Rearing Demons
Chapter 70: Rose

Chapter 70: Rose

Walking out of the library, Rose moved past many polite gazes.

"Madam Rose." Several students and staff bowed quickly as she passed.

She only nodded in return, saying little.

Her father was the royal tutor to the King and the mentor to the Crowned Prince and his siblings. As his only child, Rose held a position of importance. Of course, her own intellect and studious nature only further solidified her standing.

Despite being younger than many of the students, she was a teacher at the royal academy—a rare and prestigious position.

"Madam Rose." Even among noble-born students, some of whom were close to her age, she was treated with respect. Though not all extended the same courtesy.

"Look who we have here."

A voice laced with tease interrupted the air of reverence.

Among the faculty, several noble-born teachers despised the idea of a commoner holding a teaching position in such a prestigious academy. Despite her father’s influence, the fact remained: he was not a noble.

"What do you want, Weir?" As she calmly strode through the halls, a tall man suddenly fell into step beside her, smirking.

"A date with you?" he said smoothly, his voice laced with flirtation. "What do you say?"

Silence.

He received no response, not even a glance.

"Oh, come on," he coaxed, clearly unbothered by her indifference. "What’s wrong with just one date?"

Still, she ignored him, treating him as though he were air.

"Rose," he tried again. "Just one."

Finally, she stopped. Turning to face him, she held his gaze with quiet authority.

"Weir, please have some decorum. Take my silence as rejection and keep your distance," she said, stepping away with a slight frown.

Though undeniably handsome, she found him unbearable—too childish, too forceful.

A known flirt, Weir courted many, and she had no interest in becoming another name on his list.

"Rose, why are you so stubborn?" He sighed pitifully. "One date. That’s all I ask. If you’re bored, or if you dislike me after, I’ll leave you alone forever."

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Will you truly leave me alone?"

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"No way, Mom!" Luna abruptly interrupted the story, staring at Rose in shock. "You actually considered it?" Her wide eyes were filled with disbelief.

"What choice did I have back then?" Rose shrugged, pulling her daughter closer. "I just wanted to be left alone, but Weir was persistent. Ignoring him only made him worse."

Luna pouted. "But what about Dad? What if he got upset?"

Rose chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from Luna’s face.

"Your father and I barely knew each other back then. At least, I didn’t know him well. He was the Crowned Prince, the man my father tutored—someone beyond my reach." A fond smile tugged at her lips. "But... he did get jealous whenever Weir was around."

She giggled at the memory, recalling the quiet yet undeniable shift in Jin’s demeanour whenever Weir appeared.

Luna gasped dramatically. "Really?"

Rose nodded, kissing her daughter’s forehead.

"Alright, tell me more!"

————————————————————————

Weir nodded eagerly, like an overexcited child.

"If you truly don’t enjoy yourself, I swear I won’t come near you again," he promised.

Though frustrated, Rose knew that resisting would only prolong his persistence. Worse, as a high-ranking noble, Weir had influence—subtle ways of making life difficult if he so desired.

With a resigned sigh, she spoke. "Fine. One date. Then you leave me alone."

"Don’t worry, I’m a man of my word." He pounded his chest with exaggerated confidence. "I’ll pick you up tonight."

With that, he turned and walked away, humming a cheerful tune.

Rose exhaled, shaking her head.

Throughout the kingdom, she was known for her beauty. Not cold and unapproachable, nor overly bright and cheerful—just breathtaking.

She carried herself with grace, intelligence, and maturity.

For arrogant men, she was an eyesore.

For flirts like Weir, she was a prize worth chasing.

She continued walking through the halls until she reached a set of large doors.

Pushing them open, she entered a classroom filled with lively chatter.

"Please take your seats."

Her students quickly complied, settling into place.

"Good morning, Madam Rose."

Though some harboured resentment towards her, none dared cause a scene within the academy walls.

Their parents had paid handsomely for their education, and Rose was a fully recognized teacher. Any trouble caused would lead to serious consequences.

"Last class, we began discussing the Puetian people." She opened the textbook in her hands and picked up a piece of white chalk.

A screech echoed through the room as she wrote on the board.

"Who remembers the name of the Puetian leader?" Turning around, she scanned the room, awaiting an answer.

————————————————————————

"What did you teach?" Luna asked, intrigued.

Until recently, her mother had rarely spoken about the past—only offering small hints that there was more to their story than Luna had ever realized.

"I taught history and politics," Rose answered. "My father was a scholar in both fields, so I learned from him."

Luna’s face scrunched up in thought. "Do you miss Grandpa?"

"Of course I do." A gentle smile touched Rose’s lips, but deep in her eyes, something heavier lingered.

It was more than longing.

It was a desperate wish—a need—to see her father again.

To be saved.

To be taken away from the wretched place they were trapped in.

Dad, if you were here, you would have saved me. Your little girl.

She sniffled slightly but quickly brushed it off, pressing a kiss to Luna’s cheek.

"But you know," she said with a teasing smirk, "your father was waiting for me after this class."

Luna’s eyes lit up.

"That stalker dad of yours."

————————————————————————

"Alright, that’s all for today."

Rose erased the board.

"Next class, we’ll have a small quiz. Review your notes and be prepared. If you have any questions, you know where my office is."

"Yes, Madam Rose!"

With that, the students rushed out, their chatter filling the air.

Excited voices discussed weekend plans, food, and gossip.

"You teach just like your father." A familiar voice made her pause.

Turning around, she saw a tall figure standing by the door—a handsome young man, his lips curved into a smile.

"Crowned Prince." She gave him a polite bow, her demeanour respectful but not surprised.

"Why do you still call me that?" He sighed, stepping forward. "I told you to call me Jin."

"That would be impolite," she replied simply.

His smile softened. "You’re allowed to be impolite with me."

She didn’t reply.

He studied her carefully.

"Rose, do I bother you?"

"Of course not," she said, her tone polite as ever.

He frowned. "Be serious."

She hesitated.

"Although I think you’re beautiful," he continued, "I don’t want to be a nuisance. If I truly bother you, tell me, and I’ll leave you alone. I promise."

"You don’t bother me," she admitted, "but I would prefer if you treated me like everyone else. I am merely a citizen of this kingdom."

His expression sulked slightly.

He understood.

He was a bother.

"I see." His shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "Well, a promise is a promise. I won’t pester you."

With that, he turned and walked out.

She exhaled softly.

The last thing I want is to get entangled with a noble—especially the prince. Too troublesome.

She had no desire for wealth or power. She simply wanted to live quietly, to study, to learn—to exist peacefully, far from the volatile world of nobility.

Now, I have to prepare for this ridiculous date...

With a sigh, she grabbed her materials and exited the classroom, heading to her next lesson.

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