Greengrass Manor.
The name felt a bit shortened, perhaps intentionally styled to evoke something out of a fairy tale. In fact, the estate really did have a fairy tale-like quality to it.
It was surrounded by a tall stone wall built of ancient runestone blocks,
Entwined with magical vines that shimmered softly even during the day, swaying gently and emitting a faint glow.
It was stunningly beautiful.
The entire scene added an air of mystical elegance to the estate. Its massive gates were carved from black obsidian, with complex magical arrays etched across the surface.
"Some kind of defensive mechanism," Ian made a brief inspection and offered a basic identification.
"People with a clear conscience don't fear enemies, but the Greengrasses have plenty of them." Lupin's tone was either colored by personal bias or based on something more concrete.
Either way, his expression as he looked toward the grand estate carried a hint of bitterness.
"Whoosh~"
Just as Ian was about to pull out his wand and knock on the door, perhaps sensing someone at the gate, a house-elf dressed in tattered clothes suddenly appeared out of thin air.
"Oh! It's the Greater-than-Great Mr. Prince! You've actually arrived at Greengrass Manor ahead of schedule!" The house-elf stared at Ian with wide, round eyes, bowing deeply in awe.
It was obvious the elf had already been informed of Ian's appearance.
"I'm not in the habit of being late." Ian declined the elf's attempt to carry his suitcase and instead pulled out a small gift, handing it to the elf.
"Oh! You truly are a gentleman! And you even brought a gift!" The house-elf exaggeratedly praised him, its performance rather over-the-top.
"Flattery gets you everywhere." Ian leaned slightly to glance through the now-open gate into the manor grounds.
"The one who invited me isn't Miss Greengrass herself, is it?" He took out the invitation he had received. Sure enough, it bore Daphne Greengrass's signature.
"Panini would never lie to you, but… Panini also doesn't want to speak ill of the young mistress… She's absolutely terrified of you." The house-elf, named Panini, gave a tactful reply.
"Master and Mistress gave her a thorough scolding. They think she doesn't understand what an opportunity this is." As Panini spoke, it respectfully raised its hand, inviting Ian into the manor.
"I figured as much." Ian stepped forward, heading into the estate.
Lupin, who had remained silent the whole time, tried to follow.
However—
Panini immediately blocked his path.
"Servants must enter through the side gate! And you're not even a proper servant!"
Its sharp tone was completely different from how it had spoken to Ian just moments ago. With a scolding edge in its voice, it left a bewildered Lupin standing there, veins almost popping from his forehead.
"Which one of your eyes sees me as a servant?"
Lupin glanced at the side gate, so small that even a dwarf would have to duck to get through, and began to seriously regret tagging along. His face was full of frustration as he demanded an explanation.
"Here, here, here, and here." Panini poked at Lupin's clothes, finishing with a dramatic point at his completely empty coin pouch.
"..."
Lupin looked down at his own outfit, then up at the elf's ragged clothing. His expression twisted with resentment, yet he couldn't find a single rebuttal.
After all—
Judging by appearance alone, he really only looked slightly more respectable than a house-elf with patchwork clothing. Just as Lupin felt increasingly humiliated and useless, Ian thankfully turned back around and stepped in to help.
"He's a companion who came with me." With Ian's explanation as a guest, Panini's demeanor instantly transformed, like a mask change in Sichuan opera.
"Oh! So he's your attendant!"
Its tone immediately returned to one of deference and politeness.
"..."
Lupin wanted to complain that "attendant" wasn't much better than "servant," but seeing that he could finally enter through the main gate, he wisely chose to keep quiet and quickly followed Ian inside.
"This place is huge." Stepping into the vast manor grounds, Ian was immediately drawn in by the scenery.
A stone path, illuminated with subtle magical light, led the way forward. On either side were perfectly trimmed magical plants, some blooming with flowers of unusual colors, others bearing fruits that shimmered like gemstones. The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance mingled with a hint of magic.
After walking for another ten minutes or so, they finally reached the main residence.
The core structure of the manor was a towering spire, rising into the sky. Each level of the tower was carefully designed with a staggered layout. The windows were fitted with magical glass that could automatically adjust lighting and temperature, ensuring the interior always stayed at its most comfortable setting.
And at the very top of the tower, a massive crystal orb floated in midair. It wasn't just a magical safeguard for the manor, it also served as a symbol of the Greengrass family's considerable magical strength.
"Welcome, Mr. Prince."
Perhaps the house-elf Panini had already secretly reported his arrival, because Daphne's father, Theodore Greengrass, was already standing at the entrance. He was well-dressed and neatly groomed, appearing to be a dignified yet gracious middle-aged gentleman.
"House Greengrass is truly honored to welcome you." Theodore Greengrass gave a slight bow. His strong voice conveyed both humility and grace, without the slightest hint of flattery.
If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't so much as glanced at Lupin from start to finish, Ian might've actually believed this was a refined gentleman rather than an arrogant Pureblood aristocrat.
"Thank you very much for the invitation, Mr. Greengrass..." Ian glanced around, hoping to spot the kitchen that stored the dragon meat, but, finding nothing, he stepped forward and politely shook hands with Theodore Greengrass.
"Where's my seventy-second closest friend, Miss Daphne?"
Ian made a great effort to demonstrate his manners, even finding a justification for his earlier glancing around and adjusting how he addressed Daphne Greengrass.
"..."
The corner of Theodore Greengrass's eye clearly twitched.
However—
He still maintained a pleasant smile. His tone, though, carried a tinge of helplessness as he spoke.
"She left last night with her younger sister and fled to a relative's house... Her mother is there now educating her. I believe they should both be back later tonight."
Although Theodore didn't mention why Daphne ran away, everyone present, except Lupin, more or less knew the real reason.
"Actually…"
Just as Theodore was weighing whether to explain further in an attempt to salvage Ian's opinion of Daphne—
"Great, great! Miss Daphne is now my seventy-first closest friend!" Ian suddenly clapped his hands with a bright smile, cutting off Theodore mid-sentence.
"?????"
It wasn't just Theodore who was stunned with question marks all over his face.
Even Lupin and the house-elf Panini, who had been about to leave, were utterly bewildered.
None of them could comprehend—
What on earth was this little wizard's method of ranking "friendship closeness"?
The banquet did not disappoint.
An array of dazzling dishes nearly filled the entire long table, which could seat dozens. A whole roasted dragon loin was perfectly cooked and placed in the most prominent position on the table.
It stretched all the way from one end of the table to the other, making for an impressive sight. Beside it were various other dishes, each exquisitely presented and rich in flavor.
Ian ate comfortably.
Still, for the sake of appearances, he maintained proper decorum and etiquette, eating slowly and with grace. Lupin, on the other hand, who had only exchanged a few polite words with the hosts, abandoned all formality and dug in heartily.
After all, he had no interest in associating with these Pureblood nobles. Since they had no desire to acknowledge him, he saw no reason to butter them up either. The only reason he came was to make sure Ian wouldn't get taken advantage of.
"Ten years… five years… seven years…"
While eating, Lupin muttered to himself. Many of the items on the table weren't things that could be bought just with money.
You not only had to circumvent the Magical Creatures Protection Act, but also avoid the Ministry's scrutiny.
(To Be Continued…)
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