what meaning lay in contemplating the river landscape in the fresh morning air…

But she did remember the old inscription on the grave where Dereck left the bread.

The name engraved was “Ravenclaw.”

A raven pecking at corpses.

When she wandered through the slums, she often saw those unpleasant birds perched on the bodies of those who had died of hunger in the corners of the alleys.

As a mage, she believed he had climbed out of that abyss by perfecting his skills, but… did Dereck still see himself as one of those ravens?

Or did it have another meaning…? Pheline had no way of knowing.

“The weather is nice.”

Murmuring that surname and looking at the sky alongside Dereck, she exhaled deeply through her nose.

The sky was high and blue.

Despite the passage of time, the seasons continued their cycle without change.

It is natural for spring to follow winter. That principle remains immutable.

In the end, those who always leave are the people.

***

“I was so worried that Lady Aiselin would be angry that I couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning in bed. It was an inevitable decision to maintain the authority of the Rose Salon, but from Lady Aiselin’s perspective, it must have been difficult to accept.”

Trisha, from the Viscountcy of Renouel, was the most active in her attempt to expel the Duplains from the three great families.

In fact, her situation was so awkward that she shouldn’t have even shown herself in front of Aiselin, but she appeared confidently and acted with understanding.

Compassion is an emotion with a clearly defined hierarchy. It is natural for someone who is above to feel compassion for someone who is below.

At first glance, she might have seemed like a kind person concerned about the fallen lady of the Duplains, but in reality, her intention to establish that hierarchy was blatantly obvious.

Her intentions were so malicious that Ellen, who was watching from the side, frowned.

How should she intervene in this…?

Denise drank her tea with indifference, but Ellen was already rolling up her sleeves, ready to act.

However, Trisha’s words and actions were so astute that she did nothing overtly problematic. That was the nature of power struggles among noble ladies.

“I heard that you went north to seek funds for your family…”

“Yes. I went to the Rochester territory.”

“Wow… That must have been very difficult. It is not easy for a noble lady to earn a living on her own, but I cannot help but admire Lady Aiselin’s determination.”

“How kind of you, haha…”

The grace of a noble lady is revealed when she resembles a solitary flower, oblivious to the mundane world.

Running around desperately to earn a little money could not be considered dignified, not even as a compliment.

Trisha’s words subtly attacked Aiselin’s unrefined behavior.

Those who knew nothing might have laughed, but the three members of the Rose Salon, who knew everything, could clearly feel the weight of her words.

Was she trying to hurt Aiselin’s pride and enjoy a sense of superiority?

Trisha was already smiling with satisfaction as she took a cake from the dessert cart and placed it in front of her.

*The only thing I can offer you are some delicious sweets. I brought some that go well with tea. You probably don’t enjoy them often, so you’d better savor them while you can.*

‘You are unbelievable, Lady Trisha.’

A vein bulged on Ellen’s forehead.

It was well known that the family of Viscount Renouel had been gaining power lately, but that was the merit of her family, not Trisha herself.

It was normal for a noble lady to rely on the influence of her family, but that did not give her the right to be rude.

Ellen was considering if there was anything she could use against her.

“Thank you, Lady Trisha. I will enjoy it.”

Aiselin smiled slightly and took a small plate with a cookie from the dessert cart.

She seemed completely unperturbed. Aiselin had long been the most elegant flower in the Ebelstein social circle.

The most effective way to deal with such arrogant comments was to simply ignore them. And since she knew that well, she showed no reaction.

Trisha, visibly uncomfortable with such a skillful response, pursed her lips for a moment.

The reason Trisha wanted to show off in front of Aiselin was not only because of her bad personality but also because she needed a symbolic scene in which she could reaffirm herself before the family power struggle began.

Someone like Aiselin of the Duplains, unable to respond with a single word.

If she managed to put her in that position, she could also maintain a haughty attitude toward other noble ladies.

That’s why she wanted to frequently show Aiselin in a state of confusion and inability to respond.

In high society, a demonstration of power was equivalent to authority. And to achieve that, she needed to provoke Aiselin as much as possible, crossing the line when necessary.

She had to be willing to destroy the exemplary noble lady who never lost her grace or dignity.

A teenager obsessed with honor, power, and good marriages would cross that line from time to time.

*Drip, drip.*

And so, the hot tea flowed over Aiselin’s head.

It happened in an instant.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Lady Aiselin.”

“…”

It was so sudden that neither Ellen nor Denise, who were sitting beside her, could react in time.

*Drip, drip, drip.*

The tea running down Aiselin’s delicate chin dripped onto the table.

Before Aiselin, who had not yet fully understood what happened, could react, Ellen slammed the table hard and stood up.

“Miss Trisha!”

“I’m sorry. I wanted to offer her an exquisite tea from the eastern continent, but my hand slipped.”

Even Aiselin, who always faced any situation with poise, showed a look of bewilderment.

If she got angry, she was playing into Trisha’s rhythm. But if she endured it, she was also playing along.

What was the correct answer? In this situation, where not only the servants of each family but even passersby on the street were watching, it was difficult to respond quickly.

On the terrace of a teahouse, right next to the central square of the noble quarter, where nobles and the wealthy usually gathered.

Seeing Aiselin lower her head in silence, Trisha whispered with a smile of satisfaction.

“Are you okay? What are we going to do about this…?”

A girl who seemed so apologetic that she didn’t know how to behave. But everyone gathered there knew the truth. Trisha only wanted to establish hierarchies.

Just as Aiselin looked up, confused, to say something.

“What are you doing?”

A girl approached from behind the terrace, accompanied by a maid.

It seemed she had run into them while walking through the square on some errand.

Her abundant blonde hair enveloped her body, and her ruffled dress, fitted to her petite figure, looked expensive at first glance.

Her eyes, raised with arrogance, revealed that she was not a person of pleasant character. The contrast between her adorable figure and her attitude was evident.

Trisha, momentarily surprised by the sudden intervention, smiled again as she recognized the face.

She was the perfect person.

“Oh, my! Lady Diella is here too. I’m sorry. I was rude to Lady Aiselin.”

Diella Katherine Duplain.

She was the younger sister of the girl who was now soaked in tea.

Known as the young lioness of the Duplain family, even after the great fall of the family, her spirit and charisma remained intact, causing unease among many young noble ladies.

However, Trisha already knew this well.

At the last salon meeting, Diella had already bowed her head to Trisha once.

Even in a situation where she was openly insulted, she recognized the decline of her family and took a step back.

At that time, Trisha couldn’t say much more due to Diella’s overwhelming presence, but upon reflection, she could instinctively feel that the atmosphere had already changed in her favor.

As much as Diella tried, the lioness of Duplain could not prevent the fall.

Even the arrogant Diella had no choice but to acknowledge it.

That’s why Trisha sketched a smile and said:

“I unintentionally spilled tea on Lady Aiselin. I want to clean it up, but Lady Diella, could you help me?”

“…”

“I’m worried that if I clean it myself, the tea will stain the hem of my dress.”

The pleasure of trampling all at once on the noble ladies of the beautiful and noble Duplain family.

As if bewitched by it, Trisha was about to raise her voice even more.

After observing the tea-soaked Aiselin, Diella walked with firm steps toward Trisha.

***

“I’ve analyzed the situation in the Rodelen region, so let’s head back to Ebelstein, Pheline.”

“Is there nothing else to do?”

“There isn’t much we can do until I receive the title… For now, it’s enough to evaluate the situation. We’ll probably have to convince the Beltus family. It would be difficult for Lord Melverot to handle it alone.”

Having said that, Dereck stood up and walked quickly toward the entrance of the mansion where the horses were tied.

“How are you going to convince those damn nobles?”

“We’ll have to use all the contacts we have.”

“Well… Dereck, you’ve made quite a few contacts with various noble ladies while claiming to be a magic teacher. Now that I think about it, you must have some influence in the Ebelstein social circle.”

“Well… how much influence could I really have? I just teach magic.”

“Hmm… I don’t know…”

Pheline followed Dereck, mounted her horse, and snorted.

“I think differently…”

Pheline, who neither liked nor cared about noble culture, could be quite sure. If the people influenced by Dereck began to enter the Ebelstein social circle, there would undoubtedly be changes.

Of course, it was impossible to predict what kind of influence Dereck would have or what events he might trigger.

Those things could not be easily foreseen.

***

*Thump!*

*Crash! Rattle!*

Amidst an event much more shocking than Aiselin being soaked in tea.

Even Ellen, who rarely showed emotion, and Denise, who usually remained calm, couldn’t help but open their eyes wide and drop their jaws.

It happened in an instant, but the consequences of the impact were immense. It was as if time had stopped in the area.

Diella, who had kicked the tea table and lunged forward, slapped Trisha across the face with the palm of her hand.

It wasn’t a simple slap. The blow, imbued with magic, pushed Trisha back and sent her falling to the ground.

*Crash! Bang!*

The chair Trisha was sitting in overturned.

As she fell, the hem of her dress became covered in dust.

“Ah… Ugh…”

Trisha couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. Suddenly, the world turned upside down, sparks flew, her vision blurred, and before she realized it, she was already rolling on the ground.

Shortly after, a stinging pain shot through her cheek. The delay in feeling the pain caused a disorientation that confused her even more.

“Eh… *gulp*…”

The words wouldn’t come out.

Trisha looked up, clutching her cheek. There, Diella, who continued to look at her with a cold expression, snapped her fingers.

She tried to speak, but she couldn’t articulate a word. Only muffled sounds came from her throat.

Everyone, from the seated ladies to the distinguished guests and nearby servants, held their breath.

It was difficult to grasp what had just happened before their eyes. Amidst the shock, as if time had stopped, Trisha thought.

Even when she insulted the family and directly attacked Diella, she hadn’t changed her expression.

Naturally, she thought that this time, too, Diella would accept the ruin of her family and resign herself. However, Trisha was unaware of Diella’s true nature.

Diella had learned to endure insults directed at her or her family.

But despite that personal growth, there were moments she could not tolerate.

And this was one of those moments.

“…”

Winter was already over, and the cherry blossoms were about to bloom. However, the coldness in Diella’s eyes seemed to freeze the entire place.

Without showing any emotion, Diella’s gaze reflected a clear murderous intent, like that of a predator.

In short, the emotion in Trisha’s eyes was not anger, but pure, primal fear.

At the end of that icy fury, the girl uttered a single word, coldly:

“Get up.”

Apparently, the nobles had forgotten this moment.

At her peak, Diella was the most feared beast of the Duplain family.