Arrist could not believe the money in his hand, even as he saw it with his own eyes.
With this money, he could pay off all the money he borrowed from the back alley thugs and still have money left over.
It was enough to dress up neatly when returning home.
It was money that Erencia had lent.
She was a lifeline given to him by God.
Arrist thought about dying before meeting Erencia.
The problem was that he kept going in and out of the gladiatorial arena because a friend told him it was fun.
When he saw his friend bet on a gladiator and win, he wanted to do it too.
After doing it a few times, he suddenly lost all his money.
It felt like he could do it with just a little bit, but since it wasn't working, he became determined.
Despite his friend's pleas to stop, he borrowed money from a back-alley thug.
At first, they treated Arrist with great respect. They bowed low, saying it was an honor to be able to lend money to the noble.
However, when Arrist failed to repay the borrowed money on time, their attitude changed.
Arrist tried, but he couldn't repay it.
The interest increased day by day.
He had borrowed 500 silver coins, but before he knew it, the debt had turned into 500 gold coins. In just a few days, the amount he had to repay had increased twentyfold from the principal.
It had only been a week.
He went and confronted them, but all he received in return was violence. Arrist kept his mouth shut, ashamed to admit that a noble had been beaten by a commoner.
He tried to borrow money from his friends, but they all looked troubled.
Even if he tried to work, it was meaningless because the interest accrued faster than the rate at which he earned money.
He didn't know how to do anything.
In this situation, it was easy to think of death.
Informing his family and asking for help was not a consideration from the start.
Arrist's family was not well-off enough to readily hand over 500 gold coins.
Above all, he could not disappoint his parents, who believed their son was diligent.
However, two women who reeked of money appeared at the pub.
I felt bad.
Let's kill her and take the money.
Since I've made up my mind to die, let's at least put up one last desperate struggle.
Or should I try to seduce her?
The woman keeps looking at him.
Are you saying you are interested?
Arrist stroked his face with his bare hands.
He may look shabby right now because he can't wash or dress up properly, but to a commoner woman who buys drinks in back alleys, he probably has a pretty decent face.
Arrist gained confidence.
So he followed. But...
'Ha... Novellita to think so...'
Hope was dashed.
Novellita was a family that absolutely could not be branded as an enemy.
He just wanted to go back.
Then Erencia said.
“Do you need money?”
***
Euclid secretly assigned a bodyguard to Erencia starting the day after he lent her money.
There were simply too many dangerous people around her.
Given the rumors that she's one of Euclid's men, if she were to encounter something dangerous somewhere...
'It's a matter of face.'
Euclid shook his head.
It is time for him to stop thinking and focus on work.
"Master, Master!"
Just as he was about to pick up the report, Frederick rushed in.
Euclid glared at Frederick nervously.
"Something terrible has happened. Lady Erencia..."
Euclid jumped up from his seat.
***
Erencia was trapped in the building.
Right at Andre's shop.
Andre's shop was packed with people outside.
"What on earth is going on, Miss?"
That’s exactly what she wanted to ask.
Erencia let out a deep sigh and looked at Andre.
"They have all come because they want to see the young lady."
Andre's explanation continued.
As Erencia's dress gained popularity, her popularity rose along with it.
With the scandal between her and Euclid added to the mix, Erencia's popularity skyrocketed.
The concise explanation made it easy to grasp the situation, but...
'I just can't understand it.'
Thanks to that, Andre's shop also hit the jackpot.
Andre smiled shyly and thanked her.
However, even Andre found it increasingly difficult to handle the popularity.
It's good that the dresses are selling well, but a large number of young ladies are flocking here, sitting around, wondering if Erencia might come.
Because of the situation, it was difficult to even go to the bathroom comfortably.
So, he told them the day Erencia was coming, and trouble ensued.
The street in front of the costume shop was packed with people.
The streets were so packed with people trying to catch even a glimpse of Erencia that pedestrians could not pass through.
There were not only young ladies of Erencia's age, but also neatly dressed young men and children.
Some of them held small gifts in their hands, while others held large pieces of paper.
The paper had embarrassing words written on it, such as, "Lady Erencia, I would really like to meet you."
The enthusiastic cheers continued.
People let out gasps and blushed at the mere movement of Erencia's fingers.
Andre got scared as people swarmed into the shop and locked the door.
Suddenly, Erencia ended up trapped in Andre's shop.
"So, are you saying those people gathered here because they like me?"
“Yes.”
I'm going crazy.
This was all Erencia could say.
"How can I get those people back home?"
“I don’t know either.”
"Agnes, what do you think?"
"Well, I can't really think of a brilliant idea either."
Erencia tapped the desk with her fingers.
Kyaa, kyaa.
The cheers echoed exactly as much as the tapping.
Erencia found even that unpleasant to listen to, so she stopped completely, like a statue.
They said they gathered here because they liked me.
So, if they start to dislike me, they will scatter.
My wicked deeds were far too insufficient.
I must strive harder from now on.
More importantly, how am I going to get out of here?
I'm starting to get genuinely worried now.
The people I thought would leave soon aren't leaving.
Erencia lowered her gaze. Is there no way?
"Huh? Over there?"
Agnes shouted. Erencia looked up.
Suddenly, the people parted to the sides.
Euclid appeared between them.
"Open the door!"
Andre moved at Elencia's words.
Euclid and Frederick barely managed to get inside.
Their clothes were a mess because of the crowd.
Trembling, Euclid brushed off the dust, straightened his jacket, and gestured outside with his chin.
"What happened?"
Andre explained once more.
Euclid's face contorted grotesquely.
"What are you worrying about so much? Didn't they say they liked you? Couldn't you just go and tell them to go home?"
Oh my. You're right.
Euclid is helpful for the first time in a while.
Or has he always been helpful?
Elencia pondered how to deliver 'Go home' in a bad way.
Fortunately, she recalled the words she often used in her first life.
Erencia braced herself and asked them to open the door.
Her ears ached from the people screaming so loudly.
"Quiet down!"
She shouted.
The people listened carefully to Erencia.
Erencia took a deep breath. She tightened her stomach.
"You must be incredibly idle, huh? You don't seem to have anything to do at home, do you? Wasting time like this is truly substandard! Go home immediately."
Erencia retorted coldly.
The cheers subsided, and the street soon became silent.
Did I succeed?
Erencia surveyed the people's expressions.
There was a sniffling sound.
Oh my. I succeeded!
But it was just an illusion.
The next day, upon seeing the newspaper Maximilian had brought, Erencia clutched her head and collapsed
I think I'm going to fail this life, too.
***
<When flies swarm, public education institutions enjoy an unprecedented boom. Behind them is a white deer. The Imperial Family's grand scheme as they search for a Minister of Education...>
"Stop."
"Why, Miss? It’s great! Besides, aren’t you really getting a scouting offer from the Imperial Palace?"
Seeing Agnes’s face as she excitedly read today’s newspaper made Erencia seethe with anger.
Erencia snatched the newspaper from Agnes’s hand and tore it into shreds.
'What a waste. I guess I'll have to go out and buy some newspapers to put in my scrapbook.'
Annes made plans to go out, unaware of what was going on inside Erencia's mind.
"Haa. Something feels wrong with this."
Erencia let out a deep sigh as she looked out the window.
She rubbed her hair back and bowed her head low.
Her face was reflected in the teacup.
Just how much more must I be ruined before people realize my true self?
I am a bad person to the core, so why don't they realize that?
What does 'to the bone' even mean? Since she has inherited Novelita's blood for generations, it means that the aura of an evil person is engraved in every single drop of blood.
Why don’t you know?
Erencia let out deep sighs.
Erencia gulped down the tea Agnes had poured for her.
A smile played on Agnes's lips as she watched the scene.
'I'm telling you, she is truly elegant.'
The motion of lifting the teacup was flawlessly elegant, and the worried eyes looking out the window resembled those of a mature woman filled with melancholy.
Only Erencia herself is unaware of her beauty and the fact that her actions serve as an example to everyone.
Agnes felt so sorry about that.
'No, that is our young lady's charm.'
So Agnes intends not to teach it.
***
"Were you an education activist?"
First of all, since Erencia was rumored to be madly in love with Euclid, she visited his office every day.
She didn't understand why he went out of his way to set up an office when he already had one in the mansion.
She was curious but didn't ask.
Above all, it feels like she would lose if she talked back to Euclid immediately as soon as she opened the door and stepped inside.
Erencia grumbled and sat on the sofa in front of Euclid's desk.
“Did you see it yesterday?”
"Do you mean the newspaper?”
"I didn't even mention the word 'education'."
“You said so.”
Euclid nodded and listened attentively to Erencia's words.
"I gave the people there a really harsh scolding."
“Of course.”
Erencia glared at Euclid, annoyed by his snapping answers.
Euclid noticed Erencia's mood, cleared his throat, and straightened his back.
He showed his determination to listen to her from now on through his actions.
"What is the problem? Regardless of your intentions, isn't the result good?"
"I don't care what happens to my education!"
"Doesn't that mean it doesn't matter whether it goes well or badly? So there is no need to get this worked up."
"Euclid."
Erencia looked straight at Euclid.
At the sight of the eyes, which were not usually full of playfulness but were deeply filled with seriousness, Euclid pulled up the corners of his mouth.
"I don't want to make you harbor false hope. Because I know that the failure that follows hope is even more despairing."
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