Chapter 716 - Mulciber Matchmaking (2/2)
Peregrine had been sorely tempted to turn down his father's offer as he did not desire to inherit the Mulciber wealth nor marry. However, his father knew his son only too well and knew his weakness, his mother. His father had offered to permit the permanent residence of his mother wherever Peregrine was to reside in exchange for his acceptance of the stated conditions.
Peregrine's clenched fists had shaken at that time, but he had at last relented and accepted the Devil's offer. He would save the last family he had even at the cost of his own soul. Even it was turning against all that which he firmly believed to be wrong and antiquated.
Gathering strength, Peregrine arrived at the front entrance of Mulciber Citadel. Raising his hand, he grasps the doorknocker, a silver serpent with emerald eyes biting its own tail. He had not even a second time, when the door abruptly swings open to reveal the face of his childhood playmate, Bee-Bee, (also known as Beat).
The house elf that was nearly the same age as Peregrine is in a similar rough shape as before. Beat had a round swollen nose, missing teeth, and a broken bat-like ear that flops limply down. There were old and new whip scars on his forearms and legs that are badly bruised from recent beatings.
”Oh, Bee-bee,” Peregrine let out a soft saddened sigh.
”Per-per,” Beat whispered and flinched as he crouched down glancing nervously around. ”Master must be wary of elder Master.”
”I know,” Peregrine stiffly answered as his face hardened resembling far too much that of his father and deceased brother except for the traces of genuine concern and kindness visible in the depths of his eyes.
Peregrine gently pats the top of his childhood playmate's head as Beat struggle snot to flinch from the gentle touch of the first young master that he had once called friend. Removing his hand lest he gets Bee-bee in trouble, he asks, ”Where is my mother?”
Beat shivers and glances around with hesitation before answering, ”Mistress has locked herself in her quarters with the pretense of mourning. Mistress says she is safe, and that young master should not fall prey to the elder master's whims.”
”I will be fine, and tell mother not to worry, I know what I am doing,” Peregrine confidently murmured. ”Please relay that message to mother after our departure.”
Beat nods his head slowly in understanding, before hurriedly saying, ”The eldest Master awaits the young Master at the hearth in the great hall.”
Noticing his childhood playmate's abrupt change, Peregrine understands that his father is nearby. ”Very well,” Peregrine said. ”You may depart, Beat,” as Beat lets out a loud sigh of relief and vanishes with a loud popping sound.
Remembering his reason for being here, Peregrine dons on his best face and marches down the hall. While attending the university, he had learned of a famous muggle Chinese strategist by the name of Sun Tzu. One of his famous sayings is, ”Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.” He did not have the upper hand as his father had pried on his weakness, but that did not mean that in turn, his father had not revealed his own weakness. His father required him to produce a magical heir, and his father too would, in turn, be forced to comply with his own wishes. The winner would win not in physical combat, but rather in a fierce clash of words.