A Drop of Moonlight

Chapter 19: Compromise 1

Other than being rebellious, there was another underlying reason why Denise had run away from home. And that was because does not want to attend the academy as her uncle’s wife has basically signed her up without her mother’s consent. It would be better if she was enrolled to the knightage, but she was signed up for those lady-in-waiting courses that was basically denoting her as a biddable bride to someone or a glorified servant of some high-ranked noble.

Her family and that woman has never got along. Numerous times her uncle tried to mediate their relationship, but that woman refused to listen to reason and has tried multiple times to harm them. As a child, Denise does not like to meddle with adult’s fighting, but that woman has set her eyes on her after not being able to ruin her mother.

The moment she learned of what that woman had done, she had immediately told her brother about it. Warning him about the plan that the woman is hatching and it would not be far off that he would be doing something similar to him as well. Knowing that, her brother did his best to help her escape from the upcoming opening.

Hearing that this man is fully intent to send her to the academy, something inside of her snapped.

Feeling absolute coolness in her head, her body stopped trembling. Her heart was calm as he looked straight to the man like a predator evaluating whether it is worth it to attack and self-destruct doing so. Everything about her suddenly became so different that Rufus took a closer look at her state to gauge if she needed more treatment.

“With all due respect Your Highness. I wish not to attend a glorified bridal school.” Denise was indifferent as she said this. “I wish not to be involved in the mess the kingdom’s politics is already in. As the crown prince, heir chosen stubbornly by the wise king, you should be aware that the academy is not the best place to be in. With that environment alone, I imagine the court in itself is more chaotic than a pigsty.”

“Quite a description you have of their child.” Yulious said. “Seems that you know about the aristocratic ladies’ courses well enough. Are you also of noble blood?”

“It does not matter if I am or not. “ Denise shook her head. “I don’t want to be there and I refuse this reward you are giving me. Instead of feeling rewarded, you make me feel like you are punishing me.”

“They mentioned that you have an idea of staying in the capital, being in the academy will allow you to have all the time to explore and know the capital.” Yulious tried to tempt the other. As far as he could see, the trio’s destination depended more or less on the girl.

The elf is a free-spirit, they will not go to places they don’t want to be without reason. Seeing his care for the girl, he will more or less base his judgment to the girl’s wishes. Something that no other existence the crown prince has ever known of has the privilege of.

The boy on the other hand is young and was an obvious concern of the girl. He initially thought that they were only going to the capital to personally bring him home. But from the bits of information he got from earlier, it seems that the girl has the idea of going to the capital way before they even bumped into each other.

Thinking that they might not go to the capital if the people looking for the little heir found him later on, he came up with the idea of letting her attend school. So he had been trying to make a breakthrough with him earlier to make sure they will go to the capital no matter what

But it was obvious that as expected of the heir of Degrandes, he is a tough little guy to persuade. Their conversation was fun, though it got him nowhere of what he wanted.

“That would not do at all Sir.” Denise was firm on her decisions. “I wish for a life of adventure. Staying in the academy and learning aristocratic lessons is the total opposite of what I wanted. Offer this award to someone else who can appreciate and value your generosity.”

“An adventure huh?” Appraisal was on the red-eyed man as he looked at the girl’s form.

The girl is indeed built with hardship given the traces of muscles in her arms and the rest of her body. No pampered lady would gain such muscles. After all, they have to market themselves for marriage and dany blemish would devalue them to attract a suitable suitor.

“Will you agree if I give you the knightage course?” Yulious asked. While it might be tricky for him to squeeze her on the knightage, he can still do so if he wanted to. But before he actually pull strings,

Denise paused a little and gave the man an eye. “Stubborn aren’t you sir? While going to the knightage would somehow fit to the adventure I yearn for. That place is too full of power dynamics. I rather risk my left going places than to die at somebody's schemes.