Asterion, Narcissa, and several other senators stood before a large number of fireplaces burning with emerald green flames. Behind them, a sizable group of journalists awaited the arrival of the French delegation in England.
Except for Asterion and Narcissa, whether senators or journalists, everyone displayed quite displeased expressions at the moment.
"They're nearly half an hour late," grumbled Amelia Bones, a Senator of Parliament, as she glanced at her pocket watch. The apparent and quite disrespectful delay of the French delegation left her very upset.
"Minister Delacour must still be dressing with his half-blood wife," a senator mocked in the background, prompting disdainful laughter from everyone.
Clearly, the lineage of the French Minister of Magic's wife was already well known. Perhaps in France, marrying another race was something new and warmly welcomed. But in England, where witches and wizards considered themselves the finest breed in the world, "tainting" one's blood was definitely frowned upon.
"Senator Karl Foley, please refrain from any remarks that might affect the image of our beautiful country in front of delegations from other nations. We are not barbarians," Asterion said calmly, looking at the nephew of the Neutral Faction Lord, his voice causing many to lose their smiles and adopt a serious expression.
Asterion knew that a man like this had only become a Senator of Parliament through nepotism, but he didn't say anything against it. Everyone hated nepotism, but when benefiting from it, everyone loved it.
If Asterion didn't have talent, he himself would be like Karl Foley, relying on Arcturus' influence to survive in this dirty and crazy world.
"Lord Black is right, Karl. Don't be rude; we are noble gentlemen," another Senator agreed with Asterion's words, smiling quite amiably at him.
Karl Foley felt his cheeks heat up under the unkind gazes of his colleagues. With just a simple phrase, Lord Black had made him feel isolated from most people in the moment. But he knew that everyone wanted to earn the favor of the Special Grade Wizard.
"Traitors," Karl murmured inaudibly.
Ignoring the sycophants, Asterion took out a silver pocket watch and opened it. Seeing the time and no sign of the French government's arrival, Asterion began to think that something had gone wrong.
Just as he was about to order everyone to step back and inquire if something had happened to the French government, the emerald flames of ten fireplaces suddenly surged. Countless wizards and witches began to emerge from the flames, elbows close to their bodies.
"They want to make a grand entrance," Narcissa commented with a touch of sarcasm in her low voice.
"They're expected to preserve their dignity, even in this tense moment in Europe," Asterion whispered back to Narcissa, his gaze fixed on the man in the center.
He wasn't very tall, measuring about 174 cm in height, dressed in a very elegant blue suit. His brown hair was perfectly styled to the side, and his blue eyes, coupled with a friendly smile, made him quite handsome.
The current French Minister of Magic—Luis Delacour.
Beside him stood perhaps the most aesthetically beautiful woman Asterion had ever seen. Her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall of soft silver strands over her shoulders and back. Her eyes were a striking shade of deep gold, almost like pools of melted gold. Her full, sensual lips curved into a smile adorned with a bold shade of red lipstick. Under her hair, she wore a stylish French beret adorned with beautiful flowers.
She wore an elegant blue dress matching her husband's, which perfectly accentuated her almost supernatural curves. She was the wife of the French Minister of Magic and a half-Veela—Apolline Delacour.
Next to Apolline, there were two young girls, both nearly identical to their mother but lacking her beautiful golden eyes. Instead, they inherited their father's icy, cold blue eyes.
Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour. One seventeen years old and the other thirteen, both wore blue dresses and blue berets decorated with butterflies and flowers.
"Welcome to England, Minister Delacour," Asterion approached and greeted the French Minister of Magic.
"The pleasure is all mine, Monsieur Black," Luis shook Asterion's hand and posed together for a photo, which journalists eagerly snapped. Luis selectively ignored the hundreds of unsettling eyes shadowing Asterion.
After the photo, he gestured to the stunning woman beside him and introduced her. "This is my wife, Apolline, and my two daughters, Fleur and Gabrielle."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Black," Apolline graciously smiled and extended her hand towards Asterion. Her English was mixed with a lovely French accent, which added to her charm.
She glanced at the hundreds of red eyes in Asterion's shadow for a moment and easily brushed aside the hundreds of unsettling gazes.
"Madame Apolline, rumors about your beauty do not do justice to your appearance in person," Asterion said, delicately holding her fingertips and lowering his hand to kiss her knuckles, but without his lips touching her skin. After all, she was a married woman.
"Monsieur Black, you are very polite," Apolline replied, withdrawing her hand and letting out a graceful laugh, evidently pleased with the sincere compliment, especially coming from someone not easily enchanted by her charm.
The men around couldn't take their eyes off Apolline for a single second since she appeared, including the senators who had previously mocked the French First Lady's lineage. Asterion swore he heard someone gulp behind him.
Turning, Asterion looked at the two young women and greeted them even more courteously, "Lady Fleur."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Black. We've heard many rumors about you," Fleur spoke elegantly, her blue eyes discreetly examining Asterion from head to toe.
Asterion merely offered a polite smile and didn't reply. He then turned to the younger of the Delacour sisters and greeted her with elegance, "Lady Gabrielle."
The teenager didn't respond; she just stared fixedly at Asterion's face, her cheeks flushing pink, her eyes shining as if she were seeing a pop idol. Fleur had to discreetly elbow her younger sister to snap her out of her stunned state.
"Are you alright? Feeling unwell?" Asterion ignored the sisters' small actions and asked calmly.
"Oh!" Gabrielle let out a small surprised gasp, feeling her cheeks burn even more as she realized her behavior, and hurriedly spoke, inventing a rather dubious excuse. "It's alright, I'm just not used to the temperature in England." Her English, mixed with a lovely French accent, which Asterion found quite pleasant to hear.
Asterion's lips twitched unnaturally at the overly obvious excuse from the teenager, but he said nothing and turned back to speak with the French Minister of Magic.
Fleur looked at her younger sister with an amused look and spoke in French, "It was funny to see you looking at him like a love-struck puppy."
Gabrielle widened her eyes and looked angrily at her older sister, speaking with an adorable pout on her lips, "You're mean, sister! Teasing me like this."
Fleur covered her mouth with her lace-gloved hand and laughed, narrowing her eyes playfully at her younger sister.
"I see my two lovely angels are having fun," Apolline appeared beside her daughters and spoke, laughing graciously.
"What do you think of him?" Apolline covered her mouth elegantly and whispered in French. Her eyes fell on Asterion, who was taking photos with the entire French delegation.
"He wasn't affected by our charm," Fleur spoke after a brief pause. Apolline agreed with her daughter's words; Asterion truly wasn't swayed by her charm or that of her daughter.
"Handsome, strong, graceful, perfect..." The words poured out of Gabrielle's mouth non-stop, her eyes fixed on Asterion for a long time, leaving Apolline and Fleur speechless.
"I know you're infatuated, but be a bit more subtle, Gab. Besides, he's engaged. Papa wouldn't want a scandal at this moment," Fleur looked at her sister and spoke with concern.
Gabrielle's cheeks reddened at her sister's words, and reluctantly she tore her gaze away from her crush. Hearing that Asterion was engaged made a cold, piercing look reflect in her eyes.
"Not for long, I doubt Daphne Greengrass is as beautiful as me," she murmured to herself, her eyes returning to focus on Asterion conversing with her father.
"Oh my God, they grow up so fast," Apolline sighed tiredly, but the amused smile on her lips didn't disappear for a second.
As for Asterion, he did catch her attention, especially because there was no contempt or disgust like with other British wizards she was feeling at the moment. Although lust was evident in every man's gaze, they still despised her, a half-blood.
She sensually licked her lips, looking at that perfect face of the young man; it was truly rare to see such a young, handsome, and powerful man. Even Apolline herself was tempted.
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Author's Thoughts: I altered the ages of both Apolline and Luis' daughters a little, I hope it doesn't matter.
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Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 107 - Arrival of Country Representatives (3), Chapter 108 – Party (1), Chapter 109 – Party (2), Chapter 110 - Back To Hogwarts (1), Chapter 111 - Back To Hogwarts (2), Chapter 112 – New Students (1), Chapter 113 – New Students (2), Chapter 114 – Ophelia (1), Chapter 115 – Ophelia (2), Chapter 116 – Doubts (1), Chapter 117 – Humbug (1), Chapter 118 - Ophelia's Mother (1), Chapter 119 - I Decided to Seduce Daphne (1), Chapter 120 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1), Chapter 121 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (2), Chapter 122 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (3), Chapter 123 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (4), Chapter 124 - Conspiracy In Progress (1), Chapter 125 - Conspiracy In Progress (2).