Not long after, the lecturer with high cheekbones stepped onto the half-height wooden platform in front of the small auditorium and began to speak in a loud voice:
"Good morning, kind and benevolent ladies, I am Saviah Heda. Today I would like to share my experience in managing household expenses, which will be divided into three parts. First, how should families with an annual income of around £100 balance their expenses on food, housing, clothing, and hiring servants? Second, what additional expenses should families with an annual income of £200 increase to make themselves appear more respectable..."
Melissa listened attentively, remembering her two brothers' combined annual income without having to do the mental calculations.
"It's over 200 pounds..." she thought, half relieved and half apprehensive.
She was both delighted and content with her current life, yet afraid that it would vanish in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, Selena, with her burgundy hair, covered her mouth and whispered to her two friends:
"She appears to be a follower of the Lord of Storms; she wears the Storm Badge."
Melissa looked closely and indeed saw a badge depicting a storm and waves on the left breast of Teacher Saviah.
She quickly explained:
"I don't think it's surprising that the teacher is also a follower of the Lord of Storms, Mrs. Schodde, who told me about this lecture, is a follower of the Lord of Storms."
"Yes, I don't see any problem. We're here to hear the specific billing plan," Elizabeth reassured Melissa.
"But apart from Melissa, none of us need to, nor are we qualified to, make family spending plans," Selena, with her burgundy hair, muttered.
Elizabeth retorted without hesitation:
"But we will eventually get married and have our own family."
After the " Magic Mirror Divination " incident, Selena was still somewhat afraid of Elizabeth, so she could only nod awkwardly and pretend to be listening attentively.
The lecturer, Saviah, raised her right hand and said:
"The premise of all these expenditure plans is that we must respect the opinions of the male head of the household. They are the source of income and the Pillar of the family. They face anxiety, stress, trouble, and chaos in this turbulent society, winning everything for us. Therefore, we must create a peaceful environment undisturbed by external affairs, allowing them to relax when they return home, letting their minds be cleansed, and enabling them to better cope with various challenges..."
"Therefore, the renowned Philosopher, sociologist, humanist, and economist Leodero once said that women are the Angel of the family."
Selena cupped her cheek, highlighting her dimples, and asked in a slightly excited whisper:
" Leodero, is he the man who said 'Man is born free'?"
"Yes, but he is a follower of the Lord of Storms," Elizabeth replied hesitantly.
Just then, the lecturer Saviah, continued:
"Mr. Leodero also told us that women are inherently deficient in Wisdom and logic, and since that is the case, we who lack the ability to judge should accept the words of our fathers and husbands as religious beliefs..." (Note 1)
Melissa, Selena, and Elizabeth looked at each other, speechless for a long time after hearing this description.
"Shall we go?" Selena finally suggested tentatively.
Melissa and Elizabeth nodded vigorously at the same time:
"OK!"
They grabbed their veils, bent low, and slipped towards the side door, trying to leave without attracting attention.
As they carefully reached the outside and stood up straight, they suddenly heard a burst of enthusiastic applause from inside the small auditorium.
Melissa instinctively turned around, her gaze passing through the doorway and looking inside.
She saw Mrs. Schodde clapping, and she saw all the ladies clapping.
Whew, praise to the goddess... Melissa exhaled and, together with Selena and Elizabeth, moved away from this place that made her feel so uncomfortable.
"Shall we go to Harold Department Store?" Standing under the roadside trees, Selena forgot what had just happened and cheerfully suggested.
Melissa paused for a few seconds and then said:
"I want to go back to studying."
"Studying..." Selena absentmindedly smoothed her burgundy hair, seemingly returning to her normal life.
"And I also need to buy bread, beef, potatoes, fruit... Klein has to work today, Benson went to the municipal library, umm, I have to go back!" Melissa suddenly realized how much she loved textbooks, wind-up clocks, and gears.
Selena decided to keep her distance from Melissa, who seemed out of sorts today. She turned to Elizabeth and smiled ingratiatingly:
"Shall we go to Harold Department Store? Even though I've already spent all my savings, it'll still be nice to browse around."
"Hmm." Elizabeth agreed to her friend's suggestion, then casually asked, " Melissa, does your Klein also work on Sundays?"
"Yes, he takes Mondays off, unlike his regular workday." Melissa unconsciously tilted her head slightly.
After leaving Blackthorn Security Company, Klein took a horse-drawn carriage to the Howes Street.
He tried to pull his thoughts away from the Antigonus Family treasure and focus his attention back on the act of " Acting the part."
Digesting the Potion as quickly as possible and improving yourself is always very important!
" Acting the Seer? Ha, I'm still not professional enough. Fortune tellers in the Great Foodie Country consult the almanac before doing anything..." Klein gripped his cane, sitting inside the carriage.
He decided to Divination beforehand to see if today was auspicious for travel or visiting Divination Club.
That's what makes a qualified Seer!
Taking advantage of the moment he got off the train, Klein pulled out a half-penny copper coin, his gaze immediately turning inward, his eyes quickly deepening, and he silently recited:
Today is a good day to visit Divination Club.
Today is a good day to visit Divination Club.
when!
Klein flicked the coin upwards, not watching it roll, but instead extending his palm.
Thud! The half-penny coin fell and landed steadily in his palm.
This time, the number "1/2" surrounded by ears of wheat faces upwards.
"The number is facing up, which means something bad will happen at the Divination Club today..." Klein thought for a moment, then turned and walked across the street to wait for the public carriage heading towards Daffodil Street.
He felt he was becoming more and more like a charlatan.
Howes Street, in front of Harold Department Store.
Selena was about to enter when she suddenly paused, turning to look to the side.
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked, puzzled.
Selena puffed out her cheeks and said:
" Elizabeth, I'm thinking of my occult teacher, Mr. Vincent. He passed away just like that, on the morning after my birthday..."
"Could it be because I peeked at his secret incantation? This has made me feel guilty and uneasy... and lately, I've been having a lot of bad luck."
"So?" Elizabeth asked, as if on cue.
Selena bit her lip and said:
"I'd like to go to the Divination Club next door for Divination to see if Mr. Vincent's matter really has anything to do with me."
I wonder what really happened at the birthday dinner... I have a feeling Elizabeth is hiding something from me... I remember seeing a man in a tuxedo from behind...
"Don't you know how to Divination yourself?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.
Selena deliberately mimicked her father's sigh and said:
"Sigh, I'm not in the right state to Divination for myself right now."
"Okay, let's go to the Divination Club next door first," Elizabeth agreed to her friend's suggestion.
They went to the side and went up the stairs to the Divination Club on the second floor.
"Hello, good afternoon, Miss Angelica, it's a pleasure to see you again," Selena greeted cheerfully in the reception hall.
Angelica smiled and said:
"If you come after lunch, you should be able to see me."
Selena exchanged a few pleasantries with the other party, mourned Hynas Vincent, and then said:
"I need Divination."
"You know the club's rules, this is a brochure of members willing to do Divination... It's the weekend, there are a lot of people here." Angelica went through the process with practiced ease.
Selena and Elizabeth huddled together, quickly flipping through the name list and corresponding descriptions.
"I used to always go directly to my teacher, but I didn't expect the club to have so many more members willing to do Divination compared to last year," Selena said with great interest.
Suddenly, she paused for a few seconds, then whispered in confusion:
" Klein Moretti, Klein Moretti? That's the same name as Melissa's brother!"
Elizabeth paused, looked at the words " Klein Moretti " several times, and nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes..."
"Ms. Angelica, is Mr. Klein Moretti here?" Selena asked, her eyes bright.
Angelica shook her head:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Klein Moretti didn't come to the club today."
"Okay, let's try someone else." Selena didn't necessarily want to know the person; she just chuckled to her friend, "I know this can't be Melissa's brother, but seeing this name, I naturally came up with a headline like the * Intis Post *."
The Intis Post, founded by Emperor Roselle, is known for its sensational headlines and is one of the most famous newspapers in the Northern Continent.
Elizabeth asked, somewhat inattentively:
What's the title?
Selena cleared her throat and said:
"Is it moral decay or a societal problem that a history major has stooped to making a living by Divination on weekends!"
Note 1: This passage is adapted from Rousseau's * Emile *.