Chapter 97

Chapter 97
## Chapter 97

“Ah! If a god exists, I wish to ask him! Why have you given me such a cruel fate? Why have you made me love the princess of an enemy country and live with this burning heart? All the glory of the empire is mine, and everyone bows before me, yet she alone refuses to look at me…!”

“Instead of living with this cruel fate, I will renounce this glory and head toward her. A life without her is worth nothing, so I will even renounce the power that rules this world!”

The opera performed at the Calimford Theater was a famous production.

During her childhood, Ellen, held by the hand of the Countess of Belmierd, would accompany her to the theater, where she would remain completely absorbed watching the passionate performances of the actors.

Although she was not yet ten years old and could not fully comprehend the artistic value of the stage, the Countess wanted her to experience the performing arts culture of high society from an early age.

And, contrary to the worries of the adults, Ellen was totally captivated by the voices and dialogues of the actors, immersing herself completely in the play *The Love of Prince Rodian*.

Witnessing the detailed love story of Prince Rodian, who loved the princess of an enemy country, one could deeply feel the playwright’s message regarding human agony and the sublimity of love.

The final backdrop of the stage was a cliff bathed in the light of the setting sun.

With his decision to renounce all his authority as a prince and embrace Princess Iriana, the curtain fell, singing of the value of a beautiful love.

When the play ended with the moving music performed by the orchestra, the high-society audience, seated in their armchairs, applauded with tears in their eyes.

The Countess also stood up, applauding the beautiful and sublime story, and Ellen imitated her, clapping with her small hands.

—

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Thus, the Countess and Ellen left the Calimford Theater together. The sun was already setting.

“It was a good play. What did you think, Ellen?”

“The actors’ performances were truly impressive. The orchestra also offered a high-quality performance, with melodies much more varied than those I have heard in my music classes.”

Given that Ellen possessed an extraordinary artistic sense from a very young age, she could easily express her impressions of the play she had seen.

“But… I couldn’t really empathize with the thoughts of the characters.”

“Oh, really? I found the moving love story of Prince Rodian very beautiful…”

“When you say prince, all the power in the world is his, right?”

Although she was still young and did not fully understand the power a prince held, she could perceive the magnitude of that authority.

Therefore, Ellen spoke to the Countess with a nonchalant expression.

“With so much power, to let oneself be carried away by such fleeting emotions…”

The prince’s decision to renounce his power and choose Princess Iriana was something Ellen, as a spectator, could not identify with.

Having lived among the nobility since she was a child, Ellen knew better than anyone how noble and beautiful the value of power was.

Since she was a girl, she loved power.

Although she occasionally harbored a romantic vision of the sublimity of love found in fairy tales or literature, in the end, what she always kept by her side was a strong will to hold onto power.

She had never loved anyone in her entire life.

Therefore, it was not so strange that her emotions were directed toward power.

***

“If it is Leonard, of the Belmierd family, would he be the youngest one Lady Ellen spoke of?”

He had been away on a long pilgrimage and had recently returned to the Belmierd family.

For some reason, the youngest of the Belmierd family, who had returned recently, sent a letter to Dereck.

Dereck opened the letter, but it did not contain much.

It was a request to meet and speak with him, asking if he could spare some time at the Belmierd estate.

“…”

Dereck remained lost in thought for a moment.

Leonard, the third son of the Belmierd family, seemed at first glance to be a religious and benevolent person, but in reality, he was known for being an astute individual, skilled in politics and intrigue.

There must have been a reason why Ellen was so cautious of him, so Dereck had no desire to associate with that man.

It did not matter that he was the third son of the Belmierd family; there was no need to meet with him.

Ignoring a letter sent by a noble was a discourtesy, but Dereck had a good excuse to politely decline Leonard’s request.

“Please, fill the central part of the second-floor column with a thicker one! It seems the insulating material is not yet needed… For now, start with the masonry!”

While he remained sitting quietly on a log, observing the work, a peculiar figure raised her voice among the brawny workers.

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Her name was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain, the precious daughter of the Duchy of Duplain and mistress of the Rose Salon.

The young woman, who looked like a fairy descended to Earth, directed the work while wearing safety gear over her luxurious ruffled dress.

It was a strange image, like an elephant riding a bicycle.

The members of the Barony of Ravenclaw already knew very well how that situation had come to be.

“Team 2, take a break, and Team 3, begin the general work as soon as your break ends! Ah! There is cold water, so if anyone feels dizzy, hydrate immediately!”

Even though it was still late spring, the midday heat was already making itself felt. However, Aiselin, as if the heat did not affect her, naturally rolled up the sleeves of her pretty dress and took command of the robust workers.

Her authority, almost like that of a foreman, was so imposing that even the workers directed by the delicate young woman felt no discomfort.

“Lord Dereck, if you are tired, you can go to the office! The construction of the student residence is already quite advanced, so there shouldn’t be any major decisions requiring your confirmation.”

“No, it’s fine. I was sitting here reading a letter.”

“A letter? Oh? Is it from the Belmierd estate?”

“Yes. But it’s nothing important.”

Dereck had no desire to approach Leonard, so he simply crumpled the letter and put it in his pocket.

He appreciated the invitation, but the Barony of Ravenclaw was too busy with an important construction project to go meet him; that would be the excuse he would use.

In fact, the construction at the estate of the Baron of Ravenclaw was so large that the size of the classroom and dormitory buildings even exceeded that of the main house.

Dereck thought as he watched the facilities slowly grow.

‘I’m sure this used to be my territory… how strange…’

“Yes…?”

“It’s nothing, let’s go check the progress of the classroom building construction.”

“Yes!”

—

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Aiselin’s energetic response. She seemed more full of energy than ever.

It was a busy time.

***

*Caw, caw.*

The sunset tinted the sky red.

That era was also fading like the sunset.

The once-powerful Duplain family, which seemed destined to rule Ebelstein high society forever, had fallen so low that it seemed only a matter of time before it disappeared into the annals of history.

“In the recent meeting of the local nobles, we completely lost control of the exterior trade routes, the southeastern granary, and the villages in the north of the Duplain territory. Now, less than a third of the territory remains compared to its peak.”

Leigh, the last son of the decadent Duplain family, spoke while silently contemplating the sunset.

The location was a cemetery situated on a hill southeast of the Duplain mansion.

There stood a tombstone with the name of Grand Duke Raymond Oswald Duplain, and below it, another with the name of Valeriano.

Judging by the still-clean appearance of the tombstone compared to the others, it was evident that its owner had not been buried for long.

In front of the grave, Diella remained sitting in silence with her eyes closed. The evening light looked like red watercolor paint.

Lowering her gaze toward the long shadows cast at her feet, Diella stood up in silence.

Leigh, who was further back, lowered his gaze with a somber expression.

Soon, a tear was about to fall from the eyes of the large man.

“I didn’t do anything, Diella.”

“…”

“While this foolish brother of yours lay bedridden, unable to move a finger… my dear sisters must have been fighting against the world.”

—

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Aiselin and Diella had endured all kinds of humiliations to, somehow, restore the fallen Duplain family.

Leigh was aware of this and felt a deep sense of shame.

Even so, the helplessness and fear that filled his chest consumed him.

That figure, once sure of himself, who had proclaimed his ambitions to the world, had disappeared without a trace.

“Since I got out of bed, I have tried to intervene in several meetings, but… I haven’t been able to do anything.”

“…”

“Aiselin works tirelessly, day and night, to earn a little more money, but her brother only suffers beatings, robberies, and humiliations wherever he goes. I feel… pathetic… and ashamed…”

Leigh looked back at the sky, which was turning red.

His eyes were also tinted with the same red as the sky.

“I don’t have enough confidence to take responsibility for this family. My capabilities… only reached this far.”

No one can resist the passage of an era.

The Duplain family had already lost its support base and the trust of the nobility.

Leigh had his limits when it came to doing things alone.

For that reason, Diella had no intention of blaming him. She stood up gracefully and spoke with a determined gaze.

“Yes. I was already mentally prepared for this. Perhaps the Duplain family… really has no choice but to collapse. Perhaps a single person cannot do anything against this trend and this flow.”

It was painful to see Leigh in such a state of helplessness, but Diella had no intention of pitying that weakness.

Even so, maintaining that strong heart was no easy task.

‘The power structure of the nobility can change at any time, but… is there any way for a family that has fallen so low to rise again?’

Even Aiselin, who rolled up her sleeves and worked tirelessly at everything, might think so in secret.

The Duplain family was already finished, and they were only fighting to delay their fall a little longer.

—

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Thinking about it that way, it was also difficult for Diella to endure the helplessness and emptiness growing in her chest.

The sunset felt unbearably painful to me.

The era was coming to an end.

Even so, they had to resist. Because Aiselin was resisting.

As long as she remained firm, Diella also had to stay standing on both feet.

That was the minimum courtesy owed to Aiselin, who endured all this misfortune.

The captain who steers a sinking ship must accept that misfortune as part of their fate.

That was why, for the sake of Aiselin, who was fighting in the midst of that misfortune, Diella thought she had to resist.

However, unfortunately, Aiselin had no intention of rebuilding the family.

***

“I secured some funds by organizing an investment seminar at the minor nobility seminar at the Rose Salon. We might even be able to build a large auditorium.”

“…What?”

“Many nobles agreed on the business potential of the Ravenclaw Training Center. When I assured them of a good return, they all lined up to sponsor it with gold coins, so it was exhausting.”

Aiselin even organized an investment seminar using her contacts in the nobility, managing to raise additional funds.

“Since we need a social dance class and a magic training field, let’s build an auditorium as well!”

“…”

“We will need administrative staff, and since Sir Dereck cannot teach everything himself, we will also hire some assistant instructors.”

“Wait a moment, do we have that many funds?”

“In fact, we could expand the garden a bit more and build a proper entrance gate for the school. We could also get better teaching materials.”

Aiselin scribbled numbers in the ledger with her pen.

After checking the magnitude of the funds, Dereck opened his eyes wide and slumped over his desk.

“…”

“In this way, we can obtain more money under the pretext of covering the expenses for facilities and teaching materials. As you know, the ladies of the nobility are very generous, so they won’t consider it a burden. This will increase projected income by 25%, and we can use it to apply for more loans for the interior decoration.”

“Isn’t the schedule a bit tight?”

“That’s why I have already hired all the staff. However, for the recruitment of assistant instructors, I thought it would be better for you to select them personally, so I only organized the paperwork. Mr. Delbriton helped me; he is very good with documents!”

At that moment, everything was happening so fast it felt like a race. Not even Dereck expected Aiselin to be so motivated.

Then, with shining eyes, Aiselin said something truly amazing.

“Business… is more fun than I thought…!!!”

“…”

“I think… I’m becoming addicted…”

With an expression as if she had made a discovery, she looked ecstatic.

A noble lady who had lived like a flower in a greenhouse, discussing metaphysical topics like art and philosophy—this was her first experience with the practical studies of the outside world.

To what extent can the simple act of opening one’s eyes to a new world lead a person to a state of extreme excitement?

Those who have experienced it once know: no stimulus can compare to that feeling of achievement.

As he watched her, Dereck thought.

‘If we start making a profit… let’s make sure to allocate a good portion to the Duplain family…’

“As for the start date of the classes, what do you think if we organize a Q&A session with the people who learned magic with you before they officially begin?”

As if ideas were flowing endlessly, Aiselin continued.

“All of Sir Dereck’s students are famous, right? I will ask Lady Diella separately. If well-known people like Lady Denise or Lady Ellen come and make an appearance, it will increase the credibility of the teaching. Furthermore, the news will spread faster.”

“Well… it’s not easy for the ladies of the Beltus or Belmierd families to come, but…”

Considering that Lady Denise had come all this way just to see Dereck, and that Lady Ellen visited him occasionally to ask for advice on magic, it didn’t seem like they would refuse the request.

So Dereck had no choice but to remain silent.

“It’s not unrealistic.”

“Right? Of course, if we are going to make a formal request, we must be polite, but I think if you show up in person, both will be happy to agree. Just buy some gifts and visit their mansions to show the minimum courtesy!”

Aiselin clenched her fists tightly and began to think about the gift list.

It seemed that even an experienced imperial official would have trouble keeping up with her.

Although Aiselin had lived her whole life being treated like a precious jewel, could it be that she was more competent as an advisor? It was difficult for Dereck to express that feeling in words.

A person’s talent, if placed in the wrong environment, withers without ever blooming.

In that sense, considering Aiselin’s situation, it was ambiguous to call it a misfortune or a blessing.

***

“There will be no major problems during your absence. I have reviewed everything necessary. Here, I have prepared the gifts for the Belmierd family through the butler Delbriton. They will soon be loaded into the carriage.”

The next day, Dereck’s business trip was decided.

While quickly sliding her pen over the ledger, Aiselin came out to see him off just as he was about to get into the carriage.

In any case, if he wanted to involve the Count’s daughter directly in the academy’s affairs, he had to follow proper procedures and make a formal request.

Therefore, Dereck, Lord of the Barony of Ravenclaw, had no choice but to personally visit the Belmierd family.

“The visit to the Beltus family is not yet confirmed, so let’s resolve what is necessary first. Marquis Belmierd holds you in high esteem, so he will likely receive you with open arms.”

“Yes. I’m just coming to chat for a bit and make a request, so there shouldn’t be any problem. Please oversee the work while I am away.”

“Don’t worry, Dereck!”

Although Leonard said in his letter that he was very busy, circumstances had led Dereck to visit the Belmierd family first.

The situation had become somewhat delicate, but he had to take responsibility for what he had started.

The trip to the Belmierd family.

Although he had visited Ellen’s private residence in the noble district of Ebelstein on several occasions, this was the first time he visited the Count’s mansion in Belmierd territory.

With the hope of a smooth journey, Dereck got into the carriage and looked silently toward the Baron’s mansion.

*Clang! Clang!*

*Screech!*

In the midst of the workers concentrated on the construction, a small mansion came into view.

Due to Aiselin’s expansion plans, the scale of the work had more than doubled.

Inevitably, it seemed that Dereck’s private mansion had been buried in the middle of the construction site.

‘This… is still my private mansion… right…?’

Dereck muttered in a low voice. He had said it before.

In any case, it was time to depart for the mansion of Count Belmierd.