There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

Aisellin, Ellente (4)

Ellente had an intuition.

The woman named Aisellin Eleanor Duplain, who was shooting a sparkling gaze with a bright smile while placing her hands on her waist, was a vessel that would devour Derek and rule the world if left alone.

In fact, she couldn’t explain what the connection was between being close to Derek and ruling the world, but one thing was certain: she was a tiger in a rabbit’s disguise.

The fact that she came to pick up Derek herself, even though he had been away from the mansion for a while, was already unusual.

Therefore, Ellente’s response was indeed appropriate.

“Derek is going to stay at the Belmiard mansion for a while. There’s something we need to ask of him on behalf of the Belmiard mansion…”

“Oh… is that so… But, Derek is also the rightful owner of a territory, and he is the final decision-maker of the mansion. While the work of the Belmiard family is certainly important, neglecting to manage his own territory is a great shame as a noble.”

Ellente decided to guide her to a secluded reception room, serve expensive tea and refreshments, and talk things over step by step.

“I think we need to meet Derek first and inform him of the mansion’s situation.”

However, the logical arguments Aisellin poured out were irrefutable from Ellente’s standpoint.

It was also questionable why the young lady of the Duplain family was doing something akin to an advisor at the Ravenclaw barony, but if Derek acknowledged it, there was nothing more to say.

Ellente was pressing her knees and glancing sideways.

Seeing Ellente sweating and avoiding eye contact, Aisellin tilted her head.

‘The young lady Ellente I saw at the Rosea Salon always seemed confident and noble, but at her home, she seems more intimidated than I thought.’

Seeing such an Ellente, Aisellin thought with a bright smile.

‘That gap is truly charming! People who have various aspects that are not visible to others have a mysterious charm!’

To be precise, Ellente was intimidated by Aisellin.

Ellente had always lived in the shadow of Aisellin since the days when the Duplain family’s power was still strong.

Now, the authority of the family had greatly advanced to the Belmiard family, but Aisellin was a girl who shone on her own regardless of her family’s background.

If the world were a story, this girl would surely play the role of the protagonist.

Aisellin was a person who knew how to shine the brightest in any situation, to the point where such thoughts would come to mind unintentionally.

Seeing Aisellin’s lively smile, Ellente suddenly lowered her gaze and darkened her expression.

‘Whenever I stand in front of this girl, I feel like a withered rose.’

Ellente was always in the audience, and Aisellin was always on stage.

Aisellin Eleanor Duplain was like the lead on stage, with the power to make everyone she met a mere supporting role beside her.

She had spent half her life trying to surpass her. The years that had passed stimulated the feeling of inferiority that coiled in a corner of Ellente’s heart.

Aisellin’s innate temperament was something that people like Ellente, who were heavily stained by the hardships of the world, could neither easily follow nor simply respect.

Geniuses born with innate temperament often become the bane of those who arduously crawl up from the bottom.

—

—

If they were arrogant or full of vanity, I could at least criticize their character. However, these people usually possessed perfect personalities as well… Ellente slowly closed and opened her eyes.

Since they have everything, it’s natural for them to shine brightly.

But if they have everything, wouldn’t it be okay to yield at least one thing?

Having always lived in the shadow of Aiselin, Ellente’s competitive spirit, close to stubbornness, began to ignite once again.

Being driven into a corner like this, Ellente’s mind started to heat up even more.

“Unfortunately, Derrick cannot return to the Ravenclaw Barony right away, Lady Aiselin.”

“What?”

“Because I intend to propose to him.”

And so, the world ended.

*

“Lady of the Duplain Duchy has visited the Belmiard Mansion. It seems she wants to meet Sir Derrick. Can you spare some time?”

“Lady of the Duplain Duchy… Do you mean Miss Aiselin?”

Briana, a high-ranking retainer of the Belmiard Mansion, nodded her head.

Briana, who was known as Ellente’s loyal servant, was still staring at Derrick with an expressionless face.

She was oddly more courteous than before.

‘Come to think of it, the servants and retainers of the Belmiard Mansion have been more courteous to me these past few days…’

Derrick rested his chin on his hand and tilted his head slightly.

In the past, the servants and squires would simply bow their heads in greeting, but recently, they started bowing at a 90-degree angle as soon as they saw Derrick.

Being a noble in name only and without any power, Derrick understood that the high-ranking retainers of the Belmiard Mansion would treat him somewhat casually.

Especially, the closest aides of the Belmiard Margrave were often of an age where their faces were wrinkled, and the number of people they commanded and their authority were incomparable to a rural baron… So they often only observed formalities.

However, recently, even high-ranking retainers like executors and legal officers started bowing their heads to Derrick, making him feel rather uneasy.

Although he had contributed to the recent commotion at the Belmiard Mansion, he didn’t think it was enough to warrant such treatment.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to review the matters at the Ravenclaw Barony. Miss Aiselin must have come for that reason. It must have been a long journey for her.”

“She is waiting in the reception room. You can go now. I will accompany you.”

“No, there’s no need for that… Briana, you are the chief secretary, aren’t you? Don’t you have a lot of work to do?”

“Isn’t it unreasonable to let Sir Derrick move alone? Please don’t feel too burdened.”

As expected, the courtesy was too much for a noble in name only.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Derrick decided to ask Ellente about it later.

It was at that moment when Derrick stood up from his seat.

– Creak

—

—

The door to Derek’s private room swung open, and Aislin, her face pale with worry, appeared.

Although she had been told to wait in the reception room, she had come directly. Derek would have gone to the reception room on his own if she had waited a little longer, so he wondered what was so urgent.

Aislin, who looked as if she had seen a ghost, swallowed dryly when she saw Derek’s face.

“Miss Aislin. It’s been a while.”

“D-Derek…”

Aislin glanced quickly down the hallway and then spoke to Brianna in a trembling voice.

“I’m sorry. I need to discuss a confidential matter regarding Baron Ravenclaw’s estate. Could you please leave us alone?”

“What? Oh, yes… I understand.”

Since both Aislin and Derek were trustworthy, there was no harm in leaving them alone.

Brianna bowed her head and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.

Aislin, her face still pale, opened the window and looked around nervously.

Then she quickly drew the curtains, secured the door, and quietly sat down opposite Derek.

“D-Derek. I’m sorry. It’s been a while, and I’m a bit flustered…”

“No, it’s fine… Did you see something you shouldn’t have?”

“No, it’s not that. Derek, you’ve been staying at the Belmiard estate for quite a while. I’ve come to tell you that it’s time for you to return.”

“Is that so? You could have sent a letter. It must have been a long journey for you.”

Derek glanced at Aislin.

Sitting across the tea table, Aislin was fidgeting as if she were uncomfortable, and she indeed looked quite distressed.

He was unsure whether to pretend not to notice or to express his concern, but before he could decide, Aislin spoke up.

“If you have no more business at the Belmiard estate, it would be best to leave quickly.”

“I haven’t been able to attend to matters at the Ravenclaw estate for a long time. You must have had a hard time, Miss Aislin.”

“No, that’s important too, but…”

Aislin, still pale, looked around again and whispered.

“Derek… I’ll just tell you the truth… Even if I try to lie, you’ll see through it immediately…”

“What’s going on?”

“Could you come back to Baron Ravenclaw’s estate with me right now? Don’t ask any questions… Just for my sake… I didn’t want to be so forceful, but…”

Derek felt a strong sense of unease as he watched Aislin, who was sweating profusely.

She was asking him to come with her without any questions. It was the first time Aislin, who always acted selflessly and considered Derek’s feelings, had been so insistent.

“Just… don’t ask why…! Please pack your things and come back to Baron Ravenclaw’s estate with me… okay…?”

Derek swallowed dryly as he looked at Aislin, who clearly seemed off.

—

—

It was the first time Aiselin had acted so urgently. Derek, being perceptive in his own way, asked Aiselin with a serious expression.

“Are you… being threatened by someone, or is there a secret you can’t speak of being held hostage?”

“Ugh…”

Aiselin shook her head vigorously at those words, but she looked like she was about to cry.

Seeing her expression, which seemed to plead for him not to ask any more questions, Derek didn’t press further.

In fact, there wasn’t much more to do at the Belmiard mansion, and he was planning to leave even if Aiselin hadn’t come to find him.

Since it was the first time Aiselin had been so insistent, it wasn’t too much trouble to humor her just this once.

In fact, the expression “humor her” was a bit off. He was planning to leave anyway.

As Derek nodded, Aiselin sprang to her feet.

“Then… let’s pack up right now?”

“Right now? It would be proper etiquette to bid farewell to the Duke.”

“I’ll leave a letter. I’ll say that a group of monsters has appeared at Baron Ravenclaw’s estate and that immediate help is needed. I’ll say it’s a matter of life and death.”

“Is that true?”

“No, it’s not true. But let’s head to Baron Ravenclaw’s estate for now. Okay?”

Watching Aiselin rush as if her feet were on fire, it seemed as if someone was chasing her to snatch away a treasure she held in her arms.

Aiselin then rolled up her sleeves and began packing Derek’s mercenary supplies into a leather backpack.

What kind of noble lady packs such rough items herself?

But Aiselin wasn’t the type to care about such things.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Lady Aiselin’s expression harden so quickly…’

After finishing her conversation with Aiselin and returning to her room, Ellente felt an inexplicable joy rising in her chest.

Even in the face of her family’s downfall, being humiliated by having tea spilled on her, and even being slapped, Aiselin had never lost her dignity. But now, her face was completely pale, and her eyes were darting around.

She repeatedly asked Ellente about the intention behind her words, and her hands, which were holding a teacup, were trembling.

“…”

As soon as she returned to her room, Ellente had her maids wipe off her sweat and tidy up her slightly disheveled hair.

She then threw a few magic books onto the bed and sat down next to the rest table, letting out a deep sigh.

She recalled Aiselin’s expression from the recent conversation.

When Ellente said she would take Derek, Aiselin’s whole body trembled, and she even stuttered.

In debates on philosophical topics, in political discussions at tea parties, Aiselin had never shown such a reaction. She was more noble and radiant than any noble lady Ellente had ever seen.

Seeing Aiselin like that… it felt as if the disease of inferiority that had gnawed at Ellente’s heart for years was slowly being erased.

Yes. If she could keep Derek, even Aiselin would be shaken.

—

—

The value of the man named Derek, as defined in Ellente’s heart, was growing increasingly larger.

This meant that the master of Belmiard wanted him.

“Huh.”

Ellente sat in the shadowy corner of the room, imagining walking through the garden of Belmiard with Derek, and then snapped out of it with an unpleasant smile.

It was unacceptable for the lady of Belmiard, who must always be dignified, to make such a sinister smile.

However, the wings of imagination did not intend to fold. The girl couldn’t help but lose sleep, thinking about how to capture Derek along with the Duke of Belmiard.

The Belmiard mansion was entirely Ellente’s domain. As long as he stayed here, she could devise countless ways to capture him.

“…”

– Chirp, chirp, chirp.

And the next morning, Derek was no longer in the mansion.

He had too many things to handle to be kept still. He was like a wandering wind.

There was no way to cage a wind that couldn’t be caught.

However, he wasn’t the type to disappear without a word. Surely, someone must have tipped him off.

‘Aiseline…!’

In front of the empty guest room, Ellente’s eyes were burning with flames.