Chapter 93

Chapter 93
## Chapter 93

Near the Elfontaine Salon in the noble district of Ebelstein, there were numerous tea houses intended for the ladies of the nobility.

In one of them, Trisha, sitting under the warm spring sunlight, wore a serious face and an expression of deep concern.

“Why has the lady of the Duchy of Rochester come all the way to the southwest of the continent…?”

Since the Duplain family was displaced, the authority of the Renouel Viscounty had skyrocketed.

If the head of the Renouel family were to be granted the title of Count in the upcoming celebration of his birthday, it seemed that it wouldn’t be long before she could associate with the ladies of the Belmierd or Beltus families.

Trisha’s pride had already reached its peak, and every moment she spent in Ebelstein’s noble society felt like a dream.

However, the sudden appearance of the lady of the Duchy of Rochester in the Ebelstein nobility had changed everything.

No matter how much the authority of the Renouels had grown, it could not be compared to that of the Duchy of Rochester, led by Lord Melverot.

“Of course, status is not determined solely by the secular power of the main family…”

No matter how strong Siern’s backing was, if she could surpass her in other aspects, it was not entirely impossible to displace her.

Even if secular authority favored Duplain, the mere fact that Trisha could express her opinion was already proof of that.

However, that did not mean it was going to be easy.

“It is absolutely impossible to surpass Lady Siern in magical abilities. As far as social etiquette and noble culture are concerned, I believe I have much greater knowledge…”

If she didn’t make the most of this opportunity, she might lose forever the possibility of reaching the top of the Salon of Roses.

Aware of this, Trisha tried to obtain more influence within the salon than Siern.

But Siern was too mysterious and impenetrable.

The murderous intent she conveyed with just a look was terrifying, but she still maintained basic manners and etiquette.

To be able to displace that enigmatic snow woman, she needed to find her weaknesses or her vulnerable point.

‘Now that I think about it, they said that the three from the Salon of Roses learned magic from the same master… Wasn’t Lady Siern one of them too…?’

Ultimately, the silent battles of the nobility were wars of information.

Trisha had already gathered all the information possible about the Belmierd and Beltus ladies.

All the influential figures of Ebelstein’s noble society had been instructed by that magic master named Dereck, and that fact seemed strangely relevant.

‘Am I the only one who has no academic relationship with him? This is worrying…’

Of course, given that Dereck was a private tutor, there were hardly any group classes or direct links between his students.

Still, it was not convenient for Trisha to be completely isolated.

“To change this situation, I need to meet with that magic teacher. They say he became the lord of the Ravenclaw Barony and received a small frontier territory… it’s not very far from Ebelstein.”

Trisha stood up, determined to go herself.

She was a person willing to do whatever was necessary to obtain more power.

***

Quite a bit of time had already passed since the Ravenclaw Barony began to function properly.

During that period, many distinguished visitors arrived, and over time, the place acquired a fairly orderly appearance.

In the backyard of the barony, there was a small clearing.

Compared to the training grounds of an average ducal house, it was extremely modest.

But for Dereck, who had practiced magic in distant mountains or in meadows, this space was not only sufficient but a luxury.

Sitting in the center of the place, Dereck gathered his magical power, holding the great staff called “Footprints.”

He concentrated, extending the mana accumulated in his fingers directly toward the sky.

The flow of magic traveled through the staff and ascended toward the clear sky. Finally, upon reaching a certain height, the magic stopped and began to disperse.

At that moment, Dereck frowned and clenched his fist tightly.

The magic transformed into another type of energy and began to take the form of clouds.

Drip, drip, drip.

And slowly… drops of rain began to fall.

**[Magic recently acquired]**
**Three-star transformation magic: “Rain Cloud”**

Manipulating the weather is fairly high-level magic, but if the range is limited and the duration is sacrificed, it is not impossible to manifest it with three-star magic.

As a result, he could now cause rain in a limited area for a short period, enough to soak everything. It was an effective way to create variables in a complex battlefield.

‘Undoubtedly, I’ve already gotten used to learning three-star magic.’

Dereck, without loosening his fist, remained standing in the rain.

Moments before, the sun was shining brightly. Despite the sudden downpour, he showed no signs of surprise.

It was natural. It was the rain that he himself had provoked.

“But four-star magic seems difficult to learn on my own. Now that I think about it, every time I learned a new level of magic, there was always a master who guided me…”

Dereck was not only an excellent magic teacher but also an excellent student.

He had learned one-star magic from a beggar in the slums.

Two-star magic from a noblewoman fallen into disgrace.

Three-star magic from an old wandering wizard.

Up to level three, that was enough. But finding someone capable of teaching four-star magic was no easy task.

Especially since four-star magic varies enormously according to the abilities and inclinations of each individual.

In terms of variety, four-star magic even surpasses that of five or six stars.

Even if two people used the same four-star fire magic, one could produce bright and exuberant flames, while the other could invoke a calm, blue fire.

Even if two people used the same summoning magic, a person raised in a warm environment could summon a beautiful spirit, while another, marked by struggle, could summon a bloodied dog.

There are not many masters in the world capable of properly teaching that wide range of four-star magic, as the learning process is completely different for each mage.

That’s why Dereck couldn’t help but immerse himself in his thoughts.

“It would be great if Lord Melverot could teach me, but he is not the type of person who kindly instructs others.”

He had already granted him a barony, a mansion, and even financial support. Asking for more would be excessive shamelessness.

While Dereck sank into his thoughts, the rain began to intensify.

*Splash!*

“Kyaa!”

Just as the rain was about to pour harder, a woman’s scream was heard.

“Hmm?”

“Ugh…! I didn’t expect this…”

When Dereck stopped the magic and turned quickly, there was Ellen, soaked by the rain, looking visibly uncomfortable.

***

“I’m sorry. When I concentrate on magic training, I usually don’t pay attention to my surroundings.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s my fault for sneaking a look.”

Even in the most informal situations, Ellen always wore garments adorned with ruffles and rose-shaped decorations.

The blouse lent to her by the lowest-ranking maid of the mansion was too simple for someone from the Belmierd family. But she had no other choice: the clothes she was wearing were soaked.

As if it didn’t bother her in the least, she dried her reddish hair while wearing the simple garment.

The maid, who carefully passed a soft cloth to dry the water, was trembling with nerves.

She would never have imagined that a low-ranking servant of a baron’s house would ever touch the hair of a lady of the County of Belmierd.

Only veteran domestic workers, with more than ten years of service, had permission to attend to such distinguished people.

The young freckled maid, with barely a month of experience, swallowed hard and clenched her fists tightly.

“By the way… three-star transformation magic… Dereck, you never cease to amaze me.”

“There are still aspects I need to perfect, but I think I’ve already become quite familiar with three-star magic.”

“…”

Ellen, as if she didn’t know what to say, observed him in silence for a moment before sitting on a wooden chair in a corner of the clearing. While she continued drying her damp hair, she pressed her temples firmly.

“Recently I managed to master two-star magic. I did it last week.”

“Really? That certainly deserves to be celebrated.”

“I came running to show off to you, Dereck, but the first thing I saw was you using three-star transformation magic as if it were nothing… Now I’m a bit embarrassed to say it.”

Even if she expressed it that way, the fact that Ellen could use two-star magic at her age was an admirable achievement.

Officially, she arrived just after Lady Aiselin, who had manifested two-star magic some time ago.

Of course, if one counted Lady Denise—who had secretly also reached that level—Ellen occupied third place.

“At least among the common people I’ve met, there is no one who has made such rapid and solid magical progress as you.”

Although it was a great compliment, Dereck didn’t bother to give a formal response.

He simply said “thank you” in a low voice. That reaction was very typical of him, and that’s why Ellen let out a giggle.

After drying her hair, the maid served her tea.

Compared to the hospitality of Count Belmierd, it was a simple cup of tea with cheap leaves, but Ellen accepted it with an expression of satisfaction.

“Now that I think about it, this barony is already quite organized. They even serve tea to visitors…”

“The Duke of Rochester sent a fairly competent person as a butler. Since he took over the administration, I haven’t had to do much.”

“There is no greater fortune than having reliable talent. The more I learn about the responsibilities of the head of the Belmierd family, the clearer it becomes.”

Ellen tied her hair back again.

When she divided her reddish hair in two and tied it up, the authority she always projected seemed to vanish, revealing a more lively side, appropriate for her age.

“Now that you are a baron, you’ll end up realizing it yourself.”

“I’m barely the lowest of the low.”

‘Whether you’ll stay that way or not is something we still don’t know. By the way, how was it that Grand Duke Beltus granted you the title? I doubt he was happy to see a new noble rise in the borderlands…’

Ellen spoke as if she were truly curious.

Dereck, looking at her, rested his chin on his hand and stayed thoughtful for a moment.

He felt he should tell her about a certain person he had met in the tavern before receiving the title.

“The truth is… there was another person who helped me.”

“Really? That couldn’t have been easy… Who was it?”

“…It was young Linus of the Belmierd family.”

At this, Ellen’s expression hardened.

She put down the cup she was about to bring to her lips and frowned with evident disgust.

“…That bastard of mine went to see you?”

“…Yes.”

“What did he look like? He hasn’t returned to the main house for a long time. I heard he only frequents gambling houses in the big cities, drunk and surrendered to depravity…”

Ellen spoke with genuine disgust, as if she truly despised the drunkard named Linus.

“Is he still going around with that neglected beard and drinking all the time?”

“…Yes.”

“Oh… Why did he return to Ebelstein? If my impulsive brother caused any trouble, I apologize.”

“No, it’s not that. In fact, he helped me convince Grand Duke Beltus. I made him promise that if I managed to become a baron, he would help you.”

“…Me?”

Ellen blinked several times with her bright red eyes, then tilted her head while fixing her hair again.

“…That scoundrel wouldn’t care about me…”

“Isn’t a major change taking place in the Belmierd family? I don’t think Linus would do something so unusual without a motive.”

“I don’t entirely understand the actions of that miserable drunkard… Hmm… In any case, it’s something I should thank you for, Dereck, for helping me get the title.”

Although it didn’t seem like a drastic change was coming that could sink the Duplain family, at least it could be assumed that something might be about to happen to Ellen.

Seeing the expression of concern on Dereck’s face, Ellen ended up speaking with a smile.

“Well, don’t worry so much. I have a general idea of what’s going on.”

“Oh, really?”

“He must be trying to get me some kind of support, fearing that Leonard will return to the family. If Leonard takes power, things will get complicated.”

Ellen, who seemed to have the situation well calculated, stopped touching her chin and opened her eyes wide as she spoke.

“Leonard… Wasn’t he the youngest son of the Belmierd family?”

“Wow, Dereck. You’re already so deep into the nobility that you even remember the Belmierd family tree. Yes, that’s right. Now he’s devoted to religion and is on a pilgrimage; he doesn’t show up at the main house.”

The male children of the Belmierd family never stayed at the main residence.

The reason Ellen had been able to secure the throne was precisely that.

“In reality, the heir at the head of the Belmierd family was not me, but my brother Linus. Leonard went on a pilgrimage because, even if he had stayed, he would have had no way to access the power of the family while Linus was there.”

“Did Leonard have ambition for that power?”

“Well… I don’t know anymore. It’s been a long time. In any case, he gave up the succession early and went to wander the continent, living his own way.”

“But young master Linus gave up the succession.”

“That’s right. Very smart, Dereck.”

No additional explanation was necessary.

For some reason, Linus had given up being the next leader of the powerful Belmierd family. He preferred to waste his life on gambling and drinking. Only he knew why.

As a result, no one but Ellen was left to occupy the position of heir. Leonard, the youngest son, was still wandering far from the main house.

However, no one knew what Leonard would think if he returned and discovered that Ellen had become the heir.

It was not uncommon for a daughter to inherit, but generally there was an unwritten rule that dictated it should be the son who did so.

“What kind of person is that Leonard? If he’s on a religious pilgrimage, he should be decent…”

“Well, I don’t think he’s such a good person. His devotion was a political decision. As you said, religious people often seem morally upright.”

Dereck had never met Leonard, but from Ellen’s expression he realized he wasn’t exactly trustworthy.

“If that guy tries to push me out of the Belmierd family, I don’t intend to stay idle. I’ve worked too hard to maintain my place as heir.”

“…”

“If he ignored the family’s situation and wandered all over the continent, and now intends to return and claim the succession just because he thinks he has an opportunity, do I have to kneel and hand over the position to that younger brother? And do you think our father would accept it?”

Ellen’s red eyes seemed to burn with intensity.

Power struggles within families were common, but it seemed the Belmierds had deeper conflicts than expected.

In fact, the unusual thing was for a family to be harmonious, as was the case with Duplain.

In Duplain, perhaps it was possible because they had a strong heir like Valeriano.

When succession disputes arose, it was normal for even the closest relatives to end up shouting at each other. It was the usual thing.

“I have no intention of yielding the right of succession of the Belmierd family to anyone. And no one can force me to do it.”

Ellen lifted her chin and smiled at Dereck with confidence.

“I am strong.”

That assurance seemed to be the key for her to stand firm as the legitimate heir of the Belmierds.

Dereck looked at her with a worried expression—a slightly different expression.

She was, without a doubt, the legitimate heir. She had authority, ability, and was recognized for her elegance even in the Salon of Roses.

She was already being educated as the future head of the family and was receiving training in both magic and culture.

There was no reason to give that position to Leonard, who arrived late. Ellen would be the countess and lead Belmierd. That was a fact.

Therefore, if Leonard wanted to take her position, he only had one option.

Destroy Ellen’s authority and stain her honor.

No one knew what he would be capable of to achieve it.

When Dereck reached that point, he tried to open his mouth. But Ellen stood up, let the hem of her simple blouse drop freely, and brought a finger to her lips.

“Don’t worry so much, Dereck. You might be the magic expert, but when it comes to intrigue and power struggles, I can defend myself.”

“…”

“You haven’t been a baron for long, so you must be busy and under pressure. There is no need for you to worry about my brother Linus’s personal requests.”

Ellen smiled radiantly and put her hands on her hips.

“Wearing these simple clothes makes me feel fresh, like a country girl. If I worked in a factory or on a chicken farm, would you talk to me so naturally?”

“If it had been you, Miss Ellen, I think you would have left the factory to start your own business.”

“Hahaha. You have a very peculiar way of giving compliments. That’s why it’s so much fun to talk to you, Dereck.”

Ellen shook her arms and let her hair drop, now completely dry.

Her long mane swayed with the warm breeze of the Rodellen region.

“The spring breeze is so warm and pleasant. Since we’re here, you should see my magic, Dereck.”

“I have no plans for the afternoon, so it’s perfect. You said you had learned two-star magic; may I see it?”

“Of course. Just don’t be too surprised at how fast I’m progressing.”

Ellen’s carefree smile blossomed like a spring flower.

***

It was approximately at the time when Trisha arrived at the Ravenclaw Barony.

Despite having arrived without prior notice in a carriage, the butler received her with total serenity, without showing the slightest trace of surprise.

‘…The servants are used to receiving unexpected visits. For such a small and remote barony, they are well trained.’

As soon as Trisha stepped down from the carriage, the maids skillfully lifted the hem of her dress. It wasn’t the first time they had done it.

In reality, Trisha had no way of knowing that the servants of that mansion were used to attending to various noble ladies regularly.

This was her first visit to the Ravenclaw Barony.

“Thank you for coming to such a humble place. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

“I wanted to meet the Baron of Ravenclaw in person. I had heard he is excellent at teaching magic, so I was very curious.”

“It is a great honor. However, at this moment, the baron is busy with the magic lessons of another noble lady.”

Trisha frowned upon hearing that.

At that time, the Renouel Viscounty was the power rising fastest in Ebelstein.

That the daughter of such an influential family would present herself in person and not be attended to immediately… it was a great lack of respect.

Trisha did not hide her displeasure and spoke brusquely.

“Who could be so important as to prevent someone like me from being received in person?”

“…It is Lady Ellen, of the Belmierd family. This morning, Lady Aiselin and Lady Diella also took tea here.”

“…”

Upon hearing that name, Trisha closed her mouth.

Others she could overlook, but not Ellen.

With that thought, she immediately backed down.

She showed her teeth to the weak but quickly bowed her head to the strong.

Some might call it cowardice, but Trisha considered it a shrewd and intelligent move.

“Very well. I can wait for a while. There must be a reception room, right?”

“It is a fairly modest place; I hope you understand.”

“Hmph. I don’t expect much from such a remote and neglected mansion. Just bring me a tea.”

“Understood. However, there is another guest, so it would be good if you spoke with her.”

“What? Another guest?”

What could be attracting so many visitors to this secluded barony?

However, hearing that at least there would be someone to talk to, Trisha snorted and entered the reception room.

“…”

“…”

There, sitting in silence, was Siern Alaina Rochester, the lady of the Rochester family, waiting quietly for Dereck.

“…A pleasure to see you again, Lady Trisha.”

It was not just any person. It was the heiress of the Duchy of Rochester, ruler of the north, and she was waiting patiently for Dereck.

How could such a remote and insignificant barony keep the lady of the largest duchy in the north waiting without complaint?

It was a scene so absurd that it defied logic and protocol, but the lady in question did not seem inconvenienced in the least.

Although at first glance the situation made no sense, that was not the most important thing.

“…”

Trisha still clearly remembered the murderous intent she had perceived in Siern’s eyes the day they met.

That gaze, as piercing as a beast’s, froze her blood. It was a relief not to have wet herself from fear.

Being alone with her was like sharing a cage with a tiger that could pounce at any moment.

“Ah, yes… A pleasure to see you, Lady Siern. You look as radiant as ever. It was an honor to meet you. Excuse the interruption, I’m leaving immediately.”

Trisha backed away quickly, closed the door softly behind her, and went out into the hallway.

The whole process was so fluid it seemed as if time had stood still.

“…”

However, in that small mansion, there was only one waiting room for distinguished visitors.

Butler Delbriton quickly intoned that hopeless reality.

In this world, things never go as planned.