Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 62

Elennte maintained her composure while quickly assessing how the situation was unfolding.

The entire Duplein manor being devoured by magical beasts was anything but natural. This was a household with a 5th-Class Mage as its head - any disturbance should have been resolved long ago.

The fact that even the servants seemed to have been completely consumed by something without any resolution in sight suggested the family's leadership might be involved.

One couldn't rule out the possibility that this ball itself was an elaborate trap.

'The likelihood of the entire Duplein family being complicit seems low. The Southwest's most powerful noble house has no reason for such suspicious activities. This must be someone's individual scheme...'

After carefully scanning the corridor again, Elennte studied Aiselin's expression as she struggled to regain her composure.

If this were truly a family-sanctioned event, Aiselin wouldn't be ignorant of it. She wouldn't have encountered Elennte here, and her trembling demeanor wouldn't be an act.

Elennte's intuition concluded this wasn't the case.

"Lady Aiselin seems unaware of the current situation? As you can see, the manor's servants have fallen under some sinister influence. Many distinguished guests were dragged to the main hall - their lives seem unlikely to be spared."

"Wh-what are you saying? What's happening at Duplein Manor..."

"If you need to see with your own eyes to believe, then do so."

The collapsed outer walls alone clearly indicated something was terribly wrong.

Aiselin swallowed dryly. Though she'd just regained consciousness, she needed to think quickly.

Elennte felt the same.

If things had escalated this far, it would likely become a massive stain on House Duplein's reputation.

The royal court would demand accountability, noble families would seek reparations, and worst case, their title and territory could be revoked.

Nobles who lost their lands usually met tragic ends.

Those with independent forces or private soldiers might scrape by as mercenaries, but women without support typically fell into dreadful circumstances.

Elennte quietly observed Lady Aiselin.

Biting her lower lip while surveying outside, she remained elegant and beautiful. Yet she stood on the brink of ruin.

When Elennte first entered Evelstain's high society at the Rosea Salon, she'd felt envy toward this flawless girl and even harassed her.

There were times Elennte felt awe toward Aiselin, who never flinched no matter what schemes were attempted.

Yet even as Aiselin's long-anticipated downfall approached, Elennte felt no schadenfreude.

Instead, Aiselin's grave expression made Elennte tense as well. How strange.

"Lady Aiselin, listen carefully. I know this seems sudden after just regaining consciousness, but House Duplein appears to be facing its greatest crisis."

"...I need to go see for myself."

"..."

"Lady Elennte should focus on finding an escape route. Or perhaps hiding in the underground wine cellar or library until rescue comes. I know the manor's layout well enough to assist."

Even in this situation, Aiselin worried for Elennte's safety. Such typical judgment.

Elennte's mind raced.

Given current circumstances, House Duplein would at minimum decline, at maximum collapse. The half-destroyed manor and absence of senior retainers or officials suggested they too were embroiled in this crisis.

The noble, beautiful girl embodying aristocratic culture's pinnacle might only remain so until today.

Without connections or backing, she'd become an obsolete noble lady.

Thus, cutting unprofitable ties was logical.

Duplein's decline would cause massive upheaval in the Southwest's nobility.

If safety was assured, informing her family immediately was best. Escaping to send a messenger could deliver this news to House Belmierd before anyone else.

During turbulent times when winds of change blew, obtaining crucial information first was vital.

If the Border Count of Belmierd knew, he could dispatch troops to handle the manor's disaster, legally occupying the territory.

Once troops were legally stationed, maintaining influence would be easy. Justifications were hard to establish initially but multiplied once created.

'...'

House Duplein was the Southwest's mighty lion.

But when any beast dies, vultures and predators swarm its carcass.

Countless nobles would rush to claim parts of this massive prize. Being first conferred tremendous privilege.

For House Belmierd's sake, escaping to deliver this news was imperative.

Her noble instincts honed in cold social circles whispered this.

Yet Aiselin's dignified demeanor amid chaos gave pause.

"Lady Elennte must find an escape route. I'll provide any necessary information. As Duplein's eldest daughter, I must see what's happening in the main hall."

"Forget it, we'll go together."

"What?"

Elennte didn't deliberate.

Even with Duplein's decline nearly certain, she made an inefficient choice.

Aiselin knew of Elennte's quick thinking in crises.

Thus her wide-eyed surprise was inevitable.

"Why would Lady Elennte..."

As Elennte considered her response—

- Rumble, boom.

The ground shook violently.

The entire manor trembled as if the world was collapsing.

Aiselin rushed to the window in alarm.

Through the collapsed main hall walls, a grotesque bone pile rose. Its size already breached the ceiling.

"Wh-what is that..."

Sinister crimson magic energy seemed to engulf the world.

A 4th-Class Necromancy spell -"Skeletal Giant."Its palm bones alone could overturn entire rooms.

The terrifying sight overwhelmed both girls.

- CRASH!

The skeletal giant gripped the western building's roof to rise, collapsing half of it instantly.

Under the rainy night sky, the monster charged toward the garden before swinging at Aiselin's building.

Valerian instantly acknowledged it.

In duels decided by experience and reflexes, he could never beat Derek.

Against such a seasoned mercenary, only overwhelming force would suffice.

Thus Valerian raised his staff, channeling all his power.

Pure, crushing might.

An impact allowing no defense or evasion to crush Derek outright.

The massive skeletal giant rose, looming over ant-sized Derek.

- WHOOSH!

- BOOM!

Despite its size, it moved swiftly.

Its foot crushed the marble floor where Derek stood moments ago, sending stone fragments flying.

Derek cast protective magic over unconscious nobles about to be buried.

A 2nd-Class Combat Magic:"Large-scale Barrier."Broad but mana-intensive.

- CRACKLE

After shielding them from debris, Derek sprinted toward the central garden.

Continuing here would kill the nobles. He needed to subdue Valerian first.

'The battle can't drag on. Given time, Valerian will kill the nobles to revive the Duke.'

While understanding his guilt over the Duke's death, his methods were wrong.

Success wasn't guaranteed, and even if successful, only infamy would remain for Duplein - a slaughterhouse family violating taboos.

Ultimately, Duplein's future held only darkness.

Though Valerian saw no other recourse, Derek couldn't accept this.

- BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The fully risen giant pursued Derek across the garden in single strides.

When it swung its massive fist—

- CRASH!

The fountain shattered, half obliterated by the impact.

Dirt and plants flew as Derek struck the giant's weak left foot with a fireball.

The rain weakened it, but enough to destabilize the colossus.

As it fell backward, gripping the east wing's roof—

- CRUNCH!

The building began collapsing. Derek's eyes widened.

Guest rooms lined that wing. Casualties were inevitable.

Then he saw her - a girl caught in the collapse.

"KYAAAAH!"

Aiselin, clinging to decorative protrusions on the crumbling wall.

The rain-slicked surfaces betrayed her grip.

- SLIP!

As she fell, attempting wind magic—

- THUD!

- CRASH!

Derek scaled the wall, catching her midair before rolling across the muddy garden.

"D-D-Derek! Gasp...!"

"Get up. No time for pleasantries."

When she tried to ask after him—

- BOOM!

The giant's fist crushed where they stood moments ago.

Derek carried Aiselin through the mud as each strike could be fatal.

They reached a shattered window - Diela's old room from Derek's first visit.

"Derek, hurry! KYEEK!"

Climbing through, glass shards pierced Aiselin's hands.

Seeing Derek follow, she gasped.

"Y-your wounds..."

Glass fragments embedded in his right shoulder from shielding her.

- BAM!

Derek shoved her onto Diela's bed as the giant's fist smashed through the window.

Its grotesque face peered through the gap, grinning horribly.

- CRUMBLE!

The ceiling collapsed.

- Drip, drip.

"Ugh... ugh..."

Aiselin awoke to Derek above her.

Marble fragments caused her pain, but no fatal injuries - Derek had taken the brunt.

"D-Derek..."

"Listen carefully. The situation is dire."

Derek helped her up, locking eyes.

"Breathe deeply."

"Gasp... gasp..."

"No time for details. House Duplein faces annihilation unless we act."

"Wh-what...?"

"Valerian plans to sacrifice the nobles in a ritual to revive the Duke."

"B-Brother Valerian...?"

Countless questions swirled, but time was short.

"If necessary, you must kill him. I'll assist."

"..."

"Duplein's decline is inevitable. But we can prevent complete erasure."

If Duplein stopped Valerian themselves, they might avoid dissolution.

Reparations could mend things if no nobles died.

They'd never regain former glory - losing the Duke, manor, reputation, royal trust, and half their forces.

Neighboring nobles would pick at the carcass.

Yet Derek insisted:

"But we must avoid becoming fallen nobility."

His mentor Katia Flameheart's stories of that life haunted him.

However diminished, preserving the family line was paramount.

"Who else can take responsibility now?"

A sinking ship still needs a captain.

Derek sensed Aiselin could rebuild even from ruins.

And those helped at their lowest never forget it.

He gripped her trembling hand in the rain.

"To prove House Duplein stopped Valerian, a family member must strike the blow. You're the only one."

"D-Derek..."

"If you'll do it, I'll help."

His calm face remained unchanged.

Amid the chaos, one certainty remained - as others fled the sinking ship, Derek stood firm.

This was why noble ladies coveted him.

As Aiselin trembled, about to speak—

- CRASH!

The wall collapsed again. Derek blocked debris as Valerian appeared in ruined armor, eyes madder than ever.

Amid Diela's destroyed room, watercolor canvases soaked on the floor where the battered Aiselin sat.

The pouring rain.

Valerian had crossed the point of no return.

Everything must end here.