There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

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“Derek seems more reliable since he received his title.”

Denise, who was naturally perceptive, had noticed that Ellente and Aiseline harbored personal feelings for Baron Ravenclaw.

The fact that the precious daughters of Duplain and Belmiard were vying for the attention of one man was a headache-inducing yet highly intriguing spectacle.

She was probably the only one aware of this, so she would deliberately bring up Derek whenever she met Aiseline or Ellente.

As someone who was engrossed in writing romance novels, Denise couldn’t help but be more interested in the farcical antics of high-ranking nobles. She thought it would somehow aid her creative endeavors.

“They say people change when their status changes, and it seems that saying isn’t just empty words.”

Thus, when she visited the Ravenclaw Barony under the pretext of checking on Aiseline’s health, she said this to the newly arrived Lady Ellente.

Ellente, who was brushing her fiery red hair, blushed slightly at Denise’s words and replied.

“Yes, indeed.”

It wasn’t easy to see the usually confident Ellente acting so shy.

Enjoying the reaction, Denise half-closed her eyes and smiled slyly. Indeed, to an outsider who knew the situation, love was this obvious.

The location was the guest room of the Ravenclaw Barony.

Though it was decorated as luxuriously as possible, it was still somewhat modest compared to the reception rooms of the three great families.

It was truly an unreal sight to see the young ladies of the Belmiard and Beltus families sitting in such a remote barony.

Anyway, since there was a connection from the Rosea Salon, they came to check on Aiselin.

The topic of Baron Ravenclaw could be postponed for later.

“Well, catching up with Derrick is important, but today we came to check on Lady Aiselin’s condition. They said she collapsed from overwork, and many people at the salon were worried.”

“That’s right, Lady Ellente. Well, the butler will soon come to report the situation.”

Not long after Denis arrived, Ellente also arrived.

Unlike Denis, who seemed quite comfortable, Ellente seemed strangely nervous about meeting Aiselin soon. What was there to ask? The two were already rivals.

Denis was just standing in between, blowing air out of her nose with interest.

The young ladies of Duplain and Belmiard fighting over one man, no girl in the world could not be interested in such a love story.

Moreover, it was like watching a fire across the river.

There is nothing more interesting than watching a fight, and for girls of this age, watching a love fight is something they can’t resist. No one would refuse to watch it from such a close seat.

In the end, opinions were divided on who would win Derrick’s heart, Ellente or Aiselin, but Denis had been leaning more towards Aiselin.

No matter how much Ellente was the heir of a powerful family, could she compare to Aiselin, who was born as a noble lily? Such thoughts were unconsciously harbored.

‘…Now that I see it, maybe not.’

Still, they say love changes a girl.

Even this Ellente, who always seemed more like a monarch than a girl, would blush and act shyly when the topic of Derrick was brought up… Indeed, love was difficult and complicated.

Denis, who spent all day scribbling romance novels, had never truly felt the mysterious nature of love. It was only natural, as she had never experienced love herself.

Reading third-rate romance novels at the Ebelstein bookstore and listening to the noble young ladies at the salon chatting excitedly about noblemen was not enough to truly understand how love changes a person.

Despite that, she had deeply pondered romance, and her view on love was twisted.

She thought that love was about a prince on a white horse coming out, lifting the princess into his arms, and whispering sweet words of love─ it was almost childish to think she was writing novels with such a view on love.

In short, Denis had learned about love from books.

But unfortunately, Denis considered herself a love expert just from that.

‘Lady Ellente’s love is truly sincere, but who knows how it will work in a relationship between a man and a woman. They say the one who falls in love first loses, so whether it’s Lady Ellente or Lady Aiselin, they will both lose greatly to Derrick!’

That was the reality of Denis, who could only spout such clichés.

‘I’m really curious to see how Derrick will react. Curious.’

As Denis was thinking about Derrick’s behavior with a satisfied smile.

– ‘Create a reason to control that man. Meet him often, stay close, and grasp his weaknesses.’

It was the message from Grand Duke Beltus.

Talking about Derrick suddenly made the back of her head feel cold.

It felt like being dragged from a flower garden to a cold reality while talking about love stories. The reception room, which had been filled with a bright atmosphere, suddenly felt like a cold winter.

Yes, Denis came as a member of the Beltus family to strike Derek from behind and seize his weakness to shut down the operation of this Ravenclaw training center.

Denis would betray Derek. This was already a predetermined fact.

She could not go against the will of the Beltus family, to whom she had entrusted her body for her entire life. Denis could exist as a valuable person only because she was the beloved lady of the Beltus family.

“…”

Conversing with Derek in a friendly atmosphere was only temporary.

Someday, Derek would inevitably look at Denis with eyes of resentment, and the day of hostility would come.

As long as the policy of Grand Duke Beltus was firmly set on checking and pulling down Derek, she could never remain in a special relationship with him.

That fact was like a thorn stuck in the girl’s heart.

Elente, who wanted to take Derek with a sincere heart, and Aiselin, fundamentally belonged to a completely different world from Denis.

They were the real powers who controlled their families, while Denis was just one of the chess pieces of the Beltus duchy.

Suddenly realizing the gap, Denis quietly lowered her gaze.

Elente, reigning as the real power of Belmiord, looked like a flower blooming on a cliff.

*

Denis often strolled around the mansion with a carefree mind, but when she started to think seriously, her eyes would become sharp.

After a brief conversation with Lady Elente, Denis came out to the garden to catch the wind.

‘The building itself looks luxurious, but it was built hastily, so its structure is not sturdy. If a large natural disaster occurs, there could be problems.’

‘There was a large mountain behind the baron’s mansion. If an artificial landslide is caused or a waterway is created, it could cause great harm during heavy rain.’

Just by walking around the interior of the Ravenclaw baron’s mansion a few times, Denis could grasp the weaknesses of this territory at a glance.

She was a person who quickly got tired and exhausted because of her fast thinking, but Derek had trained her physical strength for a long time, so she no longer got tired easily.

Denis continued to cross the garden in the appearance of an elegant lady, dragging her dress. Her silver-gray hair fluttered in the wind, and the scent of the garden flowers permeated her clothes.

‘Being adjacent to the Beltus territory could be a great advantage. If we impose heavy tariffs and tolls only on the trade routes in the border area, it will surely cause great obstacles in the supply of goods to the Ravenclaw baron’s mansion.’

‘From the Beltus family’s perspective, it would not be difficult to hold the leash. However, such pressure requires political justification, and since Derek is under the protection of Sir Melverot, it could be dangerous to recklessly impose such pressure. Using publicly exposed tricks is not wise.’

The noble ladies of the Ravenclaw training center were astonished to see the lady of the Beltus family strolling in the garden.

In the noble society of Ebelstein, it was difficult to even speak to such a high-ranking noble, and it was possible to see her from a distance only because they had entered this training center.

There were already rumors among the ladies that the real powers of the Rosea Salon occasionally appeared at the Ravenclaw training center.

They could not dare to speak to Lady Denis, only whispering and blushing from afar.

Denis, who had become accustomed to such gazes, continued to quietly look around the baron’s mansion without any sign of concern.

‘There is still a lack of manpower compared to the size of the territory, and there is almost no preparation against the monster tribes. The lack of security management means that it is easy to cause accidents if we work behind the scenes.’

‘The lack of security in a place where the noble ladies of prestigious families gather is a fatal flaw. If the Beltus family hires people to cause a few unsettling incidents, the heads of the noble families who sent their daughters to the training center will surely be anxious.’

‘That would contribute to the decline in the reputation of the Ravenclaw training center. This seems like a realistic plan.’

Just a few glances around and all sorts of schemes and plots come to mind.

Then, suddenly feeling a sense of futility, Dennis let out a deep sigh and sat down on a nearby bench.

With his head bowed, he spread out his slender palm in front of him and opened and closed it a few times.

Magic gathered in his hand, then soon dispersed and disappeared.

Even the way he handled magic had become much more skillful compared to before, reaching almost the level of a high-ranking mage when it came to exploration magic.

If he had to attribute it to someone, it was hard to deny. The basics that Derek had taught him had become a part of Dennis, still exerting their influence.

If one were to trace the source of Dennis’s magic, most of it was in the parts that Derek had awakened.

‘…’

Repaying kindness with betrayal.

Even if it seemed heartless, there was no other choice. Dennis thought, gritting his teeth.

In the cold aristocratic society, if one relied solely on human emotions, they would be eliminated in the blink of an eye. Even if one had formed attachments and received kindness, sometimes they had to be able to weed out and cast aside. That was the way to survive in this cold-blooded aristocratic world.

However, it was also true that thinking about Derek’s occasional appearances made his heart uneasy and his thoughts complicated.

Dennis was clenching his teeth when it happened.

“You seem to be full of worries.”

“Eek!”

Startled, Dennis looked up to see Derek shaking off magic from his hands. It seemed he had been practicing magic behind the garden.

Dennis stammered for a moment, unsure of what to say. But Derek, unconcerned, sat down next to Dennis and spoke in an open-hearted voice.

“Your expression has been stiff since I visited this morning. Is there something wrong at home?”

“Oh, no… it’s not that. You even notice my expressions. You’re quite meticulous, Derek.”

“It’s not that I’m meticulous. We’ve known each other for quite a while, so it’s not strange to notice if something seems off.”

“Well, there’s no need to worry too much. Everyone has worries. I also have a few concerns that I can’t talk about with others.”

“I see. You’re right about that.”

Derek said in a dry tone, then leaned back against the bench.

Then he reached out and plucked a few leaves stuck to Dennis’s waist and threw them towards the flower bed.

Only then did Dennis realize that his appearance was disheveled and held his breath.

“Actually, I’m the same. My goal was just to become a high-ranking mage by training magic, but unexpected worries have piled up.”

“Derek, you have worries too?”

Find the weaknesses of that seemingly perfect man.

That was the order given to Dennis by Grand Duke Beltus. If he could directly reveal his worries, it would be a grateful thing for Dennis.

“When Lady Aislin collapsed from overwork this time, I felt a lot. This barony, this title… they originally meant nothing to me.”

Derek leaned his cane against one side and spoke dryly, brushing his knee.

“To become a higher-level wizard, I needed a title and land, so I somehow got my hands on them. But when I came to my senses, I found that I had vassals and servants, and many people who trusted and followed me.”

Derek was talking a lot. Denise looked at Derek with curious eyes.

The Derek that Denise knew was mostly silent and heavy, never uttering unnecessary words.

Nevertheless, the reason he was talking more was because all his words were necessary.

“When things turned out that way, isn’t it human nature not to just sit back and do nothing?”

“Yeah. Derek, you’ve become quite the nobleman.”

“Well, there are still many areas where I am lacking, but I did realize one thing. That is, you have to do well when you have the chance.”

“Hmm…?”

Derek was looking at Denise with serious eyes.

When Aiseline collapsed from overwork, Derek finally realized it. Nothing in this world is a given.

It is important not to take for granted those who show kindness, dedicate themselves, help, and maintain positive relationships, and to pay close attention to even the smallest changes.

Living as a mercenary in a cold-blooded society, there was surely something he lacked. Derek realized that fact.

Taking Aiseline’s contributions for granted and causing her to collapse from overwork was the trigger.

Derek was not a man who never made mistakes. He just didn’t make the same mistake twice.

Only then did Denise realize the intention behind Derek’s words.

His keen eyes had sharply noticed that Denise was troubled. Once he noticed it, he would never take it lightly.

‘Ugh…’

In short, Derek had delicately expressed in his own way that if there was a concern, it should be spoken about.

His gaze was as dry as ever, but once you understood the underlying concern, it became strangely embarrassing. This man knew how to show concern without placing undue burden on the other person.

Indeed, he was the man who had captivated both Ellente and Aiseline. Even while admiring him, Denise felt a weight on her chest again.

When you consider the source of that concern, it was ultimately this man, and it was not something she could honestly reveal.

If she tried to brush it off, it wouldn’t work on Derek, so the only thing left was to turn the topic to another concern she had been holding onto.

“Well, it’s not something that serious. Recently, I’ve almost finished writing ＜The Arrogant Lord Robain＞.”

“Is that so? I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well, there’s nothing to look forward to. But the ending I wrote is a bit different from what I initially thought… I was wondering if it’s right. That’s why I looked so gloomy.”

“I see, if it’s that kind of concern, there’s nothing I can do.”

“That’s why I said it’s nothing.”

Denise let out a small laugh and leaned back in her chair as well.

As they sat side by side in the warm late autumn sun, she felt a strange sense of stability. This man named Derek was annoyingly troublesome, yet being with him made her feel at ease.

“If your worries are all over your face, you should reflect on that. Even if your heart is full of anxiety and worry, you should act like a dignified flower on the outside.”

“Well, as you said, everyone lives with a few worries.”

“That’s right. It’s not a serious matter to worry about for too long, so don’t worry too much. Why? Are you afraid I’ll faint like Lady Aiselin? Hahaha.”

Denise said this and laughed leisurely. Her appearance seemed innocent, but on the other hand, it also seemed sly, making her a girl with a thousand faces.

She is neither inherently noble like Aiselin nor born with the qualities of a powerful person like Ellente.

However, she is a fox with her tail hanging down under her frilled dress. Basically lazy, but when she starts to use her head, even seasoned hunters give up capturing her.

“Well, Lady Aiselin will soon finish dressing up and come out to the reception room. If you want to have a proper conversation, you should start moving now.”

“Oh my. Thank you. Since I’m here, I should have a chat with Lady Aiselin too. Derek, are you busy with your training schedule?”

“I’m relatively free today, but I still have some things to do. I’m sorry I can’t entertain you properly.”

“What do you mean entertain? This is more than enough.”

After exchanging some formal conversations, Derek stood up.

Anyway, the fact that Derek was worried about her was quite a thankful thing, so Denise felt a bit relieved.

Although she couldn’t tell him that he was the cause of her worries, just confirming that he trusted her gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.

Thus, Denise smiled, feeling relieved that she had perfectly overcome the crisis.

“Ah, Miss Denise. Since I remembered, I should tell you.”

Derek picked up the cane he had leaned against the bench, tidied up his robe, and spoke as if throwing it out.

It was the moment when Denise, with a relaxed expression, was about to ask what it was.

“If necessary, you can hit the back of my head.”

─At that moment, Denise’s breath stopped.

She held back the sound that was about to come out with animalistic reflexes, but she couldn’t immediately decide how to respond to the words that pierced the core.

Denise stood up abruptly, her eyes wide open, staring at Derek.

However, Derek didn’t seem to care at all.

“I understand your position.”

As Denise was about to open her mouth with difficulty, Derek was already packing his things and walking out of the garden.

Watching his back as he slung a leather bag over his shoulder and headed towards the training center, Denise could only stare wide-eyed as if her lungs had been pierced.

*

‘It seems that the Belthus side will start to check us. I thought it was about time.’

When you run the path of power, there are always those who try to pull you down.

Derek, with a leather bag slung over his shoulder and a cane horizontally strapped to his waist, was striding towards the main building.

‘I don’t know what method they’ll use, but there are too many loopholes in the baron’s residence right now. We need more manpower, and it’s too difficult to engage in a battle of nerves with someone like the grand duke alone.’

Although Melverot of the Rochester estate is protecting Derek, the physical distance is too great. He was a figure buried in the snowy region at the northern end of the continent.

Unless the opponent openly steps forward publicly, it would be impossible to protect against all the underhanded schemes. Before the psychological warfare escalates further, it is necessary to receive the assistance of a figure in the southwestern continent with authority comparable to that of Grand Duke Beltus.

However, who could possibly stand against the head of the Beltus family, one of the most renowned families in the southwestern continent?

It would be difficult to name such a person, but fortunately, there was someone within Derek’s reach.

– Creak

“Hello.”

Derek opened the door to the VIP room and entered.

The red-haired girl, who had been examining a book alone, quickly turned her head.

Seeing the man who appeared suddenly, she was startled and hastily tidied up her disheveled appearance from resting alone. Derek’s unannounced appearance was not good for her heart.

“D-Derek?!”

“It’s been a while, Miss Ellente.”

The only force in the southwestern continent that could challenge the authority of Beltus was the Belmiord family.

Some might consider it somewhat arrogant, but Derek was fairly confident.

Belmiord would side with the Ravenclaw barony.