Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 6

"You probably haven't heard about my sister Diela."

The interior of the carriage was several times more luxurious than the one they'd taken to exterminate the magical beasts.

The Duplein ducal carriage, emblazoned with the family crest, was adorned with golden trim and extravagant decorations to the point where merely boarding it felt burdensome.

Inside sat Lady Aiselin with her attendants, while across from her was Jayden, the representative of the Velderun mercenary group and Derek's companion. Derek sat quietly beside him, surveying their surroundings.

Against the backdrop of clattering carriage wheels, a conversation unfolded between Jayden and Lady Aiselin.

"Lady Diela... I believe I've seen her name in the Duplein family tree."

Jayden no longer wore his frivolous smile.

The young noblewoman from the Duplein family sitting before him wasn't someone to be treated casually.

When their identities had been concealed, he might have maintained his cheeky grin, but the situation had clearly changed.

"Though she's not someone who appears much in public affairs."

"Yes, that's correct."

Derek noticed Lady Aiselin's gaze momentarily drop.

Apparently, discussing her younger sister Diela wasn't a particularly pleasant topic.

'The Duplein succession... Right, there were two sons and two daughters.'

The late Grand Duke Raymond Oswald Duplein, a 5th-Class Mage, had four children.

Derek had heard rumors that the third and fourth children - both young ladies of the Duplein family - were preparing to debut in high society.

However, while there were many stories about the refined and benevolent nature of the third child, Lady Aiselin, surprisingly little was known about the fourth child, Lady Diela.

"Diela needs a magic teacher."

"...So that's why you've been testing candidates by commissioning various mercenaries?"

"Yes. I apologize for concealing our identities. As you know, it wasn't something to be openly discussed."

The head maid Katarina, who had been quietly observing, gracefully poured some tea.

The carriage wheels stood as tall as a person, and six horses pulled the vehicle. At this point, the ride was so smooth they could drink hot tea without difficulty.

An array of elegant teacups emitting fragrant steam sat on the small table between the seats.

Yet no one reached for them.

"This is quite unusual. Would a commoner-born magic teacher really be suitable to instruct a lady of the Duplein ducal family?"

Jayden's observation was valid. Even Derek found himself nodding at how strange the situation was.

He'd often heard how nobles possessed an unimaginable sense of privilege and authority.

For such a noble lady to be scouting magic teachers from the dregs of mercenary bands was utterly unnatural.

As they said, nobles would sell their livers and gallbladders if it meant securing a proper magic teacher for their children.

With the Duplein Duke's authority, he could easily procure renowned magic teachers from prestigious lineages. After all, wasn't theirs one of the top three noble families in the empire?

In fact, without needing outside help, there were already plenty within the family itself with deep magical knowledge.

Thus, the very fact that Lady Aiselin had personally gone searching for a teacher proved this was no ordinary situation.

Derek spoke quietly:

"I've heard the Duplein family alone has at least three or four known 4-Star Mages. With such excellent teachers available, why search through mercenary bands?"

"...Being deeply knowledgeable about magic and being skilled at teaching it are completely different abilities."

"...That's true."

"And of course we've tried attaching many such teachers to her. It just... didn't work out as we'd hoped..."

Didn't work out as hoped.

Though an understated expression, Lady Aiselin's face showed remarkable complexity.

Yet the underlying sentiment was singular - the love for her only younger sister.

"Diela is... hopelessly untalented at magic."

"..."

Jayden fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, struggling to comprehend.

The Duplein family was a renowned magical noble house known throughout the land. For someone born of such lineage to lack magical talent was exceptionally rare.

"If this continues, she won't even begin her high society studies and will just be treated as useless. I can't stand by and watch Diela be treated that way."

Young noblewomen from the Velcos region often came to Evelstain to prepare for society once they came of age. They were typically gifted an entire mansion to practice being proper ladies of the house.

Even Lady Aiselin sitting before Derek now resided in Evelstain's noble quarter rather than the ducal territory.

Beyond the northern city walls, in the wealthy district where nobles lived, she engaged in social exchanges and studies to cultivate the qualities of a dignified lady.

However, that only applied to those with minimum qualifications.

For someone born of the vaunted Duplein bloodline to be unable to properly cast even basic magic was a fatal flaw for a noble.

She was far more likely to become the family's shame than its pride. This was probably already known by everyone in the ducal mansion.

It wasn't hard to imagine what treatment this Diela girl must be receiving.

"I see. But I'm not sure that justifies searching through mercenary bands. If she struggles with magic, shouldn't you be looking for even more capable teachers?"

"..."

"...Have I asked something improper?"

"No. I was just... considering how to respond."

Lady Aiselin wore a deeply troubled expression as she calmly explained:

"Diela has gone through over twenty teachers in the past eight months. There's no one left who can handle her."

"..."

"But I can't give up."

Lady Aiselin's expression grew solemn as she spoke.

"Mr. Derek, your way of thinking and handling magic is completely different from all those elderly mages we've tried before. Who knows what might happen this time? I intend to try everything within my power."

Derek was beginning to understand. In short, this Lady Diela didn't seem like an easy student.

He'd heard noble ladies generally fell into one of two categories - either ill-mannered or empty-headed.

At this point, he couldn't tell which type this Diela girl might be.

- BANG!

The mansion of Grand Duke Duplein, boasting the most imposing presence in the Velcos region.

The door to the great Duke's office was thrown open with enough force to nearly break it. Few could dare open the Duke's office door so violently - most nobles wouldn't even meet his gaze.

"Father! Brother Valerian! My apologies for interrupting!"

Inside the office, Raymond Oswald Duplein sat imposingly behind his massive desk, while a golden-haired young man discussed tax revenues from the ducal territory for the current quarter.

The eldest son Valerian was a tall, well-built handsome man.

Designated as the heir apparent, he'd undergone his coming-of-age ceremony last year, proving his genius by already mastering entry-level 2nd Grade Magic at the time. The Duplein elders had already taken notice of him.

Setting aside the report he'd been presenting on the desk, he spoke in a gentle voice:

"Raeg. What's all this commotion? Maintain some decorum."

"Please hear me out, brother! I truly can't take this anymore!"

The young man called Raeg dragged a maid from the hallway and flung her onto the office floor.

- THUD!

"Eek!"

As the maid tumbled across the floor, the office's faint scent of incense was overwhelmed by a pungent stench.

The maid had been doused with dirty mop water. Not only that, her uniform was torn in several places, and her hair completely disheveled - clear signs of mistreatment.

"Now she's laying hands on my personal attendants! That damned Diela!"

"Raeg. Lower your voice."

"I wouldn't be speaking up if I could still endure this! Last month alone, over ten attendants quit because of her. The dishes she's broken in her tantrums must number in the hundreds by now! She destroys buildings when bored... How much longer must we tolerate that troublemaker? Just because she's young and the youngest?"

Having marched to the center of the office, Raeg raised his voice toward the Duke reviewing documents behind the desk.

"Father! Give me an answer!

The Duke quietly set down the documents he'd been examining and fixed Raeg with a steady gaze.

Raeg knew that look well.

"Father..."

Raeg momentarily held his breath, then finally continued in a deflated tone:

"Can that brat's behavior truly be worthy of the Duplein name? We've... we've done all we could... As family... and as nobles... we've fulfilled our duty."

"That's not for you to judge, Raeg."

"No, Father. Though I may not compare to brother, I'm still a member of the Duplein family. I have the right to speak. We must face the truth now. That girl Diela is our family's shame and flaw."

Unlike the gentle aristocratic Valerian, Raeg had the angular features of a military commander.

If asked to guess their birth order, many would pick Raeg as the elder, though he was in fact the Duplein family's second son.

"Father. Even if Diela can't become a proper member of our house... we still have Aiselin. It seems the divine simply concentrated all the noble qualities meant to be shared with Diela solely upon Aiselin instead. So let Diela go."

"Raeg. You'd do well to measure your words before your father."

"Brother. Don't you feel the same?"

When Raeg fired back, Valerian couldn't immediately respond. Seeing his conflicted expression, Raeg pressed on as if encouraged, addressing the Duke pointedly:

"...I had the head butler look into a monastery in the Anhel region."

"Raeg!"

"Someone must be decisive! If no one else will, then I must."

Raeg raised his voice to the Duke again:

"It's well-equipped and frequently visited by noble children, with imperial oversight too. Rather than being treated as useless here, wouldn't serving divine will be better for Diela? If we leave her like this, she'll only bring greater disgrace upon our house—"

- CRASH!

Raeg couldn't finish.

The Duke had grabbed his head and smashed it into the desk.

"Gah!"

Pressing down on the screaming Raeg's head, the Duke whispered in an icy voice:

"I believe I said that wasn't for you to judge."

"Guh... ugh... Father..."

"Must I repeat myself?"

Even with his face pressed into the desk, Raeg stubbornly refused to yield.

"Father... When the time comes... you must make the decision..."

- THUMP!

True to his ducal blood, Raeg wouldn't back down easily. Despite being pinned by the Duke's hand, he persisted until finally losing consciousness under the Duke's magical pressure.

"..."

A brief silence fell.

The only sound in the office was the quiet sobbing of the terrified maid.

The Duke slumped back into his chair, pressing firmly between his brows.

Worry and concern were constant companions to a ruler. Yet one never grew accustomed to them.

Valerian, who had been quietly observing the weary Duke, gently helped the unconscious Raeg to his feet.

He also gave the sobbing maid on the floor a few comforting pats on the shoulder.

"You've endured much. I'll inform my head maid - wash up and rest in your quarters today."

After soothing the maid with gentle words, he addressed the Duke while supporting Raeg:

"The tax matter isn't urgent. I'll take my leave for today. Please get some rest, Father."

"Very well."

As Valerian began leading Raeg and the maid out of the office:

"Valerian."

"...Yes."

The Duke, still pressing his forehead while seated, spoke in a low voice:

"Loving one's children equally... is no easy task."

"..."

Valerian offered a bitter smile, then bowed deeply and exited the office.

"Oh, Brother Valerian."

The hallway outside the office.

Aiselin, having returned to the ducal mansion after some time, happily greeted Valerian as they met - until she noticed him supporting the unconscious Raeg.

Her expression froze, as did when she saw the maid following them, soaked in filthy water.

"B-brother..."

"Ah. Aiselin. It's good to see you after so long. Is Evelstain treating you well?"

Valerian forced a smile as he acknowledged Aiselin's greeting.

"As you can see, circumstances are complicated, so we'll have to catch up later."

"...Of course."

As Valerian moved past Aiselin while supporting Raeg, several attendants rushed over to take charge of Raeg. During this, Valerian noticed the people Aiselin had brought.

Along with her usual attendants, she'd brought two clearly outsider mercenaries - Jayden and Derek.

"..."

He knew Aiselin had been working tirelessly to help her youngest sister Diela.

Yet seeing the caliber of people she'd brought now, Valerian could only manage a pitying smile.

Initially, even Aiselin had brought renowned 4-Star Mage instructors.

But none could handle Diela. They were either humiliated, injured, or simply gave up and left.

As Diela's notoriety as a troublemaker spread among the upper class, fewer volunteered to teach her.

Still, Aiselin persisted, scouring everywhere for steadfast 3-Star or even 2-Star Mages.

Now, having exhausted even those options, she'd resorted to bringing a mercenary mage into the ducal mansion.

While her efforts were admirable, to her watching brother, it only left a bitter taste. It painfully underscored how truly desperate the situation had become.

Valerian passed by Aiselin and quietly proceeded down the hall.

His heart felt weighted down as if by heavy anchors.

"Aiselin. How fares your life in Evelstain?"

"Thanks to Father's care, every day is delightful. I've been learning portrait painting recently - I'd love to paint your portrait when time allows."

"Is that so? We must display it in the mansion hall when complete."

"Oh Father. I'm not that skilled yet. Please wait until I'm good enough that the servants won't laugh at it."

As Aiselin engaged in cheerful conversation with a radiant smile, some of the worry lines faded from the Duke's face.

Without question, Aiselin was dearly loved by everyone in the ducal mansion. Born with the grace and dignity befitting a noble lady, she was adored by her parents, both brothers, and all the retainers.

Thus when she came of age, she'd smoothly been gifted a mansion in Evelstain's noble quarter to begin her society training. She was truly the jewel of the Duplein family.

"Ah, and I wanted to report this in advance. I've brought a mage from Evelstain."

"...I see."

The Duke's brow momentarily furrowed as he looked at Derek.

Aiselin had brought no shortage of so-called teachers for Diela before. And without exception, none lasted more than a few weeks before fleeing.

At this point, whoever she brought would hardly make a difference, but this was still someone her beloved daughter Aiselin had vetted.

"Very well."

Yet that was all he could say.

The Duke had long since stopped offering lengthy opinions on the matter.

Aiselin quietly observed the Duke's demeanor before offering a faint, bittersweet smile.

"Then I'll go freshen up first and we can talk more in the reception room. Father. I have so much to tell you."

"Very well. I'll see you shortly."

As Aiselin bowed and turned to leave the office:

"You there - stay."

The Duke called Derek to remain.

The quiet office.

The Duplein Duke carefully examined a document while tapping his pen, deeply engrossed for quite some time.

Likely some important matter regarding territory management.

The Duke didn't handle anything carelessly, pondering each issue thoroughly.

He seemed the sort constantly buried in such busy work.

After signing one such urgent document, the Duke spoke without even looking up:

"You're quite young."

"Yes."

"Sixteen, was it?"

"That's correct."

The Duke skimmed another document, making a few marks with his pen.

While handling affairs, he continued in his low, resonant voice:

"...How skilled are you with magic?"

As the pen moved, Derek answered without hesitation:

"I can handle some 1st Grade Magic."

"Hoho.."

The Duke emitted a quiet chuckle.

The meaning wasn't hard to guess.

For a mere sixteen-year-old commoner to properly learn magic and reach a level where he could teach others was remarkable.

There was some admiration mixed in, but mostly lament.

Still just commoner standards.

Perhaps he laughed ruefully at the thought of entrusting his daughter's magical education to such a person.

Derek speculated thus - but his assumption was only half correct.

"No need for false modesty."

The Duke's gleaming eyes suddenly locked onto Derek. Flickers of magical energy shimmered in his gaze.

"Humility isn't always a virtue."

He'd already discerned that Derek's magical abilities extended far beyond mere 1st Grade.