Chapter 719 - Mulciber Matchmaking Ⅳ (1/2)
With Mulciber Sr. otherwise occupied with the physical repercussions of the laxative potion laced tea, the Greengrass are thankfully left alone to converse with the rather solemn Peregrine. Certain that Mulciber Sr. is gone and out of earshot the eldest daughter of Mordecai, Edna Greengrass rises indignantly to her feet. Feeling furious and humiliated she points at Peregrine. ”Have the lot of you gone roaring mad?! You wish for me to marry into that household and a squib at that! I'd sooner marry one of those new money families than into that household!”
Not waiting for her family's reaction, Edna storms out of the parlor room with her mother, Phyllis chasing steadfastly after her daughter to comfort her. ”Well, that went better than expected considering the circ.u.mstances,” Benedict drily muttered as he took a sip of his tea that was not laced with any laxatives.
”How dare he lie to me!” Mordecai raged and sputtered indignantly. ”I shall see Mulciber receives his proper dues!”
”Really, brother? And what is that?” Benedict crisply asked causing Mordecai to drastically wilt.
”Er, well,” Mordecai panicked as his younger brother and grandmother gazed at him expectantly. Faking a cough, he stammers, ”Can't breathe,” and sips at his tea as he tries to bring his fake cough under control.
Ethel's features return to normal mostly except for her still sharp talons. Her talons pensively tap against the tablecloth causing tiny tears in the cloth. ”I should take his head, it would be within my right,” Ethel hissed causing Mordecai to pale further at the grotesque image described.
”Calm yourself, grandmother,” Benedict said as he took a bite out of a pastry.
”Yes, grandmother!” Mordecai keenly added. ”We mustn't do such things that are frowned upon in proper wizarding society!”
”Why aren't you choking, Mordecai?” Ethel pointedly asked through narrowed eyes causing Mordecai to whimper and fall silent.
”Madam may I be permitted to speak?” Said Peregrine, whom all the Greengrass members had temporarily forgotten about. The entire Greengrass turn their gazes towards Peregrine in unison. It was a bit disturbing to see hawk-like eyes turn in to gaze at him especially that of the elderly Veela and family matriarch, Ethel Greengrass.
Ethel's talons curl for a moment into the tablecloth leaving visible holes, before relaxing. ”Speak,” she coldly ordered leaving no room for protests.
”Thank you,” Peregrine sincerely said as he pulled himself straight up to gaze sincerely at the elderly Veela. ”I wish to speak the truth and lay the terms for my proposal.”
Peregrine paused, but there were no interruptions as he continued to speak. ”I was raised in the Mulciber household until I was ten years of age. Knowing that my father would soon rid himself of my existence for in his eyes my being a squib was a sin that needed to be erased. Despite the repercussions, my mother, Meredith defied the deadly plans of the one who sired me. In the dead of night, she stole me away and carefully hid me away from even my father's reach,” his words drew aghast gasps from Constance and Rosie Greengrass, while Mordecai, Ethel, and Benedict all pensively narrowed their eyes at the truthful, but the severity of the statement.
”My mother cannot escape the grasp of my father and as the matriarch said before, she is tied to him for life and he will not release her,” Peregrine flatly admitted.