Chapter 586

Rumors Among the Nobility
The mystery of the farm damage in Galette territory was left to the Kibrinki Saltas.
When it came down to handling the unexpected, they were far more capable than humans.
They could scale rocks or sheer cliffs without trouble.

With that matter settled, the conversation turned.
What I wanted to know about was life at the noble school.
What kind of place was it, really?

“The noble school? Well, it’s where we’re taught the proper way of being a noble—our duties, manners, and knowledge.”

“Since Lady Conniette is a countess, she also studies subjects like geopolitics. I’m still only being taught the basics.”

I see—Lady Conniette was already studying quite a lot.
Little Bern, meanwhile, wasn’t expected to inherit. Even if she did, it would only be if something happened to Young Lady Kou, so she wasn’t being drilled in succession studies just yet.
Her curriculum was more general—reading, writing, arithmetic—while Lady Conniette’s included foreign languages and mercantile contracts.
They were certainly being trained in earnest.

“That’s about the extent of what we learn. Anything more detailed, scholars hired by each domain teach individually. The school only covers what’s common to all.”

“Personal scholars…”

“Oh, but there aren’t any in Galette territory. We’ll be taking recommendations directly from Marquis Vardmoi.”

Good. At least it wouldn’t be the same kind of educator who raised *that* parent and child.
As long as there’s no problem, fine.

“But Lady Lily, your debut is already being talked about at the noble school.”

“Eh? Really?”

“Yes. The news of an unheard-of platinum-rank merchant caused quite a stir. Everyone speculated about what sort of person you must be. Some imagined a wealthy old magnate, others a jewel merchant with global reach, or even a glamorous woman surrounded by handsome attendants.”

Well, people are free to imagine.
Still, I suppose no one would expect a young woman like me to be the one rising to platinum-rank merchant.
It makes sense.

“If that was all, it would’ve been harmless. But some of the students grew restless.”

“Restless? In what way, Young Lady Bern?”

“Well, the ones invited to your presentation were all high-ranking nobles, powerful families… mostly those aligned with my father’s faction.”

“That’s true.”

“And because of that, the children of nobles who weren’t invited started complaining. Wondering why their parents hadn’t received invitations.”

Ugh. Headache incoming.
Isn’t that kind of thinking *exactly* why they weren’t invited?

“So, what did you do, Young Lady Bern?”

“I told them to check again whether their parents had received invitations. Of course, even if their parents were invited, if no card was addressed to the children specifically, then the children would’ve been turned away at the door.”

Ah. Now that she mentioned it, we had indeed sent invitations addressed not just to the nobles themselves, but also to their spouses and children—at least, to those within the Marquis Vardmoi faction.
So that explained it.

The world of high society really was troublesome.

What do you think about this chapter?