Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 238

Gossip travels faster than any legendary steed.

Especially among society girls starved for romantic tales, rumors spread quicker than one might imagine.

All the more so when it concerns marriage rumors about Count Derek Raidof Ravenclaw.

Though Derek himself believes he's lived a wretched and miserable life, sheltered noble girls hardly notice such inner complexities.

To them, it's simply gossip about a dashing nobleman's romantic affairs—nothing more, nothing less. The kind of story girls whisper about while huddled under blankets during dormitory nights.

And when the rumored partner is none other than Lady Sieren Aleina Rocheste of the prestigious Rochester family, whose followers have been multiplying lately... Well, the girls'imaginations could easily churn out several third-rate romance novels on the spot.

-"Lady Sieren Aleina Rocheste?! The one who seemed interested in nothing but magic...! Though I suppose that makes it all the more intriguing...!"

-"Doesn't Count Ravenclaw usually attract all sorts of social climbers? With his towering prestige, there must be swarms of flies drawn to his light...!"

-"And amidst all that, he took in Lady Sieren as his disciple purely for her magical passion...! *Squeal*! I can already picture the whole story...!!"

Late night in Sepia Dormitory.

Despite the hour being well past midnight, the excited chatter of girls gathered around a single candle could be heard.

Tricia, passing through the corridor, rubbed her bleary eyes.

They seemed to be discussing the recent marriage rumors about Count Ravenclaw.

Though it was well past curfew, in the problem child-filled Sepia Dormitory, this barely counted as rule-breaking.

As Tricia sighed deeply, she quietly listened to the girls'excited whispers.

-"Love makes fools of us all! Count Ravenclaw, who only ever taught magic so clinically...! Then one day he accidentally grabs her hand...!"

-"And then he finds Lady Sieren exhausted from magical research, napping at the tea table in the late afternoon...!"

-"*Squeal*! I know this scenario! It's from...! Seeing her usually so passionate about studies, then suddenly noticing her quiet, sleeping face stirs unfamiliar feelings..."

- *Thud! Thud! Thud!*

In their excitement, feet stomped the floor. Startled by the noise, they immediately hunched down, fearing the dorm matrons might hear—their movements smooth and practiced.

Tricia considered barging in to restore order... but she was exhausted from a long day's work.

Sepia Dormitory tended to be lenient with minor student transgressions. As long as it wasn't outright rule-breaking or criminal, they often turned a blind eye.

Not wanting to be too strict either, Tricia quietly adjusted her pajamas and headed to her room.

'Still... isn't this a crisis?'

Sitting on her bed, Tricia stroked her chin thoughtfully.

As the youngest disciple of the Ravenclaw School and a noble lady of House Renuel, she'd maintained her dignity well enough.

Though she couldn't compare to the other exceptional disciples, she'd been managing decently.

But why had she joined the Ravenclaw School in the first place?

Not out of any great passion for magic, nor to make significant contributions to the school.

She simply wanted to be revered as someone special, craving the authority and privileges that came with it. Tricia was thoroughly materialistic and power-hungry.

It was Countess Rodea of House Renuel who'd pushed her to join the school.

-"Tricia... when the opportunity comes, you must push Count Ravenclaw over and claim him...!"

For the battle-hardened Countess Rodea, the best partners were those you dragged down and conquered.

Thanks to her aggressive, fiery temperament, Tricia received this special mission to ensnare Count Ravenclaw.

That was the official reason, but in reality, she was just exhausted from schoolwork by day's end.

Her magic had improved considerably, and she'd gained some reputation... but she was nowhere close to"pushing over"Count Ravenclaw.

Truthfully, Tricia was practically a coward when it came to romantic advances with men.

Countess Rodea's bold philosophy of conquering through sheer momentum didn't work for someone like Tricia.

'...If Mother finds out I've been struggling at the Ravenclaw School while marriage rumors swirl about Lady Sieren... will she stay quiet?'

Countess Rodea was undoubtedly the most terrifying figure in Tricia's life.

Even Aiselin—who slapped cheeks, poured water on heads, and laughed arrogantly before her followers—turned into a meek lamb before the countess.

What expression would she make upon hearing about Derek and Lady Sieren's marriage rumors?

'...Eeek.'

Feeling a chill down her spine, Tricia swallowed dryly.

Rumors said Lord Melberot of House Rochester had begun personally pursuing marriage arrangements for his daughter.

Meaning Countess Rodea wouldn't stay idle either. The same went for Count Belmierd.

'Stay calm. Lady Sieren only cares about magical achievements, not social climbing through marriage. She likely won't actively pursue becoming Count Ravenclaw's partner.'

Unfortunately, Tricia only understood half of who Sieren was.

To Tricia, Sieren was just that beast-like girl who roamed the northern plains—the one who'd beaten her mercilessly in the dueling grounds.

Remembering that made her fingertips tremble again.

The way Sieren had unleashed magic without holding back, reducing Tricia to tears—she'd been like a demon from hell.

The murderous instinct radiating from her invoked primal human fear.

'...How am I supposed to"push over"someone protected by that monster? Mother's demands are impossible...!'

Feeling trapped, Tricia sensed the situation sinking deeper into chaos.

Diela, Elente, Denis—none would stay quiet upon hearing this news.

They'd try to restrain Sieren somehow, and if Tricia fell behind in this competition, everything would spiral out of control.

She had to think—think hard.

Muttering to herself, Tricia racked her brain repeatedly.

She needed a strategy only she could execute—something the other direct disciples couldn't.

If she stayed passive, Sieren would devour Count Ravenclaw whole and run off. She needed a brilliant plan—one only Tricia could pull off.

'The other disciples... they're all righteous and upright... but not me!'

Tricia steeled herself.

"Hehe... hehehe... I have no choice..."

In the darkened corner of her private room, Tricia's sinister chuckle lingered.

As the Ravenclaw School's youngest disciple, she'd lived like a soggy cardboard box.

But now was the time to reclaim the memories of when she reigned like royalty at the Rosea Salon. That familiar, chilling sensation—she was getting excited.

Tricia wasn't some cowering youngest disciple by nature. As a woman of House Renuel, she'd led followers and mocked enemies with sly schemes, gradually building her influence.

So what if people called her wicked? Noble authority was justice itself. Righteousness was defined by the strong.

What Sieren couldn't do that Tricia could? Creating atmospheres, fostering slander, burying people through underhanded means.

She'd heard Lavender Dormitory only had about four students.

Though currently seen as a mysterious, elite dormitory, spreading rumors through her followers could change that perception. Slowly eroding Sieren's authority from the periphery.

Yes. Slowly... chipping away at the prestige of Lavender Dormitory's mistress, that girl Sieren...

Even she recognized how vile and underhanded this plan was. But it was her specialty. The upright students of Sepia Dormitory would be disappointed, but so what? They'd mistakenly admired her as someone respectable and exemplary.

She was a wicked person! She'd always been! As if shouting this, Tricia stood up with relief washing over her.

"Prepare yourself... hehehe... Lady Sieren..."

She felt like she was returning to her days commanding the Rosea Salon, satisfaction slowly welling up.

"First... let's start by crushing that youngest Lavender student, Lady Rona...! As they say, to catch the general, first shoot the horse...! Hehehe...!"

And so, unwittingly, the girl began plotting to pick a fight with the empire's emperor.

With no one aware of these circumstances, there would be no one to pray for her soul.

Aiselin Eleanor Duplein, Katia Flameheart, Empress Rozelyn.

Tricia's knack for stepping on landmines was something even Derek could only marvel at.

At this point, it was practically an art form.

"I see... So Lord Melberot acted on his own. Given how deeply he loves his daughter, it's not entirely surprising."

"..."

"Don't worry, Derek. Nothing makes life more miserable than an unwanted marriage. In the name of House Belmierd, I'll provide all possible support to resist this unreasonable arrangement. He may be my sky-high teacher, but I can't just stand by. Father will help too, materially and spiritually."

This was Elente, effectively the heir to House Belmierd.

Once she mobilized the family's influence, Count Belmierd would support her without question.

Among noble houses near Evelstain, even high-ranking nobles often bowed nervously before Elente—she was practically treated as House Belmierd's true head.

Though she smiled gently, illusory flames seemed to flicker behind her back.

Count Ravenclaw was like a public good—an unspoken rule existed about learning magic from him without overstepping boundaries.

But now that Sieren had crossed that line... how to punish her? Such thoughts seemed to dominate Elente's mind.

Lord Melberot ruled over half the north and influenced even Gremfort Palace. But in the southwestern continent, Count Belmierd wasn't overwhelmingly outmatched.

Regional nobles had this characteristic—within their territories, even powerful outsiders couldn't speak too loudly.

And coincidentally, Ravenclaw Territory was in the southwestern continent.

His sphere of activity rarely extended beyond the port city Evelstain, Duchy of Duplein, Duchy of Beltus, and County of Belmierd.

If these powers truly raised their voices... Lord Melberot, based on the opposite side of the continent, wouldn't easily withstand the pressure.

"...Have you contacted the main family?"

While busy giving instructions to Ryner, Derek asked Elente with concern.

If Belmierd or Duplein families truly joined this"marriage defense war,"the situation would escalate beyond Derek's control.

But Elente shook her head.

"Of course not. Though I'm effectively Belmierd's future head, I wouldn't mobilize the entire family for personal matters."

"I see... That's a relief."

"Though I did send Father a personal letter. Just private correspondence between father and daughter."

"..."

Smiling, Elente placed Count Belmierd's letter on Derek's desk.

"Oh yes... Father mentioned visiting Ravenclaw Academy soon."

"......"

Elente was usually calm—mature and discerning.

Even now she smiled gently, but a vein seemed to pulse visibly on her forehead.

Derek sensed impending doom.

- *Bang!*

"Derek!!!!!!!!"

Amid this tense atmosphere, Diela burst into the office, clearly having heard the news.

Her furious, panting demeanor was quintessential"Angry Diela."

Though he'd anticipated this, the reality proved more chaotic than expected.

"What brings you here?"

"What brings me?! I heard the news! Where's Sieren?!"

"..."

"I need to confront her directly!!!"

Diela, Elente, Denis, Sieren, Tricia.

As faction leaders began moving, strange ripples spread through the Ravenclaw School.

When an organization grows large, internal conflicts inevitably intensify.

But for the trigger to be marriage rumors about the grandmaster... the whole situation felt like a farce.

With Gremfort Palace's turmoil affecting the entire empire, was this really the time for such antics?

"Where's Sieren?! Where is she...!!!!"

Truthfully, their reactions were all predictable.

Diela was furious, Elente expressed gentle opposition... Denis calmly observed, while Sieren seemed at a loss.

Tricia appeared quiet, but as usual, she was busy committing suicide in her own innovative way.

Total chaos.

Derek couldn't help but sigh internally, though to his disciples, this was a grave matter indeed.