Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 59

The reason Lady Freya of Count avoided being swept up in the Duplein mansion catastrophe was because the Mont Blanc she ate at the tea party was too delicious.

As absurd as it sounds, the pretty Mont Blanc resting in her arms was precisely what kept her crouched in a corner of the mansion kitchen.

The servants busily carrying food to the ballroom in their trance-like state paid no attention to the noblewoman hiding beneath a table in the kitchen corner.

Watching the mechanized movements of the enchanted servants, Lady Freya pondered her next move.

'...'

The situation wasn't particularly complicated.

Normally subjected to strict dietary control by her mentor Katia at home, the rare freedom to indulge in pastries at this southwestern ball had been pure bliss.

After sampling every confection available, she'd become utterly smitten with the Mont Blanc specially prepared by the Duplein mansion's patissier.

While other nobles rested in private rooms, she'd excused herself to visit the washroom before sneaking to the kitchen for more Mont Blanc.

For the eldest daughter of the prestigious Elvester family to sneak into the Duplein kitchen for pastries was shameful behavior. Using her signature illusion magic to pilfer food unnoticed had been the plan.

'What in the world is happening?'

Though most would tremble in terror at this hellish scene, Lady Freya maintained remarkable composure while clutching her pastry, chewing honey-glazed bread with bizarre nonchalance as if picnicking in the underworld.

Brushing crumbs from her lips, she recalled her mentor's parting words before leaving for the mansion:

-"Lady Diela of Duplein will likely become the most influential figure in the Empire's Southwest. Mind your manners at the ball, don't get distracted by food, and make a good impression."

-"With Head Magic Advisor Kochella visiting Duplein mansion, be sure to greet her respectfully... And... you might encounter my former apprentice there."

Katia, who meddled in Freya's every affair, was an object of terror.

While gentle and warm when teaching the exemplary Derek, she showed no mercy when disciplining wayward pupils like Freya.

To manage the gluttonous countess's figure and improve her mediocre magic, Katia could transform into a demon when needed.

-"Your former apprentice? From which family?"

-"A commoner from the slums. Unbelievably talented and passionate about magic, but we parted in Evelstain since I couldn't bring him to Elvester County. We occasionally correspond... He's working as a magic instructor for Evelstain's nobility now."

-"You taught a commoner? How unusual."

Seated on her bed, Freya's question made the elderly mage at the desk smirk.

-"Does magic discriminate between noble and common? Sometimes commoners display astonishing magical insight."

-"At best they reach 3-Star rank. What's the point of struggling so hard for magic? Doesn't teaching them feel futile?"

-"..."

When Freya scoffed, Katia wore a complicated expression before patting her head.

After brief hesitation, she replied:

-"True. No commoner wields magic as excellently as nobility."

Freya detected deception in Katia's expression.

Though clearly knowing something about this former apprentice, Katia chose not to share.

-"My former student was remarkable, but could never match noble mages."

That was definitely a lie.

Katia rarely lied, making her tells obvious. Whoever this apprentice was clearly held special meaning for her.

Among strict mentors, Katia Flameheart was Freya's finest. That she still worried over this former student suggested extraordinary talent beyond Freya's imagination.

Thus Freya had been scanning the ballroom all evening.

Inquiries revealed Katia's apprentice Derek had taught Duplein's Diela.

For the aristocratic Dupleins to hire a commoner instructor meant he must be exceptional.

Yet after a day of discreetly scanning commoner-looking attendees, none stood out.

'Given this catastrophe, he's probably dead already.'

Lady Freya indifferently chewed her last Mont Blanc piece.

After tapping the plate to collect remaining crumbs, she stretched luxuriously despite the marble floor.

"Aaaah."

Though grotesquely twisted monsters roamed the halls, she stretched like a rodent awakening from a nap.

Then magic energy began swirling in her eyes.

Lady Freya had mastered Katia's illusion magic.

While lacking direct combat prowess, her skill at deception and stealth was unparalleled.

Even at Elvester mansion, only Katia could find her when she hid.

These entranced servants stood no chance.

'First escape the mansion. It'll be a long walk... Maybe bribe some villagers with gold coins...'

Magic-infused hair draped over her shoulders like a quilt.

Her eerie calm surpassed mere courage - more like emotional detachment.

Rising from the table corner, she surveyed the banquet hall where servants arranged unconscious nobles at round tables laden with feasts while musicians tuned instruments for the ball's climax.

Though bizarre, Freya indifferently activated 1-Star Illusion Magic"Sound Barrier."

- Whooosh

Blue magical energy silenced all sound around her, followed by 2-Star Illusion Magic"Decoy,"scattering phantom copies of herself through the halls.

The illusions lacked vitality but sufficed to distract the undead monsters.

'Hide my presence with the next spell, then escape through the central garden. If horses remain in the stables... but I'm terrible at riding... always scolded during lessons...'

As Freya stretched and turned toward the hallway:

- BOOM!

"Huh?"

- BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Deafening impacts shook the ceiling.

- CRASH! KABOOM!

An explosion preceded the ceiling's collapse.

"Eeeek!"

Freya stumbled backward as rubble rained down, barely shielding herself with magic.

- CRUNCH! THUD!

Tumbling onto her back, Freya witnessed an unbelievable scene.

A boy had fallen through the wreckage, knee-pinning a grotesquely armored man.

Both were dust-covered and bloodied, clearly engaged in mortal combat.

'W-what the...!'

- WHOOSH! CRACK!

Furniture crashed down from above as the white-haired boy turned toward Freya.

"..."

"A-are you... another survivor?"

As Freya spoke, the pinned giant pushed up, blasting the boy away with magic.

- KABOOM!

The white-haired mercenary slammed into a wall.

When the giant rose, Freya's eyes widened.

'That's... Duplein's second son!'

Red eyes glowed through the dust - Raeg Duplein, covered in wounds, breathing like a starved beast.

His magic-fueled rampage resembled an enraged bull Freya once saw at an arena.

But this bull wielded magic.

'Oh no!'

As Raeg gathered magic, the white-haired boy suddenly gripped his head from behind and smashed it into the floor.

- CRUNCH!

Raeg collapsed, only for the boy to kick his stomach.

- THUD! SPLURT!

Blood sprayed from Raeg's mouth.

The fluid movements suggested prior experience subduing monsters.

"Stay still or you'll die. Create distance..."

"Behind you!"

As the boy warned Freya, Raeg swung a wooden chair.

The boy shattered it mid-swing with a spell - the mark of a duel master.

Though enhanced by necromantic magic, Raeg couldn't match Derek's skill.

But such brawls harmed both sides.

Each landed blow left Derek bleeding, though he showed no pain.

To Freya, both seemed equally monstrous.

'Who is that man...!'

Raeg was still Duplein nobility - a skilled mage despite living in his elder brother's shadow.

Yet this commoner was overwhelming him.

- WHOOSH! SMACK!

As flames gathered in Raeg's hands, Derek intercepted with magical arrows.

The renowned mage couldn't cast properly against Derek's counters.

Like a bull charging a wall, Raeg kept attacking despite the futility.

- CRACK!

A punch to Derek's ribs failed to stagger him.

Instead, Derek grabbed Raeg's head.

"Guh... gah..."

As Raeg tried to bite, Derek unleashed 1-Star Magic"Power Surge."

- ZAP!

Electricity rendered Raeg unconscious.

- THUD

The giant collapsed as dust settled.

'Good heavens...'

Despite their size difference, Derek had subdued him effortlessly.

Panting but unwounded, Derek turned toward Freya.

His bloodstained face and crimson eyes marked him as another monster.

As he approached, Freya gathered magic.

'Illusion magic can hide me! Better not face that creature!'

She activated her strongest illusion - 2-Star"Instant Concealment."

A brief but complete disappearance to escape.

Just as she turned to flee:

- GRAB!

Derek caught her by the scruff.

"Eek!"

Freya swallowed hard.

'Detection magic...! At least 2-Star...!'

This commoner was formidable, but realization came too late.

Turning, she faced the bloodied monster's glare.

Only one option remained.

"Spare... me..."

Abandoning noble pride, she begged for her life - a skill at which she excelled.