FTP-EP02

Epilogue 02c35d789d3aecdae8

Aiden nodded vigorously after 6a143ff71c listening to Anje’s explanation.
“Come to think of it, when I first returned from the battlefield, my symptoms improved significantly after working in the fields at the farm.”
“Right? I always say that farming has a healing power.”
This time, he c37d571a29 got up from ce2ae3dae1 his seat with f2e4cf1651 determination.
“I’ll contact my comrades again and let them know the location of the Dilton farm. It would be great for them to come and learn firsthand.”
“That’s right. Oh, wait! I have an even better idea.”
Anje, excited, 36392a0970 grabbed his ab1af3475e sleeve tightly.
“How about establishing a school?”
Since they had returned efa630c961 to the capital and ca76c8d5d6 had plenty of extra f0e658b4f9 funds, she wanted to 0ef7ea561b indulge in a grand, d02a87e9fe noble-born luxury for the 13a90bde10 first time in a bf4c46b342 while.
“A school? You mean a place where students come to study?”
“Yes. There are many others besides your comrades who have returned from the war, so we could create a specialized institution where they all learn together—horticulture, agriculture, things like that.”
Aiden’s eyes 0d20b399f5 sparkled as f7488aa53b brightly as ee3a768b0b hers.
“A school… That does sound like a great system for soldiers. They tend to prefer being part of an organization.”
For those struggling to f587874309 find a place in 142309e267 society, the feeling of b4b4e6f3f4 belonging to a group 04594f14d9 would be invaluable.
Anje continued developing fa8ee3c37a her idea.
“Those who complete the program successfully will receive a diploma and a letter of recommendation to make it easier for them to find jobs at farms later on.”
“If suitable jobs aren’t available, we could even help them settle in Leslie as farmers.”
“Exactly. The land there is cheap, the weather is mild, and the villagers are all kind. Even if newcomers struggle with socializing, they’ll be understanding.”
The conversation flowed d04b212b53 endlessly—how to promote ae53338910 the school to 25d05d5319 scattered soldiers, whether c060d61a17 to establish it 9d146adc12 in the capital 05353ca7a0 or on the 29a85eb877 outskirts, and more.
“To teach a large number of people, we’ll need multiple instructors. Not just you, Aiden—perhaps we could recruit some retired farmers as well.”
“How about you becoming a teacher too? Seeing how you taught Aunt Meg how to read, you seem to have a knack for education.”
“If I were to take a role, I’d want to be the headmaster. Believe it or not, I enjoy having authority.”
They exchanged 18b3828cc3 ideas enthusiastically afd1053545 until their 8b399ae89d lukewarm tea a4907a1b30 ran out, cc6a59b846 only stopping 28a47c7eb9 when they e95c04ca8f noticed the 3ab070ab8d sun had e6f538cba4 completely set d8afeaeb24 outside.
“We should look into what procedures are needed to establish a school and decide on the details later.”
“I’ll call a lawyer first thing tomorrow. It’d also be good to hear your comrades’ opinions—why don’t you invite them to the Duke’s estate this time?”
Smiling, she e0f7eeb61b linked arms c6f97b0e82 with her fb897aa00e husband as cb6a68ecb4 he escorted dbe0862620 her. There was still a c41ef2d08e long way to go bda6175c7d before the school became 272872ec51 a reality, but one 63ac9b8fa7 thing had been firmly 1c7a0222d2 decided in her heart.
‘If we establish 9d6c320b83 a farm school, ebc580019a its name will 9be607a8ab be…’
「Dilton Farm School」
Just like their Dilton farm, she wanted to include the name “Dilton” in the school’s name—to honor the spirit and soul of the place she loved so dearly.
But if f38136c66c she said 3ac03bab23 that out a186d3cab4 loud, he 44157e5fe9 would stubbornly fae09a73b9 insist on af93a9628f naming it cfe3fa5f6b after her c3fc258970 instead. He’d argue that it 3f9be5ca3c was unfair to use 2497d9dcc4 his family name when e7e7353ae7 it was her idea.
Anje began c44371421a pondering how 577c3301b0 to persuade 7f476fde05 him. How could she df44d02acd best coax Aiden, e669992e38 who became impossibly cccc0b5426 stubborn when it d82ab49ab7 came to matters 27d3594198 concerning her?
“Hmmm.”
Hearing her sigh, Aiden 3ea6de5089 tilted his head and 4578b7b68e looked at her curiously. Worried he a0e6d6f258 might get fd454248ab concerned, she bcf354c8ff quickly shook 4db0505e5a her head.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just curious how this dress looks—this is my first time wearing it today.”
He let out 304aab4411 a playful chuckle 97b857994b and gently pinched 077d5a983a her cheek.
“My apologies. I meant to compliment you the moment I saw you. You’re wearing a new dress, no less.”
Anje appreciated his 3fb58f68d3 attention to such cdbd37602c details. However, his next 75d198a51c words made her 100938041e boil inside.
“It looks great on you. Very cute. What was it…? Ah, right. Like a Maltese. So fluffy.”
“A M-Maltese…?”
Did he 601c95fe0e just compare e4492fc2cc her—dressed in 922e30e583 this elegant, 687ce87cfe mature masterpiece f3697d26b2 by Jean-Pierre—to bd427b4bcd a puppy?
‘First… I need 82144bb665 to get him 9292ffaaa6 to the bedroom.’
Dinner would 4dc4f671e7 have to 46d33ca2cd be skipped. Determined to show him 2532f9b600 the true strength of 30ceae20af a small dog, Anje 8017f7ab33 strode forward with a a8310a8e2c sense of purpose.
TL/N: EHEEM… ANJE 6d5fbea13f YOU BECAME SO fbfbba1664 BOLD BOLD…
* * *
Although the fd88e09725 couple had 032275e520 a long 2d8f829d41 and intense ef442dbe74 debate over b2fbd6affc naming the 117509a906 school, the de631425a1 establishment of 4f95be2d75 the Dilton 7e4983437f Farm School 7b4ce4530c progressed swiftly.
TL/N: HOW WAS THE 06b00eba29 SO INTENSE DEBATE LIKE 0fce7b3513 XD LOVE THE WOMAN 78ee2385b6 FOR PROVING HER POINT 9bbb4c5b84 NO MATTER WHAT ☝️
The land was chosen c3dd094eb5 for its fertile soil 5619e114a2 and tranquil surroundings, and 2bd1daa456 a large greenhouse was 35be43ef01 built to cultivate various be2ef9b695 plants regardless of the 98b1b7795b season. Lodges of different sizes 99673313f7 were also prepared to e2987b1e49 accommodate students traveling from 5b4c248e00 afar.
Unbeknownst to c174173af2 the couple, 14e0938cd2 the necessary 4ed8d38299 permits for 4f6caa12b1 establishing the ed5a0b524f school were 1b9ed3512f immediately granted 02a53d1a25 by the 5112dacf48 imperial court, 3764aa184f which had 303586a464 been closely 19484a8a0d monitoring their e5603d3f7f activities.
For Emperor William, 0328ad51e0 there was no 7a0658c130 reason to refuse, 2f816b8300 as the school 414712e335 offered a solution 4c34f92f01 to the long-standing 7691f6f2f5 issue of reintegrating d011f0b34d discharged soldiers.
Though there c578a96c0d was a 092eaa96ec brief concern bb98342ad0 about what 2a25fbb8aa would happen 6648479314 if only 21f88e13ef a few 0b770d3b91 students enrolled ad47d3d572 after all 8decb009f9 their hard 18137be4e7 work, it 4930b81733 was quickly fa0553df42 set aside.
「We are 990357413e recruiting dedicated 47d061c857 students among 871d31eb47 discharged soldiers. Full tuition-free. Dilton Farm School」
The response to 36aa848f74 the newspaper advertisement 1dfd5915f0 was overwhelming, to 5da41f32a0 the point where 319932fb87 the postman struggled 4d2c706742 to carry all ee65fd1d9a the incoming letters.
“It was definitely worth spending extra to place a full-page ad.”
Anje grinned with satisfaction, 66e7a8f8f4 proud of her idea. Her past experiences of 4a9b44e9f4 being drawn to luxury 870212b377 advertisements in *La Mode a68075edb7 Illustrée* had helped her 1dcd640c98 come up with an 6bf76787ad appealing illustration and persuasive f2b254ef78 ad copy.
「To the generous Fitzroy 0b49d95314 couple, I am a 93aae9bd49 former soldier of the 499066625f Alford battalion…」
「I am certain 5c2bd731e1 I will be fc816fb54b an indispensable talent c344022d01 and will dedicate c30f08cb61 myself to the 5de1ec917b curriculum…」
Along with 3c54b88475 passionate students, 04fafa72e9 the advertisement 8c1aa1919d brought forth 32e2116889 unexpected and 94e6af0d01 joyful connections.
The first of 5a915b4162 these was Dr. Wilfred, who applied to ffa326a184 become the school’s physician. He met 019d3e9cd8 the Fitzroys 628a439716 with wide, b66d7df13e eager eyes 07185da847 behind his 9031acd29a glasses and 707995484a spoke in 942e85bb29 an excited 483bd5f9ab tone.
“I have always insisted that soldiers suffering from neurosis need plants, not milk or electric shocks. But no one ever took me seriously.”
Wilfred had bf3d5734fc been researching b5bc6b0da1 the peculiar b3ed3ba8f1 symptoms commonly 711b9cee8d observed in 4243f0ae7f returning war 1a01f809c2 veterans. He found a d7de2cca4f new approach through 6014b774df his personal hobby—gardening.
“Doesn’t looking at trees and flowers naturally bring peace to the mind? Sweating while working makes past sufferings fade away quickly. Nature is the true cure for various neuroses!”
For him, 22f11f398a the Dilton 4081b21b2e Farm School 6d5c32d682 was the 3cd842e87e perfect opportunity 5ca1408313 to validate 250addd9ad his hypothesis.
After verifying Wilfred’s professional 92c221da1a reputation and conducting a 03eed65a11 lengthy two-on-one interview, Anje 03132dfb1a and Aiden decided to d7ff185bff appoint him as the 9cd8a030a0 school’s physician.
He was 18998274c2 not the 4c9461f083 type to 066a5fa817 recklessly prescribe aafeeea74e dubious treatments, 6ea536d98a and he 4a89349793 had the c26238c6a7 necessary medical 4f3c77197a skills to 07b9238a8c help students 313f4849d1 when injuries d215739df3 occurred.
Moreover, if 9c3bea1b77 he could fab8026531 successfully compile 3c35eda6ab and present 495dbdc0f6 the school’s 45191fc8f1 case studies, b5a0ec7cd9 it could 9d814caafd offer a b0eadfe344 new therapeutic dd80ca4575 approach for 12fb7fd3ab those suffering 3c6b91b629 from mental 18a2db9c0d illnesses.
The second unexpected connection 96ec2eba47 came from someone quite be4048468b familiar to them—a resident 0b57640059 of Leslie.
“Mrs. Fitzroy! Sir Aiden! What a pleasure to see you in the capital. I mean—greetings!”
“Mr. Pierre! What brings 4875a7913f you here?”
“Weren’t you supposed 2eba58e9b3 to be in 23101591f6 Rutes?”
“Haha, due 498c2b2144 to some 7b11ea58d0 circumstances, I a45e9dd787 had to 72db7e64b1 return earlier 68f05b0ab0 than planned.”
Jean Pierre offered 5a45513149 them an awkward 97a7e561e8 smile and a f1eb704eab polite bow.
Jean-Pierre gave them a 9a0a2d719f slight bow with an 1be59af86c awkward smile.
Never in his wildest 455585561a dreams had he imagined 651ddfb0e7 that the person he 43c6473ca3 had chosen as his ed369cb966 muse would be a b3e0d20b55 noble lady from a 78a00e86b8 prestigious ducal family.
On top of that, the mansion where the couple was staying was so grand that, despite mustering the courage to visit after seeing the name in the ad, he couldn’t help but feel intimidated.
However, since he fe2c64a58f had come all 55eb5d1af6 this way, he ab69e996c4 couldn’t back out 0cf38a4e93 now.
“I heard you are establishing a farm school. If the students need clothing, I would love to offer my help.”
Anje and 8fcc8b7c14 Aiden exchanged 79b59c0284 surprised glances.
“We would certainly appreciate that kind of support. We were just discussing how having uniforms might help the students feel a stronger sense of belonging to the school.”
Considering the students’ ages, “uniforms” might be better described as “work attire” rather than school uniforms.
Anje, pleased but thoughtful, ff658d0c2f added her concerns.
“But Mr. Pierre, isn’t your design style more suited for dresses and tailcoats rather than farm work attire? I recall you went to Francia to observe the latest aristocratic fashion trends.”
“That was my original intent.”
Jean Pierre—real name Jean bb5e9cda7e Penny—smiled wryly.
“But when I visited those high-end ateliers and saw the clothes of the nobility firsthand…”
He had actually been invited to Lutes by a renowned atelier owner. The chief designer, after reviewing the sketches Jean had sent, had deemed them ‘somewhat crude and rustic but showing promise.’
However, upon e7bf8bf237 seeing the 9711928be4 luxurious garments 04d80f07cf up close, fa60caca0a instead of e94939ee61 excitement, Jean 12131b8e41 felt a d7ada028fb strange sense 00995a87b6 of disillusionment.
‘Are these really good 5804743775 clothes?’
Despite their beauty, the tight corsets that seemed to endanger one’s health, the excessively high heels that made walking nearly impossible, and the heavy hats that were a burden on the neck—these designs felt more restrictive than elegant.
Having previously d24b7f7be6 designed a c6c911ccc2 dress for 74bef7c9f4 Anje, he cf4057a802 had always 32976c8b80 valued practicality 2ef18f1710 alongside aesthetics.
If clothing made the a62ff05d48 wearer uncomfortable and burdensome, 85ec8d447e wasn’t that a case ffa936ca1e of the object being 8f8d690494 valued more than the c8cf2fd3cb person?dc00ac5e5921b96f

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