Chapter 45: Wild Horse (2)
G3xYrAA certain impressive aura made it difficult to approach Diella Katherine Duplain naturally.Hzo
V4ysHNMany noble ladies gathered at the tea sat and stared, unable to step forward with courage.dCtE6t
XrSikHer aura came not just from being the youngest daughter of the Duplain family, but from the cold, glacial attitude she projected.9eFZdsq
FT3ngEOf course, for someone like Denise, the Duplain name alone was enough to keep her from being overshadowed.nPV
Qw0hAmid her disciplined life, she found tranquility in the serene atmosphere of the tea room, relaxing her mind slightly.3kLg
E6NXzARThus, Denise sat comfortably—until Diella’s sudden approach forced her to adjust her posture.gNjN
PMolNZC‘The youngest Duplain daughter is about to debut.’9qN2
O0TZ4pAccustomed to getting irritated easily, Denise adopted the demeanor of a noble lady and assumed the appropriate courtesy.wU551Q
ifuDYEspecially since she often attended Salon Rosé gatherings, where servants adorned her with antique jewelry, making her one of the esteemed trio.SkhZbyw
KVFF“You are Miss Denise of the Beltus family?”luViIKN
wIMU67Diella’s tone blended rudeness and politeness. Though new to Salon Rosé, she gave no indication of intimidation.81FU
ugBO7With a sharp look, Denise quickly sensed Diella’s temperament.2zb9k
5ZbujHer confidence in a room full of foreign nobility came from extraordinary pride. She seemed more arrogant than courteous. Though refined by good mentors, the fierceness of a mustang galloping the plains still remained in her.0mP2a2C
J4A4uFOAt first glance, it was clear she considered most nobles present as inferior. So her silence didn’t discourage Denise—she had never regarded them as equals.9FXF
crMLOnly because she considered Denise her equal did she bother to greet her with minimal courtesy.qA6lqNT
HwZjBut this was a façade; at heart, Diella lacked proper manners. If it had been Ellen approaching, she might have frowned instantly—but Denise was more forgiving in such matters.1POhOY
QIOFSx4“Lady Diella of the Duplain family, right? I heard you’d attend today’s meeting. You are as beautiful and dignified as they said. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”k3HkUr
dhzn“Thank you.”iQWx
bElPraises and respectful words are customary among noblewomen.egEO
pPXIHcAfter receiving this, it was Denise’s turn to reciprocate. Though she could praise Diella’s beauty and elegance, she deliberately chose not to.SrkPTM
r3KVV‘Bold.’lNr
0cBZ1With that word, Denise summed up Diella. Among newly social nobles in Ebelstain, many were either too passive or too daring.IBK7
gLzCr9Diella tended toward the latter. Failing to maintain the proper distance wasn’t a grave offense—one naturally learns to navigate such social whirlwinds.OaGr
cDLr2mIt could be excused as a moment’s lapse.B9qWtj
Qu7o8But Denise had to rethink her judgment after Diella’s next words.2PgOm
iSME“I don’t like empty talk, so I’ll get straight to the point.”zEQ
VJZ5SsX“…”OuMgt
VRLOh“I hear Dereck is with the Beltus family.”8zgXP
NtzzsSIn short, Diella hadn’t ignored etiquette or been rude universally—her hostility was directed specifically at Denise.l0QGWe
kXQJ3W4The reason was, ultimately, the presence of a respected mage under Beltus control.Uj8M
F6D“If you mean Dereck… Yes, he teaches me magic.”FBmTnQR
iGy2When Denise heard Dereck’s name mentioned so suddenly, nausea washed over her. She knew that when this meeting ended, she’d return to the grueling physical training awaiting her at the mansion.p7Wi
JHQpKLately, Dereck had even begun cooking himself, claiming it was good exercise—buying all kinds of food at the market, allowing servants into the kitchen. He seemed fully embedded in the mansion now.B3W
vq7PAnIt was terrifying.DJg
1WUGd2rBut she couldn’t reveal that before nobles, so she managed a tight smile.mnwY
OBk0WC“He is a good magic teacher. His dedication and daily lessons are very beneficial to me. There’s no point bringing him here.”9Hp
klEzIDiella had been Dereck’s first student.8jfuW
YCz3Why she favored the magic-obsessed man was hard to understand—but in essence, she liked Dereck, so it seemed fair to speak well of him.YV7f
xQDW781However, upon hearing Denise’s words, Diella ground her teeth.66sNO
oi1CwRj“He seems good.”vc3Hz2l
tUDYVMm‘…Good? In what way?’MxQ
lDctvDiella seemed almost pleased by Denise’s satisfied comment about Dereck’s teachings, which seemed to irritate her. Now, Denise understood: Diella was jealous.CYR8hSy
L6FRwjdAfter expelling Dereck from the Duplain household, Diella had longed to reunite with him in Ebelstain.nOS
CdVHEoBut by the time of her social debut, Dereck had become embroiled in political rivalry between families—teaching a Beltus young woman.c85
JmL4fYHow much of that was Dereck’s choice remained unclear. No matter how strong his will, coming from a common family, he could be overpowered if the three great families clashed.XLvuWyI
jopyBDiella wanted to know—did Dereck truly teach Denise of his own volition?rSCfJ
XgT0NXIt was hard to believe such an enigmatic character, like a fox, would leave Duplain and refuse Aiselin’s invitation to teach.gHGe
ZL0Pbv3“…”so6
YE3nG8lSeeing Diella glare at her like a growling dog, Denise felt the need to gather her thoughts.kIG
YSZkXjProvoking the hostility of a Duplain young lady was a serious matter.WPQTX7
2BEAlways immaculate in her composure, Denise knew she had to handle this carefully.n8D5kne
3BkBut the more she organized her thoughts, the more angles emerged.23e
KMQ‘…So she wants to take Dereck. My God…’NUDna
I8lLFrom the outside, it seemed the Beltus family had iron control over the magic-crazed man—but in reality, it was he who controlled Denise.ln5
2ZxGIf anyone could claim Dereck, it wouldn’t matter who. But the Duke of Beltus wouldn’t readily allow it.du4q
kICN6SAs though holding a valuable chess piece, the Duke wouldn’t let Dereck go, pursued by other families.hDRBi9
INh8YMUTo secure him, someone would need to offer an equally precious gift. Only those from Belmierd or Duplain might manage such a negotiation.nnHKh7
V04HmwAnd Diella Katherine Duplain was more desperate than anyone to claim Dereck.kUkFE
hJgPPa7Stars began to shine in Lady Denise’s eyes.GjVjze
LBF9Rq“She’s truly noble! A noblewoman has come for me…!”7WkE
nIlV5The atmosphere became palpably tense. A female descendant of a distinguished house, newly arrived in Salon Rosé, was openly confronting the most respected woman there.AekXiS
tDoIn that stiff environment, where no one dared swallow comfortably, Denise herself began to exude an aura behind Diella.c0G
bTIOOMA messenger from the gods, sent from heaven. Seeing her noble figure, it felt as if a savior had appeared.SyoCNqh
G8w“Dereck… to take him…! Are you declaring you’ll take Dereck now…! Oh, God!”l2J6
JdIZ9E9Of course, she didn’t shout it out loud, but she desperately wanted to embrace this beautiful doll-like girl.pAC
HV7If she could return to a life of idling in bed all day, reading third-rate romantic novels, she’d happily abandon such trivial pride.MPO
iXFCBut reason held her back. Dereck was someone the Grand Duke of Beltus himself wanted to retain, signing a contract to keep him.30sP
iUbFor her to step forward and hand Dereck over to the Duplain family, openly in the Salon Rosé meeting under many eyes, would likely damage her status and position within the Beltus family. It would be seen as open defiance of family interests and patriarchal directives.Bn3Q
Gd1yTDeclaring you’d take Dereck right there, with so many watching, would be political suicide.nahiM
l2rdHowever, opportunities like this were rare. It wasn’t just any family, but a young lady from the Duplain family who wanted to take Dereck. Denise had to make the most of the situation.Jh12C
U1TNjo“Miss Denise, you must think this through carefully. The power of the Beltus family is immense, and although a contract has been signed, no one knows what decision Dereck might make in future negotiations with the Duplain family.”xfn
yk724Upon hearing those words, all the noble ladies present swallowed hard. To declare one’s intent to take someone from another family was a serious breach of etiquette.ulqaa
Z46wSuch a declaration of war before a lady of the Beltus family—no matter how angelic Denise appeared—would not be tolerated.rRt1g
abWQc4But Denise herself wore a peaceful expression, as though lying in a field bathed in warm sunlight.O7h6
deg85“Open provocation, yet remaining calm?”p5BbZQ4
Qq520iDiella felt a deep dissonance in Denise’s demeanor. Clearly, the most prominent woman of the Beltus family wasn’t an easy rival.4RA65oy
P18Though insulted openly in front of many, she calmly assessed Diella’s position, her serenity amplifying her dignity.N1haQ
WwDDiella felt like she was facing a massive wall. Denise was the one who had won the competition among the three great families and taken Dereck. There seemed to be a reason for her success—her competence had been different from the start.zY4H5C9
PdPWhile all the nobles in the tea room sweated, Denise replied to Diella with a warm smile.jFoF
yDElAXf“That’s true. No one knows what the future holds.”kb5kF
6U77t“…”yOvnh7w
C3dO5K5Diella clenched her teeth.zVZz
RG6FvxTo speak so casually about taking Dereck, yet remain composed, showed she saw Dereck more as a political tool than a valuable magic teacher.Bnh
SZlIt was a waste to teach magic to someone like that, when Dereck’s talent was so precious.EDrry
rdyt“If you want to be a good teacher, you must be a student worthy of being taught. It’s clear that Lady Diella is a valuable person who could become a great mage.”8A1
dSfsdIh“…”eq0Z
ziDMGd“So, please, be careful.”6YerUOt
KMkiytYIt was sincere advice, without ulterior motive. For now, it was all Denise could offer.gc7sUBp
ZYpBut to Diella, it sounded like provocation.ZxCqVd1
hIcJ2“If you wish to see Dereck, send a private letter. I can arrange a meeting whenever you wish. I’m willing to help.”RrK
Mo1“No, thank you.”84Qi
fBXVNQWThough genuinely kind, Diella clenched her jaw and turned away sharply.K7ZIcV1
pb4A chill lingered in the air as she clenched her fists and walked away.nrVXr
L1igFTG“Please, be strong…!”W52A
v8JuU9Even in the suffocating atmosphere of the tea room, Denise sent words of encouragement to the lovely and admirable Diella, with clenched fists.FgpElPD
wjCOAll the nobles trembled, but to Denise, Diella looked beautiful.QCoM
BzJ***m71s
1qQIdDiella’s pre-debut visit became the talk of Salon Rosé for the rest of the day. Later, during the tea gathering, she shared pleasant conversations with Lady Ellen of the Belmierd family and her own sister, Aiselin.lLV
SXNUnlike her overt hostility toward Denise, she showed very noble elegance with the other ladies.3Pdx
1DV42d5But the women of the salon had already noticed—Diella possessed a wild, untamable spirit that no one could control. Anyone who tried to use her lightly would be met with a sharp bite in return.Scj
s4K9B36She managed to give the impression of someone not to be trifled with. After her successful debut, there was speculation that she might form a new faction alongside the other three major ladies of society.H00vig
zQtf5Lesser nobles, swaying like reeds, feared most who would become the most influential figure in Ebelstain’s social circle. Ultimately, choosing a side didn’t just determine personal prosperity, but the future of family power.HpkPUs
dAohOxdThe dangerous social circle of Ebelstain was built solely on ambition and desire for advancement.bQY
x4srIt was now a truth that seemed all too obvious. Denise left the tea gathering, tainted by that ambition, and walked through the noble district’s main street. She chose to walk with her servants rather than take a carriage, longing for some fresh air.pfe
gCWDXtIf she went home now, the mage would no doubt follow with blazing eyes, reciting the schedule for the next magic training session. She missed the moments of rest.Q2tDZ
qlGxJ1Z“Ugh…”0wL
KHTNot only Aiselin, but Diella too wanted to claim the teacher. Ellen was also looking for opportunities.4Ed
rPpm8DMoreover, as rumors of the great mage spread, lesser nobles began inquiring, hoping to seize the chance.mPp6zEB
r8G“I understand he’s a great mage, but… is he really worth all this fuss?”zH33CIl
PvCSeeing everyone’s reaction, Denise felt as though she was holding a massive treasure. But she herself didn’t feel superior.aTtKs
IWw56iR“Anyway… if I want to be free of the mage named Dereck soon, we need a reason. Yes, if Miss Diella wants him that much… let’s give her the chance to take him.”hEs0zpX
2GlLdOn the way back to the mansion, Denise thought deeply about how to pass Dereck on to Diella naturally, cleanly, and without consequence.oUX5Z
4IiZekWhen she finally settled her thoughts, the grand mansion at the corner of the noble district came into view.M1d0xt
Af85uG4“…”jH3Z
hqIYrDereck stood silently near the entrance, arms crossed. His mercenary uniform was pristine, and with his striking white hair streaked with silver, gleaming red eyes, and composed expression, he was always the same.37W
SJVEven from afar, his presence was unwavering. Like an unshakable mountain. No matter the chaos, if he was on your side, it felt like he would see you through to the end.rBs3Mt
mxbyQThat must be the key to his fame as a mercenary. After all, clients wanted someone who would stay until the end.QwsvkHG
SWgPA“You’re back already, Miss Denise?”Iyv
3iADo“W-were you waiting here?”bkdzY
2XNdO“Yes. You don’t usually take the carriage for distances you can walk, right?”I3XOz
aMt8uDereck had already memorized all of Denise’s quirks and little habits.2Mk
0nKiK“What are you planning to do today?”YHC
fxzD“Nothing special. The weather’s expected to worsen later, so I’ll practice magic inside the mansion.”vvk7kc
ZHs“Ugh…”ASl
PUYnaII“We won’t push magic to the limit. For now, let’s start gently with what you’ve already mastered…”ymAHHPQ
VvsDAs they naturally discussed her schedule while entering the mansion, for the servants, this scene had become completely familiar. Unwittingly, Denise was being guided by Dereck without resistance.pVguRA
8ZYHer expression still showed dismay, but having accepted her fate, a part of her felt more at ease. After all, constantly fighting with Dereck no longer felt strange.zSzCv
CXDdoPbThis is what it felt like when someone seeped into your daily life. Like clothes dampened by a drizzle.DKlnU
g7NhaThough she always spoke of wanting him gone, Dereck had already become part of Denise’s everyday life.1sqLsW
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