Chapter Title: The Weight of Privilege
"What a terrible situation. The public safety is dreadful, and even commoners avoid the place," Lady Ravenna said, tapping her lips with her fan as if disgusted. She turned to Adelaide.
"Miss Adelaide, does Duke Cesare have any plans to renovate Kimora?"
"Pardon?"
Adelaide, suddenly addressed, replied in surprise.
Lady Ravenna raised an eyebrow and smiled subtly.
"Could you perhaps speak to Duke Cesare about it?"
"About what?"
"Kimora, of course. Isn't it a crime-ridden district? It's absurd that such a place exists in a tourist city like Fornatie."
Lady Ravenna smiled at Adelaide, seeking agreement.
Adelaide, knowing it was impolite, stared at her expressionlessly.
Lady Ravenna, feeling awkward, slightly opened her fan, and a gentleman in a navy winter coat stepped in to mediate.
"I agree. We could clear it out and create a grand garden worth boasting about. Increasing tourism would also boost revenue."
Lady Ravenna smiled at Sir Chigoli, who had rescued her from her embarrassment.
"The same applies to welfare policies. Why should we pay taxes to support the poor? Although Santnar is a republic, it's becoming far too steeped in welfare populism."
"Even if we help them, they won't make any effort. That's why they're stuck in Kimora."
"Exactly. Do you think they've worked as hard as we have?"
Despite noticing Adelaide's silence and Ezra's awkward smile, people added their comments one by one.
"You're right. Anyone with proper sense would have left Kimora by now."
"Where else has welfare as generous as Fornatie's? They live in this great country and are always quick to blame society for not providing enough."
"I…"
Geneviève also tried to speak up, but upon seeing Adelaide's expression, she sank back into the sofa to minimize her presence.
Adelaide listened to the conversation with clear eyes.
She felt a deep, unmistakable sadness.
These people had no idea how difficult and dangerous it was to escape the poverty and ignorance that ruled Kimora.
Adelaide herself had tried several times to escape, only to be dragged back and brutally beaten.
"Of course, it would be difficult to remove the entire district, as it would be unsightly to foreign visitors and space would be wasted. But how about exporting the people of Kimora as slaves?"
Lady Ravenna laughed loudly after saying this.
The nobles laughed along with her. Although they didn't take her joke literally, they seemed to enjoy its exaggerated humor.
Adelaide still couldn't see what was funny about it.
Noticing her fingers trembling slightly, she took a sip of her spumante. The peach aroma had vanished, leaving only the sharp taste of alcohol. Adelaide frowned without realizing it.
As the highest-ranking person present wore a disinterested expression, the laughter soon died down.
"Miss Adelaide, you don't seem very interested in Fornatie's affairs."
Lady Ravenna, dissatisfied, straightened her neck adorned with a pearl necklace and asked. Her attitude suggested she wouldn't be overshadowed by the aura of a Bonaparte.
Adelaide remained silent for a moment before smiling faintly.
"I didn't think my opinion was needed."
"What in this universe is truly necessary or unnecessary? We simply seek the truth. I'm curious about your opinion, Miss Adelaide."
"You probably don't want to hear it."
Sensing the tension, people's eyes sparkled with interest.
Adelaide noticed this. She knew it would be better to stop. However…
She continued sipping the now-flat spumante with a cool head.
"Since you insist, I suppose I must hear your opinion today."
Lady Ravenna said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Adelaide calmly set her glass down.
"I was simply curious whether you could say such things in front of those people."
Lady Ravenna's eyes widened in blank surprise.
"Surely Miss Bonaparte understands Omertà."
"This isn't a matter of Omertà. I merely wondered if it's appropriate to joke about exporting fellow citizens as slaves in a republic like Santnar."
"This is a club for the nobility, Miss Adelaide."
"In a country where resentment toward the nobility has been passed down for generations, I wonder how they would react knowing such jokes are being made."
"Those people won't hear this anyway."
"Referring to people as 'those' is not appropriate, madam."
"They are not like us."
"They also have voting rights and are citizens just like us."
Lady Ravenna snorted disdainfully.
"So what? They're uneducated, foolish, and lazy! They only know how to breed like cockroaches in that filthy place!"
Lady Ravenna spoke harshly but soon made a face as if she found the taste unpleasant.
She seemed deeply offended by the fact that she had uttered such vulgar words herself.
Adelaide looked at her calmly and then spoke.
"Isn't that precisely what welfare is for?"
"Why should we spend our money to help them?"
"I'm sure you understand the concept of human rights? There are still people starving to death in Kimora."
"There are also those who survive. And they beg, pickpocket, and rob in the squares every day. Are you suggesting that we ordinary citizens should simply accept that because they are poorer and more pitiful than us?"
"I'm not speaking of those who commit crimes. Besides, Kimora is not a monolith. There are surely people who want to escape. If they've made every effort but still cannot leave, it's no longer an individual issue but a societal problem that must be addressed collectively."
Lady Ravenna hesitated for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Miss Adelaide! You must be naive since you only just arrived from Capolo. Perhaps we were too polite."
She lowered her voice, speaking slowly as if imparting an important truth.
"They don't make any effort."
Lady Ravenna, speaking coldly, elegantly gestured with her fan toward Sir Chigoli in the navy cloak.
"Look at Sir Chigoli over there. His brother, Lord Chigoli, started a trading company with just the fifty thousand gold coins given by their family. Now he's a respectable merchant."
Sir Chigoli smiled awkwardly but proudly as he was singled out.
Lady Ravenna moved her fan in another direction.
"Look at Miss Audrey over there. Her grandmother dedicated decades and brought the remarkable invention of speculative navigation to the world."
Miss Audrey, hearing her name from another table, looked around. She smiled and greeted Lady Ravenna before returning to her conversation.
Lady Ravenna sneered again.
"But what have the commoners done? Studying is not something done in spare time but by making time. If they had truly tried, Kimora would be empty by now!"
Her face was now flushed red, apparently quite excited by her own speech.
Adelaide looked at her quietly and then asked softly.
"Then what about those who don't have fifty thousand gold coins for capital, or even five pence for today's bread?"
Lady Ravenna's eyebrow raised in annoyance. She looked as if she were still waiting to hear if there was more to be said.
Adelaide continued, ignoring her expression.
"What about those who don't have family support, a house, food, or clothing to invest decades in studying?"
"Miss Adelaide. That's…"
"Some people in Kimora have to work all day just to afford a place to sleep. Madam."
"Miss Adelaide!"
Lady Ravenna, now expressionless, called out in a low voice. She sighed deeply as if terribly weary and spoke.
"Honestly, that's not our concern. If they feel wronged, they should have been born into a better family."
"…"
Adelaide clenched her fists unconsciously.
At that moment, Ezra, who had been silent, suddenly stood and smiled brightly.
"Forgive me for interrupting the discussion. I suddenly feel as though my future ambition has become that of a kidnapper."
He swiftly lifted Adelaide and left the room.