There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

Denise (4)

“I’ve inquired about the Duplain estate, and it seems Miss Aislinn plans to come to the Raspa Cave herself. The servants are already busy preparing for the trip.”

The next morning, Bella, who had gone to the estate to gather supplies, brought back the news. It was not good news for Denise.

“…”

“What should we do, Miss Denise?”

“What can we do when Miss Aislinn herself is moving? Who could stop her?”

Miss Denise’s expression grew complicated. Although a girl full of confidence, she couldn’t help but think that the boy wouldn’t be able to refuse if Aislinn herself came. In fact, he might be quite positive about it.

Deep in thought inside the luxurious tent, Denise eventually let out a deep sigh.

“It seems I must admit to a gradual failure. That man, as solid as a folding screen, will never teach me magic, no matter what I do.”

“Is that so… Capturing a person’s heart is not an easy task.”

Denise was a person of strong self-belief and pride, but she was also the type to cleanly acknowledge her shortcomings.

She knew all too well that trying to force something that wasn’t meant to be would only lead to greater repercussions. Pushing any further and earning disdain would only backfire.

“Yes, I’ve troubled myself coming all this way to Raspa Cave when I could have just lain down at the estate. Bella, slowly let the estate know. I’ll be returning soon.”

“Yes, yes… I’ll inform the butler. Shall we leave all the supplies here?”

“Moving them would be laborious too, so just hand them all over to that magic teacher Derek.”

Sighing deeply, Denise appeared utterly deflated. To anyone else, she might have seemed to shake it off, but Bella, who had known her for so long, could easily see through it.

The stronger one’s confidence in their abilities, the more they seemed to deflate when bent.

Bella often found Denise’s sky-high confidence irksome, yet she couldn’t help but feel a tug at her heart whenever Denise was uncharacteristically downcast.

After all, they had been together since childhood. Knowing Denise so well, Bella too would feel gloomy whenever Denise showed such uncharacteristic vulnerability.

“Let’s say our goodbyes before we leave for the last time. Who knows how our paths may cross again in the future? Think of it as an investment for later.”

With that, Denise let out a hollow breath, her eyes reopening with a defeated weariness as she prepared to return to her powerless reality.

Bella, chin in hand, was lost in thought before speaking with a hint of skepticism. She often pointed out things Denise hadn’t considered.

“Icelin is certainly an exceptional individual in every aspect, but I wonder about her as a disciple.”

“Huh?”

“Well, you know. Icelin has mastered two-star magic at her age, which is remarkable. But really, how many teachers in the world could teach someone like that? Or does she even need a teacher at all?”

Bella was trying to offer Denise a new perspective. More than just a personal attendant, she was a companion to Denise.

“If I were to teach such a person, I’d feel the pressure right away. Of course, being Icelin’s teacher is not an opportunity just anyone gets, but Derek, the magician, doesn’t seem like someone swayed by family background.”

“…”

“A true teacher of magic seeks out those who need guidance, especially if they have principles.”

Derek was a man of clear convictions.

He would do anything for the mastery of magic and tended to make decisions uninfluenced by social status. Bella had observed him over the past few days and had come to understand this about him.

Would Derek take Icelin as a disciple just because she’s from the affluent Duplain family?

He was not one to make such one-dimensional judgments. This meant there was still a chance for Denise.

Denise had promised Derek wealth and exceptional treatment to persuade him, extolling the virtues of the Beltus family and the bright future that awaited him as their magical tutor.

But if she truly wanted to persuade the magician Derek… she needed to approach him differently.

The extent of the exceptional treatment Derek would receive wasn’t the main point.

Denise, though capable of multifaceted thinking, had never considered this aspect for one simple reason: she had lived as a noble all her life.

Thus, Bella, a commoner and servant, could think of things that never occurred to Denise. Bella saw Derek not just as a commoner but as a respectable magician.

“Derek must have criteria more important than treatment or family background when choosing a disciple.”

Most commoners would wag their tails happily for wealth and honor.

But Derek, with his enigmatic aura, could not be swayed by such things.

“As you know, he’s not stingy about teaching. He even said he’d consider the Duplain family’s request as positively as possible.”

“So what are you trying to say, Bella?”

“Maybe what matters more than the treatment you offer the magician is your own value, Miss Denise.”

Bella’s eyes were more serious than ever.

“Is he a person worth teaching?” That’s the question.

No matter how excellent the teaching, if it means nothing to the recipient, no one would want to become a mentor.

Therefore, what Denis had to prove to Derek was not about noble treatment or family background.

How meaningful is it to teach him? That was the question.

Denis sat idly on the bed for a moment. Viewing the situation through Bella’s eyes, it felt as if the parts that weighed on her mind were gradually sorting themselves out.

Over the past few days, whenever Denis visited, Derek would stop his training and listen to her.

From noble mtl dot com

Despite talking about impropriety and interruptions, he observed Denis’s reactions, listened to the various conditions she proposed, and although it always ended with a similar conclusion, he consistently expressed his refusal.

He is a person being taught by a six-star exploration mage. As said, if he had resolved not to meet Denis, he could have avoided her entirely.

Yet, there was a reason he kept meeting Denis, listening to her proposals, and politely repeating his refusals.

It wasn’t merely out of courtesy to a noble lady from a prestigious family. Even with weary eyes, he continued to watch over Denis.

“Testing me, measuring my capacity,” Denis realized.

Only then did she seem to read a bit of the true intention hidden behind the man’s ritualistic refusals.

He had been waiting for Denis to show her sincerity, to reveal her true self.

Finally, Denis understood. She was the one being evaluated.

The magician named Derek was not someone who could be persuaded or manipulated.

With her thoughts organized, it seemed as if her perspective broadened. And then she was certain.

“…Certainly, Bella, your words are correct, but they’re not that meaningful…”

Denis already knew. Even if she laid all her cards on the table, Derek would not be persuaded.

She was inherently someone who could not convince Derek.

*

“Hello.”

In the depths of a cave, one cannot see the sun rise or set.

Naturally, without the distinction of day and night, Derek did not know exactly how long he had been feeling the flow of magic and training.

Still, Denis occasionally informed him about the passage of time, so he could guess that a day had passed whenever she visited.

And so, as Denis arrived today without fail, Derek was about to greet her politely.

Having faced Denis for quite some time now, there was no longer any tension. However, today, Denis’s demeanor was clearly different.

She had not brought any servants or guards, and she did not speak to Derek with her usual dignified eloquence.

The respectful tone she used to maintain was gone, and she simply came and greeted Derek nonchalantly.

Derek’s brow twitched for a moment, and then, without much reaction, he bowed his head and said,

“You’ve come again today.”

“Yes. I think it’s time to give up.”

Denise had stopped putting on unnecessary pretenses. Over the countless times, she had learned that any pretense was seen through by Derek.

What’s the use in speaking? Quietly approaching, she sat down on the opposite side of the rock where Derek was sitting, finally revealing her bare face.

“You’re really something. How can you not even blink an eye despite coming here every day?”

“You’ve treated a mere commoner magician too generously. When you return to the mansion, please find someone suitable for the Belthus family’s young lady to commission.”

“That’s enough. You know as well as I do, I didn’t come here particularly to learn magic. I just thought I’d get ahead of the game since you’re a popular magic tutor these days.”

Derek was completely convinced by her candid manner. Indeed, she had given up on wearing a flimsy mask.

“It’s not like me to be so eager to persuade someone, and it seems you’ll be teaching Lady Aiselin, so I guess I should give up too.”

“Well, I said I would consider it positively, but that doesn’t mean I’ve promised to teach Lady Aiselin.”

“Oh, look at you, leaving room for possibility. You’re a bad man.”

“…”

“…”

As Derek looked at her with an expression as if to say ‘what bizarre thing are you talking about’, Denise sighed deeply. It seemed she was finally getting a glimpse of what kind of person Derek was.

No matter what tricks Denise played, this man would never fall for them. At this moment, Denise was certain of it.

“Lady Aiselin will come to the Raspa Cave herself today.”

“…”

“Since it’s come to this, I might as well say it, you’re right. I don’t really like magic.”

Lady Denise spoke with a sigh, her voice carrying a sense of resignation.

“It used to be fun, but after a while, I grew to dislike it. So I don’t have much ambition for magical achievement. To someone as immersed in magic as you, I must seem like a dilettante.”

“I didn’t think that far…”

“You thought so, deep down. Well, it’s not so strange that you wouldn’t take me as your apprentice.”

The more Denise saw Derek engrossed in magic, the more her confidence faded.

Derek’s desire for magic was genuine. Surely someone with a strong desire for achievement like Aiselin would be the perfect apprentice for him.

Denise had, at some point, stopped being greedy for magical achievement.

“Why have you come to dislike magic?”

“…”

Lady Denise, sitting quietly on the opposite rock, fell silent for a moment.

It was the first time Derek had asked such a personal question. He had ignored her when she made a fuss, but now that she had let her guard down, he finally showed interest. He was truly unpredictable.

“Magic is supposed to be fun, isn’t it?”

“Was it not always so? In the past… it seemed somewhat fun…”

Denise sighed deeply as she pondered.

Indeed, there was a time when she, in her youth, studied magic all day long.

As the beloved lady of the Beltus family, showered with attention from the elders, she had been immersed in magic since a young age.

Closing her eyes, it seemed as if the darkness etched the image of her younger self onto her retinas.

Lying listlessly, living life with a ‘just enough’ mindset, there surely was a time when she was actively engaged in everything. It was a distant past, from when she was too young, but she was certainly pure then.

However, the moment when passion fades and disappears comes unexpectedly.

“To be precise, it wasn’t so much that magic was fun, but rather the reaction of my family applauding every achievement I made.”

The girl was holed up in a corner of the room, devouring various books of magic, constantly honing her power whenever she found the time.

Was the process fun? Not really. It was more exhausting and draining.

Yet, whenever she stepped in front of her family to showcase her achievements, they would applaud and rejoice.

As a proper magician of the Beltus family, everyone beamed with joy. And when they smiled, Lady Denise smiled too.

‘Well done’ ‘Good job’ ‘You did well’ ‘Impressive’ ‘Remarkable’.

Amidst such praises, the naive girl deluded herself into thinking that magic was enjoyable.

Upon this realization, Lady Denise couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

Watching Derek, who remained unswayed, she wondered if her misplaced enthusiasm was due to a pure love for magic, envying his complete absorption in it.

It felt as if she had finally understood why she had shown such unfitting zeal. A bitter taste lingered on her tongue.

“Just grinding away at magic training every day, one day, amidst the piles of books, such a thought suddenly struck me. ‘Why am I doing this?'”

“…”

“That’s all there is to it. There wasn’t any grand catalyst or a sad backstory that would bring tears to one’s eyes. Just like most people, one day, I simply… changed.”

Both Denise and Derek knew.

Changes in life’s values don’t always come through dramatic and significant events.

In a room filled with silence, atop a desk piled with books, a thought slips through the darkness, accompanied by the sound of insects outside the window.

And then, looking around, there’s just a young girl who has been tirelessly honing her magic all day long.

Seeing the scattered books and magical tools, and herself working hard, even cutting into her sleeping hours, she wonders why she never questioned it before.

‘Why am I doing this?’ Such an obvious question.

Denise had no interest in magic. If anything, she preferred discussing craftsmanship or writing.

Although she has achieved some success now, it wasn’t as if her aptitude for magic was evident from the start. The repetitive training was nothing more than self-flagellation.

Nevertheless, she strived for the praise.

The Grand Duke Beltus always seemed content as Lady Denise reached higher realms, feeling as if the Beltus family’s name soared. The elders felt the same.

However, one night, as the girl was engrossed in her magic tome, she suddenly felt a sense of unease.

It was the moment she realized that the emphasis was not on her achievements, but on the prestige of her family name, that a wave of doubt surged over her without warning.

As if tripping over a stone while running, everything came to a halt.

She felt as if she had collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

What should she call this emotion? It was too grand to be called frustration, yet too insubstantial to be called emptiness. She did not attempt to define this drifting sentiment.

It was neither a grief profound enough to wail over, nor a trivial matter to be dismissed.

She simply realized that her life was like a carriage with square wheels.

Somehow moving towards a destination, but inevitably, there would come a time when it would fall apart from exhaustion. Even if not now, structurally, it was bound to happen someday.

Therefore, the girl abruptly rose from her desk and lay down on her bed.

As she slowly sank into the soft comforter, she finally felt as if something that had been weighing her down like shackles had released her.

And so, the girl’s time drifted away into the plush bed.

Seasons passed, flowers bloomed and withered, the sun rose and set. Disliking the sunlight entering her dark room, she drew thick curtains, lived life in moderation, and let it flow by.

On the obligatory days she went to the Roséa Salon, she saw the vibrant young ladies, full of ambition, like Aiselin and Elente.

From a corner of the observer’s seat, resting her chin on her hand, with indifferent eyes, she occasionally soliloquized. Everyone is living so earnestly.

They rejoice as if to leap at achievements, grind their teeth in defeat, and oscillate between feelings of superiority and inferiority, intoxication and self-reproach, joy and sorrow, like alternating between hot and cold baths. Thus, the salon was filled with those who navigated the waves of life in their own way.

The girl, resting her chin and looking on with indifferent eyes, always harbored a similar thought.

Everyone is struggling.

“After much thought, I think I was envious of you.”

“…”

“Surely, people like you become great magicians.”

With that, the girl who had shaken off all her burdens rose from her seat.

What’s the use in saying it, the boy named Derek’s achievements were entirely his own.

He did not have the backing of a splendid family, nor did he receive a speck of support from anyone, nor did he carry the expectations of a family grasping for secular power. He was not someone from a family; he was simply Derek himself.

However, Denise did not prattle on with such satiated words. For someone, having such an outstanding family background and full support might be the most desperate need.

She was not thoughtless enough to spout such deceitful rhetoric in front of a boy from the slums who had grown up in the harshest of environments.

Therefore, she simply acknowledged the boy’s achievements quietly and rose from her seat.

“Let’s meet again when fate allows.”

With a casual wave, Denise made her way toward the cave’s exit, her steps listless as ever.

Watching Denise’s energy-drained gait, Derek suddenly spoke up.

“Let’s be clear about one thing, though. Magic is a more profound and interesting field of study than Miss Denise thinks.”

Here is the translated excerpt, preserving the emotional tone and line breaks:

“…”

“It’s not like I loved magic from the beginning and chose to learn it. I was just a kid from the slums, desperately grabbing any magician in sight, clenching my teeth to get taught, just to survive. Like everyone else, I fell into it as I learned.”

Derrick spoke without making eye contact with Denise.

Denise could easily imagine the young magician’s life. Whatever it was, the path he had walked was closer to a thorny trail than a bed of roses.

“Don’t hate magic too much.”

“You’re always so consistent.”

With a hollow laugh, Denise spoke.

*

As Denise emerged from the cave entrance, the Duplain family’s servants had already arrived in droves.

They were escorting a luxurious carriage. It was obvious who was inside.

As Lady Denise tidied her appearance and passed by the carriage, Lady Aislinn looked down at her with wide eyes.

As Aislinn hurriedly tried to descend from the carriage to pay her respects, Lady Denise gestured with her hand, dissuading her.

As always, with a drained look and only the barest of courtesies, she crossed paths with Aislinn’s carriage and headed towards the plains.

There was no one in the world who could refuse the sincerity of Lady Aislinn, who had come to the cave with the utmost respect. In the end, she was the only one who could persuade that gruff magic teacher.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the mansion, Denise looked up at the sprawling sky.

“The sun is too bright. Ugh…”

“This time, things didn’t go as planned. I’ll report to the Duke that we tried, but it didn’t work out.”

“Well, if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. Father won’t be too stingy about this. Being pretty and smart doesn’t solve everything, right?”

“…”

Denise always enjoyed the way Bella’s expression twisted whenever she shamelessly boasted with a thick face.

She laughed inwardly and then, resting her chin on the window sill, looked up at the sky again.

“Let’s go back home and say it was a failure.”

A strange feeling of relief mixed with heaviness washed over her.

The next day, an astonishing piece of news turned the Roséa Salon upside down.

Lady Aislinn of the Duplain family had personally led her servants to the outskirts of Ebelstain, but the magic teacher named Derrick had politely declined to teach her.

Those who claimed to be magic teachers would have clung to her hem and begged to take her as a disciple.

The noble ladies were abuzz from early morning, wondering how someone could refuse Lady Aislinn, a talent so valuable that even she was turned away.

He thought that Lady Aislinn was too great a vessel for him to teach. How could he possibly contain a whale meant for the ocean in a mere stream?

Thus, his polite refusal, while fully honoring her and saving face, circulated in the salons for a while.

“Wow… he’s even more obsessed with magic than I imagined…”

Upon hearing the news early in the morning, Miss Denise blinked her eyes in disbelief.

She knew he was unpredictable, an enigma beyond comprehension. But to dismiss Miss Aislinn, of all people… Denise had to doubt her own ears even after hearing it clearly.

‘He said he would wait until my training was over, and yet he refused… How deeply is he buried in his magical pursuits?’

It was while crossing the corridor of the Beltus mansion for breakfast.

She had finished an early meal and was about to return to Ebelstein when she encountered the Duke of Beltus, leading a host of servants out of his office.

The two of them were far from a warm family bond.

Still, Denise managed a warm smile and carried herself with grace.

“Father. Good morning. The weather today is…”

“Oh, Denise. My beloved daughter.”

The Duke of Beltus approached her with a full, satisfied smile, striding over to stroke her shoulder.

While they maintained the formalities of family, they were never this affectionate. Denise, hiding her rising panic, asked in return.

“Ah, Father?”

“A letter arrived early this morning. That magic master from the Rasper Caves has sent a letter to the Beltus family, inquiring about various conditions. It seems he’s declined the Duplain’s offer and is considering ours.”

“You mean… Derek?”

“Yes. It seems you are the most capable in matters of high society, Denise. Unlike the superficial nobles, your way of handling things is different. Indeed, my beloved daughter is the most trustworthy. Hahaha!”

The Duke of Beltus laughed heartily, his voice rising with his good mood.

It seemed he was overjoyed at the news of having secured Derek before the Duplain and Belmierd families.

“Indeed, Denise, you’re the best! How you persuaded such a steadfast man… I’m curious about your secret!”

‘He chose me? Over Aislinn?’

Denise herself was utterly dumbfounded. She was the one most curious about how this had happened.

She had inwardly admitted that Derek was not someone she could have hoped to secure.

Yet, he had rejected all offers and chosen her.

‘…But why???’

He was someone who never moved according to the world’s expectations.

Denise couldn’t grasp what was happening, her eyes darting around in confusion.

She had to admit it.

From noble mtl dot com

Trying to gauge a man like Derek had been a futile effort from the start.