Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 91

Derek had been so obsessed with obtaining the baronial title for one reason: to focus on his magic training without interference.

However, becoming a titled noble was far from being a simple matter of receiving the honor and calling it a day.

Having been granted taxation and judicial authority by the emperor, he now had minimum obligations to his territory's people—and fulfilling those required a certain level of authority, which didn't come automatically.

Only after resolving all the cascading issues and ensuring smooth operations could he finally concentrate on magic training.

"Ah, my lord Baron. The construction is nearly finished—just need to install the nameplate now. The furniture was prepared by Lorenheil Carpentry, so payment should be directed there. For the garden, I'd recommend hiring a dedicated gardener."

"You've worked hard. Can I make the payment through the labor office?"

"Oh, no need for formalities with me. I'm hardly of a status to receive honorifics from nobility."

The foreman supervising the construction waved his hands as if shooing away the excessive politeness. Hearing this, it finally sank in—Derek was now officially a noble.

"Hmm..."

Derek nodded while surveying the significantly improved mansion.

"Seems like everyone in the tavern district knows your name now. Well, a commoner dabbling in magic, bending nobles to his will, and even receiving a title... You've practically become the commoners'hero."

Even Drest Wolftail, who had mastered detection magic, had to spend most of his life just to obtain a hollow baronial title.

Considering that, Derek's current treatment was undeniably extraordinary—no further explanation needed.

Of course, Drest had the baggage of having once obliterated an entire noble house, making his circumstances quite different from Derek's... but regardless, Derek's achievement remained exceptional.

Evelstain, Commercial District.

Vibrant commoners bustled through the streets as usual, scraping together their daily bread.

Pellin, arms crossed, trailed behind Derek as he strode confidently through the crowd.

"Now you can train in that magic you love to death to your heart's content."

"Did you see the mansion renovations, Pellin? Turned out pretty decent. I set aside a room for you—feel free to use it whenever."

"Hmm... Evelstain's too far for it to be a practical base, but... having a place to stash my stuff sounds nice. I'll check it out later."

After briefly inspecting Ravenclaw Barony, Derek had ridden back to Evelstain in a day.

There were relocation preparations to handle, but more pressing matters demanded attention first.

"Owning a mansion doesn't make you a proper noble. You'll need servants, retainers you can trust, and you'll have to deal with local gentry throwing their weight around... Lots to worry about, huh, Derek?"

"Already sorted it out. Dragging things out isn't my style—I'll wrap it up quickly."

"How? Hiring reliable people is supposedly nobles'biggest headache... Not something easily solved, right?"

Derek crossed his arms, pondered briefly, then brushed it off.

"True."

Even for Derek, who could devise solutions in any situation, some problems couldn't be resolved overnight.

Pellin figured even he'd have to endure some headaches here—then promptly shifted her thoughts to preparing for tomorrow's extermination request.

The next morning, Derek sent a letter to the Rochester Ducal Manor in the north.

He formally thanked them for their trust in supporting his barony and mentioned he was hiring a head butler—recommending Delbritton, a deputy butler from House Rochester.

After all, the barony had been granted partly to facilitate Siern's magical education.

With Lady Siern frequently visiting Ravenclaw Manor, Melberot would naturally want someone familiar with her managing the household.

"Delbritton, at your service. It's an honor to serve you, Lord Ravenclaw."

"Right."

Thus, Derek acquired a veteran butler with over a decade of experience at Rochester Manor.

Though effectively a demotion, Delbritton showed no discontent.

The balding old butler seemed dissatisfied with the stagnant environment of the northern stronghold and welcomed the change.

Managing a frontier barony from scratch, with a lord backed by influential houses, offered better long-term prospects.

Impeccably dressed in his butler's attire, he reported to Derek immediately upon arrival.

"We don't need many staff to start. Though Ravenclaw Manor may expand later, for now, we should build a solid foundation with minimal personnel."

"How many would that require?"

"One chef doubling as kitchen master, three general servants, a groom doubling as gardener, and three or four guards/squires should suffice for smooth operations at this scale."

Delbritton adjusted his golden monocle while surveying the near-empty mansion, its renovations just completed.

"The Rochester Ducal Manor has covered initial furnishings and first-year maintenance costs."

"...I should send them some of this year's finest wines."

"His Grace would appreciate that, though I suspect he'd value seeing Lady Siern adapt to noble society even more."

Given Melberot's personality, he'd never openly express such satisfaction—likely just sitting arrogantly in his study as usual, chin propped, gazing out the window.

"I can recruit the chef myself. Know a skilled one currently available from Tupel in the southeastern granary region."

"Trustworthy?"

"Yes. Discreet and experienced. Though his wages are... substantial."

"Hire him. I'll handle recruiting servants and maids. You find squires and guards—but leave a couple positions open."

Derek still wore mercenary attire.

Now officially a baron, he had no intention of quitting mercenary work or tutoring. After finishing estate matters today, he'd return to Evelstain.

Sitting on a lone wooden chair in the empty lobby, Derek tied his bootlaces while Delbritton stood at attention.

"You have specific candidates in mind?"

"For maids, I'll recruit volunteers from Evelstain's noble district—should get a few. Guards will be hired from locals."

Derek showed surprising savvy here.

Years of mercenary work had taught him how to attract capable people.

"Rodellen's local power players are mostly vineyard owners or outskirt farmers. Taking in a couple of their kids as servants will strengthen our negotiating position. Nothing binds like blood ties."

Derek had no intention of squeezing taxes dry.

Reasonable concessions would naturally win the locals'loyalty.

Rodellen comprised one sizable village of about 300, a couple smaller hamlets of fifty each, and scattered farmsteads—totaling just over 500 residents.

No need for excessive power plays when their allegiance could be secured through mutual respect.

Derek finished adjusting his attire and began polishing his sword with a cloth.

"Sent letters to Houses Belmiere and Beltus requesting servant/squire recommendations if they have spares."

"..."

Delbritton felt dissonance hearing Derek casually name-drop Evelstain's most prestigious houses.

But for Derek—who corresponded freely with Elente and Denise—this was routine.

'Heard he had powerful backers, but seeing it firsthand is something else.'

Delbritton mused silently.

As a newly minted baron with barely any retainers beyond Delbritton himself, Derek should've been an undesirable employer for experienced personnel.

Yet Delbritton sensed opportunity.

Derek was no ordinary frontier baron destined to oversee vineyards—not with his magic skills and influential connections.

Becoming his earliest retainer could prove invaluable.

"Your instructions will be followed precisely."

Polishing his monocle, Delbritton bowed in acquiescence.

'H-how did everything fall into place so smoothly?!'

Diela couldn't help but be astonished upon arriving at Ravenclaw Manor.

After her crushing defeat against Pellin, she'd moved through life like a zombie before finally deciding—half a month later—to visit Derek's new estate.

For House Duplein, visiting some backwater barony was no grand affair.

The preparations took little time, but seeing it in person drove home Derek's new status.

"...Less than a month since receiving the title, yet the household's already organized. Then again, tutoring noble families would've given him insight into estate management..."

Aiselin, seated opposite in the carriage, eyed the manor with surprise.

Compared to influential noble houses, the manor itself was modest—almost austere.

Yet the servants awaiting the Duplein ladies at the gates were impeccably disciplined.

"Delbritton, head butler of House Ravenclaw. We're honored by your visit, ladies of House Duplein."

As the elderly butler greeted them, his accompanying squires bowed in unison.

Their polished manners despite the household's recent establishment spoke volumes about the butler's competence.

"Apologies for the sudden visit."

For a frontier barony, receiving duchesses unannounced was thunderous news.

Diela's insistence had forced Aiselin to accompany her, undoubtedly inconveniencing the staff.

"Not at all. Though our staff is small, we're adequately prepared to host distinguished guests. Please don't trouble yourself."

"Really? I heard Ravenclaw Manor's only been operational for under two weeks... How did you prepare so quickly?"

"Indeed. We've already hosted several distinguished visitors."

Adjusting his monocle, the butler continued politely:

"Lady Elente of House Belmiere visited last week with gifts. Lady Denise of House Beltus also paid a call."

"..."

"Lady Siern of House Rochester visits frequently—she stays quite long for magic lessons."

Diela stared blankly at the servants.

Their exceptional efficiency made sense now.

Though technically an exile's estate, constant visits by elite noblewomen kept them perpetually on their toes.

While lesser nobles schemed desperately to invite influential heirs, Derek's manor attracted them effortlessly—likely sparking envy in Rosea Salon's lower nobility.

"D-do the other ladies also learn magic?"

"Hard to say. The Baron currently focuses on Lady Siern's education, so he hasn't officially accepted other tutoring positions. Though I've heard he advises on basic mana usage and star rank systems."

So Denise and Elente were still trying to recruit him.

Competent magic tutors remained perpetually scarce.

The Duplein sisters had been too busy with family affairs to act sooner.

'...At this point, isn't this less a noble house and more... a magic academy?'

The thought crossed her mind, though Derek might disagree.

"Given how much we've received from noble houses, the Baron strives to reciprocate through magic assistance. You might consider requesting his guidance too."

"R-really? Where is Derek now?"

Delbritton cleared his throat before answering:

"Teaching Lady Siern magic."

This was definitely a private magic academy.

Though perplexed, Aiselin and Diela resolved to assess the situation after seeing Derek.