Chapter 96 – The Truth of Jade’s Current Situation
Women had no rights in this era, in this kingdom.
Jade had imagined – and had always been certain – that the situation here was comparable to ancient Chinese culture.
On the surface, socially, women in this era were very similar to what Jade knew of ancient Chinese culture.
Women must not be too active, or they would be considered improper, unfaminine, rude, uneducated.
Women must remain quiet and obedient to men – listening to their fathers, their brothers, their husbands and their sons – and be good daughters, wives, and mothers.
Women must never be seen alone with a man, nor have any physical contact or exchange private letters. Otherwise, it would disgrace the entire family. It implied social death for the woman and a ruined reputation for everyone connected to her. She would be expected to marry the man to cover the scandal because a woman was only permitted close interaction with her husband or fiance. Otherwise, even her sisters’ marriage prospects could suffer, and she would become the family’s scapegoat.
And so on. Endless hidden rules that quietly denied women from the freedom to act.
Jade had read numerous C-NovelPhoenixs, including historical stories. She had noticed the similarities, and she thought she had understood the general pattern.
She had no intention of fighting against the current. She did not want to become some famous reformer or influencer. All she wanted was to open a little shop, and mind her own business.
Yeah, she knew she had been quite active ever since she tried to fund the school, but she considered that part of her job, and it wasn’t a big deal anyway – not even worth the reporters wasting ink on her. And once everything was on track, she’d retreat into her indoor days, and live happily in her introverted style.
Becoming a nun had always been her last option. Not that she held any opinion to it – she admired the Sisters who devoted their lives to the Light – but it had never been the future she imagined for herself. She had never thought she would be that desperate to consider that final path, but…
Mrs. Manshore said, “Miss Lysmere, you cannot sign a lease. Practically speaking, you cannot sign any legal documents without a male trustee.”
“A woman’s signature on documents is a joke, Miss Lysmere. No one – particularly solicitors – would regard a woman’s signature as legally accepted.”
“And even if you did manage to own a shop, how would you protect it with only yourself and your boy apprentice? The carters, the coal men, the flour mills – they are all men, and they do not conduct business with a young woman such as yourself. Your apprentice is too young to negotiate on your behalf.”
“The rakes, the idles, the wastrels, they would harass your shop repeatedly, demanding money to leave you in peace. Imagine dangerous, unemployed men lingering about your shop, frightening away your customers. How would you operate at all? You could not sell a single biscuit, no matter how skilled you are.”
“And then there are the Guilds*, Miss Lysmere. A shop must belong to one of them, yet none would accept a woman unless she was backed by a wealthy patron. While I have little hope of the industrialists extending such generosity, they remain a viable alternative if one fails to secure an aristocratic connection.”
This Victorian-ish Era, and the historical C-NovelPhoenix: there were similarities, but there were also differences.
At least, according to Jade’s understanding – or perhaps from some non-historical, fictional facts she had absorbed from C-NovelPhoenix – women in ancient Chinese culture could sign documents in their own name and manage shops themselves. Difficult as it might be, property was still legally bonded to them, regardless of whether they were married.
But here, in this kingdom, a woman had no legal rights to own or manage a shop. Every action required the support of a male trustee. And if that trustee proved unreliable, the woman would be doomed because she had no real control over the shop.
The trustee could take the earnings, conduct illegal dealings through the shop, or even wreck the shop entirely, and the woman could do little to stop him. Proving a trustee a “corrupt scum” would demand enormous time and money – two things a woman would need most if she wished to sue the fraudulent trustee. Furthermore, public pressure through newspapers harmed men far less than it harmed women.
Even the daughter of a Duke would require the assistance of a male family member to carry out any legal action here.
“But…” Jade’s shocked, defeated expression was evident. She asked, in a rather nervous tone. “But there’re women who become shopkeepers, aren’t there? The dressmakers, the milliners…”
“That would be the only exclusion, because their shops serve the ladies’ sphere,” Mrs. Maneshore explained. She seemed genuinely surprised by Jade’s ignorance of such social customs. This was common sense in their era; people simply absorbed it as they grew up. “Miss Lysmere, it is considered improper for a man to deal in goods related to women’s matters. That is quite different from a confectionery, where both men and women enter the premises. One would expect to see a polite man serving at the front, not a smiling young woman. Unless she is a widow continuing her late husband’s trade – and even then, widows often still require a man to manage the storefront.”
“Oh, if you refer to women running shops in the slums,” Mrs. Maneshore shook her head, her brows knitting together. “They are hardly from respectable households. Society is willing to overlook such things because poverty has already stripped them of their standing. Their menfolk have usually suffered some unfortunate circumstance that forced the women to step forward. But managing a confectionery would be very different, Miss Lysmere. Yours would be situated in a respectable neighbourhood, not in the slums.”
Jade pressed her lips together.
The weight of the information struck her hard.
“But Father Rochester doesn’t object to my plan,” Jade said, lifting her gaze again.
Mrs. Maneshore did not answer immediately. She paused to contemplate, and then a look of dawning understanding crossed her face, as though she had solved the puzzle – or so she believed.
“They must be pleased that Miss Lysmere would agree to remain under their protection,” The chaperone lifted her chin slightly, as if she had noticed something distasteful hidden beneath a polished carpet. “With your capability and the money you have earned from this bazaar, they would certainly find it easy to grant your request to rent a shop and appoint you to manage it. However, Miss Lysmere, the shop would belong to them in essence, while you would merely act as a charitable helper. Though I imagine such work might improve your reputation should you seek a favourable marriage, I do not consider it wise. You would own nothing beyond a good name and an allowance slightly better than what you receive now, Miss Lysmere.”
Mrs. Maneshore had assumed the dark side of charitable organisations – that they presented themselves as benevolent on the surface while quietly exploiting kindness, collecting donations for themselves, and giving little or even none to those the charity was supposedly meant to help.
Of course, Jade knew Father Rochester and the clergy were not what Mrs. Maneshore imagined. And Jade knew that if she really became a staff managing a shop under the domus’s name, Father Rochester would pay her fairly.
But Mrs. Maneshore had a point – the shop would not belong to her.
And if anything happened to Father Rochester – if another Father were assigned by the upper domus, one who disliked her – she could be removed from the shop that had never legally been hers. Every inch of it, every detail she had worked so hard to build, could be taken away.
Jade then recalled Mr. Rich Sponsor’s invitation to hire her when they had first begun to know each other.
Though it might be because he was an odd one who simply wanted to keep a personal YouTuber around for daily entertainment, it could also be because of his instinct: that, with the power and influence that came along with his surname and status, he had simply wanted to offer protection to something he deemed vulnerable.
Like Jade.
A mouse that had accidentally fallen into a cage full of cats.
She was too unusual, but he appreciated that eccentricity, so he had offered her shelter – and she had turned him down out of ignorance.
With her head lowered, images of her conversation with Lord Ashborne resurfaced. She could not remember him openly objecting to her bold declaration, yet he had always seemed faintly troubled whenever he listened to her plans… Perhaps he had disagreed all along, but had been too polite to extinguish the fire of her determination.
And now, the same thing happened again.
Lady Glorissa had noticed her skill. That skill could become dangerous for her if she failed to tread carefully. The Lady appreciated her talent, and offered her a place of shelter. But, unlike Lord Ashborne – who had been more considerate because he regarded her as a friend – Lady Glorissa was honest and had immediately burst her bubbles.
The offers from Lord Ashborne and Lady Glorissa were very similar. They promised good wages, safety, and perhaps even a flexible schedule, so long as she provided her best service. She might lose some freedom, needing to remain available to serve the House, but in exchange, no one would judge her, mock her, or even sneer at her – because she would belong to a noble household.
To insult a servant of a noble family was to insult the family itself. Any sensible person would keep their mouth shut.
But… this was not the future Jade had imagined for herself.
And Lady Glorissa clearly did not understand why Jade hesitated after such a generous offer, especially after her chaperone had explained the realities so plainly. To her, Jade should have gladly accepted the offer and pledged herself to the household without delay.
However, Lady Glorissa possessed sharp eyes. She noticed Jade’s strange expression after learning she was unsuited to owning a shop. So, with the grace expected of a noblewoman, Lady Glorissa kindly opened her fan and gave it a brief wave. “Miss Lysmere, take your time to consider my offer. I shall expect a favorable reply from you soon.”
“Thank you, my Lady. I… I’ll think it through carefully before giving you my honest answer.” Catching the subtle dismissal, Jade lowered her gaze, accepted the envelope, stood, and stepped back before offering a deep curtsy.
Watching the entrance through which Jade had departed, Lady Glorissa spoke, “I dislike her smile. It feels as though she is attempting to flatter me. Yet it occurred to me that when she does not smile, the entire mood of the conversation turns gloomy. I do not observe the same with our servants?”
Rather than Mrs. Maneshore, it was Lady Glorissa’s maid who leaned forward to reply. “Perhaps it is because Miss Lysmere is the kind naturally inclined to smile, my Lady. I watched her greet every customer at the booths with a polite smile. The contrast becomes rather striking when she suddenly drops it.”
“Then she will need to learn her manners and etiquette once she joins our House,” Lady Glorissa declared, already turning her attention elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Jade returned to the booth, where she was greeted by her friend, her colleague, and her students. Of course, it was no more than a small wave, a quick smile, or a nod, since everyone remained busy with their work.
After the brief acknowledgements, the students quickly turned back toward the crowd. Clara was occupied explaining the available patterns for the mini-screen to customers. Miss Arrowot, however, noticed that Jade’s smile looked slightly stiffer than usual.
“Is something wrong?” After seeing off another customer, Miss Arrowot stopped closer and lowered her voice.
Jade was still stunned by everything she had learned. It would take time for her to fully digest it. But she was clear that now was not the time to dwell on her personal concerns – she still had an evening auction to worry about.
Taking a deep breath, she gave Miss Arrowot a smile, though the new teacher could clearly tell she was not in good spirits. “Don’t worry, Miss Arrowot. Everything is fine, for now. I… I might need to trouble you tomorrow after we’ve concluded the charity bazaar and the evening auction. I have some personal questions that I think only you could give me a clearer picture of.”
“Of course, Miss Jade, I would be glad to help if you require it,” Miss Arrowot replied with a nod
Okay, Jade, focus. We’re making big money tonight, so you better stay sharp! Straightened her back, Jade pushed aside her thoughts and began helping the others pack biscuits for customers.