Quick Note just to share my excitement- MR COLLINS has arrived! heeheehee ;)
" I hope, my dear," said Mavis to her love, as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming I am sure, unless Sting should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for him. I do not believe he often sees such at home."
"The person of whom I speak, is a wizard and a stranger."
Zeref's eyes sparkled. —"A wizard and a stranger! It is Juvia I am sure. Why Gray— you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Juvia.— But— good lord! How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Laxus, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Max, this moment."
"It is not Juvia." Said Mavis; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
This roused general astonishment; and she had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by Zeref and five wards at once.
After amusing herself some time with their curiosity, she thus explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention." (Gray and Natsu had to stifle their laughter). "It is from my cousin, Ichiya, who, if I should ever figure out a way to die, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
(Now, my dear reader, you may not be familiar with the subtleties and nuances of Regency-magical law. It is quite archaic and confusing, but suffice it to say, that because of Zeref and Mavis poor choices over their many many years, their estate was entailed away to Mavis's nearest living relative, as the Magic Council held little trust for Zeref at all and there was simply nothing the family could do about it. Regency rules.)
"Oh! My dear," cried Zeref, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that our estate should be entailed away from our own wards; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."
Gray and Natsu attempted to explain to him the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Zeref was beyond the reach of reason; and he continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five powerful mages, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mavis, "and nothing can clear Ichiya from his guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep quarreling with you, as his father did before him?"
"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear"
Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent
15th October
Dear Madam,
The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late and honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, why could not the parfum of conciliation turn the tides of friendship? Men. Since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach with such a parfum of brotherhood, but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one, with whom it had always pleased him to be at a variance.
—"There, Zeref"—
My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received special title at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Aquarius, independent Celestial Spirit, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable guild-team Trimens of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and ever be ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Council of Fiore. As a leading mage, however, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace and parfum in all families within the reach of my influence; Men; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstances of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate (and your long history of potent magic), will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. Men. Can you smell the parfum of affection? I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable wards, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them EVERY possible amends,— but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'night following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Aquarius is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other mage is engaged to do the duty of the day, and I leave her in good hands with Hibiki. I remain, dear sir, men, with respectful compliments to your partner and your wards, your well-wisher and friend,
Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki
"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making wizard," said Mavis, as she folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite mage, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Aquarius should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."
"There is some sense in what he says about the boys however;" said Zeref, "and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."
"Though it is difficult," said Gray, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."
Natsu was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Aquarius, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his guild members whenever it were required.
"He must be an oddity, I think," said he. "I cannot make him out. —There is something very pompous in his stile. —And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? —We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. —Can he be a sensible man, Mavis?"
"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."
"In point of composition," said August, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed. And more, he does seem the type who would not forget he fathered a child at least."
To Freed and Laxus, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a wizard in any other colour. As for Zeref, Ichiya's letter had done away much of his ill-will, and he was preparing to see him with a degree of composure, which astonished Mavis and the boys.
Ichiya was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mavis indeed said little; but Zeref and the boys were ready enough to talk, and Ichiya seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a short, heavy looking mage with rather shabby hair and a tendency to hold himself in self-aware poses while he spoke. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Zeref on having so fine a family of wizards, said he had heard much of their attractiveness and talents, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt Zeref seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers, but Zeref, who quarreled with no compliments, answered most readily,
"You are very kind sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my black heart it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly."
"You allude perhaps to the entail of this estate. Men."
"Ah! Sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor boys, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed. But, alas, this age is coming to an END."
Sniffing loudly, Ichiya responded, "I am very sensible, Lord Zeref, of the hardship to your fair wards,— and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young mages that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, men, but perhaps when we are better acquainted—"
He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the boys smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Ichiya's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised; and his commendation of every thing would have touched Zeref's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and he begged to know which of the fair mages, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here was set right by Zeref, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that his wards had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased the dark wizard. In a softened (and more terrifying) tone, Zeref declared himself not at all offended; but Ichiya continued to apologize for about a quarter of an hour. (Seeing all the life sucked out of the potted plans and two pet birds in the room does have that affect.)