"Why tavern?" Nichs asked curiously. "Do you cook?"


    "Yeah.." Sophie had to help the maids at her aunt''s home ever since she arrived in Hastings and now she could cook, clean, and wash really well. "But that''s not the main reason."


    "So? Why do you want to open a tavern?" Nichs asked again.


    "Well.. humans need to eat. They can go by with only one set of clothes for a long time, they could sleep outside if they didn''t have a home. But everyone will die if they don''t eat. So, I think the food business will definitely work out as long as I can sell good food with good value for money."


    Nichs nodded, looking satisfied with her response. "Very well, Miss Sophie. I can secure a loan from the bank for you to open a business so you don''t have to work for other people."


    "Whoa… can you really do that?"


    "I told you, my family knows the Rothschild." Nichs smiled smugly again. His confidence made Sophie realize that her guess must be correct, that this man was from a wealthy family.


    "That will be amazing," Sophie was very happy because now a new option was open for her to move forward in life.


    Before she met Nichs, she thought she had to bear the sufferings and bullying from her schoolmates for the next eight months, just so that she could get her certificate and work as a governess.


    Now, she could leave cow dung if she wanted because she could open a tavern, her own business, and be independent.


    "I only have one condition." Nichs cleared his throat. "I promise it''s not hard."


    Sophie pursed her lips and looked at Nichs probingly. "What do you want?"


    "Well... I will be in Hastings for two weeks and I have never attended a school ball like the one Cow Dung will be having. So… if you could go with me to the ball… You know, just to show me around so I won''t look like an idiot there by myself… I will do my best to secure you the loan to open your tavern."


    "Ohh…." Sophie didn''t want toe to the ball because she was worried that she would be targeted by the bullies again. In addition to that.. she also didn''t have a nice dress to wear to the ball. "Have you never attended such an event?"


    Nichs shook his head. "I told you I study with private teachers. I have never attended school and I''ve always wondered what it''s like to meet and grow up surrounded by people my age, and do things like normal people."


    His voice wasced with sadness and it finally made Sophie feel sorry for him.


    Maybe she could try toe to that stupid ball, if only for Nic? This man seemed so pitiful.


    Finally, Sophie found herself bob her head and agreed to Nic''s condition. "Okay then. I will go to the ball with  you."


    "Then I am looking forward to it!" Nichs smiled brightly. "I wanted to experience what a normal academy is like and now I''m able to do it because of you. You have my gratitude, Sophie."


    Sophie smiled sheepishly. "Well.. you know I''m doing this for the money."


    "Well, then let''s say that we''re both helping each other out." Nichs winked. "That settles our little argument, doesn''t it?"


    "It''s really not that much of an argument."


    "That''s true." Nichs nodded.


    Nichs and Sophie talked and conversed with each other, discussing the details of the uing school ball and even Nic''s habit of escaping his tutors to go about the town.


    Before the two of them knew it, the sun was already going down the sky and Sophie realized it was time for her to go home.


    "Wow, time sure does fly when you''re with someone who you like talking to." Nichsughed lightly and scratched his head sheepishly. "I''m going to get in a lot of trouble this time. What about you, Sophie?"


    Sophie nodded her head. "Yeah… me too."


    Nichs noticed her tone, which was less enthusiastic than his own, but before Nichs could say anything, Sophie was already up on her feet and waving at him. She said goodbye and then started to rush away.


    "Hey! I can take you home. Where do you live?" Nichs grabbed her arm before she left him. "At least let me walk you until the town''s gates."


    "Ah, no need," Sophie smiled. "You said you are staying at your uncle''s ce, outside of Hastings. I don''t want you to waste time going back and forth. Let''s just go our separate ways, so we can reach home more quickly."


    "Well, then, how am I going to meet you for the ball?" Nichs asked again. He wanted to make sure Sophie would really go to the ball with him.


    "Ah, juste to that same ce we met today, on the day the ball is held. I will see you there. All right?"


    Nichs had no choice but to say yes. Sophie waved at him and continued her journey.


    Not long after, there were two knights came out from behind the trees and approached Nichs. Their faces were very serious.


    They had been following their master ever since he caught the girl from the school wall earlier today, but decided to give him privacy. So, he could enjoy a rxing conversation with Sophie.


    Now that she had left, they decided toe out. Both bowed down their heads slightly to show their respect to Nichs.


    "Ahh... there you are," Nichs chuckled when he saw them. He pointed at Sophie who was walking farther and farther away from him. "One of you, please follow her and find out where she lives. I want to know who she is."


    The younger knight bowed down and offered to do the task. "Let me do it, Your Highness."


    "Very well."


    Nichs smiled faintly as he saw Sophie''s back view disappear behind the city gates. She was such an interesting woman.


    The crown prince had never met someone like her, and now he was intrigued.


    .


    .


    ***************


    From Missrealitybites


    Did you guess that Nichs is a prince? XD