It didn't take long for the lecturer with high cheekbones to step onto the half-height wooden platform at the front of the small auditorium and say loudly:
"Good morning, kind and merciful ladies, I am Seviara Heda. Today I will share with you the experience of arranging household expenses. This is divided into three parts: First, how families with an annual income of about 100 pounds should balance their spending on food, housing, clothing, and servants. Second, what additional expenditures families with an annual income of 200 pounds should increase to make themselves appear more decent..."
Melissa listened carefully, and without mental calculation, she remembered the combined annual income of her two brothers.
"More than 200 pounds..." she thought, half relieved and half fearful.
She was both pleased and satisfied with her current life, and afraid that it would disappear in an instant.
At this time, Selina with wine-red hair covered her mouth and whispered to her two friends:
"She seems to be a believer of the Storm Lord. She is wearing the Storm badge."
Melissa focused her gaze and indeed saw that Teacher Seviara was wearing a badge depicting wind and waves on her left chest.
She quickly explained:
"Mrs. Shode, who told me about this lecture, is a believer of the Storm Lord, so it's not surprising that the teacher is too."
"Mm, I don't see a problem with that. We are here to listen to the specific bill plan." Elizabeth comforted Melissa.
"But, except for Melissa, none of us need or are qualified to make household budget plans." Selina with wine-red hair muttered.
Elizabeth retorted without hesitation:
"But we will eventually get married and have our own families."
After the "Magic Mirror Divination" incident, Selina had been somewhat afraid of Elizabeth, so she nodded awkwardly and pretended to listen attentively.
The lecturer Seviara then raised her right hand and said:
"The premise of all these expense plans is that we must respect the opinions of the male heads of the household. They are the source of income, the pillars of the family. They face anxiety, pressure, troubles, and chaos in the muddy society, and win everything for us. Therefore, we must create a peaceful environment undisturbed by external affairs, so that they can relax when they return home, let their souls be baptized, and face various challenges in a better state..."
"So, the famous philosopher, sociologist, humanist, and economist Mr. Lu Ermi once said, 'Women are the angels of the family.'"
Selina cupped her cheek, dimpled, and asked in an excited whisper:
"Lu Ermi, is he the gentleman who said 'Man is born free'?"
"Yes, but he is a believer of the Storm Lord." Elizabeth hesitated and answered.
At this moment, the lecturer Seviara continued:
"Mr. Lu Ermi also told us that women are inherently deficient in wisdom and logic. Since that is so, we, who lack judgment, should accept the words of our fathers and husbands as a religious belief..." (Note 1)
This description made Melissa, Selina, and Elizabeth look at each other, unable to speak for a long time.
"Should we leave?" Finally, Selina tentatively suggested.
Melissa and Elizabeth nodded vigorously at the same time:
"Okay!"
They picked up their veils, hunched over, and slipped towards the side door, trying to leave without attracting attention.
When they carefully reached the outside and stood upright, they suddenly heard a burst of enthusiastic applause from inside the small auditorium.
Melissa instinctively looked back, her eyes through the door opening looking inside.
She saw Mrs. Shode clapping, saw one lady after another clapping.
Phew, praise the Goddess... Melissa sighed and walked away from this place that made her uncomfortable all over with Selina and Elizabeth.
"Shall we go to Harrod's department store?" Standing under the street tree by the road, Selina forgot the previous matter and happily suggested.
Melissa was silent for a few seconds and said:
"I want to go back and study."
"Study..." Selina dazedly smoothed her wine-red hair, as if returning to ordinary life.
"And I still have to buy bread, buy beef, buy potatoes, buy fruits... Klein is working today, Benson went to the municipal library, mm, I must go back!" Melissa suddenly felt that she loved textbooks, springs, and gears so much.
Selina decided to keep distance from Melissa, who was in an unusual state today, and looked sideways at Elizabeth, fawningly smiled:
"Shall we two go to Harrod's department store? Although I have long been out of pocket money, it is also beautiful to look around and see."
"Mm." Elizabeth agreed to her friend's proposal and asked seemingly casually, "Melissa, your brother Klein also has to work on Sundays?"
"Yes, he rests on Mondays, unlike ordinary jobs." Melissa unconsciously raised her head.
............
After leaving the Black Thorn Security Company, Klein took a horse-drawn tram to the Howls Street area.
He tried to gather his thoughts and stopped thinking about the Antigonus family treasure, letting his attention return to the matter of "Acting":
To digest the potion as soon as possible, to improve himself as soon as possible, is very important no matter when!
"Acting as a Fortune Teller, ha, I am still not professional enough. Fortune tellers in the big food country always consult the almanac before doing anything..." Klein gripped his cane, sitting inside the carriage.
He decided to divine in advance whether today was favorable for going out, favorable for going to the Divination Club.
Only then would he be a qualified Fortune Teller!