Pendleton Revolution
Chapter 7

Alice Carmidan was an educated noblewoman. The decline of her family’s wealth did not extinguish the benefits of her education. If anything, what the family lacked in money, they made up for in learning. Alice would use her spare time to sew or translate a few archaic books for the antique bookstore to make extra cash. Baron Carmidan was so poor that he could no longer afford to hire servants, but he still generously paid their housekeeper, who had continued to stay out of loyalty while the family made a living by providing various services.

The state provided a small subsidy because of the title held by Alice’s father. Their plot of land, which was just smaller than a typical nobleman’s mansion, produced modest returns from crops. Once celebrated for its excellence, the baron's writing also added to the income. Alice’s mother worked as a private tutor for wealthy commoners. Finally, with Alice’s income from sewing and translation, the family barely made ends meet.

House Carmidan’s fortune began dwindling during her grandfather’s generation. At first, it was challenging for the family to adapt to the new situation, but the Carmidans learned to let go of their luxurious lifestyle. Later, they realized that they had to occasionally enjoy the small pleasures of life, no matter how hard life got. Such indulgences were by no means extravagant.

For Alice Carmidan, it was buying flowers once a month to decorate her room. The flowers that children sold on the streets cost a few vahts at most. All it took to afford a bouquet was skipping the cheapest meal at the commoners’ cafeteria or sleeping in on purpose so she wouldn’t feel hungry. After getting permission to go off campus, Alice explained how she liked to treat herself.

Ed clapped her hands, indicating that she completely understood.

“I know exactly what you mean! In my case, it was expensive treats while I was at the orphanage. We didn’t get them often, and people donated them to us occasionally. At most, each kid would only get a spoonful, but I was so happy every time. Instead of eating it right away, I would save it until late at night, so I could savor it right before I fell asleep,” Andrea chattered excitedly.

“That must have delighted you all night long.”

“It made me happy to the next morning.”

They smiled and chatted away as they walked back to the dormitory. When they arrived, they saw Elena mulling over what to wear. Cheryl stood before her with a serious expression, helping her pick out an outfit.

A commoner without a title needed enough capital to lobby, attend social events, and maintain their dignity to become a high-ranking government official. Having studied for many years to become a diplomat, Cheryl had a good eye for such things—better than any of her roommates. Anita, who came from a family of knights, and Belle, the illegitimate child of a count, had also seen their fair share of luxury. However, Belle rarely engaged with her roommates, and Anita knew little about fashion. That left Cheryl, who had an eye for fashion and a willingness to help.

“Elena, do you have a water bottle?” Alice asked.

“Hm? No. I didn’t go out of my way to buy one.”

“I’ll lend you mine. It’ll be good to have water to take the pills on time. Don’t say no. Just take it and use it.”

“Oh, my. Thank you.”

Elena readily accepted Alice’s water bottle with a smile. She didn’t seem reluctant about borrowing water bottles. Her mood seemed to have improved over the last few days. She was probably resigned to the evening date, knowing it was inevitable.

Andrea had only recently learned that some benefactors, like Elena’s, demanded their recipients change their majors. However, she knew early on that most children who received sponsorship braced themselves for such dates. This was especially the case for beautiful girls. Children who grew up in homes like the Kalabasta Orphanage were especially prepared for such a possibility.

Even Andrea was worried about it initially, though she was lucky that her honest, diligent, and magnanimous benefactor didn’t seem to care about her gender. He was only interested in going through the motions of sponsorship to avoid all the nagging about marriage.

Andrea glided over to Elena to study her reflection in the full-length mirror and comment on her outfit. Then she gently wrapped an arm around Elena’s shoulders and patted her several times. Feeling her encouragement, Elena burst into laughter and pinched her nose.

“By the way, Jeria said something strange today,” said Henrietta, fixing her glasses. It was a warm day, but the frail girl was coughing in front of the fireplace with a blanket around her. Twenty-three-year-old Henrietta was the second oldest in the dormitory after Jeria.

Andrea’s eyes opened wide.

“What did she say?”

“Someone’s been stalking her recently. She doesn’t know who, but she feels like someone’s watching whenever she walks around campus,” Henrietta began. “Obviously, it’s been bothering her. Even I felt it when we were walking together. When Jeria turned her head, we saw someone duck into a bush. He wore a Business Department uniform, but we couldn’t tell who he was.”

“Jeria has a stalker? What kind of sick psycho is following our dear Jeria around? I should beat his ass.” Andrea said, making a fist.

“Ed, watch your language, please.”

“Oh, right.”

Recently, Andrea had been trying her best to speak more elegantly to keep pace with the aristocrats at school. She lightly smacked her lips a few times before getting lost in thought. News of Jeria’s stalker from the Business Department was undoubtedly concerning, considering how she had grown up in a medium-sized merchant guild outside the capital.

“What if he’s a spy from a rival guild?” Elena offered her guess. She seemed to be wondering about the same thing too.

Andrea clapped her hands in agreement, but Cheryl shook her head.

“Spies are usually sent to the guild headquarters or executives with important positions. Why would they stalk the daughter of a merchant, especially when she’s still in school? If their goal is espionage, they would be kidnapping her, not keeping an eye on her. They wouldn’t hire a business student to do that, so we should assume that her stalker is not a spy.”

It was a reasonable conclusion. The girls silently brooded over the issue. Even Elena mused gravely. The others belatedly realized she was still undressed in front of the mirror, and they pushed her into her room, telling her to put some clothes on before Lady Belle returned.

Grumbling, Elena grabbed her dress and disappeared into the room. The rest of the roommates continued thinking. It was only after Elena had finished changing and had come out that they came up with a new hypothesis.

With an excited clap, Alice offered a completely new idea.

“What if a male student is interested in Jeria?”

Andrea’s reaction couldn’t be colder.

“If he’s interested in her, he should confess his heart to her or ask her to be her friend. Why stalk her like a creep?”

“Maybe… it’s because he’s too shy?” Alice offered an excuse.

Andrea’s disapproval was obvious, but she decided not to push it because Alice was defending him. Unfortunately, Alice could still read from her friend’s expression that a creep like him didn’t have the right to say they loved anyone. The excitement left Alice’s voice.

“Some people just can’t be helped, you know… They’re a lost cause.” For someone who was taking his side, she was quite harsh.

Did I hear that right? Or is she implying something else? Andrea wondered if Alice understood what she meant. Meanwhile, Henrietta changed the subject with a cough.

“In any case, Jeria went to the capital to talk to a client in her father’s place. She’ll be back late in the afternoon. Since you’re going out too, we should continue discussing this when everyone’s back.”

“Yes, I suppose we should.”

“Elena says she’s going a little earlier to have dinner before it gets dark.” Henrietta turned to Andrea and Alice. “When will you two be heading out?”

“A little early to visit a few places. Or should we just go now, Alice?” Andrea suggested.

“Sure.” She nodded.

There was no need for any further delay. Andrea and Alice patted Elena on the shoulder, wishing her safety and good luck, and then left campus. On their way downtown, they quickly dropped by the post office so that Andrea could write a postcard to the orphanage.

[There’s been a few serial murders these days. Since you’re pretty, don’t go out on the streets alone, Maria. Promise?]

The postcard was for Maria Helezen. Andrea regularly sent postcards, and Maria wrote back occasionally. They no longer spent time together like they used to, but Maria remained Andrea’s closest friend. After mailing the postcard, Andrea told Alice about her. In turn, Alice shared stories about a few of her childhood friends. The two giggled about little things as they talked—they were still getting to know each other.

As they continued chatting, they made their way to Alice’s client. She had packed a handmade fabric bag with clothes she had sewn. The dealer checked each piece before paying her the appropriate price. In the end, it came down to a bit of haggling.

Andrea was prepared to use her physical strength to help her timid friend if she didn’t receive the payment she deserved. To her surprise, Alice rolled up her sleeves and began verbally jockeying for better payment. It was a new side of her that Andrea hadn’t seen before. Realizing she didn’t need help, she whispered to Alice that she would wait outside before slipping out of the shop.

While Alice and the dealer argued over the quality of her needlework and pay, Andrea bought flowers from a child who happened to be passing by. She was receiving a generous allowance from her benefactor, so she figured it would be all right to buy Alice a bouquet of flowers for her hard work. The benefactor was so generous that she didn’t think she could use up all the money, even if she spent it recklessly.

Andrea bought all the flowers for fourteen vahts to help the kid finish her workday early. That was all it took to make three people happy—Andrea for having a present to give, Alice for receiving the gift, and the child for ending the day early.

Holding the bouquet of flowers, Andrea waited with nervous excitement. As soon as she stepped out of the shop, she thrust the flowers into Alice’s face. At first, she was startled, but the moment she saw them, she was overjoyed.

“What a nice surprise! I was going to buy some for myself.”

“Sometimes, a surprise gift is better than one you expect.”

“I can’t argue with that. In that case, let me give you a surprise gift, too. First, we must go to the antique bookstore, so I can return the books and give them my translations. Then we can go to the street stalls.”

“A surprise gift for me? No, it’s okay.”

“Let me experience the joy of giving, too,” Alice said gently.

Andrea couldn’t push back on the matter. Ultimately, she gave in and followed Alice to the antique bookstore, which she had never been to before. Back at the orphanage, she had always borrowed books on military arts and tactics from the next-door convent’s library. This was her first time seeing such archaic books written in various ancient languages. Maria read these kinds of books occasionally, but Andrea could never make sense of them with her limited knowledge.

Alice returned the books she had borrowed from the bookstore owner along with her translations. The man, who could read the ancient languages, was too old to translate the material himself, so he gave Alice an old book in return for her translation work.

“Today is full of surprises,” Andrea remarked with a smile.

Alice covered her mouth and giggled in agreement.

“It’s a good bargain for me. While translating, I get to read the old books that are too expensive to buy.”

“You have a flair for languages, Alice. Understanding the languages of neighboring countries is challenging and incredible enough. What’s even more remarkable is your proficiency in the ancient languages. Not many nuns knew enough of the old tongues back at the convent.” Andrea marveled.

Alice grew a little flustered hearing Andrea’s compliment.

Bashfully stroking her cheek, she replied humbly, “I’ve loved reading foreign language books ever since I was a child. Back then, the only thing my family had in abundance was books. We ultimately had to sell them off, but not before I read them.”

“Then this hobby is tailor-made for you. It’s wonderful that you can make money off it.”

“I know. I’m fortunate. Oh, my favorite restaurant is that way. If we take this street, we’ll pass the street stalls. Why don’t we browse them on the way to the restaurant for dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

As soon as they made the plan, Alice led the way to the street stalls. Andrea followed behind as she scanned the unfamiliar environment. Colorful fabric hung between small brick houses. Underneath the drapery was an alley lined with street stalls set up on piles of small boxes. Most shops seemed to be propped up in front of the vendors’ homes. Occasionally, Andrea would glimpse children running out of the brick houses and rubbing their cheeks on their parents’ knees.

Alice spotted a hair clip at one of the shops with a lovely piece of blunt glass embedded in it. She held up the accessory to Andrea’s hair and gushed at how good it looked on her before giving it to her as a surprise. Andrea happily received it, though she had never worn a hairpin before. Nonetheless, she thought briefly that the combination of green and blue would go well with the color of her eyes.

The roads at the academy were spotless thanks to its cleaners. The blocks were divided into neat squares with perfectly perpendicular intersecting streets. The inn where Andrea had briefly stayed was on the side of a main road, so it was her first time entering an alley like this one. She was entranced by the intricate path winding through the stalls and the layers of multicolored draperies above, and found herself falling behind as she looked around in wonder. She felt a rush of excitement as she caught up with Alice ahead of her.