"School?"
"Yes little Gracie, School. Would you like to go to one? There will be many other children there so you will get to make a lot of friends as well."
"Haaa~ That sounds fun!" Gracie showed a big bright smile before she turned towards Ace, "Papa, can I go, pleeeease?"
"Of cour-" Ace was about to agree before Maeve questioned, "Mr. Kalm, what would you teach in this school of yours?"
"It shouldn't be much, just some basic things everyone should know, like, writing, speaking… we also teach the history of our world, our empire, our kingdom, also some basic mathematics which will help children no matter what they do in life," Estudar replied, to which Maeve and Ace nodded.
"And when will this school start?"
"There is still a month for that, generally we take 5 silver a month but since Elder Ace is an Elder of our Inferno Sword Sect, there won't be any fees required. As for the timings, that should be from 9:00 A.M. to 1 P.M."
"Mmhm, alright, Gracie will join the school, thank you for informing us" Ace nodded as he patted Gracie's head.
"Yay~" Gracie, of course, bloomed in joy. The idea of meeting new people and making a lot more friends excited her.
"Alright, since Elder Ace agreed, I shall personally send some more information about the school as soon as possible," Sect Leader Kalm said as he stood up and with a last nod, the two left the courtyard.
…
"He really doesn't put anyone in his eyes, does he?" As they left the courtyard, Estudar commented.
"Hmm? How did you come to this conclusion?" Sect Leader Kalm questioned.
"Well, it wasn't really difficult, not only him, his wife, even she seems like she doesn't hold any of us in her eyes. I mean, the Sect Leader himself had gone to visit them, let alone tea, she didn't even offer water.
As for that man, Elder Ace, the whole while, he didn't bother moving his daughter, who was sitting on his shoulder, to a better seat."
"*Chuckle* To be honest, it was already generous of them to offer us a seat, there are days when I am not even able to enter the house and had to talk while standing on the door." Sect Leader Kalm replied with a wry smile.
"Isn't that too much? No matter what, you are still the Sect Master of our Sect right? How can they not show proper respect?"
"Sect Master? That may be true but it won't be wrong to say that I am only the Sect master because of Elder Ace. I dare say that if someday, Elder Ace decides to revolt and try to take the Sect Master's position, around 80% if not more Sect members would agree and help with the revolt. Not only that, even the other sects would give him hand just so they can get in his good books…"
"Is… is that really true?"
"That is what comes with absolute strength, my friend. Education and knowledge may be important, but in front of absolute strength, nothing else matters, neither my position as Sect Master nor someone else with a larger influence"
…
"So from now on, my little Gracie will go to a school… and that too for 4 hours? Isn't that too much? Should I join the school as well?" Ace muttered.
"What the hell are you talking about? Only children from 8-10 years olds enroll in the school" Maeve shook her head and sighed tiredly.
"Then should I join as a teacher?"
"Will you even be able to teach other students when the little girl of yours is sitting in front of you?"
"Then shou-"
"C'mon, she is all grown up now, you can't just keep her close to you every time, you have to give her some personal space. And what are you even worried about? Do you think anyone would dare to hurt our little nightingale in this city?"
"Hmm… maybe you are right, I am being a little too sensitive…" Ace nodded in understanding. Maeve blinked a few times, a little shocked by how Ace understood what she tried to say so easily.
"I shouldn't join her school like that…" Ace mumbled and Maeve kept on nodding with a smile on her face, 'Of course, what was I thinking? He was an emperor after all, how could he not understand such a simple little matter?'
"Instead of joining her school, I should make use of Darkness Attribute to hide in her shadow and stay beside my little girl to keep her protected" Ace concluded and Maeve's continuous nodding stopped as she glanced at Ace with a look that said, 'Seriously?'
"Noo, you are not allowed to do that either"
"Why not?"
"Let her stay alone for a while! It wouldn't be nice if she depends on us for every little thing"
"But she's just a little girl, what if those classmates of her bully her?"
"You do realize that they would all be around 8 years old, right? How could a normal child defeat my little nightingale!?"
"Hmm… well, you are not wrong either… bu-"
"Nope, it's decided, Gracie will join this school, and learn and make some new friends…"
Ace merely nodded before he glanced at his daughter who was sitting in a lotus position, absorbing Qi from the surrounding in her body.
*Knock* *Knock*
A knock was heard, Ace walked towards the door and opened it.
"Greetings, Elder Ace" the person bowed.
"What is it?"
"Elder Ace, My name is Jimmy, I am the outer disciple of the sect and am responsible to guard the sect gates. Since you left, there is someone who wanted to meet you and has appeared at the sect doors every single day for the last week without fail, that person is here now, would you like to her?"