Chapter 169 - 169 Club Activities
The next day, when Isabella entered the classroom, she was glared at by Jackson and the others who had arrived first. But when she clenched her fists tightly, they averted their eyes.
Since classroom seats were not assigned, Isabella and Elizabeth sat side by side near the front. Mikhail sat next to them. Then, the lesson began, and the morning concluded without incident.
During lunch break, the three of them came to the cafeteria and sat at a table. Isabella let out a large sigh.
"Why are school lessons so boring? I thought studying was painful for the first time."
"Elementary education is just too fun. Even private tutoring lessons are like this."
Elizabeth answered with a bitter smile.
Reading, writing, and simple calculation were being learned by many citizens. However, studying was considered a boring thing, and research was being conducted on how to make many citizens learn it.
Based on the results of that research, it was decided that in elementary education, materials such as games should be used to spark interest. For language and history, there were competitions to collect many cards using karuta, and for calculation, students were made to do shopping at mock stores in the classroom.
Because of these things, understanding progressed far more than when telling children a purpose they could not understand, such as "for the future." The forefront of such education was the Archibalt Territory, and for Isabella, who was raised there, a lesson where a teacher simply read from a textbook was boring.
Elizabeth was also raised with educational methods brought from her home by her mother Sherry, and she was accustomed to learning while having fun, so she felt private tutoring lessons were boring. However, she had a more mature way of thinking than Isabella, so she was able to endure it.
"In the Empire, is education like the Kingdom's common?"
Mikhail, who had been listening to the two's conversation, asked Isabella.
Isabella, who had carelessly forgotten the setting of being an international student from the Empire, snapped back to reality.
"Yes. Our country also adopts the latest research from here."
Elizabeth looked at her hastily covering up with a sharp glance.
Mikhail showed no sign of suspicion and believed what Isabella said.
"Is it Professor George Wilkinson's paper?"
"Yes. Professor George... Wilkinson's."
Isabella almost called him by name alone.
George and his wife Lala were conducting educational research in the Archibalt Territory while publishing papers at the Sage Academy in the Royal Capital, being given the position of professor.
That paper was highly evaluated even in surrounding countries and was being adopted in educational fields.
Because they were employed in the Archibalt Territory, Isabella had known them well since she was young and had called the Wilkinson couple by their names. That was why she almost called him by name again this time.
Elizabeth, who knew this, was struggling to hold back her laughter.
"You know the professor's name well."
Elizabeth asked Mikhail, following up for Isabella.
"Yes. I must take up some sort of profession, but if possible, I want to become like the professors who support the development of this country."
"Who else do you want to be like?"
"Professor Cyril Sis Earhart."
"Oh, Cyril, huh."
Elizabeth knew about Cyril.
It was because Lady Aila was from the Archibalt Territory, so she came along during a return visit to her hometown and came to pay respects at the Lord's Mansion.
Elizabeth, who was often at the Lord's Mansion, had met his face many times.
However, this was after Cyril took charge of weapons development, and due to the rift created between him and Steve, the intimacy like before she was born had faded.
Steve was not avoiding him; rather, Cyril was keeping his distance so as not to ruin his relationship with Steve. If they were at the same distance as before, he would ask Steve for advice when troubled by development, and he thought Steve, who detested weapons, would come to dislike him.
Steve had also sensed that atmosphere and did not try to force a return to the old distance. Still, he did not hate Cyril and held the expectation that perhaps someday they could return to how they were before.
Mikhail cast a gaze of respect at Elizabeth, who was related to Cyril.
"As expected, a princess of the Kingdom of Merda is also related to our country's great figures, isn't she?"
"Well, thanks to my uncle. Oh, don't call me 'Your Excellency'."
Steve was not strict at home; Isabella called him Papa, and Elizabeth called him Uncle. If this were a strict household, they would be called Your Excellency or Master.
This was because Steve, from memories of his past life, felt a sense of incongruity with such forms of address. However, he had been told to use such forms of address in public places.
"Indeed, those related to His Excellency the Dragon Head Medal are amazing. To know a professor who is so high above the clouds."
In contrast to Mikhail speaking with excitement, Isabella was cool-headed.
She had heard of her father's numerous achievements, but that was before she could understand things, and information she saw with her own eyes usually left a stronger impression than things she heard.
Steve was extremely lenient with his children and did not maintain dignity within the house. So, even if someone said their father was the top noble in the country and looked up to by surrounding countries, she couldn't quite grasp it.
Mikhail noticed Isabella's cool demeanor.
"Oh, sorry. Was that a boring story?"
"It's not like that. I just can't imagine it."
"That's right. It's a story from before we were born or before we could understand things."
Just as they spoke that far, lunch was served. Since it was a noble school, there were waiters in the cafeteria, and one could receive service comparable to a high-class restaurant.
When the meal ended, Isabella changed the subject.
"Hey, about the club, how about we create a new one together?"
"If there are three of us, we can apply, right?"
Elizabeth checked the club rules while looking at her student handbook.
As she said, if creating a new club, one had to gather three or more members and apply to the school.
"It seems possible. So, have you decided on the activity content?"
"Sports clubs are mostly already established, so they wouldn't be novel. But I can think of some for culture and arts."
Isabella rested her cheek on her hand and thought.
Then, Mikhail offered his opinion.
"How about researching economics?"
"Economics?"
"Yes. His Excellency the Dragon Head Medal devised the foundation of the current financial market at the age of ten. And he achieved a great victory by selling against Viscount Karsh, who was improperly driving up copper prices. I don't know if we can do that much, but if it's about researching economics, I thought I could participate."
The manipulation battle between Steve and Aurora regarding the copper futures market was being talked about not only among those working in financial relations but widely among the general public. This was like a belief that Steve would prevent people's lives from becoming difficult due to price hikes.
In the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cascade, children are taught in school lessons the history of how the residents fought together against the Cedar Futures manipulation battle initiated by the Empire.
Many young people, longing for such stories, were aiming to work in financial relations.
Isabella and Elizabeth also agreed with Mikhail's proposal.
"That sounds good."
"If that's decided, what shall we name it?"
The three of them pondered the club name for a while.
After a while, Isabella had a sudden idea.
"How about the Economic Revolution Club? I think it fits the purpose of creating new ideas perfectly."
"That sounds good."
"Let's go with that."
With the name decided, the three applied for a new club after school.
The school immediately approved it and assigned them an empty room.
The three looked at the unused room where dust had accumulated and decided to clean it tomorrow, ending the school day.
Bella came to pick them up today as well.
"Welcome back."
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Did something happy happen?"
"Does it look like that?"
"Yes."
Bella, who had watched over Isabella since she was young, had no trouble reading Isabella's emotions. Or rather, Isabella was not trying to hide them.
"It seems school life is going to be fun."
"That's good. What's the reason?"
"It's a secret."
Bella was entrusted with watching over Isabella, and if she were about to do something dangerous, she wanted to prevent it beforehand, so she wanted to know the reason.
But Isabella, unaware of such things, smiled and dodged like a child hiding a prank.
If Bella were a bit more skilled in conversation, she might have been able to hear it out, but unfortunately, she did not have such abilities.
And Steve heard from Arthur, not Bella, that Isabella had started a new club.
"Father, Isabella has started a new club."
"Is there some kind of problem?"
"Is it the members rather than the content? Elizabeth is with her, but there is one more person."
"Who is it?"
"A male student named Michael, the son of Prince Alex."
Hearing that, Steve let out a large sigh.
"Did he approach knowing Isabella is a daughter?"
Steve's gaze sharpened.
There was some history with Prince Alex, who tried to use Steve's power to become the next king. As a result, he did not become king, lost his Duke status, and became a Viscount for only one generation.
If his son approached Steve's daughter, it would be worrying.
"There is no such aura. It was probably because Isabella saved him when he was being bullied yesterday."
"I see. So, what is the new club about?"
"It is said they will research economics."
"I see, economics, huh."
Since it was not a violent or adventurous club, Steve felt relieved.
"The name is the Economic Revolution Club."
Hearing Arthur's report, Steve fell off his chair.
That Economic Revolution Club was about to be drawn into an unforeseen situation.