✧EAT THE RICH✧

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

It seemed to be taking longer to settle things here at the manor than she first thought, not only did she have to help the Niffler family in staying in a secure part of the manor. But she also had to write to the companies set on upgrading the rooms.

In addition to a parcel to the ministry to close down their floo system.

"Can this day ever end?" She huffed, rubbing the palms of her hands into her eyes. "We're nearly there, Rhea. Come now, or else I'll tell Alphard what I saw."

"I think that's just planting yourself further into the ditch, Orion. Or are you not used to seeing exposing artwork?" It was the damn Ravenclaw acknowledgment of being able to state facts and with such a blunt nature about her.

And Rhea only realized she was doing so when she caught the blush in Orion's cheeks starting to grow.

"God, when is the last time you've seen a woman?" The answer was on the tip of his tongue. Hogwarts. He wanted to state, but didn't want Rhea's god forsake pity to transfer from his brother to him now.

"I take it awhile...You know there are wonderful establishments that could—"

"You want me to go to an establishment?!" He bellowed, and she shrugged her shoulder.

"Some men just need a bit of a witch's touch, you cannot tell me that Walburga is all that fluffy to manage. Even if Alphard is cross with me right now, we still love one another. We have our ups and downs but we don't hate. Can you honestly tell me, as if you were under an unbreakable vow, that you love Walburga?"

Orion was left to grit his teeth as he dropped the quill into the ink block.

"Stop this...As if you know everything."

"From what I can gather you were lively in your youth and Walburga has sucked you dry, or rather lacked it. There is no ill will in wanting comfort, much less from a woman. Sometimes Alphard comes into my study without a word and puts his head in my lap while I'm reading on that there couch.

"I will not commit adultery against my wife and family." Rhea sighed again, her eyes flickering up back towards Orion as his anger didn't make sense. Not to herself, anyway.

"Yet you still asked me?" Embarrassment flashed over his face, his ears burning with the former temptation. "I thought we had an understanding."

"Oh, we do. I won't tell Alphard, cross my heart and hope to die. But that doesn't mean that it can be forgotten on my end. You certainly asked in hopes that I'd reciprocate, so why are you all flustered now at the idea of adultery?"

"It doesn't count in the eyes when it's family." Rhea's lips parted as stood corrected. "So that means—"

"That is why Cygnus asked, that is why Druella threw herself at Alphard—As she had done to me in the previous years. It does not matter if the child is sired by myself or Alphard. At least they would be a Black heir." There was clearly a lot to unpack here, and Rhea had found herself unable to breathe until she pressed a hand to her chest.

"I don't tell you these things to upset or render you unnerved, Rhea. But I see that I shouldn't have asked at all. Then for Cygnus to follow up with the same approach."

"At least you were kind about it, god. I'm such an idiot."

"Not, you're not. Because Alphard should have warned you about the possibility. For whatever reason, he thought Cygnus wouldn't try something of the sort is his own damn fault...I have much more manners than him." Rhea hummed, looking at the clock and knowing that they would still need to wait for a response and confirm things.

"Come with me." She whispered, and Orion's eyes began to bulge out of his eyes as he immediately rose to his feet. "Before you get any ideas, no. I am not shagging you, Orion. Just as you see adultery, I wouldn't go against my husband like that. But it's clear that you need some comfort." She offered, and so she picked up the very book that she was reading the last time she had done this with Alphard.

It took a bit of convincing, sure. But finally, Orion had his head resting in Rhea's lap. The perfect angle to catch her angelic features as her eyes connected down to the page, and within the instant, her hands began to rub through his hair in a repetitive motion.

Is this what Alphard has to look forward to after a long day of work? Just the idea of unwinding with another person was starting to slow his breathing and break down his stiff position.

Every now and again he'd shiver in content, his eyes growing heavy at the idea of being catered to in such an intimate way—But not sexual. No.

Orion was struggling with whether he loved Rhea or the idea of her. And it was cutting it very close to being a combination of the two.

But he was never one to demote or act upon his feelings in such a brash way that it surprised him that he even thought about asking Rhea all that time ago.

"I suppose I'm not the type of wizard you would go for, are you?" Rhea perked her lips as she turned down to look at him before glancing back up to the page.

"You do play a decent game of chess. I think if it were down to it, had I been in your graduating class, we could have some similar interests. I doubt that Alphard would have recognized me in Hogwarts though, I was a bit of a loner."

"I thought you had the group of gals with you at all times."

"Suppose it reflects how I'm used to going about my time living at my parent's home. No matter. Alphard tried to swear up and down that he would've seen me."
"Not entirely doubtful, he was a bit witch crazy during his 6th year. Just after OWLS and before NEWTS. Otherwise, he was studying like mad." Rhea continued to pet him, but soon closed the book after completing the chapter.

"Hmm." It seemed that Orion was on the of falling asleep. "That'll be Benny, come now. We're heading to your manor—Won't that be fun? A few nights of dinners altogether as a family." The smile was uplifting, as was Rhea's move to get going and respond to the confirmations.

In leaving the manor, the two had apparented with three trunks to a rather darkened alleyway. And Rhea frowned in seeing the fairly populated stress of muggles just nearby. "I'll never understand why you live here."

"It's the oldest Black estate there is." He defended.

"Even if it's this close to muggles?" She offered and he huffed.

"The manor itself is noise-free, those vehicles get rather loud with their bizarre sounds," Rhea explained that they are just honking at one another, probably because they are going too slow.

Thankfully they didn't have to drag the trunks as Kreacher easily gave allowed them into the manor without going into the muggle-filled street.

Rhea sighed in relief as she could finally hear her own thoughts. Though the damning face of Walburga Black was giving her another migraine.

"And where might you two be heading?" She said with a small tic of her jaw.

"Alphard's estate has been broken into and our current manor is under new wards. So Orion kindly offered for the both of us to stay while they get repaired." Walburga's eyes widened at the thought.

"Was anything stolen? Broken?"

"Vast majority of it. Suppose Alphard has to reach out to Lestrange after all. No offense, Rhea." She chuckled as she turned to the wizard beside her.

"None at all, my father could do with a project. Though I'm wondering if he's that inclined to help." Walburga had come forward and offered to escort Rhea to the manor's guest room and it was funnily enough the very one she was familiar with from her last stay.

"I take it your mother has given you the minimal set of manners of how to act as a guest in—"

"Oh, but my calendar is telling me that it's the best time in order to become with child. You wouldn't discredit me that, would you?" Rhea said so sweetly, and after the past few days of an almost alliance to a fatal blow to the heart.

Rhea was rather surprised to see half a smirk rise. "Have you changed your mind then?"

"After the wards breaking, I'm not sure. I cannot imagine what would've happened if I was pregnant and alone in the manor when someone attacked it as they did. Orion said the walls were scorched."

"Sounds like revenge." Rhea nodded in agreement. And the two were standing just across from one another.

"Dinner is a six-thirty sharp, do not be late." With another silent nod, Walburga had reached for the handle and taken to close it. But Rhea turned back towards her in-law and smiled. "Thank you, Walburga. I do really appreciate this." The woman's eyes flickered down to the younger witch's stomach and back to her face.

Whatever she had said was on muted ears, and before Rhea knew it the door had closed. Nothing of it mattered as it was clear that Walburga was only being kind at the possibility of an heir forming in her tum.

Rhea had gotten to making the room a bit more cleaned up and aired out, it felt as though it had remained just as it was when she left. Which she liked, but after setting their toiletries in the connecting bathroom. Both of their clothes in the wardrobe and folded them neatly in the drawers, she caught the conversation of both Orion and Alphard in the hall.

Their hushed voices were just bouncing back and forth, making it difficult for her to understand them properly.

But it was clear that Alphard wasn't coming to check-in with her, given that he has so much on his plate.

So in that sense, Rhea had started to prepare his briefcase tomorrow. Considering she had grabbed a given chunk of his recent assignments and notes. Not knowing if they were at all correct or not.

But since the wards were scheduled to be put in early tomorrow.

Her eyes lingered on the door, hoping that she could at least speak with Alphard before they headed to dinner with Walburga—It was awful for her to think that a resolution would make things easier at the sit down happening in a few hours.

But then again, she needed to apologize regardless.

Perhaps waiting for things to calm down was the worst approach, and so she began to peek her head out. The door to Orion's study was still opened, meaning that Walburga was elsewhere if Orion didn't keep up with his privacy.

"Rhea has already taken the liberty of owling who needs to be owled. We waited for confirmation on tomorrow's scheduled date. All is starting to brighten up. Be thankful it wasn't Rhea hurt in that sort of attack, brother."
"The Aurors didn't bat a bloody eye! I'm just another wealthy wizard whose manor was broken into. You'd think they'd work to find and help those in higher places." Rhea frowned as she stood in the entrance with her arms crossed over.

"From my words with the Aurors, they were well prepared to make a team in order to find out who did this." As Alphard turned over his shoulder, she caught just how much his losses had affected him.

"Orion, do you have anything strong for Alfie?" She questioned, and he knew it was the best way to unwind the emotional fellow. With that, Rhea had come forward and taken off Alphard's outer coat and undid his tie.

"Relax. Let those qualified handle it...I packed your briefcase for tomorrow, though I'm not sure if I grabbed everything—"
"It's no matter." Rhea frowned again, him speaking over her and nearly dismissing her at the same time nearly caused another stab to the chest.

"Clearly, it is." Her eyes held fire and she yanked his tie rather aggressively before throwing it near his jacket. "I'm stepping out for a bit. I'll see you both at dinner." Alphard's eyes had widened towards the clock.

"It's nearly five—"

"Yes. I meant to pick up a few things in Diagon alley this afternoon after our workday but I didn't get the chance." She explained, eyeing Orion for a moment and then returning a smile.

"I'll see you both in a bit." Alphard hardly had the chance to say anything before the door closed behind her and her steps carried through the manor.

"She didn't kiss me goodbye," Alphard whispered, his eyes turning weary as he didn't understand what was happening between him and his little goddess.

Pity, he reminded himself, she thinks you still pity her.

"Well you are turning a bit sour, she isn't used to this side of you, brother. Buck up. Otherwise, she'll turn to stone."

"This isn't funny, and you know I don't pity her! Fuck, I've been trying to get her into Saint Mungos for the longest—"

"She doesn't know that. But she will in time. Perhaps tonight when the candles are out you two can discuss a bit of what will happen next. If Walburga sniffs anything out of place then she'll blame Rhea." Alphard knew it to be true, if there were any marital issues, the family would usually blame the wife.

There was no true blame, but as of yet, he felt guilty for not changing Rhea's views on it all before.

He just knew dinner was going to be its own affair.

◇──◇────◇────◇──◇

Date Posted: 04/18/2022

Time: 6:27

Words: 2333