New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 91: UNIQUE PRINCESS

Chapter 91: UNIQUE PRINCESS

Aristia understood why that was so.

Previously, only males were allowed to be educated. Females were looked down on and were not seen as qualified by the dominating majority of sexists. Later on, females were allowed to receive education. But that was for the nobility.

Commoners didn’t have such privileges. They were looked down on even more than the nobility looked down on females of the same nobility. The commoner males were viewed lower than the females of nobility and the commoner females were viewed lower than the males.

Most nobles still had the ideology that the commoners weren’t worth giving an education.

But the major reason was that the commoners had no money. They strived everyday and worked hard to earn money. They couldn’t afford to use the money to hire a tutor and pay the exorbitant price demanded by the tutors. Of course, that exorbitant price was nothing to the aristocrats and wealthy commoners.

Moreover, most wealthy commoner families were educated because most of them were side branches of noble households and had received education before they left the household upon selection of the main branch.

Those wealthy families who hadn’t had that privilege could still receive an education as they had the finances and could afford to hire a tutor.

They could afford such a provision and wouldn’t mind the price. If anything, they loved the price that made them higher than those of lower standing.

Thus, even though those wealthy and aristocrat families and their children were commoners and could not attend the academy, they could hire tutors to educate them. That way, they could still receive proper education.

That was why they could be tutors as an occupation as most in nobility didn’t entertain the idea of becoming tutors.

"Would there be a problem if someone started a school for commoners? Aristia asked.

"Well, the nobles would object." Vasily replied.

[Stupid nobles!] Aristia thought with gritted teeth.

"That doesn’t matter," she replied.

"Huh?" Viscountess Vasily looked at Aristia in surprise. Then, she asked. "But, why do you want to know this, Princess?"

"I have decided to start a school for commoner children; commoner boys and girls." Aristia said resolutely.

"Oh, you’re just curious, princess. I—eh?" Vasily blurted. She turned to stare at Aristia with shock and confusion written on her face. "Princess, you..."

She was speechless.

"I want you to be a tutor in that school, Viscountess Vasily." Aristia stared back at Vasily with all seriousness.

"Princess, that’s ridiculous." Vasily said, even though she shouldn’t say such a think about the princess’s words."You can’t open a school for commoners."

"Why not? Doesn’t everyone deserve to have an education?" Aristia insisted.

Vasily stopped at her words. "Even so. There will be much opposition."

Aristia knew where the opposition would come from. Who else apart from the nobility? And probably the aristocracy as a whole.

The commoners would be happy to have the privilege and opportunity. But even though she thought that, she knew that some commoners would still object to girls attending the school. Nevertheless, that wouldn’t stop her from executing her plans.

She sighed, "I said before that it does not matter and it still won’t. I will talk to uncle about it. If he agrees, will you accept the offer and be the school’s first teacher? Of course, there will be payment." Aristia said.

It didn’t matter what the nobles said. The king’s decision was final.

Vasily still looked conflicted.

Aristia sighed softly. "Think about it, Viscountess Vasily. Please?" Aristia blinked thrice, deciding to use the power of anime eyes on Vasily.

Vasily tried hard to fight it but in the end she looked away, agreeing, "Alright. I will think about it."

"I would like to get an answer in seven days." Aristia said and Vasily showed an unimpressed look.

[What?] Aristia shrugged.

Her history class was over now. She had a break of fifteen minutes after each class.

"Please wait a minute, Viscountess Vasily." Aristia asked Vasily to wait a little.

Vasily stopped curiously.

Soon after, maids came in carrying plates. They placed it on the table between Aristia and Viscountess Vasily Hemsworth, bowed at them and left.

Vasily’s eyes revealed surprise when she saw the doughnut. There were also tarts and chicken nuggets alongside a glass of orange juice.

Vasily looked back at Aristia when the latter started to speak.

"I wanted to ask you to join me since it’s time for the break and the class is over. I hope I am not disturbing your plan, Viscountess Vasily." Aristia said with feigned worry. She looked sincerely troubled.

"Ah, not at all, princess Aristia." Vasily shook her head hurriedly.

Aristia smiled and then gestured to the snacks in front of them. "Then, let’s eat. No need to stand on ceremony, Viscountess Vasily."

"But this..." Vasily looked troubled. "This is Her Majesty’s gift. How could I accept this?"

"Her Majesty said it’s fine. I can share it with you." Aristia took the initiative and popped a chicken nugget into her mouth.

Vasily nodded and picked up a doughnut tentatively. Her attention was captured by the chicken nuggets and tart.

First, she tried the chicken nugget. "I haven’t seen or eaten this before." She stated.

"Those are chicken nuggets." Aristia explained pointing at the chicken nugget. "And these are tarts.".

Vasily then used the fork and knife provided to cut a slice of the tart. She chewed slowly and elegantly. Then, she hummed.

"This... tart is really delicious." She said with surprise in her eyes like she had just found her favorite snack.

Aristia chuckled. "That’s a lemon tart. You can have the orange juice."

Only then did Vasily notice that there was only one glass of orange juice on the table. "Princess, what about yours?"

"I already had a glass of orange juice." Aristia waved her hand. She had already drank her fill of orange juice after the training with the captains in the morning.

"I see." Vasily replied and sipped her orange juice.

The nobles usually drank tea. She had first seen orange juice during one of her time in the Amberale Mansion to tutor Aristia.

Vasily wished she could obtain the recipes so that she could ask her servants to make it but alas, she couldn’t.

The break was almost over and the plate of snacks was empty. It was time for the next class.

"Thank you, princess. I really enjoyed the snacks." Vasily thanked.

"I’m glad you enjoyed it, Viscountess Vasily." Aristia smiled. "I will be heading to my next class now."

Vasily nodded. "We’ll see again tomorrow, princess."

Aristia nodded and stood to see her off.

"We can return to the palace together," she said.

Vasily nodded and arranged her things.

Together, they walked towards the palace.

"Princess Aristia. About the school. Do you really intend to do it?" Vasily asked.

"I thought it was obvious," Aristia said before replying. "I do." It was a decision made in the spur of the moment, but she would consider it.

After a pause, she added. "I want it to be confidential. Do not tell anyone about what I told you. Consider it a secret between us."

She knew what she was doing. She wanted to know if Vasily would not expose her plans.

Viscountess Vasily nodded in understanding. She knew the importance of keeping it confidential. Opening a school for commoners was explosive news, not to talk of the fact that it was a girl who wanted to do so. Also the fact that the school would also accept girls.

From the time she had been tutoring Aristia, she had discovered that the princess was very unique. She was very different from the other noble girls she tutored. She thought and behaved differently, though it wasn’t obviously noticeable until you got close to her.

Vasily could not understand how and why she was so different from what she knew about her.

"I understand, princess." Vasily nodded. "I won’t tell anyone about it."

Though she was conflicted. Could she tell her husband about it? It didn’t feel right not to do so. He was also her uncle, so maybe Aristia wouldn’t mind if she told him.

Vasily shook her head. This was the princess’ request. Her uncle would have to remain oblivious for now. She couldn’t tell her husband.

Aristia couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

Part of the reason why she told the Viscountess was to test her. Even though she knew that the Viscountess would keep silent about it and not reveal it, she wasn’t entirely certain. It didn’t hurt to make sure.

They walked the rest of the way back to the palace in silence.

The history class ended an hour before noon and Aristia had a break of fifteen minutes for each class. She had pleaded with her parents to shorten the breaks to that time as she didn’t want the classes to drag through the day because of the long breaks in between. The only class with more than thirty minutes break was the training with the captain.

She had the training classes quite early in the morning, even before they had breakfast, so that she could take a bath later.

It was also convenient because they would be done before the knights started their training.

Aristia and Vasily parted ways and Aristia headed to one of the drawing rooms in the palace.

She met her etiquette tutor, Lady Marilyn, in the drawing room. After exchanging greetings, the class officially began. That was the third class Aristia had that day.

[A/N: Information about side branches of noble households can be found in Chapter 79; The Right To Use Her Husband’s Power, and information about the differences between nobles and aristocrats can be found in Chapter 15; Visiting The Kingdom Of Books.]

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ARISTIA’S ITINERARY/ TIMETABLE

Monday, Wednesday and Friday;

Training| 5:30—7:30 {2 hours}

Break| 7:30—9:30 {2 hours}

History| 9:30—11:30 {2 hours}

Break| 11:30—11:45 {15 minutes}

Etiquette| 11:45—1:15 {1 hour, 30 minutes}

Break| 1:15—1:30 {15 minutes}

Dance| 1:30—3:00 {1 hour, 30 minutes}

Tuesday and Thursday

Training| 5:30—7:30 {2 hours}

Break| 7:30—9:30 {2 hours}

History| 9:30—11:30 {2 hours}

Break| 11:30—11:45 {15 minutes}

Embroidery| 11:45—12:45 {1 hour}

Break| 12:45—1:00 {15 minutes}

Music| 1:00—2:30 {1 hour, 30 minutes}

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