Chapter 150 Rebecca'S Ambition
While listening to Cindy's story, Sara was reminded of how tough it is for women to work in this world.
"I think we can introduce them to jobs like sewing or embroidery if there are women who can't work outside due to various circumstances."
However, Cindy showed an unexpected reaction to Sara's statement.
"Ah, yes. It's indeed a kind offer to introduce them to sewing jobs, but what I want to say is that there are women with maid experience or those from noble families."
"Huh?"
'Wait a minute. Why are women like that working as servants?'
"I'm having a hard time understanding, but are women like that really working as servants?"
"Yes. There are those who left their jobs after getting married, daughters of knights, and even those from lower noble families. Their circumstances vary, such as losing their husbands, getting divorced, or their families falling into ruin, but there are women who have lost their male supporters."
"That means it's really tough for women to find jobs."
"Yes. Unfortunately."
'It's a society where women can barely survive without relying on men, and there's no safety net for women who are left alone.'
"Actually, the woman who taught me how to read and write was a former Baron's daughter."
"If she was a Baron's daughter, isn't she still a noble? What about her father or the brother who inherited the Baron title?"
"She married into a big merchant family, but she got divorced because she didn't have any children. Her husband had a child with his mistress, so he wanted to make the mistress his official wife."
"Didn't she go back to her family home?"
"It's said that she had a bad relationship with her siblings and received a consolation payment when she was disinherited, but she was actually kicked out of her family register."
"That's a terrible story. Which family was it, I wonder?"
"I don't know the details. I didn't understand it even when I heard it. She wasn't physically strong, but she took care of us and taught us reading, writing, simple calculations, and sewing. She was skilled with her hands, so she even took on some side jobs."
"Is she still living in that village now?"
"Yes. She's quite old now, but she still scolds the local kids and teaches them. Some people who were taught by her even aim to go to the Academy."
Cindy glanced at James.
"Was she your teacher, Mr. James?"
"Yes. Only for early education, though. I wasn't interested in studying at all until then, but she made it fun for me."
"That's not just a teacher, is it?"
"I suppose so."
James and Cindy smiled and nodded. It seemed like these two were childhood friends.
"Then, wouldn't it be better to offer her more support?"
"We've offered to help her many times. She has many students, after all. But she still wants to take care of the children in that place."
"I see. She's an amazing person, isn't she?"
"Yes, so I thought it would be great if the girls who were taught by her could become office maids, like apprentices."
James was skeptical about this idea.
"Still, I wonder how it is. They've certainly learned to read, write, and have basic manners, but that's not enough to become a maid in the castle. The maids in this castle are all from lower noble or wealthy families, after all."
"Yeah, I guess so..."
James's opinion made Cindy slump. However, Sara, who was on the opposite side of James, stood up and asserted herself with enthusiasm.
"Wait a minute!! This isn't about becoming a castle maid, but about creating a new workplace for women, right? I just want someone who can work like an 'office maid' and has basic literacy and math skills. If we provide training for new bookkeeping skills and maid duties, we can assign them to suitable departments, don't you think?!"
But then Rebecca smiled sweetly and stopped Sara's momentum.
"Ms. Sara, let's be more elegant, shall we? I understand your passion, but it's not very ladylike."
Rebecca's words were like a gentle rebuke from a governess. Even if she was a clumsy, awkward person in private, she could be a perfect lady in public.
"I apologize, Mother."
"Of course, I think Ms. Sara's idea isn't wrong. And we do need more maids in the office, so why not create a place to train them?"
"That sounds more like creating an educational institution rather than a training facility for merchant guild apprentices."
"Yes, that's what I had in mind."
'I think I'm the only one who thinks this plan is too big...'
"Uh, I'm not against creating an educational institution, Ms. Sara, but I'm talking about securing employees for the merchant guild, so I think the scale is a bit different..."
However, the bureaucrats didn't listen to Rebecca's words.
"No way, that's a really interesting idea. A new educational institution..."
"If we're going to teach new accounting methods, I think we should open the doors not just to women, but to men as well."
"It could become a preparatory school for entering the Academy..."
"I think it's more meaningful to create an educational institution that increases office maids, don't you?"
'Ah, this conversation is getting weird...'
"Mother, you didn't just come up with this idea, did you?"
"Yes. I've been thinking about it for a while now. I wanted to create a school that accepts women who want to learn but can't. But, Orson's territory is small, and securing a budget is difficult, so I gave up halfway..."
"I think we can create a private school, like a merchant guild's private academy, but can that really fulfill your dream, Mother?"
"It's an ambition. I wish you could have at least called it a dream, but I guess that's good enough. You're a dutiful daughter."
"Thinking of it as an investment for the future, can't we say it's not dutiful?"
Sara and Rebecca's conversation was watched by Marquis and Robert, who simultaneously nodded in agreement.
"Hey, you guys. Why don't we just make it a public school in the territory instead of a private one?"
"Yeah, that's right. The merchant guild doesn't have to do it. It's an investment for the future, after all."
However, Sara shook her head.
"I think that's difficult. If we create a public school, we'll need a certain scale, and we'll need to recruit suitable teachers, or it'll be embarrassing for Grandchester territory. We need to work on a long-term plan."
Rebecca followed suit.
"That's right. Besides, I've been saying this from the start, but basically, we're focusing on girls' education. We're not planning to exclude boys, so it'll naturally become a co-ed school. However, since there are other options for boys, it's only natural that there will be more girls. To be honest, many people think that higher education is unnecessary for girls. And isn't it natural for public schools in the region to prioritize boys' education?"
Marquis crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and thought deeply, then let out a soft sigh.
"Hmm, that's true. Our education plan can't be based on sudden ideas."
"But isn't it going to be expensive?"
Robert looked worried.
"Grandfather is thinking too big. This is our first attempt at girls' education, so we can't help but feel our way through. We shouldn't start big right away, but rather start small and try different things. I think Mother also thinks that way, doesn't she?"
"Yes, I don't plan to build a huge school either. And I'm willing to invest my own private funds. I haven't touched the compensation money from 10 years ago."
'I wonder how much compensation money she got?'
Sara thought about it for a moment. But if it was paid by the "country" of Roisen, it must have been a significant amount.
However, the bureaucrats looked dissatisfied. James and Benjamin, in particular, looked disappointed.
"Will you also teach new bookkeeping? Can our bureaucrats join in too?"
"If it's going to cost tuition, wouldn't it be better if Mr. James taught it himself?"
"How far will the education for office maids go?"
"I'm going to discuss this with Eliza, but I want to raise them to a level where they can handle nobles without problems."
"Ugh... that's what I want."
"I understand Mr. Ben's feelings."
Sara smiled sweetly at the two bureaucrats.
"But, they're supposed to work at my merchant guild, so if they're pulled out, you might cry, you know?"
"You're cheating, Miss Sara!"
"Actually, it's up to the individual to decide where they want to work, so if they want to work at the castle, that's their choice."
"That's right! Hey, James, let's improve the office maid's treatment!"
"Yeah, that's right!"
And so, the treatment of the castle's office maid was improved, and since it was unfair to only improve the office maid's treatment, the treatment of other servants was also greatly reevaluated. As a result, more people from other regions started wanting to work in Grandchester, but of course, no one expected this at that point.
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