Chapter 99: Power and Love (4)
IQh0pKBorn and raised in a wealthy family, one would think there was nothing in the world that could obstruct her path, advancing in life without hesitation.5UWOm07
9vIOY9If one were to trace the journey of life, it would surely be the ever-ascending path of a hero.j9jUi
mfsUxAEllen had never changed that idea since childhood.UAu
RQGAnd, thinking that the outlook of other powerful families would be the same, sitting in the main seat of the Rosea Hall, she sometimes felt an affinity with the other two people.4pkWS
KZTsoAlthough Aiselin of Duplain and Denise of Beltus seemed to have dispositions completely different from Ellen’s at first glance, when looking closer, there were strangely similar aspects in their way of life.YYR
iYrkThey were all chosen people.YrDq8MD
qp4J3iBlessed by everyone from birth, they would continue to reach the sky, carrying on the prestige of their families.b9VTk4
4qEIfIxAs they climbed higher and higher, they would come to possess even greater power.Ds924uC
YwOLMTo live with that ambition until death could be said to be, ultimately, the reason for existing.B9l
6XNsRHowever, something happened outside Ellen’s conception.27se
PVhG1The Duplain family, which had seemed destined to reign forever at the top of Ebelstein, faltered, and half of its members died, were injured, or left; the territory was reduced to less than half, and the high-ranking nobles despised or rejected them.HWUvMoH
zwFoKxThe days of walking among the clouds ended in an instant, and Aiselin, who had been considered a flower in the chamber, was suddenly thrown to the ground and rolled in the mud.BzVkz1W
3sDf2Except for a few lesser nobles who admired her character, everyone considered Aiselin a finished woman, and they pitied or mocked her as she wandered, trying to earn even a single coin.9PFQgF
ZpAI93Ellen, who observed Aiselin closely, felt moved and approached her to ask.Z0e
OIX“Lady Aiselin. Are you all right?”xH7pOi2
LnFGJNThe place was the corridor of Elfontaine Hall.b1UgL
hUk5GUAiselin, exhausted from searching all day for a place to borrow money, was resting in a corner of the hallway.cTRo
oTTqk7Her still-beautiful appearance was like the reincarnation of an angel, and her sleeves, rolled up with energetic air, remained as white and thin as before.YGLA
ZCfkAnd the smile she gave Ellen when she looked up at her did not seem much different from when she walked among the clouds.LaMy
VIf3GsG“Oh, Lady Ellen. Are you all right? What do you mean?”zYs
TpzF“Simply… everything, everything in general.”KHLgi
dWEPtiEllen, who had witnessed the fall of the Duplain family up close, could not help but have mixed feelings about Aiselin’s firm attitude.gw5
DkaThe whole process had been a shock to her.sm5Skh
fGO5MlfThe fact that the Duplain family, which had seemed destined to rule the world forever, collapsed so suddenly meant there was no guarantee that Belmierd would not end up the same someday.mil6u
Zp5LQ“Lady Ellen, your face is full of worry. Your rose-like appearance will be ruined. Do not worry. Duplain only suffered a great misfortune from a series of unfortunate events, but the Belmierd family will never be dragged down by such a great disaster.”VcZ
SpEr“…I am not worried about the Belmierd family. What worries me is you, Lady Aiselin.”Vr11JQ
86QMji“Hahaha, don’t worry too much about me, Lady Ellen. Although Duplain suffered greatly from being consumed by necromancy, it still maintains its lineage. Somehow, it served as a warning of how dangerous necromancy is, so perhaps it worked as an alarm to prevent something similar from happening in Beltus or Belmierd.”kk5k07K
aG9nc4ZIncredibly, Aiselin was worrying about the future of the Beltus and Belmierd families.PLbS8
ieHvKEven though her own family was on the brink of collapse, this celestial girl had a heart to care for others.z2nYUQQ
Ipxl“Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Ellen. When we first met in Ebelstein’s social circle, we did not have a good relationship, but in the end, we became close enough to worry about each other. That in itself is also a great gain.”OyjQog
J32aWAiselin stretched out her arms and smiled brightly.1VTOqua
bKWThe traces of her hard wandering all day through noble houses were evident.UItZD
oJ8qx“I am not wise enough to speak of life with Lady Ellen… but even so, there are things that can only be understood when one goes through a situation like this.”8waE6B9
Qv4“…”PSWu
yYGoLah“Lady Ellen, you are someone who loves power more than anyone and has a strong ambition to rise, aren’t you? But my older brother always told me something. Life is long and full of ups and downs, and one cannot always improve and improve without stopping.”jAkvOO
mJ5cUhoAs they observed Aiselin, not only Ellen but also all the noble ladies who passed through Elfontaine Hall could not help but feel strange.8O9K5X
SxVtWIUShe had faced a great trial that could have sunk her life into the abyss, yet she never erased from her face the same firm expression as always.DIrZMuI
MUPPrEllen suddenly wondered where that strength came from.a4OHBG
uWEYqH“Along the journey of life, there will be times when you stumble on a stone, or fall from a great cliff and crash to the ground. While you roll in the dust and face everyone’s doubts and ridicule, it may seem that your life has ended, but only then do you begin to see things clearly.”4jawG
PMi“…”duqzL
cC4QqHj“Lady Ellen, while navigating noble society and clashing with various enemies, surely there will be times when you stumble on a stone or face everyone’s doubts and ridicule. Even if it is not a crisis that shakes your life to its depths like mine, it could still corner your heart and mind.”Gcwx
dwPeCr8Aiselin clenched her delicate hand tightly and extended it in front of Ellen’s eyes.jdeOiQ
e2lp0E“That is the moment to look around.”ljne
x7MC3“What does that mean?”2KuLZci
I9O“When you feel that everyone is mocking you, and the world has abandoned you. When your closest friend turns their back on you, and the servant you trust the most shakes his head. Even at the lowest point, there will be at least one person who will not turn their back on you. Because Lady Ellen is a wonderful and precious person.”ZzN
5DeRIt might have been advice born of experience.bpt9ICY
4CnfoTYThis delicate girl, who bore on her shoulders the weight of a collapsing family, had gone through experiences since the Duplain disaster.Yi7
9og7XbUHowever, she must have seen something on that thorny path.ouwhF
ExC4And there must have been someone by her side.cvVT75H
nPjWf6When everyone else shook their heads and turned away, there was a mercenary who tried to lift her by the arm.CGw
DKgg“The journey of life is not just about constantly ascending. Only by wandering once along the thorny path can one truly know who one’s true people are.”s2qWgiW
rxw“…”Njhx4
tZUZ“The value of that experience is more precious than gold. So I have no reason to be sad.”0C3UOm
NgJLzYIDuplain collapses miserably.v63FtV
W78LNOzHowever, looking at this girl, it seemed that even that trial had some meaning. Ellen did not know what to reply.Np1N
6RvMqg8Magic and scholarship can always be learned if one finds a good teacher.T56qb
3ydW8WBut where can the strength of the heart be learned?OjlH4Q
uGdDEsdThe only teacher who teaches that is this vast world with its relentless winds.2DnEfZ
HhMn“Mmm…! If we just fix the sign that is a little crooked, it is quite a decent building. For something built in such a hurry, it is really well done!”12ntM8
FQHyThe garden of the Baron Ravenclaw’s mansion.LL2aT
11jIn front of him, a young woman wiping sweat with one arm at her waist always seemed to have stars shining in her eyes.Ncw
TlJIgILooking at the first completed dormitory building, a refreshing smile spread across the face of the girl who had walked the thorny path.umX
1BlIShe had been constantly educated since childhood.gn4fF9I
h06EUfOnly by being able to walk even a thorny path as if it were a flower path could one truly be called a flower of the chamber.jtXsq5U
Bdd***TIN1
dfLSQo“My sister Ellen is someone who will do anything for power. There is probably no one in this Belmierd mansion who doesn’t know that.”xAmQ
ZGFVWhen Dereck was led into Leonard’s private room, the sturdy young man personally carried the tea instead of letting a servant do it.Fri
y62XVtAfter placing the cup in front of Dereck, the latter glanced at it for a moment but didn’t bother to bring it to his lips.iEf9Bn
tnqu“Thank you.”U85jxJ
C9btPYO“No, I should be the one grateful. For someone like me, who is still learning about the world, it is of great value to build a connection with a distinguished magic master such as Lord Dereck. I appreciate your visit. Hehe.”guGqyY
9AVMTuvLeonard, with his white hair falling in locks, sat down in front of Dereck.IqePVZm
inX“You said you taught Ellen, right? What was she like?”gYxs2L
6sC“What do you mean by what? I’m not sure what you’re asking. The Lady Ellen I taught was diligent and applied in everything.”teMHH
IG2B“I see. But… you shouldn’t be so easily swayed by those appearances.”28Ph
GD7There was a hidden intent in Leonard’s words.obm
LF3As a guest of the Belmierd family, Dereck didn’t need to get too involved in that matter. However, Leonard seemed eager to convey something to him.0LGyqxT
KpTiG6“I’ve known Ellen since childhood. She spent every day acquiring every skill necessary to seize power. Sometimes she was diligent in her studies, sometimes she immersed herself in magic training… and other times she tried to master the art of deceiving or winning over people.”MzPeX
bDELM“…”SHk
qUaliY“I’m not sure which side of Ellen you saw, but I can’t say that showed her true nature. Ask any Belmierd servant. No one in the world can match Lady Ellen’s endless greed for power.”gDq
S0PTDereck listened in silence.bg8Fdo
CYxTIn situations like that, he always maintained a critical gaze, filtering the words he heard. Leonard seemed to notice, for he smiled and eased the atmosphere.aArQj
WdpYk“I’ve spoken too harshly of my sister. I worry that Lord Dereck may have a very poor impression of me.”MThrG
IkzsdtJ— Leonard is cunning, skilled at winning people over, and an expert in intrigues and tricks. Don’t believe a single word he says. Hehe, hic.5hjwUA
RVAfCZXIt seemed Dereck remembered Linus’s drunken words, crying over the tavern table.ia5dal
AJaHFinally, Dereck let out a light laugh and replied.V6jRJ8
cybA“Don’t worry too much about that. I heard that you, young master Leonard, abandoned the family’s prestige at a young age to go on pilgrimage, showing your deep faith.”myY
wIEo“My faith is nothing more than a gift from the god Ruelon. It is not something worthy of praise.”gqRB
zP7With those words, they exchanged knowing smiles.T98O
TgTYxGZ“Before getting to the main point, allow me to tell you why I wanted to meet like this. As I mentioned in my letter, I firmly believe that you, Lord Dereck, are an outstanding and promising individual who will leave a mark on the history of magic.”qvmwEOy
7WBsYLeonard continued speaking without losing his sly smile.BPTbYM
nVXr8gB“It would be a great loss if the path of such a promising mage were obstructed. That is why I hope you don’t get entangled in the affairs happening within the Belmierd family and suffer great harm.”SF7
yOam“What exactly are you trying to say?”c3fJ
wIu“You are Ellen’s master and have shared a special bond with her. It’s only natural that you’d want to defend her in the current situation.”lvf
cxn9H1WLeonard looked at him with sincere concern.nH0VlJ
o4rQtIt was clear that he had called him to persuade him.zSbrW
2mMab“However, you must not defend Ellen hastily. If my prediction is correct, she will soon suffer a great downfall.”cCKD
2fJv“…”oON1p
eROP“Listen well, Lord Dereck. The beautiful image of her reigning in society as a noble rose is nothing more than a mask. Once you learn Ellen’s true nature, you’ll quickly realize that you’ve taken in the wrong disciple.”GmlT
1VsqLLeonard stood up, lowered his voice, and spoke with a serious expression.bn8XaO
1eI“Do you know my older brother, Linus, who was once the heir of Belmierd?”XMwnG90
u8MM7GA“…”UTZ8Z
1wBMVS“One day, Linus suddenly abandoned all his rights as heir and began wandering the world. It’s truly strange. What kind of position is that of Belmierd’s heir? It’s a role that makes you feel as if the entire world is at your feet, along with this vast mansion.”IxJ
4eIYgLinus, who abandoned such a position to wander, was truly an unusual case.ZHkC
tbB3JSeeing him drink excessively, frequent gambling houses, and live as he pleased made one doubt if he was really a noble.c9EtH
TNRThe eldest son, who should have been responsible for the family’s future, turned out to be a complete wastrel, which deeply worried the Marquis of Belmierd and his senior servants.Gjd
IIc1“Why did Linus renounce it all and leave? It was Ellen, our sister, who slandered him and drove him out of his position as head of the family.”tjRpJ
M6apWgPLeonard’s face grew even more serious.Zle
O3t“Ellen threatened and manipulated Linus by exploiting his weaknesses, expelled him, and usurped the position of heir in order to study necromancy. The evidence is now coming to light. I can explain the details to you.”ZbsCgZ
4t8eMIg“…”d8qT0p5
erNQ41“I know how hard it is to believe my words. Lord Dereck, who has taught Ellen and seen her masked face, must have only seen her as naive and hardworking. But as someone who has been closer to her, I know well. You must not be deceived by that fox obsessed with power.”h6OcST8
tgHIn Leonard’s desperate eyes, he seemed like a meek lamb. His history of turning religious and living a virtuous life didn’t seem like a sham.EAk4nxU
CuI“I’ve heard from the senior servants. They found traces of necromancy in Ellen’s room. And not only that, they are also investigating the mansion in Ebelstein, and it’s reported that they found corpse remains in the basement.”NiF
735flX“Is that true?”icO
WrH“It is the result of an investigation not only by our family, but also by the famous magical trace tracker, Advisor Revilton. It must be true.”8DKZNW
q8dDisLeonard spread his arms and declared.qSOGd
C9iOzlh“You must make a wise decision, Lord Dereck. I beg you to take my hand. I am willing to give you all my support to help you reach the level of a four-star mage. I promise to establish a closer relationship with the Ravenclaw barony and ensure that nothing obstructs your path to greatness.”XFb
thsG62b“Why would you do so much for me?”C4r
smhc6ro“I already told you. I firmly believe that you, Lord Dereck, will become an even greater master of magic. I’ve heard of your achievements and was amazed at how outstanding you are.”U0tvNad
Vq6gh“…”TnfxU
30tK“My father often says gold and silver remain still, but exceptional talent disappears quickly. I know how to recognize the value of talent. If I can help it remain within Belmierd, it will surely be a great asset.”1jRg
wtTIVqHLeonard’s words flowed so smoothly that it was hard for Dereck to interrupt.crQCp1
9aCHis pauses, his intonation, everything made the listener easily accept his speech. He was a natural orator, regardless of the content.Lhi
hAFStJh“So, please, don’t act rashly or defend Ellen lightly, putting yourself in a difficult position. I don’t ask that you believe everything I say. But I beg you not to jump to conclusions. From your perspective, even I must seem like someone untrustworthy.”miqM
IajW“…”FqgqxR
AtF“Your suspicion is natural, Lord Dereck. I won’t impose my opinion by force. But you must be cautious.”rIpm
fU7iHe didn’t try to win him over in one stroke, but respected his freedom of choice while gently sowing seeds of doubt.zrGd
5gUqjphDereck stroked his chin and fell into deep thought. Leonard waited in silence, convinced he had persuaded him.EYY3S
i6gebOBut Dereck didn’t trust him at all.qFmQo
fZjREven though he couldn’t immediately see what kind of person Leonard was or what plots he was hatching, there was only one possible decision.B0Exw7m
aQRp“So young master Leonard thought the same.”CcOPI1w
gAcifFHe finally smiled.3QP
zdWIThat smile was like the one of someone plunging a dagger into the neck of a dying monster.SkF
3PaThose who knew Dereck knew he didn’t usually smile like that.oRC
OCpEBut Leonard couldn’t know.0Tp
JdJ“Lord Dereck…?”SJ30J
dEtso5“It’s truly strange. While teaching Lady Ellen, there were moments when I felt chills or when everything seemed like a lie. I dismissed many things as mere discomforts, but it turns out they had a reason.”2eUba
bmFTQ“Exactly! Lord Dereck has sharp insight!”f3l
PWxZiV“Now that young master Leonard says it, everything makes sense. Certainly, Lady Ellen had many strangely suspicious aspects.”9GE1P
PmZl9LDereck stood up and extended his arm to Leonard, his eyes full of distrust.2b0
EQI“If you hadn’t called me, I would be in great trouble. I owe you a great debt.”6OyJf0
o8lx“No, Lord Dereck. But… I didn’t expect you to trust me so easily.”Fsq
PW3“Are you not the lamb of the god Ruelon? I too am a devout believer. A person capable of going on pilgrimage at your age would not slander others so lightly.”d7vBYOM
C093DjDereck clasped his arm with a wide smile.RwMz
bdJ“Young master Leonard is a messenger sent by the god to save me. It is a blessing.”yujq
Y9Jt***W3tNx9
T4soClick.vIsH
24rtITiEllen, who was in the annex garden, set down her teacup.rWKW8G4
PraNNpeThe senior servants who had investigated the traces of necromancy in her room had returned.qm1nh
Auma55KTheir faces were heavy. In the Belmierd mansion no one distrusted Ellen, which was why those clouded expressions were strange.17wtGMV
Rkjgqf“Lady Ellen.”zgdjU
PWQ4Wla“Has the investigation concluded?”7KYP
jpxw“Yes. With the help of Sir Loteil, a four–star mage from the outskirts, and Advisor Revilton, an expert in tracking magical traces, we have completed it.”05S
OTHRDThe servants spoke in low voices before her.9JEEk
7smFyo“From now on, it seems the house arrest will be reinforced. Please, Lady Ellen, do not leave your quarters in the annex. This report will soon be delivered to Count Belmierd.”cGsasq
7zcWvEllen’s face hardened.emHEm5z
nBFgThud, thud.R2zoB
ZxxxWzm‘…They’re not giving me even a hint of the results.’UaO6
w8dc65Soon she was walking down the corridor under “escort.” In practice, it was no different from surveillance.a7dGJ2
uVYpLIn that oppressive atmosphere, Ellen thought about how to punish her younger brother’s schemes.sRaUNl
dn3GyhThen the unexpected happened.UM5
Vg6Creak.AootDR
xIVQV9E“Then I will contact you separately.”diS70TX
fmqThe one who appeared from Leonard’s room with a satisfied smile was none other than Baron Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, the person she trusted more than anyone.s97HRl4
ZdfUThe two seemed to have already formed some kind of complicity.ZrA0
Qd9MZ5“What… what is this…?”KCJAS
qdkEllen came to a halt, and so did the servants.k9ZODz
r2wWThe words urging her to keep walking didn’t reach her ears. Leonard was coming forward from the other end of the corridor.aWVu
zwHFpapAs they crossed, Leonard met her eyes and gave her a faint, almost imperceptible smile.GgmItTE
KXED1HKThen he went on his way, leaving behind Dereck, who also passed in front of Ellen without reacting.URvnvS
HAJIn that instant, time seemed to flow slowly.C0QUMv0
WqZWhy was Dereck in the Belmierd mansion? And why was he speaking with Leonard as if they were allies?PENZH
bgd“De… Dereck… Why… are you here…?”fpmfk
7BwDfHe had always answered her call. He had always been reliable.MHO
f4cBut now he walked past without even reacting.qUspe
BRK“Dereck! Why are you in the Belmierd family…?”i64BW
9cIiJShe called out again.yySl8Q
D0JWThen he briefly turned, and his eyes were cold, colder than she had ever seen them.iF0
0MPdThat frozen gaze left her breathless.A5nA
f9uLeonard had persuaded Dereck.CK2xF
Zetn9That fact fell upon Ellen’s chest like an anvil.GTXe
RiNIt was, truly, a bolt from the blue.j0VIPjh
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