There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

Aiseline, Ellente (3)

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To explain about Derek Lydorf Ravenclaw Baron, not many words are needed.

He was a commoner wizard from the slums, who awakened to first-class magic on the streets without any lineage.

Afterwards, he lived as a mercenary for a while, and then, by chance, he became a magic teacher in the noble society. Naturally, as a lowly mercenary wizard, he did not receive much recognition, but the young ladies who learned magic from him began to achieve remarkable results.

As one by one they began to achieve results, rumors about the magic teacher Derek started to circulate around the Ebelstein social circle, and gradually, the competition to recruit him began. Before long, he started to make quite a name for himself among the nobles.

Then, he made a contribution in the necromancy disaster that occurred in the Duplain family, saving the lives of many nobles, and eventually, under the protection of Lord Melverot of the North, he received the title of baron and became a noble with his own territory.

‘Though he may seem somewhat unremarkable, his magical achievements are certainly extraordinary.’

The Marquis of Belmird was sitting in a corner of his office, quietly staring at the piled-up documents.

A lot of work had accumulated while he was dealing with Leonard’s affairs.

His youngest son had dabbled in necromancy, and when it came to the point where he had to cut him off with his own hands, his mind became so troubled that he couldn’t bring himself to work.

‘Leonard… It’s unfortunate… but there’s no other way…’

Leonard, whose body was already in shambles, could no longer be helped.

Even covered in blood, he was begging the Marquis of Belmird to trust him just once. As he pathetically made excuses, claiming he could explain everything, even the last bit of sympathy disappeared.

However, the Marquis of Belmird couldn’t simply nod and say that it was entirely Leonard’s fault.

It is said that a child’s fault is originally the parent’s fault.

He had only paid attention to his heirs, Linus and Ellente, without caring about what ambitions and goals his youngest son had. Therefore, the Marquis of Belmird couldn’t bring himself to be angry at Leonard.

He couldn’t say he had no responsibility for his son’s misconduct.

Thus, the Marquis of Belmird, facing his own lack of virtue, closed his eyes gently and spoke.

– ‘Leonard. I have asked Viscount Rodeia to at least spare your life.’

– ‘Ah, Father…!’

– ‘However, I have told him that everything else doesn’t matter, so please, in that atonement, deeply feel the weight of your mistake.’

The Marquis of Belmird, without reprimanding or getting angry… simply closed his eyes gently and informed him.

Seeing Leonard’s face turn pale again made his heart ache even more.

If he fell into the hands of Viscountess Rodeia, being spared would be a curse, not a blessing.

He had seen countless necromancers on Rodentz Island begging to be killed instead.

Leonard screamed, but the Marquis of Belmird, turning his head away, simply ordered his retainers to take him away.

With Leonard’s matter settled, it was time to move on to the next task with a heavy heart.

There were many tasks, but what he had to think about right now… was none other than his beloved daughter Ellente’s shocking declaration.

In fact, reading the report and documents about Derek Lydorf Ravenclaw Baron was an extension of that matter.

The Marquis of Belmird certainly thought Derek was quite a capable and useful talent, but he didn’t have more interest than that. In fact, from a high position, seeing all people, it was not uncommon for a few extraordinary and outstanding individuals like Derek to emerge.

It was just a matter of passing by thinking, ‘He’s an impressive person,’ but because of Ellente’s bombshell declaration, he couldn’t just pass it by.

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“I, I have… asked them to stay for about three more days. So… I, I need some time to sort out my thoughts…”

Ellente always showed the demeanor of the owner of the Belmiard mansion when handling the affairs of the house, but she would stutter or hesitate awkwardly whenever she talked about Derrick.

The Duke of Belmiard, who had spent his entire life watching Ellente, found this side of his daughter so unfamiliar that cold sweat would run down his nose every time he saw it.

“I have a lot to think about, so I’m a bit late, but, does it have to be Baron Ravenclaw…?”

The Duke of Belmiard pushed all the documents on his desk to the side, composed himself, and spoke.

Derrick was not a man with any particular flaws, but Ellente, being a noblewoman of her stature, could meet men who were more noble, capable, and handsome than him.

There were so many marriage proposals flying to the private mansion and the main house in Ebelstein that they couldn’t be counted on both hands, and among them were noblemen whose names everyone would recognize.

People’s hearts do not always follow reason and logic, but how could a noblewoman of noblewomen, who could match anyone except the crown prince, insist on meeting Derrick?

Moreover, he was officially married.

According to the information gathered by the retainer Brianna, he had married a commoner archer who was wandering in the Ebelstein mercenary district and had a family, which was not easy either.

From the perspective of the Duke of Belmiard, who was a doting father, he thought that the perfect and flawless Ellente could easily push aside such a commoner archer… but public opinion might be different.

The flower of the Belmiard family, who reigned as the master of the house, was captivated by a rural baron who took care of vineyards in the outskirts, and even a married man… Regardless of the duke’s prestige, shouldn’t Ellente also consider her own dignity?

Taking all these into account, the Duke of Belmiard spoke calmly.

“Ellente. I should tell you this, Baron Ravenclaw is a fine man, but there are many equally good men in the Ebelstein nobility. Do you know Robenalt, the eldest son of the Beltus family? He is a grand duke, handsome, and supported by his family.”

“I heard about him from Lady Denise at the Rosea Salon. But I also heard that his magical achievements are insignificant, and he lacks manly spirit, always being swayed by his retainers.”

“Is, is that so…”

In fact, Ellente, who was more active in social circles than anyone else, knew more about the noble families.

Ellente fidgeted with her fingers as if embarrassed, and then spoke in a voice as small as an ant.

“And, Derrick is… quite handsome, isn’t he…”

“…”

“He has a sturdy build for his age… and he has ambition… his magical achievements are excellent… he has firm beliefs… and he is not rude…”

“…..”

The Duke of Belmiard felt his vision blur.

He had raised two sons, but this was his first time raising a daughter.

Seeing this side of his daughter for the first time, he couldn’t find any flaws in Derrick.

It was what people call being blinded by love, but he couldn’t understand what had made Ellente like this, and it felt bizarre.

“He is picky about food, which is oddly charming… the veins that show when he rolls up his sleeves are strangely attractive… he is meticulous about equipment maintenance… and he stands firm even in front of powerful people… and…”

“Th, that’s enough… Ellente.”

“…”

Realizing that she had said too much, Ellente swallowed her breath, ran her fingers through her hair, and stared at the innocent window.

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It seemed that making eye contact was awkward, so she deliberately avoided looking at the Duke of Belmiord.

The Duke of Belmiord pressed his temples, deep in thought.

For his beloved daughter Ellente, he would pluck the stars from the sky, but capturing Baron Ravenclaw was no easy task.

He was a man even the Duplain family in their prime had given up on. A man with a strong wanderlust, who would leave without hesitation if the environment hindered his magical achievements.

More importantly, whether he liked Ellente was another matter.

Of course, in the eyes of the Duke of Belmiord, Ellente was an angel descended to earth, and even if all the world’s beauties were gathered, they would be nothing but a group of ugly women compared to her… Naturally, this was all from the Duke of Belmiord’s perspective.

Anyway, Baron Ravenclaw, due to his profession, would have many encounters with noble ladies, so there must be a reason he chose to marry a mercenary from Ebelstein.

If his ideal type was a simple and resilient person, Ellente was exactly the opposite. Ellente was closer to a noble saint than a wise and virtuous wife, and more like a trustworthy ruler than a resilient homemaker.

Above all, if Ellente, who should always be the center of attention, were to pair with Baron Ravenclaw, it felt like she would be swayed by him.

Of course, to be honest… all these were just excuses.

‘No matter how good a man he is… it’s a waste to give Ellente to him…! Ellente is the treasure I’ve cherished all my life…!’

As fathers with daughters often do, the Duke of Belmiord had to hold back tears of blood.

But when he saw Ellente squirming shyly, his heart softened again, realizing that being a father was not something just anyone could do.

‘Yes… somehow I instinctively know. No matter what happens, in the end, I will do as Ellente wishes.’

The Duke of Belmiord sighed deeply.

Ellente, who had always tried to meet her father’s expectations, had rarely asked him for anything. For such a daughter’s request… the Duke’s heart could not help but soften.

Baron Ravenclaw. Capturing him was no easy task, but he had to devise a plan.

“Yes. Ellente. Human hearts don’t always move based on profit and loss.”

“Father…!”

“But, as I said, Baron Ravenclaw is like a lone wolf, not easily entrusting himself to others’ forces. Still, it’s not impossible to persuade him. I’ll do my best.”

After saying that, the Duke of Belmiord rose from his desk.

“Anyway, try to keep Baron Ravenclaw at the mansion as long as possible, and think about persuading him during that time.”

Seeing Ellente’s brightened face, the Duke of Belmiord felt his heart soften even more.

The wound from sending Leonard away still ached, but he had to be grateful for at least protecting Ellente.

Just as the Duke of Belmiord was about to devise a plan.

“A distinguished guest has arrived at the mansion’s front gate.”

“A distinguished guest? Who could it be in these times?”

“Well…”

The servant, bowing politely, spoke.

“Lady Aiseline of the Duplain family has come to visit personally.”

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*

Ellen was slightly surprised to see Aislin.

In the Rosea Salon, she was still dressed in a beautiful dress and acted as a noble lady, but while helping with the work at the Ravenclaw Baron’s mansion, she had become a completely different person.

She was still wearing a pretty frilled dress, but without unnecessary ornaments and with her sleeves rolled up, she looked a bit more active.

Still, Aislin was Aislin, and her unique noble elegance did not disappear, but there was definitely a different feeling from before.

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Most notably, she was not riding a carriage, but was on a horse with a leather backpack strapped to the saddle and her back.

The sight of her wearing a leather backpack over a frilled dress that exuded elegance was indescribable. It was like seeing a princess plowing a field… such a strange sight.

“Oh, Lady Aislin?”

“Oh my, Lady Ellen! It’s been a while! I haven’t been able to attend the recent gatherings at the Rosea Salon, so I haven’t seen you often, and it’s really sad!”

Seeing her still smiling gracefully and speaking elegantly, it was clear that this girl was indeed Aislin.

However, Aislin, who had come down from the horse with a grunt, put down her leather backpack and wiped her sweat.

The servants of the Belmiard mansion, who saw this, were startled and rushed out to take the luggage.

Aislin handed them the luggage and greeted them with a bright smile.

“Thank you. The servants of the Belmiard mansion are very kind.”

After saying that, Aislin handed over the other luggage that was tied to the saddle.

Inside were simple necessities and a leather blanket used during the journey. It must have been her first time traveling such a long distance on horseback, but she had completed the journey successfully without any trouble.

A noble lady traveling without a carriage was unheard of.

As Ellen stood there with a surprised expression, Aislin laughed awkwardly.

“I didn’t expect Lady Aislin to come all the way to the Belmiard mansion. If you had sent a letter in advance, I would have sent a carriage for you.”

“Oh my, just saying that makes me feel really sorry and grateful. But it was an urgent situation, so I couldn’t do that.”

“Urgent? Is something wrong?”

“Actually, I’ve been staying at the Ravenclaw Baron’s mansion, doing various things.”

Ellen knew that Aislin often visited the Ravenclaw Baron’s mansion because of the training center work.

However, she didn’t think Aislin was doing anything more than that, so she tilted her head in confusion.

“Doing things? How could a noble lady of the Duplain family be at a baron’s mansion in the outskirts…”

“Oh, well, if I go around saying things like this, it would affect the family’s prestige… Lady Ellen, could you please keep this a secret?”

“Oh, that’s not difficult… but doing things?”

“Well, the family is going through a tough time these days, so I’ve been studying a lot. While helping with the work at the Ravenclaw Baron’s mansion, I’ve been practicing and applying what I’ve learned. It’s quite fun.”

Aislin’s expression as she said this was so clear and refreshing that it was hard to believe she was a fallen noble lady bearing the family’s crisis on her shoulders.

“I’ve been doing practical work like financial management and personnel management within the mansion… looking after the servants… overseeing big projects related to the training center business… and also keeping an eye on the Rosea Salon… attending social events… these days, even ten bodies wouldn’t be enough. Ahaha.”

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“Th-that much…?”

Ellente stared at Aisellin with bewildered eyes.

No matter how much, going to another noble family and overseeing their internal affairs, isn’t this almost like being the mistress of the mansion?

Even though there is a proper baroness named Pellin, seeing her freely rummaging through the mansion… it almost seems like she is becoming the real power behind the Ravenclaw Barony.

At times, it seems like she intends to swallow the entire barony… but when she seeks Derek’s approval for important matters, it makes one think otherwise.

“Recently, Mr. Derek has been very busy, so he hasn’t been able to give final approval for the matters unfolding at the Ravenclaw Barony. There are quite a few things that can be finalized if he just confirms them… but waiting indefinitely is not an option, so I came first.”

No matter how much, a duke’s daughter riding to a rural baron to get work approval, there is no such law.

Aisellin, however, seemed completely unconcerned with such authoritative rules, smiling cheekily.

Watching Aisellin, a strange sense of crisis began to well up in Ellente.

At least Pellin doesn’t see Derek as a man at all. If asked to step down from the baroness position, she would gladly hum a tune and quickly leave for Ebelstein.

But when it comes to Aisellin… things get a bit more complicated.

“I-I see. So, the reason Lady Aisellin brought her precious self all the way to the Belmiard Mansion is…”

“Yes! I need to take Mr. Derek with me!”

Aisellin answered brightly.

At those words, Ellente’s face stiffened for a moment.

“Hmm… suddenly, I feel a chill down my spine…”

Derek, who was sitting in the mansion’s guest room, examining a magic book, shivered for a moment.

Soon after, he put down the magic book he had brought from the Belmiard Mansion’s library and sighed deeply.

‘As expected, unlike the Duplain family, there are no proper high-level magic books here at Belmiard.’

In fact, from the 4-star level and above, there were limits to learning from magic books. Meeting a good teacher was the most efficient way.

Derek crossed his arms, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

Derek’s magical achievements, which had been soaring high, seemed to have entered a slight stagnation.

In fact, it was a wall that any magician would face at least once. It had come to Derek as well.

Derek was pondering how to wisely overcome this wall.

1-star magic was taught by a shabby old man in the slums.

2-star magic was taught by a fallen noble of the Flameheart family.

3-star magic was taught by an old archmage wandering the world aimlessly.

So, where could he find someone to teach him 4-star magic?

Derek, who was considered a teacher by countless magicians, found it hard to find a teacher for himself.

It was a problem akin to the fate of those born with extraordinary talents.

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