Chapter 65: The Most Noble and Impoverished (1)
nd50NRaymond Oswald Duplain, head of House Duplain, is dead.Pn4fJPL
aRzqzValerian, the eldest son, lost his mind due to a necromantic weapon brought from the White Zone in the north of Duplain territory. He destroyed the mansion, sacrificed numerous servants, and ultimately killed his own father.SGXRpO
xxHEUYHe attempted to become a high-level necromancer by sacrificing the various guests and high-ranking magicians gathered at the mansion, but was struck down by Diella in a sudden attack.vjk3S
tJPRcvThe duchess, Miriela, fainted on the spot, and the second son, Leigh, fell into a coma from the aftereffects of the magic.DK0yiW
k9qBOther high-ranking servants and direct family members were also injured to various degrees, and more than half of the family members have yet to regain consciousness.QlNoCgb
8zQgh“Ugh… aaah…”RHm
QhYkbz“W-what’s happening…? Where… are we exactly…?”oorbdh
shdWhen the sun rose over the half-destroyed ruins of the Duplain mansion, the distinguished guests—nearly sacrificed in the main hall—began to stir and slowly get up.Xamp
565As they opened their eyes, a horrific scene spread out before them. All of them doubted what they were seeing, unable to accept the current situation.ghij
680Even so, not a single guest or high-ranking magician who attended the ball died.6cilhr
91bnzZThis was partly because they had been gathered in the main hall as sacrifices for the necromantic ritual, but also because the perpetrator was stopped before the situation spiraled out of control.NEiiTx
ofiSunlight streamed through the half-collapsed ceiling.tiN
xCDzbzAmid the chaos, the only person able to represent House Duplain stepped forward.K6V
6qkG“First, I must apologize to everyone. I regret having made you come from so far.”poTY
gV029OIn the wake of the disaster caused by necromantic magic, Aiselin and Diella had managed to retain their sanity and prevent a full catastrophe.cev8cpT
PyGUHowever, neither Aiselin, who bowed her head, nor Diella, who stood silently behind her, could wear a heroic expression.WeG
GIsShc3“We will take full responsibility for today’s incident and provide compensation through every possible means.”CRM
Y2QvAiselin, who now had to bear the weight of House Duplain, spoke with determined resolve.maxdv2
v2BtThe expressions of the guests varied upon hearing her statement.fXBtJg
n0EFw4Some were furious at having nearly died without realizing it, while others were deeply concerned about how to deal with this unprecedented disaster for House Duplain.OyV
ZTsczJz“W-what’s going on…! We were almost sacrificed for necromancy…? Right here, in the mansion of the illustrious House Duplain?!”6zkrSyy
ETMF42A“As soon as I return to the main house, I’ll demand action be taken! It’s horrifying…! We almost died!”Dw6LJt
x7bWhen a mighty beast dies and becomes a corpse, vultures gather to tear its flesh. And this time, there was good reason—they had nearly lost their lives.WcW5
vvaxAxAll responsibility lay with House Duplain.ANG
JKJGGiUIn a situation where they had even lost their head of house, giving such a clear motive to these numerous guests meant they had to be prepared to be devoured.SvAD
ffNsEven so, House Duplain had no choice.fJwgTl
JEiiHoKWhile Aiselin and Diella stood silently, the voices of the guests grew louder and more indignant.CT5
vQM0“Even so, House Duplain acted to prevent greater harm. Though there were minor injuries like scratches, no lives were lost.”eEYmG
HmBF2z“Lady Ellen?”z981t8Y
CkA“House Belmierd will not hold them accountable. It appears House Duplain has already sacrificed enough.”wIUv
0eGCEThe one who spoke before the main hall was Ellen Belmierd.4JEZRr
5wxv0eWHer red hair, soaked from the rain, clung to the scratches on her arm.jsM
xyog4CTShe had used magic to prevent serious injury when the building collapsed, though she couldn’t avoid minor wounds.y9k
0dw4Most of those present were representatives of their respective houses. Ellen also attended the ball representing the County of Belmierd.jWFyLc
NnIAs representatives, they had no direct authority to decide how to proceed in a situation like this.KZs7GU
d93vkBut Ellen was different.E8dGrHz
F0OdIPShe had received from the Count of Belmierd the authority to make certain decisions on behalf of the family. Of course, major decisions required direct approval, but this time she made a bold call.ITsSvj
CCvLWYRHouse Belmierd would not hold House Duplain responsible.7nsiD7F
fGTpThough other guests wouldn’t let go of such a ripe opportunity, this would at least influence the course of events.gUeV7lh
XgQ“W-why…?”MVns
2cGZMJ“I don’t have a particular reason. As I said… it seems House Duplain has sacrificed enough. They lost their lord, half their strength, nearly all their servants, and even their mansion.”Rwbc
zVGKEllen looked at Aiselin silently, then gave a slightly strained smile and whispered,VFthB
IWR2u2D“Think of it as my inferiority complex. I’ll handle convincing my father, so don’t worry.”E03M
RRh0UfSaying that, Ellen dragged her torn dress toward the stables.nB2lBhK
6V4The coachman from the main house had either fled or been killed by monsters. If she wanted to return, she’d have to take the horse herself.60I
ZD1tu“I’ll just… borrow a horse.”xQMdPBL
FSzVAs she passed by, dragging her dress, Ellen glanced at a half-destroyed column. A man was leaning against it, arms crossed, watching the situation.6nE
iRfEveryone was drenched. Even so, the white-haired boy looked worse. His body was soaked with rain, sweat, and blood, hair disheveled, and his face muddied.7OAT6mT
xn5LrHe was the one who had stood at the front, holding Valerian at bay until he regained his senses.PF0A
km1“Dereck. Your achievements should be reported to the royal family and you should be awarded… but now’s not the time for celebration. We’ll postpone it. I’ll make sure you receive proper compensation.”ibD
40DiAR8“…”GTJ8
xFM2Z8T“And as the eldest daughter of House Belmierd, I must also thank you. If you hadn’t intervened in the hall and stopped Valerian, all the guests here would have died as victims of necromancy.”Q0XoaJa
szZ75Hearing that, all present widened their eyes and looked at Dereck.rKdA
NS0eTThey had known that Aiselin and Diella had stopped Valerian, but there were always doubts.nnid
fuZWHow could two girls, barely capable of two-star magic, stop someone who had absorbed power equivalent to four stars?mHdNJ4H
BqLFCIIt was impossible without outside help. They had suspected someone else intervened but never imagined it was a common-class mage.VhhDx
7BV7MU“Dereck? That white-haired mage saved our lives?”Xrjy6
LfH“He didn’t look that old… and he fought evenly against a four-star mage?”zmc
YreSHnF“He must be at least three stars… otherwise it doesn’t add up… A commoner that young, reaching three stars?”cqRzh
laIYAmong the nobles present, many from the southwest already knew of Dereck. He was famous as a talented magic instructor in the social circles of Ebelstein. The number of noble families hoping to hire him as a tutor far exceeded what could be counted on two hands.M2YkYFN
TJQSStopping Valerian was a tremendous feat—on the level of preventing a national disaster.9YESJ
GOZsyEven if the closed aristocratic society didn’t grant him a title, at the very least, a substantial financial reward was certain, and his social standing would skyrocket.Xki
fjCNow it was uncertain just how high Dereck’s value could climb—it was already soaring.dlu
80zOne way or another, he would make waves in noble society.5CeRhG9
DaGE12“Yes, you’re the most renowned magic instructor in the southwest. Indeed, your magical skill seems outstanding. I’m Robenkheim, from the north. If you ever visit House Melverot, please contact me.”EB1v
JqWNk6“It’s an honor to meet Sir Melverot, guardian of the north. Thank you for greeting me.”ZGHXsr
oWk“If you’re ever in the south, do visit Lord Delos’s castle. I’m his wife, Adelen. If my husband hears of this, he’ll want to reward you generously.”vqOCfjY
81L“Thank you kindly for your graciousness, Countess Adelen. Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any serious injuries.”7Q0H
jbjQ“I’m Poloncourt, chancellor of the royal family. Thanks to you, I’m still alive. If you ever consider working as a magic instructor…”ZFgFYv
E1XhZAnd so, the quickest nobles approached Dereck and began to greet him.lxiz
VWtiXVCompared to the beginning of the ball, when no one even spared him a glance, the sudden shift in attitude was nearly grotesque.hE0
jInmZ38Nonetheless, when it came to beneficial connections, they made sure to secure them. That was the nature of aristocratic society.LAI
XVb4From afar, Denise watched with her arms crossed and let out a soft laugh.Rvkn4N9
ShYUNow, House Beltus had Dereck under contract, but given the current situation, they were no longer certain they could keep him once the term ended.X9U
3zpm‘If he were someone with average talent, they’d just throw suspicious glances, but in cases like this… they’re truly shameless.’ZKC0FWC
ksPDenise had moved in noble circles for years, but that opportunistic attitude never ceased to amaze her.W05ME
JVcZb4MThis would only increase Dereck’s value, becoming a headache for anyone who wished to keep him close.rth
XE1kSShe brushed off her clothes and calmly watched Ellen’s back as she walked away. It seemed she’d made that whole scene on purpose, just to further elevate Dereck’s reputation.D8Z
LTaWjAs the nobles began gathering around, Denise smiled softly and also walked away.cY5D
1dXC3She would’ve loved to step forward and declare, “I, too, won’t hold House Duplain responsible,” but she couldn’t.iVUJH
XryoCswEllen was the true power in House Belmierd. Denise was nothing more than a puppet of the Beltus family.DHv
5wVd1Though both were ladies of the Rose Salon, the difference in authority within their respective families was like heaven and earth.cIQLbf
chTLEven in such an urgent situation, Ellen’s bold assertiveness was, in a way, enviable.Rao
wvk3EN8‘…Did I just envy power? Me?’zB0XY
GeewyrSuddenly, Denise shook her head, startled by her own thought.7Yni
aubOzdShe couldn’t believe that she—who always lived with restraint—had such a pointless idea.x6AMk
1NHSlZG‘Ever since Dereck arrived, I’ve been overthinking. I must stop having these unnecessary thoughts.’K4JKIq
pW4HDenise quickly fixed her platinum hair, soaked from the rain, and stood up.Vqcn
OUWWhile many nobles were scrambling to shake Dereck’s hand, she felt oddly satisfied that he was finally being recognized—but that was exactly why she thought they should leave soon.JoF
L5F5Id“Dereck. There’s no point in staying at House Duplain. Let’s return to the main house. We have to report what happened anyway, so for now…”8a2
9XH9ibn“Oh, Lady Denise, I’m glad to see you’re safe as well. When I saw you in the guest room closet, things were too urgent to properly greet you.”C74uJ
b5u“…Lady Freya, you’re safe too?”WfD
thgJust as Denise was about to lead Dereck away, Freya was holding onto him and chatting.sQv
eIuShe also seemed to be preparing to leave, but clearly wanted a few words with Dereck, who shared the same mentor.4dJVf
Ao4HOl“It’s amazing to meet someone in person whom I’ve only heard about through Master Katia. Seeing you like this is quite different from what I imagined—very intriguing.”Y87f
iPStj8“Lady Freya, I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt. Master Katia has written about you often. I’m impressed by how composed you are in this situation.”crUw
Qm14Pki“Well… now that the tension is gone, I’m just hungry. Ugh…”GTJwTI
E3WQ7sFreya fixed her disheveled blue hair and adjusted the dress that had slipped from her shoulders.Z6q
AwfbLShe was older than the Rose Salon ladies, having made her social debut long ago.Xfmy
AOmqThough rumors said she was the most influential figure in eastern noble circles, in person she didn’t exude such imposing authority.y5lK
uubiStill, Dereck greeted her warmly, like an old friend from a distant land. Even when nervous, Dereck rarely showed much expression. Seeing him so animated for once made Denise uncomfortable.41mJXhc
bGP‘He never looked that bright when he was with me…’77vYR
5ftjITo be fair, it would’ve been weirder if he had, considering how she constantly treated him like a nuisance.fB6
VnjunDenise knew that, but even so, seeing that unfamiliar, slightly excited expression on Dereck’s face sent a strange tingle through her chest.WKRL
XAHX“I’d love to keep chatting, but this isn’t the best time. Let’s continue another day. If you ever visit the eastern continent, please stop by House Elvester.”E8upJQ
SDB5Z“Well… my father doesn’t exactly welcome commoners into the mansion… but he wouldn’t turn away the man who saved his daughter’s life… Besides, Master Katia is there too, so it should be fine…”BjS6D
8PNlYR“Hmm… if it’s truly inconvenient, I won’t push it.”ckUuyEb
o6Y“No, it’s fine.”ME9
7yj7OFDenise, watching the pleasant exchange, sighed deeply and stepped in.tE4U
wzj3d0d“Then Lady Freya, perhaps you can visit House Beltus instead. Wouldn’t that be much better?”TFzm6P
caCBW“Oh, really? I’m not familiar with Ebelstein’s social scene, but I thought it’d be nice to connect with people from the Rose Salon or Drest Academy.”tReS
n5YM3X“The Rose Salon will be in some disarray for a while… but a visit to the mansion for social purposes should be fine.”beCvLJq
K0jtCD“That’s a relief. There are some matters I wanted to discuss separately.”k63
ye5UI“Discuss?”3eCXn
PXmQqgTFreya, resting her chin on one hand, glanced around cautiously and lowered her voice.YLhol
pwJuRo“You saw Prince Valerian using forbidden arts, didn’t you?”UUcp
2AztFGm“Yes, I did.”8SjcZ
KCAHJ3m“But… he seemed too skilled with the specific rituals, and his control over necromancy was too natural… it felt suspicious.”FG3
IAj“What…?”X1WQ7u
vzR3A“This isn’t something to talk about in the heart of House Duplain, where they’ve just lost family… but I can’t help feeling Prince Valerian wasn’t acting alone. Someone else must’ve been involved…”Fqj
lrHvIVThey were at the center of House Duplain. Speaking ill of the deceased in front of their family was disrespectful. That’s why Freya seemed to restrain herself.6jF79
B4mROB“Hmm… I’ll tell you more later.”rfIgy
EqcFreya dusted off her dress, straightened with her hands on her hips, and said:Li8QV
XOjhrW“Anyway, everyone’s exhausted, so let’s not talk about complicated things. The Duplain mansion is now in the hands of those two, so we can all head home and rest. The family members will handle the rest.”Z5vN
0FBr1With that, Freya gave a lively wave.vxNbq
sogmfot“See you next time, Dereck. Hmm… should I call you senior or oppa?”ikVeSHy
DOrR4“…”7zjG
Zbc“Just kidding.”8MJFh
x7qzfOStretching her stiff body, Freya departed for her home in the eastern continent.pSFM
2s6Given the incident, she had to return immediately to report everything.3dTG
EjphboDereck and Denise checked each other for injuries.3ufY
p656w3Neither was hurt, so they simply asked after each other and prepared to head back to Ebelstein.zYQX5X
sMz“Seems hard to return by carriage. I’ll ride the horse—please sit behind me.”lwXmc
rexBTM“Ugh… Dereck, my clothes are soaked in mud. It’s awful.”m4vCw8
x6SM4tk“There’s no helping it. Please endure a little longer.”MafjnWj
FX5QhtDenise wrapped her arms around Dereck’s waist and briefly turned her head to glance at the half-destroyed Duplain mansion.haamhh
wRikPjuThe grandeur of House Duplain, which once ruled the world, was now crumbling. They say no flower blooms forever, but watching something fall apart still leaves a void.sNILbo
5elSeeing Diella and Aiselin hurrying about the main hall, she silently reflected. Though the family had fallen into disgrace, they still had to live under the name Duplain.xeR4CDZ
logVSuch is the life of noblewomen—having lived under the prestige of the family, they must also bear its shame.HQpO
2zBIt would be nice if they had a chance to revive the family, but such opportunities are rare.ZRTM4j
sAPIn the end, they too were noblewomen. No matter how thorny the road, they must walk it with a smile.dSpH
nSygzigMany trials awaited them, and while Denise didn’t feel loyalty strong enough to offer active support… she still wished the sunlight filtering through the rubble would continue to shine on them.asb
QN7“Even if it collapses, the rubble remains.”EnA8f
aiiOQAnd if the rubble remains, perhaps flowers may bloom again. It might be a fleeting hope, but even fleeting hope is better than none.NZPF
usJHPZsWith that thought, they departed for Ebelstein, leaving the two sisters of House Duplain behind.CQaCOhK
NwupeSFor now, it would be difficult to see them again, as they’d be occupied with rebuilding.QhGS
KNIwDenise silently sent them all her support.0S2CuV
JKhwH***TEPaLdU
jAMXwMH“Good morning, Lady Denise.”nQZwy
waBMHowever, she saw Diella again just three days later.4SMd0
fyRWhen Denise entered her reception room that morning, she found Diella calmly sipping tea—and felt distinctly uneasy.91Hx
deQDespite being the young lady of a family in rapid decline, Diella exuded an undeniable presence.1oJEP
1VYRClad in a beautiful dress and holding a tea cup with poised elegance, Diella seemed even more refined than before.TP9L
HMfa“L-Lady Diella? What brings you to my house so early this morning…?”vBri
Y0UFCQDenise had become something of an early bird thanks to Dereck, but she still found it disorienting to receive visitors at such an hour.h4F5TB
Dnbl2She had only just finished getting ready and come downstairs when she found the little lion of a woman sitting in ornamental silence, eyes sharp as ever.bMlAe9
CejA‘I cheered her on, yes… but I didn’t expect her to visit out of the blue.’ETLcXbo
YhjnF“It seems you’re wondering how I managed to reach Ebelstein, given your ongoing mansion restoration,” Diella observed.wjTcQAG
9KTCfO‘How needlessly cutting!’dXbho2U
McIpzRDenise cleared her throat a few times, composed herself, and slipped into the formal mask of a noblewoman before sitting across from Diella.tPOkz
9GVg“You must have been through so much—I’d like to start by expressing my deepest condolences.”5UJRz
Itz2U“Thank you. Now, if I may, I’ll get straight to the point.”fcqVDsN
OdQSDenise and Diella had never been particularly close.IDlG0R
HC5kFeAt first, Denise championed Diella’s cause, but once both found themselves vying for Dereck’s attention, everything grew tense.Pp2HNtY
YKOWDenise didn’t genuinely harbor resentment, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy around Diella.QozEu8E
NvNROICreak.AUyqn
X1SLDNo sooner had Denise sat than Diella stood.C8m
PBMSShe carried herself oddly—her voluminous hair bristling like a hedgehog’s quills.GbScCE
q2EThough small in stature, Diella could be quite intimidating when serious—an image reinforced by her reputation for once roughing up servants.vMv
7pG6KERDenise swallowed nervously.sjCG5
GFVFrom day one in the Rose Salon, Diella resembled a wild stallion charging straight at her. Now, in her desperation, she’d risk visiting Denise’s mansion—why?Kzz
NOgbQDenise watched in silence, tension coiling tight.GzIF
g8i1kThud!JmTm
qTaO“…”r8POC
jFpUnexpectedly, Diella slammed her hand upon the table, sweating profusely—a sight completely out of character.kt5ZXc
PeUeWith eyes like a wary cat and flush of shame, she sweated for a long moment before finally lowering her gaze and speaking.qbZtVd
WgDd2“C-Could you…?”zpHZt
7pL“Could I…?”L8rNC5Z
3sq“Could you… lend me some money…?”EjM1K6k
0Q2h“…”wbHg
8o0giUSilence.kQgr
Ktxv“…”wPBrqA
3WRutEz“…”nxjsIOq
j5BStunned by the entirely unforeseen request, Denise froze.n1fK0v0
IvEhFtxThe quiet that followed felt like an endless chasm.IYs
xUS***uIX
wl2iOVv“What—?”S5QQk
agiDereck repeated, disbelieving his own ears.1xGrY
PsY5Y0sHe was in his own humble home—a modest house passed down from Master Katia, tucked in a corner of Ebelstein’s merchant district.i5cIC
ewMU8SNot exactly a place a noblewoman would visit—but someone knocked early this morning. He answered—and there stood Aiselin.wkS
ShHBjdWith a young, green-faced maid in tow, she timidly asked if she might enter for a moment.nQpEBX
zwSRy4JDuty—confusingly polite—Dereck let her in and offered a glass of cold water.DWht
22CgvbDespite the oddity of it, this was no place for a lady in dress. Dereck’s embarrassment deepened—he had nothing more to offer. He stood as Aiselin appeared even more uneasy.65axGJR
j8HAnd, finally, red-faced and trembling, she confessed she’d come to ask him for money.hm5xn
7BReAnd it wasn’t just anyone. It was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain who said it.UeEZbH
sC60oTY“…”fvM0Ttt
HtI“…”J5H4
eou6N7SEven after saying it, Aiselin lowered her head even further, completely flushed. Her trembling hands resting on her lap looked pitiful.THeV5yR
KdZO“Is it… that bad? Bad enough that you had to come ask me?”ZfJuy6
ksjUPYDereck had some savings, but he never imagined a noble would come to him, a commoner, asking for help.RiE
iu4G“No, it’s just that… between the expenses to restore the mansion, emergency provisions, and the urgent need to hire a coachman for the guests’ return… I just need a bit of cash right now… It’s not much, but… I’m kind of… stuck…”poPtLvW
snnQXvR“….”hDwKqL3
sO03F“I borrowed some from the Korn family and also used what was left in my personal residence… but I forgot that the payment date for the work coincided with that…! Given the circumstances…”g6BPZe2
74A“….”gXShW2
MpBFIUL“Until I can sell the mansion’s antiques, artwork, and magical tools, I need to front some living expenses, but the funds I received from the Roent Trading Company aren’t enough… No… I shouldn’t be saying all this… so…”XPCOW
tKfeorH“….”bxaEj70
7jOgg“….”823l
BysGrowl.tBpDFGX
djEGNVBreaking the silence, the sound of a growling stomach was heard.Fa63
pwBCODereck flinched. At first, he thought it was his own stomach… but then remembered he’d had some mashed potatoes and bread that morning.2SqU
h1mn4Then he looked at Aiselin… and saw her face was completely red, like it might explode. She had lowered her head deeply, trembling, as if she wanted to disappear on the spot.DFoJhW
61Q1V“…You haven’t eaten?”dmRhAov
pDq7Lh“I-I’m sorry. Please, don’t ask…”FkTX
t2q“….”nDLDFUX
DVI“…Today was the deadline to pay for the staff’s meals… I couldn’t let the servants go hungry starting tomorrow… So, in a hurry… I managed to cover it with my own money…”MjdHrKD
cft“….”yRo4sEN
AWTLPQVDereck rubbed his face with both hands.xhB
j0NHe felt like he was losing his mind.QCT
jtRnXWhatever the case, it seemed that the first thing they needed was food.mqnJ
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