"What delightful agony we shall inflict."~ Thresh, The Chain Warden
Hey, if a chapter doesn't come out in time.... just check the previous chapter again, I would have probably put an update there for any late chapters. And yes. Next chapter is tomorrow.
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The gates to the place Gregori called home remained as imposing as he had remembered. But it was not as impossibly large as he had once thought it to be.
The guards keeping watch spotted Eileen and rushed to open the gates.
"Milady." They bowed as the two walked past.
"Nostalgic?" Eileen asked. "It has not been changed for as long as I remember it and probably hasn't since either of our births."
"Nothing too specific..." Gregori began but he heard the hushed words of the guards and the servants hurrying about.
"Is that him?"
"The youngest son?"
"Is he being brought back to the family?"
"He doesn't look as scary as everyone made him out to be..."
Eileen, recognizing Gregori's attention slip away, interjected, "Ignore them. They are just curious about you."
Gregori smiled before a thought occurred to him, "Eileen.... Answer this for me.."
"Yes?" She turned around with a smile.
"I wanted to know if a certain woman still works here." Gregori spoke measuredly, his emotions hidden.
"Who?"
"A maid by the name of Willa." Gregori spoke as he carefully looked around. "I distinctly remember her Tangor pie."
"She's still here." Eileen answered happily. "And her pie is still delicious."
Unknowingly, Gregori felt a smile creep up onto his face. She was still there. The woman who had raised him.
"I'd like to meet her before leaving." He told Eileen.
Eileen nodded sensing something off but deciding to not talk about it. Maybe he had some good memories regarding the pie.
Gregori looked at his surroundings with a sense of eerie detachment. The same statues and paintings stared back at him. Only this time, they were eye level. This time... they didn't seem to be looking down at him.
A servant walked up to him. Gregori didn't recognize him. And considering the fact that he looked young he could only think that this man joined in serving the family a little while after his disappearance or rather, supposed death.
"Lady Eileen." He bowed to her first and then turned to Gregori, "Sir Gregori." He did not bow.
He then gestured toward the dining hall door with both hands, "The Lord and Lady await your presence in the dining hall."
Gregori caught his words and actions.
Lord and Lady await your presence.
Await.
Interesting wording.
He had made it seem like they were late to the appointment. Though no one else was there to hear it, it was said in an effort to anger and throw the other person off their game.
"Well no need to keep them waiting any longer..." Gregori replied. "I suppose you will be leading us in?"
The servant looked confused for a moment, then nodded.
He pushed the doors open and stood to the side.
"Milords, Milady, your guests have arrived." The servant announced.
The three occupants in the room had already began eating the food on their plates. They looked up, barely acknowledging Gregori's presence.
"Please sit." Maer gestured to the chairs farthest from them.
Gregori strode forward and sat without any further fanfare.
Eileen stepped forward and hesitated for a moment and then chose to move to where Gregori sat and took her place next to him.
"Eileen you are to sit with us." Maer commanded.
Eileen looked up at them, a smirk on her face, "I am attending to our guest father. It is only the right thing to do as nobles."
Maer looked taken aback for a moment and then waved her off, "Do as you please."
Ignoring the other two, Vale asked Gregori, "Why did you return?"
Gregori gave her a deadpan look, "I remember that you were present for the trial?"
She nodded.
"Then you should remember my reasoning for coming here." Gregori answered. "If you do not.... then you might need a visit to the healers." He shrugged. "Old age has its own problems."
"You!" Vale raised a hand to her chest dramatically.
"Please do not take offense." Gregori looked taken aback. "Those words were out of genuine concern."
Vale looked furious.
But Alain stepped in, "Mother, the guest is speaking out of concern. It is only right for us to accept his concern in a positive manner."
Gregori smiled in his direction.
"Though I would like to ask you something Titan." Alain asked, "Which child among them is yours?"
"Gregori." He corrected before answering, "They are all my children."
"You see Titan..." Alain emphasized the name as he continued, "I have word from sources that you have said that blood isn't the only thing that makes them your family. But you have also spoken about having been married." He sized Gregori up and down, "And you do not seem the kind to have hidden relations behind your wife.... so tell me." He leaned forward. "Which one of them is your true child?"
Gregori ignored the name, before looking at Alain questioningly, "Now why would you want to know that?"
Alain feigned shock as he leaned back, "Why?" He raised a hand to his chest as he looked around at the other members seated at the table, "Is it wrong for an uncle to not know his niece or nephew? Is it wrong for grandparents to not meet their grandchildren?"
Gregori almost burst out in laughter. He recognized what they were planning on doing. He had noticed the servants in the room listening to their conversation.
If he avoided the question, word would spread of how he was keeping concerned and loving family members from meeting his children. And if he chose to answer it.... he would be giving away the identity of his blood child.
That could lead to one of two situations.
Either that child would be attacked and taken hostage or every other child would marked as targets.
Considering that they failed to kill Gregori themselves.... he was leaning toward the latter.
Blood still mattered to them.
But what they didn't know was the power the children held. Even without Gregori, they would be safe.
They had Tibbers. And they also had the various other powers at their disposal.
He had thought that the Petricitewould be bad against them but it turned out to be very unlikely.
Rell could just crush most armors, even with Petricite, the metals themselves are easy to control. And when Rell would attack the armors wouldn't be the only thing getting crushed.
Faye could just send them flying.
Daani was the most annoying out of them all. Turning into any object or creature without any drawback was beyond unstoppable. Though he could probably transform into his own transformed state but the attacks would still deal as much damage as his own. That would just be painting a target on his back.
Briar had instincts beyond anyone else. And in case something dangerous did happen, Gregori had instructed her to remove her seals and lose control.
It would mean worse for them than her. The inherent blood magic would heal her anyway.
Sydell and Daisy were the only ones he was worried about.
Both were very physical in their abilities.
But since the children would be together it would be fine.
"The girl." Gregori answered. "Red hair. Annie. She is of my blood."
"Well you should have brought her along." Maer replied.
Gregori shook his head, "Considering your preconceived notions about magic..... it did not seem right to bring her here."
"She is a mage?!" Vale called out disgusted.
Gregori responded, "Yes. And it would be wrong for me to bring her here when you definitely do not want to see her in any capacity."
"We do not want to see any child from you and a random whore on the street either." Vale shot back.
"Tut tut." Gregori chuckled, "That is some unladylike words there Milady. And unfortunately, Annie's mother turned out be one of Noxus's nobles. Imagine my surprise when I found that out myself."
Vale's eyes widened.
"And it seems to me that she would rank higher than you before you married your husband." Gregori prodded. "Interesting that some random woman I managed to fall in love with it turned out to be more noble than you."
"How dare-" Vale started.
"My condolences for her passing." Alain cut in. "We would have loved to have met her."
Alain had decided to push in the fact that she was dead but Gregori did not really care. What they had was something these lot would never have.
"What about you Lord Alain?" He asked. "A little late on marriage? Or are you looking forward to someone from the other gender?"
Eileen gasped as a hand rose to her face in shock and surprise.
That was not what any of them had expected to hear.
Alain himself, look bewildered. He stumbled unable to give a reply.
"Not that there is anything wrong with that." Gregori raised his hands in peace. "But I do think you should get married soon."