Half of it was social politeness, half was an excuse to go out more, so it wasn't entirely a lie. Cass whispered in my ear,
"When visiting a cathedral or church, you should make at least a small donation."
Right, of course.
"How much is the usual amount?"
"For a place like this, probably one silver coin. For a smaller church, one large copper coin would be enough."
"I see. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Listening to our conversation, no one would guess it was between a ten-year-old boy and a nearly thirty-year-old maid.
After a full tour, I was tired, so we were invited to the reception room for tea. Since I was only the eleventh prince, no high-ranking clergy came out to meet me personally, which made things pleasantly relaxed. My reputation as an idiot seemed to have reached even here, so the explanation was kept brief and superficial — which I was grateful for.
"Does the cathedral have an orphanage?" I asked the middle-aged nun who brought the tea.
