CH 21

Chapter 21: Personal Attire

Alex-sama checks the amount in the account and cries out, “That’s a lot of money!”

“If we live as commoners, it will last for ten years, and if we save, it will last even longer. But as research funding, it’s just a small amount.”

“I can’t accept this!”

“Half of this money is from selling a little bit of jewelry that was attached to my dress, and the rest is a kickback from Duke Periknen.

For example, for those who are called high-ranking nobles and wealthy merchants, this amount is just a small amount.”

“A small amount…”

“Yes, Alex-sama. If I lend this money many times, will the research be completed?”

Alex-sama has a puzzled expression.

“Uh…, no, I don’t know suddenly.”

“It doesn’t matter roughly. Anything, even imagination.”

“Ten times, or maybe twenty times?”

“Understood, let’s make it 100 times first. Then, Alex-sama, please start the research.”

“Ha?”

“But, Alex-sama will also have to cooperate.”

“If I can do it, I’ll do it, but it’s impossible, isn’t it?”

“Let’s first fix your personal needs with that money.”

He furrowed his brow.

“I don’t want to use time on personal needs. I would rather use that time to advance my research. That’s what I said, right?”

Yes, that’s what he said, because I asked before.

“However, right now, Alex-sama can’t do research. In order to do research, you need money. And to get money, you need personal needs.”

Alex-sama nods his head.

“I don’t understand the meaning of personal needs to get money.”

“As I said earlier, this amount of money is pocket change for high-ranking nobles and wealthy people. That means we need them to become our backers,” I explained.

Yes, earning a hundred times the amount of money right away is a difficult task. However, when Alex-sama’s research is successful, it will be clear that he will gain a huge fortune. If he is seen as a promising investment opportunity by promising a dividend, wouldn’t they want to lend it to him?

The other party should be willing to lend him the money.

Even though I explained it like that, Alex-sama still had a sullen look.

“Backers… I’ve tried to solicit them before, but I was turned down.”

“That’s obvious.”

“Oh.”

“It’s a matter of course,” I said. “The tailcoat was as ugly and ill-fitting as it did when we first met. Who would want to invest money in a person who wears such clothes?”

“…So it’s a matter of personal style.”

“Yes, manners make the man, and personal style determines a person’s worth. To recruit patrons means to enter such a world.”

Alex-sama fell into deep thought for a moment, then lowered his head deeply.

“Wilhelmina, may I ask you for a favor?”

Fufu, now he understand.

“Yes, I’m happy to. Stand up please.”

He stood up.

“Straight.”

He stretched his back.

“Your torso is weak, your body is leaning. I’m glad to hear that kyphosis(hunchback) is not a physical illness. Please sit down.”

Alex-sama sat down and I continued.

“Please lift your hair.”

When Alex-sama lifted his black hair with one hand and exposed his forehead, unkempt thick eyebrows and brown eyes were revealed.

“Why do you keep your hair shagged?”

“Well… there’s no particular reason.”

“Be honest.”

“… my boss doesn’t want to see my dirty brown eyes.”

I see, in this country, nobles generally have silver or blue hair and green or blue eyes, the higher their status, the more they are valued, while brown-eyed black hair is looked down upon.

“Alex-sama, they are after all making fun of you behind your back for growing your dark hair to hide your brown eyes.”

“… Also because of my thick eyebrows.”

“Well, well, Alex-sama, don’t you know that I pluck my eyebrows every morning to shape them?”

“Is… is that so?”

“Try saying ‘E’.”

“What?”

“E.”

Alex-sama shows his teeth. Hmm.

“Alex-sama’s only weakness is that he is thin and lacks flesh, but apart from that, there’s nothing inferior about him.”

“Well, that’s certainly a lie. I’ve been made fun of by nobles since my student days.”

“Do you think Alex-sama’s appearance is inferior, at least when viewed as a commoner?

There are no signs of severe burns, scars, skin diseases, syphilis or pockmarks, and the teeth are in good order. The hunchback is just a posture problem.”

“I’ve been told many times that I’m tall and it’s an annoyance…”

“You can bet that even if Alex-sama is short, they will think you are a fool.

Ultimately, because they can’t win by using their heads, which is the original place to compete, it’s just that the nobles are making fun of your physical characteristics.”

“Is that… Is that what this is about?”

I smile at him.

“Yes, they are weak. They are just blaming you to hide the fact that they are inferior. Facial features and physique cannot be changed, but Alex-sama can still become a gentleman in no time.”