Katherine entered the classroom and imdiately noticed how empty it was—she was quite early. She let out a small sigh, adjusting the strap of her satchel as she walked toward the seats.
Yesterday, after parting ways with Florante and Laura, she had taken the opportunity to introduce herself to so of the other symposium participants.
It was a necessary step, considering her position, but by the gods, she never realized just how exhausting socializing could be. Conversations about lineage, alliances, and politics had drained every last ounce of her patience.
Laura had invited her to visit the market with them, but after hours of being the third wheel in their royal romance saga, Katherine had politely declined. She liked their company well enough, but spending an entire afternoon as an unwilling side character? Hard pass.
Now, as she stepped further into the classroom, the few students present turned their attention toward her. She could feel their gazes linger for a mont too long. Right—her features stood out. A constant reminder that she was different.
Nothing to see here, folks. Just a totally normal noblewoman who definitely isn’t plotting to revolutionize comrce.
Ignoring the stares, she made her way to a seat in the back corner. Ideally, she would have chosen one closer to the front where she could properly hear the lecture, but the last thing she needed was to draw even more attention.
She took out her notebook and a booklet she had borrowed from the library yesterday, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. Before she could lose herself in reading, a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Nice to see you, Lady Katherine."
She looked up to see Count Adolfo standing before her, wearing that ever-present, unreadable smile of his.
Katherine nodded in greeting. "I didn’t know you took Economics as well, my lord."
Adolfo chuckled lightly. "I attend this class from ti to ti."
She blinked. From ti to ti? That wasn’t exactly a normal response. Most students followed a structured curriculum. Oh, so he’s one of those students who just shows up whenever he feels like it? Must be nice to be rich.
"May I sit with you?" he asked casually.
Katherine hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yes, of course."
As he settled into the seat beside her, he turned slightly to face her. "What made you choose this class, Lady Katherine?"
"I’ve always been interested in business and economics," she answered simply.
His expression held mild intrigue. "Oh? It seems we share a common interest."
Katherine recalled Adolfo’s presentation at the symposium. His approach had been ticulous, calculated—he seed like soone deeply invested in wealth and influence. Kind of like Maestro Eldritch... minus the old-man energy.
"Lady Katherine?" Adolfo’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"Ah, apologies. I was lost in thought."
Before he could respond, an old professor entered the room, prompting the students to rise in greeting before taking their seats again.
The professor cleared his throat, his voice carrying across the room. "Today, we will be discussing the economy of the North."
As the lecture began, Katherine focused, carefully taking notes. The economy of the North was a complex topic, but it intrigued her. Trade routes, taxes, and resource managent all played a role in a region’s stability.
"The Northern territories are rich in iron and silver, which have been their main exports for years," the professor explained, pointing to a large map at the front of the classroom. "However, relying too much on mining makes them vulnerable to changes in demand and trade agreents. That’s why recent reforms have encouraged farming and textile production."
Katherine made a note of that. Diversifying industries was crucial for stability. She glanced at Adolfo, who was listening with an easy confidence, his quill untouched on the desk. Must be nice to have this all morized already.
As she listened, her mind drifted to the economics classes she had taken back in her world. Discussions of market trends, global economies, and supply chain managent had been routine. Professors had thrown real-world case studies at them like so twisted version of a Survivor challenge—’Your country’s currency just collapsed. Fix it or perish.’ Compared to that, this class felt... different.
The principles were the sa, but the discussions were laced with power plays. Here, wealth wasn’t just about inco—it was about leverage. These nobles didn’t just want to run businesses; they wanted to control industries, dictate trade policies, and manipulate supply chains to gain political advantages.
"Lady Katherine, what do you think?" the professor suddenly asked.
She straightened, caught off guard but ready to answer. "Encouraging other industries is a good idea, but mining is a double-edged sword. It brings wealth, but if it’s the only source of inco, the economy could collapse if demand drops. The challenge is finding a balance between short-term profit and long-term stability."
Just like back ho... People thought mining was a ticket to prosperity, but no one talked about the deforestation, the contaminated rivers, or the farrs forced to relocate. The money was fast, but the damage lasted forever.
The room fell silent. Students exchanged surprised glances. A few leaned in, suddenly more interested. It wasn’t common to hear a woman speak so confidently about economy and politics—especially a re participant of the Sumr Symposium. A quiet murmur spread through the room, so impressed, others wary.
The professor nodded. "That’s an excellent point. Many noble houses in the North struggle with this. Lord Halstead, for example, has started investing in other industries to reduce his reliance on silver exports."
"But wouldn’t that create problems for workers?" one student asked hesitantly.
Katherine turned to him. "It could, if not handled well. But if the transition happens gradually and workers are supported—like with incentives to learn new trades—it could actually strengthen the economy. Relying on just one resource is always risky."
More students nodded, while others still looked amazed. What, did they think I was here just to sip tea and gossip?
Adolfo chuckled beside her. "So say Lord Halstead is only doing that because he lost a good trade deal with the East."
Katherine frowned slightly. That changed things. If Halstead’s decision was driven by necessity rather than foresight, then his reforms weren’t a carefully planned economic strategy—they were damage control. That ant his rivals—perhaps even Adolfo—would see it as a sign of weakness rather than innovation.
A few students murmured at his remark, but their focus soon returned to Katherine, so now looking at her with newfound respect.
The professor sighed. "Motives aside, adapting is necessary. Sticking to old thods will only lead to decline."
Katherine glanced at Adolfo. He always spoke with purpose—never throwing out information just to show off, but subtly guiding the conversation. It wasn’t just about economics for him; he was paying attention to how people reacted, who agreed, who hesitated.
It reminded her of Yevon’s warning before she left for Athens. In this world, knowledge isn’t just knowledge—it’s a weapon.
The lecture continued, shifting to tax policies that had shaped the North’s trade.
By the ti class ended, Katherine had filled several pages with notes. As students packed up, Adolfo turned to her.
"You have a sharp mind, Lady Katherine," he said, loud enough for others to hear. "Better than most students in the academy."
A few students glanced over, their expressions shifting. Katherine could feel their surprise—perhaps even disbelief. Many of them had likely never expected a young woman to contribute so confidently to a discussion on economics and politics. So exchanged uncertain glances, as if trying to reconcile their assumptions with what they had just witnessed.
Katherine raised an eyebrow, amused by Adolfo’s choice to say it so publicly. He had a way of making small comnts that left others questioning themselves. She smirked at his antics.
"You flatter , my lord," she said, closing her notebook. "Or are you just trying to make everyone else feel inadequate?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "Would I do that?" His eyes glinted with mischief. "But I must admit, it’s fun to see who takes the bait." He winked.
Katherine chuckled. "I’ll keep that in mind."
As they walked to the door, Adolfo asked, "What’s your next class?"
"History of Governance," she replied.
His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Ah, what a coincidence. We’re classmates again."
"So it seems," Katherine said, a little surprised but not displeased. "I suppose I’ll have to put up with your comntary for another hour."
Adolfo grinned. "Put up with? My insights are priceless, Lady Katherine."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Well, I’ll admit you have a way with words. Your observations are sharp, even if you do enjoy stirring the pot."
Adolfo placed a hand over his heart in mock gratitude. "High praise indeed. I shall cherish this mont."
Katherine laughed. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
As they stepped into the hallway, a few students still lingered near the doorway, casting curious glances at Katherine. She caught snippets of hushed conversations—so admiring her knowledge, others questioning how soone from outside their academy could understand politics so well.
The whispers didn’t bother her. If anything, they amused her.
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