Chapter 474 - Naming Ceremony Ⅳ (1/2)
Sitting down across from each other in the empty room, Kain Shafiq drops all friendly pretenses as the demeanor of a sharp businessman appears. ”Well, Prince, I presume that you wish to speak to me regarding the shares which the Avery family gifted in exchange for the Prince's services,” Shafiq pointedly declared.
”That is indeed correct,” Reginald coolly answered as he elegantly crossed his long legs. ”But that being said, I can plainly vouch and promise that I hold no interest in knowing nor gaining access to your shipping routes, Shafiq. I understand very well that this is a business secret and I will make no efforts of any kind to pry into them.”
”As it should be,” Shafiq inclined his head in approval. ”And if that is indeed the case, what exactly is that which the Prince family desires?”
”The Prince family is planning to open a correspondent's office in conjunction with the Shafiq owned ports,” Reginald answered with a cold smile.
Shafiq's eyes grow wide for a moment, before growing pensive as he pursued his lips in deep thought. ”Though a risky endeavor, it would be highly profitable. Intelligence has always been an invaluable community. But why the sudden desire, Prince? I would have thought that your time in Grindelwald's services with my own father would have endeavored you to never venture into that realm again?”
”I must ensure that my grandchildren are properly protected,” Reginald candidly confessed. ”They are the last of the Prince's and they hold some of the most valuable bloodlines in the whole of Great Britain. And I will see to it that they are protected no matter what the cost.”
Shafiq nods his head in understanding, before chuckling and saying, ”It is a shame that my son is not a few years older. Or else, I would have surely proposed a marriage between our two houses.”
”I doubt your son would be capable of surviving my granddaughter,” Reginald truthfully answered with a hint of wariness. After all, five-year differences among a witch and a wizard was not all that great as ten or more age differences were quite common in wizarding society. But he would rather not give Shafiq any hopes of the possibility of such a match.
Shafiq does not prod again having understood the warning for the time being. But he was a patient man, and he held all the cards. He also did only have a son, but beautiful unwed daughters as well. He would just have to ensure that his daughters had an opportunity to beguile the young Prince heir. He was also aided in hit endeavor by the fact the he was a joint godparent with Georgine Prince. And sooner or later an opportunity would arise, he just need wait. And wait, he would.
After a further in-depth discussion regarding setting up a correspondence office's, the two wizards shake hands and make their way to return to the cigar room. To Reginald's dismay, Rowan had somehow escaped his sister and was casually waiting outside of the cigar room. Furrowing his brow, he merely arches his brow at his granddaughter, who should know better.
Rowan widens her eyes as if in innocence, which do little to convince her grandfather. However, she did not have time to worry about her delicate sensibilities. She had an unprecedented opportunity and she must not fail. But that was easier said than done.
Appropriately bowing to Kain Shafiq, Rowan in a flattering tone of voice says, ”It is a pleasure to finally meet the head of one of the wealthiest wizarding families in the shipping industry.”
”You flatter me, Miss Prince,” Shafiq replied with a good-natured smile.
”It is no flattery, sir,” Rowan truthfully declared. ”However, I wonder if I might have a moment of your time, sir. If it is permitted?”
Shafiq does not allow Reginald to answer as he says, ”Why it will be no trouble at all, Miss Prince. You surely will not mind such a request, will you, Prince?”