Chapter 10. Gifts for Ael  

When was the last time Ael had tasted such fine tea? She momentarily forgot her pain and indulged in the taste and aroma of the tea.

Callon quietly observed Ael as she enjoyed her tea.

‘She lied.’

Before coming to Denertum, Callon had sought out an etiquette teacher from Denertum to learn about the customs here.

He studied everything from greetings to dining and tea party manners.

He recalled the teacher who had taught him etiquette. The teacher was very strict about conduct, but compared to Ael, who sat before him now, it seemed the teacher should have been the student.

Ael herself seemed unaware, lost in the fragrance, but her posture, the way she handled the teacup, and every action she took was filled with grace.

‘She can’t be a commoner from Denertum.’

This country had a stark divide between nobles and commoners. As a result, even now, the Ash Merchant Guild faced many restrictions on expanding its business because he, the guild master, was a ‘commoner’ from the Empire.

In such a country, a commoner wouldn’t have received such education.

‘Yet she didn’t mention her family name when she introduced herself… she must not want to reveal it.’

Callon continued to scrutinize Ael.

Her clothes seemed tidy, but the sleeves showed signs of being mended multiple times.

His gaze slowly traveled upward. When he saw Ael’s face, smiling slightly at the aroma of the rising tea, he instinctively turned his head away.

A round forehead. Long eyelashes covering warm brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

It was nothing special. Just a woman quietly enjoying her tea.

Yet, for some reason, he suddenly felt embarrassed.

Not understanding his own reaction, Callon turned back. He needed to observe this woman a bit more.

But unlike before, this time Ael was looking directly at him.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Ah, well….”

For a moment, Callon’s mind went blank. Normally, he would have smoothly changed the subject, but strangely, words wouldn’t come out easily. Then, without thinking, he asked what had been on his mind.

“Wasn’t this book difficult?”

“Oh!”

Ael’s eyes widened at the sight of the small book he pulled from his pocket. It was the book she had forgotten about because of the ruined letter paper. Callon returned the book to Ael and said,

“The Law of Leman-Karthi is still difficult for scholars to grasp….”

At that moment, Ael suddenly stood up and exclaimed,

“You know the Law of Leman-Karthi?”

* * *

This wasn’t planned.

Callon thought as he looked ahead.

In the corner of the wide table were the tea and cookies Nisha had brought. Originally, they were in the center of the table, but now that space was occupied by papers filled with complex formulas and graphs, along with pens and ink.

And across from him, Ael was looking at him with sparkling eyes, unable to hide her excitement.

A while ago, when Callon and Ael’s eyes met, he hesitated, not knowing what to say, and ended up blurting out his curiosity.

Ael’s reaction was tremendous.

Until then, Ael had been quite reserved. She didn’t show much of her injury, and her voice and actions were cautious.

But the moment Callon mentioned the economic law in the book, she looked as if a thirsty person had found a river.

Then she begged, almost desperately, for him to explain if he knew about the law.

Her plea was so earnest that even Nisha, who was momentarily taken aback, nudged Callon with her elbow, signaling him with her eyes, ‘What are you doing? She’s begging you so earnestly, just tell her.’

Because of that, the meeting room of the Ash Merchant Guild suddenly became an economics lecture hall.

Naturally, Callon was well-versed in the Law of Leman-Karthi.

It was a law that organized ten indicators shown during a principality’s bankruptcy incident.

Callon was the one who had initially handed over the principality’s data to the imperial economists.

He had even funded the research, leading to the development of the law.

Unbeknownst to him, Ael had found the best teacher possible.

At first, Callon didn’t know where to start, so he asked Ael which parts of the book she didn’t understand and which parts she did.

Her answer exceeded his expectations. Essentially, if Ael could understand just that law, she would grasp the entire book.

Thus began Callon’s lesson.

What other important trait is there for a student than the willingness to learn? In that regard, Ael was the perfect student.

Callon had always thought he wasn’t particularly talented at teaching others.

But as he explained to Ael, he began to think that perhaps he could teach at the academy once he returned to the Empire.

That was because Ael absorbed everything he taught her.

“Then about this part, why is there no mention of applying the formula differently when the result differs from the previous formula?”

“That’s because different formulas are applied when calculating exports and imports.”

Ael continued to ask about things she didn’t understand, and Callon answered without hesitation.

Their intense session ended when Nisha knocked on the door, crossing her arms as if to get their attention.

“I acknowledge your academic enthusiasm, but could you take a look outside the window?”

“What? What’s outside the window… Oh my!”

“What’s outside the window… Oh dear.”

Following Nisha’s suggestion, Ael and Callon looked out the window and sighed.

When they entered the Ash Merchant Guild, it was just past lunchtime, but now the red sun was setting beyond the horizon.

Ael’s face, which had been glowing with newfound knowledge, suddenly turned pale.

“I didn’t realize how late it was. I should get going. Thank you so much for today.”

Ael hurriedly packed the book into her bag and stood up. Images of Elise and her parents, who would be furious, flashed through her mind.

Oh no. They’re definitely going to kill me today. I might really get beaten to the brink of death.

Moreover, thinking of Jenna, who would have made dinner alone, added fear to her guilt.

As Ael limped towards the door, Nisha, startled, stopped her.

“I’ve prepared a carriage for you! Please take it! And you must take our gift with you.”

“A gift?”

“Yes, a gift and a token of our respect for the courage you showed today.”

Nisha glanced at Callon as she spoke. Before teaching Ael, Callon had called Nisha aside and instructed her.

“Prepare the best letter paper we export to Denertum. She seemed to be on an errand, so if she returns empty-handed, she’ll likely be scolded by her employer. So bring plenty of things so good that her employer won’t be able to complain. As for other gifts, you can prepare them as you see fit. There’s no issue with that, right?”

“Understood. Then I’ll prepare freely as you instructed.”

Nisha’s steps were light as she turned away. That was because she knew Ael appreciated the value of the items they had brought all the way from the Empire.

‘She’s nothing like those arrogant nobles.’

Nobles, while being enthusiastic about imperial goods, would summon Nisha and act as if they were doing her a favor by purchasing them.

That was the best-case scenario.

Some would be displeased, asking if she was sent as the representative, and when they found out Nisha was an imperial commoner, they would openly cover their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs.

After dealing with such people, seeing Ael, who had helped her and expressed genuine surprise and joy at the items she brought, made Nisha wish she could have Ael try all the new arrivals if only there was time.

Of course, she was also grateful for helping retrieve the documents.

So Nisha prepared the repayment with utmost sincerity.

What was there to fear when the guild master had given permission? Moreover, the ship that had arrived with Callon was loaded with top-quality goods.

Nisha filled the carriage Ael would ride with gifts to her heart’s content.

First, she prepared gifts for Ael. It was easy to guess what she would like just from her actions.

‘Let’s start with the best fountain pen.’

Ael, while taking notes as Callon explained, had looked at the Empire’s fountain pen, which barely leaked ink, with curiosity several times.

‘Fortunately, some pretty-colored ones arrived as well….’

Next, Nisha packed plenty of notebooks made of high-quality paper.

Along with bags, ornaments, and more….

A satisfied smile spread across Nisha’s face as she loaded the carriage.