Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1)

“Lady Denise!”

Denise was someone the maids would kneel to and beg forgiveness if she so much as got a small scratch on her finger.
But this time, her forehead was gashed and bleeding.

When Denise returned to the mansion, everyone—from the head butler to the maids—was in shock. arctic She had come back with injuries on her beautiful body.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

The servants swarmed around her to check her condition, while others interrogated the escorts and coachman. academy For a long while, the entire mansion came to a standstill.

“Are you all right? amateur Please, come inside quickly! anchor We must treat you!”

As she stepped down from the carriage, Denise’s hair was disheveled, her dress torn in several places, and she was covered in dust. arcade It was clear something serious had happened during her duel with Diella.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“When I cast my tracking magic, Diella, that savage, froze in shock. alert I thought I should say something cool and impactful then… but I couldn’t come up with anything. autumn Hm, I should’ve prepared a better exit line…”

However, Denise, as if nothing had happened, smiled serenely and said:

Logically, she should have been angry, given her wrecked state—but instead, she wore a strangely refreshed expression.

“It’s nothing.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Especially since Diella’s unpredictable mana use posed a tough challenge for young noblewomen trained in academic magic. airport Yet contrary to his concerns, Denise had completely dominated Diella.

Unconcerned about her wounds, Denise returned to the mansion, receiving treatment from the maids as she proudly recounted her feat to Dereck. admire Dereck was taken aback as he listened.

Denise’s rate of magical improvement was so fast that likely no one in Ebelstein could keep up with her.

In his eyes, Diella was practically his direct disciple. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com acid Even Ellen still fell short of Diella’s talent, so he had expected Denise to struggle in their confrontation.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“As you can see, just a few scratches, and they say they won’t leave scars. abandon But what matters is—you should’ve seen that girl’s face. zenith Ugh, if I hadn’t kept my composure, I would’ve mocked her mercilessly.”

“And then she looked like her pride had been shattered, tears streaming down her face. portal And this after she’d acted like she was going to devour me in the tea room? alien Well done. advance Really well done.”

“Are your injuries all right?”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“…”

“No matter how fine a gemstone is, if it’s just begun to be polished, it can’t beat me. album She lacks experience in duels and the resolve needed in critical moments. adapt She doesn’t even have the wits to remove her accessories to create an opening like I do. timber Plus, she’s not prettier than me. arrow If you look closely, my skin’s better, and my features are more refined. echo Right?”

Denise spoke proudly, puffing up her chest as she looked at Dereck.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Denise clearly expected praise. arctic But Dereck shook his head and replied firmly:

“What do you think, Dereck? aluminum You warned me not to underestimate Diella. acquire Didn’t expect me to come back with such a crushing victory, did you?”

“Deactivating a protective barrier in a duel can endanger your life. athlete No matter the reason, I can’t condone that.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“Lady Denise.”

“A risky move was necessary to buy time and cast a second-tier spell against that rabid lunatic. apple Besides, they were first-tier spells—the risk of a fatal injury was practically zero. anxiety The important part was the look on her face at that moment…”

Though he was merely a commoner, that alone made Denise hiccup in surprise.

Dereck’s voice dropped in tone.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

And the reason became clear right away.

“What…?”

“No matter the reason, deactivating your protective barrier in a duel can never be justified.”

Dereck, usually cold and reserved, always showed a hint of enthusiasm around Denise. arrow But the Dereck who awaited her after this victory didn’t look pleased at all.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

“Did you not see the power behind Lady Diella’s spells? apron If even one had hit, it’s entirely possible you could’ve lost an arm—or a leg.”

Even if it was first-tier magic, its power varied greatly depending on the caster’s skill.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

He was a young man who had spent his entire life measuring his worth on the battlefield. auction No one understood better than he the weight of wagering one’s life.

Winning was admirable, but Dereck couldn’t condone such a reckless gamble.

Diella’s magic was already at such a high level that few nobles her age could rival her. crystal If Denise had been struck without a barrier, her life could’ve ended in an instant.

And only by showing Denise what such a decision truly meant could he prevent her from making similarly reckless choices again.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

After all, if Dereck was angry, it meant he cared.

It was a moment worthy of celebration, but Denise hadn’t expected Dereck to react so coldly. legend It was disappointing—but she couldn’t show it.

That’s why, even with her victory, Dereck wore a stern expression.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Thinking that far, she had no choice but to admit Dereck’s scolding was fair.

The atmosphere turned tense, and the maids assisting her gulped audibly. matrix Given Dereck’s lowly origin, scolding someone like Denise should have been unthinkable.

Denise was quite a sensible person and knew she had acted recklessly during the duel. echo Facing Diella, who had been determined to take him away, she had also lost her composure.

But Dereck always said what he believed was right—without hesitation. admire And Denise knew that well.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

So she apologized without protest. anxiety Anyone unaware of the situation would’ve been shocked out of their wits.

“Alright… I’m sorry.”

Dereck seemed to sense her words were sincere, and he finally sighed, softening the mood a little.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“But if I may be honest… Don’t you think, from Lady Diella’s perspective, you come off as quite the villain?”

“Ufufu… Who else but me?”

“In any case, it sounds like you made progress. atom I was glad to hear it.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“You should try to see things from Lady Diella’s point of view.”

“Hmm? portal Hmmm…”

“W-what are you talking about? armor There’s no one sweeter than me in the whole world!”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

At first, she intended to lose, but halfway through the duel, she changed her mind and went all out.

After all, she had written the letter to Diella to lure her out.

While the maid gently brushed her hair, Denise fell into deep thought. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Unaware of Denise’s shift in intent, Diella could only view her as a full-fledged villain.

Looking at it from Diella’s perspective, Denise must have seemed like a terrible person. voyage She’d baited her into a duel, crushed her with force, and humiliated her.

“Have you finally realized it?”

Until now, Denise thought Diella’s grudge was a bit unfair, but in light of this, she’d really just smacked her around on a whim.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“Dereck… Maybe, yes. altitude Maybe I really am a rather awful person…”

“If it’s just a misunderstanding, couldn’t you talk it out?”

Saying, “You just realized that now?” would have been too cruel.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

“…Knowing her personality, honestly, I don’t think she would.”

“And if you were Lady Diella, would you want to talk to me?”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

In many ways, Denise had already become an arch-nemesis in Diella’s eyes.

And now, having won the duel, she could technically sell the suspicious scenery Diella promised in her letter.

“I-it’s fine… B-but, even though it might sound weird… I don’t dislike Lady Diella that much…”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“I don’t want to pick a fight with the Duplain family. arch What would I gain from antagonizing one of the most powerful houses in the southwest of the Empire?”

“A-and she really likes you, Dereck. apple Couldn’t you explain things to her?”

“At this point, I don’t think words from me will help much…”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Denise was a master at navigating noble society, always aiming for balance and avoiding conflict. album Her policy was to stay on good terms with everyone.

Denise clutched both temples in despair. athlete The maid brushing her hair began sweating nervously in panic.

“Lady Denise… You’re the one who sowed this seed.” Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

“Arghhh!”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

That, at least, was a reality she had to accept.

***

But if she wanted to keep Dereck in her household, she could never get close to Diella again.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“Aiselin, sister. adapt You came. orbit As you can see, I’m a complete wreck after that humiliating defeat.”

“Although you gave it your all against Denise, you lacked calmness, experience, and magical precision. wizard Everything was simply one level down.”

“Diella…”

When Aiselin visited Diella’s mansion, she found her sister with her head pressed against the garden table, completely demoralized.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Diella’s face was completely drained. crystal If only she had an excuse to salvage her pride, maybe she could’ve held her head high again. wizard But this defeat had been crushing on every level.

It was a chance to mention Dereck…

“Don’t be so down, Diella. legend You haven’t even formally begun the magical duels within society’s circles. acid It’s no big deal to lose to Lady Denise, who already has considerable experience in the Rose Salon.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“In the end, if we want Dereck to come to our house, the most important thing is his will, right? adopt Forcing things through a duel doesn’t make much sense… So you shouldn’t place so much importance on this loss, Diella.”

Of course, the mere fact of losing would still fuel rumors among the salons. aluminum But Diella didn’t care about gossip. canvas What truly mattered was that she had been beaten.

Fortunately it was in her private training room; if it had been an official duel in the noble district, in front of many eyes, it would’ve been a total disgrace.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“And what’s worse is that if Dereck hadn’t trained her, I probably would’ve won. ability Even if Denise is a second-rate mage, reaching that level of control could only be thanks to Dereck.”

“…”

“Thank you for comforting me, Aiselin. canvas Still, losing is losing. voyage My pride hurts.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“But… you lost the duel. auction You have no justification for taking him from the Beltus family.”

“Either way, it’s not good to leave Dereck in another family. agent If we can bring him over, we must.”

Diella lifted her head and finally relaxed her expression a little.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“Aiselin, you yourself said what matters most is Dereck’s willingness, not contracts or conditions. ability And I agree.”

“It won’t be easy to convince him with money, and it doesn’t seem possible to find a legitimate reason to bring him here. august So… maybe a feminine charm…”

Diella sighed deeply, running her slender fingers through her hair—a gesture she often made when thinking.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“…If that doesn’t work, perhaps with understanding or inspiring his admiration, he might change his mind? silence Don’t you think?”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“…”

Aiselin’s silence was her form of consideration. portal Diella knew this, and so she said no more.

Even Aiselin hadn’t been able to persuade Dereck. anchor It was clear that Diella, young and inexperienced as she was, didn’t stand a chance.

The truth was, Diella had little chance of outshining Denise in beauty or prestige. admire While it wasn’t obvious within close circles, Denise’s public image was that of an almost-perfect noble lady.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Unlike when she acted tyrannical toward the servants, Diella sometimes revealed her youthful emotional side—screeching desperately now, running her hands through her hair. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

“If you couldn’t convince him, what could I do?”

“If you want to bring Dereck into the Duplain family, the first step is to become someone worth having. atomic If you manage to stand out in the Rose Salon and prove you have teaching talent, maybe Dereck will reconsider. acoustic Don’t you think?”

“Aargh!”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Because Diella desired Dereck so much, Aiselin was ready to help any way she could.

“You never know. alpha But we have to try, right?”

“For now, you must complete your debut and formally enter high society. apron The audience with the Emperor and the ball are already arranged… we need to finalize all that first.”

Since arriving in Ebelstein, Diella had only complained. galaxy Seeing her like this pained Aiselin, so she sat beside her and gently patted her back.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

That would make her a woman capable of standing before her peers. beacon Once that process was complete, she could also recalibrate her relationship with Denise.

Next week they would travel to the imperial capital for an audience with the Emperor. anchor Then return for a grand ball at the mansion. alien Numerous nobles would come to congratulate her over a lavish dinner. shadow All eyes would be on Diella as she made her debut—and returned to Ebelstein as the true lady of the mansion.

Diella’s debut was just around the corner.

“Ah… Can’t be helped.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“I’ve sent another letter to the main branch to confirm. harbor We’ll depart from this mansion to the capital next week. academy After the audience, you’ll attend the ball as our family’s principal guest.”

Aiselin only wished for Diella to adapt well to that world, sharp as ice.

“The servants of the house must be very busy… If they plan to invite so many nobles, they will have a lot to prepare.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Hundreds worked to make Diella’s debut a success. athlete And if all went well, every member of the family would take pride in it.

“Everyone is happy to celebrate your debut, Diella. timber What matters is that you present the elegance and dignity of a noble lady. action That’s your task.”

Aiselin spoke in a soft, warm voice.

“Among the guests will be people from influential houses… perhaps even Dereck, representing the Beltus family.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“I will send him a special invitation. action If you can prove at the ball that you’ve grown into a proper lady, he might see you differently. avalanche So stay strong, Diella.”

“R-really? portal He came to deliver the letter this time, and he seems to have Lady Denise’s confidence…”

“Ugh…”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Though she disliked being motivated by fear of losing Dereck, Diella couldn’t deny it mattered. sphere Saying otherwise would be false.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

The servants said the debutantes at such an event shone like angels descended from heaven. sphere That magnificence reflected the pride of those organizing it.

Diella sighed and nodded. palette The debutante’s ball hosted by the Duplain family for a noble daughter was a grand event.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Diella sighed. aspect Her position was too consumed by logistics to keep lamenting.

“You’re right. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors. audit I need to focus on what’s in front of me. acid More opportunities will come.”

If she could impress at that event, perhaps she might win Dereck’s favor.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“Remember our brother Valerian recently returned. arena I heard that to manage the spoils he brought, they invited the imperial magical adviser, Kohella.”

“By the way, Aiselin. apple When did you send that letter to the main branch? timber I sent mine too, but haven’t received a response lately.”

“Yes?”

“Hmm? alert I can’t quite remember… a few weeks ago, I think. ability Perhaps they’re busy and haven’t replied yet.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

“I suppose Kohella must visit the mansion soon. atom So they’re probably busy. crystal But don’t worry—that shouldn’t interfere with your ball preparations.”

Being in Ebelstein, Aiselin couldn’t keep track of everything happening at home. beacon The physical distance made it difficult.

“With so many guests—and the imperial magical adviser to attend—the servants must be exhausted.”

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Since his visit, responses to letters had been delayed. august Understandable, considering how busy they must be.

Kohella, the imperial magical adviser.

“Even so, they see it as part of the same event. ability If Kohella visits the mansion now, he’ll surely attend your ball as well.”

Although failing to reply promptly to a noble lady’s letter is borderline disrespectful, Aiselin decided to be understanding. athlete She knew how much the servants were under pressure during these times.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Diella’s debut ball was very near. arena It would be the most glamorous and splendid one yet.

‘I hope Dereck can attend. accent If I invite him directly, the Beltus family should approve. athlete After all, they need to send someone as well.’

Thinking of her beloved sister’s grand entrance into high society, Aiselin couldn’t help but smile with pride.

She couldn’t know for sure what was happening at the main branch, but soon she would see them in person.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Rustle.

‘Who would’ve thought… The day I get invited to a noble family’s ball has finally come.’

***

Early in the morning, while swinging his sword here and there shirtless at his residence, Dereck received a letter.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Otherwise, they never would’ve sent such a formal invitation to a commoner.

‘Figures not only from the southwestern Empire but also from the north and east will likely attend. acid It’s rare for patriarchs to come in person, but they’ll surely send representatives…’

He had been the only one to reach out when she was locked away in the annex, so even from the Duplain clan’s perspective, it seemed they considered Dereck a great benefactor.

The envelope bore the Duplain family’s seal and was an invitation to attend Diella’s debutante ball, to be held the following week.

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

The Beltus family would also have to send someone as a formality, and Dereck, who already knew Diella, was the most appropriate choice. attic It seemed Aiselin had that in mind when sending the invitation.

Since a grand ball was being held, it had probably been lavishly decorated, but in the end, it was a place he’d spent quite a bit of time in.

‘It’s been a while since I last visited the Duplain family mansion. altitude Even if they’ve made arrangements for the ball, I doubt it’s changed much.’

Translation of Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 55: Drop of Blood (1) by Indra Translations.

Feeling an unexpected sense of nostalgia for the visit, Dereck carefully tucked the invitation into the inner pocket of his coat.