Chapter 149: Last Class Standing (5)
There’s a saying that just watching someone eat can fill you up. It could be because they’re eating so heartily, or maybe because the person eating is so pretty that it’s just delightful to watch. I’ve heard of something like that, but I have never experienced it myself.
And today, I stepped into a new world.
Well, they really can eat.
Both Amelia and Olivia were eating astonishingly large amounts. Especially Amelia, it was almost a wonder how that much could fit into her petite frame.
To think they can eat this well!
These girls, who normally would only eat scraps of turnip when given food had only leftovers today. The older sister didn’t even eat because there wasn’t enough for both, so only the younger one got to dine.
An indescribable sense of sadness surged within me. I hadn’t felt this way since I found Yuris and Sophia starving to death in a back alley.
As I glanced at Olivia, who was larger than Amelia, I noticed her eating speed was increasing, yet her portion wasn’t decreasing. Meanwhile, the food in front of us was slowly dwindling down to nothing.
We need more!
As I stood up to fetch more food, Amelia hurriedly jumped up to follow.
N-no, it’s fine! We’ve already eaten way more than enough!
“But you’re competing, right? You need to eat well.”
I pressed down on Amelia’s shoulder. She trembled but then sat back down.
Olivia, on the other hand, just sparkled at the mention of more food, her eyes shining like stars.
Thmfk yff!
“Okay…”
I couldn’t make out what she was saying, her mouth stuffed with food, but it sounded like a thank-you. My friend might have a light wallet, but her manners were heavier than gold!
I nodded at Olivia and quickly turned away. If no one was watching, I might’ve cried into my fist.
Sorry, Empire…
This is a society where even talented commoners can succeed, where social mobility thrives. That’s the pride of the Kefellofen Empire! But to see an academy student, the symbol of capable commoners, look like this…
This was the Empire’s fault and mine. If I had inspected the Ministry of Education and the Welfare Department properly, this wouldn’t have happened.
Suppressing my complicated feelings, I ordered a mountain of food, including desserts this time.
Th-thank you…
I almost cried seeing Amelia sniffle while nibbling on a macaron.
I’m weak against these things.
I wonder if these kids even know what happiness is.
*
Fortunately, I didn’t have to conduct a soul-crushing inspection.
Whether that’s a good thing or not is dubious, but at least the Empire isn’t completely corrupted.
“Do you have siblings?”
“Yes, there are three below Olivia.”
I couldn’t tell if Amelia’s shaking calmed because she was full or if she saw me as a kind person offering food. Either way, her trembling lessened compared to before.
As I cautiously inquired about their dire poverty, she cautiously opened up. She said that the money she received from the academy wasn’t insignificant, but she sent it all to her siblings.
They’re at an age where they need a lot, and with Olivia enrolled, we need to hire someone to look after them too.
The content of her words wasn’t upbeat, but her face brightened as she spoke about her siblings growing up.
This poor girl, skipping meals just to take care of her younger siblings. Damn it, I’m weak for this sort of thing.
I-I’m sorry!
Interpreting my expression in her unique way, the pale-faced Amelia bowed her head as if ready to thump it on the desk.
I’m sorry for using money meant for my studies on other things! But my siblings have no other source of income…
I cringed, squeezing my eyes shut.
Such words made it sound like I was interrogating her. After all, how students use their scholarships or living allowances is their own business.
Unnie didn’t do anything wrong!
Ah.
Olivia, who had been quiet, suddenly chimed in.
Unable to bear seeing her precious older sister tremble, she wrapped her arms around Amelia—or rather, enveloped her. Tears glimmered in her eyes.
I insisted on sending the money! Unnie tried to stop me, but I was the one who wanted to do it!
Oh come on, don’t do this to me. From a distance, it looks like a noble oppressing two commoners. Like something out of a moral tale.
Feeling speechless, I simply stared at the two impoverished sisters. Before I knew it, Amelia was slapping Olivia on the back, scolding her for saying unnecessary things.
The Empire’s karma…
If only there had been a welfare system for Amelia’s siblings to live without worries, this wouldn’t have happened at all.
It might not be a realistic utopia, but regardless, it’s the Empire’s karma. That’s how I’m choosing to think about it now.
It’s not something to blame yourself for, so just be quiet.
First, I decided to calm down the two sisters who were gnawing away at my mental peace.
Their tale of starving themselves to send money to their siblings is worthy of commendation, not criticism. What warped noble would berate them after hearing such a story and say, “How dare you spend the Empire’s money for personal use!”
Even the Emperor, with his suspicion towards his officials, harbors a spirit of benevolence for commoners. In fact, he’d probably be lamenting over his shortcomings upon hearing such stories of poverty among his subjects.
Of course, lamenting his shortcomings generally translates to cracking down on those below him.
The money is the student’s once given. Whether it’s sent home or squandered, it’s not for us to meddle in.
Amelia nodded repeatedly, seeming reassured by my firm response.
But the money is meant for the students, and yet here’s the student in this situation…
She went stiff again.
This is troubling. The Ministry of Education and the Welfare Department did their jobs. They provided adequate support to these sisters, and there were no issues with the delivery from the Academy.
The issue is that these sisters, whom I thought were the final recipients of aid, were merely a stopover; the aid disappeared the moment it arrived. What can be done about that?
There’s no solution.
If things go like this, there’s no way to help. I can’t just demand the department that legally distributes funds to increase their aid. Even if we did, I bet these sisters would just send any extra money directly to their siblings.
Should I shout at them not to send money to their siblings? That would be downright rude.
“Do you have a moment?”
After a moment of contemplation, a thought popped into my head.
No matter how I think about it, there doesn’t seem to be any other answer.
*
After a simple meal and doing some work, Carl dropped by. While I had things to attend to, his presence wasn’t burdensome enough for me to send him away.
In fact, it was a good sign. It meant he was really into me if he wanted to see me despite knowing I was busy.
Ah, Marghetta, hello?
“Hello, senior!”
I was taken aback by the unexpected combination.
While I recognized these faces, Amelia made a mark as one of relatively few commoner students in the same grade as mine, so I knew her decently. She was capable and amicable enough that she had stuck in my mind.
And Olivia? Well, I knew her too as her sister, also a commoner. Her theoretical grades were awful, but she made it into a top position purely based on her skills in practice. The head prefect wanted to snatch her up but never could since she was always glued to Amelia.
“Hello, Amelia. And Olivia, nice to see you too.”
It was a peculiar mix, yet it would be uncouth to ignore their greeting, particularly because Carl had brought them as guests.
With a cheerful smile, I welcomed the two guests and turned to Carl. There had to be a solid reason he brought them, after all; I should hear it directly from him.
Looks like you know each other.
“Just a bit. I’m more surprised that Carl knows them.”
Seeming a tad embarrassed by my statement, Carl placed his hands on Amelia and Olivia’s shoulders.
A tinge of disappointment struck me seeing him touch other girls before me. If it were Lady Louise, I might understand.
“I heard the student council is short-staffed.”
Considering my inner emotional chaos, I nodded in response to Carl’s words. The student council had seven members, but we surely needed more hands in auxiliary roles, as it isn’t exactly a prime destination.
I glanced between Amelia and Olivia. If Carl was bringing up the student council in front of these guests, it was a predictable next move.
Not a bad idea, really. Olivia was initially a talent that the head prefect eye-balled, and Amelia was notably good in her studies. Rarely is there a commoner student who lacks in ability.
“Yes, we’re short. Just two more members would give us some breathing room.”
That’s good. How about these two?
“What?”
“Uh?”
Carl’s statement surprised both of them.
So it’s been decided without consulting them?
Carl should have explained before dropping them here. Doing this without the parties’ prior knowledge is just unfair.
I almost held back a laugh at the somewhat bumbling scene but stopped myself, not wanting to turn Carl into a punchline in front of others.
“The student council is always open.”
“Then it’s just up to these two.”
Carl quickly whispered something brief to them…
“I’ll do it.”
“I’ll do it!”
And just like that, we had new student council members.
*
I sometimes forget, but my official capacity at the academy is that of a Prosecutor. So, I’m aware of the funds and resources used inside the academy.
Thanks to that, I’d learned about the very minor and seemingly trivial privileges of being in the student council, perks that are likely unknown to anyone not part of it.
“Members of the student council can use campus facilities for free.”
F-free?
“Yeah.”
Wait, so even the cafeteria?
“Yeah.”
At my whispered revelation, Amelia and Olivia eagerly bolted to join the student council.
Free usage of campus facilities sounds impressive, but in reality, it’s just practical. Seriously, how expensive could campus facilities be?
Noble students wouldn’t bat an eye, and even the average commoner student with all their scholarships and aid wouldn’t so much as glance at such a privilege. It’s like telling someone with a wallet stuffed with cash, “Hey, free milk coffee from the vending machine!”—as if they’d actually care!
I never thought anyone would actually use it.
It seems like my tear ducts were overactive today. Watching Marghetta excitedly sign the paperwork I handed over made my heart ache.
Giving more money to these girls would merely increase what goes to their siblings. This is the right call. It’s better they can eat as much as they like.
Honestly, they’re still human; don’t they feel hunger? They ate with such vigor when I treated them, and now they’re all giddy learning they could use the cafeteria for free.
What poor kids…
I suddenly realized I had two more people to write recommendation letters for.
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