Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Translator: XZY
Chapter 54: The Bloodstained Ball (1)
***
When Lady Denise returned to the mansion, from the head butler to every last maid, they were all turned upside down. It was because a wound had appeared on that beautiful, jade-like body.
Denise was a person for whom the maid assisting her that day would have to kneel in apology if she so much as hurt the tip of her finger, yet her forehead was split open and she was even bleeding.
“Lady Denise!”
“A-are you alright! For now, please come into the mansion quickly. You need to be treated!”
Denise, who was stepping down from the carriage, had her hair disheveled and her dress was frayed in places.
Seeing that she was also covered in a lot of dust, it seemed clear that something unusual had happened in her duel with Diella.
The servants gathered to check Denise’s condition, and for a while, the work of the mansion did not run properly because they were asking the accompanying servants and the coachman what in the world had happened.
However, Denise, with a demure appearance as if nothing was wrong, smiled brightly and spoke.
“Nothing happened.”
It would have been natural for her to be angry after becoming such a wreck, but Denise, on the contrary, had a world-refreshing expression.
<><><>
“So the moment I spread out my Detection-type magic, that wild horse-like girl, Diella, her expression just went blank. I thought, ‘what would be a good thing to say at this point~?’ and tried to think of the coolest words I could, but nothing suitable came to mind... hmm... I wonder if I should have gone after thinking of a more proper line...”
As if asking what was wrong with her injured body, Denise returned to the mansion and was pouring out her tale of valor to Derek while receiving treatment from the maids. Derek, while listening to Denise’s tale of valor, was thinking that it was unexpected.
This was because, inwardly, Derek had thought that Diella was a person who was no different from his own top disciple.
To the extent that even Elente thought she was still lacking compared to that Diella’s talent, he had thought that even Denise would not be able to avoid a tough fight against Diella.
Above all, Diella’s ever-changing use of mana would not have been easy to deal with for the young ladies of noble families who were accustomed to Scholastic School-type magic.
However, contrary to such worries from Derek, Denise had completely overwhelmed Diella.
The speed at which Denise was achieving magic, even faster than Derek’s expectations, was such that it would be safe to say there were almost no people in this Ebelstein who could follow her.
“Then that girl, with a look of utmost pride hurt, started shedding tears. When was the time she acted so rudely, as if she was going to eat me up at the tea party? Serves her right. Serves her right.”
“Are your injuries alright?”
“As you can see, there are some abrasions, but they said a scar won’t be left. That aside, Derek, you should have seen that girl’s face. Ehehe. If it weren’t for the situation where I had to act with outward dignity, I would have laughed my head off at her~.”
Denise spoke while looking at Derek, with no intention of lowering her smugly raised shoulders.
“No matter how good the raw stone is, she can’t beat me at a level where she’s only just started to be polished. Ehem. In the end, her dueling experience is lacking, and her decisiveness in important moments is also lacking. She can’t display the wit to create an opening in her opponent by throwing off even her accessories like me. Also, she’s not as pretty as me. If you look closely, my skin is better and my features are a bit more elegant, right? Right?”
“...”
“How about it? Derek. You warned me not to underestimate Diella. You didn’t think I’d come back after winning so splendidly, did you?”
Denise was puffing out her chest and speaking confidently to Derek. In short, it seemed she was saying she wanted to be praised.
However, Derek shook his head and spoke clearly to Denise.
“The act of dispelling protection magic in a duel is something that can be life-threatening if it goes wrong. No matter what, wouldn’t that be a bit much?”
“Don’t I have to take that much of a gamble to earn the time to manifest a 2-Star magic in front of that mad dog-like child? They’re just 1-Star spells anyway, so the probability of them acting as a critical hit is almost zero. More than that, at that time, that girl’s expression...”
“Lady Denise.”
Derek said in a low, heavy voice.
He was just a commoner, but with just that, Denise let out a hiccup and started to hiccup.
Derek was someone who was always brimming with motivation in front of Denise. He was a fundamentally blunt person, but still, when he treated Denise, it was obvious that a little bit of a positive feeling was at the base.
However, Derek, standing before Denise who had returned with news of victory, did not look very pleased.
The reason for that could be known before long.
“No matter what reason there may be, the act of dispelling protection magic in a duel situation is not justified.”
“....What?”
“Did you not see the power of Lady Diella’s magic? If it had hit wrong, it would not have been strange for one of your limbs to be completely crippled.”
Even if it was 1-Star magic, its power varied greatly depending on the mage’s ability.
Diella’s magic was already at a level where almost no one among her peers could follow, so if she had been hit wrong without protection magic, she could have lost her life in an instant.
It was a commendable thing to bring news of victory, but Derek could never forgive her for performing such a reckless and bizarre act.
He was a boy who had weighed his life on the battlefield his entire life. He knew better than anyone how heavy the risk of one’s life was.
Only by properly teaching her the weight of that act would this girl stop making reckless judgments.
Therefore, Derek was wearing a firm expression even though Denise had returned victorious.
It was a joyous occasion for a change, but Denise had not known Derek would show such an indifferent side. It was a truly disappointing thing, but she could not express such feelings.
The reason Derek was angry was because he was worried about Denise.
Once her thoughts reached that point, she could not help but admit that Derek’s reprimand was justified.
Because Denise was a sharp person, she was aware to some extent of how reckless an act she had committed during the duel.
Facing Diella, who was trying to take Derek away with fire in her eyes, she herself had become impatient.
As the atmosphere seemed to stiffen for a moment, the maids who were helping Denise get ready swallowed a dry gulp of saliva.
Considering Derek’s background, the act of reprimanding a person like Denise was absurd in itself.
However, Derek was a person who conveyed what he thought was right without adding or subtracting. Denise was not unaware of that fact either.
“I understand, I’m sorry.”
So, without any particular complaint, she apologized first. It was a sight that would have made the eyes of those who did not know the full story pop out.
Perhaps Derek also felt that Denise’s answer was not empty words... before long, he let out a dry breath and eased the atmosphere.
“Still, it is a relief that there seems to have been an achievement. I was happy to hear the news.”
“Ufufu... It’s me, you know.”
“Still, if I may speak my mind... from Lady Diella’s perspective, wouldn’t Lady Denise seem like a truly sinister person?”
“Wh-what are you talking about. Where else is there a person as benevolent as me in this world.”
“Don’t you think you should also think about this from Lady Diella’s perspective?”
“Hmm? Hmm...”
Denise fell into deep thought while feeling the touch of the maid brushing her hair.
In any case, it was Denise herself who had written a letter to Diella and lured her out.
At first, she had really intended to lose, but her thoughts had changed in the middle, and she had ended up giving it her all.
Thinking about it that way, from Diella’s perspective, she could not help but look like a person with a bad personality.
It was a situation where she had lied in a letter to lure her into a duel, then pressed her down with force, beat her up, and broke her nose.
From Diella’s perspective, there was no way she would know about Denise’s change of heart, so it was to the extent that one might wonder if there was another such wicked person.
Until now, there might have been some unfair aspects to Diella’s hostility, but looking at the current situation, Denise was nothing more than a person who had taken Diella and beaten her up because she was in a bad mood.
“...”
“Have you come to a realization?”
“Derek. I might really be a person with a bad personality...”
To answer, ‘Did you only realize that now,’ would be going too far.
“Isn’t it just a misunderstanding, so wouldn’t it be fine if you talk it out?”
“If you were Lady Diella, would you have a conversation with me?”
“...Considering her personality, I don’t think she ever would.”
Moreover, since she had won the duel, she could also sell off the shady landscape painting as they had promised beforehand.
In many ways, to Diella, Denise was a person no different from an enemy.
“Th-this can’t be... B-but... I don’t know how this will sound... but I don’t really dislike Lady Diella, you know...?”
“...”
“D-Diella likes you a lot, Derek, so can’t you explain it well for me?”
“I don’t think it would mean much for me to try to persuade her with words now...”
“I-I don’t want to be on hostile terms with the Duplein family. What good would come from making an enemy of the most renowned influential family in the empire’s southwest.”
“Lady Denise... it is a seed you have sown yourself.”
“Aaargh!”
Denise scratched both sides of her head. Only the maid, who was diligently grooming her hair, was flustered and sweating profusely.
Denise was a person who was an expert at navigating the lines between the young ladies of influential families and conducting herself appropriately. It was her policy to not make an enemy of or be hostile to anyone.
Still, to have Derek in the family, she could never become close with Diella.
She had to accept that fact.
<><><>
When Aiseline visited Diella’s mansion, Diella was completely disheartened and had her head buried on the garden table.
She had charged at Denise with all her might in her own way, but her composure, her experience, and the refinement of her magic were all a step below.
“Diella...”
“Aiseline Unnie. You’re here. As you can see, I’m in a disgraceful state after being miserably defeated.”
“D-don’t be too disheartened, Diella. You haven’t even properly entered the social circle’s magic duels yet. It’s not such a big deal to be pushed back by Lady Denise, who has gained a lot of experience while being a part of the Rosea Salon.”
“It was a chance to bring Derek back...”
Diella had a face like a corpse.
If there were at least room for an excuse, she might be able to save some pride, but the content of the duel itself was no different from a complete defeat for Diella.
It was a good thing they had fought in Diella’s private dueling grounds; if they had fought in the official dueling grounds of the noble district with many eyes watching, she would have only been disgraced.
Of course, the rumor would already spread among the salons just by her having been defeated.
Diella didn’t care about such scandals or rumors. In the end, what was important was the fact that she had lost.
“In the end, to bring Mr. Derek to the family, isn’t Mr. Derek’s own heart the most important thing? I don’t think it would mean much to forcibly give and take through the result of a duel... so don’t give too much meaning to the fact that you lost, Diella.”
“Thank you for comforting me, Aiseline Unnie. Still, a loss is a loss. My pride is too hurt.”
“...”
“What’s more unbearable is the fact that I could have won if Derek hadn’t personally taught that sinister person. 2-Star magic or whatever, there must have been Derek’s influence for her to be able to handle it so proficiently.”
Diella shook her head and finally relaxed her expression.
“In any case, it’s not a good thing to have Derek in another family. If we can bring him back, we must bring him back.”
“B-but... the duel was lost, and there’s no justification to take him from the Beltus family.”
“Aiseline Unnie. You said that what’s more important than tying him down with a contract or whatever is Derek’s own heart, right? I thought about it too, and I agree with that opinion.”
Diella let out a deep sigh and ran her small fingers through her hair.
It was a habit she had whenever she was racking her brain.
“It’s not easy to bring Derek over with money, and it doesn’t seem easy to create a just cause either... so... a honey trap or something...”
“...”
“....”
“...If a honey trap doesn’t work, if I show human compassion, or if I arouse Derek’s respect, couldn’t his heart be moved?”
“...”
“....”
Aiseline’s silence was a form of consideration. Diella also knew that fact, so she didn’t say anything more.
In fact, it was not easy for Diella to win against Lady Denise in terms of appearance or authority.
She didn't know how it was internally, but Lady Denise's external image was close to the most perfect noble young lady.
Even when Aiseline herself had stepped up, Derek had shaken his head, so it was clear that the still-young Diella would be no match for her, no matter what she tried.
“Kuaang!”
Unlike when she held sway over the servants like a tyrant, Diella sometimes had moments where she fretted like children her age.
Her current appearance, shaking her head and letting out a cry of anguish, was like that.
“For now, to bring Derek to the Duplein family, it’s first for you to become a person of that worth, Diella. If you make a name for yourself in the Rosea Salon and he thinks you’re worth teaching, Derek will be swayed too. Don’t you think?”
“How can I persuade a person whom even you, Aiseline Unnie, were refused by.”
“That... you never know... for now, isn’t it important to try whatever you can?”
Since coming to Ebelstein, Diella had always been groaning.
As her older sister, that sight was quite heartbreaking, so Aiseline went and sat next to Diella and patted her back.
Since Diella wanted Derek this much, she wanted to help her as much as she could for her sake.
“For now, don’t you have to finish your debutante and formally enter the social circle? From the audience with the emperor to the ball, everything is ready... for now, let’s finish what needs to be finished first.”
“Ah... I have no choice.”
In any case, Diella’s debutante was just around the corner.
Next week, she would go to the imperial capital, have an audience with the emperor, then formally give her greetings, return to the mansion, and hold a ball.
Numerous nobles would come to congratulate Diella in front of a luxurious banquet. There, she would receive all the spotlight, debut in the social circle, and then return to Ebelstein as the master of this mansion.
Like that, Diella would become a person who stood shoulder to shoulder with the other young ladies.
Once that process was finished, it seemed a change would also occur in the relationship between Denise and Diella. Aiseline hoped that Diella would adapt well to this social circle, which was like walking on thin ice.
“I also sent another letter to the main house to confirm. Next week, we’ll depart for the imperial capital directly from this mansion. After the audience is over, you’ll attend the main house’s ball as the protagonist.”
“The servants of the main house must be busy. To invite a lot of distinguished guests to the mansion and hold a ball, there must be a lot to prepare from now on.”
“Everyone is working with a happy heart to celebrate your debutante, Diella. So, it’s your job to show the appearance of a noble young lady with a character befitting a lady, Diella.”
Aiseline emphasized to Diella in a warm voice.
Numerous people were working hard for the debutante of one Diella. If everything finished successfully, the whole family would congratulate Diella.
“We’re inviting people from influential families to the ball too... so Mr. Derek, who belongs to the Beltus family, might also attend as a representative.”
“R-really? He came to deliver a letter this time, and it certainly seems he’s receiving a lot of trust in Lady Denise’s mansion...”
“I’ll send a separate invitation. If you show that you’ve grown well as a proper lady at the ball, Mr. Derek’s view of you will change a lot too. So let’s do our best, Diella.”
“Ugh...”
She didn’t quite like being encouraged with Derek as bait, like a monkey chasing a banana, but it would be a lie to say she wasn’t interested.
Diella let out a deep sigh and nodded her head.
The Duplein family’s ball to bless a young lady’s debutante was also enormous in scale.
The servants would make a fuss, saying that the young ladies who became the protagonists of that event radiated an appearance like angels who had descended to earth.
The splendor of that event was a matter directly connected to the pride of the servants who had prepared the event.
If she could properly imprint the image of her commanding such an event, Derek’s thoughts might also change.
“Yes. For now, I have to focus on what needs to be done right away. There will be another chance.”
Diella let out a deep sigh. She was in too busy a position to just be disheartened.
“By the way, Aiseline Unnie. When did you send the letter to the main house? I also sent one recently, but I haven't been getting a reply.”
“Hmm? I wonder... it was a few weeks ago for me. Perhaps the main house is also very busy, so they’re in a situation where they can’t reply to the letter right away?”
“Really?”
“Yes. Not long ago, Orabeoni Valerian returned, didn’t he? I heard that to handle the spoils he brought back, they invited a magic advisor from the imperial family named Kohella to hear her opinion.”
Even Aiseline could not grasp all the news of the main house accurately while she was in Ebelstein. It was unavoidable since there was a physical distance.
“It’s probably about time for that mage named Kohella to visit the main house... so the main house side must be very busy. Still, there shouldn’t be a big problem in preparing for your ball.”
“Just for the ball, there must be a whole host of distinguished guests to invite... and now that the imperial family’s chief magic advisor has visited the mansion, the servants must all be worn out with fatigue.”
“Still, they’ll probably be thinking of it as an extension of your ball preparations. If she visits the mansion at this time, she’s probably thinking of attending your ball as well.”
The imperial chief magic advisor, Kohella.
The fact that the replies to the letters were getting late after she visited the Duplein family was probably because they had become that busy.
No matter what, it would be a great act of disloyalty not to reply promptly to the letters sent by the most noble young ladies of the family, but Aiseline decided to forgive them. This was because she knew well how hard the servants worked when such joyous occasions overlapped.
She couldn't know what was happening at the mansion's main house because the communication was not good...
In any case, she would be able to see them again if she visited soon.
The most splendid and luxurious debutante ball of Diella was soon.
Anticipation for her beloved younger sister’s splendid social circle debut bloomed, and Aiseline wore a satisfied smile.
‘Since the event is what it is, I hope Mr. Derek will also be sure to attend. If I ask him directly, the Beltus family will probably grant permission for this much, right? After all, they’ll need someone to send as a courtesy from the family level.’
<><><>
Rustle—
‘To think the day would come when I’d be invited to a noble family’s ball.’
Early in the morning, a letter arrived for Derek, who was swinging his sword here and there in his residence with his shirt off.
The letter, stamped with the Duplein family’s seal, was inviting Derek to Diella’s debutante, which would be held next week.
Since he was the only one who had reached out a hand to her during her wandering days when she was cooped up in the annex, it seemed the Duplein family also saw Derek as a great benefactor.
Otherwise, they would not have sent an invitation to a commoner with such formality.
‘It’s highly likely that not only people from the empire’s southwest, but also from the north and east will attend. It would be rare for the family head to come in person, but... since most will send a representative...’
The Beltus family would also have to send someone, at least as a courtesy, so Derek, who was at least an acquaintance of Diella, would be a suitable choice. It seemed Aiseline had also sent the invitation considering such a situation.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve gone to the Duplein family’s mansion, but I doubt much has changed.’
He supposed they would have decorated it in various ways since a magnificent ball would be held, but in any case, it was a place where he had stayed for quite a long time.
Feeling that it would be nice to visit after a long time, Derek took the invitation and put it in his coat pocket.