Chapter 35: Denise (1)
jMk6Ef“I knew it would end up like this.”grh2X
p6pXZDenise of the Beltus family silently read the letter sent by her father, her crescent-shaped eyes wide open.vY5F
UPWje92It was something everyone had been expecting ever since the duel between Ellen and Aiselin.Jo3pgeD
j9a4h3FWhether it was the border noble Belmierd or the Grand Duke Duplain, when it came to their own children, they were all too eager to intervene.jyFeGR
7GBg5eIf Aiselin and Ellen began a tense competition to recruit a mentor to their side, it would most likely escalate into an inter-family conflict.wT5fU
SoiC5“Bella, when did this letter arrive?”r15
GKnXevU“It came early this morning. It’s been a long time since the head of the family sent a letter directly, so I remember it clearly.”bmNqv6b
90aX3“Considering how someone who normally doesn’t bother to check on me is suddenly looking for me, it must be something urgent.”FlPLGm
cGQAlthough the sun was already high in the sky, Denise lay flat on her back in the bed of her inner room. She stretched while letting out a big yawn.r4wyQ
usmKgHer pajamas, adorned with lace here and there, suggested it was still midnight, but in reality, she was just too lazy to get up. On her days off, she often stayed in bed until the afternoon.35k
QN57sFLShe was tired of constantly maintaining the image of a beautiful and refined noble lady throughout the week.LcXX
N0GmJHer maid Bella would sigh with concern every time she saw her like this, but eventually, she had adopted a nonchalant attitude. Denise wasn’t the type to change just because someone scolded her.OfQyQXg
gCmBNLying in bed, she casually held up the neatly written letter and read through it several times.zEG
MHp6BAlthough it was quite lengthy, its content wasn’t very substantial. Denise tossed the letter onto the tea table with a sigh and said:YHr3
uVq6cjf“I was planning to finish reading A Love More Mysterious Than Death by the great writer Reilly today…”t1o9YjD
xFZ2w7“Are you getting up? Then I’ll have your meal prepared.”Nfn6
s9E“I’m not hungry… Is there something light? I want cherry pie…”H7qC
rbP“Please maintain a nutritional balance. I’ll get whipped if you have skin problems…”EpGUyyR
oUovwSenior maid Bella had been with Denise since childhood.Us9
7yzAlthough there was a clear distinction between nobles and commoners, the two had lived together almost their whole lives, so there was little formality between them.LSr5gRK
AztquDenise groaned as she forced her stiff body to rise.NoHa1I
AT1e“Ugh… I feel like all the muscles in my body are tense.”8KR7oz
LZr05With that, she opened her crescent-shaped eyes wide and quickly lifted her head. Grand Duke Beltus had ordered her to inquire about a man named Dereck in the social circle and, if possible, consider hiring him. Denise had already anticipated this.tDgwuzm
Ieo9She hated bothersome tasks, but she couldn’t deny that it was better to quickly handle the inevitable. Thus, Denise had proactively gathered information about Dereck.lie
3xqBaSShe was the first among the three great families to send a request to the Beldern Mercenary Group and had been quietly monitoring Dereck’s movements.v9p
L1Bh6She could have contacted him directly if she had been more proactive, but any further action might have aroused suspicion from Ellen or Aiselin.ZJQ69
JqPcThat’s why, until now, Denise had made all the preparations she could.xfp
CFJj7yrNow that Grand Duke Beltus had issued his orders, all that remained was to quickly finish the rest.bN5
i2N1Zc“If you get up, I’ll open the window. The room needs some air.”UteViQu
NOZ“Ahhh! My eyes!”FCi3dyZ
DtDnBaWhen Bella opened the curtains, a beam of light suddenly startled Denise, who rubbed her eyes in shock.RNJLNf3
qwyaaL***0iDeIy
rIi82“They say he’s only one-star, but I think he could easily be considered two-star. Otherwise, why would Lady Aiselin seek his guidance so seriously?”PvJjY
j3BAccompanied by two guards and three maids, Denise left the noble district.1s6DDp
0eJ4It was rare for a noble lady to leave her residence, so wherever she went, the eyes of Ebelstain’s citizens followed her. Denise, with her immaculately arranged dress, smiled gracefully and walked calmly toward the tavern district.EAGUNT
UJ2She chose not to take a carriage because she wanted time to organize her thoughts along the way.bfFmdk
h7Gdw“It’s been about a week since he disappeared, so the Belmierd and Duplain families have likely already begun a full search for the wandering mage. I need to move quickly.”Wk3
u6V4Denise was born with exceptional talent in transformation and search magic.UYK
Jdz4ciEspecially in search magic, she had nearly reached the level of two stars. However, she hadn’t told anyone except her childhood friend, Bella.nukzztn
473KBeing the center of attention like Aiselin might be important in noble society, but sometimes it was more efficient to conceal one’s abilities. Moreover, for Denise, who disliked getting involved in unnecessary matters, hiding her true capabilities was often more convenient.ucxO
m05Still, she was one of the three members of the Rose Hall. Neglecting her duties as a noble lady just out of annoyance would make her a burden to her family. Therefore, maintaining balance was essential for a comfortable life.fXy
rSEKiucSometimes, you just had to roll up your sleeves and get things done, even reluctantly.8Qx
bC9tDenise took a deep breath and, guiding her maids, continued to sort through her thoughts.2E4oC
YWb1MlA spark of life appeared in her usually lethargic eyes. Her calm demeanor and thoughtful pose, with her chin resting on her hand, made her resemble a little bisque porcelain doll, drawing repeated glances from passersby.NEQYBus
eSKZZFqLeaving the noble district and crossing the commercial district to reach the tavern alley—given the size of the city of Ebelstain, walking took a long time. However, throughout the long journey, Denise remained deep in thought, not shifting her posture.5ITJbaG
jwvDenise had only seen the man named Dereck from afar. She had never spoken with him.3Nihl
63cEven so, she could deduce his character from the descriptions given by Aiselin and Ellen.B6xR
7CzHis confidence in teaching noble ladies despite being a commoner indicated a strong belief in his own abilities. And the results he produced proved that he truly was someone with exceptional talent.7Yx8Zf
gS0LQAHe wasn’t overly large, but the muscles and veins visible on his arms showed he was used to physical work.fzRkfAH
vAvHe wasn’t overly arrogant; he knew when to bow his head and yield if necessary. He also seemed to like money.WTMM
fXfCUBfYet, he was ambitious. He never seemed to neglect his magical training while teaching Ellen and Diella.dMu7O9
mPdryUJHe also knew how to maintain at least some dignity. Aiselin didn’t approve of vulgar individuals, so he surely understood noble etiquette well.Mbb
RIhmXLHe was fundamentally calm, with a deep inner conviction. However, he rarely revealed it.vKJuk
WO4RcXHe was skilled at hiding his thoughts behind a stoic expression. If someone peeled back the layers, they’d likely find many emotions underneath.2ZH
nThG89In Denise’s mind, a sketch of Dereck began to form.TUl0hRF
xjjCuriously, the initial image built from a series of conclusions and inferences was nearly identical to the real Dereck.pBA41SO
Z2Prl9“No one underestimates money, so there’s no reason to be stingy with a noble’s offer. But to disappear like that—there must be another reason to reject a noble’s request. Identifying that reason seems to complete the picture.”8R8j
TwAQOiTo track someone’s whereabouts, one must fully understand their thought process.jbqmaOB
PaJpX“Lady Denise, we’ve reached the tavern district. It’s not the safest area, so please stay close to the guards.”IH1yilw
qpKcg7u“…”5yhUT
JJgh“Lady Denise?”kXWuNPt
dGEmBella, who had been respectfully following Denise, asked again.ft4CgZ
2XNfrBut Denise didn’t answer. She silently touched her chin, murmuring to herself.C7cK
2FvNvSeeing this, Bella concluded it was best to instruct the guards to be more vigilant.tTzNC
vbe“Ambition.”IzQXQa
FDjzmDenise had already followed more than half of Dereck’s trail. No one had told her, but she had guessed his character and pinpointed the principle behind his actions.owpA
JDy3f“A magical mentor who doesn’t reject money must value something more than money. But this is strange.”U8EuQ
aG2C“Whether he found a great magical mentor or a powerful spellbook… Either way, something must have happened that helps his magical mastery. Otherwise, a disappearance like this makes no sense.”gP5w
sqK2j3S“But… isn’t he the one who left the Duplain household to practice magic on his own? It seems unlikely he’d obsess over something without a clear reason…”9Xs8P
HpRHe was someone who had even left the Duplain residence, home of a five-star mage, to pursue magic in his own way.n7JmDJ
CvjrWhat kind of mentor could teach him, and what kind of spellbook could excite him that much?ju8Eez
nF2Denise’s mind began to spin.OAMz
mlLVKynFrom here, she had to gather all the scattered information into one. Every piece of seemingly unrelated data accumulated in the world entered and exited her mind.b1TpAOP
goqThings seen in bulletins. News about the duel between Ellen and Aiselin. Updates on fee agreements between the three major families, market prices of various goods, rumors about a certain mage among the high nobility…lBXIQ4s
z5dPPkeAll the news and information Denise had heard in the past week came together, broke apart, grouped again, then unraveled.d9Zo
rwoEven when she arrived in front of the “Beldern’s Tears” tavern, Denise continued touching her chin in silence, murmuring to herself. At this point, she had a hypothesis in mind.CIQea
72bvWC“Lady Denise, we’ve arrived at our destination.”2fecCUg
EBIMUw“Hmm…”69N0nYl
ndoWithout changing her expression, Denise entered “Beldern’s Tears.”PWMf6R
NfBcGIt was the mercenary group’s headquarters where the magical mentor was based.co1
PdI–Creak.Fua
Qeo“Welcome… Good heavens, such an honorable guest in such a humble place…”Kdau
lDtwgNV“…”8DyNV
0FOrwWhen she opened the door and entered, the owner Jayden greeted her with a smile. It was rare for a noble lady to venture so far into such a rough environment. However, Jayden didn’t seem as flustered as one might expect.yxqGiC
VZTLately, investigators from noble families had been frequently visiting in search of the wandering mage.BKGn5Lp
q1rhnu1At first, he had surely been surprised, but now, perhaps used to hosting nobles, he might even be bored of it.QIhfPLy
mHJ2Seeing Denise, he immediately served a glass of cold water in a clean, antique cup.BoHZxu0
6DU1s“Lady of the Beltus family, it’s an honor to meet you in person.”SnB
DsWm“…”Hhy1bbo
SJa“…”COQNg
TjjOXZDenise entered the tavern but remained silent.NuZS
Dm7Jayden, too, adopted a slightly awkward expression. It was the first time someone had simply stood there, silently observing, after a week of nobles seeking Dereck.HsYNSI
WDnGqWith no word from Denise, Jayden said nothing either, simply offering a strained smile.OgdrWZo
ELWZ40Jayden had already predicted how the conversation would go. They’d ask about Dereck, but Jayden had little concrete information to provide.ZYREk
Vk0dFAfter asking, they’d inquire about Dereck’s whereabouts and then continue investigating the area.HRK1QG
3fpFamiliar with the routine, Jayden remained quiet. Surely, they’d ask many questions about Dereck.tgr05x
Hdzf2However, Denise’s next question completely caught Jayden off guard.DIIpNzh
lNn“Did a mage named Drest Wolfetail visit this tavern?”mGQG
6egIt was a shocking surprise.OfeG
2cOThe question felt like a dagger suddenly driven into his chest, but Jayden only slightly moved his fingertips on the table, betraying a brief silence that lasted less than a second.c5H
nbDCJayden’s expression didn’t change.fdxP5
nvxtFIt was a brief lapse that the average person wouldn’t notice. But Denise didn’t miss it.s8t7Mu
cUoyHBefore Jayden could respond, she lifted the corner of her mouth and said:n0woJXL
9zgvj“He was here, wasn’t he?”OWeM
Ti2With quick certainty, she cut off Jayden’s retreat—and even the seasoned veteran had to swallow hard.qiYG
uBPZ23CIf he rushed to deny it now and it was discovered to be a lie, the situation would be hard to recover.RGy
yWf***VoOR3gM
FJ3HSFrom there, things moved quickly.AmexS
u8b8rKAfter leaving Beldern’s Tears, Denise’s next destination was the Coachmen’s Guild in the Commercial District.igKfzH
zKHyShe donated dozens of gold coins as a contribution to access internal records—a move even ordinary noble investigators wouldn’t dare make so confidently—leaving the guild staff stunned.J4aoAF8
2SUAmong the high nobility, rumors were already spreading that Drest, the six-star seeker mage, was haunting Ebelstain like a ghost.nf422
nMRyRIt was highly unlikely that Drest, with his complicated ties to the nobility, would linger in the noble district. He would clearly be on the outskirts of the Commercial District or in the slums.yWJ
kco2Q0Dereck was someone who had even broken away from the mansion of Duke Duplain, a five-star mage. To attract someone like him, it would literally take a six-star mage.oxfbo
SZyb3tSTherefore, Denise hypothesized: could his departure be connected to the six-star mage Drest Wolfetail?PG1AWRQ
xq72xWAfter seeing Jayden’s reaction and confirming her theory, she immediately reviewed the list of carriages leaving Ebelstain.dZ5
tlfFgnGIf Dereck had indeed met Drest, it was unlikely they remained within the city.LIrhnR
Ra0qN3Drest was someone many sought out. If he decided to impart his magic to Dereck, they would have gone to the outskirts of Ebelstain, to where few dared tread.LMv1r
9ETIlsOHowever, there were over a hundred departure requests from Ebelstain every day.zXeXwJ
X3nAoThe Coachmen’s Guild processed such a volume of applications that it was impossible to review them all quickly. But Denise condensed all that massive data into a single event.XK7wGi
3CVfhAfter all, most carriages leaving Ebelstain followed established trade routes. Adding routine commercial and business travel, nearly nine out of ten entries became irrelevant.gTTUD
RSKClearly, Drest and Dereck, practicing magic in secret, wouldn’t take common trade paths. They would surely head to a “special” place where common folk wouldn’t go.MhC
RHhJThe timeframe was also somewhat fixed—about a week since the disappearance.5h72sQ
FbmWith a clear timeframe and an unusual request, plus a known description of the applicant, it didn’t take long to isolate key data. After several hours of sorting through it with her maids, a pattern emerged.QiZ
8Ld“A vast cave on the outskirts of Ramhel Hill.”xjF
sT51Exactly one week earlier, there was a record of a coachman who received a request from a boy and an elderly man in a cloak.oXXL
ZTxDestination, payment, time of arrival, date, and information about the applicants—all briefly documented.YmER
IoDgUpon seeing the record, Denise smiled.wFdvd7
vQZoJaIt had been just half a day since she’d rolled up her sleeves to find Dereck’s whereabouts.oUpAvYO
VgD15WL***i60dYX
ibp9GA“Bella, the more I think about it, I’m just too competent. What should I do?”8l2G
3Z1w“…”AI2X
gq8sUbD“Being too competent means getting caught up in annoying troubles. Sometimes I need to be a bit more incompetent… Huh… What should I do…”8syyuR
bTEfDenise always carried herself elegantly and nobly in the Rose Hall, but her personal attitude was anything but.Rg1j
sLRJtEdBella had to admit—Denise was proactive, quick-thinking, and had sharp intuition.8fcoUf
tOSC2FPrecisely sorting data, easily reading others’ expressions, and advancing work were her strengths. But connecting the rumors about Drest with Dereck’s ambition was practically deductive reasoning. She had an exceptional instinct.ZTb
BBtMF3Inside the carriage heading to Ramhel Hill.KEzi
qsJxb4Lounging in a luxurious seat and fanning herself, Denise spoke with satisfaction.QB3tC5z
9uE“I need to wrap this up quickly and read the new work by the great writer Reilly. Tonight, I’ll persuade that magical mentor and make him part of the Beltus family. Father will be pleased and won’t bother me for a while.”csyY9j
MhLN3“But… even if we go there, will we be able to find him easily? If he’s really with a six-star seeker mage… if they choose not to meet us, it’s unlikely…”4Eg
NY0N“Don’t worry. Do you really think they won’t show themselves after we go to some remote place and make a fuss?”Ky4
mq4pmW3Denise chuckled with a bit of mischief and spoke as if she had a plan.7NJ
pK9“Even if we don’t meet them, the impression will be etched in their memory. If someone goes to such lengths to find a secluded place to meditate, the sincerity will be felt, won’t it?”gotNAGo
s8NZ“But… even Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen, who are not easy to ignore… will they really be so accommodating…?”9dsu
dxcFZKJ“Don’t worry, Bella. Didn’t I tell you? I have a plan.”t6nyEc
UGB3yZ“May I ask what the plan is?”q9i
2ofWhen Denise rolled up her sleeves, success was guaranteed.FSsF
p3hKtBella knew that well—but she still wore a worried expression. When Denise got serious, her momentum could sometimes take unpredictable turns.Li7wZw
jJfAP“A beauty trap.”vMr
fGHbH36“…”b7z
Pv3“You know as well as I do, Bella, with my charming appearance, anyone would fall. Everyone knows I’m a captivating woman.”q77eX9
1cF“…You do realize Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen are your rivals, right?”Q1V
cp5Fd“So what? I’m more beautiful than them.”udkcw8
2BaTo smile so confidently in comparison to Lady Aiselin, likened to a lily, or Lady Ellen, compared to a radiant rose—that wasn’t something just anyone could do.WJfk
3Tqh6Where did that confidence come from? It was Bella’s eternal question.WFRREA
qjnJ“I feel sorry for Lady Aiselin and Lady Ellen. But… relationships are like the wild—being taken and taking is natural. Hmm.”MZJzUu
8FL7u“…”p8KHa
2mA7kQm“As a representative of the Beltus family, this is a necessary move. But I must also consider how to act if things sour… The Rose Hall must always remain harmonious…”l4tuTS
lxqFHf“…”Agt
LXUum8QBella didn’t respond.XsR
J6nfThough they had been childhood friends, they were still a noble lady and her maid. Worried that harsh words might follow, Bella quickly shut her mouth.hK3uvQN
DptgMhA***JBTF
xiOC3ZJ“Someone is coming.”xipli
Gn1LGoDeep in the cave, Drest Wolfetail, perched on a rock with his eyes shut tight, murmured as he attuned his magic.zeA1JY
iLgCBefore him, Dereck, also focused on the flow of magic, opened his eyes slightly. He hadn’t eaten much in a week. His ration bag was nearly empty.zHdMLLW
Ui47CfCLooking gaunt and unwashed, Dereck appeared almost like a hermit.fNNG
fMLEven so, there was a gleam in his eyes, reminiscent of his days in the slums.Gwcq
W2WGuGFHe was used to conditions like this. Hunger and thirst were just natural hardships of an expedition.fOI
7Qt“Someone’s coming? Are there horses at the cave entrance?”wNY3wP
dTCX“It seems to be someone from the Beltus family. Perhaps it’s a good time to step outside and meet them. The place needs some air.”FQr
1IyDnu“…”8aHiX
KcBA9eWhen Dereck stood from his seat, his entire body screamed in protest. It was the result of pushing his magical senses to the limit for nearly a week. The level he had reached was incomparable to when he trained Ellen.PM53v2
z1TKvDereck closed his eyes tightly and released his magic.sE7
2guYEEven without using a spell, the structure of the nearby cave imprinted itself clearly onto his senses.kdAP
6QyhIYHe had reached a higher level.btKf
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