"He tried to call in the Rune Knights, which presented an interesting issue since they do want to question Lucy still in regards to the incident at Blue Pegasus. I handled it, he won't be getting any help at all from them or the regular authorities but Cristoff...next time you cause the man bruising heal it before you walk away, he sent pictures to the Rune Knights of his wrist." Farron said, smiling and Freed groaned.
The first night hadn't gone well, four times his father sent security to the wing Freed was staying in to try and "escort" especially Cristoff off the property, each time more goons were sent until finally, Freed sealed the wing off using his runes. He knew it would enrage his father, but with the Tudos family coming the following evening, he also knew his father wasn't going to act too wildly.
He'd be afraid of damages since he knew what Laxus was capable of, and had found out who Cobra was. "You brought a convicted murderer into my house." His father had said at breakfast. He had greeted Lucy nicely enough, but only her.
He sat glaring at Freed, casting nasty looks at Cristoff and Cobra, Bickslow and Laxus. "Acquitted actually. At least of the kills they were able to find out about and pin me with." Cobra had smirked. He was enjoying himself immensely. Not that Cristoff seething, wanting to go kill Lord Justine with his bare hands or Freed wishing he could crawl under a rock after killing his own father was pleasant, but Lord Justine was just a fucking riot.
The man was horrified his security had been completely unable to remove a single one of the people Freed had brought, was livid his son showed no remorse over his defiance, and further infuriated by the Rune Knights and local authorities response to him wanting to press charges for assault against Cristoff...whose name he still, at that point, did not know, he knew only the big raven haired Boscan was a Knight, a well decorated one, a Captain, and that Ambassador Arman Pradesh had sent guards to assure his son arrived in Bosco on time for whatever he needed him for.
Pradesh was a name Abraham Justine knew well, the man was brilliant, had set up trade agreements that had opened doors he himself owed a large portion of his wealth to. Arman and his incredible eldest son both had opened up venues for trade and commerce that had saved the futures of many Fioran businesses including his own. He did not, very much did not, want to have his name come across the mans desk in a negative light.
It left him in a very bad spot with his son, and he hated it, he had to get Freed to agree to this marriage, he needed it, Rikard Tudos had business ties into areas Abraham needed doors opened for, he was a cousin to the king's departed wife so his bloodline was perfect. Freed would have a Tudos wife and while Amalla wasn't anything to write home about in looks, her pedigree more than made up for it. She was awkward, a little bony, had no chest, and a nose that looked like a hawks beak set between small black eyes, she wasn't particularily bright either, but her virginity was guaranteed, and the contract written guaranteed she would get pregnant within the first 6 months or Lord Justine could have the contract voided and the marriage annulled. His deviant of a son would just have to find a way to get it up and rut with the ugly cow so he got the well bred heirs he wanted, needed, to assure the future of their family. Gods knew Freeds mother had always been a struggle for Abraham, she was so thin and frail, pretty, but just small, he liked voluptuous women, like Heartfilia, now Judes daughter, a woman like that? Abraham kept a little stable of them living around the area, needed his visits with his mistresses weekly or he just got fidgety.
If he could get it up and get his wife pregnant not once but twice so he had two sons when the woman did nothing at all to stir his lust? Freed could make his cock loving deviant self rut with the Tudos woman.
Gods Pradesh had daughters...2 of them, incredible beauties from what he'd heard too, but a man of that stature wouldn't consider a lesser Lords son for one of his children, no, but one day, maybe his grandchildren could aspire to having the position to try for such a marriage. He hated he had to tread lightly, hated the big black haired Knight, was unsettled Cobra was there endlessly smirking at him, had never cared for Bickslow or Laxus, no, the only person at the table not currently on his list of deeply infuriating persons was Lucy, who was beautiful, charming, and a walking wet dream.
Gods, that beast Laxus was her betrothed too, and she had his mark on her neck.
That was another thing, Freed had that damn mark, he'd had it looked up for him and it was more bad news. If Freed was a claimed mate to a Dragon Slayer, the kingdom did in fact protect that bond because it was permanently sealed by magic, separating the mates could kill them, But if Laxus hadn't done it...who had?
He couldn't examine the mark, get pictures and send it off to be translated, Freeds guards wouldn't let him near his son, especially the damn raven haired brute. It couldn't be Cobra, or at least he prayed it wasn't, the other Dragon Slayers in the guild were that insane fire slayer Natsu and the other semi-criminal Gajeel.
He needed to know who the slayer was Freed was bound to, perhaps imprisoning him, and knowing his son it was certainly a man he would whore himself to. If he took the Slayer and locked him away, kept him alive, he could use him as leverage to control Freed.
It was the only somewhat comforting though to have crossed his mind all day.
"Who was it? The Dragon Slayer who put the mark on you?" He asked, trying to keep his tone conversational as if he really didn't care. It wasn't until he looked up from his plate that he found one particular indigo eye blazing at him that he realized that everyone had fallen silent.
"Cobra?" Cristoff asked softly, narrowing his own gaze at the older Justine. Pulling his gaze away from he shook his head slightly.
"Why, pray tell father, would I tell you? It's not as if you recognize it as a legitimate, unbreakable bond, and I am not about to have you going after them." Freed answered cooly, lifting his cup of tea to take a careful sip. Seeing his father flush brightly in anger, he calmly set his cup down, and without a word more stood and left the room, the others close behind him.
The doors had just closed behind them when the sound of glass shattering against the same door was heard. Freed didn't stop though, and quickly headed back for his room. It wasn't until they had all filed into the chambers, Bix closing the door behind them, and Vander stepping from the shadows that Freed turned to Cobra.
"What did you hear? I know you heard something from my father." Freed asked quietly, leaning back against the footboard of his bed, arms crossing over his torso.
"Your father wants to find Cristoff, lock him away, use him as leverage against you to get the heirs he wants." Cobra stated, flopping down on the lounge, Bix settling in beside him, the others getting comfortable as Cristoff settled on the edge of the bed, as close to Freed as possible.
"That doesn't surprise me. Every name has power of some kind. He knows this. Whether it's the power the name has over another person, such as a mate, or the power that comes with a name, such as Justine, Heartfilia, and definitely Pradesh. Honestly, Pradesh is a name that my father reveres and would hate for his name to be seen in a negative light by your father." Freed stated, teeth digging into his lower lip as he thought of what needed to be done.
"Damn asshole wouldn't mind sticking it to Lucy either, if Laxus wasn't acting as her shadow." Vander spoke, flopping back on the bed, tucking his hands under his head. Hearing the threatening growl from multiple slayers, he shrugged. "Hey, you guys weren't the ones recording the various comings and goings of Lord Justine."
"You've been recording everything?" Lucy asked, turning just enough to lean back into Laxus arms, fighting off a shudder of revulsion at the thought of Freeds father doing anything to her.
"Well yea. Jerkwad is essentially threatening my family, I'm going to gather everything I can against him. I will say this much, I'm thinking we stick it out for the dinner party, then get the hell out of here. It'll be much more fun back home." Vander stated.
"I have a thought...the dinner party is to announce yourr engagement right? To the Tudos family as far as your father is concerned?" Lucy asked absently. Turning towards her, Freed could see the look of concentration on her face, and knew that her mind was racing, looking at different outcomes.
"Yes. He is very determined to have that contract be kept." Freed answered, tilting her head slightly. When her lips began to curve, and she began to bat her lashes at him, everyone fought not to shudder. They knew that look. It never meant anything good for those who the look was directed at. Freed had a feeling that his father was going to be limping for a good long time if she could make whatever thought she had happen. A moment later Cobra began to laugh outright, and Freed knew it was going to be bad for his father.
"Vander? We're going to need Farron." Lucy said with an evil smile.
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The following night arrived far too soon, and once more Freed could be seen pacing in his room, and Cristoff lounged back on the bed, waiting for Vander to return.
"Freed, working yourself up, isn't going to help matters any, it's going to work out. Your father won't dare go against Farron, considering the power my brother has." Cristoff murmured, worried gaze tracking his mate back and forth.
"But what if it doesn't? This is my father Cris, he's managed to make things happen because he knew what strings to pull, even when I didn't want them to happen." Freed huffed before snapping to a stop at the sound of a knock on his door. He looked at the door as if it was going to bite him before taking a breath and stepping forward to fling it open, knowing that Cristoff and Cobra were immediately at his back, eyes narrowed on the visitor.
It was Edward this time, looking as pressed as ever, with a maid at his side, arms filled with clothing.
"What do you want Edward?" Freed asked cooly, ignoring the disgruntled look he was given.
"Your father sent along clothing for you and your...guests...in hopes that you would be appropriately dressed for the dinner in an hour." Edward stated snidely, moving to enter the room, only to be blocked by Cobras arm.
"We can take it from here, and we'll be there. You can go." Cobra stated with a sneer, grabbing the pile of clothes. When Edward opened his mouth to protest, threatening growls stopped him. Sneering at them, he turned and stalked away, the maid close on his heels. Slamming the door closed, Cobra stepped back and was careful to drop the clothes in the middle of the room.
"Babe?" Bix asked, coming to stand behind his mate, peering over his shoulder at the apparently offensive clothing.
"Don't touch them. The clothes were sprayed with starch laced with poison, enough to kill a person." Cristoff snarled. "Inhale that crap, have it directly against your skin, and you're looking at falling asleep without waking up."
"Well I guess that means we do need to get out of here then." Vanders voice spoke up, drawing everyones attention to the shadows by the bed.
"Is everything ready?" Lucy asked.
"Yea. Farron is on his way, is probably actually calling Justine now, letting him know that they need to talk. He's got everything with him." Vander explained.
"Ok, so then we just need to get rid of these clothes, and get new, appropriate, and probably more tasteful ones, for tonight." Lucy commented. A sudden flash of gold lit up the room, and Virgo was there, bowing at her waist.
"Punishment Princess?"
Letting out a resigned sigh, and shaking her head at the chuckles around her, Lucy barely managed to not facepalm. "No Virgo, no punishment, but if you could get rid of these clothes, and set all of us up with proper clothing for a formal dinner party, that would be amazing."
"Of course Princess." Bending, Virgo scooped up the clothing, and disappeared in another burst of gold. Barely a moment had passed when she came back, a new pile of clothes carefully draped over her arms, and with swift, practiced movements, handed an outfit to each person before pulling Lucy into the bathroom to help her get dressed.
The men were quick to change, and after giving a couple of quick pulls and tugs, Freed turned and felt his eyes widen as he saw Cristoff in a dark blue and silver version of the outfit he had worn they had first arrived. Seeing the quirked eyebrow, Freed could only smile faintly and shrug. His mate was downright hot, he wasn't going to be ashamed of that. There was only one thing missing on his person, and he was quick to slide the ring Cristoff had given him back onto his finger.
A moment later, Lucy stepped out of the bathroom, glowing in a black gown with gold embroidery. Looking over at Laxus, then Bickslow and Cobra, Freed realized that Virgo had purposely set it up so the couples were hinted at. Cobra and Bickslow wore complimenting black suits, the only difference being that Bix was wearing a maroon button down shirt, while Cobra wore a deep blue shirt. Laxus black suit was worn with a gold button down, and Freed own suit was a midnight blue with a shimmering silver shirt under the suit coat.
"Damn...you all clean up very well...Dad is going to love to see you when all of this is done." Vander breathed before letting out a wolf whistle.
"Can it Vander, now is not the time." Laxus snapped, wrapping an arm around Lucy, drawing her against his side.
"Meh, I can wait, it'll be more entertaining later anyways." Vander shrugged, leaning back against a wall.
Before anything more could be said, Cancer appeared with a flash. "You sent for me ebi?"
"Yes Cancer, we have a dinner party to go to and could use some help with the rest of our outfits, and if you can, possibly hide the mark on Bix's face." Lucy instructed.
"Not a problem ebi!" Cancer quickly got to work, and after a short time, he stepped back, the mark on Bix hidden, and everyones hair was styled to match the evening. Checking the time, Freed looked back over everyone, and with a nervous smile, led the way from the room. The silence was deafening, but there was no denying that a lot weighed on what would happen in the next hour or so.
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Cloth rustled, and quiet, idle chatter could be heard drifting out past the cracked open doors as Freed paused outside of them to take another deep breath, the others close behind. Glancing over his shoulder at them, and finding the confident, warm gaze of Cristoff, Freed nodded before turning and striding into the room, feeling the bile at the back of his throat threatening to escape.
The quiet chatter died as his presence was noticed, and the other families gazes settled on him and the group behind him. Running cold eyes over the Tudos family, he found Amalla staring back at him in distaste. Suddenly he was so very glad that he preferred men. Straightening his shoulders, he was quick to step forward and nod to Lord Tudos and his wife before accepting Amallas hand and bending over it, fighting back the urge to shudder.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Amalla. And a pleasure to see you again Lord and Lady Tudos." Freed said softly, meeting the gazes that ran over him in snobbish consideration.
"It's a pleasure to see you again Freed, and more of a pleasure to know you've given up that insane idea of being a guild mage. Pure foolery. You belong here, you'll have to run your fathers business eventually, can't do it if you're off chasing ruffians or chasing after commoners." Lord Tudos stated snidely, sniffing through his nose before turning to Freeds father, obviously dismissing him. "Is dinner about ready Abraham? We'd like to get this over with so we can file the paperwork immediately."
Freed didn't have to look to know that Cristoff was bristling. He had a feeling if he looked, he'd see that everyone else was as well.
"Just about Anthony, we have a couple of more last minute guests. They wanted to speak to me about something, assuring me that it would be in my best interest."
"Oh? Who would that be?" Lord Tudos ask, just as hungry for gossip as the next noble lady.
"Farron Pradesh surprisingly. I'm sure he'll want to speak with me, and ultimately us, about trading avenues and the areas of our expertise." Lord Justine answered with a smug grin, loving the shocked and envious look that crossed Lord Tudos face.
"Really?! Well I'm sure we can wait until after dinner to sign things, wouldn't want to be rude to Ambassador Pradesh." Lady Tudos tittered, shooting a glance at her daughter, her mind calculating aspects at light speed. Shifting her gaze past her daughter to Freed, she let her gaze run over the additional gathered guests. "Freed, dear, don't be rude, introduce us to your...guests..." Her pause spoke volumes for what she thought of them.
"Of course, my apologies. These are fellow guild mates of mine. Bicsklow, Cobra, and Cristoff, and Laxus Dreyar with his fiancee Lucy Heartfilia." Freed introduced calmly, each person nodding their head as he spoke their name.
"Lucy Heartfilia? Really? I'm surprised my dear...after leaving the noble life, I didn't think you'd be wanting to aim so high as the famous Mr. Dreyar." Lady Tudos tittered, running her gaze over the hulking blonde appreciatively. "Surely there are functions that require his attendance, that you wanted to get away from so badly?"
Before anyone could reply to that, she moved her gaze to Cristoff, her voice turning into what she surely thought was an alluring purr. "And you...Cristoff...I recognize those symbols, you are a knight of immaculate light. What are you doing here? Whatever would have you keeping company with such...lesser mages?" Hearing her daugher giggle right behind her, Lady Tudos gave an innocent smile in response to the narrow eyed looks she was given.
"Ambassador Arman Pradesh requested Freeds presense in Bosco, and hired myself, as well as these other mages, to escort him there." Cristoff answered stiffly, fighting the need to rip the womans face off.
"Oh? He requested Freed? I can't possibly think of why. Freed is...well...Freed." Lord Tudos cut in with a scoff, his tone of voice showing that he very much doubted the truth of Freed being needed for anything.
A loud clearing of the throat had any responses that might've been said kept from being voiced as everyone in the room turned to face Edward who was standing at the door to the dining room. "Lords, Ladies...guests...I'd like to announce that Ambassador Farron Pradesh has arrived." Edward stated with some reverence in his voice as he bowed before quickly backing out of the way, opening the door further.
There stood Farron, shoulders back, not a hair out of place, his own coat embellished with his titles and beside him stood Vander in a relaxed and ready pose, smirk easy as his eyes ran over the gathering.
"Ambassador Pradesh, it is an honor to meet you. Now that you're arrived, we can start on dinner if you'd like?" Lord Justine nearly gushed, hurrying forward with a hand outstretched, Lord and Lady Tudos close behind him. When Farron merely stared at them coldly, their steps hitched, and hesitance showed as Justine lowered his hand.
"There'll be no need for that. I've come to clear up a few things that you've had a bit of a hard time understanding. This contract that you are getting ready to sign with the Tudos family is no longer valid." Farron stated calmly, reaching a hand out to Vander who was quick to produce a file he had stored in his shadows to him.
"Lord Farron...I don't want to come across as disrespectful...however this contract has been years in the making, and has already been agreed to, the papers are to be signed tonight." Justine stated firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"And as your son has informed you, he is a dragon slayers mate. That is a magically bound contract that cannot be broken at any point. To attempt to do so, in any way, is illegal, and grounds for imprisonment." Seeing Lord Justine pale quickly, Farron allowed a cruel smile to cross his face. "That's not counting the other number of incidents you have had done to your son to try and bring him to heel." Farron watched with a quirked eyebrow as Justine flushed bright red.
"I have no inclination as to what you are talking about." Justine stated firmly, refusing to allow himself to back down.
"Of course you don't. Never mind that for the past two days I have had a member of Freeds guard gathering all of the information needed. When my father first received the call four days ago about what you were planning, he was quick to put his own paperwork into motion, having everything signed and legalized in less than twenty-four hours." Farron continued, his cruel smile turning into wicked amusement when he saw Justine swallow hard. His own gaze narrowed when he saw rage filled blue eyes run over his son and those around him, trying to figure out how any of them had gotten past his security.
"I'm afraid I still understand what my son has to do with any of this." Lord Justine said stiffly, meeting Farrons gaze once more. "If he was already engaged, had already entered into a legal contract with an appropriate family that would allow for heirs to be produced, I would've dropped this contract immediately. However, he never came to me, indicating that this was the case."
"As I said before, your son is a dragon slayers mate, there is no getting out of that. To even consider having him enter into an additional contract is laughable. Here is the paperwork indicating that a marriage will be happening between Freed and a Pradesh sibling. Already signed and legally filed shortly after the engagement was agreed upon." Farron stated, fighting so hard not to look smug as he held out the file with the legal paperwork, Freeds fathers face registering shock, then excitement.
"He's engaged to one of your siblings sir? Is it Emzadi or perhaps Xally who is a dragon slayer? Both are women I'd be proud to see my son with, I can assure you." Lord Justine gushed, flipping the folder open, ignoring the gasps of outrage that came from Lord and Lady Tudos. Farrons smile only widened when he met Cristoffs amused smirk.
"He's actually engaged to me Justine." Cristoff announced, stepping up beside Freed, resting a hand on one of his shoulders. The silence that descended was broken only by Cobra and Vander snickering. Cristoff ignored them both, keeping his gaze steady with Abrahams eyes shot to his.
"Surely you jest! Francis has to marry a woman, someone who can produce heirs!" Lord Justine raged. "I won't allow it! If he goes through with this, I will disown him! I will not have a trouser chasing whore for a son!" His words were cut off suddenly when he found his neck held in a unforgiving hand, a fury filled silver set of eyes burning into his own. He hadn't even seen the man move!
"You will watch how you talk about my mate Justine." Cristoff said coldly. Feeling a hand touch his arm, he flicked his eyes to the side, finding Freed there, shaking his head. Huffing out a breath, he released Lord Justines neck and stepped back, crouching down to scoop up the file that had been dropped. Stepping back, he held it out to Freed who happily took it, flipping it open to look at the paperwork inside. "As of four days ago, Freed accepted my proposal. Shortly before that, we completed the mating bond. The mark on the side of his neck is my mark. No one else will have it. By Boscan law, and even by an extent Fioran law, we are all but married. The only thing left to do is make it official."
Staring at the man who radiated such power that he was shivering slightly, Justine could only blink. "Who the hell are you?" He breathed, his brain still trying to catch up from having been gripped in a stranglehold.
"Cristoff Pradesh, Lunar Dragon Slayer. Freed Justine is my mate. Farron is my brother, as is Bickslow, and Vander, the shadow mage who has been our eyes and ears while here. He was also the one to alert Farron to the fact that you were pushing for this contract with the Tudos family. Bickslow is Cobra's mate. Cobra is the one who discovered the poisoned starch you had used on the clothes you had brought to us earlier. He is also the one to help keep your guards busy. Simply put, the moment you threatened Freed with consequences if he did not come back, you threatened the wrong family." Cristoff snarled.