After the Dark Lord had completely left the hall, the Death Eaters also departed one after another. Lucius stood stunned for a long while, then walked toward the stone chamber where Rodolphus was.
The door to the sealed stone chamber was knocked on, and it sprang open a crack right in front of Lucius. Lucius pushed it open and strode inside. Rodolphus sat in a chair, his left hand gripping his wand. A piece of metal floated before him, while the wand tip maintained a jet of searing fire that enveloped it. The flames had scorched the metal until parts of it had already begun to liquefy.
Lucius closed the stone door, walked over beside Rodolphus, found a chair, and sat down. "Your left-hand training seems to be going well?"
"Lucius, you'd better mind your own business," Rodolphus said without lifting his head. "You shouldn't have asked the Master for anything on my behalf today... The fact you weren't burned to death means you handled it passably well this time."
"I don't think so..." Lucius lowered his head slightly, his long, pale-gold hair hanging neatly down his back. "Bella..."
Rodolphus's wand suddenly burst with a great mass of flame. Wrapped in it, the molten metal dripped onto the ground. He stared at Lucius expressionlessly, just as he had stared at Barty Crouch throughout his interrogation after being captured all those years ago.
Seeing this confirmed Lucius's suspicions. Regretting the probe and feeling guilty, he did not try to keep asking. For a time, the only sound in the room was the crackle of flame.
"Unlike when she married me, at least this time Bella chose it herself..." Rodolphus seemed a little more normal after saying this. Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, he changed the subject. "Lucius, you were probably playing