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Noble Lady Reformation Guide Chapter 111: The Beginning (2)

Chapter 111: The Beginning (2)

Fina​ was a 6-star‌ necromancer, a figure⁠⁠ Dereck already knew‍ even before arriving​ in this world⁠ full of magic.⁠‍

Even‌ someone like him,⁠ who had little‍ interest in typical‍‌ game scenarios, could⁠ not avoid hearing​ about Fina. The⁠⁠⁠ waves and influence⁠ she would cause‍ worldwide in the​‍​ future were impossible​‌​ to ignore.

There​ were only a handful of 6-star‍‍ mages, and among​⁠ them, she was​⁠ a master of‍ forbidden necromancy.

She​‌ dealt with vengeful‍ spirits and corpses,‍⁠ stepping into the‌‌ forbidden realm without​⁠ hesitation, and was‌​ the queen among​‍⁠ piles of bodies,​ smiling with sinister​ satisfaction in the‍​ midst of massacre‍‍⁠ and ecstasy.

She⁠⁠ could not be‍ killed.

Having⁠‍​ already manifested the‌ 6-star necromancy “Mark​⁠‌ of Reincarnation,” even⁠⁠ if she lost‌ her body, she​​ would be reborn⁠​​ as a descendant‍⁠‍ of another noble​‍‍ family, keeping her⁠ soul intact.

No‍​‌ one knew how‌‍‌ many years she‍‌‌ had lived, since‍⁠‍ she had repeated‍‍⁠ the cycle of‍ beginning life anew‍‍‍ equipped with all‌ her memories, experiences,‌ and magical talents.‌‍

‘Contacting‌⁠ Lady Rodelia doesn’t‍ seem like a very good idea⁠ either.’

After⁠‌​ asking Aiselin for​‌ understanding, Dereck was‌‌ left alone in‍ his office, lost‍ in thought, with​‌ a more serious‍⁠⁠ expression than usual.‍

He‍ was a hero⁠​ who had sworn​ to send a letter if he‌ found any clue‌‍‍ about the 6-star‌⁠ necromancer, promising to‍ risk everything to‌⁠​ kill her.

She‍‌⁠ was a reliable​ figure, yes… but​⁠ in reality, she‍⁠‌ would not be​‍ of much help⁠ at this moment.‍​

Even​‍ if he summoned​‌ her, he could⁠‍‌ not prove that‌⁠​ Fina was the‌⁠‍ necromancer, and even‍⁠⁠ if he could,‌‍ killing her would​ not be a wise decision.

Rather,‌‌ if he managed‌ to confirm that⁠​⁠ Fina was the‌⁠‍ necromancer, but she​ used reincarnation magic​ to hide her‌‍ identity again, he⁠​ would not even‌‌‍ be able to⁠‌‍ track her.

No,⁠⁠‌ it was not​‌ even clear if‌‍ he would be​ able to kill‌​ her in the‌ first place.

Dereck​ leaned back in⁠⁠ his chair and​ ran a hand⁠‍‌ over his face.‍⁠

Anyway,‍​⁠ if he left⁠‌⁠ her alone, Fina‍ would disappear on‌ her own to​ hide, or she⁠‌‌ would be sealed‌⁠ by Drest or⁠‌‌ Melverot and buried‍⁠‍ underground in the​‌ capital.

There⁠ was no need‍‍‍ to provoke her,​‌​ but he could‍​​ not allow a legendary necromancer to‌​ wander freely through⁠‌⁠ the Ravenclaw Barony⁠ either. Considering what⁠​​ happened in the​⁠​ Duplain family, he‌​‌ could not take‌⁠ it lightly.

From⁠‍⁠ the beginning, why‍⁠ would that legendary‌‌ necromancer, who had⁠‍⁠ already reached the‍⁠​ peak of magic,​‍ come to a simple training center?​‍​

He‌ could not understand​⁠‌ it, but it‍ was not hard​‍⁠ to guess the‍⁠ reason.

‘Perhaps‌‍​ her main family‌​ is preparing her​ social debut. From​​‌ her position of‍‍‍ hiding her identity,‌ she could not⁠​ openly refuse.’

If‍‍​ the head of‍ the Tigris family‍ decided to send‍⁠ her, she would⁠⁠‌ have no choice‌‍ but to act‍​ according to instructions‍ while concealing her⁠ identity.

That‌⁠ was how she​ ended up attending‌ a training center‍ she never intended‍​⁠ to go to.⁠⁠⁠

He‌ did not know‍ how to interpret​ this ironic situation,⁠⁠‍ but the priority​ was to calmly​⁠⁠ establish a countermeasure.⁠

‘Trying‍​ to solve it⁠‌‍ by force would‌ be a stupid‍​⁠ idea.’

She⁠​‌ was an opponent⁠‍‌ against whom even​‌ Melverot, the ruler​​‍ of the north,⁠ would have to⁠‍⁠ risk his life.​‌​

Therefore,​⁠ there was no‌ choice but to​⁠ confront it in​​⁠ another way.

The‌‍⁠ fortunate thing was‍‌ that he knew⁠‍‍ a little about​⁠ her situation.

Fina’s‍‍ ultimate goal was​ to perfect advanced‍⁠‌ necromancy and resurrect⁠⁠‌ the six-star mage‍‍ Kalimford.

Until​‍​ she achieved that​‍ goal, she would​‍ conceal her identity​ and infiltrate noble‍​⁠ society, pretending to​‌ be a proper​ lady.

If⁠‌‍ she were cornered,​‌‌ she would reveal‍‌ her true nature,​ but at least​⁠ she would not‌​ want to provoke⁠⁠⁠ unnecessary friction.

After⁠⁠ all, she was⁠ attending the Ravenclaw⁠ Training Center by‌‍ her family’s orders,‍​ so she probably⁠⁠‌ did not want‍‍ to attend a place where such‌​ basic magic was‍​ taught.

Therefore,‍‍‍ the conclusion was‌‍‌ quite clear.

Regardless⁠ of physical strength,‌​⁠ Dereck had far⁠ more social authority.‍‍‌

Dereck‌‌ was the head​​ of a noble‌ house, and she‌‌ was only a lively lady from⁠⁠ a rural family.​⁠​

Dereck⁠​​ was the director⁠‍ of the Ravenclaw‍ Training Center, and⁠‍​ she was only‌ a student seeking‍⁠ to learn.

Dereck‌​​ was a recognized‍‌ instructor in Ebelstein’s‌‌‌ social circle, and‌‍‍ she was only​‍‍ a girl who‍​‍ had not even‌‌⁠ debuted in society.‍​⁠

So.‍​

He‍ would subdue her​​‍ with social authority.‌⁠⁠

Dereck‍​ adopted a terrifying‌ expression.

Clasping​‌‍ his fists together‍‌ and resting his‌​ nose on them,‍​​ he stared into⁠ the dimly lit‍⁠ room.

“I’ll⁠⁠ find a pretext‌​ to expel her.”⁠

At​ the very least,‌​‌ he had to⁠​ protect the Ravenclaw⁠‌ Barony.

His‍ determination burned strongly.⁠

***⁠

When‌ the day of⁠ the inauguration of⁠ the Ravenclaw Training‍ Center arrived, the​‌ barony’s servants began​⁠⁠ moving busily from‍​‌ early morning.

Just⁠​ today, more than‌‌ thirty distinguished guests‍​‍ would visit the‍ barony.

Each‍ of them had⁠​ grown up as‌⁠ queens in their‍⁠‌ respective territories, so⁠‌‍ there could be​⁠‌ no mistakes in‌‌⁠ their reception.

Moreover,‍⁠ they would not​ stay only one⁠‍ or two days;​⁠‍ most would live⁠​‌ in the large‌ dormitory building located⁠⁠ beside the mansion.⁠‌‌

Many‍​ brought their own‌ personal servants or​⁠‌ assistants, but additional‌ staff still needed‍⁠⁠ to be assigned⁠‌ to each group.⁠​‍

As⁠​‍ a result, the⁠ number of servants‌⁠ under Butler Delbriton’s‍ command had exceeded‌ fifty.

‘I‌‌ thought I had​‍ joined a promising‌‌‍ mansion as butler,‌ but I didn’t‍ expect it to⁠​⁠ grow so much‌ and so fast…’‍​‍

Butler​‍⁠ Delbriton was polishing‍⁠ the golden chain‌‌ of his monocle.‍​​

As​​ the sun began‍‌⁠ to rise, he‍​‌ felt a strange​⁠‍ emptiness while standing​‍‍ in the garden,​‌ accompanied by birdsong.‌​

That⁠‍ place, where once‌⁠ there had only‌ been a small⁠​ mansion, now housed‌ a large garden,⁠⁠​ a three-story dormitory​‍‍ for noble ladies,‍‍ a classroom building‌ where lessons would‍ be held, a building intended to⁠⁠ function as an⁠ auditorium and magic‌ practice hall, an​⁠‍ annex for the‍ servants accompanying the‍ distinguished guests, a stable, an open⁠ field, and many​ other facilities.

These‍⁠ were not structures⁠ that could have‍ been built in‍‍‌ just a few‍ months, but Aiselin,​ who had rolled​‍‍ up her sleeves‌ from the beginning,‌ had pushed the‌​ project forward with‌ overwhelming drive and​ had truly made‍ it a reality.⁠‍‍

‘Not​‌ even the administrator‍‌​ of Rochester’s territory⁠ was that efficient…’‍‍

Seeing⁠ Aiselin work while‌ sleeping less than​ four hours a day, it was‍ hard to say‌ whether she was​​​ a noble lady​‌ or a royal⁠​‌ bureaucrat.

With⁠​ that respect in​‌ mind, he went​​‍ out into the‍‌‍ garden, and there‍​ was Miss Aiselin,‍⁠ sitting on a bench in a corner.

“Ah,‍ Miss Aiselin.”

“Oh,⁠‍‌ chief butler. It’s‌​ still very early,​‍‍ but you’re already⁠ up.”

“Haven’t‌ you slept?”

“Eh?‍ Of course I did. On an⁠ important day like‍ today, not sleeping‍‍‌ was not an⁠​ option. I slept⁠ a little more‌​‌ than two hours​ earlier. My room⁠⁠​ felt a bit‍ stuffy, so I came out to‌ get some fresh‌‍⁠ air.”

Saying​‌​ this with a smile, Delbriton felt​‌‍ the respect he‍ had for her‍ beginning to transform⁠⁠​ into a kind⁠‍ of fear.

What‌‌ defines a person’s‌‍ strength? Outstanding physical⁠‍ condition? Overflowing mana?​ Imposing charisma? All⁠‍ could be factors.⁠⁠‍

However,​⁠ the strength Aiselin‌ possessed was impossible‍‍ to categorize.

Delbriton,‍‍‍ a veteran who‌⁠​ had met countless‍‌ people over the‍⁠⁠ years, sensed an⁠‍⁠ inexplicable aura in​‍​ Aiselin, who sat⁠⁠‍ quietly with her‍‌ hands on her‌⁠ knees in that⁠ corner of the‍ garden.

Was‌ two hours of‍‌ sleep enough for⁠​⁠ her?

The‍ intellectual energy radiating‌​​ from her bright‍ eyes did not‌‌ match someone who‌ had spent the​ night without rest.‍⁠

Even⁠​ diligence, when it⁠ surpasses a certain‌ limit, can provoke​‌​ fear.

“In‍ fact… I feel​‌ a bit of⁠⁠​ emptiness.”

“Eh?‌ Emptiness…? But isn’t‌‌ today the day​ when all your‌ hard work bears‌​‍ fruit?”

“Well,‍ yes, but…”

Aiselin​‍‌ nodded, then spoke⁠⁠​ with difficulty.

“When​ I woke up⁠ this morning, there​‍⁠ were no documents‍‍​ to review, no‌ account books to⁠​​ approve. There wasn’t​⁠⁠ even anything concrete‍‌‍ to study. Basic‍⁠⁠ finance, kingdom studies,‍⁠ magical theory… I’ve‌ already read most‌‌ of the books⁠ in the mansion.‌‍‌ The ones on‌⁠⁠ tea ceremony and‍​ continental language are⁠ in the main​ house, so I can’t see them‌‌ now. I’ve already​ memorized the personal‌ details of all‌​ the servants and‍‍​ students…”

“……”‌‍⁠

“Since‌‍ I’ve handled all​ the matters, there’s‍​‍ nothing else to⁠‍ review about the‌‌‌ mansion. I’ve checked‍ the semester’s start‍​​ schedule several times…‌ I went out​‌ to the vegetable​ garden to check​‍ the crops, but‍​⁠ there were no⁠⁠ pests, the nutrients⁠ seemed sufficient, the‍⁠‌ humidity wasn’t lacking,‍‍ and the leaves⁠⁠⁠ were green… I went to check⁠ the servants’ work,⁠ but there was‍​‌ nothing to point‌‌ out… All the​‌‍ documents were organized…”⁠‍

“……”‌‌

“How⁠‌⁠ strange… why is‌​​ there nothing to​ do…? It’s so⁠ strange… why… why‍ is there nothing‌‌‍ to do…?”

Delbriton‍ swallowed dryly, his‍‍ face pale.

He‍ understood why some​​ of the mansion’s‌⁠ servants called her​ “the monster of‌⁠ diligence.”

“Oh,‌ Delbriton. About the‍ dishes left after‍ yesterday’s tea party.⁠ Have they been​ washed yet? Has‌⁠​ everything been cleaned?”‌

“We‍‍‌ cannot allow a noble lady to​ wash dishes…”

“I‍‌​ see… Then, I noticed some dust‍​ in Lord Dereck’s⁠‍‍ private study…”

“The​⁠ cleaning is the⁠ same. Miss Aiselin,​‍​ please, be mindful‌‍‌ of your status.”⁠

“Work‌⁠ does not distinguish‌‌‌ class.”

“…Work‍‌ does distinguish class.”‌

“I‌​‍ am a fallen​ noble.”

“A‍ fallen noble is‍⁠⁠ still a noble‌‍‌ lady.”

When⁠‍ Delbriton spoke firmly,⁠‌ Aiselin looked disappointed​⁠ and shrank a little.

She‌‌‌ knew she had⁠ workaholic tendencies, but‍ seeing her like​​​ this made it‍​⁠ clear that she‍ was truly willing⁠ to take on‌‌ all the household‌ chores by herself.‍‍

Aiselin‍‍ sighed deeply and‍ nodded while still‍ sitting on the‌​⁠ bench.

“Alright…‍ then I’ll rest​⁠​ without doing anything…”​⁠⁠

“…”‌

“Should​‍‌ I at least‌‌ write the letters​‌‍ to send to‌ the main house…​​ or review the​ status of the‍ support funds…?”

Though‍ it hadn’t been‍ long since she​‌ said she would‌‌​ rest, she had‌ already pulled out‌‍​ a quill and⁠ parchment and was​​⁠ reviewing the status​ of the support​⁠ funds to be‌ sent to Duplain.⁠‌​

Dereck⁠ had decided to‌ give her part‌ of the funds⁠‍⁠ coming in as‍​ operating expenses from‌⁠‍ the training center,‍ and she planned‍‌ to use them​⁠ as reconstruction funds‌ for the Duplain⁠‍⁠ family.

If‌ the center’s income⁠‌‍ increased, the amount⁠‌ she sent to⁠ her family would‍ naturally increase as​​‌ well.

Rumors‌​‌ were spreading everywhere⁠​ that the Duplain​⁠​ family was collapsing.​​

‘I‌‍ wonder what will​‌ happen…’

Delbriton‌​‍ adjusted his monocle‌‍​ as he watched⁠‍ Aiselin move her‍⁠ quill.

“Now‍​⁠ that I think⁠⁠ about it, weren’t⁠‍ the noble ladies​⁠ of the three‍ great families supposed‍ to come today‌‌ for the inauguration‍‍‌ ceremony?”

In⁠⁠‍ the end, Miss‌ Aiselin was someone​ who only felt⁠‍ at ease when‌‌‍ she had work​⁠ to do.

Therefore,‌​⁠ she needed something‍​ only she could‍⁠‌ do.

“Yes,⁠‌ now that you‌ mention it.”

“Weren’t​ those the ones​‍ I used to‌‌ see at the​⁠​ Rose Hall? It‌​ would be best‌ if you yourself​ received such distinguished‍ guests. Lady Denise‍‍ of the Beltus‍‍ family, and… Lady‍‌ Ellen of the​‍ Belmierd family.”

At​​‌ those words, Aiselin’s‍‌​ quill, which had⁠‌ been moving so‍‍​ diligently, stopped abruptly.⁠

“…”‌⁠‌

“Miss⁠‍ Aiselin?”

Ellen‌‌‍ of Belmierd was‌‍ coming.

For​⁠ some reason, Aiselin’s‍ face began to​‌‌ darken, as if‍ something deeply bothered‍​​ her.

***​​​

“Well,‌​⁠ hello. Miss Aiselin.‌​ You left the​‍ Belmierd mansion so⁠⁠ suddenly that we‍‌⁠ couldn’t even say⁠‌ a proper farewell.”​​

How‍ long had it⁠‍ been since the‌‌ former Rose Salon⁠‌‍ trio had gathered‍ in one place?‍

They‌​‍ were the three‌‍ who always met⁠⁠‌ at Ebelstein’s Elfontain‌​‌ Salon.

Aiselin,​⁠ Ellen, and Denise​‍ were now sitting‍‍ in the tea⁠​​ room of the​⁠ annex of Baron​ Ravenclaw’s house, conversing.⁠

Luxurious‌⁠ carriages of young⁠​‍ noblewomen entering the⁠⁠‌ Ravenclaw Training Center⁠ for the first‌​‌ time were arriving‌ one after another‍ at the mansion’s‌‍ main gate.

The⁠⁠ main building was⁠ in such a state of chaos⁠‍​ that the three⁠⁠ had no choice​ but to rest‌​‌ in the annex.‍

Somehow,⁠‍ they were familiar⁠‍ faces.

Although‌ Ebelstein’s social circle⁠‌ was like thin​​ ice, a strange​⁠⁠ affection still lingered‌‌‌ among the three‌ of the Rose⁠ Salon.

However,‍‍‍ their positions had​⁠‍ shifted considerably.

Aiselin,​ who had always‌‍ been the protagonist‍‍‍ of the group​​​ and maintained the⁠ most imposing stance,‍ was now the​⁠​ weakest.

Moreover,​‍ she fiddled with‌​⁠ her hands on‍⁠‌ her lap, visibly‌ uncomfortable, as if⁠ she had done‌​ something wrong.

Ellen,​ who used to‌ observe the situation​ and adapt prudently,‌‌ smiled but with​ a vein bulging⁠‌⁠ on her forehead‌‌ for some reason.​‌‌ She seemed angry.‍

Denise,⁠ reunited with both‌ after a long​‍‍ time, still wore⁠ an annoyed expression,⁠‌ squinting and pushing‌‍‍ her hair back​‍⁠ with an elegant​⁠⁠ gesture.

‘What‌‌⁠ is this…?’

She​‍ instinctively sensed that‌ something had changed‍‍ between the other‌​‍ two, but at⁠‍‍ that moment it​‍​ was hard to‌ understand exactly what‍ it was.

Especially,​⁠ she clearly perceived‌‍ that Ellen’s attitude​​‌ was strangely abnormal,‌⁠‍ but she could⁠ not predict the‍‍‍ cause.

Of‌ course, if the‌‌ whole truth were⁠ revealed, the first​‌⁠ to collapse would‌⁠‍ be Denise.

However,‌‌‍ unfortunately, everything was​ uncertain now. She​​ only wanted to‌ finish her task⁠‍ properly and go‍​ home to lie⁠‍ down in her⁠ bed.

But⁠ it didn’t take‌⁠​ long before Denise‌‍‌ began to glance‌‍ back and forth‍‌​ between the two⁠‌ with a serious‍‌ expression.

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