Chapter 54: End of Volume 2

54.

Ercella learned a few things about the Baroness while spending time with her. She was the eldest daughter of the Marchens. She married Wendelman Contar at the age of nineteen and had a son and a daughter.

Not knowing this information, Ercella keenly felt the lack of communication.

“Now that you’ve learned to a certain extent, let’s move on to the real game.”

Ercella beheld the bunch of documents the Baroness was holding. Fear struck her as she gazed over the dense pile of paper.

“I’ve tied up the budget papers that I’ve calculated every three years. And this is the one year budget for the duchy that I’ve calculated and set aside. Would you like to take a look at it and make a separate budget yourself? Also, please note that we need to hire more servants next month.”

“...Yes?” Barely able to speak, Ercella took a deep breath. When she lifted the thick paper sheet with her thumb and index finger, she could see the dense print at a glance. Her heart began pounding.

“I, maybe I should learn a little more...” She was looking forward to this and wanted to do well, but the fear of making mistakes overrode it, hence was reluctant.

“The yearly budget doesn’t change much, so it shouldn’t be difficult. If you get stuck, you can ask for my help, Madam.”

“Well...” Her gaze tilted sideways. Unable to answer, her lips were closed straight.

“It’s not hard. Think of it as shopping. It’s more fun if you think about where to spend your money.”

Ercella smiled awkwardly. The Baroness’s words did not reach her. She had a lot of money in the first place, so she had never thought about where to spend it. She lived a life where she bought it if she wanted it.

“For example, estimating the cost of the Young Lord’s ordination ceremony this year...”

“The knight ordination ceremony?”

“Yes, things like that,” When she showed interest, the Baroness responded as if waiting for it. However, Ercella’s busy head couldn’t notice the Baroness’s intention.

She thought that it would be nice to hold a celebration when Vicente will be ordained as a knight. He hadn’t passed the exam yet, but if it’s the same as the past, he should be ordained this year, so it wouldn’t be bad to prepare in advance.

‘Did we ever hold a celebration in the past?’

We didn’t. Her conscience, sticking out from somewhere within her, was resolute. She never did anything for Vicente. It wasn’t exactly Harsen’s temperament either, and the Baroness, too, would’ve focused on ordinary matters.

‘Then...’

Her eyes were stinging. I feel awful for my son who couldn’t enjoy what he deserved just because of me.

Birthday parties. Ordination celebration.

And...a Coming-of-Age celebration.Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

My son, who deserved to enjoy those more than anyone else, couldn’t even enjoy the commonest things.

Just because of me.

Guilt always comes rushing over the painfully cruel facts. Things she imagined from time to time became very clear. If you hadn’t been born from me, if you had met a better mother. Things like these.

‘Let’s hold it this time for sure.’

Ercella tried to shake off the brooding image. Let’s try harder. She intoned in her heart.

“I’ll give it a try.”

After that, Ercella received a few more instructions from the Baroness.

It wasn’t the first time she was learning it, but it’s been a decade already, and at that time, she couldn’t delve deep into the duchy’s internal affairs, so Ercella had to be taught by the Baroness as if she was learning everything for the first time.

“I heard from my husband that Madam is also interested in learning.”

Ercella was bewildered by the Baroness’s following words.

The Baroness added that she had noticed it, “I heard you used to often study in your free time.”

“How...”

When she realized what the Baroness was talking about, Ercella’s face flushed as if under the midsummer sun, “It’s a long time ago.”

It was so long ago that if buried in the ground, it would have been rotten by now, so her shame reached its peak.

Either way, the Baroness didn’t care and offered, “If you don’t mind, may I introduce my motivation?”

“Motivation?”

“Yes, I gave up halfway, but one of my classmates became a scholar. It’s rare but she’s a woman, and according to the letter she sent, she’s thinking of coming up to the capital soon. She wants to do research here, but worries whether she could find a side job.”

“If she’s a scholar, it’ll be easy for her to find a job in the capital. She can tutor a noble’s son, or she could be a lecturer at the capital’s academy.”

“Well... To do that, you have to join the association first, but the established scholars didn’t accept her. She could find a job personally, but it isn’t easy in a capital that is already saturated with scholars. She doesn’t have a lot of connections, either...”

“Ah...” A brief sigh escaped her lips. Back in the day, you’d seem cool as a scholar. Since they’re highly educated people, she had an inkling that they would be respected.

Ercella didn’t expect her to have to live so intensely. And the reason why her life was fiercer than others maybe because she was ‘her’.

“So, if Madam were to help my pitiful friend, there’s nothing more I could ask for. What do you think? If you’re still interested in studying, it won’t be bad to start over now.”

The unexpected recommendation blankly floated in her mind.

‘Teacher...’

To learn again. Whatever it is, again.

A scholar, a teacher, an instructor...and a woman.

She became curious about the person whom she had never met.

How strong is she? How did she soar whenever there was an obstacle in front of her? That woman... What kind of life has she led?

“She’s intelligent, but not stuffy. Of course, the choice is entirely up to you,” the Baroness’s voice contained a lot of affection towards her friend. Even though Ercella was hesitant, she felt shy refusing her when the Baroness talked about her passionately.

No. Actually, she didn’t want to say no. She wanted to learn, she wanted knowledge. She just wanted to do something.

“Alright, Ma’am. Can you inform her that I want her as my teacher? Or shall I write a letter myself?”

“You need not to, Madam. I’ll inform her. I’m sure you’ll like my friend, too,” the Baroness smiled.

Ercella couldn’t tell if that smile was because of her friend finding a job or some other reason.

“You made a good decision.”

A tiny bud sprouted in her chest. Ticklish, she grabbed the hem of her yellow dress.

This marks the end of volume 2. I hope enjoyed it. It took me forever to finish this volume...

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