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Chapter 40
“Is… that so…?”
Since when was my friend’s money my money, and my money my money?
I wondered if I had confused the concept of girlfriend and friend, but anyway, even just having the words felt reassuring.
I must really have a good friend.
“Aven…”
I rubbed Aven’s pale cheek while making a crying sound, my eyes shining as I asked.
I already had a lot to do today. This was a chance.
“Then, now that I’m rich, can I take a day off from the café? We have a lot to do besides this.”
“That’s not allowed.”
Even in some areas, he could be sharp.
I shrugged my shoulders, pretending it was a joke.
“More importantly, Archel, there’s a lot of talk about the charity event. Are you aware?”
I looked at Aven with a squint as he naturally changed the topic and shook my head.
I had expected a lot of negative reactions.
It’s just that no one had spoken openly in front of me yet.
‘I have a narrow circle of relationships.’
When I pouted and didn’t answer, Aven added his words gently.
“But there are also people, led by Johan Derial, who have shown a positive response. Don’t worry too much.”
My hand, which had been gathering documents into one pile, stopped at the familiar name.
Johan Derial?!
It was inevitable that my ears perked up at such a noble name.
Bright light streamed through the large windows, illuminating the tea room.
Filled with items popular in the capital, the tea room sparkled in a way befitting the imperial family.
Among them, a beautiful woman with wavy chestnut hair elegantly tied up placed a gold-rimmed teacup down gracefully.
“Recently, Judea seems quite noisy in many ways.”
When the Empress spoke with a gentle smile, the noblewomen around her chimed in one by one.
“That’s right. You mean regarding this charity event, correct?”
“I was quite surprised. I’ve never seen a charity event in such a strange format.”
“I wonder if the donations will actually reach those in need at this rate.”
For nobles who had always regarded charity events as a form of amusement, Archel’s planned charity was naturally bewildering.
Until now, the focus had been on how to show off their wealth, who would donate how much, and what interesting gossip would spread.
Whether the raised funds reached the right people and how didn’t matter—they only nodded with a polite expression when informed.
But now, what was this?
Not only helping directly, but long-term sponsorship too!
It was a troublesome system that couldn’t be solved by simply giving money.
Temporary donations were possible, but paying once and leaving would look bad.
“To participate in the sponsorship, you must attend the talent classes held three times a week for a month? Who knows what could happen in such an unpleasant place.”
“Indeed, since the student council president comes from the slums, people like us might feel watched, right? Even Prince Lihart participates with them…”
“Countess Lyle.”
“Oh my.”
The Countess, who had been chatting excitedly, fell silent at the Empress’s gentle call.
The Empress’s background was something high-ranking nobles generally knew quietly.
Especially for nobles who followed the Empress, they only pretended ignorance in front of her while gossiping with glances and whispers behind her back.
‘This isn’t the first time… how…’
Countess Lyle straightened her back in tension.
The Empress, watching this, spoke with a regretful expression.
“That comment was disrespectful to the former Marchioness Zenda.”
“Oh, madam, you know I didn’t mean it that way, right?”
Following the Empress’s gaze, the former Marchioness Zenda sat quietly, elegantly sipping her tea.
Meeting her grayish-blue eyes full of melancholy, Countess Lyle raised her hands in apology.
“Although the student council president is from the Marchioness’s territory, I never intended to belittle that area. It’s just a peripheral area the territory doesn’t manage well, and being from the slums refers to her family itself.”
Though weakened by consecutive setbacks, it was still a prestigious Marchioness family.
To make a potentially misunderstood remark at a tea party specially attended by the former Marchioness at the Empress’s invitation…
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the former Marchioness seemed not to take her words to heart.
“It’s fine. Even though there are people in extreme poverty, it is our fault for not supporting them properly.”
“When you put it that way…”
Fortunately, the Margravine Merten, paired with Countess Lyle, supported her.
“No, madam! Even if we help such people, they usually remain in the same place. Of course, there are capable ones, but among the lower classes, the more you help, the more they laze around. Helping the poor is like throwing money on the street.”
With the serious and firm statement, Countess Lyle regained her composure.
Amid the continuous one-sided conversation, Zenda sipped her tea silently, while the Empress added joyfully, observing everything.
“Anyway, thinking of achieving the worst fundraising amount in history pains my heart.”
Everyone except Zenda echoed her, and the tea party resumed smoothly.
Jagged, uneven buildings lined the dull, worn street.
Gray houses and shops leaned against each other, barely standing.
Sontalea District 12, No. 5.
Where faded pink bricks, worn for fifty years or more, met neat gray bricks on the pavement.
A place dividing the slums and slightly better-off commoners—the talent classroom was located here.
Compared to the surroundings, the talent classroom was a five-story ivory building with a relatively clean interior that stood out.
Its biggest advantage was being easy for children to visit. Surprisingly, the building belonged to the Reuters family.
Thinking of Aven’s words, laughing that we needn’t feel burdened about an empty building, I silently cheered.
‘But a building alone isn’t enough.’
From height-adjustable desks to blackboards and teaching materials, and experience rooms for various kinds of talent donations.
Purchasing necessary items and checking the remodeling status from time to time was exhausting.
Regarding remodeling, the work was merely choosing from options provided by the contractor, but there were so many choices.
‘Beige is beige, but how many kinds of beige are there?’
Eventually frustrated by the small, nagging tasks, I dragged Lihart, who had been holed up in the library for days.
Kasel naturally carried Tanicaria in one hand, following behind, and Izael and Lena shared the labor with me from the first day.
After school, we would gather at the building and work until the moon rose—a cycle of labor repeated.
Moreover, surprisingly many students showed interest in sponsoring and wanted to participate in the talent classes.
Especially high participation among second-years, which turned out to be the Johan Derial effect.
Almost all theology students participated.
“After Johan Derial announced he’d participate, participation increased significantly. I even heard rumors that Johan encouraged others to join. We were lucky. Celebrity promotion is the best.”
Aven smiled proudly, enjoying the great publicity without any investment.
I was simply grateful to Johan.
Not only for his face but also for his character, mindset, and actions—I felt deeply moved.
I held the handkerchief I had yet to return and looked forward to meeting him.
Thus, the war-like days passed, and the first day of the talent class arrived.
To describe the children’s first impression…
“They’re so scruffy.”
Izael said mercilessly, smiling with her eyes.
