Chapter 12 The Unwanted Enrollment

The basement cells were cold and dark. Rudy sat on a low bench, his back against the damp wall. The magic exhaustion had passed, leaving only a dull ache in his chest. He spent hours watching the small window near the ceiling, waiting for the morning light to break.

The heavy iron door groaned as it swung open.

Two family guards stood in the doorway, their swords sheathed. "Young Master Rudeus. Lord Alistair commands your presence in the study. Move."

Rudy stood up, smoothing his messy nightshirt. When he entered the main study, the room was thick with the smell of strong tobacco. Lord Alistair stood by the large window, his hands tucked behind his back.

"Leave us," Alistair ordered without turning around.

The guards bowed and closed the door, leaving the two of them alone.

Alistair turned slowly. His face looked tired, and his jaw was set in a tight line. "The Crown Prince left at dawn. He did not say a single word to me before his carriage departed. Do you have any idea what you have done to our family prospects?"

"I saved you from hosting a guest with a bad cough," Rudy said, his voice flat.

Alistair slammed his fist onto the top of his desk. "Silence! I am done listening to your arrogant mouth. For eighteen years, I tolerated your laziness because you stayed out of my way. But now you are a danger to this house."

Rudy didn't blink. "So, what is the plan, Father? Are you going to execute me?"

"No," Alistair hissed, his eyes narrowing. "That would cause too many questions among the other noble houses. I am sending you away. You are going to the Obsidian Academy. The enrollment papers are already signed."

Rudy paused. In his memory of the novel, the old Rudeus had thrown a massive tantrum when asked to go to the school, refusing to leave his comfortable life of luxury. The Obsidian Academy was a ruthless place where the children of the elite fought for power and rank.

To Rudy, however, this was the perfect escape route.

"The academy," Rudy said, pretending to frown. He forced a slight tremble into his voice, making himself look reluctant.

"You will be far away from the palace and far away from me. You will learn to hold your tongue, or the senior students will beat some sense into you."

Rudy looked down at the floor, pretending to think it over. Then, he looked up, his expression hardening. "Fine. I will go. But I have one condition."

Alistair let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "A condition? You are a prisoner in this house, Rudeus. You don't make demands."

"If you don't grant it, I will simply find a way to embarrass the family again before the carriage even leaves the compound," Rudy replied smoothly, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You know I can do it."

Alistair's smile vanished. He glared at his son, recognizing the sudden, sharp intelligence that had made him so dangerous during the banquet. "Speak then. What do you want?"

"I want to take Bella with me," Rudy stated clearly.

The room went completely quiet. Alistair blinked, his expression turning into one of deep confusion. "Bella? Why would you want to take her? She is a valuable asset to this house. The Prince still has his eyes on her."

Rudy forced a cruel, lazy sneer onto his face, leaning against the edge of a bookshelf. He needed to make the lie look perfectly natural, exactly like something an arrogant young master would say.

"The Prince left without her because he was embarrassed," Rudy scoffed, waving his hand in the air. "And besides, the academy is full of snobbish nobles. If I go there alone, I will have to clean my own boots and carry my own heavy trunks. Bella makes the perfect maid. Why should we waste family gold on hiring an academy servant when we already have a useless adopted girl living in our compound?"

Alistair stared at him, searching Rudy's face for any hidden motive.

"You want to use your sister as a common servant?" Alistair asked.

"She belongs to House Vance, doesn't she?" Rudy countered, his tone harsh. "Let her earn her keep in the north. It will keep her subdued, and it ensures she won't cause trouble here while you try to fix your relations with the palace."

Alistair slowly sat down in his chair, tapping his thick fingers against his knee. He liked the idea. Bella had been showing too much defiance lately, especially during the banquet.

"Fine," Alistair said, nodding slowly. "She will go with you. But she will not be registered as a student. She will live in the servant quarters, and she will attend to your needs. If she fails, or if you cause trouble, I will cut off your monthly funds completely."

"Deal," Rudy said.

He turned and walked out of the study before his father could change his mind. He walked down the long corridor toward the family courtyard, his mind already planning the long journey ahead.

As he crossed the sunlit walkway, he saw Bella standing near the stone pillars. She had been waiting for him. Her dark eyes scanned his face, looking for injuries from his night in the cells.

"What happened?" she asked quietly, stepping into his path. "I heard the guards talking. Father is furious."

"We are leaving, Bella," Rudy said, keeping his voice low so the passing servants couldn't hear. "Pack your things. We are going to the Obsidian Academy in the north."

Bella froze, her face turning pale. "The academy? But... only high nobles go there. Father would never pay for my enrollment."

"You are not going as a student," Rudy said, looking her straight in the eyes. He stepped closer, his voice softening just enough for her to hear. "I told him you are coming as my personal maid to clean my boots and carry my bags."

Bella’s eyes widened, a sudden flash of hurt and anger crossing her face. She took a step back, her fists clenching at her sides. "You... you told him that? You are turning me into your servant?"

"Listen to me," Rudy interrupted, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly to stop her from walking away. The warmth of his hand made her pause, her anger catching in her throat. "It was the only way he would let you leave this house. If you stay here, Kaelen will come back for you, and Alistair will hand you over in chains. At the academy, you will be away from the palace. It gives us time."

Bella looked down at his fingers gripping her wrist, then up at his serious, calm face. The anger in her chest slowly melted, replaced by that same deep, confusing warmth from the night before.

"You really lied to him just to save me?" she whispered, her voice shaking slightly.

"I told you before, Bella," Rudy said, releasing her wrist and offering a small, tired smile. "Nobody else in this house is going to save us. Go pack your bags. The carriage leaves at noon