Chapter 38: Denise (4)
GimVrB“I asked about the Duplain estate, and it seems Lady Aiselin plans to come to Raspah Cave in person. The servants are already busy preparing for the trip.”Z3r
OGG7ycbThe next morning, Bella, who had gone to the estate to collect supplies, brought back news. It wasn’t good news for Denise.Klr
K3s“…”gSo1OtS
nnn“What should we do, Lady Denise?”drI1ff
4ZuiG“What can we do if Aiselin herself is making a move? Who could stop her?”mYDEc
YC7n6WyDenise’s expression grew complicated. Although she was a girl full of confidence, she couldn’t help but think that the man wouldn’t be able to refuse Aiselin if she came in person.LxSYK7i
12NDbnYIn fact, he would probably respond quite positively. Sinking into her luxurious tent, Denise finally let out a long sigh.IJFG
6ogyWT“It seems I must admit a slow defeat. That man, as unyielding as a folding screen, will never teach me magic, no matter what I do.”IpXIO
ywAgk“That’s right… winning someone’s heart isn’t easy.”tNBprqm
VBh5wh0Denise was someone with strong confidence and self-esteem, but she was also the type to honestly admit her shortcomings.p0B
EAMFGShe knew well that forcing something not meant to be would only cause greater damage. Pushing harder or belittling herself would only backfire.lLUFD
pT3cn“Yes, I put a lot of effort into coming all the way to Raspah Cave when I could’ve just stayed lying comfortably at the estate. Bella, slowly inform the estate. I’ll return soon.”kEwhN
bdt“Yes, yes… I’ll tell the butler. Should we leave all the supplies here?”dvh1
rUt7MS“Moving them would be tiring too, so leave them all for Master Dereck the magician.”eL7eup
2jScZjWith a deep sigh, Denise seemed deeply disappointed. To others, it might have looked like she was being dismissive, but Bella, who had known her for so long, could easily understand.eTJ
Vl5uThe stronger someone’s belief in their abilities, the more deflated they seemed when shaken.SKA
YsnLBella often found Denise’s sky-high confidence irritating, but inevitably felt a tug at her heart whenever Denise showed rare vulnerability.rSGAB
8agqMAfter all, they had been together since childhood. Knowing her so well, Bella also felt melancholic whenever Denise was unusually down.Etu
4oASA“Let’s say goodbye one last time before we go. Who knows if our paths will cross again in the future? Let’s think of it as an investment for later.”qGzo
paFfiWith that, Denise let out a hollow sigh, her eyes reopening from fatigue as she prepared to return to helpless reality.yXKnvmm
U5vbBella, resting her chin on her hand, sank into thought before speaking with some skepticism. She often pointed out things Denise hadn’t considered.qic
p1TjUC“Aiselin is certainly exceptional in many ways, but I wonder about her as a student.”887jyz
teCjo“Huh?”YRR1xEx
MSzSzWO“Well, you know. Aiselin has mastered two-star magic at her age, and that’s truly remarkable. But honestly, how many teachers in the world could actually teach someone like that? Or does she even need a teacher?”GRur2Xx
UanXejBBella tried to offer Denise a new perspective. More than just a personal maid, she was Denise’s companion.Ld1m
Nxya“If I were to teach someone like her, I’d feel pressured right away. Sure, being Aiselin’s teacher isn’t an opportunity anyone can take lightly, but Dereck the magician doesn’t seem like someone swayed by family background.”dtX
nfnkH8“…”36g
0agiKyi“A true magic teacher seeks those who need guidance—especially if they have principles.”r2NsC
PLHUDereck was someone with clear convictions.5URPGm2
0NpnHe would do anything for magical mastery and tended to make decisions uninfluenced by social status. Bella had observed him over the past few days and was starting to understand this about him.A4xvs5
puEbBWould Dereck take on Aiselin as a student just because she came from the wealthy Duplain family?rdrC
ogpFKFHe wasn’t someone who made such one-dimensional judgments. In other words, there was still a chance for Denise.cRhFr
BRjCTitDenise had promised Dereck wealth and exceptional treatment to persuade him, praising the virtues of the Beltus family and the bright future he’d have as her magic teacher.qDr9O8f
CPqeHcBut if she truly wanted to persuade Dereck… she needed a different approach.55u
57gqIMThe extent of the exceptional treatment he’d receive wasn’t the main point. Denise, though capable of diverse thinking, had never considered this aspect for one simple reason: she had lived her entire life as a noble.2PFbz
namlXCThus, Bella, a commoner and servant, could think of things that would never occur to Denise. Bella saw Dereck not just as a commoner, but as an honorable magician.wsO
vKz“Dereck must have more important criteria than treatment or family background when choosing a student.”ZvT
T4ybVMost commoners would wag their tails eagerly for wealth and honor. But Dereck, with his mysterious aura, couldn’t be influenced by such things.tjl
wf1“As you know, he’s not stingy with his teaching. He even said he’d consider the Duplain family’s request positively.”fAzPTFx
IEU“Then what are you trying to say, Bella?”lRw
1taX8“Perhaps the most important thing more than the treatment you offer the magician… is your own worth, Lady Denise.”LRU6OF
rZnFLBella’s eyes were more serious than ever.32JHD
5TF0jq“‘Is she someone worth teaching?’ That’s the question.” No matter how good the instruction, if it meant nothing to the recipient, no one would want to mentor them.QKUHL
VaDOrmlTherefore, what Denise needed to show Dereck wasn’t noble treatment or family background.RvmaS
ei98kUIt was how worthwhile she was to teach. That was the question. Denise sat silently on the bed for a moment. Seeing the situation through Bella’s eyes, she felt the pieces in her mind slowly begin to align.ck3C
wQK50Over the past few days, every time Denise visited, Dereck paused his training to listen to her.vPS6lo
RaKFXzThough he spoke of inappropriateness and interruption, he observed Denise’s reactions, heard her various proposals, and though he always ended with a similar conclusion, he consistently voiced his rejection.a2IHqLa
DySiHHe was someone trained by a six-star seeker mage. As they said, if he didn’t want to meet her, he could’ve avoided her entirely. Yet there was a reason he kept meeting her, listening to her proposals, and politely declining each time.oh5Y
CddzdIt wasn’t just out of respect for a noble lady from a prestigious family. Even with tired eyes, he kept watching Denise.qxOdm
zLces6l“Testing me, measuring my capacity,” Denise realized. Only then did she begin to see a bit of the true intent hidden behind his ritualistic refusals.spE
DjwHe had been waiting for Denise to show her sincerity, to reveal her true self. Finally, Denise understood. She was the one being evaluated.Gnw
fVfqKThe magician named Dereck was not someone who could be persuaded or manipulated. With her thoughts now in order, her perspective seemed to broaden. And then she felt confident.ZJo
hvON“…Of course, Bella, your words are true, but they don’t mean much…”uzIwut
YSuILZDenise already knew. Even if she laid all her cards on the table, Dereck wouldn’t be swayed.c0hh7
UUVmShe was, in essence, someone who couldn’t convince Dereck.Sm2
OPfu6S9***i9gGg
GzYYTNf“Hello.”0gh
KUJoGxIn the depths of the cave, there was no sunrise or sunset.nVu31
bJVCONRNaturally, without being able to distinguish between day and night, Dereck had no clear idea how much time had passed while feeling the magical flow and training.4vT
tbPusOHowever, Denise would occasionally inform him about the passing of time, so he could roughly guess that another day had passed each time she visited.4qxc
SjTM0jSo, when Denise arrived again today without fail, Dereck was about to greet her politely.ituQPJ
shmbLnAfter spending so much time facing Denise, there was no longer any tension. But today, Denise’s demeanor was clearly different.vop
9IJveShe brought no maids or guards, and didn’t speak with her usual dignified eloquence.CsdE
gzxDJcThe respectful tone she used to maintain was gone, and she simply arrived and greeted Dereck indifferently. Dereck’s eyebrows twitched for a moment, then, without much reaction, he bowed his head and said:QxBYQV5
CLF9“You came again today.”TnGzy
kJkQ“Yes. I thought it was time to give up.”DuDGvwo
XSUPqBDenise had already stopped pretending it wasn’t necessary. Again and again, she knew that Dereck had seen through all her façades.abTn
V1ANUaUWhat use was there in talking anymore? She silently approached and sat in front of the rock where Dereck was seated, finally showing her bare, unguarded face.u9RfVP
G3nvOTP“You really are something. How can you not even flinch even though I’ve been coming here every day?”7sRT
MzW“You’ve treated a commoner magician far too generously. When you return to the estate, please find someone more suitable to teach the young lady of House Beltus.”SyUiU
lNQ“That’s enough. You know just as well as I do that I didn’t come here to learn magic. I just figured I’d be the first to get you since you’re the popular magic teacher these days.”wRg
Ua2Dereck was quite certain of her blunt attitude. She had indeed dropped her thin mask.TBdZ2nr
Hv7WoF“It’s not like I was overly eager to persuade someone, and it seems you’ll be teaching Lady Aiselin, so I suppose I’ll give up too.”CLOR4
bx6“Well, I said I’d consider it positively, but that doesn’t mean I promised to teach Lady Aiselin.”0Rg
q297UZ“Oh, listen to you—leaving the door open. You rascal.”MLl
gwpDM“…”MhdlwT
L6PZ“…”2SAN
klRWhen Dereck looked at her with an expression that said, “What are you talking about?”, Denise sighed deeply. It seemed she could finally catch a glimpse of what Dereck was really like.1S8
axcMNo matter what tricks she used, this man would never fall for them. At this moment, Denise was sure of that.nx8
IRr“Lady Aiselin will personally come to Raspah Cave today.”N7F
hEMN“…”c1X
S0LCW“Since we’re here, I might as well say it—you’re right. I don’t really like magic all that much.”6Ls4
TCAHLady Denise spoke while sighing, her voice tinged with resignation.R3ylG8
MB0i“It used to be fun, but over time, I liked it less and less. So I don’t have much ambition for magical achievement. To someone as immersed in magic as you, I must look like a burnout.”DOf
MYO“I don’t think that far…”8IRys
xfB“You do—in your heart. Well, it’s not surprising that you wouldn’t consider me your student.”PXfnFJ
7NonpKThe more Denise watched Dereck engrossed in magic, the more her confidence waned.0no1pnB
nzJGYDereck’s passion for magic was genuine. Certainly, someone with a strong desire for achievement like Aiselin would be the perfect apprentice for him.mxsq
lI1AyOTDenise, at some point, had stopped seeking magical success.JkNK0
TUGQ“Why don’t you like magic?”iW0
PjtspsD“…”3hnJTPI
lQLDenise, quietly seated on the rock in front of him, stayed silent for a moment.8a5AT
cFQ8kbzIt was the first time Dereck had asked her something personal. He had ignored her when she chattered, but now that she was unguarded, he finally showed interest. He was truly unpredictable.oXVq
9lc“Magic is supposed to be fun, right?”2m056eV
tAbe“Isn’t it always? Back then… it seemed fun…”BHT1TL
kGNDenise sighed deeply as she reflected.QRH
BYNIndeed, there was a time in her youth when she studied magic all day. As the favored lady of House Beltus, who received the attention of the elders, she had immersed herself in magic from a young age.jUGU
P4FIKoOClosing her eyes, it felt like the darkness etched a picture of her younger self on her retina.Blz3W6F
aPhBoSA liar and lazy, living with a “good enough” mindset, there must’ve been a time when she actively participated in everything. It was a distant past, from when she was still too young, but she had once been pure.NExIls4
hkQizlHowever, the moment her passion faded and was lost came unexpectedly.sSX
lpnnB2W“It wasn’t exactly that magic was fun—but rather, the reactions from my family praising every achievement I made.”JEX8Zdi
44ia4The girl would hide in a corner of her room, devouring various magic books, constantly refining her power whenever she had time.3cmlO3
qXyWas the process fun? Not really. It was more exhausting and draining. But each time she presented her achievements to her family, they clapped and rejoiced.IwDo
9L73hzyAs a true mage of the Beltus family, everyone beamed with joy. And when they smiled, Lady Denise smiled too.5BxG
iDsI‘Well done.’ ‘Good job.’ ‘You did great.’ ‘Impressive.’ ‘Outstanding.’MWc
sk7Amid such praise, the naïve girl deluded herself into thinking magic was fun.MqQpi7
ZmPBYfUpon realizing this, Denise could only open her eyes.DYH0pqQ
qmnSeeing Dereck, who remained unmoved, she wondered if her misplaced enthusiasm had stemmed from his pure love for magic—envious of his total devotion to it.nMsC1L9
8iEShe finally understood why she had displayed such inappropriate passion. The bitter aftertaste still lingered on her tongue.PJYItgV
g6H2“Just by doing magic exercises every day, one day, in the middle of a pile of books, the thought suddenly popped into my mind—‘Why am I doing this?’”yNxWlf
Ch1m5Y“…”zZsd8T
z47“That was it. There was no big catalyst or tearful backstory. Like most people, one day… I changed.”keHHd
sI0YBoth Denise and Dereck knew.zL2dxjN
9ZDChanges in life values don’t always occur through dramatic, meaningful events.0qg3yH
s6t6RIn a silent room, on a table piled with books, a thought crept in behind the darkness, accompanied by the sound of insects outside the window.CN8H
c01And then, looking around, there was only a young girl tirelessly refining her magic every day.wK3Tu
WupPaXSeeing the scattered books and magic tools, and herself striving hard, even at the cost of sleep, she wondered why she had never questioned it before.FKTT
5i12mgZ‘Why am I doing this?’gmq
PaHqUhA question so simple.yl94naH
CEGADenise wasn’t interested in magic. If anything, she preferred debating skills or writing.PddmQEo
UUqVaBAlthough she had achieved some success, her magical talent wasn’t obvious at first. The repeated training was no more than self-inflicted suffering. Still, she worked hard for praise.vvGUEp
EehX51Grand Duke Beltus always seemed pleased when Denise reached a higher level, feeling that the Beltus name had risen. The elders felt the same.AC4gVq7
JPFkjIBut one night, while the girl was engrossed in her spellbook, a sudden unease crept in.N4X29ap
8BTxkSwThat was when she realized her focus wasn’t on her own achievements, but on the prestige of the family name—a wave of doubt struck her without warning.o6L
4hJLike tripping on a stone while running, everything stopped. She felt like she collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.Ehsz
pA6fayWhat would she call this feeling? Too big to call it frustration, too small to call it emptiness. She didn’t try to define the twisted emotion.LpO
XucNvMIt wasn’t sorrow deep enough to grieve, nor a trivial issue to ignore.hIVBaT
l4aHShe realized her life was like a cart with square wheels. Somehow moving toward a destination, but inevitably, it would collapse from exhaustion someday. If not now, structurally, it would happen eventually.MdQ1mK3
DrFCAcESo the girl abruptly got up from her desk and lay in her bed. As she slowly sank into the soft blanket, she finally felt something that had weighed her down—like shackles—had been released.OqTr
bUjC8pThus, the girl’s time dissolved into her luxurious bed.nMoL
fMrsNEtSeasons passed, flowers bloomed and withered, the sun rose and set. As she disliked the sunlight entering her dark room, she would draw the heavy curtains, live just enough, and let it all pass.DwT
DUrwf69On the mandatory days at the Rose Hall, she saw ambitious young ladies like Aiselin and Ellen. From her seat as an observer, resting her chin in her hand with indifferent eyes, she’d occasionally murmur to herself. Everyone was living seriously.YoeOLg
17RThey rejoiced like they were leaping into achievements, clenched their teeth in defeat, tossed between superiority and inferiority, reveling and blaming themselves—joys and sorrows, like alternating hot and cold baths. Thus, the hall was full of people navigating life’s waves in their own way.bmYT
lQYaThe girl, resting her chin and watching indifferently, always had similar thoughts.RWDYN
zWvosWVEveryone’s struggling.s75Lk
VlUTIC“I’ve thought a lot, and… I guess I envy you.”gMd3
F6bWh“…”G0k
gSwVom“Surely, someone like you will become a great magician.”IGmP
aHi2j4With that, the girl who had let go of all her burdens rose from her seat. The accomplishments of the boy named Dereck were entirely his own. He received no backing from a wealthy family, no support from anyone, and had no expectations from a family chasing worldly power. He wasn’t ‘of a family’—he was simply Dereck.ZZFjXES
QgnYwBut Denise didn’t prattle on with such self-satisfying words. For someone, having an exceptional family background and full support might be their most pressing need.TALHj8B
7BbgRShe wasn’t careless enough to speak sweet nothings in front of a boy from the slums who had grown up in the harshest of environments.tIV3
d4etSo she simply acknowledged the boy’s accomplishments in silence and rose from her seat.VlZ
HWS“We’ll meet again, if fate allows.”hfDZqGx
aREisWith a casual wave, Denise walked toward the exit of the cave, her steps as slow and weary as ever.W4e
8V8TSeeing Denise’s languid walk, Dereck suddenly spoke.i6u92
QUwCcZ0“Still, let me clarify one thing. Magic is a deeper and more fascinating field of study than Lady Denise imagines.”GblYHp
1dHvHHc“…”1XM028s
WWBBP8v“It’s not like I loved magic from the start and decided to study it. I was just a slum kid, desperate to cling to any magician I saw, gritting my teeth to be taught—just to survive. Like others, I got involved when I learned.”H7TjO
Ozpm0sDereck spoke without making eye contact with Denise. Denise could easily imagine the young mage’s life. In any case, the path he’d walked was closer to a thorny road than a bed of roses.5edwi
FG3rH“Don’t hate magic too much.”vupB
NXsiUml“You’re always so consistent.”pNClZu
Q2d5ZWith a hollow laugh, Denise replied.9A9j
yX9***YgM
8cQFWhen Denise emerged from the entrance of the cave, the Duplain family’s servants had already arrived in force.YjU
UDptThey were guarding a luxurious carriage. It was obvious who was inside.J5K
9jW0As Denise composed herself and walked past the carriage, Aiselin stared at her wide-eyed.RQN51
ZSvZI5When Aiselin hurried to step out of the carriage to show her respect, Denise waved a hand, stopping her.vO953Av
SjBAs always, with a tired expression and only the barest hint of courtesy, she passed Aiselin’s carriage and headed toward the plains.DGhtm5L
oGfNo one in the world could reject Aiselin’s sincerity, who had come to the cave with such respect. In the end, she was the only one who could possibly persuade the rough magic master.PKS
SbjZnSeated in the carriage on the way back to the mansion, Denise looked up at the vast sky.eDVOxs
tZmplTV“The sun is too bright. Ugh…”VHnq00
qime5Sz“Things didn’t go according to plan this time. I’ll inform the Duke that we tried but it didn’t work.”btW46
YXvEVF“Well, if it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t meant to be. Father won’t be too stingy about it. Being beautiful and smart doesn’t solve everything, right?”n2AM
IbCrg”…”Plv0v1
EG2Denise always enjoyed Bella’s changing expression whenever she shamelessly boasted with a straight face. She laughed inwardly and then, resting her chin on the window sill, looked up at the sky again.cgLwvbN
8xr“Let’s go home and just call this a failure.”yNEhlss
w5RBA strange sense of relief mixed in with the weight pressing down on her. The next day, shocking news swept through the Rose Hall.m4C
DrYH6Aiselin of the Duplain family had personally brought her maids to the outskirts of Ebelstain, but the magic master named Dereck had politely declined to teach her.cECM
pzsdThose who called themselves magic masters would usually cling to the hem of her skirt and beg to have her as a student.ByWUa9a
afroThe noble ladies were already in an uproar that morning, wondering how anyone could refuse Aiselin, such a precious talent that even she had been rejected.HgPmkwY
jQepHe claimed that Aiselin was too vast a vessel to teach. How could one contain a whale meant to roam the ocean in a mere stream?WoLIkt
qt6UfZtAnd so, his polite refusal, which honored her and preserved her dignity, circulated throughout the hall for a while.24WKUyj
iJx5“Wow… he’s even more obsessed with magic than I imagined…”RDr7
XrbuRUpon hearing the news that morning, Denise blinked in disbelief.3Y0p
uFbShe knew he was unpredictable, an incomprehensible enigma. But to turn down Aiselin, of all people… Even after hearing it clearly, Denise had to doubt her ears.ioo
Qj3AE2T‘He said he’d wait until my training was done, but he refused… Just how deeply is he buried in his magical pursuit?’QQmr
HrQJIt happened while she was walking down the corridor of the Beltus house for breakfast.mDdJRmL
CPeh5She had finished eating early and was about to return to Ebelstein when she ran into the Duke of Beltus, leading several attendants out of his office.Wlq8XG
cnNbQGThe two were far from having a warm familial bond.5g5X3Nb
3u6iStill, Denise managed a warm smile and behaved gracefully.BQLFTG
lIT9F“Father. Good morning. The weather today…”GQhBkrV
m48p8ha“Oh, Denise. My dear daughter.”tOFBS
ksg47The Duke of Beltus approached her with a beaming smile, moving closer to pat her shoulder. Though they maintained family formality, they had never been this affectionate. Hiding her growing panic, Denise responded.Az6
tpARcaD“Ah, Father?”2NYsoj
Apa4O“A letter arrived this morning. The mage from Raspah Cave has sent a letter to the Beltus family, inquiring about several conditions. It seems he rejected Duplain’s offer and is considering ours.”3M9U
eh1Tqq“You mean… Aiselin’s?”ZFTm
iLrSG“Yes. It seems you are the most capable when it comes to high society matters, Denise. Unlike superficial nobles, the way you handle things is different. Truly, my dear daughter is the most reliable. Ha ha ha!”8cTyxIB
BrtaWThe Duke of Beltus laughed heartily, his voice rising with his good mood. He seemed extremely pleased with the news of having secured Dereck over the Duplain and Belmierd families.pnXjlY9
qMjd“Truly, Denise, you’re the best! How did you persuade such a stoic man…? I wonder what your secret is!”Znv0v
MSRAERu‘He chose me? Over Aiselin?’oBcB
U5daDenise herself was utterly stunned. She was the most curious of all about how this had come to be.P3l
ENFIn her heart, she had admitted that Dereck was not someone one could realistically hope to secure. And yet, he had rejected all offers and chosen her.AE309w
zJQn‘…But why???’PDZfs
ue1DcMHe was someone who never moved according to the world’s expectations. Denise couldn’t comprehend what was happening, her eyes darting around in confusion.2Dz
6yVWShe had to admit it.39N
aMO8sTrying to measure a man like Dereck was a futile effort from the start.oqIz5
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