Chapter 50: Value (4)
5XXDThat was the day after Diella, having completed preparations for her debut, visited the Rose Salon.vtyxDA
4vESK7QThe mansion inspection schedule had concluded, and the salon membership process had gone smoothly.KLyp1X
XrnQCFor Diella, who had clashed with so many noblewomen, extending her hand to the Rose Salon was a highly unusual event. As a result, interest in Dereck—the man who had tamed and brought this roaring lioness—skyrocketed.qr62
4Tk6Many rumors claimed he had a tongue so charming even famous merchants would be envious, or that his outstanding looks could bewitch the heart of any woman. Some even whispered that he was a hidden noble’s son, concealing great wealth and honor.fLUkTMR
b4lDenise, upon hearing such rumors, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of irritation. Most were baseless, but the fact that Dereck had fully persuaded Diella to attend was a remarkable feat.JqDX
vovp“Good afternoon, Lady Denise. I’ve reviewed the letter you sent last time.”y7BUcY1
kvJKzHowever, although Diella had yielded to Dereck’s persuasion to join the Rose Salon, her spirit remained unshaken.QB5
wmZ7ujShe had promised to maintain good relations with the salon, but she had no intention of stopping her efforts to pull Dereck out of the Beltus family.uqpq9O
IZEvUpon arriving at the meeting, Diella immediately drew everyone’s attention and approached to greet Lady Denise.fDZCC
FbTZDenise, who bore no ill will toward Diella, welcomed her with a radiant smile.DExW
igj3gr“I can’t express how happy I am that you applied to join the Rose Salon. Having the shining jewel of the Duplain family, Lady Diella, is a great honor for us.”ya5uqW
eciXul“I appreciate it. In any case, I’ve considered the proposal you offered. How about a magic duel next week?”IRKHwu
misPoDiella’s manner of speaking lacked the expected courtesy of nobility.6Dj8q
UeWIgnoring Denise’s intent to start with light conversation, Diella went straight to the point, paying no mind to the glances around her. Her approach was somewhat rude, but from Denise’s perspective, it wasn’t unwelcome. If the other party intended to take Dereck, she could only be thankful.hy50G
ZBlIVU“That sounds interesting. I’ve often heard rumors about Lady Diella’s extraordinary magical skill, and I’d love to see who’s superior.”i9a
52l“If I win, the Beltus family must cancel Dereck’s contract entirely.”HekxXZ
IUZgwTN“That decision lies with my father. I assume you’ve brought something of equal value?”V84AUS
igSPVbYAt that, Diella paused, then crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and spoke.anQ
Lhca“If I lose, I’ll purchase ‘View of the Corhess Granary District’ from your estate using Duplain family funds. I’ve obtained consent from Valerian, the next head of our house.”FkgyX
YLmgAt her words, Denise’s expression tensed momentarily. The meaning behind Diella’s statement wasn’t immediately clear. It was evident that those present, like Aiselin and Ellen, were confused.O5xh0
xOV‘View of the Corhess Granary District’ was the name of a large painting highly valued and stored in the basement of Denise’s estate.LQw9skT
4poLGfIt was a landscape depicting the Corhess Granary District in the southwestern continent, a famous masterpiece by the renowned female artist Countess Lependor.QCqn98V
OZz0bHow could the offer to “buy” it serve as such a bold condition? Before the attendees could feel uneasy, Denise stepped forward, smiling as she spoke.C2I2Bi
yaDg9XS“Of course, it’s wonderful for our art to be acknowledged in value simply by being bought at a fair price. Especially by the Duplain family—and not just anyone, but the watercolor expert Lady Diella. If she pays a proper price for a painting, it also validates my reputation through her selection.”ctjt
fBfVTMBDenise quickly formulated a plausible rationale in her head. Upon hearing her words, Diella scoffed briefly but didn’t add anything further.pJutplb
khylrd“Are you sure it’s okay? Countess Lependor’s paintings often fetched irrational prices even while she was alive.”BQFEH
JuqY“Don’t worry, I’ll pay whatever price is asked. Though, I doubt it’ll come to that.”Dch52
Y1yTAm4“Yes, then my father will likely consider it favorably.”9wnVi
1FeUDenise responded with a bright smile.U8O
FUMMAfter all, she just needed to present terms that would permit the duel. She had no intention of actually winning it.r3ya
UVNO3Still, Diella’s proposed terms were startling. The other ladies in the salon wondered whether buying a painting was such a big deal, tilting their heads in curiosity—but Denise remained tense.7QM2
ZBuBSoStill with her arms crossed, Diella huffed and turned away.kMV5c
pM6W8“I’ll send more details by letter.”dQg
KjYPNDRWith that, Diella departed, followed by a few lesser nobles.s7zee1Q
SAVA3aDespite Diella’s intimidating presence, many nobles were still eager to win her favor.LVbyIJ
a62E***w2kOFgw
4LlThat day, just after the meeting ended and she returned to the mansion, Dereck was there to greet her.Lug3T
F4vdODereck had been reviewing the day’s training schedule while waiting for Denise to return, and his presence felt so natural—almost like family—that Denise let out a sigh.coXdJQh
AoSPhShe had to admit that Dereck’s presence had become something normal for her.mdR1
LBjitO6“Lady Denise, you’ve worked hard today. After dinner, we’ll dive deeper into the two-star exploration magic training…”ZdCsZ
pLf33II“Did you hear the news from the butler?”8neR
D91S“…”Tqj
DoEPQK“Lady Diella of House Duplain has challenged me to a magic duel. If I lose, you’ll have to leave for House Duplain.”CYV9Rhu
GrcIn truth, it was simply a matter of terminating the contract with House Beltus.bB5sN
KezQYAfter that, Dereck would decide which house to join, but it was obvious that moving to House Duplain would be more advantageous. Diella clung to every word Dereck said, so being by her side clearly meant a greater boost in Dereck’s status.v5dpFX
PXsHowever, upon hearing Denise’s words, Dereck got straight to the point.Gnl0v8
7ar“Isn’t this a situation you orchestrated yourself, Lady Denise?”d6T8T15
L42ORw“…Ugh.”qHm48ex
zlrlOA2This man, Dereck, had a sharp intuition for the strangest things. He could act like a simple man who only knew a single spell, but once he got serious and rested his chin on his hand, he’d start piecing things together—and he wasn’t easy to deceive.Gjt
TahkIt was true; Dereck had easily deduced that Denise had set this situation up. His conclusion came after observing her movements, her demeanor at the salon, and her lack of hostility toward Diella.fUH
1sw8Denise narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. After all, she thought it was time to be honest with Dereck.9rZ0EAG
R82“Fine then. I’ll admit it honestly—you’re a good instructor.”W9sih
pCTAfter changing into a lovely ruffled dress, Denise sat on the bed in a corner of the room. Her silver-gray hair fell like a shimmering blanket.7tOPdo
y0zThe white-haired mage, as always, showed no emotion on his face. He could be talkative when discussing magic—even enthusiastic—but still remained calm to the end.BQaGu
xpL“At first, I had a hard time adapting to your teaching style, and my laziness didn’t help at all… But, well, putting in effort has its meaning. Mastering magic is fun.”EyTFAj
tf2W“…That’s rare to hear from you. I thought you’d never admit that magic is fun.”AqZ
oue“I do have my pride, you know? After vehemently denying and rejecting it, suddenly admitting it’s actually fun is a little embarrassing.”T5j4s
jDOXZwDenise was a completely different person inside the mansion compared to outside.SHkvG9N
jmb1Outside, she was the most admired and beautiful woman; inside, she was just a lazy creature.GXwZ
azcHoToo proud to accept Dereck’s genuine kindness, she wrestled with it.OMqey
BqMx“Anyway, I know you’re a good instructor. And that’s exactly why there’s nothing for you in House Beltus. Thinking you could be my instructor wasn’t a wise decision. You should move to the Duplain side when I give you the chance.”05b8
WHH273“Lady Denise, you’re the most beloved woman of the famous Beltus family in Ebelstain. Everyone wants this position.”U1PG
xlH“You know one thing but not the other. Well, given the situation… and since the Duplain family seems to know everything anyway, there’s no harm in telling you.”jnKWeOo
YYNUV5eDenise crossed her arms and looked calmly at Dereck.CA4ra
5TCThen she scoffed and said,vz0
bmb“You’re not as valuable as you think.”zLGv
jyVnzTWith that, she stood and headed to the mansion’s basement with Dereck.bE7vNRK
b9p***4rnlyy
8f3L“Do you know what Lady Diella stipulated as the condition for the magical duel? If she loses, she will buy the painting ‘View of the Corhes Granary’ stored in this mansion’s basement.”G2UhYu
RygY“…What does that mean?”dQny5
0tU1hEhThe stairs down to Denise’s basement were dark and damp. For a cellar beneath such an ancient, luxurious mansion, it felt rather unsettling.qiD
bPg0qDereck conjured a small magical light to illuminate their path, and Denise, grateful, followed him deeper into the basement.KNjlyaz
9ji“Is buying a painting a big deal?”6pEb8
Kwq“You wouldn’t understand… but once you know the whole story, you’ll understand why my father has no choice but to accept these terms.”9Vln
Otw8tJThey descended the stairs to reveal a large wooden door ahead. Carved with intricate reliefs, the words ‘Art Storage’ were engraved above it. Denise produced the Beltus family seal and channeled magic through it; the door slowly swung open. She gestured wearily for Dereck to follow her inside.10rTG
UeuWhen Denise took out the Beltus family seal and channeled magic into it, the door responded by slowly opening. Immediately after, she wore a tired expression and motioned for Dereck to follow her inside.Z8k11
6TKbThe sign at the entrance hadn’t lied; the basement was filled with all kinds of artworks. Famous paintings, large sculptures, small musical instruments—even clay dolls were on display.ObcJ5yt
MpKSeeing that each item even had an elegant label, it was clear they were all valuable pieces. However, there was a strange sense that they were stacked inside a grand house built for a socially active woman in Ebelstein.29w4
HI4xVdW“I wasn’t expecting an entire art repository down here.”xk2
x18N“Normally, you wouldn’t find an art storage room in the Ebelstein mansion where a noble lady resides. I’m not as much of an art expert as Lady Diella, so it’s strange, isn’t it?”VYmimY
CVnlNVuDenise took a deep breath and looked around. She had barely brought any servants. In this dark and damp basement, the only one present was the silent white-haired mercenary.C5Dnf
8HOYAs if it didn’t matter, Denise weaved her way between the artworks, showing Dereck various valuable items.SnPHDT
Uq3cDereck, who wasn’t very knowledgeable about art, could tell even as a layman that those objects seemed quite valuable.pd4
LVkLbBRAs they went deeper in, a display appeared, covered by a large curtain. There was a simple sign describing the artwork.PAG899U
J0u‘View of the Corhes Granary – Logdel Agnes Rephondor’NxsG
Z9qbZ“Is this it? The painting you said you’d buy if you won the duel?”fJ85
REdBbK3“Would you like to see it?”Hc6UN
NQnuWDDenise pulled back the curtain covering it. There was curiosity about what kind of painting would be the subject of such an important bet.cCkPuB
gQjxF1However, when the curtain was opened, the canvas revealed was completely blank.5fxvK
gh9zCw“…”l2R
WoC4“And? Do you grasp Countess Rephondor’s perspective on using negative space?”L4gV8
gh0WPvF“I often encounter negative-space art in Lady Diella’s work, but a canvas that’s entirely empty is hard to evaluate—to me, it just looks blank.”ntBUKa
4O54“Ahaha… I expected that. The painting called ‘View of the Corhes Granary’ doesn’t actually exist.”A7Lli
CHLam5WWhile Dereck watched her in silence, she casually tied up her neatly groomed hair and sat down on a dusty shelf.dmMCCH
ihMFNfDereck noticed how little she cared about the dust on her luxurious dress. Denise seemed to want to say something.ueqJ
F1YA“It’s a painting that exists only in the accounting books. Countess Rephondor was very prolific, but she never painted such an image.”ro3Hcg
KqeSY“…”1lYnq84
Hcq“Officially, it’s recorded that I used family funds to purchase it. The amount was quite large, but after all, it’s not unusual for a noblewoman’s home to be decorated with expensive artwork. It’s a plausible reason to say it’s an investment to enhance my artistic taste and discernment.”RjWz
YcDcAt that moment, Dereck asked no further. Even after this event, he knew that the story being revealed was not something told merely to a plebeian-born tutor.7vKjZ
aqpDereck held his breath for a moment, recalling the sight of Denise’s mansion. Its size was impressive, but compared to other noblewomen’s homes, it lacked artworks and luxuries.LbjAIm
iC3He had thought it reflected Denise’s temperament, but that wasn’t the only reason.l5pN
5ml“The family diverted taxes.”HOXtFh
gsx5“To accomplish great things, one needs funds and power that don’t fall under the Empire’s scrutiny. That means even the taxes owed to the royal family must be reduced and manipulated.”k62
Gyk7WX“Is that Lady Denise’s opinion, or His Grace the Duke of Beltus’s?”QFPW
Y0K6“Does it matter? My father and I are one family.”ooOHqRe
hInqDenise laughed, her voice hollow.etgOd
NtPyIn short, the mansion in Ebelstein where Denise lived was used as a kind of money laundering facility, diverting taxes under the name of House Beltus.JUs
CRoleNOf course, Denise, the mistress of the house, couldn’t be unaware of this. Nor could she refuse to cooperate.5S6WY0I
tZRD45From time to time, the royal family audited the books or sent people to inspect the domain. But it was unlikely they’d search the basement of a house meant for their daughter’s social education. This mansion in Ebelstein, transferred to her, was effectively a blind spot for royal audits.LWro
iLM9KBThe large canvas, although said to be a work of art, had no painting. Finding the empty scene amusing, Denise gave a strange smile.DEbxk
zOTm“Lady Diella must have caught wind of this situation. She’s interested in art history and the works of famous female painters.”iW92
K92Z2T“…Can you tell me this?”fKdZE
KEp3zVc“After all, Lady Diella doesn’t hide anything from you, does she? If someone from House Duplain knows this much, it can’t be kept secret. The only thing left is an arrangement.”Ds09L
9GZThis dark art storage was likely one of Denise’s greatest secrets. Of course, diverting taxes to create independent funds was something powerful frontier nobles did when bored. The Empire surely got dizzy from it.j66
MhJIt was just a matter of how skillfully it was hidden. Neither House Duplain nor Belmierd could claim to be uninvolved in such corrupt practices. It simply remained a secret at the imperial level.Lhen6H
0iEBut whether it came to light or not—and whether a noble lady was directly involved in corrupt acts—was a different story.skHfbfj
8muw“You said you’d buy this painting.”RNftN
jmWsCIHow could Diella buy a painting that didn’t exist? Still, upon reflection, it wasn’t impossible.KmV
Mc2LJEqAfter all, this was a matter between families. Making a purchase in the accounting books wasn’t difficult. Just dip a quill in ink and jot down a few lines—that was all.Y7O3
hVcpBhDereck finally seemed to grasp the real intent behind Diella’s superficial words.0r5
NHykRThe story aimed to exploit an accounting loophole centered on a nonexistent painting for House Duplain. And most importantly, they were offering liquid cash—an extraordinary condition.8lYbB
pT2iFor a family as large as the Duplains, hiding such a hole wasn’t difficult. The larger and denser the forest, the more places to hide treasures. That was the nature of transactions between noble families.X3TalDp
XicIn the Empire, many things ultimately came down to how silently one could hide and reveal corruption. Diella was well aware of this, and Denise understood she couldn’t escape it.Y5w4xK
s5UbIB5“Lady Diella has a sharp eye. She shouldn’t be underestimated. I didn’t expect her to expose the core issue so openly.”QQnSpz
hG2XYoung, inexperienced, and brazen. Yet a glimpse of her noble perspective and sovereign attitude made it impossible to predict what kind of person Diella might become.u1JxzJ
5vfCFor now, the only person who could keep things under control in Ebelstein was Dereck.LtmhAjf
I52H“In Ebelstein’s social circle, those who represent the names of the three great noble families are all the same. I’ve tried teaching them in various ways, but none are easy to handle.”yZ1o
vdJJgi2“You’re right, Dereck. Lady Aiselin, Lady Ellen—they all know how to wield the power they possess. They’re not influenced by power; they naturally embody the art of controlling it.”pCau9
cCrqSThe standout young ladies of Rose Hall were typically blessed with the love of their family heads, entrusted with full authority over their households, and developed as influential figures.vYuCth
M8iVIn a few years, each would likely stand out.aqp
T4f8nHowever, it was Denise herself who gave a hollow laugh and averted her gaze downward. In that demeanor, Dereck felt as though all aspects of Denise he had seen so far came together as one.6z61jX
jDFEQwlA girl whose goal was to maintain a life without vitality, without ambition, stingy with accomplishments, and content with simply maintaining the house, reading novels, and wasting time.94sSa
WUN0The memories of a worn-out Denise in Raspah Cave came to his mind as they talked.XZGwf
QiLvShe lost interest in magic when she realized that no matter how hard she tried, her achievements would always be just a small part of the grand House Beltus.fpzFpO
oTN“I’m like a chess piece,” Denise said, as if letting the words slip.b0x
xiIShe received full support from the family, just like Lady Aiselin and Lady Elente, but the motivation behind that support was different.l9dFL
GKsKLFsThere wasn’t a shred of love for a daughter, nor familial affection. The cold gaze of the Duke of Beltus overseeing the household contained no familial love. He was just one of the many cogs that made up House Beltus.1J0YoL
U44XQIn truth, this was a common trait among the high nobility.6L4Tcfj
e8gwx“Do you understand now? Right now, I’m adored in Rose Hall and treated as valuable by House Beltus, but it’s all out of necessity. In the end, if needed, they’ll blame me for the embezzlement or sell me off in a political marriage—or use me in the most efficient way possible. That’s how it works.”7Dsb
9pNZ2“…”Df3O
R41“It’s just that the other girls in Rose Hall are too exceptional. They have strong convictions, can influence the family environment, and know how to make big decisions… If you’re going to invest, isn’t it worth doing so in that direction?”4I5ZVNZ
Bf5GSPjAlthough she thought she was just trying to talk Dereck away, there was sincerity in her words.7tI
no9eQShe always complained of pain during training with him, but deep down, she had already accepted him. Dereck’s eyes narrowed as he silently looked at her, sitting calmly with her silvery-gray hair splayed over the shelf.uYXOvD
WX3That girl, sitting with her head bowed, already had broken wings. Her many childhood experiences must have made her accept her current reality. What followed was a chronic apathy.fyc89
60YBut she couldn’t just throw everything away. Those without value would be discarded—that was the cold reality of this aristocratic world. Therefore, she had to be a unique human figure, fulfilling at least her minimum duty while preserving her ambitions.3Ic
iV3YA bird with broken legs.7kxlx
sxkEven if she longed to walk on the ground, she had to keep flying with her wings folded.It1
3nNUThe end of this flight, with no end in sight, probably wouldn’t be good.
The bird itself sensed it, at least a little.252NZa0
jzKThat’s why Denise told Dereck to go to House Duplain. Whether it was Aiselin or Diella, they would handle the helm more skillfully than Denise ever could. They were individuals of a different caliber.rnA9
t5EjVEven both of them fully trusted Dereck. Where else could better conditions be found? It was always wiser to stay close to power.hJCphf
ytASA high-nosed noble lady wouldn’t normally speak so openly.
However, in Denise’s eyes, someone like Dereck belonged to such wide waters.x9wGr
aUH5At first, her focus was on regaining her peaceful daily life, but after meeting Diella, such thoughts began to form.XWzD
URHFAfter all, Denise herself was just a horse tamed by House Beltus.w34ME
TMsh2ON“What do you think? You can’t deny it, can you?”zjy22
wk9“It’s true. Lady Denise’s words are undeniable.”xYiuC5x
gK5“Good. Then once everything’s resolved, contact the Duplains.”fOdXO4
dIpjmyHWhile Denise laughed emptily, Dereck finally gave a simple reply, making her long explanation seem pointless.Qfl3
57TRL“I don’t want to.”HIg9Z
z5srJ“…??”XHVZXhR
UWOvFaced with a completely unexpected answer, Denise had to tilt her head in confusion. After making sure she hadn’t misheard, she looked at Dereck with wide eyes.r7Yy
UL5r“I appreciate the thought, but shouldn’t I be the one to decide where I live?”deLm
KLHgDenise wore a look of disbelief. To anyone watching, taking Denise as a mentor seemed like nothing but a loss.S9tD
x70At least, that’s how it seemed to Denise.tZjh6
c2LHowever, Dereck moved silently and sat on the shelf next to her.72IZ
RzEUShe couldn’t help but question his actions.0eqnpRe
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