Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 94

"I didn't expect you to reject the request so decisively. I thought you'd accept most commissions as long as the compensation was reasonable?"

"Not necessarily. I refuse requests that don't seem right."

Derek had turned down Trisha's commission.

Though it should have been quite offensive, Trisha left without protest since even she couldn't deny the inherent danger in her request.

"Well, thoughtlessly accepting any request would only lead to trouble you can't handle."

"Exactly. Discerning which commissions to take is one of a mercenary's most important qualities."

As dusk began to fall, Sirine slipped away into a beautifully arranged private room in a secluded corner of the baronial estate.

Elente seemed quite surprised that a separate room had been prepared exclusively for Sirine's use whenever she wished, tilting her head as she followed Derek toward the main hall.

"Does Lady Sirine stay here often?"

"The Rochester family has purchased a separate mansion in the noble district. But since she visits frequently for magic training, we prepared a dedicated room."

"...With Duke Rochester's permission...?"

"Of course. The baronial title itself was granted to elevate my status so I could better assist Lady Sirine. Having received so much from Lord Melberot, I must ensure Lady Sirine experiences no inconveniences."

Derek flexed his arm as he headed toward the training grounds.

Between managing the barony, teaching, and receiving visitors, he had no free time—yet never neglected his magic training.

'The more I see, the more mysterious he becomes. Though we're close in age, he carries himself like someone who's lived multiple lifetimes.'

Elente stroked her chin before speaking.

"Still, sending an unmarried noble daughter alone to a young baron's estate... Duke Rochester must have extraordinary trust in you, Derek."

"...May I ask what you mean by that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Truthfully, Elente had noticed something unusual in Aiselin's gaze toward Derek.

Setting aside whether it was romantic, developing sudden ambiguous feelings for such a remarkable man wasn't particularly strange.

"Lady Denise mentioned... that wife of yours, Pellin, is just a figurehead brought in for the title."

"Correct. She has no interest in noble life, content with mercenary work and saving money. She's probably drinking at Beldern's Tear right now."

Having met Pellin several times, Elente already knew.

A typical mercenary who laughed boisterously, downed drinks, then collapsed drunk—clearly someone with no aspirations for social climbing, making her the perfect figurehead wife.

"Still... as a man yourself, don't you have any romantic notions about fateful encounters or protective instincts toward a companion? Given your profession, you're surrounded by women."

"...Would there ever be reason to see Lady Sirine in that light?"

Anyone who'd witnessed Sirine's fury shared the same impression:

Drop your guard and die.

Though some might mistake their pounding hearts in her murderous aura for affection, Derek certainly didn't.

"...Hard to argue with that."

"No need for concern. I'm not so reckless as to blur professional boundaries. Even if I met a woman who felt fated, I'd maintain proper decorum where required."

"Right. Coming from you, that's reassuring... though..."

Despite Aiselin's obvious interest during their northern expedition, Derek hadn't crossed any lines.

In a noble circle full of troublemakers and libertines, someone as upright as Derek was rare.

He was simply a passionate mage wholly devoted to magic.

'Still... casually touching the hair of the most renowned northern noblewoman or holding hands without a second thought seems dangerously reckless.'

Regardless of Derek's integrity, who knew what emotions might stir in Sirine going through adolescence?

As the saying goes, one doesn't notice getting drenched in a light rain. The most comfortable presence could be the most dangerous.

To prevent unnecessary scandals in Evelstein's noble circles, Elente glanced worriedly toward Sirine's room.

"You know I'm harmless, don't you, Lady Elente?"

"Hmm... true. Only at Ravenclaw Barony could I relax like this without adornments."

Elente smiled faintly, touching her bare hair.

Normally laden with jewels and floral ornaments, its current emptiness felt unnatural—for noble ladies, accessories were like body parts.

"Well, today's magic lesson was productive. I should return to Belmierd Manor. The distance makes frequent visits difficult."

"Meeting in Evelstein would be ideal, but as you see, I'm too busy to visit the noble district often. It's quite a distance too."

"Understandable. Speaking of which, doesn't Lady Sirine receive etiquette lessons from Lady Aiselin? She must be busy shuttling between places... exhausting..."

Aiselin's mansion was in Evelstein's noble district, while Ravenclaw Barony lay on the frontier—an impractical commute. Alternatives were needed.

"We prepared a solution when the Duplein ladies last visited."

"Oh?"

"We set aside a room for Lady Aiselin to stay in."

"..."

Elente's expression stiffened again.

The solution seemed... questionable.

"With the Duplein family's declining status in Evelstein's noble circles, Lady Aiselin will have more free time. She plans to periodically visit the barony to teach Lady Sirine."

"Is... that really appropriate?"

"It's the most efficient approach. Why else would Duke Rochester arrange this estate? For Lady Sirine's convenience."

"But first Lady Sirine, now Lady Aiselin too...?"

Since when could a backwater barony host two of high society's most prominent ladies?

Lower nobles scrambling for a single audience would gape at this spectacle.

"They're here for lessons—nothing problematic."

"Lady Aiselin is quite diligent..."

"The Rochester family provides generous compensation. Lady Aiselin can't refuse given her financial needs."

"Money... yes, money matters..."

Derek pressed his arm against the training ground wall, checking his mana flow.

"Since Lady Aiselin is teaching anyway, we're accepting additional students interested in etiquette. As high society's former queen, her lessons will be in high demand."

"You arranged that?"

"Yes. If she's teaching at the barony anyway, why not more students? From lower frontier nobles to higher status ones... many debutantes will come. Should be profitable."

Though Derek had no grand plans, he'd set this up to help Aiselin's strained finances.

"I owe Lady Aiselin much, so I wanted to assist."

"..."

"Might as well provide a proper classroom in an unused spacious room. Some blackboards, desks, and writing materials would help too."

"More thorough than I expected."

"Hardly burdensome. The staff handles most of it."

Derek continued while inspecting his staff.

"If any visiting nobles show magical aptitude, I might offer guidance. Good for networking and possibly magical research."

"Sound reasoning... but Derek..."

Elente hesitated before sweating nervously.

"This is... still Ravenclaw Barony's administrative estate, right?"

"Huh? Obviously? Why ask?"

"...Never mind. Probably nothing."

Elente shook her head.

Though Ravenclaw Barony's purpose seemed to be warping strangely... it wasn't necessarily bad.

"Few would visit this frontier barony regardless. No need to overprepare."

Derek seemed relieved.

The following week.

Seventeen noble ladies descended upon Ravenclaw Barony in a single day.

"...."

- Murmurs

- Chatter

- Crash! Bang!

"We're out of Glenford Mountain tea! Any alternatives for guests?"

"Lady Sidmer is arriving at the gates!"

"No more carriage space inside! With apologies... have them park outside the walls!"

"Emergency! Guest cookies are depleted! Should we arrange immediate delivery?!"

"Clear the second-floor outer bedrooms! Humble but usable as waiting rooms!"

Servants and attendants scurried frantically to accommodate the noble guests—each accompanied by entourages of three to over a dozen.

Impossible numbers for a modest frontier barony to host properly.

- Crash! Bang!

"Eek!"

"Careful! Stay composed!"

"My apologies, Head Butler!"

"Miss Rodman, assist the kitchen! Mr. Clayes, guide new arrivals to the garden!"

Watching the chaos, Derek—who never flinched against hordes of monsters—was drenched in cold sweat.

"My, Derek. You've gone completely pale. Never thought I'd see the day. Haha."

Lady Denise of House Beltus emerged from the crowd, greeting him cheerfully.

Normally too lazy to leave her mansion, she'd visited Ravenclaw Barony at dawn for some reason.

"Or should I say Baron Derek? Managing an academy of this scale makes you quite influential."

"...Academy?"

"Haven't you heard? Rumors spread through Elfontaine Hall about you founding an academy here. They say Lady Aiselin herself will teach etiquette?"

Keeping her voice low to avoid eavesdroppers, Denise maintained her dignified facade.

-'Look... Lady Denise came personally.'

-'Someone we can barely approach at Rosea Salon... here of all places...'

All eyes were on them regardless.

"Too many spectators... shall we talk inside?...No, you're clearly swamped with academy preparations."

"A-academy? I never planned such a thing."

"Hmm... just rumors then. Knowing you, it did seem unlikely."

Denise smiled elegantly.

To distant observers, they appeared to be exchanging refined noble pleasantries—though the actual conversation was far more casual.

"But whether it's just rumors depends not on you, Derek."

"..."

"I spotted Ladies from House Lordtech and House Bleton on my way in. They came all the way from the southeastern continent... with this turnout, will you really send everyone away?"

"...This many visiting a frontier barony seems excessive..."

"My dear Derek, you lack self-awareness."

Denise chuckled behind her decorative fan.

"Prodigies hyper-focused on their interests often underestimate their own reputation. Quite common."

"...Meaning?"

"You know how scarce proper magic instructors are for lower nobles. Like plucking stars from the sky."

"..."

"Add etiquette lessons from high society's former queen... what noble family with debutante daughters wouldn't come running?"

Derek couldn't have anticipated the struggles of frontier nobles.

The result—this hall packed with noble ladies and their entourages, some from across the continent.

The exhausted servants made Derek resolve to double their wages.

"Still... we can't possibly accommodate so many. The estate's too small, and... Lady Aiselin would be overwhelmed."

"If you say so. Quite entertaining regardless. Do your best."

With that whisper, Denise snapped her fan shut and turned dramatically—a performance for onlookers.

"A pleasure seeing you again, Baron Derek. Do visit Evelstein for magic lessons~. I'll make time~."

She flashed Derek a sly smile.

A young baron of a fledgling house receiving such courtesy from one of Rosea Salon's most influential ladies was an immense political boon—whether intended or not.

- Murmurs

"The reception room is this way! Please proceed in order!"

"Move slowly, please!"

The servants'desperate cries echoed as Denise slipped away through the crowd.

'Overextending helps no one. Lady Aiselin couldn't have expected this scale.'

Straightening his clothes, Derek hurried inside.

Aiselin would emerge soon—they needed to strategize.

As Derek strode down the corridor, Aiselin appeared from the innermost room in a beautiful dress.

"Lady Aiselin. You've seen the situation?"

Derek quickly approached.

Having heard from the servants, Aiselin swallowed dryly before responding.

"Y-yes... About twenty noble ladies... have arrived..."

"More may come. This many would overwhelm you, so we should—"

"Derek."

Before he could finish, Aiselin firmly grasped his hands.

Her soft hands enveloping his rough ones, she stared wide-eyed and spoke urgently:

"—H-how much should we charge per student?!"

"......."

"Ugh... hehe... *gasp*... S-saliva... how undignified... forgive me..."

One easily forgot—behind her graceful facade, Aiselin had awakened to financial pragmatism since her family's decline.

In short, she'd become an excellent miser.

"C-can you handle this?"

"I must! When would such an opportunity come again?!"

"..."

"I'm trembling... if each lady pays in Ropellon gold coins... how much would that be...?"

'Dear gods...'

Aiselin's eyes shone with gold coins.

She hadn't shown this much determination even during the Duplein family's honor duel.

Derek composed himself—having started this, he had to see it through.

Like it or not, he now ran an academy.