"What do you mean you don't want that, Raze?" his father yelled. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. How dare you refuse it?" his father roared.
Raze ignored his father's ranting. He looked at the woman. "The plan was to get you here to sell what I have, not get into the academy.
You see, there are a lot of things that I want to do and need to do, and so I can't be committed to an academy, not yet," Raze explained.
"I see, so that's how it is," she said in a low tone.
"I'm sorry if what I said offended you, but that's the situation that exists," Raze said.
"Offended me? Not one bit. Instead, I have a better proposal for you. You can join the academy as an independent study student. You don't have to live on campus, though you'll have a room there as well as everything that you need.
All you have to do is check in from time to time to complete exams and some tests. You can sit in on other classes and whatever," the woman explained.
"Yes, you can do that. I am an independent study student as well, though I prefer spending more time in the academy like a normal student," Ella said.
"So now, will you take the offer?" she asked.
Raze took a moment to think, well, he wasn't thinking at all, he just wanted to make it look like he was thinking.
"Alright, that works fine for me," he said.
"Great," the woman replied. "When the time comes for the semester to start, someone will come and take you to the academy," she said.
"There's no need for that. I'll stay with him until that time. I'm eager to learn a thing or two from him," Ella said with shining eyes.
"Ella, are you certain about that?"
"Yes, yes, don't worry about me," she said.
"Alright then, since Ella is staying, I have nothing to worry about. Raze Grimhold, I look forward to you in the academy," she said with a smile.
Now that everything was completed, it was time that they go. She paid Raze for the perfume and soaps that he was to make.
They got on their horses while one of the men held the reins of the free horse.
"Wait, I never asked for your name," Raze said.
"Oh yes, you can call me Mrs. Rose," she said before riding away.
After they were gone, the place fell quiet for a few seconds. Riker was the first to leave, his fist clenched as he walked away.
'Is he mad? Tsk, at least I didn't try to take his spot,' Raze thought as he tried to walk away, but he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Ella.
She let out a smile. "Let's get along, okay?" she said.
"Of course, you are now my guest after all," he said.
"We'll have the maids prepare the guest room for her," his father said.
"Thank you, I appreciate you hosting me," Ella thanked them, bowing her head slightly.
"The pleasure is ours," the baron said and walked away. Everyone else left as well, all but his sister. She looked at Ella with wide eyes, then rushed up to her.
"Hey, when you are finished with my brother, can you come, let's play together?" she asked with eager eyes.
She had no one to play with. She was only twelve, yet all her life revolved around being a proper woman and stuff like that. She had no one to unwind with, and all her brothers were busy.
So seeing this opportunity, her body pushed her to take it. Ella looked at her with a soft smile. "I'll do my best," she replied. She lit up after hearing that, and she finally left the two of them.
"You said you'll do your best. That doesn't mean you'll play with her," Raze said and started walking inside.
"Well, I wanted to stay because I wanted to learn a bit from you," she replied.
"You are already a student from the academy. What can I genuinely teach you?" Raze asked.
"There is a lot I don't know, like how you did that silent casting and dual casting simultaneously, and I want you to teach me," she said.
"I'm not sure I'll have the time for teaching, because as it stands, there is a lot I have to do," he said.
She caught up to him and stood in front of him.
"What sort of things? If I can help you, then you have the time to teach me," she said.
Raze let out a sigh. "Fine, if you play with my little sister, I'll do my best to teach you. It doesn't have to be much, just make out some time for her."
"That's a deal then," she said.
"Young master, your father wants to speak to you," Elaine spoke. She came from behind.
"Oh, I see," Raze said. He looked at Ella. "This won't be too long. I'll see you in a bit. Feel free to relax," Raze said before turning. "Elaine, please show her to her room."
'I already know what this meeting is probably about, and I can already see my brothers sitting in the office.
But that's nothing to worry about. I'll deal with it as fast as possible and get to work. My plans are already taking shape.'