Chapter 85: Marriage Proposal (1)
IJXBFuEThe original purpose of debuting in high society was to foster cultural, artistic, and magical exchanges with people of high standing, as well as to cultivate and refine oneself.6zqm
9V0However, those were just surface-level reasons. The real reason young ladies gathered in one place to showcase their beauty and manners was, in many cases, to secure a good marriage proposal.iCAu
FTr88psEspecially for lesser nobles or those of ambiguous status, the sole intent was to catch a good noble and achieve social elevation.wxKq
7DfSuch people focused more on attending dances and banquets to mingle with nobles than on debating philosophical speeches or advancing their magical prowess in cultural centers.LKfJ1m
D36If they managed to catch the attention of a man from a ducal family and marry him, it meant a total life change, so families often pushed their daughters in various ways. That was, essentially, the logic of social circles.Tl0Y0
cyjjBetween high-ranking territorial nobles and lesser nobles, there existed an unbridgeable gap.bS3
wzagCsThere were almost no marriage proposals between the two levels, so the eyes of powerful nobles naturally turned to the top of Ebelstein’s social circle, rather than to lesser noblewomen obsessed with marriage.Yj2unM
62MThose at the top were clearly defined.BIP
aB8DiqThey were Aiselin of Duplain, Ellen of Belmierd, and Denise of Beltus.l3V
qoNIf someone managed to marry one of the three, even a weak peripheral noble could quickly rise to power.Ayw4v
lJtUqfThat’s why, from border nobles to influential lords, they often wrote passionate letters or sent fresh, expensive flowers as gifts to the three of the Rosea Salon to make a good impression.rFw6rk
3A7The competition was so fierce that the daily routine of a designated maid began with clearing away letters filled with flirtatious words and organizing the flowers that arrived at the mansion entrance to plant them in the garden.lHwi74U
wYPtfrThat’s how many marriage proposals rained down on the daughters of powerful families.PD6
SZKArThere were also many daughters of lesser nobles in Ebelstein’s social circle who were obsessed with getting a marriage proposal.7Ig
S47And once one reached the level of being among the top three of the Rose Salon, countless nobles cast seductive glances their way. Knowing these two facts, it wasn’t hard to predict what would come next.85iSMd
Bblpmfs“Duplain is no longer a family worthy of being at the top of the Rose Salon.”tKdLh
W0UKwDenise thought that, at last, the inevitable had come. This was said during a late afternoon meeting in the Elfontaine Salon.8pKrl
Mpw3When Duplain’s name was at the top, such words would’ve been considered blasphemy, but none of the young ladies present at the salon meeting could refute it.HYD37
8kizThe tale of the Duplain family’s decline had long ceased to be a mere rumor and had become a known fact.0hz
aLWey65That Aiselin had gone north to earn money, and that Diella was going door to door asking for loans, was well known.Wfno2d
7rba9fThey had lost all the dignity a leading noble family should possess.KWC6r
qo2dEven if a wealthy family falls, it is said to endure for three generations, but at least in noble society, where justification and dignity reign, they could no longer raise their voice.dlSJU
9bJELwzTherefore, it was considered absurd for the Duplain family to retain one of the three coveted spots in the Rose Salon.ubOvEuZ
SNFn“So I think we should choose someone to take that place instead of the Duplain family.”P2Zsj
IO5FEllen, who was silently seated beside the refreshment table, frowned, and Denise, who was listening from the other end, sighed as well.7ACz
saWThe speaker was Trisha, daughter of Viscount Renouel.iQsPd
GlqHer beautiful wavy hair was charming, but her occasional freckles slightly ruined her elegant aura.kcB29
p55She was someone with a strong desire to climb the social ladder by catching a good marriage proposal, rather than dedicating herself to studies or self-cultivation.pbVFL
0dOf‘It’s a predictable story even without hearing it.’JzgLoL
ntnMtDenise felt she could understand Trisha’s intentions without needing her to finish speaking.Uso
0d5She wanted to remove Duplain from the top three and take that place herself. The motive was all too obvious.ArMAnW
Gd4ARJjDenise was already fed up with young ladies who only thought about marriage.lBVyp4
USsxW6CThey believed that Aiselin, Ellen, and Denise had reached their positions solely due to their family prestige.MOMQJg
KquhThey thought that if they could push Duplain out and ride on the name value of their own family, they too could ascend to a position where they received flirtatious attention from all the nobles.MfZfU
jB7Z0“Is there anyone who disagrees with me?”CHBLV
g6YjZWXTrisha, standing on the podium with her hands on her hips, wore a triumphant expression.nTSwq
9QiAUViscount Renouel, who stood behind her, had considerable influence despite his rank.ZADOQy1
kmuAIf Duplain fell, one of the three families—Renouel, Pellobel, or Logwalz—would take that place. She seemed more than ready to jump into that competition.vZhe
5Er‘None of them compare to Belmierd or Beltus in power, but Duplain’s fall does seem inevitable.’BLLWaL
zMYPDenise watched the situation with her arms crossed. Glancing at Ellen, she noticed she was thinking the same.fupp
xCIcz1In the end, noble decisions were primarily influenced by the battle for justification.cPDfdm
ERj2“…No, one of you will object.”Bpi
5c8DMWhen Trisha said that, all eyes turned to one corner.7RY2xc
2K8nDAzDiella, who was sitting at the far end of the meeting hall sipping black tea, received their stares.Mnh
me6‘…So that’s how they want to play it.’s8TPnd8
pUvDiella put down her tea and stared silently toward the podium for a moment.jfb
okdEveryone who knew her personality swallowed nervously.9anSWV
wRbAs Dereck’s first disciple and the youngest of the Duplain family, she was known for her explosive temper.yAxQ
HyEYIf something displeased her, she never hesitated to lash out—one example being against Denise of the Beltus family, the treasure of that house.AEA
Rx0a2But that had only been possible thanks to the Duplain name.22QLrVQ
HbfqEven if she was still a noble lady, in a family struggling to pay their servants’ wages, she could no longer display the same grandeur as before.o9iYPeB
Jr8“What an interesting declaration, Lady Trisha. You speak as if you see the Duplain family as a toothless tiger.”7XLQz0
oNbs8V“And isn’t it?”wbo
2AfgThe tone was openly defiant. Some young ladies still afraid of Diella held their breath.GVBInd6
JlQ6IBut Trisha just crossed her arms and smiled arrogantly.ES9zA
9vkw“History moves on. If it’s time to disappear quietly, then disappear quietly.”EBq2
VIaN“Even if Lord Marcus of Viscount Renouel’s family is considered powerful, I wonder if that authority is enough to be rude to a ducal family.”xe3JBE
uVqICBRumors had long circulated that Viscount Renouel’s family would receive a larger territory in the capital.wnh2C
rtSKh8Duplain was a falling star, and Renouel a rising sun. Everyone present knew that fact.VWlfwNo
Wo4NWBut Diella was still Diella.38cRY
k2ogWPNShe wouldn’t cause a scene by recklessly using magic in the middle of the meeting, but she also wouldn’t sit idly by.T9FXTm
htY2gSeated with her arms crossed in that tense atmosphere, Diella looked up and said:fi8ll
7Ycu8DE“Well, there’s nothing wrong with what you’re saying.”A1z9ck3
1HHAjo‘….!?’8Wvy
LYvG37zEveryone present inwardly reeled.wSu1O
dR930Even Trisha, who had launched openly hostile attacks, looked taken aback. She had come to the meeting expecting Diella to speak out.dnVb
jzX67PBBut Diella spoke calmly, her tone restrained.9gQz
gNhysmR“I acknowledge that the name Duplain no longer carries the weight it once did. However, to consider it a toothless tiger may be nothing more than Lady Trisha’s arrogance.”8pBL
B4wCL38Diella rose with her hands resting on the table, her eyes shining.vSZ
por“If Duplain’s power ever returns, be ready — they might bite your arm off.”BkF
1A1“…”G2z
9jlzmP“Remember that the name Renouel, Viscount of Renouel, has been etched into the memory of I, Diella Katherine Duplain.”v8cqq6
AMwTPbEven as she admitted the decline of her authority, the young lioness lifted her head with a force that bordered on murderous.pf1ONYe
ULI3hThough everyone knew Duplain was faltering, witnessing Diella, it seemed as if the wounded lion would one day rise and bite the neck of Viscount Renouel.MfM
cNnaxWhat strength remained with a noble family whose head had died, had no proper successor, and had lost nearly all its lands and privilege?okqoo7N
wn4OfREven so, seeing Diella made it feel like the wounded lion might one day rise again.6uOAbt0
qsNzTrisha, who had tried to mock, swallowed painfully in the face of Diella’s spirit.JEyUDc
zDHselA single drop of cold sweat trickled down her cheek — the final touch to the moment.GCN
ooM2r2Click.Aj1mne1
cWUMwAStepping through the main door of the Elfontaine Salon, Diella looked up at the sky where the sun had already risen.1BRbj
KJlbTwisting the ends of her blonde hair with discomfort, the young ladies around her swallowed nervously and stepped back.3YGby
aZo1q“Sigh…”nof7Nl
ci37gDSSighing as if lamenting something, Diella shielded her eyes from the sun with her fingers and murmured softly.Lvaxemi
waiQiPy‘What a mess… And all of this is happening while my sister is away…’gTI8
WifRAiselin, who had departed north with Dereck, would soon return.n6NZRSn
n3zWhen she came back to Ebelstein and saw that there was no longer a seat for her at the top of the Rose Salon, what would she think? From Diella’s perspective, it was a deeply uncomfortable situation.Fya3dk
XU8r‘I… also miss Dereck…’HXF3P
bkcDeAnDiella felt utterly alone.c5L7fR
cul4fRkThere was much to do, no clear path forward, and the situation only grew worse.U1IW
ROmItThis incident would not benefit Dereck either.7Uq
T3DOnThe three people at the top of the Rose Salon were either disciples of Dereck or linked to him.m3sxkV
jnnYet if Duplain withdrew from that position, whoever took its place would likely have no connection to Dereck.ZQYVp7
qGuqsP‘The odds that someone favorable to Dereck will sit there are extremely low…’xtpXB
FWuWd4JTo occupy the position left by Duplain, not only was family prestige required, but also an overwhelmingly outstanding quality.hliOeX
93QgAt least in the current social circle of Ebelstein, there weren’t many families capable of aspiring to that position.Gtzze7D
PQCnIf Lady Trisha truly took that seat, it was impossible to know what impact that would have on Dereck.ATQ
eJgSuIt was a moment filled with bad news.E01a
7ZV***4DteS
qKb4Rft“Yesterday, Lady Siern called me ‘Sister Aiselin’ again. It was the eighth time. Now she calls me sister naturally, and I don’t know… my heart is overflowing… Is this love…?”B7L0P
cEOV7LAs for Aiselin — she already had that “street‑cat collector” vibe, feeling a tickle of emotion in earning the trust of the lost Siern.BZCGzb
HINWEThe next morning, she went to find Dereck and boasted so eagerly that Dereck, still half asleep, scratched at his tousled hair and sighed.4JD
chCom“Ah… I came too early, didn’t I? I wanted to show someone… but there’s no one else but you, Lord Dereck…”25Y
EKYBbCo“No, it’s fine. I was due to get up anyway, and I wanted to go over the schedule.”H2RQoB
3KvFTbbDereck shook his head, opened the door to his private room, invited Aiselin in, and stretched.CLvI94w
8OjHe sat before Aiselin, who had already settled at the table, and naturally poured some tea.KzMi
2Ap4o“Let’s return to Ebelstein next week.”UrhmxP
O0TaPGE“…Really?”tZ05
bme“Yes. Lady Siern hasn’t attacked anyone with her killer instinct in the past weeks, right? Once she begins to control it to some degree, there isn’t much more magical instruction to give.”pj9zb
5aVPGLBecause Dereck wasn’t particularly good at making tea, Aiselin naturally brought out the teapot and began to serve herself.FabLgtN
b0DM4bIn fact, she could’ve asked a maid to do it, but since becoming a fallen noble, Aiselin had taken on many duties herself.NiTdWEo
qphrFrom the perspective of an untitled commoner, it was quite awkward—and Dereck had told her many times, but Aiselin did not care.XekwcvL
oob“If we want Lady Siern to debut in Ebelstein’s social circles, we have to bring her there first.”rgW
fzg“Even so, if the blood of Noir becomes unrestrained again, it could become a serious problem.”WgbL0xq
ylhaJ51“We just have to stay vigilant. Fortunately, I am a mercenary stationed in Ebelstein, and you, Lady Aiselin, frequent those circles—so you can keep watch.”MXVM
5XgDDereck sat across from her, dusting off his clothes and smoothing his disheveled locks with his fingers. Seeing him, Aiselin laughed.GiW
aUyM“…Is something wrong?”GjB4w4
TEu4J“No. It’s just that you’re normally so pristine, Dereck, but seeing you relaxed like this is refreshing.”c1IU1C
VaGVJ“Because of my work, I deal with nobles often—so I have no choice. When I’m on a mercenary job, I’m even more unkempt than this.”tsik9m7
93PnBHWhen he and Pheline went hunting for days, they often didn’t wash or change clothes.8ISnYd
AkEIndeed, this level of disarranged appearance might not even qualify as ‘dirty.’NshCJd
LBNf“If Duplain’s prestige were still intact, you wouldn’t dare address me so familiarly, Dereck.”CPs
4SG3V4H“Even now, I try to show you the proper respect due your nobility. I don’t adjust my attitude based on a family’s prestige.”gHMf
4TDI“Honestly, I feel like I’ve grown close to you a lot, Dereck. Unconsciously, the gap between our statuses has shrinked compared to before—and that shows in everything.”XZWBB5R
OOXmz“If I’ve been disrespectful, I apologize.”AzI95M
SGMsZ“No, on the contrary—I like it. Sometimes, a fall can be beneficial in that sense.”2P8GAgQ
CJJmn1XIt may be an overly optimistic view, but maintaining that attitude even on small matters is beneficial in a precarious situation.nklGtp
c06eZNDereck nodded softly at Aiselin’s words.CUZG
2jGU06“I can’t deny your words, Dereck. You don’t change your attitude based on family prestige, but… hmm… there’s no guarantee that the people of the Rose Salon will do the same.”Gqe
pKVR“What do you mean?”9di
n5sgpZ“You said we should return to Ebelstein, right? If we do… there’s a strong chance my seat at the top of the Rose Salon might no longer belong to me.”etGlvD
lSEAt those words, Dereck went silent for a moment. For a noble lady, to be degraded in status and expelled from the top is a shocking event.08S0p
XX5tOLoss of status weighs far more than the joy of rising. That’s how the world works; loss always hits harder.M05Mi
KLJhez“Who do you think will occupy that seat?”Art9ty
LChzSThe people in the salon would decide after considering the family’s prestige, magical achievements, culture, and dignity.kXyhQ
hNOtse“At this point, I think it might be Lady Trisha of the viscount Renouel’s family or Lady Prim of the count Pelobel’s family… but, well, who knows.”jQk
n6L1a“Oh, really?”QEkT
KugVQ2“Yes. Soon, someone like a storm will debut in the social circles of Ebelstein.”h9n02Y5
UPKa62t“…”tvIa
hGst9Those words were undeniably true.uGW
9LVvvVFDereck’s new disciple, Siern Alaina Rochester, was none other than the daughter of Lord Melverot.jgxRu
ft1uShe was the young lady of the ducal Rochester family, capable of handling three-star magic at such a young age, and had received direct cultural education from Aiselin.3DNjIc
799lWhile wandering through the snowy plains, it wasn’t noticeable, but when dressed in a pretty ruffled dress and sitting modestly, she looked like a beautiful and delicate porcelain doll.qCIG
v2GAlthough the single white strand of hair falling over her forehead gave her a slightly gloomy impression, it was safe to say that hardly anyone could match her overall.Rof
pBBDereck and Aiselin had worked tirelessly over the last month to mold her into a suitable person, and most of her flaws had already been corrected.oiS0lWA
WZxhIf she were to sit at the top of the Salon Rose, she would support Duplain and Dereck more than anyone else.poMql
gEpP“However, sometimes I feel a… strange air…”MLj1pHa
6nQQ“Really?”11a
kqxwcqyAiselin, who spent a lot of time with Siern, had had many emotional exchanges with her.ZJK
YN9vBut sometimes, when she looked at Siern, she felt an inexplicable chill or her skin would crawl.BCY
UZEXvvSiern was human. Aiselin affirmed that fact with more conviction than anyone. However, at times, when speaking with Siern, there were moments when human logic and reason didn’t apply.w9k3Qby
SYGOnce, while they were bathing together, Siern said something strange while in Aiselin’s arms.5RStxJ
6AGhMaT— Sister Aiselin. What is your relationship with Dereck, the magic teacher?ElmzJ6E
VEeMYsP— Me? Well… we just know each other from the social circles…LeCsFn9
Q45— Really…?zH3k4Qp
5pm8— Yes, of course… Why? Are you curious about Dereck?oRD
GaOVhhJ— Yes… He’s quite popular in the social circles of Ebelstein… I’m worried he might not pay enough attention to my condition or my magic once we return…Qua
csdqcr— Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. Dereck is a very responsible person.itjPCM
TTsAlthough Aiselin tried to reassure her, Siern, blowing bubbles, spoke with a displeased expression.0TdI
KY9— But I really would prefer if he only cared for me… What should I do to make that happen…?KJHdV49
e0f— Is there even a way? Just work hard… and keep up with the classes, isn’t that enough?z1Bu0
hEIh— I can’t help but feel uneasy. There are more… secure methods, you know? Like locking him in a tower… or tying him up…w6iet
r9i— Do you really think such… scary things?luA
bl50mz— No, it’s just a joke… Besides, I basically already live locked in a tower…DvLoG
1NFl4The mere fact that she said something like that so naturally was enough to send shivers.NLnvFGk
qGOIn any case, if one only looked at her appearance, she was a charming and adorable girl. Only, her way of thinking had become a bit wild from being confined during her stormy adolescence.Yi0B
jIm0yi6Aiselin took it lightly, but upon returning to Dereck, she once again felt an indefinable unease.H0RR
ILGaq“Dereck…”sIZE2I3
hDK“Yes?”EkBvFvq
p91tbG“Just in case… be careful.”RrZnhR
DTH0A9m“…?”8z8W
ezlN8tfDereck could only look at Aiselin with a puzzled expression while sipping his tea.AP979
bWzEcqY***Du47h
EqqFk“Yes. Before debuting in society, it wouldn’t be bad to show Siern the noble circles of Ebelstein. Allow her to accompany you.”sdhERP
z9UQs7IAs always, Lord Melverot didn’t bother to look at those reporting to him.mLdomY
G8KGjvtWithout even glancing at them, he simply gazed out the window, maintaining his arrogant posture, barely paying attention.YtzatN
N2zhAiselin and Dereck reported on Siern’s condition and confirmed that the conditions were sufficient for her to accompany them to Ebelstein.EIdN
RwnQlThere were still some dangerous aspects, but they were manageable if both were careful.jwN1
MYYv“If Lady Siern debuts in the social circles of Ebelstein, it will be like a great storm, attracting much attention. Lady Siern is worth it.”HjGpi7
axninr“It’s fine to praise her, but attention isn’t always favorable.”wXQWe
Pcvy“That… is true, but…”W50
nSYbUssAiselin, very aware of the gloomy atmosphere of Ebelstein’s social circles, couldn’t refute Melverot’s words.eD98895
QjIrBcq“On the way back, pass through the territory of Rodelen. You can take a quick look if you cross the lands of the Duke of Beltus.”42fxc
JniThe Rodelen territory was the land that would belong to Dereck if he were granted a title.FfU
2u7It was so small it was almost embarrassing to call it a “territory,” and most of it was vineyards, so there wasn’t much to see except for the delicious wine.BFb5J0U
KzaOEven so, it was the place he would manage if granted a title.sK4Iql
UJ0o“I’ve heard there’s a mansion, but it’s old and deteriorated, so it’s not much. Just be thankful it exists.”Ngqy
6jm“I’m grateful.”zUod
h1jyaJ“I’ve informed the territory management staff of your appointment, so there shouldn’t be major issues with the handover. However, the problem lies in the granting of the title itself.”PQVEC
6MeMelverot, resting his chin on his hand and crossing his legs, sighed deeply as if he had a headache.K7RFUAJ
7O6Yy“I expected a lukewarm response from the central nobles, but the Grand Duke of Beltus, in the southwest of the continent, has expressed opposition.”9eT0
aG2FfIt was not expected that Duplain or Belmierd would oppose granting Dereck a title, but Beltus was completely different.Puwqxu
xXA2v9Especially since the Rodelen territory, where Dereck would settle, bordered the Duke of Beltus’s lands. It was inevitable they’d react more sensitively than other families.yr46Nb
kaO“This is a problem I have to resolve myself, so you don’t have to worry too much. However, there’s another matter you two must resolve.”KuLhk
YDpGc3C“What is it?”aQkx
QNAZfYx“The fact that you’re an orphan.”ulnhwg
p35Melverot dropped the line coldly.6ksiYWo
eg6dIt was a blunt comment that startled Aiselin, but Dereck didn’t flinch. It was an obvious truth.RaYILIf
17H4I“If you want to receive a title and claim to be head of a noble house, you must have a family and a house. However, you are only known as Dereck, with no surname to represent a house. Moreover, you have no connections whatsoever.”w52pJxP
oSwM“Is that such a big problem to receive the title?”o8Plhb
1OF6frl“Of course it is. If the formal requirements aren’t met, the process can’t proceed, right?”z44ALB3
VXwT5No matter what people say, this is an era of bloodlines. The existence or not of a family was an essential criterion for determining title eligibility.iIXEnZL
YzWtmF7If one wanted to consider magical lineage, political stability, duty succession, economic base, education, reliability, and reputation, in the end one had to examine the family the person belonged to.FF2DR
0pS3RThat’s why, for an orphan like Dereck, entering the closed aristocratic society was like reaching for the stars.XxhRz
Lu1EQJ“Even if they’re not too strict about granting a minor barony in the outskirts, you still need to meet the minimum requirements.”UgI
DCRb2t“Then, can I choose my own surname?”FUCHFb
xmq41Z“That’s not enough.”dvS
WOn8Aiselin thought Siern’s social debut would be a bombshell for Ebelstein.L4E77
MlmkFBut reality was even bigger than that.yYM
k4L4An even bigger bomb was about to explode in the social circles of Ebelstein.xzgNT
UiQB65“Find a suitable partner. Even if only for formality, form a house and prove you belong to it.”PlGCa
WQjcThat was the marriage proposal for Dereck.rFZdCJp
BVNjsvhAiselin’s eyes widened like full moons upon hearing the conversation between the two.LQRXh
dmlXgTLooking at Dereck, who was sweating profusely, he also seemed deep in thought, resting his chin on his hand.hOChDm
ftL“…”pLGiGe
G2WKIt was the first time in her life Aiselin saw Dereck sweat.nvQG3nf
VftSDShe couldn’t foresee what would happen if this news reached Ebelstein.rKZQbc
7XWxKUnfortunately, their departure was scheduled for next week.tqbP
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!