Chapter 99

Chapter 99
## Chapter 99

Born and raised in a wealthy family, one would think there is nothing in the world that could obstruct her path, advancing through life without hesitation.

If the trajectory of a life were to be mapped out, it would undoubtedly be the ever-ascending path of a hero.

Ellen had never changed her mind since her childhood.

And, thinking that the perspective of other powerful families would be the same, while sitting in the head seat of Rosea Hall, she sometimes felt an affinity with the other two people.

Although at first glance Aiselin de Duplain and Denise de Beltus seemed to have completely different personalities from Ellen, upon closer observation, strangely similar aspects were discovered in their way of life.

All of them were chosen people.

Blessed by everyone since birth, they would continue to reach for the sky, carrying the prestige of their families with them.

As they ascended higher and higher, they came to possess even greater power.

Living with that ambition until death could be considered, ultimately, the raison d’être.

However, something happened outside the scope of Ellen’s conception.

The Duplain family, which seemed destined to reign forever at the peak of Ebelstein, faltered, and half of its members died, were injured, or left; the territory was reduced to less than half, and high-ranking nobles looked down on or rejected them.

The days of walking among the clouds ended in an instant, and Aiselin, who had been considered a flower in the chamber, was suddenly thrown to the ground and rolled in the mud.

***

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Except for a few lower-ranking nobles who admired her character, everyone considered Aiselin a finished woman, and they pitied or mocked her while she wandered, trying to earn even a single coin.

Ellen, who was watching Aiselin closely, was moved and approached her to ask.

“Miss Aiselin, are you alright?”

The place was the corridor of Elfontaine Hall.

Aiselin, exhausted after searching all day for a place to borrow money, was resting in a corner of the hallway.

Her appearance, still beautiful, was like the reincarnation of an angel, and her sleeves, rolled up with energy, remained as white and fine as before.

And the smile she gave Ellen when she looked at her did not seem much different from the one she had when she walked among the clouds.

“Oh, Lady Ellen. Are you alright? What do you mean?”

“Simply… everything, everything in general.”

Ellen, who had witnessed the fall of the Duplain family up close, could not help but have mixed feelings regarding Aiselin’s firm attitude.

The entire process had been a shock to her.

The fact that the Duplain family, which seemed destined to rule the world forever, collapsed so suddenly meant there was no guarantee that Belmierd wouldn’t end up the same one day.

“Miss Ellen, your face reflects concern. Your angelic appearance will be marred. Do not worry. Duplain only suffered a great misfortune because of a series of misfortunes, but the Belmierd family will never be affected by such a disaster.”

“…I am not worried about the Belmierd family. What worries me is you, Lady Aiselin.”

“Hahaha, do not worry too much about me, Lady Ellen. Although Duplain suffered greatly by being consumed by necromancy, it still preserves its lineage. In a way, it served as a warning of how dangerous necromancy is, so perhaps it functioned as an alarm to prevent something similar from occurring in Beltus or Belmierd.”

Incredibly, Aiselin was worried about the future of the Beltus and Belmierd families.

Even though her own family was on the verge of collapse, this celestial girl had a generous heart and cared for others.

“Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Ellen. When we met in the Ebelstein social circle, we did not have a good relationship, but in the end, we became close enough to care for one another. That, in itself, is also a great advantage.”

***

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Aiselin extended her arms and smiled radiantly.

The traces of her exhausting walk all day through noble houses were evident.

“I am not wise enough to speak of life with Lady Ellen… but even so, there are things that can only be understood when one goes through a situation like this.”

“…”

“Lady Ellen, you are someone who loves power more than anyone and has a great ambition to ascend, are you not? But my older brother always told me something: life is long and full of ups and downs, and one cannot continuously improve without stopping.”

Observing Aiselin, not only Ellen but also all the noble ladies passing through Elfontaine Hall could not help but feel strange.

She had faced a great trial that could have sunk her life into the abyss, but she never erased that same firm expression from her face.

Ellen suddenly wondered where that strength came from.

“On the path of life, there will be moments when you trip over a stone or fall from a great precipice and crash against the ground. While you roll in the dust and face the doubts and mockery of everyone, it may seem that your life has ended, but only then will you begin to see things clearly.”

“…”

“Lady Ellen, as you move through high society and face various enemies, surely there will be moments when you stumble over obstacles or face the doubts and mockery of everyone. Although it may not be a crisis that shakes your life to its foundations like mine, it could corner your heart and your mind.”

Aiselin squeezed her delicate hand tightly and extended it before Ellen’s eyes.

“That is the moment to look around.”

“What does that mean?”

“When you feel that everyone mocks you and that the world has abandoned you. When your best friend turns their back on you and the servant you trust most shakes their head. Even in the worst moment, there will be at least one person who will not turn their back on you. Because Lady Ellen is a wonderful and valuable person.”

It may have been advice born of experience.

This fragile girl, who carried on her shoulders the weight of a crumbling family, had lived through difficult experiences since the Duplain disaster.

However, she must have seen something on that thorny path.

And there must have been someone by her side.

When everyone else shook their heads and turned away, a mercenary appeared who tried to lift her by the arm.

“The journey of life is not just about constantly ascending. Only by traveling the thorny path once can one truly know the people who really matter.”

“…”

“The value of that experience is more precious than gold. So I have no reason to be sad.”

Duplain collapses resoundingly.

However, observing that girl, it seemed that even that trial had some meaning. Ellen did not know how to respond.

Magic and knowledge can always be learned if one finds a good teacher.

But where can one learn to have strength of heart?

The only teacher who teaches that is this vast world with its relentless winds.

***

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“Mmm…! If we fix the sign that is a bit crooked, it is a quite decent building. For something built in such a hurry, it is very well made!”

The garden of Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion.

In front of it, a young woman drying her sweat with an arm at waist height seemed to always have eyes full of stars.

Contemplating the first finished student residence building, a smile of satisfaction appeared on the face of the young woman who had traveled the difficult path.

She had received constant education since childhood.

Only by being able to travel even a thorny path as if it were a path of flowers could one truly be considered a flower of the chamber.

***

“My sister Ellen is capable of anything for power. There is probably no one in this Belmierd mansion who does not know it.”

When they led Dereck to Leonard’s private room, the robust young man personally brought the tea instead of letting a servant do it.

After placing the cup in front of Dereck, the latter looked at it for a moment but did not bother to bring it to his lips.

“Thank you.”

“No, I am the one who should be grateful. For someone like me, who is still learning about the world, it is of great value to establish a connection with a distinguished master of magic like Lord Dereck. I appreciate your visit. Hehe.”

Leonard, with his white hair falling in locks, sat across from Dereck.

“You said you were Ellen’s teacher, right? What was she like?”

“What do you mean by ‘what’? I’m not sure what you’re asking. The Miss Ellen I taught was diligent and hardworking in everything.”

“I see. But… you shouldn’t let yourself be influenced so easily by appearances.”

There was a hidden intention in Leonard’s words.

As a guest of the Belmierd family, Dereck did not have to get too involved in that matter. However, Leonard seemed anxious to communicate something to him.

“I have known Ellen since childhood. She dedicated every day to acquiring all the skills necessary to seize power. Sometimes she was diligent in her studies, other times she immersed herself in magic training… and other times she tried to master the art of deception or of winning people over.”

***

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“…”

“I don’t know what facet of Ellen you saw, but I can’t say that showed her true nature. Ask any Belmierd servant. No one in the world can match Lady Ellen’s insatiable thirst for power.”

Dereck listened in silence.

In situations like that, he always maintained a critical gaze, filtering the words he heard. Leonard seemed to notice, for he smiled and relaxed the atmosphere.

“I have spoken too harshly of my sister. I worry that Lord Dereck might have a very bad impression of me.”

“Leonard is cunning, skillful at winning people over, and an expert in intrigues and tricks. Don’t believe a word he says. Hehe, hic.”

It seemed that Dereck remembered the words of Linus, drunk, crying over the tavern table.

Finally, Dereck gave a small laugh and replied.

“Do not worry too much about that. I have heard that you, young master Leonard, abandoned the prestige of the family at a young age to go on a pilgrimage, thus demonstrating your deep faith.”

“My faith is nothing more than a gift from the god Ruelon. It is not something worthy of praise.”

After those words, they exchanged knowing smiles.

“Before we get into the matter, let me explain why I wished to meet with you in this way. As I mentioned in my letter, I firmly believe that you, Lord Dereck, are an exceptional and promising person who will leave a mark on the history of magic.”

Leonard continued speaking without losing his mischievous smile.

“It would be a great loss if the path of such a promising mage were cut short. That is why I hope you do not get involved in the affairs of the Belmierd family and suffer great harm.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“You are Ellen’s master and have shared a special bond with her. It is natural that you want to defend her in the current situation.”

Leonard looked at him with sincere concern.

It was evident that he had called him to persuade him.

“However, you must not defend Ellen hastily. If my prediction is correct, she will soon suffer a great fall.”

***

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“…”

“Listen well, Lord Dereck. The beautiful image of her reigning in society as a noble rose is nothing more than a mask. When you know Ellen’s true nature, you will quickly realize that you have chosen the wrong disciple.”

Leonard stood up, lowered his voice, and spoke with a serious expression.

“Do you know my older brother, Linus, who was the heir of Belmierd?”

“…”

“One day, Linus suddenly gave up all his rights as heir and began to wander the world. It is truly strange. What kind of position is that of the heir of Belmierd? It is a role that makes you feel as if the entire world were at your feet, along with this immense mansion.”

Linus, who abandoned that position to wander, was a truly unusual case.

Seeing him drink in excess, frequent gambling houses, and live as he pleased made one doubt if he really was a noble.

The eldest son, who should have been responsible for the future of the family, turned out to be a complete spendthrift, which deeply worried the Marquess of Belmierd and his high-ranking servants.

“Why did Linus give up everything and leave? It was Ellen, our sister, who slandered him and forced him to abandon his position as head of the family.”

Leonard’s face became even more serious.

“Ellen threatened and manipulated Linus by taking advantage of his weaknesses, expelled him, and usurped the position of heir to study necromancy. The evidence is coming to light. I can explain the details to you.”

“…”

“I know how difficult it is to believe my words. Lord Dereck, who has been Ellen’s teacher and has seen her masked face, surely only saw her as naive and hardworking. But as someone who has been closer to her, I know it well. You must not let yourself be deceived by that fox obsessed with power.”

In Leonard’s desperate eyes, he looked like a meek little lamb. His story of religious conversion and virtuous life did not seem like a farce.

“I have had news from the high-ranking servants. They found traces of necromancy in Ellen’s room. And not only that, they are also investigating the Ebelstein mansion, and it is said they found remains of corpses in the basement.”

“Is that true?”

“It is the result of an investigation conducted not only by our family but also by the famous magic tracker, Advisor Revilton. It must be true.”

Leonard extended his arms and declared.

“You must make a wise decision, Lord Dereck. I beg you to take my hand. I am willing to provide you with all my support to help you reach the level of a four-star mage. I promise to strengthen ties with the Barony of Ravenclaw and ensure that nothing obstructs your path to greatness.”

“Why would you do so much for me?”

“I already told you. I firmly believe that you, Lord Dereck, will become an even greater master of magic. I have heard of your achievements and I was amazed by how extraordinary you are.”

“…”

“My father usually says that gold and silver remain, but exceptional talent disappears quickly. I know how to recognize the value of talent. If I can contribute to it staying in Belmierd, it will undoubtedly be a great asset.”

Leonard’s words flowed with such naturalness that it was difficult for Dereck to interrupt him.

His pauses, his intonation, everything made the listener easily accept his speech. He was a born orator, regardless of the subject.

“So please, do not act hastily or defend Ellen lightly, putting yourself in a difficult situation. I am not asking you to believe everything I say, but I beg you not to jump to conclusions. From your perspective, even I must seem like someone unreliable.”

“…”

—Your suspicion is natural, Lord Dereck. I am not going to impose my opinion by force. But you must be prudent.

He did not try to convince him all at once but respected his freedom of choice while subtly planting seeds of doubt.

Dereck stroked his chin and fell into deep thought. Leonard waited in silence, convinced he had persuaded him.

But Dereck did not trust him at all.

Although he could not immediately see what kind of person Leonard was or what plans he was hatching, there was only one possible decision.

“Young master Leonard thought the same.”

Finally he smiled.

That smile was like that of someone plunging a dagger into the neck of a dying monster.

Those who knew Dereck knew he did not usually smile like that.

But Leonard could not know.

“Lord Dereck…?”

“It is really strange. While I was giving classes to Lady Ellen, there were moments when I felt chills or when everything seemed like a lie. I dismissed many things as simple nuisances, but it turns out they had a reason for being.”

“Exactly! Lord Dereck has great insight!”

“Now that young master Leonard says it, it all makes sense. Certainly, Lady Ellen had many strangely suspicious aspects.”

Dereck stood up and extended his arm toward Leonard, his eyes full of mistrust.

“If you hadn’t called me, I would be in a great predicament. I owe you much.”

“No, Lord Dereck. But… I did not expect you to trust me so easily.”

“Are you not the lamb of the god Ruelon? I too am a devout believer. A person capable of going on a pilgrimage at your age would not slander others so lightly.”

Dereck took his arm with a wide smile.

“Young Leonard is a messenger sent by God to save me. It is a blessing.”

***

Click.

Ellen, who was in the annex garden, put down her teacup.

The high-ranking servants who had investigated the traces of necromancy in her room had returned.

Their faces were somber. In the Belmierd mansion, no one distrusted Ellen; that is why those clouded expressions were strange.

“Lady Ellen.”

“Has the investigation concluded?”

“Yes. With the help of Sir Loteil, a four-star mage from the outskirts, and Advisor Revilton, an expert in tracking magical traces, we have succeeded.”

The servants spoke in low voices before her.

“From now on, it seems that the house arrest will be reinforced. Please, Lady Ellen, do not leave your quarters in the annex. This report will be delivered shortly to Count Belmierd.”

Ellen’s face hardened.

Thump, thump!

‘…They don’t give me even a hint of the results.’

Soon they saw her walking down the hallway under “escort.” In practice, it was no different from surveillance.

In that oppressive atmosphere, Ellen thought about how to punish her younger brother’s intrigues.

Then the unexpected happened.

Creak.

“Then I will contact you separately.”

The one who appeared from Leonard’s room with a smile of satisfaction was none other than Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, the person she trusted more than anyone.

Apparently, both had already developed some kind of complicity.

“What… what is this…?”

Ellen stopped, and the servants did too.

The words urging her to keep walking did not reach her ears. Leonard was approaching from the other end of the hallway.

Upon crossing, Leonard looked into her eyes and gave her a slight smile, almost imperceptible.

Then he continued on his way, leaving behind Dereck, who also passed in front of Ellen without reacting.

In that instant, time seemed to pass slowly.

What was Dereck doing in the Belmierd mansion? And why was he talking to Leonard as if they were allies?

“De… Dereck… Why… are you here…?”

He had always answered her calls. He had always been reliable.

But now he passed by without even reacting.

“Dereck! Why are you at the Belmierd family…?”

She shouted again.

Then he turned briefly, and his eyes were cold, colder than she had ever seen them.

That icy gaze left her breathless.

Leonard had convinced Dereck.

That truth fell upon Ellen’s chest like an anvil.

It was, undoubtedly, something totally unexpected.