13 Mink Street

Chapter 56: Falcon

Tiz had deliberately changed into formal attire today. It was his grandson’s official day. It was neither an engagement nor a wedding, but engagements and weddings were merely procedural steps taken after everything had already been arranged.

Today was the arrangement itself.

He tried to make himself appear as gentle as possible, and he genuinely made the effort. That was why he took the initiative to speak first, “Hello.”

As for Ms. Jenny immediately kneeling and returning the greeting in honorific form, that was her own choice, though it was not surprising.

In the room at present, the one seated, the one perched on a shoulder, and the one kneeling on the floor all felt that everything was entirely appropriate. That was because this study was not a circle of in-laws, nor a circle of old family friends. It was a church circle. And under the rules of that circle, those who sat were meant to sit, and those who knelt were meant to kneel.

Pu’er continued to examine the woman before her, separated from her by generation after generation after— Fine, let’s just say one generation less than my grand-niece.

The woman looked acceptable, but strictly speaking, she did not belong to the church circle, even though she clearly knew of its existence.

In order to project ancestral authority, Pu’er had even groomed her fur carefully in the washroom after Karon left to pick up the guests. Yet now, everything suddenly felt dull and uninspiring.

If earlier her judgment had been guided purely by instinct, to stand on the side of the family as a spiritual symbol, a trace of anger now began to rise within Pu’er.

Setting bloodlines aside, she had lived with the Immers household for far longer than she ever had with her original family. And as for bloodlines, she was a cat now. What bloodline was there to speak of?

So the Allen family only sent you? The relationship I personally forged with the Immers family, and this is how you maintain it? Sending over a daughter-in-law. Hah! No wonder the family has fallen so far that they are now having afternoon tea with the queen’s household. A group of increasingly blind fools.

Pu’er was furious. She nearly wanted to leap down and rake this so-called grand-niece-in-law with her claws, but even that, too, felt boring. If the woman’s husband or father-in-law were kneeling there instead, the cat might truly have lost control and left their faces bleeding.

A pack of idiotic herrings who judged everything by appearances.

In truth, Pu’er herself might not have fully realized that much of her anger came from her self-identity with the Immers family. Tiz had grown up under her watch. Karon’s father, Mason, and Winnie had all grown up under her watch as well. Even the original Karon had grown up under her watch, though he had been replaced a few months ago.

In that sense, Pu’er was much like the household’s guardian. To look down on the Immers family was to look down on Poelle Allen herself.

Most importantly of all, the last time the Allen family had personally visited Roja City, it had been the direct heir himself. At that time, the Immers family had produced three Inquisitors of the Church of Order in a single generation.

And now? After years of Tiz’s quiet withdrawal, this was what they sent?

Herrings! A school of stupid herrings! Have they truly decided that the Immers family is nothing more than a decaying provincial Order family?

Did they understand how powerful Tiz truly was? Did they understand who the next generation of the Immers family really was?

That young man named Karon, perhaps he would not bring them happiness or beauty, but in the near future, he might personally deliver disaster.

“This is a joyous day,” Tiz said calmly. “For those two children.”

Ms. Jenny immediately echoed him. “Yes. You’re absolutely right.”

“When I wrote the letter, I expected at least that boy Bede to come in person.”

“Please forgive us. My husband is tied up with family matters and couldn’t leave, and I happened to be in Roja because of my mother, so the responsibility fell to me, especially since Eunice is with me as well. My husband and my father-in-law both sent telegrams last night, and I spoke with them by phone. They instructed me to face you with the utmost respect and sincerity, and they are preparing to depart from Veyn for Swillen to come here.”

“Tell them not to come.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Tiz lifted his teacup, took a sip, tilted his head slightly, glanced at Pu’er, and slowly said, “I’ve long known that the Allen family is exceptionally good at reading the winds.”

Pu’er, perched on his shoulder, did not object. She nodded.

Ms. Jenny hurriedly said, “Please don’t think that way. The Allen family’s respect for the Immers family has never changed.”

“If possible,” Tiz said after a pause. “I would not choose to have my grandson marry into the Allen family... Because you are not worthy.”

Pu’er punctuated the statement with a sharp meow.

Elsewhere, a dog barked.

“It’s so cute,” Eunice said, looking down at the golden retriever beside her. After Mr. Hoffen’s death, the dog had naturally gained a permanent home with the Immers household.

“Yes, it is,” Karon said, placing slices of sausage onto a plate and handing it to her. “You can feed it and give it some commands.”

“Really?”

“Sit.”

The dog sat.

“Shake.”

It raised a paw.

“Other paw.”

It switched.

Eunice fed it the sausage, which the dog ate happily, tongue out. It bore the expression of a warm-hearted gentleman.

“It’s really smart,” she said.

“Our black cat is even smarter. Feed it, and she can even do arithmetic for you.”

“Really?”

“Simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; She gives the answers by counting its meows.”

“That’s incredible.”

“That’s why I cook specifically for her. Where did she go? When she shows up later, you can give her some dried fish and watch her perform.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Eunice looked up. “Mother was very nervous coming over, even more than me. After she saw that bookmark you asked me to pass along last night, she seemed different, but I told her your grandfather is very easy to get along with. After all, how could a grandfather who takes his grandchildren to catch loaches in the pond be frightening?”

“Yes. You’re right. I’m sure they’re sitting face to face now, drinking tea and chatting happily.”

“Mhmm.”

“By the way, Eunice, do you keep pets at home?”

“No. I wanted to keep a cat, but my father said no. I asked my grandfather too, and he also forbade it.”

“Why?”

“Because cats hold a special status in my family. There are many bronze cat statues and old paintings. They’re connected to a very distant grandaunt. Keeping a cat would be disrespectful to our ancestor.”

“I see. Sometimes having animals around is nice. They help you relax, and you can talk to them.” For example, he loved teasing the black cat. Watching her puff her cheeks in anger was endlessly entertaining.

And then there was the sight of her eating fish while drinking coffee, believing herself to look elegant, when it was an indescribably foolish sight.

“Yes. I do keep eight horses in the stables. They’re very well-behaved. At dusk, I like leading them to the river for a walk.”

“That must be a beautiful sight.” So those are the pets of a wealthy young lady.

“Yes. The land hasn’t been developed, so it’s preserved well. The scenery is lovely.”

“No,” Karon said, looking at her. “I meant you. I can imagine you in riding clothes.”

“Can I ask you something?” Eunice said softly. “You’re allowed to lie.”

“Oh?” Karon smiled. “Go ahead.”

She raised a finger and placed it lightly in front of him. “Have you really never been in love before?”

“No.” It wasn’t a lie. He hadn’t in either lifetime. In his previous life, he’d been too focused on building his career. There had been a few ambiguous relationships, but they all faded away.

This life seemed determined to compensate him with a sinful, feudal, backward, immoral arranged marriage.

Eunice blinked. “Then why do you seem so experienced?”

Karon opened his mouth and gently took her finger between his lips.

“Mmm...” She let out a soft sound and instinctively tried to pull back, but he caught her wrist.

After a long moment, he released her. “When humans meet someone they like, if they don’t know how to pursue them, then humanity wouldn’t have survived this long. It’s instinct.”

She pouted. Karon thought that all of the women of the Allen family looked adorable when doing that. Perhaps it really was hereditary.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and applied just enough backward pressure. Under that gentle “force,” she lost her balance and leaned against his shoulder.

There were only five people in the house: two were on the third floor having a friendly discussion, one guarded the front door, so on the second floor, it was just the two of them. They wouldn’t be disturbed.

“Will you come back to Veyn with me?” she asked.

“I will.” Tiz had already arranged everything, which meant that there was no alternative. Even Karon’s two demonkin subordinates were packing up their belongings and preparing to leave.

Tiz had once asked Karon if he wanted to live a quiet life, running the Immers funeral home for the rest of his life. After that one particular night, Karon had refused without hesitation.

If I had never seen it, I could have chosen peace... But I have seen it.

“Then we can ride horses by the river at dusk together,” Eunice said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “I think that image would be wonderful.”

“So do I.”

She looked up at him. “Karon, won’t you feel wronged?”

***

Elsewhere, Ms. Jenny spoke again, her voice steady despite herself, “No, I don’t feel wronged at all. You are absolutely right. Everything you said will be conveyed, word for word, to my husband and father-in-law. In fact, they’ve already realized their mistake, ever since I told them about the bookmark you gave me. They are deeply regretful, and deeply afraid...”

“Unhappy?” Tiz asked.

“Happy, extremely so. But the greater the happiness, the greater the fear.”

“Have you written the name?” Tiz asked.

“This matter is significant. The family still needs to discuss—”

“Bring it.”

She opened a delicate jewelry box, lifted a purple bookmark with both hands, and placed it on Tiz’s desk.

Pu’er jumped down and looked at the name written on it. Raphael. A familiar name. Isn’t that a minor family that was once subordinate to our own? Why is their name written here?

She stared at Ms. Jenny in disbelief. Had her family fallen so far that a former vassal of their family had become their greatest threat? So much so that the name Raphael was written on the bookmark? What kind of worthless descendants could have driven the Allen family to this state?

Tiz tapped the bookmark lightly. Purple flames flared, turned to smoke, and then vanished.

“Does the Allen family still maintain usable magic array coordinates?”

“I... don’t know,” she said. “The only remaining one is in my father-in-law’s private courtyard, but since I married into the family, I’ve never seen it activated.”

Pu’er slapped a paw to her face. Array coordinates required monthly maintenance at minimum. Large families and major churches had dedicated guards watching them day and night. Even the slightest flaw could lead to horrific consequences, such as arriving without an arm, a leg, or even without a head.

If it had been sealed all this time, it was likely abandoned.

“I understand,” Tiz said.

“I’ll ask my father-in-law—”

“No need. I’ll use the Church of Order’s array in York City.”

“Yes.” She hesitated, but then said, “My father-in-law asked me to pass along one more message. The Allen family may have declined, but its web of connections remains. Protecting one person won’t be a problem. We will spare no effort to protect the young man named Immers.”

“Then pass along a message for me.”

“Please speak.”

“When Karon goes to Veyn, you are to protect him.”

“We will. This is the Allen family’s promise. He will become part of our family, Eunice’s husband. Our future heirs—”

“Don’t interrupt me.”

“Yes. Please forgive me.”

“You may protect him for a time. Then you may dissolve the engagement. You may give him a place to live, money, a shop, a funeral home, like this one. You may do whatever you wish. Just do it openly.

“My grandson is strong. He’s good in every way. He simply doesn’t endure being wronged very well.”

She hurried to reassure him, promising heirs and a secure future.

Tiz smiled faintly. She noticed the change and finally relaxed.

Today, it should not have been her in this study. It should have been her husband, or her father-in-law, yet even then, they would also have been kneeling.

“You may rise.”

“Yes.”

“You may go and dine with the children. I won’t attend.”

She backed out of the study, closed the door gently, and finally exhaled. Her dress was soaked with cold sweat.

As she descended the stairs, she thought, With someone like you watching over him, how could the Allen family dare disrespect that young man?

Back in the study, Pu’er paced across the desk. “They will do something foolish eventually.”

Tiz said nothing.

“Change families,” Pu’er said. “I’m saying this for the Immers family.”

“They’re perfect,” Tiz replied. “Declining strength and a deep network. In York City, no family is more suitable. And you’ll return with Karon.”

“And when they inevitably do something foolish?” Pu’er pressed. “When you’re gone, your favor will make them more afraid, not more grateful. Karon will become a liability. The kinder they are now, the uglier it will turn later. I don’t want Karon to face that.”

Tiz calmly looked at the cat. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t matter?” Pu’er snapped. “You said he can’t endure being wronged.”

“My grandson is not some chick sheltered under my wings,” Tiz said. “He is a falcon.

“It was I who kept the tether tight around his neck. The Allen family may wrong him, but the consequences will be theirs to bear.”