Abandoned talented woman decides to live a leisurely life with her family - Chapter 21

And so, about a month passed.

One day, Edgard contacted me and requested a meeting to discuss the picture book project. He wanted to show me the finished product he had just made. Naturally, I agreed without hesitation.

A total of five people arrived: Edgard, two illustrators, and two transcribers.

When I received the offer in the letter, I was curious why only two illustrators and two transcribers were needed, so I asked for clarification in my reply. It turned out that the picture books would be divided into two categories—one for commoner children and one for noble children. The quality and budget would differ based on the target audience, though the content would remain the same.

Understanding the reasoning, I agreed to meet with all five of them.

We gathered in the reception room, where the six of us sat around a table with a sofa.

Without hesitation, Edgard placed two picture books on the table and introduced the illustrators and transcribers.

“This one is for the nobility and the wealthy, and this one is for the general public.”

At a glance, the difference between the two books was clear.

The book intended for the nobility and wealthy had a cover adorned with gold and silver, and the paper was pure white and smooth—likely the finest quality available. The illustrations were vibrant, with a generous amount of precious blue pigment used in the artwork.

In contrast, the picture book for commoners was rough to the touch, made from lower-quality paper. The binding was simple, without any flashy decorations, and the colors in the illustrations were more limited.

“Aristocrats and the wealthy take pride in owning expensive and precious things. So, even though it’s aimed at children, I thought that decorating it like this would pique their interest.”

“I see,” I nodded, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind the design.

“And this one is for the general public. I made this version with the goal of keeping costs as low as possible, without compromising the quality of the pictures and text. The price is kept affordable, but even then, adults don’t often buy books. So, the challenge is how to market it…”

As expected of Edgard, a merchant experienced in dealing with both nobles and commoners, he had come up with two distinct products based on my ideas alone.

It would be easy to market the book to the wealthy—they desire new, rare, and valuable things. And if it benefits their children’s education, they’ll be eager to purchase it.

However, the real challenge lay with the common people. Many of them were illiterate and lacked basic arithmetic skills. If the parents themselves were unable to read or write, would they even consider buying this picture book for their children?

“Hmm. I’m glad you made both versions, but… it seems like it’ll be hard to get the common folk to buy these books.”

“That’s true…” Edgard replied, a concerned look on his face. “I come from a noble family, so I had no trouble learning to read, write, or do arithmetic, but commoners working in trading companies often struggle with these skills. Because of this, they end up in low-paying, physically demanding jobs. Many of them can’t handle the work and end up quitting… But if they could learn basic reading and writing from this book, I think it could help prevent such hardships.”

Edgard spoke with a sadness that showed he had seen the struggles of these workers firsthand, from the perspective of an employer.

“What happens to those who can’t find work?” I asked Edgard.

“If there are no jobs, they have no choice but to turn to illegal activities. Men become highwaymen or bandits, preying on merchants’ wagons. Women may become street robbers…”

“That’s not okay!” I interrupted, alarmed.

“The problem is that not all parents can afford it. Hey, Edgard, aren’t there any schools for commoners in this country?” I asked, recalling the situation in the former Baumgarden Kingdom, where such schools didn’t exist.

“Yes, there are. The church opens its doors to local children and those under its care, teaching them basic reading and writing a few times a week. I believe this has been the case since the current princess became the queen consort.”

So, it’s possible this was the current Princess’s idea… Providing education to children is an investment in their future. If they can at least learn basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, they have a much better chance of avoiding unemployment and living an honest life. From the government’s perspective, this should also reduce crime.

Whether this was truly the Princess’s idea or if she thought it through in such detail is mere speculation.

“That means…” I began to speak, but Edgard suddenly raised his head.

“First, let’s mass-produce the books for the wealthy and make some sales. Then, I’ll use my share of the profits to buy the books for the common people and donate them to the church that runs the school.”

“Eh… but my lady, what about your share…”

“It’s practically nothing,” Edgard began but then stopped himself.

“I didn’t come to this country to make money. Well, if I end up making money, that’s fine, but I want to give it back to the poor and suffering. That’s what noblesse oblige is all about.”

Noblesse Oblige—the idea that with high social status comes the responsibility to help others. Though my father’s position changed when we moved to this country, and our title was reduced from Earl to Baron, I am still the child of an aristocrat. I should be allowed to work to improve public order in this country.

“Edgard, please start by producing a certain number of books for the wealthy.”

“And what will you do with those?” Edgard asked, curious.

I smiled. “I’ll get my mother to help me.”

Yes, Mother is the one to help with the ladies’ social circles, and we’ll have Elmer and Alma assist as well.

I chuckled to myself, feeling confident in our plan.