Chapter 89: Baron (1)
vA1Ks7Those who had been taught by Dereck knew.dsqxvbv
K4oThe young noble ladies who were his disciples not only improved their magical abilities but also developed a peculiar tendency to become more straightforward in their thinking and behavior.v0V9zdC
I1d7sEIt was clear they had been influenced by Dereck, once a rough mercenary, but even so, they never went as far as to disregard the basic etiquette ingrained in noble society.ilee
0Ze2Nf1However, Diella wasn’t bound by such things.9ub
1vJShe had been the first to be taught by Dereck, the girl who embraced his influence the most, learning to suppress personal feelings for a greater good—but she didn’t hold back when it came to her sister Aiselin.MU3
QdrIf someone hit her, she hit back tenfold. She pounced, crushed, bit ears, and jabbed fingers into eyes to make sure they never dared again.LZ71I
8JWOThat was her style.zl3SUU
3ntrtH“With the achievements of the Renouel Viscountcy on the rise, you think it’s all your doing, right? You think you’ll be promoted soon and the whole world will bow before you, right?”sVkjqo
ozQi“Ah!”6bU67K
o42f4She lifted her skirt and stomped on Lady Trisha’s chest with her boot, looking down at her with the eyes of a beast.oJj5Mp
ztGYRITrisha was a girl who stood out by insidiously and subtly suppressing others.pOzaQ
duHShe was an expert at dodging consequences by claiming it was an accident or that she had no such intentions, all while chipping away at someone’s self-esteem.tJLmP5Y
pWjP7JAt least in noble circles, where grace and dignity were key, such tactics could be useful.LvBs
ivWwy0HBut her opponent this time wasn’t the right one.kipOPtc
pT1Diella knew.vJy
d0mkPYLiving in the luxurious world of nobility, it was common to forget that one could be hit at any time.pVEFKxP
SO7Those who didn’t grasp this cold, logical fact—who became obsessed with superficial authority and crossed the line—needed to be trampled so they could come to their senses.jNqit
s2hkLU3Those who’ve been hit know how to hit well, and Diella knew exactly when to lunge in and shatter an opponent’s psyche.Yxh0q
8QBX6ISWhen she was convinced her opponent thought they were untouchable, when their arrogance peaked… that was the moment to smash them into the ground and make them see reality.Gwm6
erO9fIs“That’s why you can’t do it.”FUyx37
nEo13HYSlap!PocyBUm
gUbWhen she slapped Trisha on the cheek once more, Trisha finally came to her senses, clenching her teeth as she got up.AjQx
R90gU6She grabbed Diella’s hair, casting aside all dignity, and screamed as she lunged.dwdBi
mit“What… what are you doing?! Aaah!”KB6Oz6
eIYXH“Let go of me! Let go!”wF09
TYJ6She shoved Diella, growling in fury, but Diella kicked her in the lower abdomen with her boot.oYZj
h9uPCrash!qXgJkw
h7aaI2NTrisha fell to the ground again but didn’t let go of Diella’s hair.RmB38PV
4LOrcdeDragged down as well, Diella bit Trisha’s wrist with her teeth.N8hn4
MJjJO“Aaah!”opss
amP49BTrisha screamed and let go of her hand. Diella got up and tried to grab her by the collar again.KIt
FzSHGdDAt that moment, the alarmed servants rushed in and held Diella’s arms to stop her. If she were seriously hurt, no one would come out of it unscathed.jJMVk4P
TuWrGBang! Crash!VU9
BBP“Lady Diella! Please, calm down!”FSI0iK
76cV4Rk“Let me go! Let me go! That’s an order!”lHbU
SikGrowling and still glaring at Trisha, Diella was restrained by the servants.aHc
BUgcMjUSeeing her like that, Trisha slowly sat up, panting. Her hair was half undone and drenched in sweat. Her pupils trembled—a mix of confusion and fear.lM8KCz
0ILtDKX“W-what is this…? No matter what, this is so undignified…!”knl
CKuAS5“Dignity? Right. I don’t give a damn about dignity or whatever if someone touches my reverse scale. But do you think you have dignity?”TxZV
NW0uM0qDiella looked at Aiselin, who was too shocked to speak.bPmunAd
6TnLROcDrops of tea still dripped down her cheek. Seeing that, Diella’s rage rose again, and she spoke in a cold voice.WnZUe
26C78nD“Rather than clawing people from behind and scheming, it’s far more dignified to slap someone to their face. Talking about dignity while being a two-faced snake is ridiculous.”94a0
VDBZD4m“You think you’ll get away with this?”Wszj8
mqAuu“And what if I don’t? Has the Renouel house already been promoted?”mNMV9rK
oqlaa5Trisha brushed off her clothes and stood up, regaining her composure.toE3
jZo48“It seems you want me to be blunt, so I won’t hold back. You’d best bow your head and apologize to me right now.”JUmeO
TPvwT4Having caught her breath, Trisha adjusted her hair and stared with wide eyes.cYDu2M
r5VJ8I“At least within the Rose Salon, I can easily expel Duplain.”7XN
sebTrisha glared at Diella.bTe
qUSsICurrent secular power may place the Duplain family far above the Renouel, but everyone knew that gap would soon be reversed.2N3qxma
Lq1dYThe attention of socialites didn’t follow explicit titles. It leaned toward whoever held real power.2oO1DF
wJz9The ladies of the Rose Salon would watch Trisha. Perhaps a few still sympathized with Aiselin’s character, but no one would side with reckless Diella.2MEH97L
k4zlrAnd once you earned a bad reputation in noble society, the harassment that followed was indescribably insidious.1hevC
EDibcAiselin, who had experienced such ostracism firsthand, knew that better than anyone.U3k3
xkxIt was a mistake to believe all ladies of the three great families were open-minded and just.CKW
gEaJOsPeople follow power and authority more than you think.UKFGIO
KhBMhEEspecially minor nobles, whose hunger for power and upward mobility made them easily swayed.9nqE
bcgYU6“Even so, Lady Diella is still young and inexperienced, so her mistakes are understandable. We could see her rash judgment as an act of love for her family. However, an apology is necessary.”3xr6
hyM65Nb“Do you want to die? If you keep spouting nonsense, you won’t be walking home today.”pKlFQ
qhO2S“I didn’t expect much from Lady Diella. But you, Lady Aiselin, should bow your head for your only sister’s mistake.”ZGk
BFMGeAll eyes turned to Aiselin.6hyN0
cWKKdDenise, who had been watching the situation while fiddling with her dress, furrowed her brow.Qjc
6OZjTrisha seemed to have calculated exactly how to play this. She thought pressuring the gentler Aiselin would be far more effective.NhlB
tpHIfB“Lady Aiselin, you know how harsh it is to be excluded by the salon ladies in this cold social world. I know, so I want to forgive Lady Diella’s rudeness as much as possible.”aAA
j5sFrom the start, Trisha wanted one thing—to crush Aiselin and make sure she never interfered with her social climb again.DBT6D
MXjThe message was clear: bow your head and apologize, and I’ll let it go.5Ae
dv3fAiselin, who always tried to resolve things peacefully and calmly, would surely bow her head soon. Trisha had already made up her mind about her.fRX
OmuT7J6“Aiselin, sister! Stay still! We didn’t come to Ebelstein to care about what the Rose Salon thinks! Don’t bow your head!”MzezJ
ptI9uShe was of the same blood as Diella but had a completely opposite nature.YkUHnn
lXHThinking it’d be easy to break her, Trisha smiled in satisfaction.PmRF
e3j1qDrip, drip, drip.m4BuYyY
LSUtkqCold tea began to run through Lady Trisha’s hair.NbGZ
RrjCZNot only was Aiselin’s white dress, but also Trisha’s navy-blue skirt now stained with tea.ubxs
eJ0n“What, what…?”fu8E8vZ
ZeTh5RAt that moment, Trisha met Aiselin’s eyes.tPKxe
Le1vBThe gaze that poured from above as she shook the empty teacup over Trisha’s head was icy.QjHV
NMzvNHer lips pressed tightly, her eyes wide and glaring… It was an expression no one had ever seen on Aiselin before.7V56e
t22Aiselin was furious to her core.NZDa
y8fMdrLDrip, drip, drip.MbNnm
1iIA“What, what is this…?”Xfxe
qIC“Don’t cross the line, Lady Trisha.”rCOF6
7cIAlthough her voice was just as cold, it was different from Diella’s ever-angry tone.XfG4tJy
zSWFSAiselin, who always welcomed everyone with a warm and kind expression, now appeared strikingly cold. Even Ellen and Denise widened their eyes—for a very different reason this time.S4X4
KIuErShe tried to maintain her dignity, even soaked in tea.7HXG
a1ORDwCarefully placing the empty cup on the table, she pushed it together with the saucer to make cleaning easier for the servants.eGGs3n0
FUH91yB“I’m well aware of the merits Viscount Renouel earned on Rodentz Island. At the upcoming imperial birthday celebration, they’ll surely be granted a higher title. On the other hand, our Duplain family is a fading star. I won’t deny it.”JztN0W
FzRLLgEThe way Aiselin spoke, as if refuting point by point, was so unusual that everyone at the table swallowed hard.XuS
ZKInr“But that doesn’t give you the right to threaten me using Diella’s condition as an excuse.”FcX3E
AtmPDZQ“Ha…”LA8wo
L3te0“The apology should come from Lady Trisha, not from me. If she doesn’t, I’ll have no choice but to get angry.”46k
4RkAlthough her tone was calm, there was an inexplicable pressure in her words.5fX
tbwThe weight of anger varies from person to person.bl0UVP
FawAiselin, who was always positive and energetic, seemed to have her anger under tight control. That’s why her fury carried a weight that pierced deeper than anyone else’s.yrMy
zqpJrAt that moment, Trisha should have backed off.z3wLNMu
4ElBut she made the wrong choice, spurred by her family’s rising prestige, the arrogance of nobility, and her ambition to climb in the Rose Salon.7ZX
gzcj“You’ll regret this, Lady Aiselin. Don’t think you’ll continue thriving in this Rose Salon. Like it or not, I’ll be the one to push Duplain out and take your place.”bew
oJd1“…”F3wbk6m
z8MFdw“When that happens, you’ll bow your head to the ground and beg for forgiveness for today’s disrespect. I can already feel the pity rising in me just imagining how miserable you’ll look. That’s how it will end for the daughter of a fallen family.”dHyi
SsUH2With that, Trisha let out a laugh.ZkrlPK4
QdIIn any case, the minor nobles would side with Viscount Renouel’s family. Many had already been won over.4uy
wftM6The taste of power was sweet. Leading others, using them, having followers—all of it sent a chill of pleasure through this noble’s heart that was impossible to resist.kjm
vR63Trisha was about to fix her disheveled clothes.z1pu
XDWE8PS‘I can’t stay quiet any longer.’M6X
F8vYLvhJust as Ellen was about to stand up and call out Trisha’s arrogant behavior, someone else spoke. It was a voice she had never heard before.Dfxo4dL
EozPS7“Is the weather so pleasant here that everyone plays games of pride over trivial matters? Must be because the threat of death feels like a distant tale to you.”JMK2
Iat1“…?”xeTU
w6h8Q“Just because the land is rich and fertile doesn’t mean the people are always noble and good.”ExQ3K
r3vpYMost present hadn’t noticed the arrival of the new person.p5KVQg
q4vzeShe was an expert in transformation magic, able to move at extreme speeds with only a small amount of mana.JTz4p
n9JYBOnly someone versed in detection magic—the natural enemy of transformation—could notice her presence. That’s why only Denise noticed the girl’s sudden appearance.dCVRY
MkDWhoosh.Wg1HDUV
sePWhen Denise turned her head, the unknown figure was already sitting in the chair Trisha had occupied moments ago.lKw
7eRWaTJShe was small in stature, reminiscent of Diella.ksay
COhf1LAlthough her face was hidden beneath a mage’s robe embroidered with golden thread, the glimmer of her dress through the fabric showed it was beautiful and ornate.d84p
5b0“W-what? Who are you…?”aO53Al
tjQJjTrisha startled and turned sharply when she saw the girl suddenly seated behind her.PtNEN1
8hcSKKJThe girl in the mage’s robe slowly raised her small hand and removed her hood. Her white hair fell like waves.1LLrlD
ynaHer skin was like white jade, and her eyes were as pale as northern snowflakes.KnFUj
LBy6A single strand of hair falling between her brows gave her a slightly clumsy air, but even that transformed into elegance through her purity.wpEbJ
oM4b9She looked like a finely dressed porcelain doll come to life.y2Pr
eNzZ2However, the moment Denise recognized the girl’s face… she had no choice but to rise with a serious expression.jyYeix
gQ9WHShe was a student Dereck had trained during his journey to the far northern lands.WQId
F9CeSince Denise was the first to learn about Dereck’s trip north, she couldn’t help but swallow hard.csm
cDD“A… no… Lady Siern… why are you here…?”Ynlac5A
MtoatXU“…You know me?”48eBI
gfKcaUGSiern had no interest in famous noble figures.wwWe
yhGZrShe had accompanied her father to a few social gatherings on the outskirts, but held no interest in other young noble ladies besides herself.lARC
fEo2NYHowever, Siern’s notoriety was already well known even in the southwest.gnvfkXY
lJV9C5vHer personality was vile, and her arrogance exceeded all bounds. If something displeased her, she killed without hesitation.FIA6j
U70oThough the facts weren’t yet clear, at least the high nobility had heard of Siern’s atrocious nature.rYhF7
qQgrHSiern Alaina Rochester.Q0sF1K
HdtrPKUpon hearing that name, the others present also froze.HclgZ
oLKF8YIt was rare for the girl, usually confined in the Rochester family’s tower on the northern continent, to appear in the noble district of Ebelstein.Z2QhC
yb3“I finished checking the mansion, so I thought I’d come see sister Aiselin’s face…”wktO4
ZcdHer voice was youthful, but the pressure it carried was intense.wMu7
Uw1A2pUShe called her “sister Aiselin.” It was strange to refer to the daughter of a completely fallen family like that, but no one found it odd.t7z
SSeEfSiern slowly stood, and upon seeing Aiselin’s ruined state, narrowed her crescent-moon-shaped eyes.OUV
Ut3MXShe approached Aiselin, and seeing her completely wrecked, bit her lower lip.dZyI99u
u6lkBeside her stood Diella, still seething with rage. To the left, Diella. To the right, Siern.334KQR
SvU8Just looking at that scene made one swallow hard. You’d wonder if there was anyone in the world who could control those two girls—except their teacher, Dereck.0uvOz
60SHowever, surprisingly, the girl soaked in tea and looking like a drowned rat showed no sign of fear.z63W3V
TjbIn fact, she looked slightly confused. She hadn’t expected Siern to suddenly intervene in this situation.5lk
dd7“Lady Siern… you said you were going to check the mansion where you’ll be staying…”hDMX2
lZkOY“I finished earlier than expected, sister Aiselin. But still…”989
G9OiSSiern turned her gaze to Lady Trisha.RYbP
uXliFThe murderous intent in her eyes wasn’t that of a mere troublemaker. It was the look of a lunatic who had already killed countless people.IDk1Ut2
PmVuVPKilling intent, at times, exudes an oppressive force as if it had physical weight.4FG28J
fSoRumors of Siern were already widespread among the high nobility. And when Trisha felt that bloody intent coursing through her entire body, her legs nearly gave out.qLLA
4tNSiern’s level of magic was already beyond ordinary. Her movements were impossible to follow.c37lb8
OxKtSensing murderous intent is instinct engraved in the realm of senses.1tozp4W
RHxyqQqIt’s more like facing a giant bear alone in a snowstorm than standing before a strong lady in a refined social circle.X9rJuo
DwqKvq5Suddenly, you close your eyes and open them to find yourself in the middle of a snowy field.iKbeD
wePkGPRed eyes glowing in the darkness, white breath rising with every panting breath.X5C
WZ9The bright red flesh visible between the beast’s snarling fangs seems to symbolize your future.6DdsUBc
ZpFsj“…”4Se
vaKeWhile Trisha stammered, unsure what to say, Siern looked toward Aiselin and whispered.j4GX
IWGThe questions she asked weren’t the kind you’d expect from someone gentle or kind—like asking if she was okay or saying Trisha was mean.kaWtOYq
5Bb“Should I kill her? Considering the place.”Rrt9
pCPT724There was no deep meaning or grand intention behind those words. It was simply a direct expression.KTpTesl
KhJyIt wasn’t a threat or an empty phrase. She truly was asking for permission.DzSr
EXVhkdIf Aiselin shook her head, she would really do something. Trisha’s face turned completely pale.iIXeP
T3X81Ih“L-Lady Siern. Please, calm down. I’m fine. Lady Trisha surely had her reasons. It’s hard to judge just from the surface. That’s how social activities are.”0nn
XGBlFqbEventually, Aiselin began to defend Trisha.aAnkqdL
LOIQrIf Siern really lost her temper in anger, no one there could stop her unless they brought Dereck.J00tHTA
7L4Iw“L-Lady Trisha… right? It’s not like she really meant to hurt me… it was just… a mistake… right?”X1QhoRI
xB8jeT“Y-Yes…?”6HxVL2u
S7VJ2a“R-Right? Yes?”m8T5rE3
B9tJPDG“Ah, yes? Yes…”0Se
edEtSiern grabbed the edge of her robe and looked back at Trisha.0djR
yivBShe watched her for a few seconds as she stammered, and finally remembered the etiquette Aiselin had taught her.Ndic
KVA3Y6When she bowed her head with her small stature, her messy hair swayed.KpS7hZa
dAn3V“Nice to meet you. I’m Siern Alaina Rochester.”VsJTA3
ylCIt was just a simple greeting—but the words that followed hit Trisha like a bolt of lightning.sVWpWIs
58a5Z“Before late spring, I think I’ll debut in Ebelstein’s social circle. We’ll be seeing each other often.”xVeX
ebZIt was news that the young lady of the Rochester family, led by the northern hero Melverot, would be making her debut in Ebelstein’s social circle.rj3Gxbw
ipS1UIt was obvious she would enter the Rose Salon.zSQ
Xn8gE1Trisha’s expression began to stiffen.yMPW
LtyRvwP***dkNw
UEsT91“Here, put this on for now.”XXXP
sqVfgf“…”HwXyoF
EvOWhen Dereck handed her the ring, Pheline looked at him with a repulsed expression.ZHaVQud
ZjtNJfCIt was like receiving an engagement ring from a brother she’d been fighting with for years—reacting as if her entire body broke out in hives.QiGnJ5v
NJukjOf course, Dereck felt the same, so he couldn’t say anything. It was clear he was trying hard to endure the discomfort crawling over him.xFx
2qfI6A“Dereck… When you give something like this, shouldn’t you say something romantic…?”OpDkj
r18l“Would you like that?”jD3t
f2K7“…Just imagining it was so awful I got dizzy.”dRN6e
rC8“Yeah, you’re welcome…”xN3FT
lOpZElkThe tavern “Tears of Beldern.”sRybf
3AFThe two were sitting side by side at the counter. To anyone looking, it would’ve been hard to believe they were nobles in training.RdTH
fp2nThud.bTH0X
G4cJ“A celebratory drink. Take it. I’m so happy the members I considered like my own children are getting married and starting families.”JhtwBLA
hMd“…”yWstz
wFSLYuy“…”lAhr0
XyskAWJayden, who had served them Pheline’s favorite apple wine and honey mead, laughed heartily.tclwoR
VS3He knew full well those two didn’t look even remotely like a couple, so the situation was entertaining to him.tn5AC
2WqOf course, Dereck and Pheline only stared at their drinks with expressions like they were chewing sand.MwrgMEJ
8fkyx“Relax a little. Since you’re doing something necessary, try to approach it with a positive attitude.”gkNSKFp
nWs17“Yeah… Anyway, I’ve finished all my preparations to receive the title… I should try to think positively.”7CxDw3
cwk1“Since you’ve been expanding your contacts and gaining the attention of many nobles, our Beldern Mercenary Company has benefited quite a lot. We’ve got lots of work, and tons of requests from nobles… It’s a treasure. I’ll never charge you for drinks, so remember that.”HCa8
awuJayden would never abandon his materialistic nature.tcCqzWX
oxxSDereck, whose prestige was growing day by day, was like a gold coin magnet.LUkgbo
i8xDThat’s why Jayden’s ever-cheerful laughter sounded even livelier lately.rV414
xNM9lxWDereck also enjoyed seeing that satisfied face, so he said nothing.Mwx
NkY“By the way, when you brought those young noble ladies last time, and when the Duke of Belmierd came looking for you personally… Ever since you started mingling with nobility, more nobles have been coming to Tears of Beldern.”KrD
moKTPL“Well, most of the people I know are young nobles from the noble district…”mPQ2
Rz3W“Really? A young noble came here recently to drink… Don’t you know him?”frs0
xeAWThere’s more than one young noble out there.pi9CrIY
vWeMiOf course, nobles are easy to recognize, so Jayden couldn’t treat them lightly.vMB
kbO“If they’re coming to our tavern to drink, I figured they must be connected to you…”kuC
czck7“Well… Don’t you know his name?”YD01i
w2eNo“No. But he always leaves a tab open, which is a pain. He’s got a strangely noble aura… Makes me wonder if he’s broke… And he seems to have high status, so I can’t treat him carelessly… It’s a dilemma.”QqHigFj
e7vUJIt was the first time he’d heard of a noble leaving tabs unpaid instead of tipping generously.9r3aF8
4gBKfQDereck scratched his head, trying to remember, but didn’t know any noble who came here and left unpaid tabs.u7IuTHX
jeeThat’s when, while he was sitting at the counter—nVpbI
zg9dX“Oh, what an insensitive owner. I always pay on time. Hic.”WfSoth
sI9WdzVWhen had he entered the tavern? Even Jayden, with his trained eye, flinched and shuddered. In that instant, he couldn’t help but feel something was off. Jayden was a mercenary who lived by his instincts.q1mxt
mquKwWeren’t they just gossiping about nobles?ugZJQ
krKiDespite the awkward situation of eavesdropping, the man plopped down beside Dereck, swaying and hiccupping happily. He didn’t seem bothered at all by what Jayden had said.dPj
yHxSWith long red hair tied back and a scruffy beard.MSZzmY
Hs6His clothes looked expensive, but his appearance was anything but neat. He suddenly threw an arm around Dereck’s shoulder, grabbed the mead in front of him, and toasted.vyW
vWYiW“Hic… I thought I was friends with the owner… So sad… Very sad…”8qgfN
nsq7C“Oh, sorry. I’m just trying to survive day to day…”mt1
gVOLba“I’ve been gambling for seven years… I feel like I’ll win big soon. When that happens, I’ll pay off all my debts and treat everyone, so hang in there. Hic…”LuxHpNT
XE3BYThen he chugged the mead and belched without even wiping the liquid off his lips.t1nEqW9
L8XzAwl“Oh… I’m getting drunk. It’s sweet but strong. Ladies would get tipsy without noticing. Wow, this is Ronen mead.”qlUBj
Y3O“…”RD4
5mZsw61“Oh, right. Dereck. You’re Dereck, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. Your name is well known in Ebelstein’s social circle. Wow, what an honor to see a celebrity in person.”9LGeB4
0Dyw9“Who… are you?”1RLu
RJB“Didn’t the owner tell you? Have I never mentioned my name? Hic…”RHLCl4H
I8KCol9Jayden exchanged glances with Dereck and shrugged.sf2N7
4n8uAuw“Sure I said it once… Hmm… Did I dream it? Everything’s blurry from the booze… Maybe I was slurring too much for anyone to understand…”c7t
URhcThe man, already reeking of alcohol, scratched his greasy head hard, then took his arm off Dereck’s shoulder and slumped over the counter.nLxK
oxO5“Linus, that’s it, Linus. Yeah. Dereck. I always wanted to meet you. Ugh. Ugh. I’m Linus, you’re Dereck.”Gaz
jl4YDereck, who had been silently observing the man too drunk to stay conscious, looked at Pheline with a stunned expression.ting
4XD3VPheline also looked disgusted.FH8DWJ
Dg7JShe hated nobles and she hated drunks. A drunk noble was practically her natural enemy.QTzif
ye3F9c‘That name sounds familiar…’F2JG
smZN81Linus. He felt like he’d heard it somewhere before, but he was sure it was the first time they’d met.BTvB2
2JWNGOgIf he could trigger his memory, he might recall it—but for now, nothing came to mind.zg7pN6u
j2numl6“…Just one favor, Dereck. You can’t resist magic, right? Then maybe this will interest you.”2Em46nk
SZdkSStill, he was a customer.ULGit
UsWThat meant his attitude had to shift.94b7MHk
rBltOf course, checking his ability to pay was also necessary.uqLKtXg
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