37
In the meeting room of the Inner Palace, the ministers were exchanging conversations while waiting for the Emperor.
Perhaps because the Elite Academy reopened recently, their discussion topics revolved around the academy and what was related to it.
One said: “The academy seems to be running smoothly, which is reassuring.”
Another replied: “Indeed, I was afraid that there would be many shortcomings, as this is the first time it has been opened after the war, but things seem to be going well so far.”
But the truth is that things were not completely problem-free.
“The number of kids withdrawing is a bit high, isn't it?”
Before the war, everyone knew how strict the elite academy was.
Therefore, aristocratic families prepared their children from a young age to enter it, teaching them how to wake up in the morning, wash, dress, and depend on themselves in their daily affairs.
But after the war broke out and seven years had passed, it had not been so long, but people had almost forgotten the rules of the academy.
Moreover, the war caused the death of many nobles, and the new nobles began to pamper their children too much.
As a result, children grew up spoiled, not accustomed to doing the simplest things themselves, such as eating with their hands.
How can such children cope when they are suddenly asked to fend for themselves?
On the first day of enrollment, there was a child who cried because of the strictness of the place, and he could not even log in.
There was another who asked in amazement about the servants and maids, wondering how he would be able to live without them.
Another child held out for a day or two, but couldn't bear to wear the school uniform himself, so he dropped out.
Rather, it came to a child who caused problems with his colleagues or behaved rudely with employees, and penalty points accumulated until he exceeded fifty, which led to his quick expulsion.
For various reasons, a large number of children left the academy.
Of course, this was a shame, not only for the children themselves, but also for the guardians who nominated them.
As a result, the hall split into two camps:
First, those whose nominated children continue to successfully attend the academy.
Secondly, those whose children could not bear the pressure and withdrew, were sitting with their heads bowed, trying hard to ignore any talk about the academy.
As for the first ones, they spoke of the academy with increasing pride, taking every opportunity to highlight their children's success.
One of them said: “By the way, the guardians’ gifts are almost due to be sent out. What have you prepared?”
Another minister, who had heard that his nephew had developed close relationships with the sons of several noble families, smiled and said, “I heard that he has become particularly close to Irene Terence.”
He had received a letter saying that his nephew was always by Irene's side, helping her keep away troublesome children, and she was grateful to him for that.
He thought to himself: “If we get close to Terrence’s family, there will be nothing better than that.”
The Terrence family had decided to introduce their second daughter into central social circles, and if such were their intentions, there was no doubt that they would occupy a prominent place in the capital. So, he had to hold on tight to them.
Others responded enthusiastically:
“I have been ordering a permanent fountain pen from a master maker since last year. It is for a friend’s grandson, who is very diligent in his studies, and he asked me for a new one. I see a promising future for it, and it will undoubtedly be loved by the professors.”
“As for me, I requested a newly revised encyclopedia for my cousin. It will be useful to him during his stay at the academy.”
“Of course, wearing a school uniform all the time can be boring, so I prepared clothes and shoes from a famous fashion house for the days when normal clothes are allowed.”
While everyone was talking about the gifts they would give to the children they nominated, Cloyce, from behind the ajar door of the meeting room, was listening to their conversation.
“Gifts from the guardians?”
This was a new tradition that did not exist when he was a student at the academy.
“Then I should send something, too,” he thought.
At that moment, he remembered the taboo that he had not yet returned. He had previously thought of returning it with a simple gift, but he saw this tradition as an appropriate opportunity.
Cloyce listened carefully to what gifts the ministers intended to give. After a while of thinking, he came to the conclusion:
Other children receive a lot of things from their noble families, but Evie is not in such a situation.
“So, it's okay if I give her a lot, right?”
At that moment, thoughts started flowing through his mind.
What can I give him?
Remember what the ministers said:
“A good permanent ink pen would come in handy.”
But it didn't stop there.
Permanent ink pen, regular pens, pencils, crayons... all the office supplies a child could need, of high quality.
“An encyclopedia or extra clothes would be good too.”
He thought of his own library in the palace.
It was filled with books by the empire's most distinguished scholars, some of which he had chosen himself, and some of which had been placed there because they were necessary or popular.
Among them, of course, are collections of dictionaries, including those intended for children.
“Yes, having a set of dictionaries is nice.”
This way, she can easily search for anything she wants to know.
Clowes continued to fantasize, looking for more to add to the Evie room of his imagination.
She's a kid from the orphanage, so she shouldn't have many clothes.
"Shoes too, the more the better. She's at the age to play and run."
He began to imagine what colors would match her clothes and shoes.
“Summer is coming, so you'll need a wide-brimmed hat.”
A baby girl with bright blonde hair...a hat decorated with flowers would look great on her.
“Do little girls like decorations like ribbons?”
He heard that these things were usually chosen to match the color of the girl's eyes. Her eyes are green, so maybe a big green ribbon brooch would look pretty wherever she put it.
In Cloyce's imagination, the list of gifts was getting longer and longer.
Then, suddenly, he returned to an old memory.
A conversation with Lillian about the hair and eye color of the baby they were expecting.
Lillian said that day:
“I think our baby girl will have hair like yours, and eyes like mine.”
Cloyes then shook his head and said:
"Why? I hope our baby girl inherits your red hair. I've never seen a more beautiful color in my life."
Lillian laughed at his increasing boldness day by day, then said confidently:
“I know. Our baby will be born with blonde hair and green eyes, and it will be a girl.”
She spoke as if she could see the future.
So, when he went to war and did not see his child's face, he always imagined her with blond hair and green eyes.
“Just like Evie Elden...”
Cloyce paused at this thought, shocked, and then regained consciousness.
He rubbed his face with his hands.
He had never thought about Ephebian so deeply before, but this time, he kept thinking about one little girl without stopping.
“I have to be careful.”
Sigh deeply.
Recently, his heart, which he thought was stable, was breaking down in moments.
“If I started to feel for a child the same feelings I had for my daughter...”
“This is not permissible.”
The nobles who aspire to adopt him are still waiting for him.
But it wasn't just his disgust for them.
“My daughter did not live.”
For him to love another child as if he were his own would be unfair to this child, and to the real Evelyn.
Cloyce erased all thoughts of the many gifts from his mind.
It is enough to give a simple gift that suits the custom, there is no need to exaggerate.
From the ministers' talk, it seemed that they were not offering much.
“Then one gift is enough.”
He thought again.
A child came from far away, leaving her homeland behind. Unlike the other academy kids, she has no one to rely on here, and she is very young.
Moreover, didn't she recently have a terrible experience, where she was left alone in the dark for hours?
What can be given to a child like her?
Suddenly, an idea occurred to him.
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