-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♚♛SixtyNine-

✧PLAYING WITH MIRRORS✧

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Growing up in the manor with a lawyer for a father and a younger brother aspiring to follow in his father's footsteps, it didn't come off as uncommon to pick up some of the lingo—Course, to Alphard's surprise, Rhea could follow through very well when their family lawyer had stepped up to the plate.

That is, until the entire thing had been properly reviewed by Rhea's father, who came over to the Black manor for the first time—He didn't make it a habit to go and visit his daughter, but speaking with his son-in-law, he was reminded of how odd this arrangement is.

"...Why did you let it get this far, Alphard? I would've stopped it before it's inception." The master of the manor chuckled, shaking his head at how friendly Lestrange was acting. "Those under your name aren't well versed in names and family. Coming from you, I don't know what to expect anymore."

"How is Rhea taking all this?"

"Besides embarrassed? This whole issue could have been avoided, it started out about a piece of fabric, and now? Now it involves millions. I've already collected the statements from those at the seamstress. I don't care whether that woman is from one of the twenty-eight, she came after my wife, your daughter. This won't be easily ignored."

The days following, where the first of the trials had gone through, Rhea had been pressed with a few dozen parcels in both apology and a rather twisted bit of guilt.

Whether it steamed from a compliment to how beautiful she looked, or how the family didn't have any money to fool around with.

Leaving Rhea to push that this should all be swept under the rug, and all that the Black couple wanted was them to donate a percentage to Saint Mungo's Hospital instead.

As it turns out, Alphard's funds were hardly pressed to being depleted. He had made the joke that a single man didn't need this for hundreds of lifetimes.

"Should I see a receipt in the post, or is this a father-son bonding time...Mate?" To say Alphard was still guarded was an understatement, he didn't trust Rhea's father or mother and it wouldn't be mended lightly.

"A receipt? I haven't given much lawful advice, have I? And before my wife barrels her way into the manor, can we expect to be grandparents soon?" Alphard sighed, of course—Was this a ploy from the Lestrange family to get him on an off day?

"You'll have to be patient on that front, Radolphous. Rhea is still young."
"Ah, but that just means she'll return right back to the figure she is now, take it as a blessing to get started early." As if Alphard cared at all if Rhea gained an extra bit of weight, he would prefer it actually.

"I'm a selfish man, wanting her for another year or two for myself. I'll admit to that." It was strange that this had become his in-law, he had always assumed the worst of the bunch, but to be higher than was still a godsend.

"Perhaps you're right, Rhea has a bit to learn about her title before taking on the next generation of Black heirs. I don't suppose Walburga will be of any help?" Alphard shook his head and instated that Druella wouldn't be either, not that they would know the modern strives in society.

"Clarissa might be due to come over then, Lestrange might not be a high tier anymore, but—"

"You plan on sending your wife, my wife's mother, to teach her about being in the public's eye?" Both Alphard's tone and body language had caused Radolphous to squirm. "As if she's done any good in the past few years?...Other than teaching Rhea to keep quiet and out of everyone's way. I'll decide if it's beneficial for a mother's comfort." Senior Lestrange refrained from scoffing, but then again, his daughter was married already.