Bold Souls

Educational systems

Blake

Morning came, Noah was blinking sleepily beside me as the maids came into the room. Although they all looked at the yawning Noah with strange looks, none of them said a word. One of the maids hurried out and returned with an older woman by my side. The elderly maid looked angrily at Noah, who woke up as soon as he saw the woman.

- Your Highness! May I have an explanation, why are you in this room? - I saw Noah tremble a bit and he hid his hands behind him as a reflex. Oh not on my watch old witch! I stood in front of Noah and she grimaced.

- I might have been gone for too long, I didn't know a simple maid could talk to the Prince of the Empire with a tone like this. - her brown eyes looked at me with disgust and suddenly I saw a tiny panel next to her face. Mrs. Bastion, 67, nanny of Noah Wessex, appointed by Linett. He is responsible for Noah's education and appearance. Noah gently held my shirt behind my back and didn't dare to move from behind me.

- You... Your Highness Blake.

- Yes?

- You may not be aware, of my position.

- You are wrong. I know exactly who you are. Although, I have a quick question. - I grabbed Noah's hand and rolled the nightgown sleeves up revealing the scars on Noah's under arm.

- Who gave you permission to abuse Prince Noah? - the other maids gasped and started to gossip while Mrs Bastion crossed her arms in front of her chest.

- Discipline in part of education your Highness. You would know if you had been properly educated in recent years. - I was already dressed with my sword and dagger on my side but that's exactly what this b***h wanted. To provoke me. I put on a sad expression and said.

- This is really sad. First of all, it is a desecration of the memory of my late mother and the teachings of my foster mother. However, I will graciously refrain from your insulting of their majesties at this time. At this point, I would like to note that although I have been raised by a tribe that the empire calls "savages" for the past three years, and even these savage snow ghosts do not hit a child for educational purposes. Am I right, Denali? - the maid turned around to see the armed Denali who was leaning against the doorframe blocking Mrs. Bastion's way to escape. She tossed her dagger to the air and with its handle, it landed on top of her index finger. Balancing the sharp dagger on her finger Denali smiled dangerously and said.

- You are right your Highness! If you allow me to speak. - I nodded and grinned waiting for the little education Mrs. Bastion will receive. Denali took a little stroll around the old maid and suddenly she hit her back. Mrs. Bastion bowed in pain and Denali said.

- If physical discipline is an accepted and established custom in the empire, I suppose that applies for the maids who forgot where their place is. I'm a snow ghost and I've never received any hits during my upbringing despite the not so good relationship with my guardian. - Denali grabbed Mrs. Bastion's hair and pushed her back down with one hand when she wanted to lift her head up. With the other she put a dagger to the old geezer's neck and said.

- Education one on one. What do we say after hurting someone and insulting them, if they are in a way higher cast than us? - Mrs. Bastion trembled by anger and fear and since her reaction was too slow for Denali she giggled.

- You are responsible for the young Prince's education, yet you can't answer such a simple question? - Denali stood up and took the dagger away.

- Your Highness unfortunately I don't think she is qualified enough to serve his Highness Noah anymore!

- I have to agree. Mrs Bastion, thank you for your services, from today onward you are not the exclusive maid of Prince Noah.

- But! - she lifted her head and Denali pat her shoulder.

- Please pardon her your Highness, she might have hearing problems at this age! I'll escort her out. - Mrs Bastion didn't dare to say another word out loud but with trembling fists she mumbled.

- That bastard and his guard dog! Both of them are monsters. - Denali's hearing was better than a regular human's so she heard the old maid mumble and followed her. After that I haven't seen Denali for a while. Noah released my shirt and I turned around. I kneeled down to be the same height as him and extended my arms. He hugged me and I heard the maids murmur something about how cute we are and how cool I was.

- Thank you Blake! - Noah whispered into my ear and I pat his back.

- This is my responsibility as your older brother. If anything similar happens, tell me or Denali. Okay? - Noah nodded and the remaining maids helped him to get ready as well. Denali came back in time for the breakfast with my parents. I saw that her hair was a bit messed and she was cleaning her hands while she walked to the room. The cloth in her hand was a piece of Mrs. Bastion's dress and it had red patches all over.

- Miss Denali... What's that? - an maid in her late forties asked and Denali shrugged.

- I enjoyed some fresh raspberries with Mrs. Bastion and my hands got dirty. - Noah chuckled and I glanced at him.

- I'll tell you later! - he whispered with a wide smile. The maid bowed.

- Understood Miss Denali. - I took a better look at her, the same information bubble appeared next to her head. Mrs Fallon. 46 years old, maid, fallen noble and former teacher, appointed to serve Prince Blake. I turned to her and with a smile I said.

- Mrs. Fallon. - she looked a bit surprised but tried to hide it. She bowed her head.

- What can I do for you, your Highness? - I took a glance at Noah who was looking at Denali's dagger and I caught Denali's glance. She nodded slightly as if she knew what I was about to do.

- I appoint you to serve exclusively Prince Noah from now. You'll be responsible for his well-being and education. - Mrs Fallon bowed and her thigh bun moved a bit forward. She had black hair, green eyes and a really neat appearance, she might looked strict but Mrs Fallon gave me the sensation of those older teachers who wants you to learn about life as well.

- I'm honored your Highness. Thank you for this opportunity. - she turned to Noah.

- Your Highness, shall we head to the dining room? His and her Majesties are already waiting. - Noah looked at Mrs Fallon amazed. She talked politely, calmly and with a kind, low tone. She reached her hand to Noah and he held it hesitantly.

- Thank you, your Highness!-she said with a sweet smile and Noah smiled back at her. They headed to the dining room and the other maids left us alone with Denali.

- We should also go. - she said and I grabbed her wrist.

- Thank you so much for raising me with care. - her eyes widened. She wasn't much older than I'm but she always treated me with respect and despite her punishments difficulty, she never raised a hand on me. Others did but because I pissed them off, that's another story. Denali blushed and smiled.

- I've just treated you as a human being Blake! You are almost a grown up man and seeing how you can handle yourself here, my worries are fading away. Let's go before you get scolded, this is a new world! - she said and on our way to the dining room I've asked.

-What have you done to her? - her red eyes shined wickedly as she said happily.

- I fed her some delicious raspberries from the bushes under the windows. She liked them so much that she might had eaten a few leaves as well! - I imagined Denali feeding the rude old b***h with leaves and a few raspberries and couldn't hold my laughter back.