Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Translator: XZY
Chapter 43: Magic (5)
***
was the story of a girl named Tracy, who had an unfortunate childhood, finding her way into a ducal house in search of work and becoming entangled with a nobleman named Lord Rovein.
Since Lord Rovein was a fictional character, he lacked a certain degree of realism. If one had to categorize him, he was closer to a character who embodied an idealized male figure.
His shoulders were broad, his eyes were sharp, his every action was refined, he always carried a rose with him, and he was a gentlemanly yet aristocratic figure.
He was always cool-headed and rational when working, but warm to his woman. He would bathe in a tub with rose petals floating in it or drink wine while looking at the night view. For reasons unknown, he enjoyed wearing clothes with a deeply plunging neckline. When he found a woman he liked, he would caress her chin and give a greasy smile, and despite such rude behavior, the women whose chins were held would blush.
Especially when it involved the main character, Tracy, that cool-headed man would often become rather emotional.
He would pin her to a corner against a wall and whisper to her (usually, it wasn't anything particularly important), or he would needlessly stroke her hair and guess the scent of the scented candle she had used that day... they were acts that a normal man would have been dragged away for immediately, but he committed them without hesitation.
On a quiet afternoon, Derek tilted his head a few times as he read through the writings Denise had penned with her elegant script.
At first, there were some rather bewildering parts, but as he actually read on, it contained its own narrative and contemplations, making it enjoyable to read. The fact that even Derek, a layman, was instantly drawn in, made it clear that it was content written with serious intent.
As the family's secret was revealed and a trial befell the love between Lord Rovein and Tracy, a sense of sublimity could even be felt in the image of Lord Rovein casting aside even his authority and running through the storm, calling Tracy’s name.
The two, finally reunited in the storm, embraced tightly, and together they entered a nearby log cabin in the rain (he could never figure out why there was a log cabin in the front yard of a noble family's mansion), dried their clothes, and he sat next to the completely drenched Tracy who had caught a cold. Finally, he watched her sleep-talking as she dozed off by the fireplace.
The last scene was of Lord Rovein covering Tracy with a blanket as she sleep-talked, missing her departed family, and organizing his complicated thoughts. In the middle of describing the lonely back of Lord Rovein, who had lived his entire life without ever feeling familial love... the story was cut off.
“It is likely because the backstory of Lord Rovein’s family matters has not been perfectly established... It was a truly interesting scene...”
“...”
“I can see why there were people among the mansion’s maids who secretly read it avidly. Lady Denise. I am not saying this with empty words; you are truly skilled.”
“That’s enough... I was wrong now... Just... I’m sorry for everything... Please stop now....”
The day's routine had concluded, and he had stopped by Denise’s room before returning to his quarters.
Denise was lying flat on her bed as if her whole body ached.
To the extent that one couldn't even recall her usual sluggish appearance, as if everything was a bother, Denise had dedicated herself to training with all her might today, just as Derek had requested.
At this point, it was beyond commendable and had reached a point of looking pitiful, so Bella was massaging her shoulders with tears in her eyes.
“...”
Derek wore a complicated expression.
Looking at Lady Denise, who was suddenly participating in the lessons so diligently, it seemed she thought that Derek was brandishing the shame of her embarrassing creative work as a hostage.
There was a bit of a misunderstanding mixed in there. As Derek had repeatedly said, he genuinely thought Denise’s writing skills were good.
Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't understand the shame that made the back of one's neck burn, but honestly, from the perspective of Derek, who was dry about everything, the only thought that came to mind was, is this really something to make such a fuss about?
Unfortunately, Derek was too rational a person to fully embrace the sensibilities of a girl going through a turbulent period of her life.
Therefore, he had thought rationally and tried to convey with sincerity which aspects of Denise’s work were impressive and which parts he liked─ but that was nothing more than killing Denise a second time.
The victim lay on the bed like a corpse, having been brutally stabbed, but the malicious perpetrator was nowhere to be found.
That paradox made Denise want to die even more.
<><><>
About ten days after Derek had started teaching magic, Lady Elente sent a separate letter and visited the mansion with some fine tea.
Unlike meeting at the Rosea Salon, the fact that she had come directly to this mansion carried great significance.
This was because a person of Lady Elente of the Belmeade family's status could not make private appointments carelessly, so even a trivial meeting like this had to have a justification.
Although she had passed it off as a meeting to promote friendship between the families, no one knew what kind of political significance even such a minor meeting might hold. Naturally, it was a situation where the servants couldn't help but be somewhat tense.
However, in reality, Elente was simply curious about how Derek and Denise were getting along.
‘It seems a bit too bold... but it’s better than just anxiously tapping my feet.’
Lady Denise was not a person who could be easily taught, even with empty words.
She was always a mysterious person, and she also had a disposition to become guarded as soon as one tried to cross a line she had set for herself.
She always smiled elegantly and engaged in pleasant conversation at the Rosea Salon, but all of that was done because it was a duty that had to be performed as a matter of courtesy. Elente had long since noticed Denise’s nonchalant disposition.
There was bound to be a clear difference from someone like Elente, who laid everything bare when necessary.
Derek might be having a pretty hard time. If he was judging that he didn't quite fit in with the Beltus family, Elente was thinking of presenting him with a good offer.
‘Though it would be difficult if His Grace, the Grand Duke of Beltus, doesn't grant his permission.’
In any case, for the sake of spying... no, for promoting friendship, Elente moved her busy feet.
First, she planned to sound out that inscrutable Lady Denise.
“......Now that Lady Elente has come, I can finally get some rest...”
However, Lady Denise, who came out to the reception room, was so haggard that it was hard to believe she was the same person she had seen at the Rosea Salon.
Actually, the expression 'haggard' might not be appropriate. She simply looked tired and exhausted, but her body line itself seemed a bit sharper, and her demeanor felt more brisk.
It was a change significant enough to make one wonder if she had been doing a lot of outdoor activities or exercising with great focus in that short period.
However, her expression was playing separately from her body. She was showing off her beauty with pretty makeup and lovely accessories, but one could clearly feel the sense of fatigue that lay beneath it all.
The servants and maids had pounced on her and tried to adorn her in any way they could, but this was the best they could do.
“...You look very tired. It seems you are engrossed in your magic training, Lady Denise.”
“...Yes, yeees... that’s right. That magic teacher named Derek is so full of motivation.”
In any case, it was an occasion where a distinguished guest of the Rosea Salon had personally visited.
Lady Denise put on the most beautiful smile she could and was barely able to show her usual appearance.
“I-I had high expectations since he’s so famous for teaching magic well... b-but his methods were a little different from what I imagined. It’s a bit physically demanding... and... hmm... I think there’s some emotional pressure as well...”
Denise, who had always been elegant and never trailed off her sentences, was making the most complicated expression in the world.
As Elente looked at that expression, she was suddenly reminded of the time when Derek had taught her.
— From now on, it will be real hell.
“Eek.”
In that moment, a single streak of fear seeped down Elente’s spine.
As is often the case with many things in the world, they often turn out to be no big deal once they have passed. This is because difficult memories evaporate and disappear, and only the enjoyable parts or the achievements remain in one’s memory.
However, the memory of Derek running alongside her with a dynamic expression, the image of him making her manifest her magic repeatedly until she collapsed from exhaustion, and the sight of him organizing magic theory while cutting back on sleep came to her mind.
Just thinking about it again was a scene that made her swallow a dry gulp of saliva. Derek was the toughest magic teacher she had ever seen.
At that moment, Elente’s eyes met Denise’s.
Denise, too, seemed to have noticed what she was thinking after seeing Elente’s expression.
Elente thought.
In Ebelstein’s social circles, it was common for young ladies who had the same teacher to form factions or establish connections. As it was a place where every single connection was a weapon, everyone tried to band together with anyone they could be linked to, even with a slight sense of kinship.
‘Right. How about forming a relationship not as a member of the Rosea Salon, but as people who learned from the same teacher? Would that become a faction...? I’m not sure how others would see it...’
‘But... it’s true that if we band together like that, we might be able to continue our relationship in a different way from the Rosea Salon... The culture of the Rosea Salon, where you have to maintain appearances so much, has many uncomfortable aspects...’
On the other hand, Lady Denise, who had set down her teacup, was thinking something entirely different.
‘It seems Lady Elente also got caught by that teacher named Derek and had a hard time... It feels like a victim support group, so my feelings are quite complicated...’
Denise was a person who had seen up close how Lady Elente had gradually become more haggard after accepting Derek as her teacher. Sadly, it was no longer someone else’s story.
Still, it wasn't as if there was no hope at all.
Denise immediately saw through the reason why Elente had visited the mansion at such a peculiar time. It was clearly to see Derek’s condition and to sound Denise out.
In short, it could mean that the Belmeade family had not yet given up on bringing Derek over. It was truly welcome news.
This was because Denise wanted to send this magic teacher fellow away as soon as possible. However, he was a product that could not be refunded once purchased.
Aside from the Grand Duke of Beltus not letting him go, he himself was firmly united in his will to somehow make Denise a great mage.
There were plenty of good young ladies worth teaching, so many that you could trip over them if you went to the Ebelstein social circle, and even Aiseline had willingly wanted to learn from him... so why on earth had he come to Denise and caused this mess?
From Denise's perspective, who did not know Derek's inner thoughts of wanting to maintain contact with all three great families, it was a situation that could drive her mad. The sight of him rushing at her like a madman, saying he would teach her the fun of magic, had now passed the stage of disillusionment and entered the realm of admiration and wonder.
It would be one thing if he was bad at social life, but he got along well with the servants and had blended into the mansion at some point, making him a socialized monster.
‘Ugh... I think my head is starting to hurt again...’
However, in the eyes of the other young ladies, Denise’s situation could only be seen as a rich person's complaint. That was the most malicious part.
She couldn't understand why Aiseline, and Elente, were so desperate to bring that magic teacher named Derek to their own families.
Did robust noble young ladies of that caliber have a hobby of torturing themselves?
As Denise quietly watched the diligently observing Elente, she couldn't help but think that the world was indeed a wide place.
“By the way, is Lady Aiseline doing well? I feel I may have been a bit neglectful in my Rosea Salon activities as I was training in magic. I only attended the important gatherings and couldn't even greet her properly... I hope she doesn't feel too hurt.”
Denise quickly changed the subject of the conversation.
She felt she needed to think a little more about how to deal with Derek, and it was also ambiguous how she should react to Elente’s attitude.
“Lady Aiseline is also back at her family's main house right now. She has to attend her two Orabeoni's departure ceremony, and I heard she also decided to personally help with her younger sister's debutante. It would be best for someone who has done it once to help, after all.”
“Her younger sister’s debutante... does that mean Lady Diella is coming to Ebelstein?”
“Yes. From what I hear... her magical achievements are said to be far more incredible than the rumors suggested.”
She was the younger sister of Aiseline, who had entered the realm of 2-Star, and a person who carried the blood of the Duplein family.
If another person like Aiseline were to appear, it would be no different from a massive tectonic shift occurring in the Ebelstein social circle.
“I heard she’s coming to make an appearance in advance at the next meeting... If you attend the regular meeting, you should be able to meet her. I’m a bit nervous myself since it will be my first time meeting her.”
The next meeting was next week.
‘Now I have to worry about the political situation of the social circle...? Ugh... my head hurts so much...’
Denise wanted to lie down right away. However, she was in a position where she had to throw herself back into the hellish training schedule once Elente left.
It was a truly sad thing, but this moment of pleasant conversation with Elente was Denise's only break time.
Derek would be in the room downstairs from the reception room, having finished his training preparations as always, waiting with a satisfied smile.
His face was gradually starting to look like a demon’s.
<><><>
“Lady Diella. These are the documents with the Rosea Salon’s meeting schedule. It is next week.”
The Duplein family’s annex.
Diella’s personal room was magnificently spacious, but there wasn't much furniture. On one side of the room, easels with all sorts of landscape paintings were lined up irregularly, and on the lace bed, laden with frills, various magic books were scattered about.
The blonde girl in the center, who was quietly gazing at the ceiling and wielding her mana this way and that, was a Wild School mage born into a noble family.
Her voluminous, wavy blonde hair enveloped the doll-like girl’s frame, and the hem of the frilly dress she always wore covered her knees like a blanket.
The eyes that surveyed the mana spread out before her as she sat still were already imbued with extraordinariness.
It was an achievement that could not be compared to when Derek had taught her. She had already completely mastered the basic theory of Wild School magic, and most 1-Star magic had become trivial to her.
Her appearance had not changed, but the speed of her magical improvement was at a pace that would surpass anyone, were it not for Derek.
“The Rosea Salon? Why there all of a sudden?”
The girl was already walking the path of a master.
After listening to the head butler’s report with an indifferent voice, the girl finally spoke, her cold eyes cast downwards.
“Why would I go there?”
The girl was a person who had already nearly fulfilled the requirements to make a name for herself even in the Ebelstein social circle, but she had no interest in such games of honor.
She was born of the noblest blood, but she was a person who tried not to be easily bound by any rule or system.
It was a consistent characteristic of geniuses born with extraordinary qualities.