Chapter 118

I am thrilled after Father tells me about my reward for helping Prince Richard with the salt-making. Plus, the greenhouse got bigger, too.

“I wonder what I should plant? When spring comes, it might be nice to cut some unusually colored roses from the academy gardens and plant them. If medicinal herbs sell well, I could grow those, too.”

Thinking about making money always cheers me up.

“Sister, I’m glad you were able to consult with Father.”

Wait, Nacius went back to calling me “Sister” normally again. I guess using the more formal title earlier was just because it was an emergency? Either way is fine with me. Just as his way of addressing me gradually changes, I suppose my place in Nacius’s heart will shift, too. Once he enters the Royal Academy, he’ll make more friends, and my presence might slowly grow smaller. It feels a bit lonely, but I want him to make plenty of friends.

In the afternoon, I teach my younger brothers music and dancing. Having them pair up and dance together is so cute. Since I’ve made several new practice pieces for the piano, both of them are enjoying playing them.

“Nacius, you have to play your finger exercises, too.”

The exercises Patience owned are boring, but they are great for finger practice. I need to make Nacius practice them properly.

After that, it’s time for my Glee Club homework. I really am weak to pressure, aren’t I? I play the piano while recalling love songs from my past life. I’ve played quite a few, but I’m not sure if this will actually turn into an opera.

Still, songs like “Amazing Grace” are lovely. It makes me want to sing along, but I only know the lyrics from my past life. As I hum the tune, Nacius hums along with me.

“Sister, that’s a lovely song.”

“It is, isn’t it? But I’m not very good at writing lyrics. This is a song meant to be offered to God.”

Since it was a hymn in my past life, that’s not a lie. Even so, while I can recall the tunes and play them, writing them down as sheet music is really tough.

“Ah, Samuel seems like he’d be good at this, though.”

I stay in the dorms, while Samuel is a day student. I can only get his help on the weekends.

“Hey, Nacius, don’t you want to meet our cousin? I’m thinking of inviting Samuel over.”

Normally, I wouldn’t want anyone interfering with my time with my brothers, but I am truly terrible at transcribing sheet music. I write a letter in my room asking Samuel for help and have Mary deliver it. The Earl of Northcote’s estate is right nearby. Honestly, Aunt Liliana—no matter how much she married into another family—sure was good at turning a blind eye to our impoverished life. Hmph!

Well, maybe she was just angry at Father for staying unemployed. From an Earl’s family’s perspective, they probably didn’t want to look after relatives who were both poor and unwilling to work. While I am thinking about that, a reply arrives.

“Tomorrow afternoon, huh? It can’t be helped.”

I actually wanted help right away, but it’s already past afternoon tea time. The Granger family doesn’t have the elegant habit of tea time, but it’s too late in the day to visit someone else’s estate. It’s also bad manners to visit in the morning, especially close to noon. Hear that, Prince Richard!

I bet the Earl of Angus’s family went out of their way to prepare lunch for us. Well, we left without eating it, though. If that happened at the Granger house, it would be such a blow that we’d be stuck eating thin soup for days. I guess that doesn’t matter to an Earl’s family, though.

I tell Wyatt that I’ll head to the dorms tomorrow evening. While I’m at it, I have a question for him.

“Wyatt, can low-grade herbs and low-grade health potions be sold?”

Wyatt puts on a serious face.

“Low-grade herbs sell for a bit more in the winter, but in the spring, novice adventurers gather them in large quantities, so the price drops. As for low-grade health potions, you cannot sell them without a apothecary license.”

That makes sense. My high-grade health potions are being sold because Professor Mathias gave permission.

“You can actually get an apothecary license at the Royal Academy, you know.”

I am shocked!

“What? You can get an apothecary license?”

Wyatt seems amused by my surprise.

“Yes. It’s a low-grade apothecary license, but if I remember correctly, you can take the exam after receiving completion certificates for Herbology and Pharmacology.”

He looks at me in disbelief, as if wondering how I didn’t know that.

“Also, if you graduate from the Knight Course at the Royal Academy, you can become an apprentice in the Knights. If you graduate from the Civil Servant Course, you can take the low-grade civil servant exam. The Domestic Arts Course allows you to take the court lady exam, and the Mage Course has the low-grade royal mage exam. There are many other qualification exams you can take as well.”

I listen to him while nodding along, but except for the court lady exam, they all have “low-grade” attached to them.

“Does that mean you need a university degree to take the high-grade exams?”

“No, you can also qualify for high-grade exams by getting actual work experience. If you work as a low-grade official while studying and get a recommendation from your superior, you should be eligible to take the high-grade official exam.”

That sounds tough. Nacius got a scholarship, but I wonder what will happen to Henry.

“If you graduate from university and join the Knights, are you exempt from being an apprentice?”

Wyatt thinks for a moment before answering.

“It depends on the order. I’ve heard the Imperial Guard and the First Knights Order exempt university graduates from the apprenticeship period. Sons of high-ranking nobles mostly join those orders. However, there are also sons of hereditary knights who enter directly from the Royal Academy.”

“I heard Lord Salies joined the First Knights Order right after graduating from the Royal Academy. Even though he’s from the Earl of Monteracide’s family, he didn’t go to university, did he?”

I wonder if Lord Salies just wasn’t good at studying? I catch myself thinking.

“That’s because joining the Knights Order earlier allows you to get promoted faster. Even if a university graduate’s apprenticeship is shortened by two years, their former classmates might already hold higher ranks by then. So generally, those who have decided to join the Knights don’t go to university. However, those who aim for strategic or staff positions place great importance on studying at university.”

I see. The Knight Course is complicated. Still, if Henry ever wants to go to university, I want to make sure he can.

“First, I’ll aim to get my completion certificates in Herbology and Pharmacology.”

Wyatt gives me an exasperated look.

“It’s not that easy, you know.”

I’m going to get them in the autumn term! Ah, I really am so busy. At night, I also have to do my side job of painting miniatures on ceramics. For this, I’m going to use household magic right from the start. After all, a side job isn’t a hobby!