Chapter 101
TLS : Shenks
The unusually cold winter has pa.s.sed.
After the rainy season, the warm weather of early spring which heralded flowers began in earnest.
Not long ago, my 12th birthday has pa.s.sed.
Today, Clerivan was visiting my house for a meeting under the disguise of a cla.s.s.
"I think we need to increase the grain sales we have for the time being."
"Spring harvests will begin in the east next month. Go ahead, Clerivan."
"Yes, I"ll present a final report on Eastern food sales soon."
As expected Clerivan is an excellent worker.
Even if I don"t tell him what to do, he handles everything neatly and easily.
Sometimes I feel sorry that I don"t do too much.
I want to be of some help too.
Suddenly, I thought of what Violet had said in our conservation not long ago, so I asked just in case.
"Grandfather, Crowley says he"s cutting back on his workload because of arthritis..."
"Yes, that"s why I"ve decided to bring two more of Crowley"s disciples to the Imperial City and set up a workshop for them. The location is a luxury housing district near a jewelry store..."
Of course.
He had already taken all the necessary steps.
All I can do is,
"Estira ointment works well for arthritis pain. I"ll get you some of it."
He only agreed to my words.
"I didn"t think that far enough. As expected, Lady Florentia has a kind heart."
Clerivan was moved and admired me a little more.
"How"s Bate doing these days?"
Bate signed a contract with us as a kind of partner.
We made a contract to sponsor some of the building and management costs and for him to provide us with some of the good information that is collected at "Caramel Avenue".
"He doesn"t have to pay the rent so I think he"s gotten a lot of room to breathe. The dessert shop staff he hired last time is all used to their work now and they like that they can now focus only on information gathering."
"Oh, I thought the quality of the information he was sending suddenly improved. That"s what it"s all about."
It was a good thing.
From now on, Bate and "Caramel Avenue" will grow by leaps and bounds.
I"m so glad that I called dibs in advance, now I"m relieved.
"And I have one more thing to discuss."
Clerivan handed me a thick stack of papers and said,
"There"s too much money in Pellet"s Company that"s playing around. Investing in Gallahan Clothing Stores is no longer considered efficient."
I can"t believe I have a lot of money to play with.
Was I that rich?. (Give me some money tia)3
In fact, I"ve been busy opening new businesses but I"ve never checked exactly how much I"ve earned.
"Was I rich enough to say that, Clerivan?"
To my question, Clerivan nodded and answered succinctly."Including the profits from this Eastern trade deal, the Pellet Company has already become one of the Empire"s top five."
"Already..."
"Diamond mines and the East. We"ve been focusing on businesses with high returns."
"Not only that, but we also have a stake in Gallahan Clothing Store and Lombardy"s... As Lady Florentia has pointed out, investments in real estate are very expensive."
"Wow."
I didn"t expect it to be that much.
As I stood there amazed, Clerivan tilted his head and said,
"It"s all the work of Lady Florentia."
"Well it is but... You"re right. Haha"
"You really are amazing."
It was a word full of pure goodwill and respect for me.
"To me, it"s an honor to have Lady Florentia by my side."
Clerivan bowed his head slightly and said.
I was a little shy to hear this compliment right in front of me, but I was still prouder.
It feels like we"re in a stable zone.
I feel a little relieved, so I think I have to deal with what I"ve been determined to do for the time being.
"Well, I"m going to have to get ready for my debut soon."
However, an unexpected reaction erupted from Clerivan who was quenching his thirst.
Clink!
The gla.s.s he was holding fell to the floor and broke.
Clerivan"s wide eyes were stuck on me and couldn"t move.
"...But, de, debut, the debut that I know..."
"Yes, that."
Is there another kind?
After a while, Clerivan, dazed like a man who received a big shock went somewhere.1
I was spending time before dinner, reading a book and suddenly I heard footsteps approaching urgently, so I raised my head.
"Tia!"
Boom!
With a loud noise, the door opened and my father ran in with a pale face.
"What"s wrong dad?"
I don"t know where he came from.
Barely breathing, my father said in a trembling voice.
"I-, I just heard a strange thing from Mr. Clerivan..."
"Something strange?"
"Tia is preparing her debut..."
Why is that a strange thing to say?
"Yes, that"s right."
"Huh!"
My father shut his mouth like he heard the worst news in the world.
And the tail of his eyes drooped down and moistened.
"You"re still young... Already?"
"We"re going to have a debut between 12 and 15 years old. I can"t wait to finish what I"m going to do eventually."
"But a quick debut is something like what the small aristocratic families do who has to hurry up and decide where to get married... Tia doesn"t need to hurry right?"
My father spoke earnestly, as if to persuade me.
"That"s true."
It was just when I was about to explain why I was going to do my debut.
Boom!
The door opened with a much louder sound than my father"s.
"Tia!"1
This time it was grandfather.5
Like father, my grandfather rushed in with big strides and asked.1
"What do you mean debutante!"2
"You have come, grandpa!"
I got up from my seat and walked in front my grandfather. He hugged me tightly but asked me again.
"Did I mishear it? right?"
"No, I think you heard it right."
"I"m trying to prepare for my debut."
"Huh!"
His reaction is similar to my father"s.1
"Why are you in such a hurry? You should take your time with those kinds of things!"1
"But it"s a gateway for any n.o.ble woman to go through someday."
Debutante is a kind of initiation-like procedure where you officially show your face to the existing social world and introduce one "s self as if saying, "Please take care of me in the future."
It wasn"t such an essential gateway either.
In my previous life, I lived without being a debutante.
But if possible, it"s better to do it and it"s easier to make your face known at once so I"m going to do it as early as possible.
"Is there a reason why you want me to do debut later?"
I asked just in case.
"That..."
My grandfather coughed uncomfortably then pouted and instead, my father replied in a slightly tearful voice.
"Your Dad feels sorry and proud that you"ve done well all on your own. I feel like you"ll be growing up too fast after the debut..."
I asked as I looked back at my grandfather.
"Is that why for Grandpa too?"
"Well, it isn"t a good thing to step into a noisy and talkative society early."
"Yes, Tia. Even if you don"t grow up in such a hurry as your grandfather said..."
I replied with a big smile.
"It"s going to be this season, my debut."
"Tia!"
"Tia!"
Grandfather and father shouted at the same time.
But I shook my head firmly.
"Maybe it"s because I don"t go to events outside but there are a lot of people who don"t know me. Sometimes I get ignored..."
I deliberately spoke in a weak voice and saw something spark in grandpa"s eyes.
"Who! Who dares ignore my granddaughter!"1
"If that had happened, you should have told dad!"
My father rarely spoke up.
I kept drooping my shoulders and said.
"If I make a debut and more people know my face, that won"t happen... That"s why I want to do it soon..."
I could see my father and grandfather trembling.
"For that reason..."
"Debut is a good solution..."
As expected, I thought I could say it like that.
Father and grandfather began to think seriously even wrinkling their brows.
It was my grandfather who was persuaded first.
"Yes, this grandfather will give you the biggest banquet so that you can make a proper debut."
"Yay! As expected of Grandpa!"
I hugged my grandfather tightly around his neck.
"Ho ho"
Grandpa smiled and patted me on the back.
It was then.
Another boom was heard when the door opened with a loud noise with the twins storming in.14
"Tia! What Debut!"
"Not yet!"1
"Haaa..."
I don"t have the power to explain it again.
I looked at the twins with a small sigh and asked my grandfather and father.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?"
* * *
Eventually, even Shananet joined and sat around the table.2
Shananet was surprised for a moment to hear the news of my debut, but didn"t make a fuss like everyone else.
"Ignoring Lulak"s granddaughter, such ill-natured beings!"
Grandfather kept grumbling as if he was still angry.
"What? Who ignored Tia?!"
"That"s why you"re going to do a debut?!"
The twins were also indignant as they slammed down the table. [1]
Although they immediately went quiet after receiving a glare from Shananet who was eating quietly beside me.
I laughed and talked to try and patch things up.
"It wasn"t such a big deal. Last time I went to the stable outside..."
"Oh, that guy back then?"
"You mean the guy who was condescending to Tia, right? What was the name again..."
Hey, no, don"t tell them.
"Case, Case Angenas!"
Grandfather"s eyebrows wriggled once at what Gilliu asked and Mayron answered.
"How dare the Angenas ignore my granddaughter... And he even flirted with you?"
Oh my. How troublesome.
The name Angenas further increased grandfather"s fighting power.2
"I can"t do this, that b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. You will have the grandest debut ever so that no one would dare do such a thing to my granddaughter..."
Shananet, who then patted her mouth with a napkin, said in a quiet voice.+
"The most honorable debut is the debutante ball hosted by the Imperial Court."2
"The Imperial Debutante Ball?"
"Yes, once a year, only those invited on a strict basis can enter society there."
____________________________________________
Glossary
[1] "Indignant" - Means angry and annoyed.