Chapter 341
Chapter 341.
“What? You’re going to Jingyao?”
Paul was taken aback; he had just entered his office and sat down when Betty, the head of education, approached him with an unexpected request – to visit her family in Jingyao.
“Uh …… yes, Paul.”
Erin’s tone was a bit apprehensive, and she seemed a bit embarrassed, “I know that work …… is more important right now, but I still have to make a trip to Jingyao.”
Paul asked, “Is it because of that letter from Jingyao? Your relatives in the royal capital asked you to go there?”
Erin nodded gently.
“Well? How long will this trip plus the days at your relatives …… take?”
“This ……”
Irene was very hesitant, because she wasn’t sure if she could still leave Jingyao, and even if she could run away, her personal feelings were very complicated – originally, running away from home was something she had to do in order to escape from her father’s mandatory arrangements, and if her mother hadn’t lied to her, the premise of running away from home was now gone, and to put it mildly, what she had intended to do in the beginning was only to “temporarily” live in the Northwest Bay. The first thing she had planned to do was just to stay in the Northwest Bay for a while.
Although there is a “business” here that she likes ……
“A month or so.” She blurted out a time, she couldn’t tell the Earl what was really in her heart just yet, what if he didn’t let her go?
“Alright, then I’ll give you a month and a half of vacation. Oops, it’s kinda hard to let you go for such a long time.”
Paul is a little helpless, after controlling such a large piece of land in Emden, he still has the plan to build a few new schools, to grasp the brainwashing of Emden’s next generation …… ah shucks, to grasp the cultivation of correct values for Emden’s next generation ah.
The plan would have to be postponed if Ms. Betty wasn’t there.
“Then, Paul …… in my absence, I recommend the position to be acted by Laddie.”
Irene was a little reluctant to let go of her “enlightenment” efforts in the Northwest Bay when she was leaving and most likely not coming back.
A year and a half ago, the Northwest Bay in her eyes was still an illiterate and ignorant fringe of civilization, with only one unorthodox school in the whole of Alda that the Lord had set up with a slap on the wrist. And now? Compared to before it would not be an exaggeration to say that a hundred flowers had blossomed. Erin considered herself to have a large portion of the credit to her, and because of that, she was particularly dedicated to the job and worked hard to continue expanding the results.
Now, though she was leaving, the cause must be kept alive, and so she chose her most trusted, Laddie Sertia.
“I accept your recommendation, after all, you are two of the most highly educated people in my domain.”
Hearing a new word, Erin asked with a bit of curiosity, “Educated? What’s that?”
Paul shrugged, “It’s how educated a person is, aren’t you and Ladi both proper scholars? Oh yeah, you still studied at the Maester’s Tower.”
“That’s true.” Paul’s words made Erin a little proud, but all of a sudden it turned to feelings of guilt, should she confess to him? I …… I might not come back ah.
Anyhow, the person in front of him is also considered to be “entrusted” to himself, when so many people opposed, it is Paul against the pressure to let himself be responsible for this piece of education, he is so trusting himself.
I …… did not let down his trust?
“That …… Paul ……”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing. I’m going to head back, I still have to hand over my work to Lardy.”
Erin shook her head, not saying anything after all.
“Uh-huh, take care.”
Erin turned and headed out the door, turning around at the door and asking, “What do you think of my plan to take the newer merchant ships south by sea?”
“I don’t think it’s a problem, it’s been in operation for such a long time and hasn’t had a single accident.”
“Oh, good.”
Erin turned and closed the door, leaving the office.
Paul lowered his head and continued to work on the pile of official papers on his desk.
Unexpectedly, he had just finished reading a report when the door of his office was pushed open with a bump. “Hm? Who is it this time?”
The beautiful shadow of the education director appeared once again.
“Betty, is there anything else?”
“I …… I meant to say ……”
Erin stammered, “I’ll be back.”
She resolved that she would definitely find an opportunity to visit the Northwest Bay again, though probably not in a month’s time, though probably not in her current capacity.
Now Paul was a little puzzled as to how the other woman sounded as if she were bidding farewell.
Suddenly a possibility occurred to him, and the room instantly fell into an uncomfortable quiet.
After a long period of silence, Paul stood up, walked to Irene’s eyes, looked her in the eyes and gently asked, “This relative, is it compelled to visit?”
Erin nodded.
“What’s the difficulty? Oh …… I mean might there be any difficulties on the way?”
Erin shook her head.
“Okay.” Paul nodded, “Think about it before you leave, and if you need any help just let me know.”
Erin lowered her head, “Uh, thank you.”
Paul smiled, “I believe what you just said, your position is being filled by someone else, but I’ll hold it for you. Just relax and have fun at Jingyao.”
“Well ……,” after hearing Paul’s words, coupled with such a four-eyed look, Erin’s face suddenly flushed, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.
“Thanks.” After dropping these words, Erin left without looking back.
……
Three days later, Paul sent Irene and Leah off with Laddie, and he arranged for a carriage to take them to Port Fullan, where they would catch a merchant ship south.
After waving goodbye, Irene looked at the fading town of Lakewood, and Paul and Lardy, who were still looking at them from afar, and a sudden sense of reluctance welled up in her heart.
Was it something about work? She had already handed over the job, and with Lardy’s ability, she was perfectly capable of handling the job. Oh, if he was gone for a long time, Paul would probably arrange for her to take over officially.
Was it the friendship with Laddie Sertia? Indeed, she was the person she was most close to in Riri besides her guard, Leah, and it was really hard to part suddenly, but I had also told her one of the ways to communicate in Jingyao, so she could write to each other in the future. Moreover, she can still find herself according to this address, although when they really meet, they will certainly be surprised.
So, what else was there?
Yes, there was definitely something else.
As the carriage drifted out of sight, Laddie asked Paul, “Aren’t you going to stay?”
“Stay? What do you mean? She’s only taking a month and a half’s vacation to see relatives in the royal capital!”
The female counselor’s words brought some sort of concern to the surface for Paul, and he was suddenly distracted, but he didn’t want to keep thinking about it.
Lardy frowned and said, “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Stop it!” Paul interrupted her, “Betty isn’t my slave, what right do I have to stop her from visiting her family?”
“Well, I hope my worries are unwarranted.”
Laddie stopped talking. Alas, runaway teenage girls were supposed to come to the Northwest Bay in an unnatural way. Perhaps …… possibly …… or always back to where she was supposed to be.
Sorry, been a little tight at work lately.
(End of chapter)