Chapter 98 - Power and Love (4)
Power and Love (4)
Translator: XZY
Chapter 98: Power and Love (4)
***
When one is born and raised in a wealthy home, advancing through life’s journey without hesitation, one comes to feel that there are no obstacles in the world.
If one were to draw a picture of such a life's journey, it would surely be the hero’s path, eternally soaring upward.
Since childhood, Elente had never changed that thought.
And, thinking that the scenery of other powerful families, not just the Belmeade family, would be the same, she would sometimes feel something akin to a sense of kinship while sitting in the seat of honor at the Rosea Salon, looking at the other two.
Aiseline of Duplein and Denise of Beltus looked, at first glance, like individuals with completely different dispositions from Elente, but if one looked closely, their way of life had strangely similar parts.
They were all chosen people.
They were blessed by all from birth, and they would continue to stretch toward the heavens, following the authority of their families.
As they continued to go up, and further up, they would surely embrace greater power.
Living in such an ambition for improvement until death was what could finally be called the reason for a person's existence.
However, something happened that was outside of Elente’s way of thinking.
The Duplein family, which seemed like it would reign at the top of Ebelstein forever, staggered, half of the family members died, were injured, or left, the territory was reduced to less than half, and the high-ranking nobles looked down on or ostracized them.
The times of walking on clouds came to an end in an instant, and Aiseline, who had been regarded like a flower in a boudoir, was instantly thrown to the ground and made to roll in the mud.
Except for a few lower-ranking nobles who admired her character, everyone regarded Aiseline as a has-been, and they pitied her appearance of running around here and there to earn even a single penny more as pitiful or mocked it as miserable.
Elente, who watched such an Aiseline from the closest distance, was heartbroken and approached her to ask.
— ‘Lady Aiseline. Are you alright?’
The place was a corridor in Elfontaine Hall.
Aiseline had been searching for a place to borrow money all day, and perhaps exhausted from the heat, she was sitting in a corner of the corridor to rest.
Her still-beautiful appearance was like the reincarnation of an angel, and her forearms, rolled up with a resourceful look, were as fair and slender as before.
And, her smile as she looked up at Elente did not seem much different from when she walked on the clouds.
— ‘Oh my, Lady Elente. Alright, about what?’
— ‘Just… this and that, everything.’
Because Elente was the one who had watched the fall of Duplein from the closest distance, she couldn’t help but harbor various complex feelings at Aiseline’s such determined appearance.
That series of events was a shock to Elente.
Because the fact that the Duplein family, which seemed like it would command the world forever, had collapsed so suddenly meant that there was no law saying Belmeade would not one day become the same.
— ‘Lady Elente’s face is full of worry. Your appearance, which was like a single rose, will be marred. Don’t worry. Duplein only suffered a great misfortune because of overlapping bad luck; there will never be a time when the Belmeade family is swept up in such a great disaster.’
— ‘…I’m not worried about the Belmeade family. The one I am worried about is Lady Aiseline herself.’
— ‘Ahaha, please don’t worry too much about me, Lady Elente. Although Duplein was consumed by necromancy and suffered a great disaster, it is still maintaining its lineage. In a way, it also became an opportunity to raise awareness of how dangerous necromancy is, so it could have served as a wake-up call so that similar things don’t happen in Beltus or Belmeade.’
It was an unbelievable thing, but Aiseline was worrying about the future of the Beltus and Belmeade families.
Even though her own family was staggering and on the verge of collapse, this heavenly girl had the heart to worry about others.
— ‘Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Elente. When we first met in Ebelstein’s high society, we weren’t in a very good relationship, but in the end, we became a relationship where we could worry about each other like this. This too is a great gain.’
Aiseline stretched her arms out, stretched, and smiled brightly.
The traces of having suffered while going around the noble houses all day were evident.
— ‘I’m not a wise enough person to be able to discuss things like life with you, Lady Elente… but still, there are things that can only be realized when one is in a situation like this.’
— ‘…’
— ‘Lady Elente, you are someone who loves power more than anyone and has a strong ambition to advance to a higher place, right? But you know, there’s something my older brother always told me from long ago. He said that life is long and turbulent, and it can’t always get better and better forever.’
Watching Aiseline, not only Elente but all the noble young ladies who frequented Elfontaine Hall with her couldn’t help but fall into a strange mood.
Because she had encountered a great ordeal that could plunge her life into the abyss, but she never erased the determined expression from her face, just like always.
One couldn’t help but wonder where the source of that strength came from.
— ‘As you go on life’s journey, there are times you trip on a stone and fall, and there are times you fall from a great cliff and crash to the ground. When you roll on the dirt floor like that, and buy the suspicion and ridicule of all people, it feels like your life is over, but there are things that only become visible when that time comes.’
— ‘…’
— ‘Lady Elente, as you clash with various enemies in the noble world, there will surely come a time when you too trip on a stone, and a time when you buy the suspicion and ridicule of all people, at least once. Even if it’s not a crisis big enough to shake your life like mine, it could push Lady Elente’s heart and mind into a corner.’
Aiseline clenched her slender hand into a tight fist, then thrust it out in front of Elente’s eyes and said.
— ‘That is the time to look around.’
— ‘What meaning does that have?’
— ‘When it seems like all things are laughing at me, and it feels like the world has abandoned me. When the closest friend turns their back, and the most trusted retainer shakes their head. Even at that bottom, there will surely be at least one person who does not turn their back. Because you, Lady Elente, are a wonderful and valuable person.’
It might have been advice born from experience.
It was not known exactly what kind of experiences this slender girl, who carried a collapsing family on her shoulders, had gone through since that Duplein tragedy.
However, this girl must have seen something in that path of thorns.
And someone must have stood by her side.
When all people shook their heads and stepped back, there must have been one mercenary who, in the end, tried to grab her forearm and pull her up.
— ‘The journey of life is not all about constantly going up. You have to wander in a path of thorns at least once to be able to know who your real people are.’
— ‘…’
— ‘The value of that experience is more precious than a thousand pieces of gold. So, there is no need for me to be sad at all.’
Duplein was collapsing miserably.
However, watching this girl, it felt as if even that ordeal was being given some meaning… Elente couldn’t quite think of what words to use in response.
Magic and academics could be learned as much as one wanted if one met a good master.
But where and from whom could one learn that strength of heart?
The only one who taught that was this wide world where harsh winds blew.
“Hmm…! If we just fix the plaque being a bit crooked, it’s a pretty decent building! It’s really good for something built in a hurry!”
The garden of the Ravencrow Barony.
The eyes of the girl wiping sweat with one arm on her hip in front of it always seemed to be pouring with starlight.
Looking at the first completed dormitory building, a refreshing smile was dripping from the face of the girl in the path of thorns.
She had been educated ceaselessly since childhood.
Only when one could walk even a path of thorns as if it were a path of flowers could one finally be called a flower of the boudoir.
<><><>
“Elente-noonim is someone who does anything for power. There is probably no one in this Belmeade mansion who doesn't know that.”
When Derek was guided into Leonard’s private room, the sturdy boy did not bother to have a servant do it and brewed tea himself.
As he placed the tea in front of Derek, Derek looked down at the tea for a moment, but did not bother to bring it to his lips.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. For someone like me who is still in the process of learning the world, building a connection with an excellent magic master like Sir Derek is of great value. It is I who am grateful that you made the journey. Huhu.”
Leonard let his white-streaked hair hang down and sat on the opposite side of Derek.
“You said you taught Elente-noonim? What was your impression?”
“What impression, I’m not sure of the intention of your question. The Lady Elente I taught was a person faithful to her duties and diligent in everything.”
“I see. But… you must not be easily swayed by such an appearance.”
There seemed to be some intention behind Leonard’s words.
Derek was in the position of a guest visiting the Belmeade family, so there was no need for him to get deeply involved in this matter. However, Leonard seemed to want to tell Derek something.
“I, who have spent time with Elente-noonim since childhood, know well. Elente-noonim spent every day trying to acquire all the abilities necessary to seize power. Sometimes she was faithful to her studies, sometimes she was immersed in magic training… and sometimes she tried to become proficient in deceiving people or winning their favor.”
“…”
“I don’t know what side of Elente-noonim you saw, but I cannot be sure that such an appearance revealed her true nature. Grab any servant of Belmeade and ask. As for that endless greed for power, no one in the world could catch up to Elente-noonim.”
Derek was just quietly listening to Leonard’s words.
At times like this, Derek always maintained a critical perspective and filtered what he heard. Perhaps Leonard noticed that fact, as he let out a laugh and lightened the heavy atmosphere.
“I’ve been badmouthing my noonim too much. I’m worried that Sir Derek’s impression of me will become quite bad.”
— ‘Leonard is like a snake, skilled at winning people’s favor, and excels in intrigue and dirty tricks. Don’t believe a single word he says. Kukuk, hick.’
He seemed to remember the message from Linus, who had been lying on the bar table at Veldern’s Tear, drunk.
Derek soon let out a single stream of laughter and replied.
“Please don’t worry too much about that. I heard that Young Master Leonard is a person of such devout faith that you left at a young age to go on a pilgrimage, abandoning the authority of your family.”
“My faith is merely what was bestowed upon me by the Lord God Ruelon. It is not something worthy of praise.”
Saying so, Derek and Leonard exchanged feigned laughs with each other.
“Before we get to the main point, let me first tell you the reason I wanted to meet Sir Derek like this. As I told you through the letter, I do not doubt my belief that Sir Derek is a truly outstanding and promising individual, and a person who will make his mark on the history of magic.”
Leonard continued speaking without stopping his faint smile.
“It is too much of a waste for the path of such a promising mage to be blocked. Therefore, I hope that Sir Derek does not get entangled in what is happening within the Belmeade family now and suffer great harm.”
“What specifically are you trying to say?”
“Sir Derek is Elente-noonim’s master, and you shared a special connection. So it would be natural to feel the desire to defend Elente-noonim in this situation.”
Leonard spoke to Derek with an expression of genuine concern.
Around this point, one could roughly guess that Leonard had called Derek to win him over.
“However, you must not rashly defend Elente-noonim. If my prediction is correct, Elente-noonim will fall hard soon.”
“…”
“Listen to my words carefully, Sir Derek. That beautiful appearance of reigning over high society like a lofty rose is nothing more than a mask. Once you know the reality of Elente-noonim, you will soon realize the fact that you took in the wrong disciple.”
Leonard stood up from his seat, then lowered his voice and began to speak with a serious expression.
“Do you know Brother Linus, the former heir of the previous generation of Belmeade?”
“…”
“Brother Linus one day suddenly threw away all his authority as heir and began to wander the world. It is a truly strange thing. What kind of position is the heir of Belmeade? It is a position that makes you feel as if the entire world is under your feet, along with this huge mansion.”
Linus, who threw away such a position to wander, was truly an oddity.
Watching him drink alcohol, wander around gambling dens, and just live as life flowed, it was enough to make one wonder if he was even a noble.
Since the eldest son who was to be responsible for the family’s future was such a loafer, not only the Margrave of Belmeade but also the high-ranking retainers could not help but be worried.
So, why did Linus lay down the position of heir and wander the world?
“The one who framed Brother Linus and drove him from the position of head of the house was precisely Elente-noonim.”
Leonard said with an even more serious expression.
“Elente-noonim seized Brother Linus’s weakness and shook him, intimidating him and chasing him out, and usurped the position of heir to research necromancy. The evidence of that… is now coming out one by one. I can explain the details of that to you.”
“…”
“I know how hard my words are to believe. To Sir Derek, who has lived teaching Elente-noonim and seeing that masked appearance, she would have looked like nothing more than a naive person doing her best. But… I, who am the closest person, know well. You must not be deceived by that fox mad for power.”
Looking at Leonard’s desperate-looking face, he truly looked like a gentle lamb.
It felt as if the history of having turned to religion and lived a virtuous life was not an empty word.
“I heard from the high-ranking retainers. They said traces of necromancy came out of Elente-noonim’s room. Not only that, but they are also investigating the mansion in Ebelstein right now, and I heard an intelligence report that traces that appear to be human corpses came out from the mansion’s basement.”
“Is that true?”
“It is the result of an investigation conducted by not only our family members but also by summoning the famous magic trace tracker, Advisor Levelton. It is probably correct.”
Leonard spread his arms wide and spoke as if declaring.
“You must judge well, Sir Derek. Please take my hand. I… intend to give my full support so that Sir Derek can reach the realm of 4-Star. I will promise to form a closer relationship with the Ravencrow Barony and ensure there are no hindrances on that path of achievement.”
“What is the reason for you to go that far?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I do not doubt my belief that Sir Derek will become a more excellent magic master. I heard of Sir Derek’s achievements and couldn’t help but be impressed by what an outstanding person you are.”
“…”
“It’s a saying my father often uses. Gold and silver stay put, but excellent talent disappears in a flash. I know how to see the value of talent. If I help Sir Derek and keep you as a person of Belmeade, you will surely become a great asset.”
Leonard’s words were so eloquent that it was hard for Derek to even find a gap to interject.
The interjections and pacing he inserted in the middle of his words were considerate, allowing the listener to chew on and accept them carefully. Regardless of the content, he was a man who could be called a fluent speaker.
“So please do not act rashly, and do not easily defend Elente-noonim and drive yourself into a corner. I will not ask you to believe my words entirely. However, I am saying not to come to a conclusion too hastily in your judgment. From Sir Derek’s perspective, even I would inevitably be a subject of caution.”
“…”
“That suspicion of Sir Derek is natural. I will not rashly force my opinion on you. However, you must absolutely be cautious.”
He was not just dragging the other party in blindly, but respected their freedom of choice. The series of processes of slowly planting the seeds of doubt while doing so was smooth and natural.
Derek stroked the tip of his chin and fell into thought for a moment.
Leonard sat for a moment and waited for Derek, who was so deeply lost in thought.
Looking at those virtuous-looking eyes, he was immersed in a feeling as if he had half-won at the point where Derek was deeply considering his words.
Derek thought hard and thought again.
The blood flow in his head accelerated, pushing new air into his spinning mind.
Derek did not believe this boy one bit.
However, it was not easy to see through at once what kind of person this boy named Leonard in front of him was, what his intrigues and dirty tricks were.
If so, there was only one decision to make.
“So Young Master Leonard was thinking such things as well.”
Finally, Derek smiled brightly.
That appearance looked similar to the sight of plunging a dagger into the nape of a demonic beast on the verge of death.
Those who usually had contact with Derek would all know. Derek did not usually laugh like this.
However, there was no way Leonard would know such a thing.
“Sir Derek…?”
“It is a truly strange thing. I too, while teaching Lady Elente, often got the chills, or there were many times when her entire appearance felt like a lie. There were quite a few things I dismissed as a simple sense of incongruity, but there was a reason for them all.”
“Indeed… Sir Derek also had such a discerning eye!”
“Since Young Master Leonard is saying so himself, it seems all those things are gaining meaning. Certainly, Lady Elente… had many strangely suspicious parts.”
Derek stood up from his seat and extended his arm to Leonard with eyes dripping with trust.
“If Young Master Leonard hadn't called me over, I would have been in great trouble. I have received a great favor.”
“Not at all, Sir Derek. But… I did not think you would believe me so easily.”
“Are you not a lamb of the Lord God Ruelon? I too am a devout believer. A person devout enough to go on a pilgrimage at this age would not easily try to frame someone.”
Derek firmly grasped Leonard’s arm with a bright smile.
“Young Master Leonard is a messenger sent by God to save me. It is truly a fortunate thing.”
<><><>
Click—
Elente, who was sitting in the annex garden, put down her teacup.
The high-ranking retainers who had come to investigate the traces of necromancy research that came out of Elente’s private room had returned.
Their expressions had become quite heavy. Since there was no one among the retainers of this Belmeade mansion who did not trust Elente, their strangely pained expressions were rather unusual.
It seemed they had brought heavy news.
“Lady Elente.”
“Is the investigation over?”
“Yes. We have completed the investigation with the help of Lord Rothale, a 4-Star mage from the territory’s border, and Advisor Levelton, an expert in magic trace tracking.”
The retainers gathered in front of Elente and spoke quietly.
“From now on, the house arrest will likely be strengthened. Please, Lady Elente, do not leave your private room in the annex. This report will soon go up to His Excellency the Margrave of Belmeade.”
At those words, Elente’s expression couldn’t help but stiffen for a moment.
Thud, thud—
‘…They’re not giving me a single word of hint about the investigation results.’
Before long, Elente was crossing the corridor while being escorted.
Though it was called an escort, Elente was racking her brain in this pressure that was virtually surveillance.
She was lost in thought about how to punish the schemes and dirty tricks of that long-tongued youngest brother of hers.
As she was moving forward, crossing the corridor in that silent pressure, Elente encountered a sight she had never imagined.
Creeak—
“Then I will contact you separately.”
She was someone who was not easily shaken.
However, the person who emerged from Leonard’s room with a satisfied smile was… the person she trusted more than anyone, Baron Derek Ridolf Ravencrow.
The two people coming out of the room seemed to have already formed some kind of trust relationship.
“What, what is this….”
As Elente came to a dead stop, the retainers escorting her also all stopped.
The retainer’s polite words saying she must continue to move forward did not reach her ears. Because Leonard was walking toward Elente from across that corridor.
Like that, Leonard quietly crossed the corridor, and finally, his eyes met Elente’s.
A faint eye-smile, barely noticeable.
Leaving only that reaction, Leonard once again passed Elente and strode down the corridor.
And, following behind Leonard, Derek, well-dressed in mage attire, passed by.
At that brief scene, Elente drew in a sharp breath. It felt as if time was flowing slowly.
Why on earth was Derek at the Belmeade mansion?
And why was he having a special conversation with Leonard, and walking out together with him?
Those questions rose to her nape, making it difficult to breathe.
Elente somehow suppressed her trembling voice and called out to Derek, who was about to pass her.
“De, Derek…! Why… are you here…”
From the time he taught Elente magic, Derek had always answered readily when called.
A reliable appearance and always the same reaction; that consistency could be said to be this man’s most precious value.
However, Derek, despite Elente’s call, passed her by without any reaction.
He followed behind Leonard like that, not even showing a reaction.
“Derek…! Why are you at the Belmeade family residence…?”
Elente called out once more to Derek who had passed her.
However, in the eyes of Derek, who turned back for a moment and looked at Elente with a sidelong glance, a cold chill that would normally never be seen was flowing out.
It was not known what he had heard from Leonard, but with just that cold gaze, Elente felt as if her breath was being choked.
Leonard had won Derek over.
That heavy fact pressed down on Elente’s chest like a weight.
It was truly a bolt from the blue.