Chapter 150: The Youngest Disciple (2)
pik2As soon as morning arrived, the icy winter air also seeped into the garden of the Count Renuel’s residence.5i6t
4XUIMwiWhen she exhaled, a puff of vapor floated out, and small droplets of water formed on the edge of her winter coat.8wKKjV
SAiTrisha looked with an annoyed expression at the droplets that lingered for a moment and then ran her hand over her face.1yk
a6tZ1EBShe had gone out early to get a bit of fresh air, but her heart was filled only with worry.ZA0
GuJ7l‘Mother is going to ask me again how things are going with the Ravenclaw family.’JC6ktDW
zsdxEvery time she went down to the main house, Countess Rodelia widened her eyes and asked Trisha.jNvfGw9
6AUSeeing how she always checked whether she could help with anything, it was clear she wanted at all costs to draw that Baron Ravenclaw under her wing.sRZ
PrP5pM‘Even if I enter the Ravenclaw Academy and get good grades, I’m not sure I could become his direct disciple…’SVitPh0
QdyPHow difficult it was to gain Diella’s approval didn’t need to be explained; everyone already knew.dIk
0XEThat girl named Diella, who this time rose officially to the highest position among Dereck’s direct disciples, showed clearly that she didn’t want to accept any more disciples.raHiFq
WEgkesIt had nothing to do with the personal resentment between Trisha and Diella.Ybwq6gF
2FjShe rejected all young nobles as if she were an iron wall, crushed them with just her presence, and reigned as the queen of the Rose Hall.xKRkZz9
Z52pFeeling as if she had crashed into a huge wall, Trisha could only sigh deeply again and again.hPS25S
XcwEven if everything went well and she managed to enter as Dereck’s direct disciple, it would be a problem.Eko
cLTDiella, Ellen, Denise, Siern—among such dazzling figures, there would be no way for Trisha to lift her head.hMO
ZjzBesides, if she entered now, she would practically end up in the position of the youngest; something so terrible that it almost seemed preferable to swim in a hell of fire.k3Rehhi
2n3But she couldn’t ignore Rodelia’s expectations in this inescapable situation.eaZQM
h6w0Lost on the edge of a cliff without knowing what to do, almost a month had already passed.wPtKIc
cjmrp“I heard he will come to the Count Renuel’s house regarding the support for the construction of the Academy. We should receive him splendidly. Even if he is a baron in charge of a remote and distant region, he has accomplished many merits, so we must treat him with respect.”wjGjJn
OdlRDAnd so, disaster always arrived suddenly.slrsin8
ZcVLately, Baron Ravenclaw had been running everywhere because of the Academy’s construction and the stabilization of the territory.IrgoAHN
7i9qGIt would have been what was truly strange if he had not come to the Count Renuel residence during the winter, when there were no classes at the training center.Rb3S
HIO0The Count Renuel’s house was one of the most influential in the southwestern region of the continent.X0o
ZjqMiq5It seemed that Countess Rodelia wanted to take this opportunity to formally unite Trisha with Baron Ravenclaw and was planning how to arrange the situation.ESUj
pML4F“I ordered a new dress with pretty frills to be made. We also brought new jewels; check which one suits you best.”IU52zq
IHcri9“Ah… yes… th-thank you… m-mother…”wYWNX
svjo“As I said, your mother does not have good taste for these things, I am not interested in outer appearance. You, who have cultivated an aesthetic sense through social activities, should choose yourself what suits you best, so tell me if anything bothers you.”5fyG
Q3YlkCountess Rodelia was not completely ignorant of noble feminine etiquette, but because she had hardly participated in social activities and had spent most of her life on the battlefield, she was rather a rough person.Xnl7g8
2eLubThat she paid so much attention to clothing was something very unusual.PMxxNE
LF7She truly intended to capture Baron Ravenclaw properly with this opportunity.ygKx
ivLpixPolitically, she had Melverot as support, and economically she was already secure thanks to her collaboration with the Duplain.HB9LTH
e52dRThe only thing that could bind him now was a man–woman connection.C0ePu5B
GeRWcThat was the origin of Rodelia’s determination, capable of using any method if necessary.dNWtgF
XlBUT6HTrisha said goodbye to Rodelia with a slight smile and entered her room, sitting in front of the mirror.erdZ
hs8oCKWhile sitting there, sighs escaped her on their own.ATOFV
0PQ6nsShe wiped her face dry, sweating a little, and thought.OwAO
nxGT1‘Yes, if in the count’s residence the other disciples aren’t present, maybe I could persuade him as I wish. Lately my confidence has disappeared, but I must hold firm. I am Trisha, the young noble of the Count Renuel house.’GlbPtW
bAvAfter holding her breath several times, Trisha finally straightened her back to recover her arrogant attitude.k8ryX
59LzIM4She opened her chest, placed her hands on her waist, lifted her chin, and let out an arrogant little laugh.E9xU
0gRdNow, she felt that a bit of her elegance had returned.0EFy
HW7kDJust as Rodelia said, her appearance was more than acceptable, and the Count Renuel house was not something that could embarrass her anywhere.9ZNNFK
A3rV4sSo there was no reason to be intimidated before Baron Ravenclaw.5Uc
1VsgEZAll she had to do was remain as always—proud, self-assured, letting her elegant laughter fall.6PW
CAKSaAfter looking at herself several times in the mirror to convince herself, she began to feel a little lighter.OQhTI
3R4BHowever, there were figures that rose like shadows behind her.4w2de
ulqtmgPeople with such authority that they could silence an entire hall with just a glance.D6fWmTE
7KVgWhether Diella, Ellen, Denise, or Siern.1gR
uyUUUUVAll of them were people who could crush her effortlessly.nhdI88E
zycFrom the perspective of a commoner, Trisha, daughter of a count, would be someone who lived among the clouds.pn7s8nn
kRssmBut from the point of view of those who truly lived in that sky, Trisha was nothing more than one of many ordinary young nobles.yUzsp4
3uOOe8fOf course, the authority of the Renuel house was rising without pause, and Trisha’s name was not something that could be ignored easily.786Ek
306ZucBut between the only daughter of a rising lineage and the lineages that had dominated the region for generations, there existed an abyss impossible to explain only with titles.48Wjd
IglrNeither ignoring, nor boasting, nor adopting an arrogant attitude could close that distance.QfdFHp5
IkZDMuch less with Baron Ravenclaw, who was above all of them—it was a distance that could not be described with words.Es3z
gZutFTrisha lowered her gaze again.fh55
uZ8In worldly authority, magical ability, innate personality.W6Q
yMozzyThe disciples of Baron Ravenclaw were on a level different from hers.MmwM
9PFtThere was no way she could place her name among them.ZSYf7
IiFA2tvEven so, she could not allow her spirit to break.q5W
xBRBVRLowering her head like a defeated one, hiding her tail, and living bowed.CZx
CqG8In noble society, that was the same as receiving a death sentence.DgIcjF
JKefKhVLosing confidence was accepting death.1tTZe3
wVzleJGThat was the unwritten code of the battlefield of women—the high society.ZfQ
YPkYK***z3dmFWn
UKMWZ01Although he was recently the most famous person in Ebelstein and throughout the entire southwest of the continent, Baron Ravenclaw always dressed simply.t7qF
7KdCaA leather vest, a tunic, tight pants comfortable for movement, and well-oiled boots.ciIODb
wXIOver that, he wore a cloak as an outer garment.1zTs
xN96AwwAt first glance, his outfit looked more like that of a wandering mercenary than that of a noble.kvMj
DpxvThat was why, even among nobles, he was often considered an unusual case, and when the servants saw him stepping down from the carriage, they couldn’t help but be unsettled.Lwk
JAKzIt was a level that went beyond austere and bordered on having no ornamentation at all.YKVSUBU
J8qy0Depending on the person, it could be seen as a lack of etiquette or dignity, but in the eyes of Countess Rodelia, it actually made him look practical and trustworthy.QaYI5f
gjsoPerhaps Rodelia’s eyes were already clouded by him, but it was also a consequence of the long years she had spent living on the battlefield.EKD
CrY“The wounds you took in the last battle must have been deep, but it seems you’ve almost recovered. My heart feels lighter. You must be tired from coming from so far away.”Cqb
X26“It is nothing, your ladyship the countess. Thanks to the help you gave me that day, the matter didn’t escalate. I should have come earlier to express my gratitude—my apologies for not doing so.”yz3
9bZI“Express gratitude? I saw with my own eyes how badly injured you were. I also have common sense, you know.”Ask0EU0
ZaGlthaRodelia, who hadn’t seen Baron Ravenclaw in some time, showed a completely satisfied smile.tipn8YF
zxKTo her, Baron Ravenclaw was practically already her future son-in-law; she was thinking of what dowry to give when they married and what land to grant them so they could live separately as newlyweds.jF3
jMmytuUnlike when she slaughtered black mages of the necromancy branch on the battlefield, in moments like this she showed a surprisingly naive side; that contrast was part of the charm of Countess Rodelia.IEO1
83Jna3MEvery time Trisha watched from afar that sweet gaze and satisfied smile her mother directed at Dereck, she couldn’t help but feel cold sweat run down her neck.eqg
5RGQIt seemed Rodelia still didn’t realize how unapproachable that man named Dereck truly was.CKe
wqSHikrShe seemed to believe that someone with Trisha’s appearance and personality could conquer him without difficulty, but that was the thought of someone like Rodelia, who didn’t fully understand emotions between men and women.vAS
XgctDereck was, essentially, a madman who knew only magic; he had accepted countless brilliant women as his disciples, and yet not even a shred of romance ever appeared.RCwYiC
dVElProvoking an emotional reaction in him was almost the same as trying to push over a mountain.LUa1UY
6qhuaYnTrisha could only wish her mother would finally understand how irrational the demand she was placing on her daughter truly was.Extk7t
MSR“Ah, this is my daughter Trisha. You must already know each other, but as a mother I always worry that you might not greet each other properly.”brz
9mhY0Yz“Ah… hello, Baron Ravenclaw. We meet again.”njWB
GO20kTrisha bowed her head with a tense tone, and Dereck, after looking at her in silence, returned the courtesy.mc7nu
cx0f“Do not worry. I have spoken with Miss Trisha on several occasions, and last time she even visited the Duplain main house.”YwNy
gwncRS2“Oh, that’s right, she did. My body is old now and my memory fades. Well then, our precious Trisha didn’t inconvenience you in any way, I hope?”wjwe
Aoc“Not at all. Miss Trisha, as befits the daughter of Count Renuel, always treated me with dignity and courtesy. I heard the same from the servants—they told me that during her entire visit she was so kind and considerate that they were deeply moved.”Qwnh
nFWeXTOne of the habits Dereck had developed when joining noble society was avoiding unnecessary enemies.daFaLq
3Et3In truth, both in the Ravenclaw household and in the Duplain household, Trisha’s conduct had been more arrogant and haughty than dignified.cZCg
FU32pDHowever, Dereck made sure to polish her behavior so that she wouldn’t face problems in the residence of Count Renuel.G3mlMP
62JMjoThat consideration had already become natural within him.jBtgX
91cjQ1Trisha found Dereck’s treatment unexpected.s5F3
2hDEven though he had a noble title, his behavior was usually closer to that of a commoner.RVRS
vNhjNKShe had unconsciously assumed he lacked refinement, so she held her breath for a moment.oPYMb
Slm‘Does becoming a noble really change a person this much?’lZd
ORBcP2hTrisha cleared her throat several times, adjusted her tone, and lifting the edges of her dress slightly in a demure manner, bowed again.nCkx
xSgwb2“Baron Ravenclaw is very considerate with me. Compared to the other young ladies of the Rose Hall, I am far behind.”Cxo7Q
54tbTdS“That is not so.”ZWg
LQ0DfcWhen it was necessary to affirm something, Dereck did so without hesitation; it was clear he knew how to treat a lady.x3kZF
YzQRodelia smiled in satisfaction again upon seeing this and immediately led him inside the Renuel mansion.ITk
61cTrisha swallowed, tightly grasped the edges of her dress, and followed behind.0K4bH
cFPThe tension was so great that her vision felt clouded, so she forced herself to gather her resolve and harden her expression.YeSHv
YXtuyTo get through the situation, she could only face the crisis with determination.sQMO0I
sdK6XDo‘When you participate in society, you’ll meet people with a presence far more imposing than yours, who seem superior in every aspect.’x3aE
0PhsD8Her father, Hutton, a famous merchant who died at the hands of a black mage, had been a remarkable man.V3Vg
weqbHe had gained prestige by financing trade branches in the western continent and selling insurance to merchant ships.W12
eKJBrDespite being of commoner origin, he had built a wide network in society.BAHX
CGBThat he had caught Rodelia’s attention and married her was almost unbelievable; their personalities were opposites.QPK
8ARRY3XRodelia was brave and righteous; Hutton, a timid opportunist.wTdk6FE
ukOZP7yRodelia devoted herself to martial arts; Hutton mastered business strategies, rhetoric, and persuasion.2kz3Q
QcjkXy3Rodelia was upright and firm; Hutton a man whose values shifted with the situation.d1Dj
cpXixdBut they say people are drawn to what is opposite to them.sPP5
F0uUDThat fiery love story between young Rodelia and Hutton, from Trisha’s point of view, wasn’t hard to understand.tbe0m5J
EHJdfThe romance between a magnate who traveled the world accumulating gold from a young age and a warrior who lived her entire life absorbed in sword and magic was romantic enough to spark anyone’s imagination.ApQ
RQ1dIBut all that was already history.idnsne
Qf4AThe stories Hutton told young Trisha as he stroked her hair were things the upright Rodelia could never have taught her.ScW
wm1NWith her eyes wide open with curiosity about the world, Trisha listened as he once again passed his hand over her head.Q6eBDE
eFc9N‘Even if it seems like everyone in the world is above you, even before people who could crush you with a single glance, you must keep your head held high. Surviving in society is like that.’BdXfX3g
yBuQ‘If I were in a situation like that, I think I’d be very scared…’wTjjEi
ZS2Xz‘Of course. Being human, it’s impossible not to feel fear. What matters is never showing it. Wear an arrogant smile and a mask, act as if the whole world belongs to you. Even if you’re at a disadvantage, never be servile.’QMxbv1p
j5fr3In life, there will come a moment when everyone around you seems like monsters running among the clouds.8wAXyO
WOAYou’ll find yourself before a huge wall and wonder if you are nothing but a weak, mediocre creature.xzcO
FD4EBefore people who shine dazzlingly, you may feel like a worthless worm or a hedgehog covered in spikes.znL
NGdCIn those moments, never show your depths.ettOE1G
gcryEven if a single wrong step could make you fall into the mud, you must smile calmly, straighten your back and chest, and sit with arrogance.93MkJ5g
kKKw7JEven atop a sandcastle about to collapse, you must be able to lie down as if nothing were happening.0hf
pwpDAmong extraordinary people, ordinary beings will always be tested that way.IsH
INymJac‘If you do that, even those who fully understand your situation won’t be able to look down on you so easily.’Gh0ZA4
tqFThat was what Hutton said, the man who had gone out into the world without a single coin and became a renowned banker.1sxfn
7ttZrHe was no longer in this world, but thanks to those memories, Trisha still vividly kept his voice.rabN3p
sDJVThey were memories from many years ago.jDOA8
2c7Kk“Is it some matter concerning Clementine territory? It likely must be decided immediately.”36Yw
IfSYfTWhile they walked down the corridor of the Renuel mansion toward the reception room where refreshments had been prepared, the butler approached to whisper something to Countess Rodelia.BdPj
7t83SuSomething must have happened on the outskirts of the territory and required her immediate judgment.fDwZm
trZbRodelia furrowed her brow, showing displeasure, and then looked toward Dereck and Trisha.shH
AZ1H7“A matter has come up that I must attend to right now. I’ll go to the office for a moment; the two of you may converse in the reception room.”v8TGn
ggOtdzuUpon hearing she would be left alone with Baron Ravenclaw, Trisha held her breath.Y4jD
fIqH3She felt the air leave her lungs, but she had no other choice.yAEzp1x
unWEyH5“I’m sorry to leave you like this, after you came all the way to the mansion.”68p
TuWHn“It’s nothing.”QIH4bZ
Sysc2UD“Trisha. Baron Ravenclaw is a guest of honor, behave properly so as not to disrespect him.”rqvLv
l6EnqM“Ye-yes, mother.”rpxZ
uklMMmAfter saying that, Countess Rodelia quickly headed toward the main hall.uMaW
EnLyjMost of the servants followed her, so aside from a couple of maids, no one else remained.MLGU
1jcsOnly Trisha and Dereck were left. Silence filled the corridor.ukK
m1Xdy“…”usws
WVFTrisha swallowed and, after clearing her throat, spoke.TqtfG
mPg“Ah… thank you for speaking well of me before my mother. B-but… it wasn’t necessary for you to be so considerate. I know how to keep my place within the family… and my mother always notices such obvious courtesies… it could backfire, you know?”cuI
gCU“Oh, really?”sRu
C4thh“Yes. So it’s enough to be as you are. Just as you are. My mother isn’t a fan of such blatant formalities. Although she saw it was consideration toward me, so she was satisfied… we were lucky this time. Do you understand?”gQ3L
WplBsShe felt she was beginning to speak too much, so Trisha cleared her throat again and lifted her nose slightly.cau8P
FJPaOr“S-so… there’s no need for that much consideration. I can handle my—”dLW77
iCt“Miss Trisha.”Mg95MbA
HR8The abrupt interruption from Dereck made Trisha shiver.uwrG2
ccxaEmmIt was rare for him, always so attentive and respectful, to cut someone off like that.09ZZ32
JmlUsDxWithout showing surprise, Trisha quickly turned her head and glanced at him.kvR52
IHMDereck watched her in silence for a moment and finally said, as if letting it drop.TeRBo
1ZZYva“You don’t need to try so hard.”fsIFEo4
w4IOhCreaak.8QcXtXq
PFAnCJeAfter saying that, he opened the door to the reception room and walked in first.E0h7
IPZQD4“…”whB8Cu
1lk1y1wTrisha didn’t know whether he was ignoring her or upset; she stood there tense, expecting some reaction.DFIdtF
MNPgUqtBut his response, so direct and calm, was completely unexpected.ULp0
kAwUFZShe held her breath.ite
n7heCFqShe stared for a moment at the open door with wide eyes.ypy62
qw57FkXShe didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt as if Dereck had seen straight through the depths of her mind, and for an instant, she blanked out.b3Ygo
s8L‘Uh…’3duwmMf
CmzV9Trisha swallowed again and, gripping her dress, rushed inside. A thin trail of cold sweat ran down her back.EdvumW
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