Value (3)
Although the Noble Society District is so full of the mansions of prestigious families' children that you could trip over them, actually setting foot inside even one of them is not easy.
It is also the most famous place in Ebelstein, and a place that people admire, yet the paradox of this district is that it is a place permitted only to a very special few.
In that sense, Derrick, who had entered all the mansions where the Young Ladies of the Duplein, Belmiard, and Beltus families reside, was in a truly unusual position.
He had even become someone who could casually come and go from the mansion of the youngest daughter who had newly debuted in High Society from the Duplein Family, so for someone from the slums, he was enjoying a status so unique it could only be called unparalleled.
'It doesn't really mean much, though.'
Derrick, sitting in the carriage that the Beltus Family had prepared separately, was resting his chin on his hand and quietly widening his eyes as he looked at Delia's mansion visible by the window.
No matter how magnificent the mansions of prestigious families all are, a newly built mansion and one that has endured the passage of time cannot help but be different.
The mansions of those who are making a name for themselves in High Society inevitably show traces of time here and there no matter how well they are maintained, but Delia's mansion truly had grandeur, mystery, and cleanliness all at once.
It was easy to understand why countless Young Ladies were all stamping their feet wanting to debut in High Society.
There were plenty of people in the commercial districts and the slums who would lick the soles of shoes just to be guaranteed even half of that status.
"You came to persuade Young Lady Delia…?"
"Yes. The Rosea Salon is earnestly hoping for Young Lady Delia's admission. Even though she is currently affiliated with the Beltus Family, since I am already acquainted with Young Lady Delia, they seem to think there will be results if I step in personally to persuade her."
Head butler Delron was also in charge of managing the Duplein main house, but it seemed that he thought Delia's stable debut in High Society was more important right now, so he had come all the way out to Ebelstein.
He sometimes showed an arrogant side, but fundamentally he was a loyal and diligent type, so it seemed the Duplein Family treated him quite well.
However, when he came out to the front gate of the mansion to greet me, his expression did not look very good.
"It is true that Young Lady Delia has quite a favorable impression of you, but you should be careful about offering opinions regarding High Society matters."
"Is that so? I did not think it would be such a sensitive matter."
Derrick got down from the carriage and handed over his miscellaneous luggage to the nearby servants.
Most of the servants in Delia's mansion were originally from the annex of the Duplein main house. Since they knew Derrick to some extent, they naturally took his luggage and quickly carried it inside.
From the Duplein Family's side, Derrick is treated almost like an honored guest. It seemed the family's servants were already well aware of that.
"You have recently drawn quite a bit of attention in High Society, and you have also become at odds with several Young Ladies. As you know, she has a somewhat emotionally driven temperament, so it is difficult for even her retainers to offer sincere advice."
"What kind of advice, specifically?"
"Well, isn't it obvious. If she is a Young Lady of the Duplein Family, she should fundamentally know how to get along smoothly with the people of High Society. But since she has such a strong sense of self, it is difficult to voice opinions."
Derrick listened to Delron's words as they entered the entrance of the mansion together.
From the looks of it, Delia had at least acquired the minimum level of social skills over time, but it seemed she had not completely discarded that high-nosed temperament of hers.
As they entered the mansion, all the servants they passed showed worried expressions.
It seemed many people who had tried to persuade Delia or offer her advice had ended up in trouble.
Just from the servants' reactions, it was easy to gauge the situation.
"To be honest, even if it is you, I do not think you are expecting to be able to bend Young Lady Delia's will.
Young Lady Aiselin, who pushed this matter forward, probably just felt like grasping at straws."
"Still, it is an unusual thing. For the Beltus Family to allow a trip all the way to the Duplein Family like this is not something ordinary, is it?"
"Indeed. As expected, Young Lady Denise is generous about things like this."
In truth, Denise was already prepared to grant whatever the Duplein Family asked for.
Since he could not know such detailed circumstances, Head butler Delron simply expressed his amazement as it was.
After following for quite a while, they came to see the entrance to the audience hall, guarded by numerous maids. At a glance, it seemed Delia would be inside.
Derrick brushed off the dust from his mercenary outfit and straightened his cloak as well. No matter that she was his former disciple, he still needed to observe at least the minimum etiquette when meeting a Young Lady of a noble family alone.
"Please, just do as much as you can so that you do not suffer any major harm." "Yes, understood. Thank you for your consideration."
Derrick politely showed courtesy to Delron and knocked on the large wooden door.
–Knock knock
"C, come in!"
A reply came back that strangely seemed to have force put into the middle of it.
When Derrick confidently opened the door and went inside, Delia was sitting on the sofa on the opposite side of the audience hall, dressed neatly in a black-and-white monotone dress.
*
"You've gotten a bit taller. And you've become more handsome."
"R, really? Derrick, you can even say things like that now. I heard you've been going in and out of Noble Society, and I guess that really is true."
"It is not flattery. It is nice to see you again in Ebelstein."
– "Let's meet again in Ebelstein."
Since parting so cleanly like that in their childhood, both Derrick and Delia had gone through many experiences.
Especially Derrick, compared to when he had entered the Duplein Family as a magic instructor, had learned much more about the culture of Noble Society.
It was something he had internalized by colliding with nobles many times in reality.
That appearance made him look even more mature in Delia's eyes, making the fact that they were meeting again after a long time feel even more real.
Derrick, guided by the servants, handed over the cloak he had been wearing as an outer layer and sat opposite Delia in his mercenary outfit consisting of a leather vest and cotton tunic. The scent of luxurious tea placed on the low tea table was filling the audience hall.
W, why did he get so tall…?
Delia had been training in magic alone for several years, but she had never once forgotten Derrick.
That connection that had come like a bolt of lightning one day had completely changed Delia's life.
Now Delia is spoken of within the Duplein Family as a figure as promising as Aiselin. At the starting point of all of that was this magic master named Derrick.
With achievements like that, one might expect him to at least puff out his chest proudly or act arrogantly in front of the Duplein Family, but this magic master named Derrick, as always, was just calm and indifferent.
That was the strange thing about this mercenary-born magic master. He was simply faithful to his own duties, and he did not show the greedy gaze or the overflowing ambition for success that commoners dealing with nobles often had.
Because that side of him was impressive, Delia had always kept the times she spent with Derrick stored away in a corner of her memories.
But even that was, in truth, only an old memory.
'I, it feels like the difference used to be about half a handspan… Is it because he's a man, and he grows so fast every year? T, then don't I look too much like a child?'
When Delia learned magic from Derrick, his age was only sixteen.
Now that he had finished boyhood and was entering young adulthood, his growth rate could not possibly be the same as Delia, who had just finished childhood.
The height difference had already gone well beyond a handspan, so Delia could not help but be flustered by Derrick's figure, which looked far more reliable than she had imagined.
However, in those distinctive red eyes she had seen in his boyhood, Derrick's old impression still remained.
No matter what anyone said, this man was indeed the magic master who had taken in Delia when everyone else had given up on her back then.
"I am also very happy to hear that you have become the mistress of such a splendid mansion. All I did was teach you a bit of 1-star magic, so it would be strange to say I contributed much."
"N, no… It helped a lot. But I heard you are teaching magic at the Beltus Family now…"
"Yes. For the time being, I plan to help with Young Lady Denise's magic achievement." Did you go there because you wanted to, Derrick?
"The Beltus Family made the request first, and since the conditions were not bad, I accepted."
Strictly speaking, it was also because the Beltus Family was the only one among the three great families with whom he had no prior connection.
However, there was no need to explain such details to Delia. There was no reason to let her know that Derrick was trying to walk a line between the three great families.
"I, I see…"
The servants who were standing quietly with their heads bowed outside the room were in utter shock.
The instructor who had taught magic at the Duplein Family had gone over to the Beltus Family just for the conditions and was now acting as a teacher there.
They thought that if Delia knew that fact, she would not stay quiet. Because she took great pride in being a Young Lady of the Duplein Family.
However, Delia was only lowering her gaze awkwardly.
At that sight, the maids had to bite their lips hard to keep their eyes from popping out.
Who in the world is that modest and gentle girl sitting over there right now?
The maids who had served her for the past few years could only blink their eyes in disbelief. Only the maids who had served her for a long time since the Duplein main house were nodding as if they understood.
"T, the Duplein Family also has good conditions."
"Yes. They offered conditions that were far too generous, but as you know well, Young Lady Aiselin is not someone who needs to be taught, is she?"
"T, that's true. Elder sister has to be perfect."
"And since Young Lady Denise said she was not making much progress in her mastery of magic, I decided to lend a hand for the time being. No matter whom I teach, should I not teach someone for whom my lessons have value?"
"Then what about me?"
"…Pardon?"
At the sudden question, Derrick asked back without thinking.
"No, I'm going to debut in High Society soon too… After the debutante is over, I'll need a private instructor, so I'm asking if you don't have any intention of teaching me."
"If it is Young Lady Delia, I would rather be the one who feels unworthy. I am grateful that you even make such a proposal."
"Really?!"
Delia instantly brightened and jumped up from her seat, but then suddenly realized that she had raised her voice without any dignity and quickly swallowed her breath and sat back down.
Then, after clearing her throat a few times, Delia spoke hesitantly.
"N, no… I'm honored. Derrick is already proven as a teacher, and we already know each other… In fact, there's a line of magic instructors who want to teach me."
"Well, if it's a position as an instructor for the Duplein Family, there must be plenty of people desperate for it. However, as you know, I am currently still under contract with the Beltus Family."
"…"
"Aren't the rules of Noble Society all clearly set? At the very least, as a commoner, I am not allowed to throw away a promise I have already made."
At Derrick's words, Delia's expression grew darker. In truth, Derrick was right.
Unlike Delia, who was a Young Lady of the Duplein Family, Derrick was thoroughly a commoner. If he had directly signed a contract with Duke Beltus, there was no way he would be allowed to break it casually and leave the family.
However, no one knew when that contract would end.
Delia felt her chest grow heavy. Even though Derrick was right in front of her, he was caught in the clutches of that crafty Young Lady Denise, and she could not bring him into the embrace of Duplein.
"Then, as long as we somehow end the contract with the Beltus Family, it'll be fine, right?"
"Pardon?"
"Anyway, you said you're willing to teach me, so I'll just figure out how to solve it on my end."
Derrick briefly examined Delia's expression.
She acts like a gentle lamb in front of Derrick, but at least she had not discarded that tyrant-like temperament.
She was truly prepared to go head-on against Denise.
No matter that she was a Young Lady of the Duplein Family, opposing one of the three most influential Young Ladies of the Rosea Salon would not be easy.
However, she was someone who would not hesitate to do even that for her goal.
"Could you please maintain an amicable relationship with the Rosea Salon?"
At that moment, Derrick cut in and spoke.
As soon as those words fell, all the servants around swallowed their dry saliva and tensed up.
It was advice that many retainers and lower-rank nobles had come and offered, but most of them had been met with scoldings.
One of Young Lady Denise's followers had even had wine poured over his head. It was truly a remark that directly touched Young Lady Delia's reverse scale.
"The Rosea Salon?"
"Yes. To be honest, before even considering the unspoken rules of prestigious families, there is also a personal request mixed in. I have personal ties with the people of the Rosea Salon, so if Young Lady Delia were to oppose them, I would be put in a situation where I would have to take someone's side."
"You're not taking my side?"
"I will speak according to my principles. If I were told to weigh a group where all three great families' Young Ladies are gathered against just Young Lady Delia alone, how could someone as insignificant as a mere commoner like me avoid being swept up by the greater current?
Originally, weak commoners can only be scattered by strong winds. That is the way of the world."
At this point, even Head butler Delron had no choice but to swallow his dry saliva.
He knew that Derrick was someone who always spoke according to his principles, but he had never imagined that he would pour out such words in front of Delia, who was like a wild beast.
No matter how reasonable the story is, it is not easy to openly say that it is hard to take your side.
Delia's anger does not always follow reason and logic. In fact, not only Delia, but human emotions in general are always like that.
If one were to make such a statement filled with principles, no one knows what kind of harm might come.
However, Derrick spoke firmly without changing his expression at all.
And at Delia's ensuing reaction, the servants all had to struggle not to fall over backward in disbelief.
"T, I see…?" "…"
"T, but why would you make such a request, Derrick?"
"Wouldn't it be too regrettable if distance were to grow between me and Young Lady Delia over something like this? In any case, you are the first person I taught, and personally, I have received a lot from you. Since I have received so much kindness, I would like to maintain an amicable relationship with you as well."
"I feel the same. Right, if I bare my teeth at the Rosea Salon, you'd also be put in a difficult position, Derrick. Hmm… Hm…."
Delia crossed her arms and groaned.
Where in the world did that tyrant who would dismiss and chase away anyone no matter what they said go?
Not only the servants, but even Head butler Delron had not expected a situation like this, and they could only look back and forth between the two.
"O, okay. I'll try."
"Thank you very much for your consideration."
Who in the world could put a leash around the neck of this dark lioness who tries to dominate the whole world?
In truth, the answer was not that far away.
*
[ Application for Admission ]
Delia Catherine Duplein
The three Young Ladies who came to the next meeting of the Rosea Salon were quietly looking at the documents placed on the round table between them.
There lay Delia's application for admission to the salon, something that not only the three great families' Young Ladies but even her own elder sister Aiselin had been unable to persuade her to do.
Derrick had personally received it when he visited Delia's mansion not long ago.
"…"
Ellente, in disbelief, had to examine the authenticity of the document for a moment.
However, the seal of the Duplein Family stamped on the application was not something that could be forged lightly.
When she glanced sideways at Aiselin, Aiselin herself also had an expression of disbelief, and as for Denise, she was swallowing her dry saliva.
"What in the world did he do for a document like this to actually exist…?"
At Ellente's words, there was no one who could give a clear answer.
Delia was someone who possessed arrogance that pierced the sky and a stubbornness like a tyrant, but for some reason, she had a tendency to completely fold in front of Derrick's words.
Now that they knew that fact, they had no choice but to assign new meaning to the value of that white-haired mercenary.
In fact, all those called magic masters who circulated in High Society were like that. There was always a reason they were desperate to take famous people as their disciples.