Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 12

That evening, Lady Aiselin had completed all her business at the Duplein Ducal Mansion and was preparing to return to Evelstain.

Jayden, who had accompanied Derek just in case, decided to return with her, so Derek stood ready to see them off at the mansion's main gate.

"I'm glad I made the right decision bringing you to the Ducal Mansion."

Aiselin smiled brightly as she stood before the carriage.

She seemed genuinely pleased that the atmosphere at the mansion had improved recently, her elegant smile radiant. Though she now lived at her estate in Evelstain, her constant concern for the main family was typical of her character.

"Not at all. If anything, I haven't done much."

"There's no need to be so modest. It must have been quite challenging for you."

Ultimately, Aiselin's request had been for Derek to help Diela learn 1st Grade Magic and become a proper lady ready for high society.

Since manifesting magic power alone meant half the goal was achieved, her satisfied expression was only natural.

"I wish I could spend more time with my family, but it's unfortunate that I must return to Evelstain. There's still much to accomplish, so I have no choice."

With those words of gratitude, Lady Aiselin gracefully boarded the lavish carriage.

Jayden, who had finished preparing to return to Evelstain with her, approached Derek and gave him a few hearty pats on the shoulder before climbing in after her.

"Seems like I don't have much else to do here. Just had to show up as the mercenary group's representative and call it a day."

"What about the 15 Ideal Gold Coins for the commission fee?"

"Hmm. Since I didn't really do anything, splitting it evenly feels off. I'll just take one coin as a handling fee. You should save up too—whether it's for a wand or staff, you'll need funds. Right?"

Since this was technically a job for the mercenary group, he couldn't just take nothing. If Derek had been a lone mercenary, he wouldn't have gotten this opportunity with a ducal family in the first place.

Lady Aiselin would visit the mansion whenever she had time to spend with her family, but Jayden likely wouldn't be back anytime soon, busy managing the mercenary group.

Thinking about it, Derek couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

"You can take three coins if you want."

"Oh-ho. Getting soft now that your head's full of knowledge, huh?"

"Don't want it?"

"Of course I do. Heh heh heh."

As Jayden chuckled, Derek let out a wry smile.

After a brief silence, Jayden stroked his chin and spoke.

"Finish up quickly and come back. The Velderun Mercenary Group is always short on mages."

"You want me to kick aside this cozy, well-fed tutor position at a ducal mansion?"

"Don't play dumb. You think I don't know you're not the type to mooch off some luxurious mansion?"

Jayden's words carried deeper meaning.

Not only was Derek inherently suited for mercenary work, but his magical aptitude also suggested he wouldn't remain at his current level forever.

Derek knew it too. He had the ambition to advance beyond 2-star rank. For a mage, academic zeal and the drive to improve were practically fate.

But he was a commoner. While commoners who reached 2-star rank might be dismissed as merely hardworking or talented, attitudes changed at 3-star rank.

By 4-star rank, he might even be treated as a potential threat to the system, making it difficult to operate freely. Historically, commoners who reached 4-star rank could be counted on one hand.

Ultimately, if he wanted to climb higher, he couldn't stay sheltered in a noble household forever.

"If Pellinne finds out you're mooching off a ducal mansion teaching magic, she'll throw a fit. And when that girl loses her temper, this old man can't handle it. So wrap things up and come back."

"Send me a letter before your next commission—just to check in."

"You think I'm some noble brat playing with quills? Just show up at the tavern, kid."

Jayden boarded the carriage with a hearty laugh.

"See you in Evelstain."

Derek saw them off as the carriage departed.

- Bang!

"Derek! I can manifest and somewhat control magic now, but the direction keeps going weird!"

- Bang!

"Derek! Look at this! I tried imbuing cold energy, but... it's not distributing evenly across the manifested magic! Why is this happening?!"

- Crash! Bang!

"Derek! I can feel the magic power, but when I try to manifest it, the sensation keeps dulling!"

"Derek! Where'd you go? Why are you all the way over here? I told you to stay near the guest house!"

"Derek! I succeeded in channeling magic the way you said last time! What do I do next?!"

Derek! Derek! Derek!

With Diela constantly seeking him out like this, the guest house servants had developed a habit of always keeping track of Derek's whereabouts. If the lady of the guest house grew displeased and went looking for him, they had to immediately report his location.

That didn't mean Derek always stayed near the guest house, though.

Sometimes he read books in the guest room, sometimes he wandered the mansion gardens reviewing magic theories, and with the Duke's permission, he even studied magic tomes in the mansion library.

Though Derek had come to teach Diela magic, the Duplein Ducal Mansion was an excellent environment for him to study various magic theories as well.

Being one of the continent's foremost magical noble families, they had an abundance of rare and expensive spellbooks.

Since they were all Noble Discipline School texts, they weren't directly applicable, but Derek was skilled at adapting magic theories to his own style. Having been taught by a Discipline School mentor, this was a familiar process.

Magic theories were profound yet had simple aspects—while the fundamentals varied by school, deeper examination often revealed common threads.

Opportunities to freely access such magic books were rare, so Derek intended to make the most of it.

While honing his own magic skills, Derek also took time to guide Diela.

Naturally, they spent much time together, exchanging many stories. The gap between a bottom-feeding mercenary and a noble lady was vast, making mutual understanding rare.

Instead, they shared many fascinating stories with each other.

Derek occasionally told tales of the stars as seen from the slums, his monster-hunting adventures with Katia in Evelstain's outskirts, or the bloody rivalries between mercenary groups.

Unlike the quaint fairy tales in Diela's childhood books, Derek's stories had a raw, visceral quality, laced with the harshness of reality. Diela would pretend disinterest at first, but as the stories grew more thrilling, her eyes would sparkle with fascination.

Sometimes she'd look delighted, other times sympathetic, but by the story's end, she'd inevitably launch into a grand speech about how magnificent her lineage was.

At that point, Derek would adopt a bored expression and read a book, which usually sent Diela into a tantrum demanding he listen to her.

As time passed, both Derek and Diela progressed toward their goals.

Diela aimed to master 1st Grade Magic, while Derek sought to expand his repertoire of 2nd Grade spells... and if possible, break into 3rd Grade.

Valerian Leonard Duplein, the first son and heir apparent of the Duplein family, summoned Derek to his room late one afternoon.

Spring was gradually giving way to early summer.

Amid servants busily clearing pollen drifting into the mansion, Valerian suddenly called for Derek.

"What's the matter?"

"How's Diela's training going? How is she lately?"

"There's been considerable progress. However, mastering 1st Grade Magic is still a ways off. It seemed close at first, but progress has slowed—I'm figuring out alternatives."

"I see... That's good."

Valerian's private room was nearly twice the size of Diela's.

While it made sense for the heir of a prominent family to receive such treatment, the sheer size of the room bordered on impractical.

Seated at a table by the window with crossed legs, Valerian was undeniably tall, well-built, and handsome.

Enough that some maids harbored romantic feelings for him, but he seemed more focused on managing the duchy than pursuing women.

In his spare time, he trained Raeg, wrote letters to Aiselin, or looked after uncles and nephews—clearly a man who loved his family.

"Mother will likely return from the southern social gathering next week. A word of warning—she's not someone to take lightly."

"Is that so?"

"Our family is relatively lenient, but nobles generally dislike commoners holding important positions. You know that, right?"

A commoner teaching magic to a ducal daughter wasn't normal. Only Diela's unique circumstances made it possible.

Typically, a magic tutor position for a family like the Dupleins would have applicants lining up if qualified. There were always more candidates than openings, though qualified ones were rare.

Once things stabilized, high-ranking mages would likely emerge, trying to replace Derek. But since his goal was just getting Diela to 1st Grade Magic, he intended to finish before that happened.

"I'll keep that in mind. Is that why you called me?"

"That was part of it... but I had something else to ask."

"Something else?"

Valerian stroked his chin and gazed out the window at Diela practicing magic manifestation alone in the garden. His hesitant demeanor left Derek puzzled.

"As the Duplein family's heir apparent, my role is to embrace and guide all family members with sincerity. To do that, I must understand each one deeply and sincerely."

"..."

"But it's not easy, is it? Human hearts are profound and complex. Even within the same family, differing values and aspirations can create misunderstandings..."

"I see... Um... May I ask what you wanted to tell me?"

Valerian brushed off his aristocratic attire and leaned back in his chair with an awkward expression.

"Diela won't play with me anymore."

"..."

Derek was speechless but managed to keep a straight face.

He could guess why Valerian said this.

Since properly learning magic, Diela no longer looked down on people. Though her words could still be sharp, her troublemaking days were mostly over.

As Diela's reputation gradually improved, she and Derek once crossed paths with Valerian in the garden.

Valerian, who adored his family, greeted her warmly, but Diela reacted like a cat spotting a predator—startled, she hid behind Derek and warily returned the greeting.

Valerian seemed deeply shocked by Diela's wide-eyed, reluctant response.

"When she was little, she'd always show me her paintings with a smile. An absolute angel, I tell you."

"..."

"I don't think my face is that intimidating... Tell me. How can I win Diela over?"

"Why... are you asking me...?"

"She only follows you around..."

Truthfully, Derek was the only person in the Duplein Mansion Diela listened to.

"..."

Valerian's love for his family was admirable, but unfortunately, the mercurial emotions of a teenage girl were more enigmatic than most historical mysteries.

Still, the most likely explanation was simple shyness. After acting out for so long, suddenly facing her family again must have been awkward.

Time would likely resolve it, but Valerian was seriously questioning if he'd done something wrong.

"Look at this. I learned embroidery from a maid to make this doll of Diela. What do you think? Can't you feel the effort, sincerity, and love dripping from it?"

Despite being good at everything, Valerian's delicate sewing skills were... lacking. The doll looked more grotesque than cute.

A mature recipient might appreciate the gesture, but a teenage girl would probably just be horrified.

The maids had apparently been too kind to tell him the truth.

Giving this to Diela would be disastrous, so someone had to deliver the hard truth.

"To be perfectly honest... I think she'd just... be upset..."

"..........Damn it."

Valerian clutched his forehead in anguish.

Derek could only silently cheer on his efforts.

[Newly Acquired Magic]

1st Grade Combat Magic"Shockwave"

1st Grade Detection Magic"Lifeform Sensing"

2nd Grade Transformation Magic"Earthen Wall"

2nd Grade Confusion Magic"Disorientation"

"Lady Diela. The matriarch will be arriving soon."

"It's already that time?"

An elegant maid approached Derek and Diela, who had been studying magic at the tea table set up in the garden.

-Thud

Derek closed the book he'd been reading one-handed and stood, brushing himself off.

Over time, Derek had made progress. The Duplein Mansion's magic materials were immensely helpful. Still, reaching his ultimate goal of 3rd Grade seemed distant.

Honestly, aiming for 3rd Grade at his age was already ambitious, but the drive to improve knew no age. Even so, he was realizing daily that 3rd Grade was no ordinary achievement. It wasn't something attainable in a short time.

Interestingly, his progress in combat and confusion magic was rapid.

His combat magic advancement was likely due to his mercenary experience, while his quick grasp of confusion magic probably stemmed from his mentor Katia's influence—she had been a 3rd Grade confusion mage.

Conversely, he seemed to have no talent for summoning magic, making little headway despite considerable effort. A shame, but unavoidable. As Katia had once said, trying to master everything was just greed.

With a deep sigh, Derek followed the maid's guidance toward the mansion's main hall.

Many servants had gathered for the welcoming reception of Miriela Daviel Duplein, the matriarch of the Duplein family, returning from a southern social gathering.

Though weary from her long journey, Miriela maintained the dignified bearing befitting a noble matriarch. Her lavender dress, fan adorned with ducal feathers, and glittering accessories all exuded luxury.

Seeing her family after so long, she exchanged pleasantries.

"No incidents while I was away?"

"None, Mother. Only good news, in fact."

"My, for you to say that, Valerian, it must be truly wonderful."

Though her face showed the passage of time, she retained the grace of nobility.

The moment Miriela entered escorted by Valerian, she froze upon seeing Diela's face. She instantly understood the good news Valerian had mentioned.

"D-Diela! You've left the guest house!"

Diela, dressed in a lovely frilled dress with cute ribbon decorations, looked every bit the proper noble lady. Overcome with affection, Miriela rushed over and embraced her.

"H-Hello, Mother..."

"Diela. My precious Diela. How worried I've been..."

"Don't be startled, Mother. Diela recently manifested magic and is now working toward mastering 1st Grade Magic."

"Is... is that true? Diela! You've worked so hard! Oh, we must look into acquiring a wand or staff. Perhaps we should inquire at Evelstain's magic shops..."

"Haha... Mother, you're overdoing it."

Valerian smiled wryly, gently chiding his mother's fussing. Mages who carried dedicated wands or staves were usually mid-level 3rd Grade practitioners—many didn't bother due to the exorbitant cost.

Parents naturally exaggerated their child's achievements. It was a sign of pride.

"What in the world happened to bring about such progress so quickly? It's as if the heavens have opened."

"Um... Well..."

When Diela hesitated, Valerian smoothly answered for her.

"The new magic tutor Aiselin brought played a significant role."

"Oh my. I must thank them. Are they here at the mansion?"

"This is him. A mage from Evelstain named Derek."

Standing among the servants, Derek locked eyes with Miriela and bowed quietly.

Miriela approached with honeyed eyes and greeted him warmly.

"My daughter is deeply indebted to you. You're the mage from Evelstain?"

"Yes. My name is Derek."

Miriela smiled gently, her voice soft.

"Diela has gone through many magic tutors, so your remarkable success is truly appreciated. I must express our gratitude properly—could you tell me which territory you belong to? The Duplein name must show its sincerity."

At this, Valerian awkwardly lowered his gaze. The other servants did the same.

Derek glanced at their reactions and quickly grasped the situation.

"I don't belong to any noble house."

"...Pardon?"

"I'm a commoner."

Silence fell over the Ducal Mansion's main hall.

Miriela's previously affectionate gaze vanished, replaced by icy coldness.

Derek already knew from Valerian.

She was the very embodiment of aristocratic elitism.