Chapter 120: Characters (1)
gjZMixKThe arrogant Lord Robain gazed at the dawn over the mountains of Rotenheim.UPrrHFD
UX1The sunlight filtering through the morning air seemed to symbolize a kind of hope.T2IN
BSLXFeeling as though he had reached a turning point in his life, which until now had been like turbulent waves, he lowered his bloodstained sword for a moment and took a deep breath.7LBqK
8avyNhThe monsters had been exterminated, the family crisis was over, and life would go on.4w70t
4EJ5GssIn the end, all he held in his hand was a bloodied sword and a bit of honor. He wondered where his true happiness lay in that life.Rj1h
dpin9The young and arrogant noble finally understood.5dMGlo0
ugDFLWhenever he wished to rest from his journey through life, that humble girl who always patted his back with a steady gaze would return to his mind.5w154H2
kAl5Walking unsteadily with his wounded body among the blood-soaked corpses of monsters, the arrogance that once reached the heavens faded away.AYIh
F0r6jAnd at the end of that long, dark trial, he wandered, searching for the small woman he had wanted to hold in his arms.i6bH
BIlH9FFHe remembered that moment when they had laughed together under a blanket in a hut on a stormy night, and he also saw himself pushing her away because he could not overcome their difference in status.AsD
AtRKLLAt the end of the battlefield, he found the girl covered in blood, lying among the corpses of trolls, and fell to his knees before her.RgJf7j
ecZTfLord Robain’s chin trembled as he began to sob, holding Tracy’s body.yEG
vGZ3IAs he embraced her with trembling arms, the blood flowing from the girl’s abdomen ran down his forearm. With his warrior’s experience, Robain instantly understood that the wound was beyond any hope of aid.x4tRPuL
GefaVJ6Miraculously, Tracy opened her eyes and saw the arrogant noble weeping. With her weakened body, the girl managed to touch Sir Robain’s face and gave him a faint smile.TilG
kUJzwOa“I’m glad I could see you one last time,” she whispered.O7Ey
F3QRobain, through his tears, spoke to her.COe3
MeJ7g“Forgive me for rejecting you. Forgive me for letting my pride and the difference in our status force you to sacrifice yourself.”6bm4T
aokR5“I hesitated to marry you because of my family’s will, and I pushed you away. Yet, you stayed on the battlefield for me.”r5Fw
oSHSfAs Robain poured his apologies upon Tracy, she simply smiled sweetly, even as she bled out.rTdR5nP
P7h9“Instead of apologizing, tell me that you love me, Sir Robain.”wot
y0wzlhv“Even if my journey through life was short, I want to hear you say that you love me before I go.”FNem
WpJ6TkRAt those words, Robain, crying, repeated to her again and again,ssq
hJ65Cz“I love you, Tracy. You were the only meaning left in my empty life. It wasn’t because of my family’s will or our difference in status that I let you go. You were the only woman I ever truly loved.”pnEun
XGFMAt those words, Tracy smiled one last time, as if she were happy, and slowly let go of his hand.q3Kn
5QSRobain looked with trembling eyes at the girl, now without strength.M9LJZ
az4ZfWUSoon, the vitality disappeared from those eyes that still smiled as if in peace.AvbCXlP
M8hKA8Even so, the soft corners of her lips, slightly curved, seemed to tell Lord Robain, “It’s all right.”bogf
OOK6That smile lodged in the noble’s heart like a thorn.jyNtmv
inlRobain wept over and over, holding the small lifeless body in his arms.l98g
3l6rThe war against the monsters was over.GEMS
mhAigThe sun rose radiant, dispersing the dreadful air of the battlefield that had lasted all night.lFJ1V
lWJ5aAnd among it all, one man remained alone, sobbing.SQi5m
csR7KTap.cvTr
wr2Ulq“…..”ZYDH
eCuFLater that night, in the noble district of Ebelstein, in Denise’s private residence.bERmn
I90yzDenise set down her pen with a snap, leaned back in her chair, and pursed her lips in thought.yrm
g7z8dwMShe was in the middle of writing the final volume of her self-proclaimed epic, The Arrogant Lord Robain, after years of research and reflection.GO0
DgrLord Robain, tormented between his status, his family, and his love for Tracy.XB7SEb
iUu9cVIn the end, he wasted his time in anguish and let Tracy go—a tragic love story hurtling toward its conclusion.ZKu7a7
ObUGlfWhen she imagined the scene in her mind, she felt quite satisfied, but when she wrote it down, something was missing.zzroAis
PunShe wondered if she was ending the story on too somber a note, but if she didn’t, the message she wanted to convey wouldn’t come across completely.8f3ips
Pjq“…”s5V1U
GjGNDenise crossed her arms and sat in thought.zzwA
APwPIn the end, it was something she had forgotten over time—what she truly wanted to convey.EMpUC
R2MUTvWhen she asked herself what she wanted to express with The Arrogant Lord Robain, she arrived at a somewhat embarrassing answer.zA6VW
JORShe didn’t really know. She just wanted to write a story about a handsome, talented, cold-blooded noble who showed warmth only toward his beloved—a romantic tale that would make the heart race.tE7T2m
Vpz6oHow much philosophical depth or inner message could there be in something that was, at its core, merely the expression of a personal desire?aDJ3Cu
HNGIf she started looking for profound meaning in something so simple, she felt her back burn with shame.zN1kFh
ovG3So when she imagined the white-haired mercenary reading it seriously, she couldn’t help but shudder.4h7eBTQ
oKpDZIf it were a distant reader, someone she would never meet, it would be different.6tq
uteVqpBut showing this to her teacher, whom she saw every day, was more embarrassing than showing him her naked body.Txm
Kyr4Even so, the young woman couldn’t help but stare once more at what she had written, lost in reflection.sUhW
9QvfShe wanted to find a better direction for her work.f9gbVl5
jyo2wMThough she pretended to be lazy and indifferent to everything, when she held a pen, her eyes became more serious than anyone’s.sksAL
EJSokHowever, it seemed difficult to find a clear answer.EYN7l
ptn0gDnLord Robain’s torment and inner conflict were not born from a deep understanding of the human soul, but rather from a collection of striking ideas gathered from various places and molded to seem convincing.Mpakb8
XZ92Even so, it was said that the characters in a story inevitably reflect the mind of their creator.Gg3
BV5MHIn the tragic love story between the noble’s suffering, the will of the family, and Tracy’s low status, Denise couldn’t help but wonder what she should reveal and what she should conceal.ZuhPkd
aFvIF9Finally, Denise sighed deeply, gathered her shining silver hair, and collapsed onto her bed.DSk8b
g2AThe night was long, and there was plenty of time—there was no need to worry yet.XGp1p
IB2Come to think of it, it was time to use Aiselin’s visit as an excuse to observe the baron’s mansion in Ravenclaw.vQ94
y8Ow“…”T3C1a7n
12gImmersed in her creation and wandering through another world, when she finally returned to the present, the weight of reality pressed down on her chest.jA2e
Tge0dIt was something that had already been decided in several family meetings.KMC
rDgAs an agent of the Beltus family, Denise was to find a way to bring down Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw.gL7mVI
kGUH5It would be useful to find his weaknesses, take advantage of trivial mistakes, and if possible, inflict significant damage.t7Ys
3DLvIdeally, he would be ruined and reduced to a commoner who could be used again.Unzf
rEejl2If that happened, Grand Duke Beltus would greet her with a more satisfied smile than ever.3QJq
h0RfuDThen, Denise’s peaceful life would be assured, and her authority within the family would be guaranteed.wCs62t
8IQw4cAlthough Denise had received great help from Dereck in times of distress and confusion, there was no alternative.kcw
lgskBetrayal and conspiracy were far too common in that ruthless aristocratic society.DVaEc
GaNIEven the children of the most prestigious families suspected one another and engaged in psychological warfare, so a rural baron on the outskirts would be no exception.DFhio
6IcIDenise took a deep breath, covered her face with her hands, and exhaled heavily.eK2HCj
FzdAt“I hadn’t planned a scene like this…”WuD278
8GJp9CWas it a story from her novel—or from reality?Zh4
rfdzEven Denise herself could no longer clearly tell which was which.Wauj31
JvsTfe1***X3z
t0CzAfter the great fall of the Duplain family, the noble power of southwestern Ebelstein was divided between the Belmierd and Beltus families.lyknTk
YrOwPThat autumn, Countess Rodelia, who had directly received her title of countess from Emperor Guttrel, rose once again; however, she was still a recent force and could not yet compare to the authority of the other two houses.vlTzXO
c31aqdIt would take at least five years, or even fifteen, for her to reach their level. Until then, Belmierd and Beltus would continue to act as the true rulers of the southwest of the continent.u8Z7
bjQThis situation was reflected in the central city of Ebelstein, and the Rosea Salon was, in practice, the domain of Ellen and Denise.Inecht
dHYuBnEllen had been born with the temperament of a leader.AXcuAsM
mV2eShe possessed a natural talent for guiding her followers and leading groups. Though still young and inexperienced in some areas, it seemed certain that it wouldn’t be long before she became a lady like her father, Count Belmierd.JrB
wOXLypEOn the other hand, Denise’s personality was difficult to understand.GieG
5eTE4She wasn’t completely disinterested in political matters, but she also didn’t take decisive steps forward.At3
JiMDaLqOccasionally, when important topics arose, she expressed her opinions clearly; but in general, she maintained a non-interventionist attitude.gv8MSEp
hs9As a result, Denise had few followers, and her authority within the family was minimal compared to Ellen’s.sFG
0kUQSoEllen was considered the true power of the Belmierd family, while Denise was merely a beautiful and intelligent daughter.lrQpoIt
Wh3The fact that she had lost the position of heir to her timid and narrow-minded older brother Robenalt was symbolic.eMWU
KSWqqM6Although Grand Duke Beltus was obsessed with the principle of primogeniture, he must have realized that Robenalt lacked the ability to lead the Beltus family.Q7MTHlu
ENPBy now, the key figures of the southwestern continent already knew that Denise did not have the temperament of a ruler, but she was cunning and quick-witted, which made her more suitable as a chess piece.n2P
RB4In fact, Denise tended to be lazy and preferred to do things in the simplest way possible, yet she always produced results.OgzJcpf
yn2hvBeing diligent and being competent were not always equivalent concepts.LkDFQ
w9tzwIn truth, a lazy but efficient person is valuable to have under your command; on the other hand, a diligent but incompetent one is far more dangerous.rne8F5k
79IIXCIn that sense, Denise could be considered one of the most valuable people in the Beltus family.xcwQ0J
uNEzcrNShe had no ambitions for power, no plans to rebel against the family, nor great aspirations; the only thing she desired was a stable life.5RI
cgnIt was ironic that Ellen and Denise—so different in character and temperament—shared control of the Rose Salon.U08Vb
bnZ“At the last meeting of the Rose Hall, many people were worried about Miss Aiselin. Truly, building good relationships is important. The Duplain family has already begun to lose its power, but it seems that the number of people interested in Lady Aiselin keeps growing.”FJGR
YlvDenise, who had arrived by carriage from the Ebelstein mansion early that morning, looked quite tired.FNopgC
yEx8gAt the Rose Hall, she acted as a refined noble lady, but she didn’t seem to want to maintain that exhausting façade in front of Dereck. She sighed deeply, her weary eyes half-closed.6CB
gmcHer beautiful silver-gray hair shone softly; Bella had worked hard to prepare her since early morning.zJaNL
epEZJpHowever, Denise carried herself with a casual naturalness, in complete contrast to her elegant attire.4iM
OsU9MH7In truth, she had long since stopped worrying about maintaining her dignity in front of Dereck.S8npmq
oEb6jP“I see. But I didn’t expect Lady Denise to come in person.”IZ7TW
XSuT7oC“Well, it’s not like I wanted to cause a commotion so early in the morning. Since Baron Ravenclaw refused the visits of all the ladies who wanted to see Lady Aiselin, I received many requests to come and check on her condition.”PdDIZFn
igwzF“Lady Aiselin needs rest, so it was difficult to grant permission.”rIBtLB
nX3“Yes, I understand. It’s not easy being the daughter of a powerful family. Ah…”TpiY
xcT6r4As she descended the carriage steps with her arms relaxed, Dereck offered her his hand.cT8h
ZAXBHDenise looked at him briefly and let out a small laugh before taking his hand firmly to step down.9A6fhH
flC2“My, it seems there are more buildings now. This is almost half the size of our main estate in Beltus, isn’t it?”CcwLDD
KGJ“Most of them are new facilities built with donated funds.”DQNG98d
7lFLAu“Well, even frontier nobles are still nobles. They wouldn’t tolerate shabby buildings for their daughters.”s8kEx6
chyPNDenise let out a playful chuckle and walked alongside Dereck toward the main building of the Ravenclaw mansion.M5xKtex
s8P“How is Lady Aiselin? If I don’t find out, there will be an uproar at the Rose Salon.”QWRu
13ly“She’s much more stable now. But as a precaution, I recommended she rest for the entire week.”mfzG
brdEBB“Yes, that’s something. I thought she was as strong as steel. Even in the salon, I was constantly surprised at how diligent someone could be…”Jmm8
Ene6Denise crossed her arms and grew thoughtful for a moment.NFesbU4
iustb0From Dereck’s perspective, who until last month had been dealing with Ellen, she was an unfamiliar figure.9eX
D5gQOEllen was always concerned with authority and prestige, even in casual conversations, whereas Denise seemed to treat Dereck as an equal.TdnLTqh
RvIHowever, Dereck’s sharp eye, trained from dealing with nobles, noticed something different.gwW2
pRTAlthough her ease and natural demeanor were still present, he sensed a subtle unease in Denise’s behavior.Duv2HP
OPqxcNzShe was definitely different from the carefree girl who used to wander around the Ebelstein mansion. It couldn’t be explained simply as nervousness from being in an unfamiliar place.ul8jYh
UWSbFrom time to time, she cast furtive glances at Dereck or examined various parts of the building with unusual attention.FiZy2go
OKgruBut it was difficult to pinpoint the exact reason. Dereck wasn’t a mind reader.twcc
2aRiSo he asked directly.IEZiqPg
2D3C2“Is something wrong? You seem uneasy.”4HE
asNPj“Eh? What?”wJE
ewQuWDenise was startled and, after bringing a hand to her shining silver hair, fiddled with the ends.yuBpuU
3iEJM“Did I give you that impression? No, it’s just that the mansion is larger than I expected, so I feel a bit overwhelmed.”eG7Fc3
5rr4kd“Ah, really?”L26i
9294X5F“Yes. When I first met Dereck, he was just a mercenary without a fixed residence, remember? It seems like only a few years ago, but seeing you prosper like this is something moving for someone who’s seen it up close.”ovfkt
5yYt“Thank you for thinking of it that way.”3t7SR6
Ttm“Oh, it’s nothing.”96vwJ
2aB7ALDenise shook her head and looked toward the main building of the Ravenclaw barony.SLmxN
E1hs1D“My throat is dry after the trip. Let’s have some tea to relax.”Tzx
Ohcik“All right.”UnB
w5YeAs she said that, Denise quickly moved ahead, her attitude slightly different from before.iz2g
97i41‘She’s lying.’0J9
FKWJKDereck thought, resting his chin on one hand and frowning.nHMcjT
Df4boG‘But why?’dcDCw
LWbNoble ladies were, by nature, unpredictable.JBQ58J
oB9It didn’t seem like something to worry too much about, but still, it was better to stay alert.WiC91
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