Chapter 108: Aiselin & Ellen (3)
B9ynqZlExplaining who Dereck Lydorf, Baron of Ravenclaw, was did not require many words.NMatxu
Y6eGpHe was a common-born mage from the suburbs, who awakened his first-class magic on the streets, without any lineage.fI09Go2
jxdmQDAfterward, he lived as a mercenary for some time and, by chance, ended up becoming a magic instructor within noble society.L8eW
VP1XINaturally, being just a mercenary mage, he did not receive much recognition, but the young noblewomen who studied magic under him began to achieve remarkable results.mxqNz
t7vrAwAs one after another made breakthroughs, rumors about the magic instructor Dereck began circulating within the social circles of Ebelstein, and over time, a competition broke out to recruit him.1QyjD
CrqsvlIt was not long before he started to build a solid reputation among the nobility.m4vi
XkrZThen, during the necromancy disaster that occurred in the Duplain family, he contributed decisively by saving the lives of many nobles. Finally, under the protection of Lord Melverot of the North, he was granted the title of baron and became a noble with his own territory.6yOpaMx
V24M8h‘Though at first glance he may seem unremarkable, his magical achievements are extraordinary.’zFU5RX4
KzVThe Count of Belmierd sat in a corner of his office, silently gazing at the pile of accumulated documents.FA8kWp
L9BLThere was much pending work since he had been dealing with matters related to Leonard.5W0SN
yal1FHis youngest son had delved into necromancy, and when the time came to cut him off with his own hands, his mind had been so filled with anguish that he could no longer continue his work.FY7aInI
8oz‘Leonard… What a tragedy… but there is no other way…’1IT7
YXV2SxLeonard’s body was already broken; there was no way to help him.j3EQY
V1KJVEven covered in blood, he had begged the Count to trust him just one more time.il0pX
2xTLWhile offering pathetic excuses and saying he could explain everything, even the last spark of compassion had vanished.Sz84UjG
ZQrHowever, the Count of Belmierd could not simply nod and say that it was all Leonard’s fault.4ZP
xNUFIt is said that a son’s fault, at its core, is the father’s fault.zHfo
keNHe had only paid attention to his heirs, Linus and Ellen, without caring for the ambitions or goals of his youngest son. For that reason, the Count of Belmierd could not be angry with Leonard.FovdI
r9jp6R4He could not say he bore no responsibility for the dark path his son had taken.DWdcIt7
3GIThus, facing his own lack of virtue, the Count of Belmierd softly closed his eyes and spoke.aPe5
gf02“Leonard. I have asked Viscountess Rodelia to at least spare your life.”0loM
9DFOL“Ah, Father…!”OJzhYg
A8d“However, I told her that nothing else matters. So, as a form of atonement, you must bear the weight of your mistake.”R9sK
6PkThe Count of Belmierd, without scolding or yelling, simply closed his eyes with serenity and informed him.KERGY1
WSNEj6NSeeing Leonard’s face turn pale again only made his heart ache even more.qRiqYZO
SRYIwZeFalling into the hands of Viscountess Rodelia was, in truth, a curse disguised as forgiveness.DjgkNbY
wBUHe had seen countless necromancers on Rodentz Island beg to be killed.lwkL8Y
28MZqLeonard screamed, but the Count of Belmierd averted his gaze and ordered his servants to take him away.f0d
08pbWith Leonard’s matter settled, it was time to move on to the next, though his heart was heavy.3qZYAV
YPnThere was much pending, but what he needed to analyze now… was none other than the shocking declaration of his beloved daughter Ellen.7NM1u
JYxIn fact, reading the reports and documents about Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw was a direct extension of that matter.gUBxeGM
pCwThe Count of Belmierd thought that Dereck was, certainly, a talented and useful man, but he was not interested beyond that. From his lofty position, he was used to occasionally seeing extraordinary people like Dereck emerge.60XMdFX
vTBsrIt was enough to think “impressive” and let it pass. However, because of Ellen’s surprising declaration, he could not simply ignore it.JBZ
cpEvcE“I… asked them to stay three more days. So… I need some time to sort out my thoughts…”eCe
KOwEllen, who always behaved as the mistress of Belmierd Mansion when handling household affairs, began to stammer and falter clumsily whenever she spoke about Dereck.rLCP
W9LXYfWThe Count of Belmierd, who had spent his entire life watching Ellen, found this side of his daughter so unfamiliar that cold sweat ran down his nose every time he saw her like that.u7h
82Kcyen“I have many things to consider, but… does it really have to be Baron Ravenclaw…?”KcY
mJBGsThe Count of Belmierd pushed all the documents on his desk aside, composed himself, and spoke.khHP
eRT56nsDereck was not a man with any glaring flaws, but Ellen, being a lady of her stature, could meet men more noble, more capable, and more handsome.8h9u8
ULh4MpjMarriage proposals arrived at the private residence and the main house in Ebelstein in such numbers that both hands could not count them, and among them were names known by all.yXe
Ns8PSUThe heart does not always follow logic, but how was it possible that a noble among nobles, who could be compared with anyone save the crown prince, insisted on Dereck?xn8
SClMoreover, he was already officially married.M5MU
eTtAccording to information gathered by the maid Briana, he was married to a commoner archer from the mercenary district of Ebelstein, and he had a family, which was not easy to deal with either.Hye5I
pxPSOk7From the Count’s perspective, who adored his daughter, he thought that the perfect and flawless Ellen could easily remove that commoner archer, but public opinion could be different.hEIiX
6aQThe flower of the Belmierd family, the lady of the house, was infatuated with a rural baron who tended vineyards on the outskirts, and moreover, a married man… No matter how prestigious the Count was, should Ellen not also consider her dignity?rlg
2P8LF8Taking all that into account, the Count of Belmierd spoke calmly.LjY
5EAqW1“Ellen. I must tell you this. Baron Ravenclaw is a good man, but there are many others just as good among the nobility of Ebelstein. Do you know Robenalt, the eldest son of the Beltus family? He is a grand duke, handsome, and has the support of his family.”ch1
k4EnZ“I heard about him from Lady Denise at the Rose Salon. But I also heard that his magical achievements are insignificant, and that he lacks manly spirit, always swayed by his servants.”6S5TO
CqyTK“Is… is that so…?”4YkUWvx
DrKU0uIn truth, Ellen, more active than anyone in social circles, knew far more about noble families.Q85ht
kDmmun0Ellen fiddled with her fingers, embarrassed, and murmured in an almost inaudible voice.rMvf
eZZ“And… Dereck is quite handsome, don’t you think…?”HTJ
CVNs“…”oSYg
Geijq2“He has a strong build for his age… and ambition… his magical achievements are excellent… he has firm convictions… and he is not rude…”AxC
F2R“…”7Ophv
wtLlB0The Count of Belmierd’s vision blurred.2dB
W2mfHe had raised two sons, but this was the first time he had raised a daughter.vg3Zcg
ke3xDSeeing this side of his daughter for the first time, he could not find a single flaw in Dereck.CCx1Np
8WnXUIt was what people call “blindness from love,” but he could not understand what had led Ellen to this, and it was baffling to him.Z3Hngt
pbIZ“He’s picky with food, which has its charm… the veins that show when he rolls up his sleeves are strangely attractive… he’s meticulous with equipment maintenance… and he stands firm even before powerful people… and…”z4d
PyINN“E-enough already… Ellen.”66Q
ROQ“…”EngP
qm0u8LRealizing she had said too much, Ellen held her breath, combed her hair back with her fingers, and gazed out at the innocent window.mzcQ
hfKRdIt seemed that making eye contact was uncomfortable, so she deliberately avoided looking at the Count.TY2b
my6N5vThe Count of Belmierd rubbed his temples, lost in thought.3kpro
tTeKB4For his beloved daughter Ellen, he would be willing to pull down the stars from the sky, but conquering Baron Ravenclaw was not an easy task.Jhg
Yw2x1xuHe was a man whom even the Duplain family, in its days of glory, had given up on. A man with a deep thirst for freedom, who would leave without hesitation if his environment interfered with his magical achievements.Rxab
y2WAnd more importantly, whether Dereck felt anything for Ellen was another matter.zNuZEjw
PIC1Of course, from the Count’s perspective, Ellen was an angel fallen from the heavens, and even if all the beauties of the world were gathered, they would only be ugly women in comparison… Naturally, this was only from his perspective.YD3L9r
5MlQ9jIn any case, because of his profession, Baron Ravenclaw would have had many opportunities to meet noble ladies, so there must have been a reason why he had married a mercenary from Ebelstein.f2ItOCb
WayknPfIf his ideal type was a simple and strong person, then Ellen was the complete opposite. More than a wise and virtuous wife, she was like a noble saint, and more than a resilient housewife, she was a trustworthy ruler.amk4V
8IIAnd above all, if Ellen, who always had to be at the center of attention, paired with Dereck, it seemed she would end up being dragged along by him.2Vt8uj
EgZOf course, to be honest, all of this was nothing but excuses.gSBL79M
W6PpGW‘No matter how good a man he is… it is a waste to give Ellen away! Ellen is the treasure I have protected all my life…!’dJVF6Y
SBSH3Y1As happens to many fathers with daughters, the Count of Belmierd had to hold back tears of blood.DqK9n
Ni0g7HzBut seeing Ellen fidget timidly, his heart softened once again, realizing that being a father was not easy.H8Ub0Kr
RblD‘Yes… I know instinctively. No matter what, in the end, I will do as Ellen wishes.’16rh6oc
TCD7GThe Count of Belmierd let out a deep sigh.EFSJl2
TpBFEllen, who had always tried to meet his expectations, almost never asked him for anything. Before such a request, his heart could not resist.eMCjQx
SO1dpaBaron Ravenclaw. Conquering him was not easy, but he had to devise a plan.dx4W
nGKV“Very well, Ellen. The human heart does not always move by gain or loss.”dl80
tusK8N“Father…!”ZZl0v
X4X“But, as I said, Baron Ravenclaw is like a lone wolf, difficult to bind to the forces of others. Even so, it is not impossible to persuade him. I will do what I can.”jhMe6
lKKSaying that, the Count of Belmierd rose from his desk.pceQ
UEqHs“For now, try to keep Baron Ravenclaw in the mansion as long as possible, and think about how to convince him during that time.”NBu8vUH
h49Seeing Ellen’s face light up again, the Count’s heart softened once more.oiE2
4W9q5tlThe wound of having lost Leonard still hurt, but at least he could be grateful that Ellen was safe.aVhl0
c4sJust as the Count of Belmierd began to devise a plan.Qjhv3j
XbR8“An important guest has arrived at the main gate of the mansion.”8jtTM
0Nq“An important guest? Who could it be at this time?”ZHlM
H0mm“Well…”jb723ks
TAVGThe servant, bowing with courtesy, replied.sfmE0
XTq9“Lady Aiselin of the Duplain family has come personally.”hVHjNJ
bt7aM***kGdbCLS
MwCEllen was slightly surprised to see Aiselin.0M7J
7xql6tAt the Rose Hall, she had still been dressed in a beautiful gown and carried herself like a noble lady, but while helping with the work at Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion, she had become a completely different person.WxUjP4
Zco8shJShe still wore a pretty frilled dress, but without unnecessary decorations and with the sleeves rolled up, she looked a little more active.0Gyq
V44Even so, Aiselin was still Aiselin, and her characteristic noble elegance had not disappeared, but she certainly felt different from before.4kky
CSXICJThe most remarkable thing was that she had not come by carriage, but on horseback, with a leather backpack tied to the saddle and on her back.FUp8y
LJaTRDXThe image of her carrying a leather backpack on top of an elegant frilled dress was indescribable. It was like watching a princess plowing the fields… a strange sight.nON
fMs“Oh, Lady Aiselin?”QfMre
NHs“Oh, Lady Ellen! It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other! I haven’t been able to attend the recent gatherings at the Rose Salon, so I haven’t seen you much, and it’s really sad!”P0PBt
E501dCSeeing her smile so gracefully and speak so elegantly, it was clear this girl was indeed Aiselin.vthVOYi
roEHowever, Aiselin, who had dismounted with a slight groan, set her leather backpack on the ground and wiped her sweat.kDl6X
GnfcThe servants of Belmierd Mansion who saw this were shocked and ran out to take her luggage.b7u
3EHqAiselin handed them the luggage and greeted them with a radiant smile.qG3f
5RYOVK“Thank you. The servants of Belmierd Mansion are very kind.”GGPT9
SOFWith that said, Aiselin handed over the rest of the luggage tied to the saddle.GoLZ
51hiH1TInside were basic items and a leather blanket used during the trip. It must have been her first time traveling such a long distance on horseback, but she had completed the journey without major problems.bTwF4d
piwtbmA noble lady traveling without a carriage was unheard of.cony9
D8wcux7While Ellen looked at her with a surprised expression, Aiselin laughed awkwardly.PWX
BaE9T“I did not expect Lady Aiselin to come all the way to Belmierd Mansion. If you had sent a letter in advance, I would have sent a carriage.”qIe0
zy3QZ8“Oh, just hearing you say that makes me feel so apologetic and grateful. But it was an urgent matter, so I couldn’t.”j8jbLF
uBw8e2d“Urgent? Has something happened?”YrNR
R8mpbiw“Actually, I’ve been staying at Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion, doing various things.”DaX0Akq
awRnnDtEllen knew that Aiselin often visited Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion because of matters regarding the training center.W0lW
5mxLiHowever, she had not thought Aiselin was doing anything beyond that, so she tilted her head in confusion.OdF6Cr
0nf“Doing things? How can a noble lady of the Duplain family be at a baron’s mansion in the outskirts…?”n1mb3I6
y8j“Oh, well, if I went around saying things like this, it would affect the family’s prestige… Lady Ellen, could you please keep this a secret?”cdI68K
0nzgopZ“Oh, that is not difficult… but, doing things?”uKtPWJg
LZZRsL“Well, the family is going through a difficult time these days, so I’ve been studying a lot. While helping at Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion, I’ve been practicing and applying what I’ve learned. It’s quite fun.”WsNBq6M
X6tThe expression on Aiselin’s face as she said this was so bright and refreshing that it was hard to believe she was a fallen noble carrying her family’s crisis on her shoulders.ktfms
f8t“I’ve been doing practical work like financial and personnel management within the mansion… taking care of the servants… overseeing major projects related to the training center business… and also keeping an eye on the Rose Salon… attending social events… these days, even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough for me. Hahaha.”CcHC8
iIVb1QW“S-so much…?”7MSRzE1
wzxEjjEllen looked at Aiselin with wide eyes.Dq2YY
U1DcWbNo matter how it was, going to another noble family’s house and overseeing their internal affairs… wasn’t that practically like being the lady of the house?8bOU4S
HbVwQfxEven though there was a proper baroness named Pheline, seeing her move freely through the mansion almost made it seem like she was becoming the true power behind the Ravenclaw Barony.G1Ax
JxruiAt times, it seemed her intention was to swallow the entire barony, but when she sought Dereck’s approval for important matters, she gave off a different impression.l7r
RiC“Lately, Sir Dereck has been very busy, so he hasn’t been able to give final approval for the matters being developed in the Ravenclaw Barony. There are quite a few things that could be resolved with just his confirmation… but waiting indefinitely is not an option, so I came first.”NRHl
wPsgNo matter how it was, a duke’s daughter traveling to a rural area just to obtain work approval was something for which no law existed.r8jrLwd
jL0p8EAiselin, however, seemed completely unconcerned with such matters of authority, and smiled boldly.lXUy
ji9I59Watching her, a strange sense of crisis began to grow within Ellen.LFX31d
G6mbPgAt least Pheline did not see Dereck as a man at all. If she were asked to give up her position as baroness, she would gladly do so, cheerfully humming as she returned to Ebelstein.2SDbj
u9zpLzNBut with Aiselin, things were a little more complicated.EPCe
Mpfgo3“I-I see. So, the reason Lady Aiselin brought her precious self all the way to Belmierd Mansion is…”CukX
CcOSQn9“Yes! I need to take Sir Dereck with me!”3tu3XB
q8Ze0QAiselin replied enthusiastically.3Qk5v
DXMtqDSHearing that, Ellen’s face stiffened for a moment.McMpNSD
hSl5oZ“Hmm… suddenly I feel a chill on my back…”IJ0riCp
VcLqEDereck, who was sitting in the guest room of the mansion, reading a magic book, shuddered for a moment.QgByBVD
21FpSoon after, he put down the magic book he had borrowed from the Belmierd Mansion library and sighed deeply.eSal4
0qMkX4‘As expected, unlike the Duplain family, there are no suitable high-level magic books here in Belmierd.’YqnDSr
YrtSgyIn fact, from the 4-star level onward, there were limits to what could be learned from magic books. Finding a good teacher was the most efficient method.iSWn
cXQ73Dereck crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.47PI
NpyFo5fDereck’s magical achievements, which had soared like a rocket, now seemed to have entered a slight stage of stagnation.kwha
OlRIn fact, it was a barrier that every mage faced at least once. And now it had arrived for Dereck.VYG
RjQHe was thinking about how to wisely overcome that obstacle.IxX9x
EeuHe had learned 1-star magic from a shabby old man in the slums.sH453
WdXd2-star magic, from a fallen noble girl of the Flameheart family.jOoK
xaGE3-star magic, from an old archmage wandering aimlessly through the world.egHKBWI
oaTVSo then, where could he find someone to teach him 4-star magic?XCZB5XI
cwonSDereck, who was considered a teacher by countless mages, could now find no teacher for himself.RuxhyIv
nMbuGHsIt was a problem tied to the fate of those born with extraordinary talent.gtZX1k
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!