Chapter 87

“Excuse me, dear, I’m sorry to interrupt you while you’re working… I’ve finished compiling the school’s teaching plan. Would you be able to review it when you have time?”

It was Noein’s wife, Clara, who came to him in his office as he worked on paperwork.

“Of course, Clara. Thank you for your hard work… I’ll read it now as a break from work.”

“Shall I bring some tea, Lord Noein? And would you like some too, Lady Clara?”

“Thank you, Mathilda. Please do.”

“I’d love some as well, thank you.”

Not long after marrying into the Earlkvist family, Clara suggested to Noein, “How about establishing a school in the capital, Noeina?” She wanted to oversee the school and even take on teaching duties herself.

Though only meant for commoner children to attend a few times a week for half days, the school would provide education lasting six months to a year, covering basics like reading, writing, and arithmetic. Still, this would significantly raise the intellectual standards of future generations in the region.

With Clara’s deep knowledge of academics, she was an ideal candidate to manage the Earlkvist domain’s first school. Noein readily approved her proposal, asking her to develop a more detailed teaching plan.

Now, two weeks later, Noein reviewed Clara’s finalized teaching plan as he sipped the tea Mathilda prepared.

“…Yes, this is good. Basics like reading and math are a given, but bringing in specialists from various fields as teachers is an excellent idea. Have you already spoken with them?”

“Yes, I’ve made arrangements with everyone.”

Clara’s plan included not only her teaching basic reading and math but also inviting individuals like Edgar, an agricultural expert; Serfas, a physician; and Christie, a high school graduate, to teach basic knowledge from their respective fields. They had all agreed to help teach within the limits of their regular duties.

“I see. It’s amazing that you put this all together in just two weeks, Clara. I didn’t expect you to handle it this skillfully,” Noein praised her honestly, impressed.

“R-really? Am I truly helpful to you?”

“Absolutely, you’re a huge support. With a higher literacy rate, our domain will progress faster. Thanks to you, Earlkvist will grow, benefiting both the people and me.”

By equipping the people not only with basic literacy and arithmetic but also foundational knowledge across various fields, the Earlkvist domain would likely develop into a more sophisticated society.

“Hehe… That makes me happy.”

“Well done, Lady Clara,” Mathilda said with a smile, exchanging glances with Clara. Since the day of their initial inspection, the two had become close.

“When I lived with the Keinitz family, I suggested establishing a school, but my father refused, saying the wealthy merchants and farmers wouldn’t approve.”

“That’s understandable. Those in the upper social circles often don’t want the lower classes to gain knowledge. They may fear it threatens their status. Arnold probably couldn’t act on it without risking the support of the wealthy.”

Many people in high positions prefer the lower classes to remain uneducated to maintain their intellectual superiority. In Lordberg Kingdom, there are few public schools accessible to everyone, largely due to these social dynamics.

Noein, on the other hand, was able to proceed with the school’s establishment because the Earlkvist domain, as a newly emerging territory, lacked established elites. Figures like Philip of the Skinner Trading Company even supported the school’s founding, as he desired more literate and numerate personnel.

“The world can be complex, can’t it…”

“Yes. Fortunately, we’re free from such entanglements here, so we can implement new initiatives as we develop. The school is a vital first step in this, so please continue supporting this project.”

“Of course!”

…

Clara’s capabilities were invaluable in creating the teaching plan, yet her limited experience and unfamiliarity with the internal workings of Earlkvist posed challenges.

To help manage these aspects, Noein appointed Yuri, the head steward, to support her with the necessary procedures for the school’s construction.

With mining engineer Victor now overseeing the mines, Yuri was freed from overseeing the Restio Mountain region. Having more time and familiarity with the domain, Yuri was an ideal aide for Clara.

“At this rate, we might be able to open next month.”

“Yes, and by focusing more on classes during winter, the agricultural off-season, we could finish educating our first students by spring.”

Noein and Yuri discussed the progress of the school’s construction as they toured the site.

The building was a modest, single-story structure designed to accommodate only a few dozen students at a time. However, the lot was spacious enough to expand if the population and student numbers grew.

“I must say, starting with a school as a means of strengthening the domain is a surprising choice. There’s no immediate impact, is there?”

“That’s precisely why. Since it takes years for results to show, I wanted to begin as soon as possible… If war erupts, it will throw the country into turmoil for years. Having knowledgeable people will be a great asset during such times.”

Noein grinned at Yuri’s question.

“I see. In the long run, educating people is the best course of action.”

“Exactly… By the way, how are the people reacting to the school? Will we have enough students?”

“Yes, the feedback is mostly positive. The low tax rate and potato crops have given many families some financial breathing room, so I think we’ll see a fair number of firstborns from each household attending.”

Ordinarily, few families could afford to send their children to a school, even if one existed. This was one reason why the rich became more educated and prosperous, while the poor remained impoverished.

However, in Earlkvist, potato cultivation allowed ample food production with minimal labor, and Noein’s profits from mining enabled him to set a tax rate lower than the national average. As a result, the people of Earlkvist lived more comfortably.

Additionally, since the school’s operating costs were covered by Noein’s budget, children could attend for free. The people were eager to take advantage of this opportunity for their children to study.

“That’s good… A smooth start.”

“Yes, it seems so. Now, we just wait patiently for the results.”

Confirming that preparations for the school were progressing without issue, Noein and Yuri left the construction site.