Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 38

"After inquiring at the Duplein estate, it seems Lady Aiselin herself plans to visit Raspa Cave. The servants are already busy preparing for the trip."

The next morning, Bella returned from gathering supplies at the estate with news that wasn't favorable for Denise.

"..."

"What should we do, my lady?"

"Does it matter what we do? If Lady Aiselin herself is coming, who could possibly stop her?"

Lady Denise's expression grew complicated. Though naturally confident, she couldn't imagine that boy refusing if Aiselin came in person. The likelihood seemed quite high that he'd view it positively.

Sighing deeply in her luxurious tent, Denise finally admitted defeat.

"I suppose I should acknowledge failure. That stubborn man won't teach me magic no matter what I do."

"Is that so... Winning people's hearts isn't easy."

While Denise had strong confidence in her abilities and pride, she also cleanly acknowledged her shortcomings when faced with them.

She knew well that stubbornly pushing something impossible would only bring greater repercussions. Pushing harder now might only breed resentment and backfire.

"Right, I could've just stayed lounging at the estate instead of suffering all the way out here to Raspa Cave. Bella, inform the estate. I'll be returning soon."

"Yes, yes... I'll let the head butler know. Should we leave all these supplies here?"

"Carrying them back would be work too. Just give them all to that magic instructor Derek."

Sighing deeply, Denise looked utterly deflated. Though she appeared to brush it off, Bella, having spent years with her, could tell.

The stronger one's confidence, the harder they fall when broken.

Though Bella often found Denise's sky-high confidence irritating, she still felt for her during these uncharacteristically low moments.

After all, they'd been together since childhood. Knowing Denise so well, seeing her unlike herself always dampened Bella's mood too.

"Let's at least say goodbye before leaving. Who knows how our paths might cross again? Consider it an investment for the future."

Just as Denise exhaled wearily and prepared to return in her most listless state—

Bella rested her chin thoughtfully before voicing a curious observation. She often pointed out angles Denise missed.

"While Lady Aiselin excels in every aspect, I wonder how she'd be as a student."

"Huh?"

"Think about it. Lady Aiselin mastered 2-star magic at her age—she's exceptionally talented. How many instructors could actually teach someone like that? Does she even need one?"

Bella aimed to provide a new perspective. As Denise's personal maid, she was more companion than mere servant.

"If I were her instructor, I'd feel pressured. Of course, becoming Lady Aiselin's teacher is a rare opportunity, but that Derek doesn't seem the type swayed by family prestige."

"..."

"A true magic instructor would naturally want to teach those who need guidance. Especially someone principled."

Derek had clear convictions.

He'd do anything for magical mastery and remained unbound by status when asserting his judgments—something they'd discerned during their observations.

Would he take Aiselin as a student just because she was from the prestigious Duplein family?

He wasn't that simplistic. Which meant Denise still had a chance.

Denise had promised lavish rewards, exceptional treatment, and extolled the Beltus family's greatness to persuade Derek. She'd explained the bright future awaiting him as their magic instructor.

But to truly convince this mage required a different approach.

What treatment he'd receive wasn't actually the key issue.

Though Denise excelled at multifaceted thinking, she'd missed this angle for one simple reason: she'd lived her whole life as nobility.

Thus, perspectives a commoner maid like Bella could conceive remained beyond her mental grooves. Bella treated Derek not as a commoner, but as a proper mage.

"That mage Derek must have more important criteria than treatment or family background when choosing students. Something more essential than how he's treated."

Most commoners would eagerly wag their tails at promises of wealth and honor.

But that enigmatic mage Derek couldn't be swayed by such things.

"You know he isn't stingy about teaching people. He even positively considered the Duplein family's request, didn't he?"

"What exactly are you getting at?"

"To make that mage your instructor, your own value matters more than what treatment you offer him. Isn't that right?"

Bella's gaze grew more serious.

"Whether you're worth teaching... that's the point."

No matter how excellent the instruction, if it holds no meaning for the student, no one would want to teach.

Thus, what Denise needed to prove wasn't lavish treatment or family prestige.

But how meaningful teaching her would be.

Denise sat blankly on the bed. Seeing things from Bella's perspective helped organize her tangled thoughts.

Throughout the past days, Derek had paused his training whenever Denise visited.

Though mentioning propriety and disturbance, he'd observed her reactions, listened to her offers, and despite daily rejections, consistently declined politely.

As someone learning from a 6-star detection mage, he could've easily avoided Denise if determined.

Yet he kept meeting her, hearing her proposals, and politely refusing—there had to be a reason.

Not mere courtesy toward a noble lady. Through exhausted eyes, he'd kept evaluating Denise.

"He was testing me, gauging my caliber all along."

Denise seemed to finally glimpse the true intent behind the man's ritualistic refusals.

He'd been waiting for Denise to reveal genuine sincerity from her core.

Only then did Denise realize: she was the one being assessed.

That mage Derek wasn't someone to be won over by persuasion.

Organizing her thoughts opened new perspectives. And with that came certainty.

"...You're right, Bella, but it's rather meaningless..."

Denise already knew. Even baring her soul wouldn't persuade Derek.

She was inherently someone who could never convince him.

"Hi."

Deep in the cave, sunrise and sunset were invisible.

Naturally, without distinguishing day and night, Derek couldn't precisely tell how long he'd trained, sensing only mana flow.

But Denise's occasional visits helped estimate time—each appearance marking a new day.

Today, as Denise arrived again, Derek prepared to greet her politely.

Having faced her often now, he wasn't particularly tense. But today, Denise's demeanor had clearly changed.

She came without attendants or guards, nor did she address Derek with her usual noble grace.

The formal, archaic honorifics were gone—just a casual"hi"as she listlessly approached.

Derek briefly furrowed his brow before bowing slightly.

"You've come again today."

"Yeah. I'm about to give up."

Denise shed all pretense now. After days of interaction, she'd learned any affectation would be seen through.

What more was there to say? Sitting opposite Derek on the rock, she finally showed her true face.

"You're really creepy. How can you stay so unfazed despite my daily visits?"

"You've treated this mere commoner mage too generously. If you return to the estate, please find someone more fitting for a Beltus lady."

"Forget it. You know as well as I do—I didn't come here to learn magic. Just wanted to recruit you since you're the hot new magic instructor."

Derek fully accepted her blunt honesty. She'd abandoned all pretense.

"No appetite for breakfast. Just something simple—cherry pie..."

"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?

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.