Read Eclipse Moon Grimoire: Lilith’s Soft Whispers :: Codex 0: Sequentia I: Fragmentum V: Baroness’s Request 2

The room had a window opposite the door, offering a view of the backyard. In the center of the room stood a wooden table surrounded by chairs. Everyone took their seats. Benedict broke the silence, "So, Sera, what would you like to discuss?"

"I have come today with two requests to the church. The first is to request additional personnel in the clinic, as more people are traveling from surrounding villages to receive medical treatment. But currently, only one person is handling all the burden."

"Hmm, I understand your point of view, but the church won't be able to provide any additional support to such a backward area. Capable doctors or healers are scarce."

"I understand. But soon, Countess Ravenna is trying to establish an adventurers' guild in this county. Although it might not be as active as in other areas, it should still be very much functional. Then the number of people who might come here with quests related to the forest will increase. At that time, it is better to have additional health support."

"Well, I will send a request, but don't have any expectations."

"Okay, my second request is that you establish a school in the church."

"School?" Both Kevin and Benedict were taken aback. The school is a relatively new concept that started a few decades ago and is only available in very few places. Many nobles don't like to educate their subjects, and many merchants do not support it either.

"Yes, a school. It need not be as exaggerated as in the capital; it is only a replica. You only need to teach basic concepts, general knowledge, and some skills such as arithmetic, which are useful for normal people."

Benedict thought for some time and replied, "I understand your proposition, but please forget it. Education for the commoners is not accepted by many. Many nobles and merchants will oppose this. They don't like people getting smarter. It will cause unnecessary trouble for you. Even the church will not accept it."

"Haa... I understand " Sera sighed deeply.

"Alright then, my request is not to the church but to you as an individual. Please teach the children of this territory."

Benedict raised an eyebrow. "Can you explain?"

"The church might not accept it, but you are a learned individual. You are also very experienced. So, I am requesting you to be a teacher for 1 or 2 years. You don't have to teach daily; once or twice a week is fine. I will announce and ask all the people in my territory who are interested to come to the church once every week to learn, to send their children. You need not teach any complicated stuff—all you need to cover are some basics: reading and writing, arithmetic (+, -, *, /), geography, history, the political system, religions, some laws, medicine, etiquette, and any other general knowledge. If people can read and write, they should benefit greatly, such as during times of business or when signing contracts and taxes.

"During the period of your teaching, I will arrange someone to take notes from you and learn from you. After 2 years, he will take over as a teacher, and the baronet will pay his salary.

"You know very well how much the people have suffered in the past. If the people at that time were a little more knowledgeable, they might have thought of going to the marquess or duke or even emperor with a petition. Their lack of knowledge and education made them suffer silently.

“I don't know how long I will manage these lands, or who will take over after me. I am already arranging a sanitary and sewage system by requesting help from the countess. I am also planning on sending some young guards to the countess to train them in martial arts and military customs. I want to arrange a basic structure of health, education, finance, and many other aspects. Luckily, this is a backward area, and not many power struggles should take place here. So, as long as proper arrangements are made, the people here should live peacefully for the next few generations."

"So, I request you to help me in this aspect as an individual." While saying this, Sera stood up and bowed her head.

Hearing her request, both Kevin and Benedict's eyes widened, shocked by how a previously ordinary peasant girl was thinking so far ahead for the welfare of the land.

After a moment of silence, Benedict spoke with a smile, "This is the second time I am seeing you bowing your head," gesturing for her to sit down. Sera returned to her chair.

"I understand your request, but I am unable to help you. I have already received my transfer orders, and I will leave within six months." Sera wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.

"Sera, you are a learned person yourself. Why don't you teach people?"

Sera made a deprecating smile and said, "Book knowledge is different from practical knowledge, just like my curtsy from before. It is prone to mistakes." Making Benedict chuckle.

After some thought, he said, "I may not be available, but Kevin will be replacing me." He turned to Kevin, "What do you think, Kevin? Are you willing to help?"

Kevin smiled gently, "If you are okay with me."

Sera rejoiced, "I am okay with it. Thank you, thank you very much," taking his hands and shaking them.

Seeing Kevin’s expression, she blushed slightly, released his hands, and coughed, "Sorry, I was excited."

"It's okay," Kevin chuckled.

"Then what kind of compensation do you want?"

“Compensation?”

“Yes, I can’t have you do work without giving you anything in return.”

“No need for any compensation. I am only doing it as a service in the name of the god of light. Please don’t reject it.”

“But…”

“Hmm, in that case please allow me to visit your castle sometime. I wanted to take a look at it. I am very interested in ancient buildings.”

“Alright, no problem. You can come anytime. Just give me a heads up before you come. If you have anything I can help you with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Okay”

After some pleasant talk, Sera and her children bid farewell to them and left the church. After seeing them off, Benedict spoke to Kevin, “What do you think?”

“Well, she seems to be a good person. And a good ruler too. It's rare to find nobles who really care for their subjects. She might not be of noble birth, but her character is nobler than most of those arrogant pricks.”

“The children are cute too.”

“According to her story, the ones who benefited the most in the end are the countess and Sera herself. The countess gained a promotion and made some good impressions with the king and duke. While Sera became the sole ruler of the entire baronet.

“If Sera wanted wealth or power, then she should have started acting as a debauched noble after her ascension. But she did not. She is even living a very simple life. And she is also working for the betterment of the land. Not to mention, with the same hardship she went through, she could achieve an even better position than an empty title of baroness in a backward county.

“If it is vengeance, she should still be incapable of doing it as she was in a critical situation due to childbirth. Not to mention, there are many better ways to deal with those degenerates.

“Did the countess arrange all this by using Sera? No, I don’t think any girl can endure such abuse at such a young age.

“She seems to be a strong-willed woman. And also loved by everyone in the village.

“I will need to still investigate further.”

“Hmm,” Benedict nodded.

“But there is one thing I am quite baffled about.”

“What is it?”

“You see, from the Ravencrest’s normal way of doing things, they would have had their fun with her and then left her alone or killed her. But why did the baron’s family abuse her to such an extent? I mean, after seeing her in person, I could clearly see that she is not exactly a stunning beauty. She is pretty and beautiful for a peasant girl. But that is all. There are countless girls who are more beautiful than her. She can’t even be compared to them. They didn’t need to go so far to make her suffer? So, why?”

After some thought, Benedict said, "Maybe they were envious."

"..."

"Huh, envious? She is a peasant. They are of noble birth.

“They have power and authority, while she is weak and normal.

“I bet even their family's women, those Ravencrest’s wives and daughters, are more beautiful than she is. What is there to envy about her?"

"Her character."

"..."

"People desire and envy what they cannot possess. As you said, she is nobler than many arrogant pricks. Even if they don't realize it, they might be envious of her character. Seeing her might remind them of how unclean and ugly they really are. So, they want to defile, corrupt, and crush the dignified and noble flower to make themselves feel better.

"Do you think the countless girls you mentioned earlier will be her equal when it comes to her character and disposition? They can't even be compared to her."

Kevin stood with his eyes wide open as the wind blew, fluttering their clothes.

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