When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#526 - Nagmi's Doubts (Part 2)

"Knock knock knock!"

"Enrico, come out here! You have the nerve to steal the sweet pea flowers, so have the nerve to open the door! Don't hide inside and pretend you're not home. I know you're in there!"

Standing outside the gate of a villa, guarded by seven or eight knights, Seizinger pounded on the gate with his massive fists.

Soon, footsteps approached, and with the sound of the latch being lifted, a young girl in a black and white nun's habit timidly opened the door.

After a moment of recognition, confirming that this was Enrico's daughter and not his new mistress, Seizinger asked gruffly, "Cusvania, where's your father?"

The little nun seemed a bit dazed by Seizinger's abrupt question. She stepped aside and pointed to the garden behind the small courtyard.

"Excuse me." Seizinger squeezed through the doorway, rolled up his sleeves, and strode towards the back garden.

"Enrico—"

"Cusvania! Wow, you've grown so much!" Before Cusvania could understand what Uncle Seizinger was doing, she was embraced tightly by Nagmi, who had burst in.

The two of them were like cousins, seeing each other almost every winter when they were younger, so they were naturally friends.

"Sister Nagmi," Cusvania gasped, struggling to breathe under Nagmi's strong embrace, "Long time... no see..."

Seeing Cusvania's face turning purple, Nagmi finally released her. "Why are you opening the door? Where are the servants?"

"The previous male and female servants were dismissed. We only kept three servants, a nanny, and a cook. Old Tom, who watches the door, is old and hard of hearing."

"Where are your good-for-nothing brothers?"

"They're either serving in the military or at school."

"Look at our little Vania, so strong."

The two sisters chatted for a while at the door, and then Nagmi took Cusvania's hand, wanting to see where she lived.

Cusvania naturally didn't refuse. After instructing the old servant to lead the mountain knights' horses, she took Nagmi to the room on the second floor.

Opening the bedroom door, a fragrance of flowers wafted out.

On the second floor, there was a four-petal flower-shaped round window on the gable. Nagmi walked closer and could see the smoke rising from the entire town.

She looked around the room and found it surprisingly clean and comfortable, with sturdy furniture, a large wardrobe, and rows of books on a bookshelf.

Cusvania's room was about fifty or sixty square meters, decorated simply, with a framed portrait of the young Pope on the wall.

Next to the portrait, on the side of the mosaic stained glass window, was a square pointed arch window.

A wide chestnut table was placed in front of the arch window, neatly arranged with iron candlesticks, books, paper, quills, and ink bottles.

This villa was previously the residence of a bishop, with a brick and stone structure and simple decorations, later assigned to Enrico.

Although his rank was just a small fry in Fort Jeanne d'Arc or the Holy See, his status in Sour Gherkin Town was not low.

This was not only his residence but also his office.

The gatehouse of the warehouse on the other side of the open-air corridor had been converted into his office, with a side door opened for people to come and go every day.

Although this house was not as large and magnificent as a manor villa, it was indeed comfortable and clean.

For some reason, Nagmi felt a little stuffy in her chest. She reached out and opened the arch window, wanting to get some fresh air.

"Enrico, you plagiarist! I trusted you so much!"

"Did you cultivate the sweet pea flowers? My mother told me about that. What does it have to do with you?"

"I f***..."

Nagmi slammed the window shut, shutting out her father's vulgar words.

"Tell me quickly, how did you become a nun?" Taking Cusvania's hand, Nagmi affectionately stroked her head.

Generally, only daughters who couldn't get married or daughters too numerous to afford a dowry would be sent to convents to become nuns.

Enrico had several sons and illegitimate children, but only this one daughter. Originally, he could definitely afford the dowry.

Now, sending his daughter to a convent must mean he's facing some difficulties.

"It's temporary. My uncles object to their daughters attending schools, feeling it's undignified," Cusvania said shyly in a soft voice. "So His Holiness uses the convent as a school, allowing us noble daughters to enter as nuns to study.

We'll graduate and return to secular life after three years, and then we can still get married."

"And those old geezers agreed?" This answer was a bit different from what Nagmi had expected. She found it strange.

She was very familiar with how those old stubborn men criticized her for showing her face in public.

Cusvania shook her head. "At first, my uncles were still unwilling to let their daughters go out, but then a rumor spread that His Holiness was going to choose a wife from these nuns, and then they agreed."

"Tsk." Nagmi snorted contemptuously. "Then what do you all learn? Needlework? Managing servants? Accounting? Etiquette?"

These things were usually taught by the lady of the house's personal nanny or by the lady herself.

If the lady died early or didn't have such a nanny, they would have to hire a knowledgeable nanny from outside, and such nannies were very expensive.

The chief nanny of a noble family in Flower Hill City in the Kingdom of France earned even more than a knight in a year.

"We learn mathematics, poetry, philosophy, law, and natural theology. We also learn horseback riding, harp, and knight breathing techniques."

Nagmi was stunned. "Say that again?"

So Cusvania counted on her fingers and said it again, but before she could finish, Nagmi interrupted her: "Isn't that what priests should learn?"

"His Holiness values knowledge." Speaking of the young Pope of the Holy See, the little nun's eyes sparkled. "He hopes that both men and women will become monks and nuns of high moral character."

Sitting down on the soft bed, Nagmi didn't know what to say for a moment.

Due to the scarcity of population in North County, women have always been used as men, and men have been used as livestock. There's no taboo about showing one's face in public.

Enrico often mocked Seizinger in front of Cusvania as 'your barbarian uncle.'

But the nobles of North County are not uncultured or uneducated.

Starting with the previous Duke Hemas, Coldspring Castle would specifically hire scholars and send them to reside in various mountain counties.

These scholars would teach the children of mountain knights to read and do arithmetic at a low price, and those with the ability would be recommended to Coldspring Castle.

On this point, many North Knights are very grateful.

Under the pressure of Myra's monthly salary of 2 pounds, this gratitude, although a bit distorted, at least didn't go bankrupt.

Nagmi had been to such a school, but she only learned reading, writing, and arithmetic, and then she was sent to learn needlework and manage servants.

She had never even touched those high-end subjects like philosophy, poetry, and law.

When she saw her brothers standing together discussing poetry and philosophy, she couldn't understand a word and could only make up for it in swordsmanship.

For a moment, she was actually a little envious.

Walking to the little nun's desk and picking up the small essay on natural theology, Nagmi felt like she was looking at a book from heaven.

She was only two years younger than herself!

Putting down the small essay, Nagmi looked at Cusvania and suddenly felt like there was a thick barrier between them.

"How many years will you be in this school?"

"I've already learned reading, writing, and arithmetic, so I'll study for three years. If I hadn't learned it before, I would study for six years." The little nun shyly hid the unfinished essay. "I wish I hadn't learned reading and arithmetic. The lower grades are much more fun than the higher grades."

"Really? Is the convent school so good?"

"Why don't you stay and keep me company?" Seeming to sense Nagmi's emotional change, Cusvania hugged Nagmi's arm and acted coquettishly. "I'll take you to meet some new friends. They'll definitely like you."

Looking at Cusvania's delicate face, Nagmi suddenly didn't know how to respond.

She had originally thought that Uncle Enrico had been captured and stripped of his noble status, so life must be difficult.

This time, she came to Sour Gherkin Town with the intention of taking Cusvania back to her hometown.

Although it wouldn't be as good as being a noble lady in the Plain County, it would be better than living a miserable life as a commoner.

But now it seemed that she was not only doing well but even happier than before.

Perhaps taking the little nun back to the cold mountains would make her miserable.

"We'll see."

Nagmi's smile was both bitter and confused.