"Of course it's difficult! You need to be in the top ten overall to get a full tuition waiver, and only the top twenty get half off."
Winnie clenched her fist determinedly. "I must get the best grades. The top three even get a high scholarship!"
Lilith's eyelashes fluttered. With over two hundred students in a grade, making it to the top ten was indeed challenging. But considering the high tuition fees, she thought it might be worth the effort.
Siria offered seven courses: Alchemy, Magic Runes, Spells, Alchemy, Astrology, Swordsmanship, and Horsemanship, with only one subject taught each day. She had attended Alchemy and Magic Runes classes, which weren't too difficult. Having seen the scientific nature of the Magic Runes class, Lilith had mentally translated the course names. Alchemy was Biology, Magic Runes was Math, Spells were a foreign language, and Alchemy was Chemistry. Astrology was ancient Astronomy, so it was a Physics class. The last two, Swordsmanship was PE, and Horsemanship was a driving course, only with horses instead of cars, and no driver's license issued by the school.
Math, foreign language, physics, chemistry, biology, PE—the school leaned heavily towards science. Conveniently, Lilith had been a science student in her previous life, so scoring high marks in all subjects except Swordsmanship and Horsemanship would be easy. This meant she had to sell her fine wool weaving formula quickly. Once sold, she would use the money to buy a good horse to maintain her disguise and excel in the Horsemanship class.
"Winnie, do you know the largest wool textile merchant in Siria?"
Siria Magic Academy was named after Siria City in the Duchy of Lenkos. Siria City, located in the central eastern part of the Western Continent, had a warm and humid climate, flat and open terrain, and a well-developed commerce sector.
"The church is to the north, the castle of the Lord of Siria is on the western hill, the Siria Plaza is in the middle, and to the south is our market district!"
"Don't underestimate these few streets. Merchants from all over come here daily to trade goods. There's nothing you can't buy."
"Look, those two adjacent shops up ahead are our fabric stores, and half of the fabrics are cashmere!"
"Although we're not the largest wool textile merchant in Siria, we're close, and our wool fabrics are fairly priced and trustworthy!"
Winnie's classmate, Balk Harkins, the son of Barton Harkins, the second-largest wool textile merchant in Siria, spoke incessantly. He was a cheerful boy with a few symmetrical freckles and a big smile that revealed his large front teeth.
Though Balk was also a commoner, his family had been in business for generations and were relatively wealthy, dressing much more respectably than Winnie. When Lilith asked Winnie about Siria's wool textile merchants, Winnie immediately thought of Balk and introduced him to Lilith.
Lilith urgently needed money, so whether they were the largest wool textile merchant wasn't important. She told Balk directly that she had a secret formula for wool weaving and wanted to do business with him. Skilled in negotiation, she also mentioned that if he wasn't interested, she'd take her business to other merchants in the city.
Balk, eager to expand his family business and become the top merchant in Siria, couldn't let such a deal slip away. He immediately sent a message to his father, inviting Lilith and Winnie to their shop for detailed discussions. Such a big decision couldn't be made by him alone.
Barton Harkins was already waiting in the shop. Although he didn't believe a noble lady would have a valuable secret formula, he was willing to meet her, especially since it was his son's invitation. After all, she was a noble lady! If Balk could win her friendship or even her heart, their family could enter high society.
Barton was thrilled, pacing the shop. He had worked hard to get his son into Siria Magic Academy to meet nobles. After a whole year, his son finally managed to invite a noble lady home. Barton was nearly in tears with joy.
"Father!"
Balk's cheerful voice came from outside. Barton quickly walked to the door to welcome the noble lady.
In his sight, his son led the way, flanked by two thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls. One girl stood out with her black hair and dark eyes, her fair skin smooth as jade, and her slender neck supporting a beautiful face, like a noble swan! Her features were delicate, her appearance enchanting, her posture elegant and straight, even her steps had a unique rhythm.
Barton looked at her feet, noticing she was holding up her embroidered skirt and tiptoeing over the wet cobblestones. Yes, this must be the noble lady his son mentioned! Only noble ladies walked on tiptoe when outside.
Barton warmly welcomed her. "Please come in, this noble lady. How should I address you?"
Lilith smiled slightly. "Hello, Mr. Harkins, my name is Lilith." She lifted her skirt and walked up the clean steps, finally relieved. The streets were filthy, with no one cleaning the manure, and people pouring water everywhere. She almost vomited.
Barton, observant, invited Lilith upstairs and instructed the staff to light incense and bring fresh fruit. The noble lady had covered her nose, likely disliking the smell downstairs. Soon, they sat in the second-floor parlor, beginning a friendly discussion.
"Miss Lilith, Balk said you have a secret formula for wool weaving?"
Although the noble lady didn't reveal her last name, Barton didn't dare address her by her first name and awkwardly called her "Miss Lilith."
"Yes, it's a family secret. Normally, I wouldn't share it, but the cashmere fabrics here in Siria are so coarse and heavy, they irritate my skin." Lilith touched her neck, as if the cashmere collar was pricking her, frowning in complaint.
"Indeed, our cashmere fabrics are a bit coarse," Barton agreed, smiling, though he didn't really believe her. Woolen fabric was naturally thick and prickly. Which noble wore it as underwear? Was this lady just looking for trouble?
"So, I want to make a deal," Lilith said, moving to the main point. "You use my formula to weave cashmere fabrics that satisfy me and make them into clothes for me. I will pay you handsomely."
Barton hesitated. "How much cashmere fabric do you need? It might not be worth setting up a production line just for you."
"About fifty bolts for one cashmere sweater a day."
"A bolt is..."
"Forty feet, needing fifteen pounds of wool." Lilith raised her chin. "I can pay you a deposit of one hundred gold coins and ten silver coins for each sweater."
She had researched that current cashmere sweaters usually cost sixty copper coins. Her offer was more than ten times that, surely tempting Barton.