"Dad, the problem's been solved! I took the house-elf away from the farmer, and Agent Blade explained to Mr. Creevey the importance of keeping things confidential."
"And what are you planning to do with that?"
The duke's meaningful glance toward the house-elf left no doubt what he meant by "that."
"I'm going to treat him."
"Hmm… Son, I don't mean anything by it, but I've never noticed any medical talent in you before. Or has something changed?"
"Dad, it's not like I can call an ambulance for a house-elf," Richard replied ironically.
"And if you can't heal him?" Gerald asked reasonably.
"Mr. Blade kindly promised to dispose of the body," Richard said with a dazzling smile.
Mr. Grosvenor choked on the phrase he had been about to utter and began coughing.
"Dispose of the body?" His brows shot up again.
"Yes, sir!" Richard calmly and very slowly inclined his chin.
"Marvelous!" Gerald said sarcastically. "This isn't a hamster you can just get rid of the body!"
"Hm…" Richard stroked his chin with the air of a connoisseur of hamster breeds and examined the house-elf closely. "Definitely not a djungarian…"
Lord Grosvenor let out a heavy sigh.
"A house-elf…" he drawled. "Well, I never! And what if he recovers?"
"That would be a good thing."
"A good thing?! Richie, have you thought about how we're supposed to explain to the servants and guests the presence of a dwarf alien in our home?"
"If I needed to, an explanation would be found," Richard replied unperturbed. "For instance, we could say that, for charitable reasons, we've hired a disabled person who was unfortunate in appearance and height. But that won't be necessary. I'll send the elf to the wizards' estate. For now, I need a first-aid kit."
"The first-aid kit is hanging on the kitchen wall," Gerald said.
Richard turned to the driver, who was awaiting further instructions.
"Steve, take the house-elf to my study."
"Steve," the duke added, "stay with Richard, just in case."
Stephen nodded and picked up the house-elf.
Soon, with the first-aid kit in hand, Richard went upstairs to his study on the second floor. The house-elf lay on the couch, showing no signs of life.
Under the watchful eye of the guard positioned near the door, the boy cleaned the wound on the elf's head, treated it with disinfectant, and applied a bandage. Then Richie soaked a cotton ball with ammonia and waved it beneath the elf's nose.
The house-elf's lashes fluttered, and his eyes slowly cracked open. A muffled groan escaped his lips.
"Wizard sir…" the house-elf whispered faintly. "Forgive Donky for lying down in your presence."
The elf tried to rise but nearly fell off the couch. Richie caught him and shook his head disapprovingly.
"Lie down, Donky. You're badly hurt."
"Wizard sir must not speak so respectfully to Donky."
Making sure the patient wasn't about to flee, Richard stepped over to the bookshelf, opened the lower cabinet, and took out a bottle of Alpine spring water. Unscrewing the cap, he handed it to the elf.
"Drink, Donky. But in small sips. You shouldn't drink too much right now."
"Sir, Donky will be fine. Magic heals Donky."
"I don't doubt it."
Richard made another trip to the bookshelf and pulled several chocolate bars from his stash. He practically shoved them into the house-elf's hands.
"Eat, Donky! I can see you've been starving for a long time."
Tears of happiness streamed down the elf's cheeks.
"Sir, you should not care so for a despicable house-elf! No wizard has ever been so kind to Donky. But Donky is a bad elf. Master gave Donky clothes."
"And why did your master give you clothes?" Richard asked calmly.
"Donky is a bad elf…" the house-elf moaned. "Donky dared to reprimand young mistress for unworthy behavior. Master grew angry at Donky and gave… gave…" He sniffled through his tears. "Gave Donky a jacket!"
"Splendid!" Richard said with biting sarcasm. "And what exactly did the young mistress do that was so unworthy?"
"Donky must not discuss masters," the house-elf said, pressing his lips together, looking like a partisan being interrogated by fascists.
"And yet… Donky, you don't want to remain a free house-elf for the rest of your days, do you?"
"No, no!" The elf's face twisted in horror. "Donky wants to serve a wizard master, but no one wants to take a bad elf into service. Unless…" A spark of hope appeared in the look he cast at Richard. "Wizard master needs a house-elf?" he asked ingratiatingly.
"Only if I'm certain you're not a criminal, Donky. Suppose it wasn't your former mistress who committed an unworthy act, but someone else. What exactly would that outsider have to do for you to dare to reprimand them?"
(End of Chapter)
P@treon: /SadRaven
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