Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 37

"Lady Denise... are you serious about this?"

"We were the first to locate that mage's whereabouts. We hold the most advantageous position in this competition. We need to persuade him quickly before other families catch wind."

"B-but... staying in such a place... The Matriarch might be furious if she hears of this."

"I'll take full responsibility so the servants won't suffer. Just say it was all my decision."

After being bluntly rejected by Derek, Denise had to return to the cave entrance.

Bella assumed she'd return to the mansion by carriage to report, but Denise shook her head while dusting off her silver-gray hair.

She then ordered supplies to be gathered before sunset and had a simple campsite set up at the cave entrance.

Premium firewood, thick canvas tents, luxurious carpets, and plush makeshift beds—the sheer quality made it hardly resemble camping. Yet it remained far from suitable accommodations for a noble lady.

Denise showed no concern whatsoever.

The next morning at dawn, Lady Denise entered the cave where Derek was training again.

Derek remained alone in the vast clearing, refining his magical power. Approaching with an antiquely graceful smile, Denise set down various food supplies and spoke.

"Training is important, but pushing yourself to such haggard exhaustion isn't healthy. I'll assist so you can focus entirely on your magical training!"

Derek stared at Denise with a dumbfounded expression.

Blinking with seemingly innocent eyes, Denise smiled brightly while fidgeting with her hands.

"There isn't much I can do, but at least I can help create an environment where you can concentrate on magic."

"...This won't change my stance."

"Watching you train in magic gives me inspiration too. It should help my own magical achievements. Please don't mind me—I'm doing this voluntarily!"

Denise smiled with both fists clenched.

Among various methods to win people over, straightforward generosity was fundamental.

Though one might doubt such overt tactics would work on someone like Derek, Denise felt reasonably confident.

The most efficient way to sway someone was first making them feel indebted.

Even transparently calculated generosity inevitably bred some gratitude in the recipient. That was salesmanship in essence.

'I should have the mansion servants gather everything needed for magic training.'

This mirrored merchants'strategies. Whether the ulterior motive was obvious mattered less than maintaining a straight face.

Persistent contact would gradually soften any heart like drizzle soaking clothes.

"Then I'll gratefully accept."

Derek had been considering gathering supplies himself, so he took no particular meaning from this. Frankly, with a noble lady humbling herself like this, further refusal felt burdensome.

Thus Derek casually accepted the provisions Denise brought daily.

But Derek was stubborn in his own way.

"Today I brought food supplies and magic stones."

"Thank you. However, working for House Beltus would be difficult."

"Good morning! We got rare fish from Evelstain. The mansion chef prepared it—please try some!"

"Truly appreciated. That said, this doesn't mean I'll work for House Beltus."

"Derek. Look at this. It's a Luminescent Crystal. They say it helps observe ambient mana more efficiently."

"Such a precious... Thank you. But this is separate from working for House Beltus..."

"Derek! I brought hygiene supplies. You should train while maintaining cleanliness!"

"Thank you for your concern. However..."

Days passed with Denise forcibly visiting to see Derek's face, yet he remained utterly impenetrable—questionably human in his obstinacy.

Frankly, by now he should feel some pressure or guilt, but Derek shamelessly accepted Denise's favors while remaining solely focused on his training. He never refused kindness.

After five days, it felt like pointlessly hacking at an immovable tree.

'I... never thought it would take this long...'

The Beltus noble lady had abandoned pride, visited daily with gifts and bowed head—yet he stubbornly clung to his principles.

Such unbelievable stubbornness made sense—this was how he could teach noble ladies without cowering.

'Had I known it'd be this troublesome, I'd have given up earlier...!'

In her campsite corner, Denise tore at her hair.

Her policy was completing tasks quickly to relax afterward.

But after a week of every persuasion tactic—flattery, authority, appeals—that stone-like man remained solely obsessed with magic training.

He seemed to view Lady Denise as mere background noise periodically visiting the cave. Not just anyone—the most noble lady of House Beltus.

─Just a magic-obsessed madman. Derek would abandon anything for advancing his magical mastery.

'Come to think of it... no sign of Drest. If he met Derek, they'd be training together...'

Derek said he'd seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus solely on training.

That opportunity was clearly meeting Drest. Yet Drest never appeared before Denise.

Drest Wolftail wasn't someone you could meet just by wanting to.

Given his strained history with nobility, avoiding Denise wasn't surprising.

'If he's under Drest's tutelage, he'd know my location and when I'd visit... yet he's not actively avoiding me. This might be favorable.'

It was strange when considered.

If truly avoiding her, Drest could make encounters impossible given the cave's labyrinthine structure.

'Meeting itself isn't burdensome... so there's still hope. At least I'm not completely irritating them.'

Recruiting Derek had escalated from family business to personal pride.

Still, authority wouldn't work. He could join House Belmierd or Duplein if he wished.

The method to make him instruct Lady Denise for House Beltus without offending him.

She needed this before other families caught wind. Wasted time left little room for error.

As Denise pondered deeply—

"L-Lady Denise! The head butler of House Duplein is at the cave entrance!"

"W-what... Already?"

Though Denise located Derek first, she'd only been faster than others.

Enough time had passed for her head start to fade.

Yet another thought emerged:

'If even this all-out approach failed, what could other families possibly do?'

He was magic-obsessed.

Until satisfied with his training, he'd refuse to teach anyone.

House Duplein likely had no special method to break his stubbornness.

His iron will now reassured Denise. Until she found a way, he wouldn't join any family.

"Lady Aiselin sent a personal letter? Hmm..."

'...Why hesitate?'

Silently stalking Head Butler Dellon, Denise gritted her teeth.

Sitting atop a boulder, Derek—apparently acquainted with Dellon—greeted him warmly and began carefully reading the letter.

Unlike with Denise, he didn't immediately refuse House Duplein's request but sat exhausted yet thoughtful.

Aiselin, Elente, Denise.

Among the Rosea Salon Trio, Derek rated Aiselin highest.

She'd reached 2-Star rank before her coming-of-age ceremony with exceptional understanding of Discipline School magic.

Teaching Elente showed Derek that instructing others greatly aided his own magical achievements. Exchanging with someone like Aiselin, firmly established in her field, would yield many insights.

"You've produced results teaching Lady Diela before, so the Duke holds high expectations. And as you know, the Duke generously rewards achievements."

Derek knew the Duke's character well.

He'd casually gifted that precious 3-Star Magic Tome to a commoner. Of course, matching accomplishments were required.

"It's truly an honor, but as you see, I'm wholly absorbed in training now. Having seized a lifetime opportunity, I'm completely immersed."

'That's more like it...!'

Though far more polite than with Denise, Derek still expressed refusal.

As expected—magical achievement remained his priority. Not easily swayed.

But his next words surprised Denise.

"Once training concludes, could we discuss this then? It would benefit Lady Aiselin too. A teacher's higher mastery allows faster student progress, no?"

"Hmm... The Duke would likely accept that reasoning. Securing a good instructor for Lady Aiselin is paramount."

Derek clearly favored Lady Aiselin.

He'd never mentioned post-training discussions to Denise despite her efforts.

After all her service and swallowed pride, he extended this courtesy effortlessly to Aiselin.

Denise suppressed a groan, massaging her forehead.

Bridging that gap wouldn't be easy. A trump card was needed.

"Derek's location was confirmed?"

"Yes. The head butler personally delivered a letter. The Raspa Cave, I heard."

"Training in such a dangerous place... Though that's just like him."

Considerable time had passed since Evelstain's tariff negotiations ended.

After their magic duel, she'd suddenly wanted to learn from Derek. Considerable time had passed since suggesting they request his instruction.

"With other families inquiring too, it's uncertain if that mercenary will join House Duplein. But Head Butler Dellon excels in such negotiations—let's wait and see."

"No. Waiting passively is frustrating. Social engagements kept me busy, but with time now, I should act."

"Pardon?"

As Evelstain social circles'unrivaled figure, Lady Aiselin's schedule stayed packed, but she had considerable free time at the manor.

"Requesting instruction warrants a personal visit. Raspa Cave is just a detour from Evelstain's route."

"B-but... that's too dangerous for my lady."

"I'm a 2-Star mage now. Simple magical beasts pose no threat, and I'll bring ample guards."

Aiselin had already intuited:

Though currently disinterested in teaching, Derek would undoubtedly become prominent around Evelstain.

Once his abilities gained recognition, competitors would swarm.

Beyond Diela and Elente, ladies he'd taught might be seen as validated figures.

And before that—she simply wanted to learn more magic. Personal visits were customary for instruction requests.

"Prepare a carriage. I'm going to Raspa Cave immediately. The sooner the better... I'll bid farewell to family and depart."

Such busyness was rare for Aiselin.

Before Katarina could nod, she rose from the tea table.

"First... I should bid Diela farewell."

"Lady Diela isn't in a state for greetings now."

"Is she busy? I heard she began debutante preparations."

"That too, but... once immersed in magic training, she dislikes interruptions."

After Derek's instruction, Diela's magical growth had skyrocketed abnormally.

Though House Duplein's bloodline produced many high-ranking mages, her progress defied understanding.

"Then... it can't be helped..."

Aiselin had occasionally observed from afar.

On the guest house terrace, that young mage's mana-filled eyes surveying the world radiated peculiar brilliance. Perhaps she might threaten Valerian or Aiselin's achievements.

Diela Catherine Duplein.

Though the world didn't yet know her name, her sister Aiselin watched closest.

She was Derek's first apprentice.

Soon to debut in Evelstain's social circles after her coming-of-age ceremony.

Derek's first masterpiece presented to the world.

Elente was the second, but Aiselin wanted to be the third.

She wanted to secure him before others recognized his value.

Finding undervalued treasures first excited people inherently.