There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

The Priest (1)

The next morning, when Miss Diela led the maids towards the main house, there was a stir among the servants. It was because she was a person who usually stayed cooped up in the annex.

When Housekeeper Katarina stepped into the central hall of the annex, a girl leading the maids through the nobles had a sullen expression as she walked.

The sky-blue frilled dress she wore as casual attire seemed more cute than elegant, perhaps due to the wine-colored ribbon decoration at the chest.

The maids of the annex scurried after her, and the passing nobles quickly bowed their heads, dripping with sweat.

They were all tense, knowing that even a minor misstep could result in a barrage of abuse.

It had been too long since the girl had come to the main house directly, and not knowing where Derrick was, she randomly grabbed a passing noble.

“You there.”

“Yes, Miss Diela. Go, good morning.”

The servant, who had been carrying ropes for garden repairs since early morning, stood at attention, dripping with sweat.

Housekeeper Katarina took a deep breath and quickly descended the hall stairs. The lowly servant, having done a lot of physical garden work since early morning, was often tired or poorly managed in terms of hygiene.

It was urgent for Katarina to deal with him directly, lest he smelled of sweat or looked like a beggar, which would be troublesome if he were to be beaten.

“Do you know where the magician from Ebelstein is staying?”

“Ah, the magician from Ebelstein… you mean the mercenary that Lady Aiselin brought with her.”

“Yes. Answer me.”

“I’m sorry! I will find out immediately!”

The servant stood at attention, sweating profusely.

He braced his lower abdomen in anticipation of a punch or kick that might come flying for not knowing.

But Diela didn’t particularly want to spend time on such matters.

“Never mind. I’ll ask the housekeeper.”

“…?”

“What’s with that face? Got a problem?”

“No! I’ll, I’ll, I’ll be on my way!”

The servant quickly gathered the ropes and dashed off, and the housekeeper, who had run down in turn, quickly approached and bowed her head.

She was inwardly surprised that she hadn’t beaten the servant, but she spoke with as much courtesy as possible.

“Miss Diela, I apologize for the disarray. If you had given us a heads-up, we would have been prepared.”

“Never mind. Just guide me to that magician from Ebelstein.”

“Yes. He is staying in the guest room on the second floor.”

With that, the housekeeper walked away with a gulp, three steps ahead, walking demurely.

Glancing at Miss Diela from time to time, she didn’t seem too upset. It was quite different from the times she would scold over the smallest things.

‘Oh, she seems to be in a good mood today. I must be careful not to upset her too much.’

No matter how much of a troublemaker Diela was, she wouldn’t carelessly beat even the housekeeper, who was among the top three servants in the mansion. At least the housekeeper would be able to handle the notorious Diela somehow.

As the head maid took the lead, walking out with Diella, all the passing servants and vassals observed a moment of silence. Her spirit of sacrifice was indeed worthy of the title ‘Holy Mother’.

Thus, Diella and she walked in silence for a while, finally reaching the guest room on the second floor.

When the head maid knocked gently on the door with a demure motion, a groaning sound, as if someone was dying, emanated from within.

– Creak

The wait was brief. The door opened, and out came a figure resembling a corpse, or perhaps a corpse resembling a person.

“What’s the matter?”

Derrick had spent the previous night unleashing his magic in a chase, and after escorting Lady Diella to the annex, he returned to the main house to discuss future plans with Jayden.

Only after his routine of delving into magic tomes and practicing his powers did he finally fall asleep. By the clock, he had barely slept three hours.

His face, dripping with fatigue, was heavily shadowed, and his disheveled white hair clearly indicated he had just woken up.

Head maid Katarina, seeing such a weary Derrick, felt sorry, yet on the other hand, she prayed for a solution to this disaster named Diella that had appeared early in the morning.

After all, Derrick was now fully entrusted by Duke Duplain with the educational authority over Lady Diella.

“Lady Diella has been looking for you, so I came to guide you.”

“Lady Diella?”

As Derrick questioned, Diella, who had stepped forward with quick strides, looked up at him and said,

“Teach me how to handle the magic that has manifested. I tried on my own, but it’s not working.”

“…”

“You said you would teach me.”

Katarina doubted her ears upon hearing Diella’s words. The servants who had worked in the mansion for a long time all lamented Diella’s magical achievements.

‘Lady Diella has manifested magic?’

It was a matter that needed to be reported to Duke Duplain immediately. Likely, the entire ducal household would be turned upside down.

She understood why Diella had come to the main house so early in the morning. Newly awakened mages often feel a sense of exhilaration with each day’s growing achievements.

Once enchanted by that sense of accomplishment, many would enter into magical training as if bewitched. That overwhelming emotion was more addictive than the buzz from the finest liquor, at least until they hit the wall of growth.

It made sense why the duchess herself had taken the steps to come here so early. The thirst for knowledge in mages who had just opened their eyes to magic was beyond imagination.

And she seemed to understand why Diella had not harmed the servants unnecessarily. Having found something worth concentrating on, it was, in a way, expected.

Katarina looked at Derrick with sparkling eyes.

Perhaps this boy could rescue the servants from the clutches of the hellish rascal.

Just as she was about to say something to the boy-

“Come back in the afternoon.”

– Bang!

Exhausted Derrick informed her and closed the door.

In front of the closed door.

Head maid and Diella had to stand in silence for a long while.

“What’s this?! Are you joking?! You’re dismissing me at the door?! Who do you think you are?!”

Eventually, Diella pounded on the door, raising her voice, but Derrick simply plugged in his earplugs used for exploring and buried himself back in bed.

Derrick, who had already experienced two masters, knew well. The relationship between master and apprentice ultimately needed to be led by the master to function smoothly.

No matter if she was the duchess of the continent’s foremost family, it was no different. After all, hadn’t the Duke of Duplain granted her full authority?

– Bang! Bang! Bang!

– Open the door! Open it now!

Even amidst the resounding knocks, Derrick was ready to fall into a deep sleep.

Having lived a mercenary life, one naturally acquires the skill to sleep amidst noise.

Watching the scene, Head Maid Katarina couldn’t help but stroke her face.

Whether master or apprentice, they were both stubborn to the core.

*

“Today, Miss Diella didn’t break a single plate during her meal.”

“Ha, I wasn’t hit by Miss Diella even once. She seemed to be in a bad mood though…”

“When she woke up this morning, she was certainly wielding magic with that hand.”

Valerian, the first prince, sat on one side of the duke’s office desk, his expression one of surprise.

His mouth was hidden by his propped chin, but his slightly widened pupils made it easy to discern his thoughts.

He looked towards the Duke of Duplain, who was sitting at his work desk, and their eyes met.

The duke, who had been playing with his quill pen, put it down for a moment and asked the maids who had come to report.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. I have cross-verified several times before coming to report. It seems Miss Diella has finally manifested her magic.”

“Did you hear that, Father? It’s a relief. Truly a relief.”

Valerian let out a sigh of relief. It was as if the worst-case scenario had been avoided.

Of course, it was strange to celebrate the manifestation of magic, especially since she was born into the Duplain family. But considering Diella’s recent actions, this was indeed a significant positive development.

“Father. I told you Diella could do it.”

“It does seem like there’s been some progress. Let’s hold off on sending her to the monastery and see if the situation is worth monitoring.”

The Duke of Duplain stroked his chin, lost in thought.

“However, to speak frankly, it is also true that there is still a lack of achievement.”

“Father… But consider how hard Diela has tried. Please take that into account.”

“Let’s not talk about the monastery then. However, gifting a separate estate to prepare for social circles is another matter.”

One must at least be able to handle a one-star spell to claim they know magic. In the society of nobles, that was a given. Even that was not a matter of pride, but merely proof of not being completely inept.

“Certainly, manifesting magical power is a cause for celebration, but whether one has come to their senses is yet unknown, Father.”

At that moment, Leig, who was sitting beside him, uttered a blunt remark. Valerian frowned upon hearing it.

“What do you mean by that, Leig?”

“Isn’t it the truth, brother? When one first manifests magical power, they get so excited that nothing else matters. But once they calm down a bit and become aware of their situation again, who knows when their true nature will return?”

As a magician, one may have taken a step forward, but as a noble lady, it might still be treading water. That was what Leig was implying.

When Valerian looked at Leig’s expression, it was, as always, steadfast.

To put it bluntly, Leig truly despised Diela. Even if one could excuse his feelings during the innocent days of old, it was strange to like someone who caused trouble to the family like a hooligan.

Valerian understood Leig’s feelings to some extent. It was remarkable that Valerian and Aiselin continued to embrace Diela with patience, rather than blaming Leig for losing hope and no longer having expectations.

“People’s true nature doesn’t change easily, Father.”

“Leig. But since there has been progress, can’t we trust Diela a little more?”

“Brother, your approach is too lenient. Especially at times like this, we need to be more resolute. Don’t too hastily dismiss the matter of sending her to the monastery, Father. That’s when she’ll listen.”

Duke Duplain picked up his quill again and drew lines on the document as he spoke.

“There is some merit to what Leig says. Still, it is true that an achievement has been made, so a softer policy isn’t entirely out of place. It’s better to watch a little longer.”

Leig wore a dissatisfied expression, but Valerian’s face had relaxed.

Duke Duplain tapped the desk for a moment before finally bowing his head and focusing on the documents.

‘That commoner magician. He is indeed extraordinary.’

The Duke had thought so from the moment the boy asked his questions unabashedly in the middle of the grand office.

However, being extraordinary and actually producing results are two different things. Duke Duplain couldn’t help but elevate his assessment of the boy named Derek by one level.

Still, in the end, he was a commoner. There were inherent limits to that status. Although he had reached a fairly high level for his age, it was still within the realm of commoners.

“Let’s conclude the matter of Diela like this, and the immediate concern is the upcoming meeting on the next feast day.”

“…The Duke of Beltus and the Count of Belmierd will also attend. I heard that the Duke of Beltus will come in person, and the Count of Belmierd will be represented by Lady Elente.”

If one were to name the three most authoritative families in the western part of the Empire where Ebelstain lies, everyone would give the same answer: Beltus, Duplain, Belmierd.

It was not common for the heads of such influential families to gather in one place. It was clear they would discuss matters such as the trade routes near Ebelstain and the empire’s tax law changes.

‘To send Lady Elente as a representative to such a meeting? Not even the core vassals?’

Duke Duplain felt a peculiar sense of humiliation. It wasn’t that the other heads were too idle to attend the meeting themselves; it was because the meeting was that important.

Yet, the Count of Belmierd was a wise man. He couldn’t be unaware that this was a great discourtesy.

It was indeed a strange affair.

Duke Duplain remained chin in hand, lost in thought. Known for his deep contemplations, his two sons had long since begun to tidy up the documents.

“I shall take my leave now.”

With a face full of discontent, Leig left the office.

It seemed he was not pleased that Diella had escaped the fate of being sent to the monastery.

*

Derrick had a restful sleep, woke up to a meal prepared by the maids, bathed, took in some fresh air, and had a cup of tea.

As the late afternoon approached, he headed to the annex only to find Diella completely sullen, hugging her knees at the corner of the bed.

“Are you upset?”

“It’s not pouting; I’m angry.”

“No matter how much you sulk, it can’t be helped. There’s an order to everything.”

“It’s not sulking; I’m angry.”

“Running around excitedly after manifesting magic will quickly deplete you. I’m telling you this from experience.”

Derrick fetched a wooden chair from across Diella’s bed.

He casually placed it beside the bed, sat down, and brushed the grass off the hem of his trousers.

“Rest is as important as learning. Always be fully prepared when you do something. Don’t forget that.”

“Listening to Derrick, I’m reminded of the dull moral teachers who read from textbooks.”

“…Shall I do it in a less dull way then?”

Remembering the night she was chased through the forest in a not-so-dull manner, Diella shuddered. She thought it might be better not to be so spectacular.

“Never mind.”

“Come over here anyway. It’s time to practice manifesting magic and build the foundation of a one-star spell. Don’t you want to learn magic?”

Proud Diella disliked the fact that she had to move at the behest of a mere commoner.

Like a cautious cat, she glared with wide eyes, then smoothed her lush golden hair a few times before crossing the bed to sit.

With a mouth set in a triangle of displeasure, she looked ready to grumble at any moment, but as Derrick manifested magic in his hand, she immediately opened her radiant eyes to watch.

The way the magic worked was quite different from her family’s. The colors were varied, and the patterns it moved in were diverse.

“To learn the magic of the Wild Faction, you must first break free from stereotypes and rules. It will be hard at first, but once you’re used to it, you can self-study advanced spells.”

“Did Derrick learn all by himself?”

“No. I had a master too. He was from the Discipline Faction, so I self-taught half of it.”

Derrick showed the free movement of magic above his hand, imprinting the fact that handling energy freely was the first goal.

“Wow, it looks harder than I thought.”

“It’s alright. After all, the fundamental principle of the Wild Faction is self-study at its core. The lack of a system can be an advantage at times like this.”

“Can I do it?”

“I’m not just saying this to make you feel good, but to be honest and straightforward, Miss Diela, you do have some talent.”

At those words, Diela’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Me, I do?”

“Although the direction of your efforts has been somewhat misguided, the magical knowledge you’ve memorized and the numerous practices haven’t been entirely meaningless. After all, you didn’t just recognize and manifest magical power, but you also immediately endowed it with coldness to create an ice pillar, didn’t you?”

“Uh, yes…”

“That’s not something ordinary people can do right away. With a little refinement, it could become a first-class spell.”

Talent exists.

Chewing over those words as if harboring some deep-seated grudge, the girl was quietly reflecting. Considering her past, it wasn’t such a strange thing. The short word ‘talent’ had a peculiar power to make one’s heart thick with emotion.

“It’s good to have pride, as long as it doesn’t turn into arrogance. So, it’s alright for you to have some pride.”

“I’ve never been arrogant in my life.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Why do you speak so harshly? Do you want to die?”

“Your mouth is too foul. Maintain some dignity.”

Derek scattered the magical power gathered in his hand and ended the demonstration.

Then, looking intently at Diela, who had been watching Derek’s demonstration, he signaled for her to try it herself.

It wasn’t a movement that could be replicated after just one look, but Diela earnestly tried to feel the magic emanating from her own hands.

After repeating it several times, she began to feel more accustomed to the inherent magic within her. There was definitely progress.

Honestly, it’s fun.

Learning something is a joyful thing. It’s a sensation she had forgotten for quite a long time.

Realizing she was smiling, Diela quickly regained her composure and put on a feigned indifferent expression.

“Wow, I think I’ve got the hang of it! Just like you said, Derek, I might be a bit of a genius.”

“…”

Derek, resting his chin in his hand, said,

“You have some talent, but I never said you were a genius.”

“…You’re really unlikeable.”

*

Afterward, Diela took every opportunity to learn magic from Derek.

Initially grumbling, she soon became engrossed in the magic, and it became clear that she hadn’t always been such a rascal from the start.

Every day, having lessons only in the annex felt somewhat confining, so occasionally, we would bask in the warm sunlight of the rose garden next to the annex or the garden by the main house.

When time allowed, we would wander through the forests and streams near the mansion, where it was possible to demonstrate grander spells as examples.

In this way, coming and going, we often caught the eyes of the roaming nobles and servants.

The sight of young Lady Diella, trailing behind Derek as he walked out of the garden, peppering him with questions, sometimes reminded me of her from the old days.

At some point, the cries from the Duplain family’s annex began to subside.

For the servants, there could be no greater relief. Before they knew it, Derek had become something akin to the savior of the mansion’s staff.

“Hmm…”

In the private office of the Duplain family’s second son.

Leigh, having heard the rumors about Diella, sat alone, legs crossed, idly tapping his finger on the desk.

Although there were some favorable rumors about Diella, he couldn’t fathom that she could reform so easily.

He had been one of the victims of Diella’s most malicious days. She would snarl and spread nasty rumors at every opportunity, tormenting and driving away even his most cherished personal servants. Among them was someone who had been with Leigh for over a decade.

No matter what they say about turning over a new leaf, the accumulated resentment doesn’t just disappear. That’s the nature of karma.