Chapter 51 – The True Meaning of Spring Ball
After a few minutes of idle, lighthearted chatter, Ashborne finally straightened and said in a suggestive tone, “You and I are both incapable of doing this artwork justice. I’ve seen the finest of this technique from the Far East, and you’re recreating a lower version with affordable materials and local hands. A price too high would invite ridicule, but a price too low would be a disservice to local artisans.”
“You’re calling my students artisans?” Jade pronounced each word carefully, emphasising her confusion.
“Artisans in the making,” Ashborne replied with a nod. He gestured toward the artificial flowers in the scrap-made vase and the rose-shaped biscuits. “Great potential, germinating in a land most would consider barren. Pray trust my judgement in recognising appealing craftsmanship, Miss Jade.”
“Of course I trust your taste, Milord,” Jade said. She truly did.
A noble raised among fine art and treasured objects would naturally have a sharper eye than she ever could. That kind of aesthetic sense wasn’t something commoners simply picked up – and certainly not something new money could acquire in a short time. It was cultivated subtly, ingrained into noble children through every aspect of their upbringing.
She looked at Ashborned. “I just don’t quite understand why you’re pointing this out. My students being.. artisans doesn’t mean I can suddenly charge a high price for the White Lilies. I doubt those fancy people would appreciate anything made by hands they consider filthy or low-status.”
“Unless there is suitable publicity.” Ashborne raised a brow. “It was you who lectured me on this, if you recall. Making use of the press to disseminate information – if I could do so when I announced the perfumery recipes months ago, surely we may employ the same method to commend these diligent young artisans who are capable of producing such wonders.”
“Oh. Right. Self-promotion…” Jade muttered to herself. “I forgot that’s a thing I can do to boost their reputation and all that…Wait–I don’t have the money for ads.”
She shook her head and looked back at him. “Good suggestion, but I don’t have the budget to place advertisements or hire journalists. And honestly, I don’t think putting them on the stage at such a young age is a good idea. Fame can lift someone onto a throne, sure – but it can also drop them straight into a deep abyss.”
Ashborne rubbed his chin. Jade had a good point, and he could not deny her concern. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Then perhaps we might take a step back. No newspaper, yet still allow others – your ‘target audience’, as you put it – to become aware of these young artisans. Intrigue them, and they may commission pieces according to their preferences.”
“And what do you suggest?” Jade asked.
“An auction,” Ashborne said, his mind already turning. “A charity auction, to be precise. Those who bid will naturally offer a price befitting the White Lilies – whether out of support for the cause or genuine admiration for the piece. At the same time, the artisans’ names will be known.”
A charity auction.
Jade was unfamiliar with the concept. She had read about such things in numerous novels, but she had never attended one, nor heard of it happening in her previous life. The idea of stepping into something entirely unknown made her uneasy – especially when she wasn’t sure she could manage things if something went wrong.
“Of course, to protect the young minds,” Ashborne continued, mistaking her silence for concern over the students, “the domus – or you – may handle all communications. If you are too occupied, I am certain Father Rochester would appoint a suitable Sister to take charge. And if none prove suitable, I would be happy to recommend a capable candidate.”
Jade nodded, “Yes, that’s a proper way to handle it. But that’s not what I’m worried about, Milord.”
She turned to him. “A charity auction, right? Then there should be more than one piece for the event, or it wouldn’t really count as an auction, would it? Even if my students prepare a few things, I don’t think that’s enough to host a proper one. Don’t tell me you’re planning to organise an auction with only a single item.”
“Ah…” Ashborne murmured, falling into contemplation.
Watching the nobleman furrow his brows as he tried to think his way out, Jade grinned, leaned back, and glanced at Mr. Trent, who had been quietly taking notes throughout the meeting. She didn’t think her conversation with Ashborne was important enough to record, but it was probably part of his duties, as instructed by his employer.
Leaning slightly closer, she whispered, “Is he always like this? Getting bizarre ideas out of nowhere then insisting on making them happen?”
The scratching of the pen paused suspiciously for a moment. Mr. Trent cast her a knowing look – one laden with meaning Jade couldn’t quite decipher. Then, with a subtle nod and an expression she could only describe as deadpan, he returned to his notebook. His fingers tapped lightly against the densely written pages before he resumed writing.
Yeah… Mr. Trent has definitely suffered for a long time, Jade thought, stifling a quiet giggle–
“Lady Canareith!”
Jade startled slightly at Ashborne’s sudden raise in volume. She turned back to him. “Who’s Lady Canareith?”
Ashborne, now puffing out his chest, replied with renewed confidence, “Lady Canareith – the Dowager Countess of Canareith. She resides in Velport during winter months, upon her physician’s advice, for her joint pains. I made her acquaintance during one of the Quinark Journeys. A most brilliant elderly lady with a marvelous sense of her character’s actions. She has been intending to host a charity bazaar, though she has yet to determine the time and venue.”
“Huh.” Jade gave him a curious look. “Why would she tell you about her charity bazaar plan?”
“For the clubhouse my family owns,” Ashborne said with a smirk. “You must admit, it is a fine venue for such events. Naturally, Lady Canareith would consider it among her options.”
“A charity bazaar at that clubhouse?” Jade recalled the grand, imposing building. “Whoa. If that actually gets organised, it’s going to be huge.”
“If I can persuade her to hold the bazaar at the Silver Acorn, securing a space for our school will be no trouble at all,” Ashborne said, giving her a wink. “And naturally, suggesting a modest auction within the bazaar would be entirely feasible.”
Jade’s thoughts began to run along Ashborne’s suggestion.
If the bazaar could be held at the Silver Acorn–
– The girls would need about four months to complete the five-fold screen. That would place it after the Spring Ball… so we’d miss the Valentine’s event;
– If the bazaar happens around Valentine’s Day, then I’d better have them make smaller screens instead of one huge piece;
– Get the greeting card team and the lily team working. They won’t bring in big money, but it’s steady income I can allocate to support the needle project;
– Can flower bouquets be auctioned? If I get the lily team to design floral arrangements in vases… that should count as artwork, right?
– Oh, there’ll be plenty of fancy ladies there. And the gentlemen will need to buy things to please them – so the trinket team can go all out;
– No bread. It’s not exactly elegant for ladies to walk around eating… though small biscuits in pouches are fine? Yep, no large portions. I can have the bakehouse prepare those. Let Josh lead;
– That’s already quite a lot of things to sell. I’ll need assistants… Ooh! Maybe I can have the students who want to enter service handle customers! Train their posture and manners, give them proper attire… and name tags! Yes, name tags. If any employer notices them, they can ask who they are and hire them directly;
– What else… herbal tea? Spring is coming. If the students can gather enough herbs, we can sell those too;
– Total everything up, we might reach at least £30, maybe even £50 – not counting the auction. This is all students’ funds that could go toward better food and books… and maybe a portion as bonuses for the tuition class students.
– All in all, timing is critical. If it’s after the Spring Ball, we’ll have more time to prepare – and if the five-fold screen is ready by then, we can get better coins… but it’ll be spring, students like the farmhands and newsboys will be busy again. Fewer people to handle these crafts…
– I need a schedule. I’m not familiar with the spring ploughing thingy… Wait, spring? What month is it now? January? Mid-January already??
“When is the New Year celebration?” Jade suddenly blurred out, eyes widening. “Did we skip it? Or not celebrate at all? And Christmas – why haven’t I seen any decorations?”
Ashborne, who had been quietly observing the rapid shifts in her expression, looked puzzled. “My dear Miss Jade… from auctions to New Year celebrations – what occurred in your thoughts just now to result in such a leap?”
“I’ll come back to the auction thing later,” Jade said quickly. “Explain the New Year celebration to me first. I mean – Christmas and New Year – they’re huge events once a year, right?”
Ashborne did not quite follow her train of thought, but he answered nonetheless. “The New Year is marked rather modestly – simple greetings on the first day, nothing more. Our attention is reserved for the Spring Ball, as it signifies the arrival of spring. From that moment onward, everything stirs to life. Farms grow busy, streets regain their bustle, and the social season for ladies and gentlemen unveils its lively rhythm.”
It was only now that Jade fully understood the significance of the Spring Ball. It was a grand celebration marking a beginning of everything, much like the Lunar New Year that celebrated the first month of the lunar calendar in her previous life. The Spring Ball was quite different from her prior assumptions about Western festivities – she had always thought Westerners, guided largely by Christian values, prioritised Christmas and New Year. She had assumed the “Spring Ball” – a term she had never heard in her previous life – was something minor. Her Chinese brain had not taken Christmas into account, and perhaps she was still subconsciously waiting for the environment to be decorated in reds. But now that she remembered Christmas… wait.
“Also, Miss Jade,” Ashborne said, giving her a dumbfounded look, “what is this ‘Christmas’ you mentioned? I’ve never heard of such a celebration.”
“No Christmas? But…” Realisation dawned on Jade.
There was no Christianity here. Although Domus Lucis – the House of Light – at first glance seemed similar to Christianity, it was not. There was no remembrance of Jesus Christ or Santa Claus. Instead, they had the Spring Ball.
Jade blinked, pausing for a moment to process this sudden influx of information, then asked hesitantly, “Um… can I assume that the Spring Ball isn’t just a national event hosted only by the Queen, but that local families celebrated it as well?”
“Why, certainly!” Ashborne replied, firm and resolute. “It is the most important celebration apart from Harvest Day. Local Houses of gentlemen gather to host Spring Balls, declaring the arrival of spring as people dance and cheer to celebrate. The joy and merriment rival that of Harvest Day itself – I assume since you experienced it in the second week of September, you would know just by recalling that.”
“Harvest Day…?” Jade tried to recall if she had attended any such celebration. She remembered, however, being buried in syllabus drafting and declining the nuns’ invitations to go out, so… “I probably skipped the Harvest Day celebration. And you know, the domus has always been quite quiet, so I didn’t even realize a celebration was happening in the parish, heh.”
Ashborne cast a pitying gaze at the wryly smiling Jade. “Oh, don’t worry, Miss Jade. I shall take you to the Spring Ball, so you may grasp the full extent of the merriment…”
“No!” Jade shot up a hand. “No, please, No! Let’s focus on the auction thingy, okay?”
“O-kay?” Ashborne raised an eyebrow. He had long wondered what she meant by this “okay”, but since she was so eager to discuss the charity bazaar, he decided to ask her another time.