There Are No Bad Young Ladies in the World

The Apprentice (2)

That evening, Lady Aiselin had finished all her engagements at the Duplain estate and was ready to return to Ebelstain.

Jaden, who had accompanied Derek just in case, also decided to return at this time, so Derek was ready to bid farewell and stood at the mansion’s front gate.

“I’m glad I brought you to the estate, Derek.”

Aiselin said with a bright smile, standing in front of the carriage.

She seemed pleased that the atmosphere at the estate had improved recently, smiling gracefully. Even though she now lived in Ebelstain’s mansion, her concern for her family home was typical of her.

“Not at all. If anything, I haven’t done much.”

“There’s no need to be so modest. It must have been quite a task from your perspective.”

After all, Lady Aiselin’s request was for Diella to be able to use first-level magic, to become a lady ready to enter society with confidence.

Since manifesting magic was half the goal, it was natural for her to wear a satisfied expression.

“I wish I could spend more time with my family, but I must return to Ebelstain. There’s still so much to strive for.”

With a grateful farewell, Lady Aiselin climbed into the grand carriage.

Jaden, who had finished preparing to return to Ebelstain with her, patted Derek on the shoulder before climbing in after her.

“It seems my work here is done. I was just a figurehead for the mercenary band, nothing more.”

“What about the 15 gold Aidel coins for the commission?”

“Well, it doesn’t seem right to split it evenly since I hardly did anything. Just take one as a fee. You’ll need to save up for a wand or staff someday, right?”

Since it was a job taken on by the mercenary band, he couldn’t leave without taking a fee. If Derek had been a lone mercenary, he would never have had the chance to take on a commission from such a noble house.

Whenever Miss Aiselin had a moment, she would visit the mansion to spend time with her family, so there was hope to see her more often. However, Jayden seemed unlikely to show his face for a while, as he was leaving to manage the mercenary group.

With that thought, he couldn’t help but feel a softening in his heart.

“You can take about three coins.”

“Oh? Now that your head’s gone hard, you’re playing generous?”

“Don’t like it?”

“Of course, I like it. Hahaha.”

As Jayden chuckled, Derek also let out a hollow laugh.

After a brief silence, Jayden, stroking his chin, said,

“Hurry up and finish. The Veldern mercenary group is always short on mages.”

“Do you want me to kick aside my cozy, well-fed position as a noble’s tutor and leave?”

“Sly, aren’t you? As if I don’t know you’re not the type to leech off such a luxurious estate.”

Jayden’s words were laden with meaning.

It was clear that Derek was suited for the life of a mercenary, and that his magical talents were not limited to his current level.

Derek knew it himself. He had the desire to reach beyond a two-star level. For a mage, the thirst for knowledge and the drive to ascend were akin to destiny.

But he was a commoner. Up to a two-star commoner mage, one might be considered just hardworking or somewhat talented, but from three stars, the nobles’ gaze changes.

At four stars, one might be treated as a dangerous element that could influence the system, and it would become difficult to flaunt one’s abilities openly. Historically, the number of commoners who reached four stars could be counted on one hand.

In the end, if one wishes to rise higher, one cannot remain within the embrace of a noble house.

“If Felinne knew you were leeching off the duke’s house and teaching magic, she’d be hopping mad. It’s tough for this old man to handle her when she’s in a rage. So resolve it quickly and come back.”

“Send a letter before you take the next commission, as a way to say hello.”

“Do you think I’m like those lords, toying with a quill? You come to the tavern yourself, lad.”

With a hearty laugh, Jayden climbed into the carriage.

“Then, see you in Ebelstain.”

Derek waved goodbye to the departing carriage.

*

– Bang!

“Derek! I’ve managed to manifest the magic power and somewhat control it, but the direction is always off!”

– Bang!

“Derek! Look at this! I tried to imbue it with coldness… but the power isn’t evenly distributed! Why is it doing this?!”

– Crash! Bang!

“Derek! I can feel the magic power, but when I try to manifest it, my senses seem to dull!”

“Derek! Where have you gone? Why are you out here? I told you to stay near the annex!”

“Derek! I succeeded in releasing magic the way you told me last time! What should I do next?!”

Derek! Derek! Derek!

Because of Miss Diella’s habit of seeking Derek whenever she had a chance, the servants of the annex always kept track of his whereabouts. They had to promptly inform her of his location whenever the mistress’s mood soured and she went looking for him.

However, it wasn’t as if Derek was always stationed near the annex.

At times, Derek would be found reading in the guest room, wandering the mansion’s garden pondering various magical theories, or with the duke’s permission, perusing magical tomes in the mansion’s library.

Although Derek came to teach magic to Diella, from his perspective, the Duplain duke’s residence was an excellent environment to study various magical theories.

After all, it was one of the most renowned magical houses on the continent, boasting a collection of expensive and precious magical books.

While they were all noble-class rule-based magic texts and not directly helpful, Derek was adept at referencing the magical theories and adapting them into his own. It was a familiar process for Derek, who had been taught by a rule-based magic tutor.

The theories of magic were profound yet simple, and while the basic knowledge varied greatly from school to school, a closer look revealed many common threads.

Since opportunities to freely access magical texts were rare, Derek was keen to make the most of this chance.

Thus, Derek honed his magical skills while also taking the time to oversee Diella’s magic.

Naturally, they spent a lot of time together, sharing many stories. The gap between a mercenary from the slums and a noble young lady was vast, so it was rare for them to find common ground.

Instead, they could share many fascinating stories with each other.

Derek would occasionally tell tales of the stars he gazed at from the slums, his adventures with Katia hunting monsters on the outskirts of Ebelstein, and the fierce power struggles between mercenary bands.

Unlike the charming fairy tale books that had adorned Diella’s room since her childhood, Derek’s stories were vivid and imbued with the coldness of reality. Diella would pretend to be disinterested and act haughty, but as the stories became more intense, she would listen with sparkling eyes.

Sometimes she would look thrilled, other times sympathetic, but by the end of the story, Diella would often give a long speech about how great her lineage was.

At that point, Derek would wear a nonchalant expression and return to his book, almost as if it were routine for her to demand attention and throw a tantrum.

As time passed, both Derek and Diella were racing towards their goals.

Diella aimed to be able to use first-grade magic, while Derek sought to expand the range of second-grade magic he could use… and if possible, he wanted to enter the realm of third-grade magic.

*

It was late afternoon when Valerian, the first son and heir of the Duplain family, called Derek to his room.

It was the time of year when late spring was approaching.

Amidst the servants bustling to clean the pollen flooding into the mansion, Valerian suddenly summoned Derek.

“What is it?”

“Are you teaching Diella well? How is she doing lately?”

“There has been some progress. However, mastering first-grade magic still seems far off. I thought it would be quick, but the pace has slowed, so I’m looking for a new method.”

“I see… I understand.”

Valerian’s private room was almost twice the size of Diella’s room that Derek had seen before.

As the future head of a prominent family, it was natural to receive such treatment, but honestly, the room was so large that Derek wondered if it had any practical use.

In the corner of the room, by the window-side table, sits Valerian, cross-legged. Even at a glance, he’s a handsome man with a tall stature and a sturdy build.

Occasionally, he’s the subject of the maids’ affections, quite the charming gentleman. Yet, he seems to spend most of his time managing the dukedom rather than indulging in pleasures of the flesh.

In his spare time, he’s either overseeing Leig’s training, writing letters to Aiselin, or taking care of his uncles and nephews, showing a deep love for his family.

“Mother, who went to the social gathering in the south, will probably return next week. Just a heads up, she’s not an easy one to deal with.”

“Is that so?”

“The Duplain family may be less so, but nobles generally don’t take kindly to commoners like you holding important positions. You know that, don’t you?”

It’s not common for a commoner to teach magic to a noble lady of influence. That’s because Diella is not your typical case.

Typically, a position as a magic tutor in a family like the Duplains would have people lining up for it if they had the ability. It’s not that capable people are scarce, but rather, there are plenty who would want such a position.

Once things normalize, there will likely be a flood of senior mages eager to push Derrick out and take over the tutor position. Anyway, Derrick’s goal was to teach Diella first-grade magic, so he was focused on achieving that before anything else.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Is that why you called me here?”

“That was important business, but… there’s something else I wanted to ask.”

“What is it you wanted to ask?”

Valerian strokes his chin and looks out the window, gazing down at Diella, who is practicing her magic alone in the garden. Derrick can’t help but feel puzzled by Valerian’s hesitant demeanor.

“I am the future head of the Duplain family. The role of a family head is to embrace and guide all members in the right direction. To do that, one must sincerely understand and care for each member from the heart.”

“…”

The conversation seems to be getting a bit lengthy, but Derrick listens quietly.

“But it’s not easy, is it? The human heart is so profound and deep. Even living under the same roof, with different values and goals, it’s common for misunderstandings to arise…”

“I see… May I ask what message you wish to convey to me?”

Valerian dusts off his noble attire, leans back in his chair, and speaks awkwardly.

“Diella won’t play with me.”

“…”

Derrick is speechless but manages to keep his composure.

He thinks he understands why Valerian would say such a thing.

Since starting to learn magic properly, Diella no longer looks down on people carelessly. She might have a sharp tongue at times, but the days of her acting like a spoiled brat are almost gone.

As Diella’s reputation began to improve gradually, there was a time when Derrick and she passed by Valerian in the garden.

Valerian, who loves his family dearly, greeted Diella warmly, but she, startled like a cat that has seen a wild beast, hid behind Derrick and peeked out cautiously.

Valerian seemed deeply shocked to see Diella, who reluctantly greeted him with eyes wide like a cat’s.

“When she was young, she always went around with a smile, showing her drawings. There was no angel like her in the world.”

“…”

“My expression isn’t that terrible… Tell me. How should I win Diella’s favor?”

“Why… would you… to me…”

“Dielia only follows you around…”

Indeed, within the Duchy of Duplain, Derek was the only person Dielia seemed to follow.

“…”

Valerian’s love for his family was truly admirable, yet, regrettably, the reed-like sensitivity of a teenage girl was a mystery far greater than many historical conundrums to a grown man.

Still, if one were to guess, it was likely just shyness. Having lived so recklessly, it wouldn’t be strange to feel awkward suddenly facing his family.

Usually, time would resolve such issues, but Valerian was seriously pondering if the problem lay with him.

“Look at this. I learned embroidery from the maid and made this doll in Dielia’s likeness. How is it? Can you see the effort, sincerity, and affection dripping from it?”

Even Valerian, who excelled at everything, seemed to lack talent in delicate sewing, as the doll looked more bizarre than cute.

An adult might be moved by the gesture alone, but sadly, a teenage girl would likely be horrified.

The maids seemed unable to speak the truth.

Bringing it to Dielia as is would only lead to disaster, so someone had to step up and tell the truth.

“If I may speak frankly… it’s just… likely to upset her…”

“……….Damn.”

Valerian furrowed his brow, lost in thought.

Derek could only offer his support for his efforts.

*

[ New Magic Acquired ]

1-star Combat ‘Shockwave’

1-star Detection ‘Life Sensing’

2-star Transformation ‘Earthen Wall’

2-star Confusion ‘Chaos’

“Miss Dielia. It’s about time for the lady of the house to arrive.”

“Is it that time already?”

The elegant maid came to find Derek and Dielia, who were studying magic at the tea table set up in the garden.

-Thud

Derek closed the book he was reading with one hand and stood up, dusting off his seat.

As time passed, Derek had made some progress. The magical resources of the Duchy of Duplain had been a great help. However, reaching his ultimate goal of a 3-star level still seemed far off.

It might be shameless to aspire to a 3-star level at his age, but the desire to grow doesn’t consider age. Nevertheless, he was increasingly realizing that the realm of 3-stars was no ordinary level. It wasn’t something that could be achieved in a short period.

Interestingly, his achievements in combat and confusion magic were progressing rapidly.

Derek’s quick acquisition of combat magic was likely due to his mercenary career, which was accompanied by frequent battles, while his rapid learning of chaos magic seemed to be influenced by his mentor, Katia, who was a three-star chaos magician.

Conversely, he seemed to have no talent for summoning magic, and despite investing quite some time, he saw little success. It was disappointing, but inevitable. As Katia had once said, trying to master every field might just be greed.

With a deep sigh, Derek followed the maid’s lead to the mansion’s main hall.

The DuPlain family’s matriarch, Miriela Daybell DuPlain, had returned from a social gathering in the south, and numerous servants were present for her welcome party.

Miriela, weary from her long journey, maintained her noble composure. Her lilac dress, peacock-feathered fan, and sparkling accessories each looked like luxury items.

She exchanged pleasantries with her family, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

“Has everything been alright in my absence?”

“Yes, Mother. In fact, we have only good news.”

“Oh, Valerian, if you say so, it must indeed be joyous news.”

The lady’s face showed signs of aging, but she still held the dignity of nobility.

Upon entering with Valerian’s escort, Miriela was immediately struck by the sight of Diella’s face and seemed to realize the happy news.

“Di, Diella! You’ve come out of the annex!”

Diella, dressed in a lovely frilled dress and cute ribbon adornments, looked every bit the noble young lady. Miriela, finding her so endearing, rushed over to embrace her.

“Ah, hello, Mother…”

“Diella. My dear Diella. I’ve been so worried…”

“Don’t be startled, Mother. Diella has recently manifested her magic and is now working hard to acquire a one-star spell.”

“Is that true? Diella! You’ve worked so hard! Oh, I must look into buying a wand or staff. Perhaps I should scout out Ebelstain’s magic shop…”

“Ha ha… Mother, it’s too early for that.”

Valerian gently chided his mother with a smile. Magicians who carry their own wands or staffs are usually mid-level three-star practitioners. And even then, many don’t bother if it’s not necessary, as such magical items are quite expensive.

It’s an old parental habit to make a fuss over their child’s achievements, a sign of their joy.

“What has happened to achieve such progress in such a short time… It’s as if the world has been transformed.”

“Um… well…”

As Diella hesitated, Valerian answered with a gentle smile.

“The new magic tutor Aiselin brought has played a significant role.”

“Oh. I must express my gratitude. Is he here in the mansion now?”

“Over here. This is Derek, a magician from Ebelstain.”

Standing beside the servants, Derek met Miriela’s gaze and quietly greeted her.

Miriela approached with a honeyed look in her eyes and addressed Derek.

“My daughter owes you a great deal. You’re a magician from Ebelstain?”

“Yes. My name is Derek.”

Miriel spoke with a gentle voice, her smile warm.

“Diella often changes her magic tutors, but to have you achieve such splendid results, I am truly grateful. I cannot just stand by; I wish to send a token of our family’s appreciation… Could you tell me your affiliation? I must express the DuPlain family’s sincerity.”

At those words, Valerian cast his gaze down awkwardly, as did the other servants.

Derrick, observing the atmosphere with a sidelong glance, seemed to grasp the situation.

“I have no family affiliation.”

“…Pardon?”

“I am a commoner.”

With that declaration, a hush fell over the main hall of the duke’s residence.

The affectionate look Miriel had given him, as if seeing a benefactor, vanished, replaced by a cold stare.

Derrick knew already, having heard from Valerian.

She was the very embodiment of aristocratic authority.