Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 54

When Lady Denise returned to the mansion, everyone from the head butler down to the maids was in an uproar. The reason being her beautiful jade-like body bore wounds.

Even a minor injury to Denise's fingertip would require the attending maid to prostrate in apology, yet now her forehead was split open and bleeding.

"Lady Denise!"

"A-are you alright?! Please come inside the mansion at once! You need treatment!"

Denise descended from the carriage with disheveled hair and a dress torn in several places.

The thick layer of dust covering her suggested something extraordinary had occurred during her duel with Diela.

The servants swarmed around checking Denise's condition while interrogating the accompanying attendants and coachman about what happened, creating such chaos that normal mansion operations became impossible.

Yet Denise simply smiled demurely as if nothing was wrong.

"It's nothing serious."

Given her battered state, anger would have been expected, but Denise instead wore an expression of utter refreshment.

"So when I activated my detection magic, that wild horse Diela's expression just froze. I wanted to say something cool at that moment but couldn't think of anything appropriate... Hmm... I should've come up with a better line..."

Acting as if her injuries meant nothing, Denise returned to the mansion and regaled Derek with her heroic tale while receiving treatment from the maids. Derek listened with unexpected thoughts.

Internally, Derek had considered Diela as essentially his first apprentice.

He'd even thought Elente paled in comparison to Diela's talent, assuming Denise would struggle against her regardless of skill.

Diela's ever-changing magical applications would be particularly difficult for noble ladies accustomed to Discipline School magic.

Yet contrary to Derek's concerns, Denise had completely overwhelmed Diela.

Denise's magical progress outpaced Derek's expectations so dramatically that few in Evelstain could rival her now.

"Then she made this utterly humiliated expression while tears dripped down. Serves her right for acting so rudely at the tea party, glaring like she wanted to devour me. Serves her right."

"Are your injuries alright?"

"Just some scrapes, they say no scars will remain. But Derek, you should've seen her face. Hehehe. If we weren't in a situation requiring decorum, I would've laughed in her face."

Denise looked at Derek with shoulders still raised in excitement.

"No matter how good the raw gemstone, one just beginning to be polished can't beat me. Heh. She lacked duel experience and decisive moments revealed her shortcomings too. Unlike me, she couldn't even think to remove accessories to create openings. Also, she's not as pretty as me. Look closely - my skin's better and my features more delicate, right?"

"..."

"Well? Derek. You warned me not to underestimate Diela. Didn't expect me to win so decisively, did you?"

Denise puffed her chest proudly before Derek. Essentially fishing for compliments.

But Derek shook his head and spoke firmly.

"Disabling defensive magic during a duel could have been life-threatening. That was too reckless."

"That gamble was necessary to buy time implementing 2nd Grade Magic against that rabid child! They're just 1st Grade spells anyway - almost no chance of being fatal. More importantly, you should've seen her expression when..."

"Lady Denise."

Derek's voice dropped low.

Though just a commoner, Denise hiccuped in response.

Derek always brimmed with enthusiasm around Denise. Though generally blunt, his underlying positivity toward her usually showed.

Yet before Denise's triumphant return, Derek appeared displeased.

The reason soon became clear.

"No justification excuses disabling defensive magic during a duel."

"...What?"

"Didn't you see Lady Diela's magical power? A direct hit could've crippled limbs permanently."

Even 1st Grade magic's power varies greatly by the mage's ability.

Diela's magic already surpassed nearly all noble ladies her age, making a direct hit without defensive magic potentially fatal.

While her victory deserved praise, Derek couldn't condone such reckless behavior.

Having weighed lives on battlefields, he understood risk's gravity better than anyone.

Only by teaching this lesson could he prevent the girl from making similarly reckless decisions.

Thus despite her victory, Derek remained stern.

Denise hadn't expected such indifference from Derek during her moment of triumph. Disappointing, but she couldn't show it.

Derek's anger stemmed from concern for her.

Recognizing this, Denise had to admit his scolding was justified.

Being clear-headed, Denise somewhat understood how reckless her actions were.

Facing Diela's fiery determination to take Derek back had made her impatient.

As the atmosphere grew tense, the maids assisting Denise gulped dryly.

Considering Derek's commoner status, scolding someone like Denise was unthinkable.

Yet Derek never hesitated to voice his convictions. Denise knew this well.

"Alright, I'm sorry."

So she apologized without complaint. A scene that would've made onlookers'eyes pop.

Sensing her sincerity, Derek finally sighed and relaxed.

"Still, your achievement is commendable. I'm glad to hear the news."

"Hehe... Well, of course."

"But honestly speaking... wouldn't Lady Diela see you as truly sinister?"

"W-what nonsense. Where else would you find someone as kind as me?"

"Perhaps consider Lady Diela's perspective."

"Huh? Hmm..."

Feeling the maid's hands combing her hair, Denise fell deep in thought.

After all, Denise had lured Diela through correspondence.

Initially planning to lose, she'd changed her mind mid-duel and gone all out.

From Diela's perspective unaware of this change, Denise must seem utterly villainous.

Luring her into a duel through deceitful letters, then crushing her pride through sheer force.

While Diela's previous hostility had some unfair aspects, Denise now appeared as someone who'd beaten her out of spite.

"..."

"Having some realization?"

"Derek. I might actually be a terrible person..."

Saying"You're just realizing this now?"would be too much.

"It's just a misunderstanding that can be cleared through conversation."

"Would you talk to me if you were Diela?"

"...Considering her personality, probably not."

Having won the duel, Denise could now sell those questionable landscape paintings as agreed.

From every angle, Denise was Diela's mortal enemy.

"T-this is bad... I, I mean... I don't know how this sounds but... I don't actually dislike Lady Diela...?"

"..."

"L-Lady Diela likes you a lot, Derek. Couldn't you explain things to her?"

"At this point, my explanations would mean little..."

"I, I don't want House Duplein as enemies. What good comes from antagonizing the Southwest's most prominent noble family?"

"Lady Denise... you sowed these seeds yourself."

"Aaargh!"

Denise roughly scratched her head, making the maid meticulously styling her hair break into a cold sweat.

Among influential families'daughters, Denise excelled at navigating social webs without making enemies.

Yet keeping Derek meant she could never befriend Diela.

This truth had to be accepted.

When Aiselin visited Diela's mansion, she found her completely disheartened, face buried in the garden table.

Despite giving her all against Denise, she'd been outmatched in composure, experience, and magical precision.

"Diela..."

"Aiselin unnie. You're here. As you see, I'm a miserable loser now."

"Don't be so disheartened. You've barely entered society's magical dueling circles yet. Losing to Lady Denise with her Rosea Salon experience isn't significant."

"It was my chance to bring Derek back..."

Diela's face looked corpse-like.

Had there been any excuse, she might have salvaged some pride, but the duel itself was utter defeat.

Thankfully it occurred in Diela's private training grounds - had it been the noble district's official arena, the humiliation would have been public.

Though rumors would spread regardless.

Diela cared little for gossip. The defeat itself was what mattered.

"Ultimately, bringing Derek to our house depends on his feelings. Forcing things through duel results means little... so don't overthink this loss."

"Thank you for comforting me, Aiselin unnie. But a loss is a loss. My pride is shattered."

"..."

"What's unbearable is knowing I might have won if Derek hadn't trained that sinister woman. However skilled she is with 2nd Grade magic, his influence must have played a role."

Diela shook her head and finally relaxed her expression.

"Regardless, keeping Derek with another house is unacceptable. We must bring him back."

"B-but... you lost the duel and have no justification to take him from Beltus."

"Unnie, you said contracts matter less than Derek's own feelings, right? I've thought about it and agree."

Diela sighed deeply, running small fingers through her hair.

A habit when thinking deeply.

"Money won't easily bring Derek back, nor can we create proper justification... So... seduction or..."

"..."

"...If seduction fails, perhaps human compassion or earning Derek's respect might sway him?"

"..."

Aiselin's silence was consideration. Diela knew this and said no more.

Truthfully, Diela couldn't easily surpass Lady Denise in looks or prestige.

However things stood internally, Denise's external image approached perfect noble ladyhood.

Even Aiselin had failed to sway Derek - young Diela stood no chance.

"Gyaaah!"

Unlike her usual tyrant-like treatment of servants, Diela occasionally suffered like any girl her age.

Now she screamed while roughly shaking her head.

"First, to bring Derek to House Duplein, you must become someone worthy. Make a name in Rosea Salon, become someone he'd consider worth teaching. Then he might waver."

"Even you failed to persuade him, unnie. How could I?"

"That... remains to be seen... Trying is what matters, no?"

Since arriving in Evelstain, Diela had done little but complain.

As her sister, this pained Aiselin, who patted Diela's back comfortingly.

Seeing Diela so desperate for Derek, she resolved to help however possible.

"First complete your debutante properly to officially enter society. Everything's prepared from the imperial audience to the ball... Let's finish what must be finished."

"Ugh... fine."

Diela's debutante approached.

Numerous nobles would attend the lavish banquet celebrating Diela, where she'd debut under spotlights before returning to Evelstain as the mansion's mistress.

Thus Diela would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other noble ladies.

Once completed, her relationship with Denise might change. Aiselin hoped Diela would adapt well to society's thin ice.

"I sent another letter home confirming. We'll depart for the capital next week. After the audience, you'll attend the main house's ball as its star."

"The main house servants must be busy. Hosting so many distinguished guests requires extensive preparations."

"They're all happily working to celebrate your debut. So your task is displaying noble grace befitting a lady."

Aiselin warmly emphasized this to Diela.

Countless people labored for Diela's debut. Its success would bring the whole family's congratulations.

"Since we're inviting influential figures... Derek might attend as Beltus's representative."

"R-really? He delivered letters before and seems trusted at Lady Denise's mansion..."

"I'll send a separate invitation. Showing your growth as a proper lady at the ball might change Derek's view of you. So cheer up, Diela."

"Ugh..."

Using Derek as motivational bait like a banana for a monkey displeased her, yet denying her interest would be false.

Diela sighed deeply and nodded.

The Duplein ball celebrating a lady's debut would be magnificent.

Servants extravagantly praised such debutantes as angelic beings incarnate - the event's splendor reflected their pride.

Commanding such a stage might sway Derek's opinion.

"Alright. I'll focus on immediate tasks first. Opportunities will come."

Diela sighed deeply. She was too busy to remain disheartened.

"By the way, Aiselin unnie. When did you send the letter home? I sent one recently but got no reply."

"Huh? Well... mine was weeks ago. The main house must be busy - probably can't reply immediately."

"Really?"

"Yes. Brother Valerian returned recently with war trophies requiring the imperial Head Magic Advisor Kochella's consultation. That must keep them occupied."

Even Aiselin in Evelstain couldn't know everything happening at the main house. Physical distance made this inevitable.

"Kochella should visit soon... keeping them busy. But your ball preparations shouldn't be affected."

"With so many distinguished guests for the ball alone... and now the imperial Head Magic Advisor visiting... the servants must be exhausted."

"They'll consider it part of your ball preparations. Her visit likely includes attending your ball."

Imperial Head Magic Advisor Kochella.

Her visit must have delayed letter responses due to increased workload.

Though failing to promptly reply to the noble ladies'letters constituted grave disloyalty, Aiselin forgave this, knowing servants'hardships during such busy times.

Communication gaps prevented knowing exactly what transpired at the main house...

But they'd learn upon visiting soon.

Diela's magnificent debutante ball approached.

Anticipation for her beloved sister's glorious debut made Aiselin smile contentedly.

'I hope Derek attends. The Beltus family would surely permit this formal occasion's invitation. They'll need to send someone anyway.'

- Rustle

'Never thought I'd receive a noble ball invitation.'

Early morning, while practicing sword forms shirtless in his quarters, Derek received a letter.

Bearing House Duplein's seal, it invited him to Diela's debutante next week.

As the sole person who'd reached out during her isolated days in the annex, House Duplein seemed to regard Derek as a significant benefactor.

Otherwise they'd never formally invite a commoner.

'Nobles from across the empire's Southwest, North and East will likely attend. Though family heads probably won't come personally... sending representatives...'

House Beltus would need to send someone officially, making Derek, acquainted with Diela, the appropriate choice. Aiselin likely considered this when sending the invitation.

'First visit to House Duplein in ages. Probably unchanged.'

Though the grand ball would necessitate decorations, Derek had spent considerable time there before.

Anticipating the nostalgic visit, Derek tucked the invitation into his coat pocket.