Chapter 55 :

Bloodstained Ball (2)

Derrick is an outsider.

When he came to his senses, he had been flung into a world with no connections whatsoever, and had to roll through life in the slums just to put food in his mouth.

There were quite a few people he had grown attached to, but there were not many who stayed by Derrick’s side for long. The journey of life branches out in many directions, and it is rare for those paths to overlap for a long time.

If someone were to ask him what the most important element in his life was, he would answer: achievement.

Valerian is the eldest son of the Duplein Ducal House.

Born with a noble Bloodline, receiving everyone’s expectations, he grew into an outstanding and kind person as if to live up to them.

He lived in a wealthy environment, lacking nothing and enjoying many things, and he loved his family, who had always been with him in such a life, more than anyone else.

His father and mother who trusted and supported him, his reliable second younger brother, and his lovely younger sisters…. If someone were to ask him what the most important element in his life was, he would answer without hesitation: family.

The two men differed in background, differed in the environment they had lived in, differed in values, and differed in their goals in life.

–Therefore, their words could not help but be different as well.

Drest Wolftail, who had set out on the journey toward the north, stared blankly at the vast coastal region spread out before him.

They say the journey of life unfolds differently for each person, but the boundless open sea without any routes sometimes leaves people feeling at a loss.

As you live, it is only natural to lose your way on it from time to time.

*

The debut in High Society of a Young Lady backed by a gigantic Family Head like the Duplein family goes beyond being merely splendid and becomes truly grand.

The ball held at the family’s mansion was also opened on a scale beyond what one could normally imagine.

Not only the main house of that magnificent mansion, but also the spires in all directions and all kinds of annex buildings were all scheduled to be mobilized as spaces for the event.

The number of attendees was also enormous.

First of all, among the lower-rank noble, figures at the level of each family’s Family Head attended. When attending a social event of a high-ranking noble like the Duplein family, sending a proxy from a half-baked family would be a great discourtesy.

There were cases where a proxy had to be sent due to military duties or Imperial Palace business, but…. If they could attend, it was better for the Family Head to come in person.

Since events like this ball are not held often, all kinds of famous figures from each region of the Empire gather.

Even if you cannot build particularly close connections, it is a chance to at least leave your face known.

Just looking at the lineup of visitors already known, it was dazzling to the point of being blinding.

From the Belmiard Count family, where the Margrave Belmiard sits as the Family Head, Young Lady Ellente, said to be the most prestigious successor, was scheduled to attend as a proxy in person.

It was a choice befitting Margrave Belmiard, who always tries to send out Ellente to such important occasions.

And there were also many rumors that the Beltus family had sent Young Lady Denise in person.

In fact, Derrick had planned to attend as a proxy, but Denise had rushed in fiercely and persuaded the Duke herself, saying she would go along.

–Dakadak, dakadak.

In the end, Denise was riding together in this carriage heading for the Duplein mansion.

"There are all kinds of rumors that the Duplein family is constantly keeping an eye on you, so how could I send you alone into such a tiger’s den, Derrick. I’ll participate in person, so you just support me."

If she was that worried, she could simply not send Derrick at all, but looking at Derrick’s connections, it was not something she could completely block.

He was someone treated like an honored guest by the Duplein family, and also someone the Belmiard family considered themselves greatly indebted to.

In any case, his influence could not be ignored. No one knew how it might work later.

That was why Young Lady Denise had allowed Derrick to attend on the condition that he support her.

"For me, well, I’ve received a lot from the Duplein family… so I’d like to show some sincerity if I can on this kind of occasion."

Derrick just said it with an indifferent expression, without much thought.

In any case, going to the Duplein family meant he would get to see quite a few familiar faces.

"I heard a huge number of distinguished guests are attending. I’ve only met nobles from the southwestern part of the Empire, so I don’t really know what kind of people the nobles from other places are."

"Do you think I’m that different? At most, there might be a lot of nobles from the Imperial Capital in the central region. Other than that, there probably aren’t that many families as influential as the southwest."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. To begin with, it’s rare for three noble houses in one region to be fighting for power. If you listen to stories from other regions, in the end there’s usually one powerful family that swallows everything."

Denise brushed back her silver-gray hair and then began to braid it carefully, strand by strand.

She must have gotten bored from the long journey. In the end, all she could do was chat.

"Well, it’s impossible to memorize the entire list of attendees. You just need to remember the big names. From the north, it seems someone called Sir Roilark is coming….. And from the Count Elvester family in the east, someone called Young Lady Freya, the Count’s daughter, is coming."

"… The Count Elvester family?"

"Yeah. Why? Do you know someone? You wouldn’t know a noble living on the opposite end of the continent, but….."

In truth, Derrick had almost never left the southwestern part of this continent.

However, the Count Elvester family was a place he had heard of once.

It was something that had happened quite a while ago now.

– “A letter came from Margrave Elvester. He sent a request saying he wants to appoint me as a private tutor in the county.”

"… It’s the family my master is affiliated with."

"Master? Derrick’s master? Are you talking about Drest Wolftail?"

"No. Before that, there was a master who helped me open my eyes to magic."

"I-is that so? The more I dig into your past, the more things keep popping out."

There was a fallen noble called Katia Flameheart.

She was someone who had stayed in Ebelstein and looked after Derrick’s magic, and after living like that for several years, she left for the Elvester family.

If it was Young Lady Freya of the Count Elvester family, then she was certainly a disciple of Katia Flameheart.

"So she’s someone who shares the same master as me. I feel like I’d like to meet her at least once."

"Young Lady Freya? She’s certainly famous in the eastern part of the Empire as a good person, but…. I’ve never met her in person, so I don’t really know. Events like this social debut of Young Lady Delia aren’t held that often."

A ball of a similar scale had been held for Young Lady Aiselin’s debut, but it seemed she hadn’t attended back then.

"In a way, she’s like a senior or junior fellow disciple of yours, right? Even if you’ve never seen her face."

"You could say that. If she received Master Katia’s teachings for a long time, there’s a high chance she’s quite outstanding."

"I don’t think I’ve really heard how far her realm of magic has reached…. "

From time to time, letters from Katia would arrive from the Count Elvester family.

Recently they had become much less frequent, but about once a year they would still exchange news. As for Young Lady Freya, it was all praise, so he didn’t think she would be a bad person.

Aside from that, it seemed that Lord Melberot’s uncle from the north, Robenkheim, the Countess Adellen who visited on behalf of Lord Delros, the leader of the south, and even Chancellor Polonkert and chief magic advisor Kohela from the Imperial Palace had been dispatched.

Each and every one of them was a heavyweight who commanded hundreds or thousands of people.

Most of them had come as proxies, but just having people of that level gathered was enough to decide the broad direction of the nation.

"They say Young Lady Ellente is also at the ballroom, and I should also pay my respects separately to Young Lady Aiselin. I probably won’t be able to greet Duke Duplein in person, but… if I get the chance, I should also greet Young Lady Delia, who is the star of the event."

“....”

"I also owe head butler Delron and head maid Katarina, so I should at least show my face once….. And if possible, I’d like to ask Young Lady Freya about Master Katia’s well-being, but since we don’t know each other, I probably can’t just talk to her…"

"Derrick….. listening to you talk, you already sound like a noble."

"… Well, there’s no good in overstepping my bounds."

"No, it feels like you have wider connections than most lower-rank noble."

Denise said that while folding her arms and snorting.

Indeed, while working in the Noble Society of Ebelstein, Derrick had come to know more and more people in many ways.

He sometimes also built friendships with people from the Veldern Mercenary Corps and other mercenaries from the Tavern District. Even the lower-rank noble of Ebelstein might end up envying Derrick’s connections.

On top of that, his magic skill had reached quite a high level.

Although it wasn’t widely known yet, Derrick had already surpassed the realm of 3-star. Considering his age, he had reached a level that even higher-rank noble would narrow their eyes and be wary of. If he didn’t have a large family backing him, he was entering a stage where he really had to worry about his personal safety.

"Between your magic skill and how naturally you mix into the Noble Society….. if you build up merits later, you might even receive at least one title."

"Well… even though I probably shouldn’t say this in front of a noble, I’ve heard that higher-rank noble are extremely conservative and exclusive, so even the Emperor is quite stingy when it comes to granting new titles."

"Well, it’s an open secret now that Emperor Gertrel spends all day watching the higher-rank noble’s reactions…. But you never know."

Derrick held his chin and thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Well. I don’t think playing the noble role suits me very well."

"I think so too."

For some reason, Denise burst out laughing.

She wasn’t particularly fond of High Society activities, but in any case, this was the first time she was going out to an official event accompanied by Derrick.

She didn’t know why, but she seemed to be in high spirits and kept snorting through her nose. That appearance lacked dignity, and the gap from her usual self was quite large.

Derrick smiled awkwardly as he looked at Denise like that.

*

"It’s been a while, Katarina."

When Derrick greeted her while handing over the luggage, head maid Katarina bowed her head and accepted it.

Strictly speaking, she wasn’t someone who should bow her head to a mercenary of commoner origin, but within the Duplein family, Derrick was treated almost on par with a lower-rank noble.

Perhaps that fact really hit home, because Denise, who got down from the carriage with Derrick, was surprised.

"The Duplein family’s head maid personally showing courtesy, you really do have some name value, huh?"

At the level of this mansion’s head maid, even bowing her head carelessly was not allowed. She was one of the faces representing the mansion.

"It is a great honor that the Young Lady of the Beltus family has visited in person. Duke Duplein is currently receiving guests in his office. It would be good if you could visit once during the ball to pay your respects, but it is crowded right now, so I recommend visiting after the banquet."

"Yes, thank you. It doesn’t seem like the ball has started yet, will you prepare a separate room for us?"

"Yes. Please rest comfortably in the west wing lounge area. We will prepare a private room, so please receive guidance from the servants on the west wing side."

The front gate of the Duplein mansion was crowded with a procession of all kinds of luxurious and magnificent carriages.

Each family sent their most splendid carriage, trying not to be outdone, and the appearance looked as if they were boasting their clothes to each other.

Derrick quietly watched that sight, nodded silently, and then, as if being sucked in, entered the Duplein mansion that he was visiting again after a long time.

It was a mansion whose structure he already knew well, but today, for some reason, it looked a little unfamiliar.