Raymond Oswald Duplain, head of House Duplain, is dead.
Valerian, the eldest son, lost his mind due to a necromantic weapon brought from the White Zone in the north of Duplain territory. He destroyed the mansion, sacrificed nurous servants, and ultimately killed his own father.
He attempted to beco a high-level necromancer by sacrificing the various guests and high-ranking magicians gathered at the mansion, but was struck down by Diella in a sudden attack.
The duchess, Miriela, fainted on the spot, and the second son, Leigh, fell into a coma from the aftereffects of the magic.
Other high-ranking servants and direct family mbers were also injured to various degrees, and more than half of the family mbers have yet to regain consciousness.
“Ugh… aaah…”
“W-what’s happening…? Where… are we exactly…?”
When the sun rose over the half-destroyed ruins of the Duplain mansion, the distinguished guests—nearly sacrificed in the main hall—began to stir and slowly get up.
As they opened their eyes, a horrific scene spread out before them. All of them doubted what they were seeing, unable to accept the current situation.
Even so, not a single guest or high-ranking magician who attended the ball died.
This was partly because they had been gathered in the main hall as sacrifices for the necromantic ritual, but also because the perpetrator was stopped before the situation spiraled out of control.
Sunlight stread through the half-collapsed ceiling.
Amid the chaos, the only person able to represent House Duplain stepped forward.
“First, I must apologize to everyone. I regret having made you co from so far.”
In the wake of the disaster caused by necromantic magic, Aiselin and Diella had managed to retain their sanity and prevent a full catastrophe.
However, neither Aiselin, who bowed her head, nor Diella, who stood silently behind her, could wear a heroic expression.
“We will take full responsibility for today’s incident and provide compensation through every possible ans.”
Aiselin, who now had to bear the weight of House Duplain, spoke with determined resolve.
The expressions of the guests varied upon hearing her statent.
So were furious at having nearly died without realizing it, while others were deeply concerned about how to deal with this unprecedented disaster for House Duplain.
“W-what’s going on…! We were almost sacrificed for necromancy…? Right here, in the mansion of the illustrious House Duplain?!”
“As soon as I return to the main house, I’ll demand action be taken! It’s horrifying…! We almost died!”
When a mighty beast dies and becos a corpse, vultures gather to tear its flesh. And this ti, there was good reason—they had nearly lost their lives.
All responsibility lay with House Duplain.
In a situation where they had even lost their head of house, giving such a clear motive to these nurous guests ant they had to be prepared to be devoured.
Even so, House Duplain had no choice.
While Aiselin and Diella stood silently, the voices of the guests grew louder and more indignant.
“Even so, House Duplain acted to prevent greater harm. Though there were minor injuries like scratches, no lives were lost.”
“Lady Ellen?”
“House Belmierd will not hold them accountable. It appears House Duplain has already sacrificed enough.”
The one who spoke before the main hall was Ellen Belmierd.
Her red hair, soaked from the rain, clung to the scratches on her arm.
She had used magic to prevent serious injury when the building collapsed, though she couldn’t avoid minor wounds.
Most of those present were representatives of their respective houses. Ellen also attended the ball representing the County of Belmierd.
As representatives, they had no direct authority to decide how to proceed in a situation like this.
But Ellen was different.
She had received from the Count of Belmierd the authority to make certain decisions on behalf of the family. Of course, major decisions required direct approval, but this ti she made a bold call.
House Belmierd would not hold House Duplain responsible.
Though other guests wouldn’t let go of such a ripe opportunity, this would at least influence the course of events.
“W-why…?”
“I don’t have a particular reason. As I said… it seems House Duplain has sacrificed enough. They lost their lord, half their strength, nearly all their servants, and even their mansion.”
Ellen looked at Aiselin silently, then gave a slightly strained smile and whispered,
“Think of it as my inferiority complex. I’ll handle convincing my father, so don’t worry.”
Saying that, Ellen dragged her torn dress toward the stables.
The coachman from the main house had either fled or been killed by monsters. If she wanted to return, she’d have to take the horse herself.
“I’ll just… borrow a horse.”
As she passed by, dragging her dress, Ellen glanced at a half-destroyed column. A man was leaning against it, arms crossed, watching the situation.
Everyone was drenched. Even so, the white-haired boy looked worse. His body was soaked with rain, sweat, and blood, hair disheveled, and his face muddied.
He was the one who had stood at the front, holding Valerian at bay until he regained his senses.
“Dereck. Your achievents should be reported to the royal family and you should be awarded… but now’s not the ti for celebration. We’ll postpone it. I’ll make sure you receive proper compensation.”
“…”
“And as the eldest daughter of House Belmierd, I must also thank you. If you hadn’t intervened in the hall and stopped Valerian, all the guests here would have died as victims of necromancy.”
Hearing that, all present widened their eyes and looked at Dereck.
They had known that Aiselin and Diella had stopped Valerian, but there were always doubts.
How could two girls, barely capable of two-star magic, stop soone who had absorbed power equivalent to four stars?
It was impossible without outside help. They had suspected soone else intervened but never imagined it was a common-class mage.
“Dereck? That white-haired mage saved our lives?”
“He didn’t look that old… and he fought evenly against a four-star mage?”
“He must be at least three stars… otherwise it doesn’t add up… A commoner that young, reaching three stars?”
Among the nobles present, many from the southwest already knew of Dereck. He was famous as a talented magic instructor in the social circles of Ebelstein. The number of noble families hoping to hire him as a tutor far exceeded what could be counted on two hands.
Stopping Valerian was a trendous feat—on the level of preventing a national disaster.
Even if the closed aristocratic society didn’t grant him a title, at the very least, a substantial financial reward was certain, and his social standing would skyrocket.
Now it was uncertain just how high Dereck’s value could climb—it was already soaring.
One way or another, he would make waves in noble society.
“Yes, you’re the most renowned magic instructor in the southwest. Indeed, your magical skill seems outstanding. I’m Robenkheim, from the north. If you ever visit House lverot, please contact .”
“It’s an honor to et Sir lverot, guardian of the north. Thank you for greeting .”
“If you’re ever in the south, do visit Lord Delos’s castle. I’m his wife, Adelen. If my husband hears of this, he’ll want to reward you generously.”
“Thank you kindly for your graciousness, Countess Adelen. Fortunately, there don’t seem to be any serious injuries.”
“I’m Poloncourt, chancellor of the royal family. Thanks to you, I’m still alive. If you ever consider working as a magic instructor…”
And so, the quickest nobles approached Dereck and began to greet him.
Compared to the beginning of the ball, when no one even spared him a glance, the sudden shift in attitude was nearly grotesque.
Nonetheless, when it ca to beneficial connections, they made sure to secure them. That was the nature of aristocratic society.
From afar, Denise watched with her arms crossed and let out a soft laugh.
Now, House Beltus had Dereck under contract, but given the current situation, they were no longer certain they could keep him once the term ended.
‘If he were soone with average talent, they’d just throw suspicious glances, but in cases like this… they’re truly shaless.’
Denise had moved in noble circles for years, but that opportunistic attitude never ceased to amaze her.
This would only increase Dereck’s value, becoming a headache for anyone who wished to keep him close.
She brushed off her clothes and calmly watched Ellen’s back as she walked away. It seed she’d made that whole scene on purpose, just to further elevate Dereck’s reputation.
As the nobles began gathering around, Denise smiled softly and also walked away.
She would’ve loved to step forward and declare, “I, too, won’t hold House Duplain responsible,” but she couldn’t.
Ellen was the true power in House Belmierd. Denise was nothing more than a puppet of the Beltus family.
Though both were ladies of the Rose Salon, the difference in authority within their respective families was like heaven and earth.
Even in such an urgent situation, Ellen’s bold assertiveness was, in a way, enviable.
‘…Did I just envy power? ?’
Suddenly, Denise shook her head, startled by her own thought.
She couldn’t believe that she—who always lived with restraint—had such a pointless idea.
‘Ever since Dereck arrived, I’ve been overthinking. I must stop having these unnecessary thoughts.’
Denise quickly fixed her platinum hair, soaked from the rain, and stood up.
While many nobles were scrambling to shake Dereck’s hand, she felt oddly satisfied that he was finally being recognized—but that was exactly why she thought they should leave soon.
“Dereck. There’s no point in staying at House Duplain. Let’s return to the main house. We have to report what happened anyway, so for now…”
“Oh, Lady Denise, I’m glad to see you’re safe as well. When I saw you in the guest room closet, things were too urgent to properly greet you.”
“…Lady Freya, you’re safe too?”
Just as Denise was about to lead Dereck away, Freya was holding onto him and chatting.
She also seed to be preparing to leave, but clearly wanted a few words with Dereck, who shared the sa ntor.
“It’s amazing to et soone in person whom I’ve only heard about through Master Katia. Seeing you like this is quite different from what I imagined—very intriguing.”
“Lady Freya, I’m glad you weren’t seriously hurt. Master Katia has written about you often. I’m impressed by how composed you are in this situation.”
“Well… now that the tension is gone, I’m just hungry. Ugh…”
Freya fixed her disheveled blue hair and adjusted the dress that had slipped from her shoulders.
She was older than the Rose Salon ladies, having made her social debut long ago.
Though rumors said she was the most influential figure in eastern noble circles, in person she didn’t exude such imposing authority.
Still, Dereck greeted her warmly, like an old friend from a distant land. Even when nervous, Dereck rarely showed much expression. Seeing him so animated for once made Denise uncomfortable.
‘He never looked that bright when he was with …’
To be fair, it would’ve been weirder if he had, considering how she constantly treated him like a nuisance.
Denise knew that, but even so, seeing that unfamiliar, slightly excited expression on Dereck’s face sent a strange tingle through her chest.
“I’d love to keep chatting, but this isn’t the best ti. Let’s continue another day. If you ever visit the eastern continent, please stop by House Elvester.”
“Well… my father doesn’t exactly welco commoners into the mansion… but he wouldn’t turn away the man who saved his daughter’s life… Besides, Master Katia is there too, so it should be fine…”
“Hmm… if it’s truly inconvenient, I won’t push it.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Denise, watching the pleasant exchange, sighed deeply and stepped in.
“Then Lady Freya, perhaps you can visit House Beltus instead. Wouldn’t that be much better?”
“Oh, really? I’m not familiar with Ebelstein’s social scene, but I thought it’d be nice to connect with people from the Rose Salon or Drest Academy.”
“The Rose Salon will be in so disarray for a while… but a visit to the mansion for social purposes should be fine.”
“That’s a relief. There are so matters I wanted to discuss separately.”
“Discuss?”
Freya, resting her chin on one hand, glanced around cautiously and lowered her voice.
“You saw Prince Valerian using forbidden arts, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did.”
“But… he seed too skilled with the specific rituals, and his control over necromancy was too natural… it felt suspicious.”
“What…?”
“This isn’t sothing to talk about in the heart of House Duplain, where they’ve just lost family… but I can’t help feeling Prince Valerian wasn’t acting alone. Soone else must’ve been involved…”
They were at the center of House Duplain. Speaking ill of the deceased in front of their family was disrespectful. That’s why Freya seed to restrain herself.
“Hmm… I’ll tell you more later.”
Freya dusted off her dress, straightened with her hands on her hips, and said:
“Anyway, everyone’s exhausted, so let’s not talk about complicated things. The Duplain mansion is now in the hands of those two, so we can all head ho and rest. The family mbers will handle the rest.”
With that, Freya gave a lively wave.
“See you next ti, Dereck. Hmm… should I call you senior or oppa?”
“…”
“Just kidding.”
Stretching her stiff body, Freya departed for her ho in the eastern continent.
Given the incident, she had to return imdiately to report everything.
Dereck and Denise checked each other for injuries.
Neither was hurt, so they simply asked after each other and prepared to head back to Ebelstein.
“Seems hard to return by carriage. I’ll ride the horse—please sit behind .”
“Ugh… Dereck, my clothes are soaked in mud. It’s awful.”
“There’s no helping it. Please endure a little longer.”
Denise wrapped her arms around Dereck’s waist and briefly turned her head to glance at the half-destroyed Duplain mansion.
The grandeur of House Duplain, which once ruled the world, was now crumbling. They say no flower blooms forever, but watching sothing fall apart still leaves a void.
Seeing Diella and Aiselin hurrying about the main hall, she silently reflected. Though the family had fallen into disgrace, they still had to live under the na Duplain.
Such is the life of noblewon—having lived under the prestige of the family, they must also bear its sha.
It would be nice if they had a chance to revive the family, but such opportunities are rare.
In the end, they too were noblewon. No matter how thorny the road, they must walk it with a smile.
Many trials awaited them, and while Denise didn’t feel loyalty strong enough to offer active support… she still wished the sunlight filtering through the rubble would continue to shine on them.
“Even if it collapses, the rubble remains.”
And if the rubble remains, perhaps flowers may bloom again. It might be a fleeting hope, but even fleeting hope is better than none.
With that thought, they departed for Ebelstein, leaving the two sisters of House Duplain behind.
For now, it would be difficult to see them again, as they’d be occupied with rebuilding.
Denise silently sent them all her support.
*
“Good morning, Lady Denise.”
However, she saw Diella again just three days later.
When Denise entered her reception room that morning, she found Diella calmly sipping tea—and felt distinctly uneasy.
Despite being the young lady of a family in rapid decline, Diella exuded an undeniable presence.
Clad in a beautiful dress and holding a tea cup with poised elegance, Diella seed even more refined than before.
“L-Lady Diella? What brings you to my house so early this morning…?”
Denise had beco sothing of an early bird thanks to Dereck, but she still found it disorienting to receive visitors at such an hour.
She had only just finished getting ready and co downstairs when she found the little lion of a woman sitting in ornantal silence, eyes sharp as ever.
‘I cheered her on, yes… but I didn’t expect her to visit out of the blue.’
“It seems you’re wondering how I managed to reach Ebelstein, given your ongoing mansion restoration,” Diella observed.
‘How needlessly cutting!’
Denise cleared her throat a few tis, composed herself, and slipped into the formal mask of a noblewoman before sitting across from Diella.
“You must have been through so much—I’d like to start by expressing my deepest condolences.”
“Thank you. Now, if I may, I’ll get straight to the point.”
Denise and Diella had never been particularly close.
At first, Denise championed Diella’s cause, but once both found themselves vying for Dereck’s attention, everything grew tense.
Denise didn’t genuinely harbor resentnt, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy around Diella.
Creak.
No sooner had Denise sat than Diella stood.
She carried herself oddly—her voluminous hair bristling like a hedgehog’s quills.
Though small in stature, Diella could be quite intimidating when serious—an image reinforced by her reputation for once roughing up servants.
Denise swallowed nervously.
From day one in the Rose Salon, Diella resembled a wild stallion charging straight at her. Now, in her desperation, she’d risk visiting Denise’s mansion—why?
Denise watched in silence, tension coiling tight.
Thud!
“…”
Unexpectedly, Diella slamd her hand upon the table, sweating profusely—a sight completely out of character.
With eyes like a wary cat and flush of sha, she sweated for a long mont before finally lowering her gaze and speaking.
“C-Could you…?”
“Could I…?”
“Could you… lend
so money…?”
“…”
Silence.
“…”
“…”
Stunned by the entirely unforeseen request, Denise froze.
The quiet that followed felt like an endless chasm.
*
“What—?”
Dereck repeated, disbelieving his own ears.
He was in his own humble ho—a modest house passed down from Master Katia, tucked in a corner of Ebelstein’s rchant district.
Not exactly a place a noblewoman would visit—but soone knocked early this morning. He answered—and there stood Aiselin.
With a young, green-faced maid in tow, she timidly asked if she might enter for a mont.
Duty—confusingly polite—Dereck let her in and offered a glass of cold water.
Despite the oddity of it, this was no place for a lady in dress. Dereck’s embarrassnt deepened—he had nothing more to offer. He stood as Aiselin appeared even more uneasy.
And, finally, red-faced and trembling, she confessed she’d co to ask him for money.
And it wasn’t just anyone. It was Aiselin Eleanor Duplain who said it.
“…”
“…”
Even after saying it, Aiselin lowered her head even further, completely flushed. Her trembling hands resting on her lap looked pitiful.
“Is it… that bad? Bad enough that you had to co ask ?”
Dereck had so savings, but he never imagined a noble would co to him, a commoner, asking for help.
“No, it’s just that… between the expenses to restore the mansion, ergency provisions, and the urgent need to hire a coachman for the guests’ return… I just need a bit of cash right now… It’s not much, but… I’m kind of… stuck…”
“….”
“I borrowed so from the Korn family and also used what was left in my personal residence… but I forgot that the paynt date for the work coincided with that…! Given the circumstances…”
“….”
“Until I can sell the mansion’s antiques, artwork, and magical tools, I need to front so living expenses, but the funds I received from the Roent Trading Company aren’t enough… No… I shouldn’t be saying all this… so…”
“….”
“….”
Growl.
Breaking the silence, the sound of a growling stomach was heard.
Dereck flinched. At first, he thought it was his own stomach… but then rembered he’d had so mashed potatoes and bread that morning.
Then he looked at Aiselin… and saw her face was completely red, like it might explode. She had lowered her head deeply, trembling, as if she wanted to disappear on the spot.
“…You haven’t eaten?”
“I-I’m sorry. Please, don’t ask…”
“….”
“…Today was the deadline to pay for the staff’s als… I couldn’t let the servants go hungry starting tomorrow… So, in a hurry… I managed to cover it with my own money…”
“….”
Dereck rubbed his face with both hands.
He felt like he was losing his mind.
Whatever the case, it seed that the first thing they needed was food.
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