lord love a duck ((open))

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After all of the stress Cecelia had put her through over the past few weeks, Acheflow found some time in her itinerary to squeeze in a lengthy, much-needed spa appointment. The soft chime of bells soothed her as she sat down on one of the spa chairs, slowly dipping her feet into the warm, cleansing water. She needed her worries to wash itself away; she couldn't let any hint of stress show on her face or else some of her lady friends would be quick to bring it up. Her family was perfect, but now cracks were forming, and she couldn't bear to let them become obvious or grow in size.

She sighed and turned over to see who was beside her. "Oh, hello! How have you been? I haven't seen you in so long!"

"Yes, I believe she did."

He hoped that she found his manners agreeable, but perhaps he would keep away from peculiar types of seafood. They always seemed to turn his stomach.

"Oh Grandmother, she is! She is so very right for me. She has such an easy temperament, I can't imagine her losing her temper, or being angered by anything. Also... she is very beautiful. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen. But does she know it? No - she doesn't. She is perfectly modest, she isn't vain or hedonistic, she's just..."

He cleared his throat.

"I like her very much. Thank you for choosing her for me..."

@Acheflow Burke

An attendant came in to remove her face mask and cucumbers to allow her skin to breathe before leaving yet again.

Now that she could properly see her grandson, Acheflow smiled at him. Oh, she was so pleased that they made the right choice in choosing his future wife! Their wedding and their children were going to be so beautiful; it was going to be so exciting to partake in wedding planning for the first time in years!

"We'll need to start planning the wedding soon as I believe we'll want to aim for a summer wedding after she concludes her education. Is there anything you wish to have for the wedding?"

@Hector Burke

"Yes, it's a shame that she still has to complete her schooling. If she didn't have to go to Hogwarts, we could be married this September."

There was not a doubt in his mind that Sakura was right for him. Melanthius had said that he didn't know anything about her, but all of Hector's instincts were saying how that didn't matter. Get married, get to know one another after. There was plenty of time. They were bound to one another anyway.

"Would you disapprove if the wedding took place in her own country? I thought... that it may please her. To do everything their way. As they are a respectable family, surely their traditions aren't much different from our own."

@Acheflow Burke

"No, no, I wouldn't disapprove at all if that is what the both of you desire for you wedding."

On the inside, that made her anticipation for wedding planning go up; she was hoping for an outdoor wedding, and the wedding being in Japan would increase the chances of the weather being perfect for such an occasion. It could also double as a family holiday! Well, they had all school year to plan for it...

"I believe an outdoor wedding would be absolutely gorgeous! The Rowle wedding was beautifully decorated, but I think it'd be wonderful to take advantage of next summer."

The attendant returned and began to apply a rosewater lotion to her face to keep it hydrated.

@Hector Burke

"I hadn't discussed it with her yet, but it had been something I thought of."

It was just difficult to imagine her in dreary weather.

"I feel... very quite blessed, Grandmother."

He had other thoughts on the matter of marriage.

"When we are married, shall Sakura and I take the master bedroom, or shall we have our own quarters? When will I inherit the estate?" He was getting very, very ahead of himself.

@Acheflow Burke

She tried to resist blinking rapidly as the lotion was applied; there were so many questions at once, and she wanted to avoid her eyes needing flushed.

"I don't have answers for any of those, but I'm certain you'll end up in nicer quarters than your current room."

When the attendant left after applying the lotion, Acheflow began to tear up. "You're my first grandchild to get married... Oh, Hector, you and your siblings and cousins are growing up so quickly!"

She was feeling so sentimental right now!

@Hector Burke

Realistically, he wanted the entire estate to himself and his wife. He was hoping once they started having children, perhaps the older generations would acquire new property and pave the way to the heir. Siblings would stay until they became of age, then leave as well.

Punctuating his greedy thoughts was his Grandmother's teary confession. When he looked at her, she was quite overwhelmed. Standing up, he moved to her and took her hand, reaching inside the pocket of his suit jacket to give her his handkerchief with the other.

"And you will have new young people in your life - great-grandsons and -granddaughters, who you can watch grow up all over again," he said affectionately, smiling at her. "Think of how fetching they will be, how well-rounded and good-mannered under the care of Sakura and I. You won't suffer any disappointment with them, Grandmother. I know you won't."

They wouldn't be bloody allowed to be disappointments.

@Acheflow Burke

"Thank you, Hector," she said shakily, dabbing the handkerchief near her eyes. Hopefully, her teary moment wouldn't compromise the effectiveness of the lotion.

Then she pictured the tiny little feet that'd be running around, learning how to dance, taking etiquette lessons, receiving their Hogwarts letters. Oh, the cycle was going to start all over again! "They'll be such great children, I know you both will guarantee that they'll be more behaved than the rest..."

"How soon do you plan on having them after the wedding?"

@Hector Burke

Still holding her hand, he said: "Oh, as soon as possible, I expect. There would be no reason to waste any time."

That was his opinion, anyway. He didn't realise that he wasn't considering Sakura's feelings, or perhaps he thought she was dutiful enough to provide children as soon as they were married. He just couldn't imagine her saying no to him, which he could get very used to...

@Acheflow Burke

"Excellent, excellent."

The attendant came back in to direct Acheflow to her next treatment: manicure and pedicure. Getting up, she smiled at her grandson as they entered the next room to get her seated down once again.

"Isn't it exciting? You'll be among the first to birth a new generation of purebloods. That's something to be very proud of, dear."

She splayed out her hands for the attendant to clean her nails.

@Hector Burke