Chapter 105

On Sunday afternoon, the equestrian instructor arrives. I highly hope the riding club sorted itself out by next year, when Princess Jane is scheduled to join.

Yes, indeed—since horseback riding is my absolute weakness, I am intentionally distracting myself.

“Oh, that’s right. I need to ask Wyatt about Matthew’s wages.”

To tackle the assignments for Business Management and Economics, I explicitly need to know the going rate for wages.

“Wyatt, do you have a moment?”

I’m certain he has absolutely no idea what I’m about to ask this time.

“Yes, my lady. Do you require something?”

He doesn’t know! I feel like I’ve won a minor victory.

“For this term’s Business Management, we are required to launch a business with a seed capital of 10 loams. If I don’t know the proper wage rates, I won’t be able to calculate labor costs. That’s why I wish to know Matthew’s wages.”

Wyatt sank into deep thought for a moment.

“Matthew is still an apprentice footman. Therefore, his wages are exceptionally meager. He receives 100 coppers.”

“Let’s see… is that his weekly pay?”

Apparently not. Wow, labor costs in this fantasy world are remarkably cheap. Mind you, clothes, food, and housing are provided as part of the arrangement, but isn’t that far too low? Could it be because the Granger family is so poor? My passing thought must have shown on my face, as Wyatt quickly corrected me.

“My lady, this is the standard rate of pay across the kingdom. In fact, it is even lower in the rural provinces. Many employers believe that providing food, clothing, and shelter is entirely sufficient for an apprentice. It is only after they complete their apprenticeship and become full-fledged workers that they command a proper wage.”

I wonder if Carrie and Mimi, whom I met during Cosmetology, are forced to work for such meager wages too? Ever since arriving in this world, I’ve been entirely absorbed in turning around the impoverished state of the Granger household, and things have finally improved a tiny bit. I suppose if I had reincarnated into Mimi’s body instead, managing a household would be the least of my worries. On top of that, I wouldn’t even have been permitted to attend the academy. It really is a harsh reality. For reference, George, a senior footman, receives 5 loams. Can someone actually make a living on that? Or is it somehow sustainable?

I spent the morning keeping my younger brothers company. We played jump rope, rode wooden stilts, and shared games of beanbag toss and Reversi. Since supervising their studies seems perfectly safe in Father’s hands, I need to make sure they get some play time!

In the afternoon, the equestrian instructor arrived. Father claimed he was far too busy and declined to join us. I have absolutely no idea what keeps him so occupied when he is technically suspended from his post. Henry rode his horse magnificently. And Nacius did splendidly as well.

“Starting next time, let us incorporate jumping hurdles into our practice,” the instructor suggested.

Isn’t a maneuver like that far too dangerous? I fret internally, but the two boys are absolutely thrilled. As for me? I only rode for a tiny bit. After all, I did faint on Friday. I’m not spinning tall tales, I swear!

“Is Lady Angela making steady progress with her riding?” I asked, privately worrying about my quiet cousin.

“Lady Angela is applying herself diligently,” the instructor replied, but from his subtle nuance, I didn’t catch the impression that she actually enjoys it. As I thought, she seems far better suited for music. Regardless, I have no choice but to leave that matter entirely to her mother, Aunt Racine.

Once the riding instructor took his leave, it was already time to head back to the academy. I gathered up the fabric scraps left over from when I crafted my dress using the silk Aunt Charlotte gave me, and prepared to head to the dormitory.

“What do you intend to do with such scraps, my lady?” Mary asked, looking entirely bewildered.

“Fufufu, I intend to utilize them in Dyeing class. I want to try dipping them into all sorts of vibrant colors.”

Mary raised absolutely no objections regarding Dyeing. While modern noblewomen rarely engage in it, not too long ago, dyeing was considered a vital accomplishment for a lady. In the rural provinces especially, it was standard practice to dye and hoist the family banner yourself. I’m certain my mother, Julianne, must have practiced dyeing as well.

After arriving at the dormitory, I was deeply absorbed in reading the second-year Law textbook President Albert gave me, when Sophie knocked to inform me that Princess Margaret had arrived.

“Princess Margaret, do you require any assistance?”

Looking thoroughly drained, Princess Margaret instructed Sophie to brew some black tea.

“Sit right here, Patience. I am utterly exhausted after this weekend. Mother praised me highly for registering for Penmanship and Embroidery. That part went wonderfully well, but the moment I began grumbling about the overhauls made to Cooking and Sewing, she gave me a horrific scolding. I am immensely relieved just to be back at the dormitory.”

Once the tea was served and Sophie was dismissed, the two of us sat down to perform a final check on our course registration forms.

“Patience, what on earth is your ultimate goal?” she sighed in absolute bewilderment. “Alchemy paired with Magic Arrays, and to top it all off, Pharmacy alongside Herbology. Do you fully intend to switch your track to the mage course entirely?” Yep, I’ll admit my schedule looks completely chaotic.

“I simply went around registering for every single subject that captured my interest, and it somehow dissolved into this,” I replied defensively.

Afterward, she sighed, “I’m entirely drained, so please play a new piece for me.”

“I haven’t quite refined them enough to transcribe them onto sheet music yet, but if you are content with that, I shall play,” I noted, offering a brief caveat before launching into ‘Waltz of the Young Cat’ and ‘Nocturne’.

“My word, that was exquisite! You must hurry up and write down the sheet music. I fully intend to perform ‘Tristesse’ for the Aoba Festival, but ‘Nocturne’ sounds remarkably tempting as well.”

Princess Margaret then shared that she was currently right in the middle of composing a brand-new piece of her own.

“It is an exceptionally spirited, uplifting song.”

Princess Margaret looked thoroughly delighted.

“It truly is, isn’t it? I’ve titled it ‘Song of the Youth’. I believe it will form a magnificent pairing alongside ‘Tristesse’. Though, I must admit your ‘Nocturne’ is incredibly difficult to cast aside as well.”

We became so entirely absorbed in our musical discussion that the ongoing turmoil surrounding the knights club slipped my mind completely.

Come Monday morning, we are required to formally submit our course registration forms during homeroom. Fortunately, since Princess Margaret and I double-checked ours countless times, everything is in perfect order.

“Morning, everyone. Go ahead and pass forward your registration forms.”

Yep, Mr. Cuthbert really is entirely hopeless as a homeroom teacher. If it were Mr. Kepner, he would be actively taking questions and offering proper student support.

Several students who were drafting a course schedule for the very first time looked exceptionally anxious.

“Mr. Cuthbert, what exactly happens if someone accidentally omits a core mandatory subject?” Phillips asked, raising his hand. He asked questions during Business Management and Economics too; he truly is the type to actively speak up whenever he lacks clarity.

“If you omit a mandatory subject, you automatically fail the year. Well, I’m sure none of you are that foolish anyway.”

A collective sigh swept through the entire Class A. This teacher is completely useless—a total meathead.

“Patience, which exact slots did you choose for Alchemy, Magic Arrays, Herbology, and Pharmacy?” Benjamin asked, leaning over to peer at my registration form. “Oh! We share the exact same time slots. I look forward to working with you! …Wait, we share the same slot, yet you’re registered for Pharmacy II?”

I can sense a wave of bizarre stares flying at me from the male students on the civil servant track. I suppose anyone on the mage track is automatically treated like an absolute eccentric.

“Yes. Ms. Machias explicitly stated that if Pharmacy II failed to fit into my free periods, I was more than welcome to attend during the Pharmacy I slot.”

While Benjamin was tilting his head in bewilderment, murmuring, “Huh… to think the Ms. Machias would allow that,” Bryce walked over to join us.

“Since you share the exact same slots as Benjamin, it means we’ll be taking everything together except for Alchemy. I look forward to your company.”

So Bryce shares the exact same slots as well, excluding Alchemy, which I’ve already tested out of. Up until this point, the atmosphere was perfectly friendly and delightful. Yet, the moment Andrew entered the fray, it instantly dissolved into a squabble.

“Did you two seriously go and register for the exact same classes? Why did you not consult with me first?!”

I guess even teenage boys have a desperate urge to cluster in tight groups.

“Why on earth should our schedules be required to align with yours?” Benjamin retorted. He truly possesses a magnificent knack for picking fights with Andrew. I am by no means praising him, mind you.

“Would you prefer to switch your registration to match our classes, Andrew?” Bryce offered. He really is remarkably kind, though I have a feeling he is going to suffer immensely trying to play mediator between Benjamin and Andrew.

I quietly backed away from the trio, who were currently bickering over copying notes. The moment I did, I was caught by Phillips.

“Lady Patience, what subjects did you select?”

Ever since that grand apology, Phillips has explicitly taken to addressing me as “Lady.” It feels incredibly ticklish.

“I decided to take the classes highly recommended by a senior in my club. However, since I’ve never sat through a single lecture for World History, Geography, or Diplomacy, I am a bit anxious.”

Scanning my registration form, Phillips let out a warm laugh.

“You have managed to select the absolute finest lineup of teachers who deliver the most fascinating lectures. In fact, I am registered for those exact same slots myself. World History, Geography, and Diplomacy are all exceptionally rewarding and highly engaging, I assure you.”

Brilliant! So they genuinely are interesting classes. I let out a massive sigh of relief.

“Regardless, Lady Patience, looking at this form, I can’t decipher which specific track you are actually pursuing at all.”

“Yes, indeed,” I replied, feeling a tiny bit embarrassed. It makes me look terribly greedy, after all.

“Alright, hurry up and pass those forms down!” Mr. Cuthbert bellowed, watching the students check each other’s schedules and trade notes. Honestly, shouldn’t the homeroom teacher be the one actively checking the forms?

Regardless, every single student passed theirs forward. After all, failing to submit means automatically failing the year.

“In the end, Patience, the only classes we get to share together are Foreign Language, Sewing, and Penmanship,” Princess Margaret noted with a sigh. “I shall apply myself with everything I have to test out of Etiquette quickly.”

With that, Princess Margaret and I parted ways until lunchtime. Monday’s schedule is absolutely packed with lectures I’ve never experienced before.