Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Translator: XZY
Chapter 64: The Noblest and the Poorest (1)
***
The patriarch of the Duplein family, Grand Duke Raymond Oswald Duplein, was dead.
His eldest son, Valerian, had gone berserk due to a Necromancy-type magic weapon brought from the White Region north of the Duplein territory, destroying the mansion, sacrificing numerous servants, and in the end, even murdering his own father.
It became known that he had tried to become a higher-realm Necromancy-type mage by using the various distinguished guests and high-level mages gathered at the mansion as sacrifices, but had lost his life in a surprise attack by Diella.
The Grand Duchess, Miriella, had fainted on the spot, and the second son, Reigh, had been caught in the aftermath of the magic and was in an unconscious state, unable to regain his senses.
Other high-ranking vassals and direct family members were all injured, to varying degrees, and more than half of the family members had not regained consciousness.
“Ugh, keuk...”
“Wh-what is this... where... on earth...”
When the sun rose over the ruins of the half-destroyed Duplein mansion, the distinguished guests who had nearly become sacrifices in the main hall were getting up one by one.
When they opened their eyes, a gruesome scene unfolded before them. They all doubted their eyes, unable to accept the current situation.
Even so, not a single one of the distinguished guests and high-level mages who had attended the ball had died.
This was partly because they had been gathered in the main hall to be used as offerings for the Necromancy-type magic, but it was also because the mastermind had been appropriately subdued before the situation could escalate to the extreme.
The light of the morning sun seeped in from the half-broken ceiling.
Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the only person who could represent the Duplein family's position stepped forward before the distinguished guests who were assessing the situation.
“I must first offer my apologies to everyone. I am sorry that you all came such a long way.”
Aiseline and Diella had held onto their senses until the very end, while everyone else had been caught up in the chaos of the Necromancy-type magic, and had managed to prevent a great catastrophe.
However, Aiseline, who bowed her head, and Diella, who stood quietly behind her, could not wear the expressions of heroes.
“For what happened today, the family will take responsibility and compensate you, no matter what it takes.”
Aiseline, who now had to take responsibility for the Duplein family, said with a firm expression.
After that, the expressions of the distinguished guests at the scene, who had heard the explanation of the situation, were varied.
There were those who were enraged at the fact that they had nearly lost their lives while unconscious, and there were also those who were in deep agony over how to conduct themselves in the face of the once-in-a-lifetime incident that was the Duplein family’s catastrophe.
“Wh-what is this...! We were almost sacrificed as offerings for Necromancy-type magic...? In the middle of the Duplein family’s mansion, of all places, the noblest of them all?”
“W-we must make an issue of this when we return to our main house! I-it’s horrifying...! We really could have died!”
When a great beast dies and becomes a corpse, the eagles that wish to tear at its meat are bound to form a crowd at its door.
Moreover, they even had a good pretext. It was a situation where they could have truly lost their lives if things had gone slightly wrong.
All of this responsibility lay with the Duplein family.
To throw such a good pretext to these numerous distinguished guests in a situation where they had even lost their patriarch was truly an act that required them to be prepared to have all the flesh torn from their bodies.
Nevertheless, the Duplein family had no choice.
It was when Aiseline and Diella were standing there, quietly listening to the words of the distinguished guests, which were gradually growing louder.
“Still, the Duplein family took active measures to prevent the situation from causing any harm. There were people who sustained minor injuries like scratches, but no one lost their lives.”
“Lady Elente?”
“The Belmeade family will not hold you responsible. From the looks of it, the Duplein family has already paid a sufficient price.”
It was the words of Lady Elente, who had stepped forward in the main hall.
She let down her red hair, which was soaked with rainwater, and was hiding a scratch on her forearm. She had manifested magic when the building collapsed to prevent major damage, but it seemed the minor scratches were unavoidable.
Most of the distinguished guests gathered here had come as representatives. Elente was also a person who had attended the ball as a representative of Margrave Belmeade.
Because the gathered people were representatives, they did not have the direct authority to decide how to pursue accountability for this situation.
However, Elente was different.
Elente had been given the authority by Margrave Belmeade to represent the direct decision-making power of the Belmeade county house to some extent.
Of course, important matters were things that required the direct permission of Margrave Belmeade, but this time, she made a bold decision.
The Belmeade family would not hold the Duplein family responsible for anything.
Even if she did so, not all the other distinguished guests would leave the great prey that was the Duplein mansion alone, but it would at least have an impact on the general trend.
“Wh-why...”
“I don’t have any particular thought. Just as I said... it seems the Duplein family has paid a sufficient price. They lost their patriarch, lost half of their standing army, lost most of their servants, and lost their mansion, didn’t they?”
Elente was looking at Aiseline quietly, then let out a somewhat complicated smile and spoke as if whispering.
“Just think of it as my inferiority complex. I’ll persuade my father, so don’t worry too much.”
After saying that, Lady Elente led her body towards the stables, dragging the hem of her ruined dress.
The coachman she had brought from her main house must have either fled or been taken by the demonic beasts. If she wanted to return to her main house, she would have to lead the horse herself.
“I’ll just... borrow a horse.”
Elente, who was passing by, dragging the hem of her dress, suddenly looked at a pillar that was broken and only half-remaining.
A man was standing in front of it, leaning against it with his arms crossed, watching the situation.
Everyone at the scene was completely drenched in rain. Even among them, the white-haired boy was in a worse state.
His whole body was soaked not only with rain but also with sweat and blood, and was covered in a lot of mud, and his hair was a mess.
He was the person who had stood at the very forefront to block the rampaging Valerian until he calmed down.
“Derek. Your contribution is something that should be reported to the Imperial Family and praised... but from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem to be the time to talk about happy events. Let’s put this off for a bit. I’ll make sure you receive a proper reward.”
“...”
“And, as the eldest daughter of the Belmeade family, I must also offer my thanks. If you hadn’t appropriately entered the main hall and stopped Valerian, all the distinguished guests gathered here would have become sacrifices for Necromancy-type magic.”
At those words, all the distinguished guests gathered at the scene opened their eyes wide and looked at Derek.
They had heard the story that Aiseline and Diella had actively stepped forward to stop Valerian, but there was a part that they were not satisfied with.
How could the two of them, who were at best barely at the entrance of 2-Star magic, have stopped Valerian, who had absorbed power equivalent to 4-Star? It was an impossible task with just the two of them.
They had thought that there must have been someone’s intervention, but it seemed they had not imagined that it would be a commoner-born mage.
‘Derek? That white-haired mage saved our lives?’
‘He doesn’t look that old at a glance, but he fought on par with someone equivalent to 4-Star?’
‘At least 3-Star... if not, it’s a person who doesn’t make sense... a commoner-born person of that young age is 3-Star?’
Among the gathered nobles, many from the southwest knew of Derek’s existence.
It was because he had already made a name for himself as a competent magic teacher in Ebelstein’s high society. If one were to count the number of noble families who wanted to accept Derek as a magic master, even two hands would not be enough.
Blocking Valerian was a great contribution on the level of blocking a national catastrophe.
Because it was a closed noble society, they would not easily grant him a title, but it was certain that at least a hefty financial reward would follow, and his social prestige would also rise greatly.
It was now impossible to know what would happen to Derek’s value, which was already soaring to the sky.
In some way or another, he would influence noble society.
“So, you are the most renowned magic teacher in the southwest. Indeed, your magic skills seem to be outstanding. I am Robenkheim of the north. If you have occasion to come to the Melverot mansion, please contact me separately.”
“It is an honor to meet the uncle of Lord Melverot, the guardian of the north, in person. Thank you for greeting me like this.”
“If you have occasion to come to the south, please visit the castle of the leader, Delos. I am his wife, Adelen. My husband will want to reward you greatly when he learns of this incident.”
“I am truly grateful for your kindness, but it’s alright, Countess Adelen. It is a relief that you do not seem to be greatly injured.”
“Polonkart, a chancellor from the Imperial Family side. I owe you my life. From the looks of it, if you are going to work as a magic teacher....”
And so, the quick-footed among the nobles began to approach Derek and offer their greetings.
Compared to when the ball started, when not a single person had even glanced at him, it was a strangely fast change in attitude.
If it was a connection that would be beneficial in any way, they would definitely establish a point of contact. That was the way of noble society.
Lady Denise, who was watching from a distance with her arms crossed, let out a hollow laugh.
Right now, the Beltus family had a firm grip on Derek, but if things became like this, she could not guarantee whether they would be able to keep him in the family again after his contract period ended.
‘These people, who would have shot looks of caution if he were a person of ambiguous talent, are so brazen at times like this.’
It was not as if she had rolled in the world of nobility for only a day or two, but their opportunistic attitude was fresh every time she saw it.
If things became like this, only Derek’s value would rise, so from the position of wanting to keep Derek, it was only a headache.
Denise was brushing off her clothes like that, then quietly looked at the back of the departing Lady Elente.
It seemed she had spoken with exaggeration on purpose to praise Derek’s contribution even more.
As the nobles began to gather like that, she just smiled faintly and went on her way.
Here, it would be a fine thing if Denise also stepped forward and declared, ‘I too will not hold the Duplein family responsible for any crime,’ but she could not do so.
Elente was a person of real power in the Belmeade family. And Denise was a puppet of the Beltus family.
Even though they were both young ladies of the Rosea Salon, the difference in their authority within their families was night and day.
She felt a little envious of Elente’s authority, which allowed her to push through with her own judgment boldly even in such an urgent situation.
‘...Did I just envy authority? Me, of all people?’
Suddenly, Denise mulled over the thought she had just had and shook her head.
She could not believe that she, who had always lived in moderation, had harbored such a useless thought.
‘Haven’t I been thinking too much since I brought Derek in? Let’s not think unnecessary thoughts.’
And so, Lady Denise shook her head, quickly arranged her platinum blonde hair, which was completely drenched in rain, and got up.
Numerous nobles were watching for a chance to shake hands with Derek. It was a strangely pleasant thing that Derek was being recognized, but in any case, it would only be difficult if his value rose too much, so she intended to take him and return home quickly.
“Derek. It doesn’t seem to be of any use to stay in the Duplein mansion any longer. Let’s go back to our main house as well. We also need to report the situation, so for now...”
“Oh my, Lady Denise, you are also safe and sound. When I saw you in the guest room closet, the situation was so urgent that we couldn’t even greet each other properly, right?”
“…It seems Lady Freya is safe too, then?”
When Denise was about to take Derek and leave, Lady Freya was holding onto Derek and talking with him.
It seemed that while she was also making plans on how to return home, she also had a desire to catch up a bit with Derek, who had the same master.
“It’s just so fascinating to see in person the person I’ve only ever heard about from Master Katia. Seeing you like this, it’s strange because you’re so different from what I imagined.”
“It is a relief that you are not greatly injured either, Lady Freya. Master Katia has told me a lot about you through her letters. Your calm demeanor even in this situation is amazing.”
“As for me... now that the tension is gone, I’m just hungry. Sigh...”
Quickly arranging her undone bluish hair, Lady Freya quickly pulled up her dress, which revealed all of her shoulders.
She was older than the young ladies of the Rosea Salon. She was a person who had finished her debutante process a long time ago.
She had heard a rumor that she was the most influential person in eastern high society, but seeing her in person, she did not seem to be a person of such outstanding authority.
Still, Derek was treating Lady Freya with the delight of having met a fellow student in a distant land.
Derek was someone who would not change his expressionless face even if his tension rose. Seeing him show interest for a change, Lady Denise felt her mood sour for no reason.
‘He’s never shown such a bright face when he’s with me...’
To be honest, it would be stranger for him to show a bright face when Denise was treating him as if everything was a bother.
Denise herself was not unaware of that, but the unfamiliar sight of Derek, who was strangely spirited, felt like it was tickling her chest for some reason.
“I’d like to catch up more, but as you can see, the situation is not good, so let’s look forward to the next time. If I ever have occasion to visit the eastern part of the continent, I will be sure to visit the Elbester family.”
“Hmm... my father doesn’t really like letting unrelated commoners into the mansion... but he probably wouldn’t turn away the savior of his daughter’s life at the door... and Master Katia is there, so I wonder if it’ll be okay...”
“Hmm... if it’s really troublesome, I won’t insist on visiting.”
“No. Well, it should be fine.”
Denise, who was watching the two having a pleasant conversation, sighed deeply and cut in.
“Then it’s also fine for Lady Freya to visit the Beltus family separately. Wouldn’t that be much better?”
“Oh, shall I? I don’t know the people from Ebelstein’s high society well, but I was thinking it would be nice if I could have some exchange with the people from the Rosea Salon or the Drest Society.”
“The Rosea Salon will be noisy for a while too... but, well, a social visit to the mansion should be fine.”
“Then that’s a relief. There was also a part I wanted to discuss separately.”
“An opinion?”
Lady Freya was resting her chin on her hand, then she checked her surroundings once and spoke in a lowered voice.
“You saw Young Lord Valerian handling the taboo, right?”
“Yes, I did.”
“But... the way he was too familiar with the specific method of the ritual, or the way his control of the Necromancy-type magic was too natural... there were some suspicious aspects.”
“Yes...?”
“It’s not something to say in the middle of the Duplein family, who has just lost a family member, but I don’t really think Young Lord Valerian could have done all this tragedy by himself. I’m sure someone else was involved...”
This was the middle of the Duplein mansion.
To speak on the actions of a deceased family member was not polite to the remaining bereaved family. That was why Lady Freya seemed to be swallowing her words.
“Hmm... I’ll tell you later.”
And so, Lady Freya dusted off the hem of her dress, placed her hands on her hips, straightened her chest, and said.
“Anyway, everyone is very tired, so let’s not talk about anything too complicated. The Duplein mansion is now something those two have to handle, so we should all just go back to our main houses and rest. The family members will come out and sort everything out in detail.”
Saying so, Lady Freya gave a cool greeting.
“Then see you next time, Derek. Hmm... should I call you Sunbae-nim or Sahyung?”
“...”
“I’m kidding.”
Stretching her stiff body, Lady Freya also left for her main house in the eastern part of the continent.
Since such a major accident had occurred, she too would immediately head to her main house to report the situation.
And so, Derek and Denise quietly checked each other’s condition.
In any case, they were not injured, so they asked after each other’s well-being and prepared to leave for Ebelstein.
“It will be difficult to return by carriage. I will drive the horse, so please ride on the back saddle.”
“Ugh... Derek, your clothes are all muddy, so the texture is really bad.”
“It can’t be helped. Please bear with it for a bit.”
Denise wrapped her arms around Derek’s waist and turned her head for a moment to look at the half-destroyed Duplein mansion.
The prestige of the Duplein family, which had commanded the world, would also be broken once.
It was said that no flower blooms for ten days, but it could not be helped that one’s heart felt empty whenever one saw something that faded away in vain.
Quietly watching Diella and Aiseline moving busily in the half-destroyed main hall, she thought quietly.
The family had fallen miserably, but nevertheless, the two of them had to live with the Duplein name on their backs.
That was what the status of a noble house’s young lady was. Since they had lived with the prestige of the family on their backs, they also had to accept the family’s shame.
It would be nice if there was some kind of trigger that could raise the family again, but such opportunities did not come easily.
In the end, they too were noble young ladies. No matter what kind of thorny path it was, they had to know how to walk it with a smile.
Trials would be plentiful before the two of them, and she had no sense of loyalty to actively support them... but nevertheless, she prayed that the sunlight that shone through the half-destroyed building would continue.
“Even if it collapses, the ruins remain.”
If ruins remained, flowers would also bloom among them from time to time.
It might be an irresponsible thing to say, but even a vain hope was better than nothing.
And so, leaving the two sisters of the Duplein family behind, they headed for Ebelstein.
For a while, it would be difficult to see their faces as they would be busy with the aftermath of the mansion. Denise sent her heartfelt support to the two of them.
<><><>
“Hello, Lady Denise.”
However, she saw Diella again in just three days.
Denise’s heart, looking at Diella who was sitting in the reception room and quietly drinking tea, was quite flustered.
Despite being the young lady of a family that was greatly faltering, Diella exuded a certain kind of aura that overwhelmed people.
Diella’s dignity, as she was well-dressed in a beautiful dress and lifted her teacup, seemed to have deepened even more than before.
“La-Lady Diella? What brings you to my mansion so early in the morning...”
Denise had become an early riser because of Derek, but no matter what, it was not an easy thing to receive a distinguished guest so early in the morning.
As soon as she finished getting ready and came down, the little lion was sitting there quietly, shooting her sharp gaze as always.
‘Ugh, I did cheer for her... but, I-I didn’t expect her to visit so suddenly.’
“You seem to have an expression of wondering how I could be in Ebelstein when I must be busy with the mansion’s restoration.”
‘Unnecessarily sharp!’
Denise cleared her throat a few times, then quickly put on the mask of a noble young lady and came to sit across from Diella.
“You must have been through a lot, so I’d like to offer my sincere condolences first.”
“Thank you. Then let’s get straight to the point.”
Denise and Diella were not on good terms in the first place.
At first, Denise was in a position to support Diella, but after they started to fight over Derek, it had become truly awkward.
In fact, she still did not have any great ill feelings towards Diella, but it was unavoidable that it was uncomfortable.
Deureureuk—
As soon as Denise sat down, Diella stood up from her seat.
That appearance was anything but ordinary.
Her voluminous hair, as if wrapping around her body, was like a hedgehog with its quills raised.
This was the Diella who was said to have beaten up some servants in her heyday. If she took on a serious demeanor with determination, her small frame was unbelievably overwhelming.
Denise swallowed a dry gulp of saliva.
This was the wild horse-like girl who had charged at Denise from the very first day she joined the Rosea Salon.
What could be the reason she had come all the way to this mansion in a situation where she had almost nothing left to lose?
It was around the time she was quite tense and was quietly looking at Diella.
Kung— !
“...”
Suddenly, Diella placed her hand on the table as if to slam it down, then broke out in a cold sweat that did not suit her at all.
With a face full of embarrassment in her cat-like, wide eyes, she sweated profusely for a long time... and soon, she bowed her head deeply and said.
“Le-le...”
“Le...?”
“Lend me... some money....”
“......”
A moment of silence.
“....”
At the statement she could not have even imagined, Denise’s mind went blank for a moment.
The continuing silence felt like a distant void.
<><><>
“Pardon?”
Derek asked again, doubting his ears.
The place was Derek’s personal residence. This shabby residence that Master Katia had left him was a place tucked away in a corner of Ebelstein’s market district.
It was definitely not a place for a noble to come, but someone had knocked on the door early in the morning, and when he went out, Aiseline was standing in front of the door.
She, who had visited with a young and inexperienced-looking maid in tow, had asked if she could come inside for a moment.
Derek, while hiding his flustered feelings, let her into the house and brought her a glass of cold water.
No matter how one looked at it, it was not a place a noble house’s young lady would come. In front of Derek, who was feeling awkward because he had nothing to offer but a glass of cold water, Lady Aiseline began to make an even more awkward expression herself.
And the words she uttered with difficulty, blushing, were a request to borrow some money.
It was a statement that came out of the mouth of none other than Aiseline Eleanor Duplein.
“....”
As if she was embarrassed even after saying it out loud, Aiseline blushed deeply and was looking down. The way her hands were fidgeting on her lap was pitiful.
“Is... is it very difficult...? To the point that you would come to me after going through all other options?”
Derek certainly had some money saved up, but he had not even thought that she would ask a commoner like Derek for help.
“N-no... that... you see... after paying for the mansion’s restoration and the emergency relief supplies... and then urgently arranging for coachmen to be used for the distinguished guests’ return home... I’m just a little short on cash right now... it’s not a huge deficit... but anyway... it’s a bit... tight...”
“...”
“I did borrow some from the Korn family and also pulled some cash that was left in my personal mansion...! But I completely forgot and... the payment due date for the construction costs overlapped...! S-since the situation is what it is... .”
“...”
“For now, I need to pull some more living expenses until the antiques, artworks, and magic tools in the mansion are sold, but the funds provided by the Roent Company are a bit insufficient... no... th-this isn't something to ramble on about... so... that is...”
“...”
Kkoreureuk—
Breaking the silence, the sound of a stomach churning flowed out.
Derek flinched. He wondered if it was the sound from his own stomach, but when he thought about it, he had just eaten mashed potatoes and a piece of bread for breakfast.
So he checked Aiseline’s expression, and her face was flushed red as if it would burst at any moment. The sight of her, bowing her head deeply and trembling, looked as if she wanted to die on the spot.
“....Have you not eaten?”
“I-I’m sorry. Pl-please don’t ask....”
“...”
“....The payment due date for the servants’ meal expenses was today... I can’t starve the servants starting from tomorrow... so for now, as an emergency measure... with my private funds, somehow...”
“...”
Derek washed his face with his dry hands and swept his face up.
It felt as if his mind was going blank.
Whatever the case, it seemed they had to eat first.