Why hide now? If you refuse, the Greengrass will just spread the word about me. Fight half the purebloods? I'd be pelted with corpses. Damn it! These ghosts must make themselves known right here, right now.
Lord Greengrass, meanwhile, began to recite a long spell in Latin while waving his wand. A pale green circle appeared in the air around us, lights flickering and scattering white-green sparks. The man sat back in his chair.
— The most powerful curse of the Greengrass family, like many like it, seeks to destroy the family. It always affects the issue of reproduction. Sometimes children are born with no sex drive at all, sometimes, as in my case, only girls are born. There are... — The man looked at his daughter. — ... and other methods of influence.
— Homosexuality. — I nod as the man's eyes widen in surprise. — I've seen Daphne kiss her friend a few times. — The girl didn't react at all to my words, but her mother narrowed her eyes and studied her daughter. — Honestly, I thought it was a conscious decision on her part....
— No — Henry shook his head in denial. — My grandfather's brother didn't look at the opposite sex with normal interest either. But anyone affected by that particular facet of the curse fought it. — A wry glance at his daughter. — Over the decades, we've managed to keep the curse from waking in more than one child per generation.
— And how would you continue the Kin if the heir was a girl?
— In such cases, the groom is taken into the family, not the other way around.
— But you must realize that this won't work with me, right?
— You're right, Sora, that was our plan from the beginning. — I smiled broadly, feeling a burst of amusement, but I didn't laugh. — But there are other possibilities. — the woman paused and looked at her daughter. — We can sign a contract to impregnate the heiress. — Daphne shuddered at the last words.
I felt a hot wave run from my heart to my body. I barely had time to stop the words from rolling off my tongue. Instead, I smiled again.
— My parents' families always followed their internal laws, their ancestral covenants, and when there were violations of the laws, they never delayed the purification rituals. — I feel the touch of the ritual, I feel that my information — by weight" corresponds to the information expressed by my interlocutors. — I know myself which rituals can help in different circumstances. — I pause to assess people's reactions, and it suits me. — My magic carries no curse, and the blessing of the goddess has already been exhausted. — I was about to say the words that would end the ritual, when Daphne spoke quickly.
— The Greengrass family has one gift, and another is almost formed. Do you have at least two or more?
He heard himself growl naturally, grinning. I can feel the magic of the ritual assessing my thoughts, but I'm not agile or clever enough to find something appropriate in a flash without answering the question directly. Bitch! Well, I already knew what that bitch's parents were getting at, but now I'm pissed.
— More. — That magic was enough and the touch of ritual magic withdrew and I hurriedly put my understanding and emotions into the next words. — The ritual is complete! — The wave that emanated from me extinguished the sparks and broke the ring hanging in the air.
I shifted my gaze to the blonde, noticed her satisfied grin, looked at her tense parents, at the dark wand in Henry's hand, back to her, and smiled affectionately at her. — You, girl, have been playing around. — And the voice is as kind and loving as possible. I look back at Henry. — You want a child with Greengrass blood, an heir, right? — The man nods softly. — Then I suggest we form an alliance and seal it with marriage. — The girl doesn't show it, but her pupils begin to dilate.
— We don't mind, but we need to talk about the details. — The man put down his wand. — You must understand that the question of the heir is crucial for us, and Astoria will probably become Draco Malfoy's fiancée. — A short pause. — Mr. Hoshino, are you aware of Daphne's, uh... Daphne's tastes, as my wife and I... — The man sighed heavily and looked at his wife. — We doubted she would have a husband and a full-fledged family...
— I would like to note that I was literally forced to say more than I wanted to, so I don't see much point in hiding it anymore. In my homeland, clan leaders can take more than one wife, plus concubines....
— In some cases, it's allowed here as well. — Henry nodded calmly. — If there is only one last heir or heiress left in a magical clan, he/she can no longer enter another's family and is allowed to take more than one suitable bride. Provided he/she is able to support such a family. This has not been practiced in recent decades, as society has proven to be heavily influenced by Christian trends.
— I see. — I nod. I think there is also the influence of the general equalization of the rights of men and women, and the innate power of witches: a witch can be very offended and put something interesting and unremovable. — Okay, I can't give all the gifts to the children of one woman — I smile at Daphne's angry face. — And one child from each of the girls won't be the end of it.
Daphne's face was really contorted with anger, she even tried to grin, but it didn't work. The parents laughed at their daughter's pantomime, which made the blonde even angrier. And then the parents suddenly calmed down and Sueleen spoke.
— You have disappointed and embarrassed us, Daphne. — Sueleen said in such a stern and 'heavy' voice that even I got a kick out of it. — Instead of fighting back and proving yourself to be a worthy extension of our family, you let the curse get the best of you and revealed your shameful secret to outsiders. You put it on display! — It was clear from the woman's trembling voice that she could barely contain herself. — You should be grateful that Sora is a gentleman and didn't tell anyone. — A sharp look and I shook my head negatively. — You will do your duty and redeem yourself. — Another short pause and the girl's eyes filled with tears. — Otherwise, we'll have to say goodbye to ..... — I don't know what these words mean, but the girl was so frightened, there are no words.
— No! I'll do it! — exclaimed the blonde with tear-stained cheeks, and then, lowering her head, she added quietly. — Obey....
For a moment, Suelyn Marion Greengrass, Lady Greengrass, looked at her daughter as if weighing the advisability of her continued existence. Lord Greengrass, on the other hand, was silent, but his whole demeanor expressed agreement with his wife's words. Approval, even.
— Sit down. — Her mother's words almost made the girl fall into the chair. — Mr. Hoshino, about the curse.
— Oh, don't worry about it. — I smile thinly as I watch the confusion on the Lord and Lady's faces. — Daphne's seventeenth birthday is still three years away....
— Two and a half. — The woman corrects.
— I see. Well, my coming of age will be this spring, but that's just for the record. In general, for those two and a half years, I will run her through the rituals, will sit on a couple or three .... — big smiles. — ... dozens of posts. If you find me a frankly black, evil sorcerer, alive, it will be good at all, and already on our first wedding night the girl will become pregnant with a child completely free of curses.