Chapter 54
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Sitting in the now-tidy library, taking tea with the charming spirit, the thought that had crossed Fiona’s mind some days ago returned.
‘Perhaps I truly should learn to read.’
Surrounded by countless books, yet unable to understand a single word without someone’s help—suddenly this felt terribly unjust.
Was it because the leisurely days had brought ease to her heart? For the first time since her mother disappeared, the desire to learn something stirred within her.
In the days she lived with her mother, Fiona had been painstakingly learning her letters. But before she could master them, her mother vanished, and afterwards no one remained to care about her studies.
Since butchery required no skill in reading, Fiona had ultimately lost forever the opportunity to learn her letters.
In a commoner’s life, there were few occasions that demanded literacy. In the village, many were like Fiona. Yet perhaps because she had been interrupted mid-learning, she harboured a measure of inferiority about her illiteracy, along with a vague aversion to documents covered in complex script.
Most recently, had she not required Jayden’s assistance, unable to leave a single signature on her marriage papers?
Surely there will be more occasions requiring it in future…
With the hollow title of Grand Duchess, she could not predict what might happen. In such circumstances, being unable to read was a considerable weakness. She might not even recognise an imperial decree ordering her execution if it lay open before her.
Like it or not, Fiona was now immersed in the chaos surrounding hegemony in the north. In this calm, like the eve of a storm, it would be wise to prepare for anything.
Yes, it would be best to learn, even if only a little at a time.
Though somewhat late, if she began now and studied gradually, might she not at least come to read simple words?
‘But how?’
Deciding took little time, but the method was now the problem.
‘Can an illiterate person learn letters alone?’
Suddenly her confidence evaporated.
If she had a tutor, matters would be simpler, but here such a thing was impossible.
Given that she could not even send letters to the capital for lack of someone to write for her, the maids here were clearly also illiterate, every one of them.
If she must ask someone, Jayden was the only option, but she would rather remain illiterate than ask that man for help.
Fiona, lost in thought for a moment, soon found a solution. The answer was unexpectedly close at hand.
“Page.”
Calling to the spirit, who was frantically eating the refreshments he had summoned, Page looked up at her, crumbs clinging to his mouth.
“Page can read, can you not?”
Page blinked like a cow asked if it knows how to graze.
“Page is… a book spirit.”
At his pride-wounded tone, Fiona hastily added:
“Actually, I do not know my letters.”
“What?!”
Dismay rose on his childish face. The young spirit, too innocent to conceal his expressions, transparently revealed his shock that anyone could be illiterate.
A wave of embarrassment washed over her, but she decided to be bold. Was there not a saying that if one does not know, one should learn?
“Fiona… so that is why you randomly…”
Page murmured, as if finally understanding why Fiona had occasionally inserted books in the wrong order while tidying.
“Circumstances prevented me from learning. If possible, I would like to study now… I wondered if you might help me.”
At these words, the dismay on his face transformed into pure joy.
“Page can help!”
His face brightening—nearly snorting with excitement—Page cried out.
Knowledge of letters and books was the field Page most excelled in. He had already been happy to acquire such a likeable assistant. And now he could legitimately show off to that assistant!
Overjoyed, the spirit flew immediately to the bookshelves and retrieved several volumes of Imperial language primers for children.
The lessons began that very day. Page proved a rather excellent—and unexpectedly strict—teacher.
Yet even as she carried an armful of the mountainous homework he assigned, Fiona was simply happy.
Her body and mind were more at ease than ever before, and daily life here was more comfortable than she had imagined.
For now, the prospects for her life seemed not so grim.
And as always, a clear day is ever followed by clouds.
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