Chapter 46: Wild Horse (3)
styHKTo the dear Miss Diella,lAO
e8BnEyLIt has been quite some time since the end of spring, yet the nights remain cold. During these important days for you, I hope you take good care of your health.EZYQ6
bIqjUThe reason I write this secret letter with a quill is because it saddens me to see that you harbor resentment toward me.Dv2l
a6IicWAlthough I cannot express it openly in public, I have no reason to be your enemy, Miss Diella. Above all, I have always wished to be rid of the magic instructor named Dereck whom you mentioned.ZAUF
oJyGoMAs you well know, the Beltus family is not willing to dismiss Dereck. Therefore, my desire to do so runs counter to my family’s interests.pWvNP5u
xMALIPBy expressing this intention, I feel as though I’m exposing a weakness to you, Miss Diella. If you see this letter as a lie or a ruse, you are free to take it and present yourself directly to the Beltus family.tdV
M6RAUIf you deliver this letter to my father, it will be reported that a noble lady of the Beltus family has acted against our house. Of course, this would also gravely damage my own position.fla
Plkj3HXThe reason I’m revealing my vulnerability so openly is simple—our interests are aligned.lbX
gcEAs I mentioned, I deeply wish for someone, anyone, to take away the magic instructor named Dereck.7MB
6D70However, I cannot make decisions on matters that affect the family’s true interests alone, so I would like to make a proposal.oWnLp
mG9OA magic duel.lGHKR
KClO9I will wager Dereck. Miss Diella, please wager something of equal value.fmf
4e5YJfrConsidering that the three great families all covet this magic instructor, a trivial bet would not suffice for a duel—but in truth, that does not matter. After all, I intend to lose the duel.LZdI0C
V2r1VRIf the Duplain family wagers something valuable enough to convince my father, we can make this duel a reality.m5h
zEdOLosing the duel and handing over Dereck is something I can accept. It would be seen as a mistake on my part, but not rebellion—rather, an act openly against the family’s wishes. I am willing to take that risk.S6h
qMgAs I mentioned in the tea room, Dereck truly is a good magic instructor and will be someone even more remarkable in the future. But I am not worthy of someone like him.Kl8G
HSxxkhA good tutor shines even brighter when matched with a good student. I hope someone as exceptional as Lady Diella can take away this treasure named Dereck.QtRnMBc
hH9MxUuPlease respond to me.TmoIyT
8QtI must reiterate: since my position in the family is at stake, make sure this letter is not leaked.Tu0m
f3YLiSSDenise73H2IE
m7wOYI8***cS6r
2RK7Cri, cri.M3WJ
BdeDawn arrived accompanied only by the chirping of crickets beyond the window frame.qltX1X
NpYIn the darkness, Denise’s hand moved swiftly with the quill as she leaned over a small candle.XbwH
w19SEDIt seemed quite urgent—she wrote the letter while occasionally glancing at the door or window to ensure no one discovered her.EHok
f7Pn6RAfter all, she had to send this letter to Diella somehow, as she was the only one who could take Dereck away right now.webJ
Snl“I hope there aren’t any mistakes from my haste… Let’s read it through once more. Even if it’s a little clumsy, Lady Diella will understand.”0T7
YXRvOfSince it would do no good for anyone else to know the contents of this letter, Denise wanted to finish it quickly.GA0
3JKIt was practically proof that Denise herself was actively going against the wishes of the Beltus family. Not even the family’s servants could be allowed to see it.CfQvx
dvlVzWith that in mind, she glanced toward the door—and accidentally met the eyes of the butler, who was patrolling the hallway late at night.mAkz
6GYOk“Ah…”X9i
fyXl“…!”fmAld
lsUA2fLThe butler also seemed a bit surprised. But he had long been supportive of Denise in his own way. Without showing panic, he whispered softly:jiVkSr
m8t“I sensed a presence and thought there might be an intruder, so I came to check.”zsDqNxX
LDp6WP“I, this… I mean…”sFd
vB0“Oh, no, it’s nothing. I’ve confirmed there are no intruders, so I’ll be on my way. I apologize… um… for interrupting your concentration… Please… continue your writing in peace!”rM38hq
y0eOY7“…”jqsa
yIGORGThe butler, considerate of Denise’s feelings, quickly disappeared into the darkness of the hallway. His departure felt almost like a retreat.ZsiYHbN
8E7D“…”HFrx1a
RTJEQQwDenise couldn’t help falling into a distant, complicated mood.Un0Bx
kRsna***9RKks
WC3RAs the seasons changed, warmth began to spread across the southwest of the empire.CWg62
J1F8uThe romantic and mild spring landscape gradually receded, giving way to lush greenery. The servants of the Duplain estate were busy each day preparing for the upcoming heat.SRxUgv
2b2Chiek!DeJdYiV
xK93kd1Ding! Clack! Clack!NCoXb
ejNThough every day was hectic, today was certainly even more so.1sZf0
4mql5It was the day when the family troops, who had departed to conquer the White Zone in the northern territory, would reunite for the first time.vZ7P
CRMValerian and Leigh, who had brought only their most trusted lieutenants and outstanding soldiers, now entered through the estate gates.kSl
PUqThe two brothers, riding large white horses, wore thick, splendid armor. Following them were soldiers and their uncle Flam, who had accompanied them as their mentor. A veteran four-star mage, he had provided the Duke Duplain’s sons with valuable knowledge on battlefield command.yZFzR
HKrPrince Valerian, the leader of the group, already radiated the dignity of a noble.k4MhWv
nSDjuF9“Father. The conquest of the White Zone remains difficult, but it hasn’t been without success.”TZKsN
nb0Valerian, who had returned after repelling monsters in the White Zone and exploring several dungeons, appeared several years more mature.zeyc
ejgwThe Duke of Duplain, pleased by his eldest son’s appearance, rose from his desk, approached the still-armored Valerian, and patted him on the shoulder.Pdex4Y2
ueVx“I’m glad to see you return so spirited from your first battle.”C8k
qYyKj“No, as I mentioned, we’ve conquered a few dungeons near the White Zone. Not many, but the monster population along the border has significantly decreased.”lXk
ATdq“Indeed. You can’t expect to feast with the first bite. It’s enough that you’ve returned safely. You must’ve learned a lot from Flam, yes?”JKxd
bcBY5a“Yes. Uncle, being a veteran soldier, taught us much about leading troops. I’m sure we’ll achieve even more on the second expedition.”6JwLbWh
u4xThe Duke also looked at Leigh, who stood behind Valerian with arms crossed.BqHuf
yTMIThe second son had grown much sturdier compared to when he trained alone at the estate. The other two great families, Belmierd and Beltus, were impressive, but one reason they could never surpass the Duplains was the presence of such reliable heirs.88xjh
agKGcJRobenalt, the eldest of the Beltus family, was diligent but lacked talent and capability, still far from reaching his potential. The Belmierd children had either scattered or entered the clergy, leaving their eldest daughter Ellen to bear the burden.633
lETfwLHowever, the Duplain family was complete—from Valerian, Leigh, and Aiselin to Diella—no one lacking, and many rumors spoke of the family’s abundant and brilliant offspring.a7QM
SvYn4V3This was why Duke Duplain could sleep soundly, even as Grand Duke Beltus and Count Belmierd eyed his position with envy.gCA
ka1naH“I’ve brought back some soldiers who achieved great feats in the conquest of the White Zone. They fought for our house’s glory, even risking their lives; please be sure to commend them.”Z2J
EFj“Yes. Invite them to tonight’s dinner. Aiselin and Diella will also come to the estate upon hearing of your return. Be sure to see them before dinner.”YOH6
H2YuJ“Oh, really?”nVN
tC3yNIt had been a while since Valerian had seen his beloved younger sisters. His face brightened, though Leigh, behind him, wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.j9ac
a4Sc9ajAiselin was one thing, but Diella still seemed uneasy and wary around Valerian. The awkwardness from their turbulent childhood memories still lingered.gp1D6W
gFOEEjWhether it was Valerian or Leigh, both held a strong desire to reconcile with the teenage girl, but Diella’s strange discomfort remained unchanged.jkkEY5
vXgOqIn the end, the two strong men would find themselves bewildered and embarrassed in front of Diella, their awkwardness reminiscent of a third-rate comedy.0mQ4y8T
P7LIED“Don’t worry, Leigh. I’ve prepared a secret weapon.”oLU
yoA1“…What?”WBguDd
zqKyZSeeing Leigh’s expression, Valerian seemed to read his mind and said:QnMTh
ZmKW“Don’t you remember that item we took from the dungeon during the White Zone conquest? It was Rainteheim clay.”hAKhAkI
oqWrses“Ah… That? I heard it’s very valuable—something that changes form based on the user’s wish. But I also heard it doesn’t last long, not very practical…”WtrB
nojkY“Yes. I used it to make statues of Diella and Aiselin, remembering them during the battle.”Qqeo
NjDJValerian pulled statues resembling Diella and Aiselin from a leather bag carried by a servant.IQb
T799bCI“What do you think? The quality is far better than the failed homemade dolls I made last time, right? It was careless of me to try to win my sisters’ hearts with something so silly.”Dtw
CVJuk“…”w4LC
8gvBU01“I’m sure they’ll applaud and be amazed. These don’t just capture the beautiful appearance of Aiselin and Diella, but also their dignified presence.”awL8
mT7ROKThe butler, observing from behind, grew visibly gloomy. The statues were so lifelike they were eerie—more frightening than impressive. Their appearance was such that one could call them cursed dolls without exaggeration.RvZ
4FmLeigh, staring at the statues, wore a serious expression for a moment, then looked Valerian in the eyes and said confidently:0nEhh6
KUaT“Oh… This is amazing, brother. A cute gift will surely cheer them up. When did you prepare something like this?”0mVu4X
a14jzPiIn truth, he wasn’t very different from Valerian.FP1hh6
4MY4“Haha… How could I not think of family, even amid the chaos of battle? Returning home after so long truly puts my heart at ease.”9c8Z
hlgYAValerian’s face beamed warmly, eager to see his dear younger sisters.1Tb
288fwoStill, he had one more thing to report. After all, the most important news hadn’t been shared yet.6Xj
2Y2PZy“Anyway, the most important report remains. During the conquest of one of the White Zone dungeons, we found a magical weapon in its deepest part. It’s stored in a carriage; I’ve already instructed the servants to bring it to the warehouse.”Bmzf
4tXV“Oh, really? If it’s an item from a White Zone dungeon, it must be quite extravagant. I’ll have to inspect it myself.”qj3d8
9UzSn22“…However…”eyTI
sYg54Valerian’s expression turned a bit uneasy. Leigh also lowered his gaze. Noticing something was off, Duke Duplain stroked his beard and asked:ihU
Li4ld“…Is there a problem?”xl7c
cQCACU“…It’s a rather large staff, and it seems to be an item used for necromancy. You might want to take a look.”1sl5
vD0YTU4The Duke’s expression gradually darkened.6PaI
DCWHe had heard that treasures buried in the White Zone tended to be strange, but this one seemed especially unpleasant.cLEY
pFXmmp***edmsl
5uWCZ“Ah.”uG9bGRf
jnUdx5sDenise suddenly opened her eyes in bed, and the morning birdsong flowed into the room through the window frame.h1q
Qj2V3PzIt was early morning. Or rather, dawn.ZQWO
YCB8eEver since she had started sharing her daily routine with Dereck, waking up early had become normal. Lately, she would wake up automatically at dawn.6AD9s
WsaNow fully adapted to Dereck’s lifestyle, Denise felt a mix of complicated emotions, but since she was already awake, she had to get up.ZPuG
AUdDereck maintained such a precise routine that it made one question whether he was a machine.VEydELY
5Om5hjWithin five minutes of Denise waking up, he would open the door and read her the day’s training schedule.QqE
chuThen, as usual, Denise would grimace as if she’d just swallowed sand, drink a glass of milk, leave her messy hair down, and go through her morning routine half-alive.oQ30
BDuGF3The sequence of events was so easy to imagine that Denise wanted to cry as soon as she opened her eyes.rNAH9g
LIDjwDuring those five minutes before Dereck barged in, she could feel her life’s flame slowly dimming. It was a rather happy life.8vgXva7
heMg8“…”b91E
T6QCzBut ten minutes later, Dereck hadn’t shown up. Only the peaceful chirping of birds filled the quiet and tranquil room.NOQMWHs
sSI6“…What? Did that man-machine mess up his schedule?”na2z
bxUEzIt was the first time in months that the man, who had never missed a single appointment, displayed erratic behavior.m9yD
QD9xoStruggling, Denise sat down at the table in the middle of the bedroom. After stretching her stiff body and yawning, the pleasant morning air filled her lungs.cffV
PrlNT2Soon after, a maid arrived to check on Denise.jpo
Bz4OO“Lady Denise, you’re already awake. I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare breakfast.”GV29
iZa6f“Ah, yes, that… But, didn’t Dereck come?”dWts
bxcKbLX“Yes, I was about to mention it. The captain of the Beldern Mercenaries, Jayden, was seriously injured and requested urgent leave. The Duke has approved it, so it seems your schedule will be cleared for today.”YPy
BO5K4oThis was undoubtedly good news. It was the perfect opportunity to deliver the letter she had worked so hard to write to Diella.gJc
srKzT“…Really?”BDvYp
2Rx“Yes. I was informed that the leader of the Beldern Mercenaries has a special connection with him and approved his request. He apologizes for the sudden schedule change and promises to make up for today in any way necessary.”No5GW
sI6lm“No, that’s not necessary. No compensation or apologies needed.”jVG4gw
CXwmDZDenise suddenly imagined a world in bloom. There was nothing to do. Her daily schedule was completely free.Kyxyr
b90She felt as though her whole body was submerged in honey, an illusion caused by her present happiness—something she hadn’t experienced in months. Dereck wouldn’t be coming. That man, a harbinger of hell, wouldn’t show his face all day.7IZ
vtx9XMShe couldn’t believe it, even as she repeated it to herself. But this was the reality she faced. Dereck hadn’t come to the mansion, not even at training time.2JBHar
C1ty“This can’t be…”BHBS2q
g6GDazed, Denise quietly moved toward the window to look outside. A vast panorama embraced her. This was life. This was living. The lost routine, the lazy days as precious as gold and silver, had returned to the girl’s embrace.bB4gG
PSfWith tears welling up, Denise flopped back onto the bed.cjYEpL
LctgS“I’ll skip breakfast.”GTM
zLW0“Will you? Then I’ll relay the message.”Rm4N
hbecAfter dismissing her maid, Denise pulled out all the wonderful books she had bought but never read.TIx6J7
g0C54vv‘Lady Apfelroc,’ ‘The Duke of Loen’s Wolf,’ ‘Honey and Love,’ ‘The End of Flirting,’ ‘The Star of Levantein’… She piled up countless masterpieces, wondering which one to read first.cAyOvD
IRXUv8However, after putting them off for so long due to training, she hesitated, unsure where to begin. After all, Denise typically read books in the afternoon or evening, not in the morning when her mind was still foggy.hKvy6DH
Ci8AlJZ“Hmm…”8P2hvw
FPjhCThe girl lay back in bed again. She gazed at the ceiling through the space between the scattered books.Mwx
WdWWr3A fresh dawn breeze stirred the window curtains, filling the quiet room.XqT
fVxBlZkSilence.Pv6aU6h
WiriQThe young mage who remembered every little detail about Denise and worked tirelessly for her was no longer there. Her bedroom felt like a vast emptiness due to the absence of a single person. It made her realize just how hard he worked.5XF
kPvSQ“…What did I used to do at this hour?”XNpc
4OfSometimes, when you immerse yourself in something for so long, you forget what your routine used to be. So Denise simply stayed there, calmly staring at the ceiling.wOv
936zrb9It was a day without Dereck.UB6xQ
gD0aW***uUt
oXunCreak.aiKFBd
AFMVx9I‘Tears of Beldern’ was temporarily closed.ONHk
dle5u3KAfter returning to Ebelstain, Dereck had been too busy with assignments from the Beltus family. He had passed by the tavern a few times to check in, but the last few weeks had been so hectic that he could barely reach the tavern street.UAx
nx7wbKSo, after his long-awaited return, when he opened the main door of the bar, only the dusty counter welcomed him.NeBFdDL
RAhYyQDereck nodded and then walked through the inner kitchen to the door of the back room.jQQPxG
zwmTlT“I’m coming in.”UQmiK
TdXHe said it casually as he opened the door and saw Jayden lying flat on the wide floor of the back room, with Pheline tending to him.R1WnO
aZXiThe atmosphere was clearly grim.SAN
mlAn0JD“Oh, long time no see. As you can see, I’m in no shape to greet you.”qSu
agyKz“Jayden…”CJFI2g
2HYBeside Jayden, who spoke in a relaxed tone, sat Pheline with a complicated and polite expression.3ySVfQ
D3WUnlike usual, she hadn’t tied her platinum blonde hair into a ponytail. Instead, she wore it loose and disheveled, draped in a robe. Dereck swallowed hard and sat in a wooden chair in the corner of the room. Then he spoke in a low voice.aMZEJ
3wxJAc“Did you return from a dangerous mission?”JkNT7
n92f4“Heh… To make the busiest man rush over, I must be getting old.”3UA
4ceusWhen Jayden lifted his upper body, Dereck’s expression grew tense.9nrPXcW
Uajh“I’ve been to the White Zone Labyrinth.”U1M
ZJ8XbAs he struggled to sit up, Jayden was missing his left arm. Only a neatly wrapped bandage remained in its place.22zep9M
cOn4KZx“There’s something I need to tell you, Dereck.”1Hq
sRiJayden’s expression and voice turned serious. It was not an ordinary occasion.gMAG1W
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