New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 44: ROYAL BANK

Chapter 44: ROYAL BANK

Now, it was Aristia’s turn to be taken aback.

Catherine was right. She was her mother, did she even need a reason to see her?

Catherine sighed and reached out to hold her hand, snapping Aristia out of her thoughts. "Please, do not hide your emotions from me," she pleaded. "I feel like we are no longer spending time together like we used to." She felt like they were drifting apart.

Aristia patted the hands placed on top of hers. She wasn’t intentionally hiding her emotions, her face would just either automatically form a poker, uninterested or bored look.

In the real world, she was called the stoic beauty, reason being that she rarely showed any expression to the public. She was used to it now, so used to it that it had become normal.

She realized that she hadn’t really accepted Catherine and Wilson. If she had, she would have shown more expression naturally.

Nevertheless, she reassured Catherine.

"I will try as much as possible to not hide my emotions from you, Mama, and to spend time with you. I apologise if I have been spending less time with you."

[I’m sorry that your daughter isn’t here to spend time with you.] She said in her mind.

Catherine got up from her seat and bent over to hug her, "No, don’t apologise. You have nothing to apologise for," she sighed. "This is what I am talking about. You are acting so mature." She released her and bopped her nose with a smile.

"I’m growing up, mama," Aristia chuckled.

"Don’t grow up too fast," Catherine said.

Aristia could only nod.

"I love you, my dearest." Catherine told her, placing her palms on her daughter’s cheeks, and Aristia smiled. She couldn’t say the words now, but maybe someday she would. Thankfully, Catherine didn’t seem to notice.

"How about this, whenever I seem to act too mature, you tell me." Aristia proposed.

Catherine gave it a thought and nodded.

"I will keep that in mind," she smiled, amusement swimming in her eyes.

She returned to her seat.

Alaric had been curiously watching the exchange between the both of them.

"What about me, mama?"

"I love you too, Allie," Catherine said, hugging him too.

Alaric giggled and smiled, his cheek pressed against her chest.

[Don’t crush him! Should I save him?] Aristia thought.

Catherine released her son from her hold and leaned forward to refill their teacups.

After they were done with their little tea time, the three left the pavilion.

Aristia went to find the Grand Duke, and together, they headed out as planned. Their destination was the Royal Bank of Amberale. They were headed there to retrieve Aristia’s allowance.

The Royal Bank of Amberale was like a Central Bank. It was where the money of most of the individuals in the kingdom was stored.

On reaching there, they were led to the VIP lounge, a room designated for members of the Royal family. There were other luxury lounges for individuals of high status.

[Ah, the perks of being directly related to the ruling monarch.] Aristia thought. The VIP lounge was very comfortable.

A bank assistant walked into the lounge area with a document in his hand. It contained information about Aristia and the amount of money in her personal vault.

It was called personal vault even though the bank repository was a large vault used to store together in one place the money deposited by everyone, just like a modern bank safe.

A personal vault was this world’s term for a bank account. So, instead of referring to a person’s financial account of stored money as bank account, they called it personal vault.

Wilson then took out a Black Banknote from somewhere in his shirt, which he handed to the bank assistant.

A banknote was an issued bill used in the Royal Bank. There were two types of banknotes; The Rudas and the Cyan Banknote.

The Rudas Banknote existed in two forms; The Rudas Card and The Rudas Sheet.

The Rudas Card was black in colour and card-like, and was used to deposit or withdraw money from an individual’s personal vault, like a modern bank card.

The Rudas Sheet was brown in colour and paper-like, and served the purpose of a cheque or receipt.

The Cyan banknote, which was light blue in color, was used as a currency in itself, but it was recorded in silver, beginning at ten silver.

That was why the Cyan banknote was not common among the commoners, since most couldn’t even dream of gaining a silver coin, or an equivalent of it.

The bank assistant returned the card to Wilson.

Aristia got a hold of the card. She observed the card. Book Aristia’s Rudas Card had a thick gold line in the middle. She didn’t know if it was the same for all the cards, or if it was a special feature for members of the royal family.

"Will you have the money in coins or in Cyan notes, your highness?" The bank assistant inquired.

"In coins. Bronze and silver." Wilson replied.

He knew that the workers’ salary would best be distributed in bronze coins, and that the purchase of building materials needed for the construction could cost silver.

There was a total of forty gold coins in Aristia’s personal vault, and they were withdrawing almost all of them. Only five silver coins remained in Aristia’s vault.

"Please, sign here, your Royal Highness." The Bank Assistant, after the amount of money to be withdrawn was written down on the Rudas Sheet, pointed at the space he wanted Wilson to sign as Aristia’s parent, since she wasn’t of age yet.

Each banknote had the Royal seal on them. After Wilson signed, the bank assistant took the Rudas Sheet and documents and left the room.

Then, the bank assistant handed the signed banknote to a bank attendant seated at a desk.

"You will receive your money shortly." The bank assistant bowed his head when he returned, and then headed out of the room.

Few minutes later, he returned with a money pouch, which he handed to Wilson. They left the Royal Bank not long after, heading back home.

***

Aristia spent the next week spending time with Catherine. They had tea together, took casual strolls around the garden, and went shopping for clothes.

Catherine would also watch her practice the piano or watch her complete her theoretical assignments in her room. Sometimes, they even played the piano together.

Aristia knew she was going to be busy during the construction of the restaurant, and even busier after the building was constructed, so she tried to spend as much time as possible with Catherine.

Aristia wouldn’t admit it yet, but she actually enjoyed the time they were spending together. One of those such times was now, in her room.

It was nearing the time of evening, and she was lying on the bed with Catherine sitting beside her as she quickly completed the history assignment given to her by Viscountess Vasily during her history class, before it became too dark to see without a lamp.

Alaric was lying beside her completing the work she had assigned him. They were like revision exercises of the lessons she held with him.

Catherine was playing the role of an overseer who was watching over their progress.

She had complained about them lying on the bed to write instead of using the desk, but she gave in afterwards.

"I’ve finished!"