Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 35

'I knew this would happen.'

Lady Denise of the Beltus family read the letter from her father with narrowed eyes.

She'd anticipated this ever since the duel between Lady Elente and Lady Aiselin. Whether it was Border Count Belmierd or Duke Duplein, all noble parents would rush to their children's aid when involved.

If Aiselin and Elente began competing over a single magic instructor, this would inevitably escalate into a conflict between their noble houses.

"Bella. When did this letter arrive?"

"Early this morning. The Family Head rarely sends personal letters, so I remembered clearly."

"For someone who never asks after my wellbeing to suddenly seek me so urgently... Seems he's truly desperate."

Despite the midday sun, Lady Denise lay sprawled across her bed. She stretched with a loud yawn.

Her lace-trimmed pajamas suggested midnight leisure, though in truth she was simply too lazy to rise. On holidays, she often stayed in bed until late afternoon.

Maintaining her perfect noble lady act all week exhausted her.

Maid Bella would sigh worriedly at such behavior, but over time had grown indifferent. Denise wouldn't change no matter what anyone said.

Lying on her back, she lifted the neatly penned letter and reread it several times.

Though lengthy, it contained little substance. Denise tossed it onto the tea table with a heavy sigh.

"I was planning to finish reading Master Raleigh'stoday..."

"Will you be getting up then? I'll have a meal prepared."

"No appetite... Anything simple? I want cherry pie..."

"Please consider nutritional balance. If skin problems appear, I'll be the one whipped..."

Head maid Bella had served Denise since childhood.

Though their noble-commoner status difference maintained formal boundaries, having lived together nearly their entire lives left little room for pretense between them.

Denise groaned as she forced her stiff body upright.

"Ugh... My entire body feels petrified."

With great effort, she sat up and lifted her head with narrowed eyes.

Duke Beltus had ordered her to investigate Derek through noble social circles and recruit him if possible. Denise had seen this coming.

Though she loathed troublesome tasks, unavoidable matters were best handled quickly. Thus she'd proactively gathered information about Derek.

She'd been the first among the three great families to send a commission to the Velderun Mercenary Group and had monitored Derek's movements indirectly.

More direct contact might have drawn suspicion from Elente or Aiselin, so she'd limited herself to preliminary preparations.

Now with the Duke's orders, she simply needed to complete the remaining steps swiftly.

"If you're getting up, I'll open the windows. We need to air out the room."

"Gyah! My eyes!"

As Bella drew the curtains, the sudden light made Denise rub her eyes furiously.

'Though they say he's only 1-Star ranked, he appears at least 2-Star to me. Otherwise, Lady Aiselin wouldn't have sought his instruction so eagerly.'

Denise ventured beyond the Noble District with two guards and three servants.

Noble ladies rarely left the district, drawing stares wherever she went. Denise smiled gracefully, her elegant dress trailing as she walked calmly toward Tavern Street.

She'd forgone a carriage to organize her thoughts during the walk.

'With him missing for about a week now, both the Belmierd and Duplein families must have begun serious investigations. I need to move quickly.'

Denise possessed exceptional talent in transformation and detection magic.

Her detection magic neared 2-Star level, though only childhood friend Bella knew this.

While attracting attention might be important in noble society, sometimes concealing abilities proved more effective.

Denise, who particularly disliked unnecessary entanglements, often hid her skills.

Yet she remained one of the Rosea Salon Trio.

Completely abandoning noble duties would earn her family's disdain, so she maintained appearances.

Occasionally, she had to roll up her sleeves like now.

With a heavy sigh, Denise marched forward with her servants, organizing her thoughts.

Her usually lethargic eyes now sparkled with vitality.

Walking calmly with her chin propped, she resembled a petite bisque doll, drawing repeated glances from passersby.

The journey from Noble to Commercial District to Tavern Street took considerable time in vast Evelstain.

Yet Denise remained deep in thought the entire way without shifting posture.

She'd only glimpsed Derek once from afar, never speaking to him.

But through Lady Aiselin and Elente's descriptions, she'd pieced together his character.

Teaching noble ladies despite commoner status suggested strong confidence in his abilities—confirmed by results.

Though not large-framed, his visible forearm muscles and veins indicated daily physical labor.

Not particularly prideful—someone who could bow when necessary. Seemed to like money.

Yet highly ambitious. Reportedly continued his own magic training while teaching Elente and Diela.

Maintained minimal dignity. Lady Aiselin disliked vulgar people—he likely knew noble etiquette.

Calm temperament with deep convictions, though rarely expressed. Used stoicism to conceal thoughts—likely quite emotional beneath.

A rough sketch of Derek formed in Denise's mind, remarkably accurate despite being pure conjecture.

'He doesn't dislike money, so no reason to refuse noble commissions. Then why disappear? Identifying that reason should reveal the picture.'

Tracking someone required understanding their thought process.

"Lady Denise. We've reached Tavern Street. The area isn't safe—please stay close to your guards."

"..."

"Lady Denise?"

Bella, following demurely, repeated her question when Denise didn't respond. The lady remained muttering to herself, chin in hand.

Bella decided instructing the guards to stay alert would be more productive.

'Achievement.'

Denise had already traced half of Derek's footsteps.

Without anyone's help, she'd deduced his personality and motives through pure reasoning.

'For someone who doesn't refuse money to value something above it... must be that. Though it's strange.'

'Either he found an exceptional magic teacher or obtained a remarkable spellbook... Something must have happened to aid his magical mastery. Otherwise this disappearance makes no sense.'

'But... didn't he leave Duke Duplein's mansion—home to a 5-Star mage—to train magic his own way? What could captivate him so?'

Denise's mind raced.

The boy who'd walked out on a 5-Star mage's tutelage—what teacher could instruct him? What spellbook could excite him so?

Denise's head spun.

Now she needed to assemble scattered information. Countless unrelated facts swirled through her mind.

Newsletters. Rumors about Aiselin and Elente's duel. Trade tariff negotiations between the three great families. Market prices. Whispers among high nobles about a certain mage...

All the information Denise had gathered over the past week coalesced and dispersed, assembled and disassembled.

Upon reaching the tavern"Beldern's Tear,"Denise remained deep in thought, muttering to herself. She'd formed a hypothesis.

"Lady Denise. We've arrived at our destination."

"Hmm..."

Expression unchanged, Denise entered Beldern's Tear.

The mercenary group's headquarters where that magic instructor belonged.

- Creak

"Welcome... Oh my, such distinguished guests in this humble—"

"..."

Jayden greeted them with a smile upon their entry.

Noble ladies rarely visited such rough taverns, yet Jayden didn't seem particularly surprised. Likely grown accustomed to noble investigators seeking Derek recently.

He quickly served water in a clean, antique cup.

"Lady of House Beltus, I presume? An honor to meet you."

"..."

Denise entered without speaking.

Jayden maintained an awkward smile—the first visitor to simply stare silently.

He anticipated the usual questions about Derek, having little concrete information to offer. They'd ask his whereabouts, then investigate there.

But Denise's question shattered expectations.

"—Has a mage named Drest Wolftail visited this tavern?"

A strike straight to the heart.

Though the question pierced like a dagger, Jayden only showed the slightest finger twitch—a silence lasting less than a second.

His expression remained unchanged.

Most wouldn't have noticed, but Denise missed nothing.

Before Jayden could answer, she smiled knowingly.

"He has, hasn't he?"

Her swift blocking of retreat routes made even the veteran mercenary swallow dryly.

Denying now would only worsen things when the lie was exposed.

What followed unfolded swiftly.

After leaving Beldern's Tear, Denise headed to the Carriage Guild in the Commercial District.

She donated dozens of gold coins to access internal records without hesitation. Most noble investigators wouldn't act so decisively, leaving guild staff stunned.

Rumors already swirled among high nobles about 6-Star detection mage Drest Wolftail haunting Evelstain.

Given his complex history with nobility, he wouldn't linger in noble districts—likely roaming commercial areas or slums.

Derek, who'd walked out on Duke Duplein's 5-Star mage household, would only be captivated by someone like a 6-Star mage.

Thus Denise hypothesized: Had Derek disappeared to meet Drest Wolftail?

Jayden's reaction confirmed her theory. She immediately checked carriage records leaving Evelstain.

If Derek met Drest, they wouldn't remain in the city.

With Drest's notoriety, they'd need to venture beyond Evelstain's outskirts for private magic training.

However, hundreds of commissions left Evelstain daily.

The Carriage Guild's records were too voluminous to review easily. Yet Denise organized them effortlessly.

Most outgoing carriages followed established trade routes for merchants. Combined with routine trade and official business, nearly 90% of records were irrelevant.

Drest and Derek wouldn't follow common trade routes for secret magic training. They'd head somewhere"special"—places ordinary people avoided.

The timeframe was clear too—about a week ago when Derek disappeared.

With distinctive commission details and known appearances, meaningful records emerged quickly.

'Ramhill Slope outskirts—Raspa Great Cave.'

A record from exactly one week ago: a carriage hired by a robed boy and old man.

Destination, payment, travel time, date, and client details briefly noted.

Denise smiled upon seeing it.

Precisely half a day since she'd rolled up her sleeves to find Derek.

"Bella, I think I'm too competent. What should I do?"

"..."

"Competent people get burdened with troublesome tasks. Sometimes it's better to be incompetent... Sigh... What a dilemma..."

Though Denise appeared refined and noble at Rosea Salon, her private self couldn't be more different.

Even Bella had to admit—Denise was quick-witted, perceptive, and strangely intuitive.

Her ability to organize information, read people, and take initiative was impressive enough, but linking rumors about Drest to Derek's ambition bordered on preternatural.

Inside the carriage to Ramhill Slope, Denise lounged luxuriously while being fanned, speaking smugly.

"Let's finish this quickly so I can read Master Raleigh's new work. I'll recruit that magic instructor tonight and make him House Beltus's asset. Father should be pleased and leave me alone for a while."

"But... even if we find him, will meeting be easy? If he's truly with a 6-Star detection mage... If they refuse to meet, we have no recourse."

"Don't worry. Would they really hide after we came all this way?"

Denise chuckled, clearly having considered this.

"Even if we don't meet, they'll remember our sincerity. Coming to their secret training site shows dedication."

"Still, if even Lady Aiselin and Elente couldn't recruit him easily..."

"Relax, Bella. I have a plan."

"May I ask what it is?"

When Denise committed, she always succeeded.

Bella knew this, yet still looked uneasy. Denise's determination sometimes led... peculiar directions.

"Seduction."

"..."

"As you know, my dazzling beauty will captivate him. Everyone agrees I'm an attractive woman."

"...You're aware Lady Aiselin and Elente are your competition?"

"So what? I'm prettier than them."

Her confidence was remarkable—smiling brightly while comparing herself to the lily-like Aiselin and rose-like Elente.

Where did this self-assurance originate? Bella's eternal question.

"I feel slightly guilty toward Lady Aiselin and Elente. But... social circles are like the wild—taking and being taken from is natural. Ahem."

"..."

"As House Beltus's representative, I have no choice. But I should consider how to maintain relations if things turn sour... Rosea Salon must remain harmonious..."

"..."

Bella refrained from comment.

Though childhood friends, noble lady and maid boundaries remained.

Any further would invite impropriety, so she kept silent.

"We have visitors."

Deep in the cavern clearing, Drest Wolftail spoke softly, eyes closed while channeling magic.

Across from him, Derek opened his eyes from magical concentration.

He'd eaten little all week. His provisions were nearly exhausted.

Gaunt and unwashed, his hair wildly unkempt, Derek resembled a madman after days immersed in detection magic.

Yet his eyes shone vibrantly—like returning to his slum days.

This environment felt familiar. Hunger and thirst were natural during monster hunts.

"Visitors? At the cave entrance?"

"Likely from House Beltus. Best meet them. We need fresh air anyway."

"..."

As Derek rose, his body screamed in protest.

A week of pushing his magical senses to their limits had taken its toll. This surpassed even Elente's training intensity.

Eyes half-closed, Derek released his magic.

Without casting night vision spells, the cave structure imprinted clearly on his senses.

He'd reached a higher plane.