There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

People (5)

– “Before teaching anything else, the first thing to teach Lady Sieren is the weight of death.”

– “Do you think I haven’t tried such things?”

– “It’s not something that can be taught simply through words and actions. If Lady Sieren’s homicidal impulses stem from her instincts, we must use a method strong enough to engrave it into those instincts.”

The next day, Derek visited Melverot’s office. He told Melverot that he had something to ask for his understanding in advance and conveyed his plan on how to socialize Sieren.

– “So, what, are you going to push Sieren to the brink of death? That’s quite a violent method.”

– “Of course not. However, it’s hard to deny that some rather violent methods might be employed. That’s why I’m here to ask for your understanding.”

Derek explained to Melverot what would happen in the future.

Melverot sat quietly, listening to Derek’s explanation, his expression hardening slightly. It was clear that he understood Derek was not a normal person.

However, Melverot did not oppose Derek’s plan.

He just nodded.

– “If you have no other objections, I’ll take my leave.”

Derek’s steps as he bowed and left the office were unusual.

It seemed he had no intention of holding onto this matter for long.

*

“How is Lady Sieren’s meal provided?”

“Every meal is brought into the spire by the servants. They wear all sorts of protective magic and equipment. After all… it’s a dangerous task…”

—

—

The next place Derek went after leaving the office was where the head maid, Serena, was.

She was overseeing the organization of the mansion’s warehouse and bowed her head in greeting as soon as she made eye contact with Derek. Seeing her body still in shambles, it seemed she had been through a lot.

Derek added a word of appreciation for her hard work and asked several questions he had been curious about.

“Does Miss Siern often go out to the snowy field?”

“Yes… She often returns with a lot of blood on her. Most of it is from beasts or monsters… but not always…”

“…”

“How long has she been like this?”

“It’s been about seven or eight years. Before that, she was an ordinary girl. She laughed well, learned well, and played well.”

Derek’s expression did not change, but the head maid had a somewhat complicated expression.

Having taken care of Siern for a long time, it would be natural to harbor resentment towards her, but she seemed to genuinely worry about Siern.

After all, children are not at fault. It’s the adults who failed to teach them who are at fault. Derek thought so.

Especially in the case of someone like Siern, she was not someone just anyone could teach.

“The crimson kachusha is impressive. Was it made separately within the mansion?”

“Yes…? All of a sudden? Usually, we use ready-made products, but the head maid’s attire often has additional decorations or patterns.”

“What dye do you use? Do you have a separate workshop in the mansion for the work?”

“Yes…? Why all of a sudden…”

“I’m curious about how the mansion’s staff work.”

“…We use madder or rubia for the dye, but for the clothes Miss Siern wears, we often use petals from flowers like safflower or balsam. The scent is important too… And the work itself is often done by artisans in Levelton, and we just receive and use the dye.”

“There must be a lot of distribution personnel connected to the mansion.”

“That’s right…”

It was curious why he was interested in the mansion’s personnel, but Serena did not express it.

It was a virtue of a servant not to have unnecessary curiosity.

“I’m also curious about the protective magic the servants use before entering Miss Siern’s room. I’d also like to hear about the composition of her meals.”

“I can tell you everything in detail. Lord Melverot specifically instructed us to cooperate actively.”

“That’s good to hear.”

As Derek strode out, the head maid quickly bowed her head and followed behind him.

As long as he was under Melverot’s protection, no one could object to him acting like the master of the mansion.

Knowing this well, Derek thought he should gather all the information he could while he had the chance.

In any case, Derek had all his plans in order.

It was time to make the leading actress with his own hands. He would likely be the director himself.

—

—

“From today, I will review all the meals that go into Lady Sieren’s room.”

As he crossed the hallway, Derrick gave that order.

From noble mtl dot com

Someone was secretly watching him from afar.

‘…’

Aiseline swallowed dryly as she observed Derrick’s actions.

*

“Even if Lady Sieren doesn’t trust me, it’s okay. Even if you think of using and abandoning me, it doesn’t matter.”

Aiseline, who had returned to the room through the snow, took off her robe and hung it next to the bed, speaking with a determined expression.

Sieren, who was trembling inside the room, looked at Aiseline’s resolute figure and recalled Derrick once again.

She remembers the image of that beast-like man striding through the middle of the snowy field.

In this world of snow where you either kill or be killed, he takes on the appearance of the top predator.

There are few in this mansion who can match Sieren’s magical skills, but at least that man Derrick seemed to be able to easily overpower Sieren.

“I… I have to do what I think is right. Even if Mr. Derrick tries to kill Lady Sieren, I will protect you with all my might.”

“Why… why are you putting in such effort for me?”

“…You won’t believe it, but there’s no particular reason.”

That was the biggest reason Derrick acknowledged Aiseline.

She has the ability to embrace people.

The way to embrace people with character and make them trust you is simpler than you think. It just needs to be ‘sincere’.

When you discard all personal gain, profit, success, and rewards, and only adhere to what you believe is right and good, then the other person will feel the sincerity.

Sincerity is a trait that only those who are sincere can possess.

Therefore, Aiseline’s noble, shining eyes were engraved on Sieren’s pupils.

For a moment, Sieren almost nodded.

However, the terrible memories accumulated in her heart could not be broken down by such a kind gaze.

The expressions of fear and disgust that countless teachers showed when looking at Lady Sieren pierced through the gaps in her memory.

They all approached with smiling faces at first, saying they were different.

They promised to lead Lady Sieren to a brighter world as good teachers, with flowery words.

In her naive days, she held hopeful thoughts. But the accumulated experiences of frustration made her shake her head.

“I don’t believe it.”

Sieren, who was huddled in the corner of the bed, hugged her knees and growled.

“I don’t believe anyone.”

—

—

“You don’t have to believe me. Doubt me. It’s better for you, Lady Sieren.”

“Of course. After all, you are the one who accompanied that… madman named Derek. Why should I… trust you?”

“That’s… true…”

Aiselyn lowered her gaze and spoke as if she had no face to show.

“Still, I believe in Mr. Derek. To you, Lady Sieren, he may seem scary and cold-blooded… but I still believe he has a humane and caring side.”

“Lies. What you’re doing now is betraying that magic teacher named Derek.”

“That’s… right. But please wait a little longer. I will definitely try to persuade Mr. Derek.”

Aiselyn slowly approached Sieren.

Sieren moved back, pushing the bed sheet with her bare feet, but Aiselyn came closer with a gentle smile and held Sieren’s hands tightly.

“It’s only natural for you to doubt me now, Lady Sieren. But please trust and leave it to me for now. I’ll try to buy time while avoiding Mr. Derek’s tricks and do my best to change his mind.”

“Do you think that cold-blooded monster will change his mind? I’d rather… report everything to my father. Tell him that madman is trying to kill me, and beg him to drive that madman away.”

“Right now, Mr. Derek has the full trust and support of Sir Melverot. In this Rochester mansion, having Sir Melverot’s support means there’s no way to stop him.”

Sieren had a look of disbelief on her face.

To think that an unknown magic teacher from somewhere in the southwestern continent would be given such trust.

However, after calming down a bit, she quickly realized that the situation was unfavorable to her.

A murderer who kills people at every opportunity, and a competent magic teacher renowned in the southwestern empire.

There was no need to consider whose words Melverot would believe more.

In the end, she would likely need Aiselyn’s help. If that man named Derek really intended to kill her, she wouldn’t be able to escape his grasp alone.

“It’s okay. Keep doubting me, Lady Sieren. I’ll do what I can.”

However, there was sincerity in Aiselyn’s serious expression, with her lips tightly pressed together.

It was not an act or a lie, but the appearance of someone genuinely concerned for Sieren.

‘Don’t be fooled.’

Sieren gritted her teeth and pushed Aiselyn away.

A coldness colder than the vast northern snowfields flowed in her heart.

No matter how warmly she tried to embrace her, she couldn’t win the heart of the thorny girl.

Sieren glared at Aiselyn. Nevertheless, Aiselyn still had a resolute expression.

She was a strong-hearted person.

Thus, Aiselyn secretly visited the tower several times, whispering various pieces of information to Sieren.

She even informed her that Derek was poisoning the food. She warned her several times not to let her guard down, as it was a slow-acting poison, and not to touch the meals Derek and the servants brought.

Despite doubting Aiselyn’s words, Sieren never touched the food Derek brought with the servants.

—

—

She pretended to eat just enough and then spat it all out, only eating the meals that Aiselin brought separately. The meals managed by Derek were taken away by Aiselin and discarded entirely.

Occasionally, Derek would scan Sierne’s body with his chilling eyes as if to check her condition, and each time, Sierne would forcibly suppress the rising fear and pretend to be unaffected.

Whenever Derek spoke to her, she responded curtly, antagonized him, and pondered how to expel that arrogant commoner from the mansion.

Meanwhile, Aiselin busily ran around on her own.

Fearing that Lady Sierne’s health might be adversely affected, she checked her condition several times and, whenever she had the chance, pleaded with Derek to reconsider killing Lady Sierne.

Each time, Derek firmly refused and dismissed Aiselin’s words, but she continued her double life without losing her resolve.

Thus, one day became three days, and three days became a week.

During that long period, Aiselin barely slept and gave most of her own meals to Sierne, enduring and persevering through the harsh cold.

Late at night, she would visit Sierne’s room to report on the latest developments, and during the day, she would discuss Sierne’s educational policies with the servants or watch Derek’s movements.

As time accumulated, Aiselin’s expression grew more haggard, but thanks to her, Sierne somehow managed to stay alive.

“There’s nothing particularly wrong with your health, right? I hope Lady Sierne never lets her guard down. Derek might use other methods once he realizes the medicine is ineffective. I’ll… try to find out what he’s thinking when I get a chance.”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much, Lady Sierne. I’ve told you repeatedly. Derek may seem cold-blooded, but there’s a human and altruistic part in his heart. Growing up in the Duplain Duchy, I know that better than anyone.”

“Stop it.”

When she came to her senses, Sierne was already speaking informally to Aiselin.

Her unwavering righteousness was awe-inspiring, but there were limits to everything.

“What’s the point of enduring like this?”

“Lady Sierne…”

“Life is like the wild anyway. It’s either kill or be killed. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Lady Sierne let her bluish hair fall as she rose from the bed and stared straight at Aiselin.

“You… What are you? You’re not for me, nor are you siding with that man…”

“That… that’s…”

Though she was deceiving Derek with the sole intention of saving Sierne, she still couldn’t abandon her fundamental trust in Derek.

Sierne couldn’t understand Aiselin’s way of thinking. How could she maintain emotional sympathy for such a monstrous man who committed such violent and arrogant acts? How was she any different from a wife who says it’s okay while being beaten every day?

However, she couldn’t voice it out loud… because Sierne herself wasn’t free from the criticism of being violent and arrogant.

This girl named Aiselin trusted and believed in even those people fairly. She was a person who steadfastly extended her unwavering trust, even to the possibility of that man named Derek.

That’s why… Sierne felt frustrated.

“Enough. Let me die. If that man kills me, so be it. I don’t want to gain sympathy from someone with a head full of flowers like you, nor do I want to beg for my life.”

– Smack!

As Lady Sierne uttered such words close to despair, Aiselin gritted her teeth and slapped her cheek.

—

—

In an instant, Lady Sierne’s pupils widened.

If you were to pick the most gentle and benevolent person in the world, many would choose Aiselin.

It was rare for such a simple person to resort to violence. Even Sierne was so surprised that she couldn’t help but tremble.

“Don’t accept death so easily. Don’t you know that everything ends if you give up?”

Aiselin spoke each word with gritted teeth.

She was a girl who grew up cherished in a noble family. Usually, such people lack a sense of reality and only spout idealistic theories.

However, Aiselin was a girl who rolled up her sleeves and stood up even in the crumbling mansion of the Duplain family.

The truly strong do not show their blades. The poison hidden within gentleness is what truly holds value.

She was a person with a strong will to live, willing to farm by spreading manure herself and selling household goods despite the disgrace.

Therefore, she couldn’t leave those who were giving up on themselves alone.

From the time she wandered around taverns looking for Diela’s master, her strong nature was already evident.

Sierne felt as if she had seen the true depths of Aiselin and couldn’t say a word.

“You can live. I won’t tell you to learn magic or etiquette. You don’t need any of that. Just… don’t throw away your precious life because of some nature you don’t even understand. That… that alone… I can’t stand it…”

“…What, what… why… why are you crying…”

“Did you understand what I said?!”

Aiselin’s eyes reddened, and she sniffled. It was an undignified action, but it wasn’t important at the moment.

Aiselin knew someone in a similar yet subtly different situation as Sierne. It was her sister, Diela.

Diela was now striving to become the real power in Ebelstein with the qualities of a ruler, but during her wandering period, she was a girl who devalued her life, just like Sierne.

Aiselin knew better than anyone how sad, lonely, and painful that was. Therefore, she couldn’t leave Sierne alone.

“I… I…”

“I’ll try to deceive Mr. Derek a bit more. Until his mind changes, we can buy some time. And somehow… persuade him…”

Aiselin was trying to speak with such a serious expression.

“That won’t do.”

– Bang!

It was Derek who burst through the door of the inner room.

Both Aiselin and Sierne were startled and looked in that direction. The man, dressed neatly in mercenary attire, stood there with a cold, expressionless gaze.