𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

Shielding the Heir Black 3

### Part 3: Shielding the Heir Black 3

Regula paced in the grand parlor of Black Manor, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Her father, Orion Black, sat comfortably on one of the plush green couches, sipping tea as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell. Marvolo Gaunt Slytherin stood beside him, leaning casually against the fireplace, a smirk playing on his lips that made Regula’s blood boil.

“New siblings? Plural?” Regula’s voice rose as she stared at her father, then shifted to glare at Marvolo. “Papa, please tell me this is a joke.”

Orion chuckled softly, his calm demeanor unshaken. “No joke, darling. Marvolo and I have been discussing expanding our family. It’s not uncommon for magical lineages to grow and strengthen with more children.”

Regula’s gaze darted to Marvolo, who was still smirking like the Kneazle that got the cream. She crossed her arms. “I thought you were marrying him for companionship, Papa. Not…” Her words trailed off, and she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Marvolo’s smirk widened. “Oh, it’s more than just companionship, dear Regula. Your father and I are committed to building a strong, unified family. And you’ll have brothers or sisters to keep you company. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Regula’s face flushed crimson as her sharp mind pieced everything together. She turned to her father. “You can’t be serious, Papa. This…this man is talking about *more* children like it’s an everyday matter!”

Orion gave her a patient smile. “Regula, you’ve always been protective of me, and I love you for it. But Marvolo and I have made this decision together. It’s for the best, for all of us.”

Marvolo’s deep, velvety voice cut in. “You’ll make a wonderful older sister, Regula. I’m sure the new little ones will look up to you.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she pointed an accusatory finger at him. “If you so much as *think* of hurting my papa—”

Marvolo raised a hand, feigning innocence. “Why, Regula, haven’t we already discussed this? I’d never hurt Orion. After all, he’s the one carrying our future children.”

The insinuation hit her like a thunderbolt.

“Oh, Merlin’s beard…” Regula whispered, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes widened in horror. “You…you’re planning to…”

Marvolo’s smirk grew positively devilish. “Exactly what you’re imagining, my dear. I think it’ll be good for the family.”

Orion, ever the calm center of the storm, gave his daughter a reassuring look. “Regula, you’ll see. This will bring us closer together as a family. Change isn’t always bad.”

Regula’s voice cracked with indignation. “Papa, this isn’t change; this is madness! And *you*—” she glared daggers at Marvolo—“I swear, if you hurt him or upset him in any way, I’ll…” She paused, searching for the worst threat she could muster.

Marvolo’s smirk didn’t falter. “You’ll make sure I can’t have any more children? Yes, I remember. But if that’s the case, my dear, how will you get more siblings?”

Regula let out an audible gasp, horrified by the implication. Her mind raced with images she desperately wanted to banish.

“I…I can’t believe this,” she muttered, pacing again, her face a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Marvolo straightened, his smirk softening just a fraction. “You’ll come around, Regula. In time, you’ll see that everything I do is for your father’s happiness. And yours, of course.”

Regula stopped pacing and spun on her heel, fixing him with a steely glare. “Don’t count on it, Marvolo.”

Orion sighed, setting down his tea and rising to place a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Give it a chance, darling. You’ll see, this will be a good thing for all of us.”

Regula didn’t answer. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, muttering about finding the biggest bar of chocolate in the manor to calm her nerves. Behind her, Marvolo chuckled softly.

“She’s a spirited one, isn’t she?” he remarked to Orion.

Orion smiled faintly. “She gets it from me.”