Noble Lady Reformation Guide

The news of Emperor Gattrel’s death had spread across the entire continent, plunging many into mourning, while the central political situation spiraled toward chaos.

However, large-scale circumstances of that kind were, in most cases, matters that concerned only the high nobles of the center.

Stories that unfold above the clouds rarely manage to take root among common people.

After all, bad news is still just bad news.

As if confirming that fact, the early morning of Ebelstein continued to brim with vitality.

“They say that when the academy reopens, the direct disciples of the Ravenclaw faction will stand before the students as great seniors. Just imagining it already feels so beautiful and admirable that I truly envy them!”

In the noble district of Ebelstein, the most renowned teahouse was the one known as Adelbert’s Library.

While enjoying the spring aroma that had already fully settled in, several influential young noblewomen were gathered, chatting animatedly, as if the scene itself were a carefully painted portrait.

Seated at the center, drinking tea with elegant composure, was Trisha, the young lady of the emerging and increasingly renowned comital Renuel family.

She set her cup down on the saucer and, smiling delicately, replied.

“It’s really not worthy of such praise. Hoho. After all, as the youngest disciple of the Ravenclaw faction, I still have many shortcomings and much to learn.”

“I-it can’t be…! Even so, from the moment you became a direct disciple of Ravenclaw, you already achieved something that most young noblewomen of Ebelstein desire with all their hearts…!”

“I saw her during the academy founding event. She looked so beautiful and noble… it was as if she were shining!”

Trisha, who already had her own group of admirers, listened to those compliments with her shoulders trembling slightly with emotion.

Pride began to swell, enthusiasm rose like hot steam—but a true expert does not raise her voice or show arrogance at that point.

It is enough to shrug slightly, take a step back, and appear humble.

That way, the praise will come on its own.

Trisha had perfectly understood that subtle formula of advance and retreat.

Her self-esteem filled to the point of overflowing.

She could not stop the euphoria boiling up from the depths of her chest.

That desire for recognition, satisfied again and again, had such an exquisite flavor that it seemed capable of making her addicted.

‘This taste… yes… this is the taste!’

Trisha let out giggles again and again, enjoying an almost heavenly happiness amid those who would not stop praising her.

“If there’s anything you want to ask me, you can do so anytime. Even if I’m only the youngest disciple of the Ravenclaw faction, I still keep in contact with the young ladies of the Duplain, Belmierd, Beltus, and Rochester families. If the opportunity arises or I have time, I could even pass along a message for you…”

“R-really…? Well, of course… Lady Diella or Lady Ellen as well… if you wish, they could meet with us anytime to chat…”

“It’s as if she were a figure of influence both in Ebelstein and in the Rose Hall… If at any point I was discourteous to you… r-right now… r-right now I apologize…!”

“Huhuhu, uhu. There’s no need to get so nervous. Even if I am a young lady of the comital Renuel family and a direct disciple of the Ravenclaw faction, first and foremost I’m still just an ordinary girl. I also like chatting with others, drinking good tea, and enjoying the spring breeze, just like anyone else. You don’t need to look at me as if I were up in the clouds…”

“Lady Trisha…!”

“How charming…!”

“…What are you doing?”

It was precisely when Trisha, completely intoxicated by self-satisfaction, was waving her arms as if conducting a theatrical performance together with her followers.

From within the crowd appeared a short young woman—Siern, the young lady of the Rochester family, regarded as the Ravenclaw faction’s disciple with the highest magical level.

With eyes narrowed into crescent moons, she looked at her as if she could not believe what she was seeing.

On her way back to the palace after receiving lessons from Dereck, she had seen Trisha making such a spectacle in broad daylight and could not help but intervene.

“Hiieek…!”

“…”

Siern, unlike most young noblewomen, did not concern herself much with her appearance.

Except when she saw her father, Melverot, whom she deeply revered, or when she was with Dereck, she usually limited herself to simple grooming and wearing only minimal adornments.

She wore a flared skirt as small as her own body and a light tunic; her poorly arranged bangs parted awkwardly at the center of her forehead.

Even so, the servants did not rush to fix her, because she herself clearly showed annoyance when they did.

“L-lady… Lady Siern. A-are you well…?”

“…”

The moment she saw Siern, Trisha froze, her face completely pale and cold sweat running down her skin.

Learned fear.

The terror she had felt when Siern had beaten her mercilessly during a magical duel had, for the first time in her life, engraved the fear of death deep into her being.

For someone like Trisha, raised like a flower in a greenhouse, being struck without mercy was a truly terrifying experience.

Even now, every time she saw Siern, she felt phantom pain in her right shoulder and in one of her thighs.

Siern observed her with an expressionless gaze, nodded slightly, and then turned away without another word.

“Yeah. Take care.”

“Y-yes!!! W-wishing you good health!!! P-please be careful!!!”

After responding with almost military discipline, Siern covered her ears and walked away again with light, swaying steps.

When the atmosphere finally calmed down again, Trisha’s followers began to murmur once more.

“G-goodness… that’s Lady Siern of the ducal Rochester family. They say there’s no one her age with a higher magical level than hers…”

“Lady T-Trisha gets along with someone like that so naturally…! As expected… she lives in a world completely different from that of low-ranking nobles…!”

Turning her back, in a place where no one could see her, Trisha took deep breaths again and again.

Diella, Ellen, Denise, and now Siern…

Each belonged to a completely different category, and for someone as weak-tempered as her, it was almost suffocating.

Thanks to Dereck’s dedication, Trisha had advanced beyond the initial level of a 1-star mage relatively quickly.

However, the other direct disciples of different factions were refining their magic at a speed that admitted no comparison.

The one with the highest level was Siern, who gave the impression of already being well into the mid-range of 3 stars.

Ellen and Denise seemed to be in the early stages of 3 stars, and Diella also appeared to have reached the latter part of 2 stars.

All of them had achieved absurd progress for their age, so it was no surprise that the Ravenclaw faction’s disciples were gaining so much fame.

They were people who moved in a completely different league from Trisha, who was still struggling in the 1-star range.

It was difficult not to feel intimidated.

Even so, Trisha cleared her throat several times and raised her voice again, speaking with enthusiasm.

“Ahaha… it seems the conversation was suddenly interrupted. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to run into Lady Siern in a place like this. As you’ve seen, we have a very close relationship… and we also meet frequently within the faction… so we usually greet each other and chat cheerfully like that.”

“Ah, I see…! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen Lady Siern raise her voice like that!”

“At first glance, Lady Siern may seem like a cold person… but that’s not always the case. She’s very approachable, very straightforward, and shows another side of herself in front of people she trusts and understands well. It’s a side that’s hard to know unless you’re close… but when you often cross paths within the faction…”

“Oh, right. Trisha.”

“Hiiek!”

When Siern suddenly returned and tossed those words at her in passing, Trisha nearly collapsed on the spot.

“Dereck told me to let you know in advance that he might come to visit the comital Renuel family next time.”

“Y-yeeeeees!!!”

Faced with Siern’s sudden message, Trisha responded with all the strength she could muster.

Whatever the case, her sense of hierarchy seemed to be engraved directly into her genes.

***

“Is something… wrong?”

“Being the youngest disciple of the Ravenclaw faction is not good for the heart at all…”

“…”

Although there was still some time before the official opening, Dereck spent most of his day on the grounds of the Ravenclaw Academy.

It was closer to Ebelstein and, moreover, it was a fairly suitable place for the other young ladies to visit him.

It was ideal for constantly supervising magical training, the facilities were good, and if necessary, he could head directly to Ebelstein.

For that very reason, he could also summon Trisha so easily.

“Did… someone do something to you? It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone capable of that…”

“No, it’s not that… it’s nothing. In any case, I heard that you plan to visit the comital Renuel family…”

“Yes. As I mentioned last time, before formally receiving the title of count, I intend to meet with all the nobles of the surrounding territories. And also… there is another matter that is even more important that I wish to discuss.”

“More important?”

“It is related to a necromantic mage.”

Upon hearing that, Trisha did not add anything further.

Countess Rodelia was known as a true nemesis of necromantic mages, having subjugated Rodents Island.

Her transformation magic, her expert swordsmanship, and even her sacred blood sword capable of cutting spirits made her, for mages of the necromantic system, practically a reaper.

There was even a saying going around that if one were ever to get involved with a necromantic mage, the first thing to do was to go to Countess Rodelia.

“I understand… well, I won’t ask for more details. But if you are going to set a date, we may need to check the schedule. My mother is currently in the White Zone.”

“Did she go on an expedition to subjugate a labyrinth?”

“That’s right. She will probably return before the end of spring, so I will get in touch soon. If it’s you, Sir Dereck… she will surely receive you favorably.”

Dereck nodded and handed Trisha a glass of water.

Probably because seeing her break out in a cold sweat had seemed rather pitiful.

Also, before coming there, Trisha had run into Diella and had to endure all kinds of scoldings.

Diella, the central figure of the Duplain family, was known for exploding in anger even over the smallest matters, so simply crossing paths with her was enough to be intimidated.

That she behaved like an elegant and reserved young noble lady only happened when she was in front of Aiselin or Dereck.

Everyone already knew that.

“By the way… I heard that when the academy opens, the direct disciples will separately guide the new students…”

“That matter is still under document review but it seems the rumor is already circulating among the applicants.”

“Y-yes… t-that seems to be the case.”

“It’s not that complicated.”

With his arms crossed, Dereck spoke as if he were mentioning it in passing.

“The academy’s main dormitory, Amaryllis House, is larger than I expected, so I’m thinking of dividing its interior into five wings.”

“R-really?”

“We’ll classify the dormitories in greater detail by floors and locations. Each wing will bear the name of a flower, and the main persons in charge of each will be my direct disciples.”

“……Ugh.”

Trisha held her breath as cold sweat ran down her back.

That meant that, just like the other direct disciples, she would have to lead the new students under her command and take responsibility for educating the young ladies from a completely equivalent position.

Diella had been born with leadership qualities.

Ellen, from the very beginning, was someone with the temperament of a ruler.

Denise, in addition to being intelligent, was shrewd.

As for Siern, although she had a rather egocentric personality, she was still an unknown variable but, whatever happened, she was also not someone comparable to Trisha.

Thus, the Ravenclaw Academy would be divided into five dormitory groups and continue its training in that manner.

That meant that, as the representative figures of each group, they would exert broad and lasting influence in the future.

‘T-that it would come to something like this…?’

Being a direct disciple of the Ravenclaw faction was not simply an honorary position that only served to inflate one’s ego a little.

“Lady Trisha’s portrait will also be hung in the Hall of Wisdom on the third floor of Amaryllis House. I will soon send a painter to the Renuel comital mansion, so you will only need to prepare yourself properly and cooperate.”

“W-what…? Does that mean my portrait will remain hanging on that wall until Amaryllis House closes?”

“Well… if the academy’s history lasts long enough, some exemplary stories will surely circulate as well. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Trisha was drenched in cold sweat.

“I-I’m starting to get nervous…”

“Nervous?”

“No, it’s not nervousness, it’s excitement! Excitement! Ohoho! At last the world is beginning to recognize my worth! W-without a doubt, all of this is thanks to my nobility and dignity, which have captivated so many!”

Trisha, unable to lower her haughty nose even on the verge of collapse, puffed herself up with bravado as best she could.

However, her pale face was covered in sweat.

One way or another, competing from the same position as the other direct disciples of the Ravenclaw faction was not going to be easy.

“In any case, I hope you can become an example for many. As I told you before, I am more focused on magical education than on the cultivation of ladies, and Lady Aiselin, who is an expert in that field, cannot handle all the students by herself.”

“You have found the right person. I myself could be said to be the perfect example of a lady.”

Saying that, Trisha let out an even more exaggerated laugh.

She was the type of talent who would keep laughing even in the middle of hell.

“T-then… I will inform my family.”

Rising from her seat, that was all she managed to say.

Creaak.

‘It might end up being a big gamble.’

After seeing off Trisha, who left the room with a tense expression, Dereck remained alone in his office and once again carefully reviewed the documents containing information about Countess Rodelia.

The monstrosity of Rodents Island, a woman who had spent her entire life hunting and executing necromantic mages.

That warrior valued Dereck highly, but only because she did not know him fully.

Dereck was someone who had received magical instruction directly from Fina, a 6-star necromantic mage.

If she were to find out that fact, her reaction would be completely unpredictable.

‘Even so, when it’s time to bet, you have to bet. As long as Lady Trisha is part of the Ravenclaw faction, she’s already in the same boat as me.’

Pressing his brow hard, Dereck put on his robe and rose from his seat.