Meeting Lucius

"Harry, over here!"

Allen waved to Harry, drawing the Chosen One's attention back to him.

He showed the train staff his School Governor's ring and boarded the train, which was still being prepared. A staff member guided him to the governors' carriage at the very front.

He chose a compartment and set the Suitcase at his feet, a faint melancholy finally stirring within him.

Once he entered the wizarding world, he would have to rely entirely on himself.

Seeing how those wizards looked down on Muggle-born wizards, he had to become a protector of wizards from ordinary backgrounds,

do his best to ease the tensions between them and Pure-blood wizards, and use that as a stepping stone to protect his subjects in the Muggle World.

Harry sat down and couldn't help yawning. The intensive studying of the past few days had exhausted him, without so much as a single day off.

Allen knew he wasn't used to such intensive study and training. Hearing the yawn, he said softly, "Sleep if you're tired."

Harry stretched out on the long sofa and soon fell asleep.

With nothing to do, Allen took out his half-finished copy of "History of Magic" and immersed himself in another world.

Before long, the noise outside grew louder and louder, disturbing the young prince, who preferred peace and quiet.

He glanced out the window at the bustling crowds. The station clock already read half past ten.

The train would depart in half an hour.

No wonder!

Harry was also woken by the din. He rubbed his eyes, put on his glasses, and stood up excitedly at the sight of the wizards crowded shoulder to shoulder outside.

"Your Highness! I'm going down to have some fun!"

Allen looked as though he had expected this and closed his book. "Go ahead. Remember to come back before the train leaves."

Harry was excited but exasperated. Why did His Highness always treat him like a child?

Oh, never mind!

He practically skipped out of the compartment.

Allen shook his head, put his book away, and stood to stretch.

He took out his wand and tried to use magic to smooth the creases in his clothes, but his control wasn't precise enough. In the end, he had to smooth them out by hand.

"Mum! All right, I know!"

An arrogant voice came from outside the carriage.

Allen lowered his eyes, a hint of a smile touching his lips. Ah, the little peacock was finally here!

A woman's voice came from outside, offering gentle reminders.

Now and then, a man's somewhat cold voice joined in, though his words still betrayed concern.

The little peacock seemed irritated by the endless nagging and answered carelessly, impatiently.

Now that the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived, Allen was in no hurry.

He leisurely sat down, placed the gifts he had prepared on the table, and reopened "History of Magic." Assuming all the bearing of a Crown Prince, he waited for his visitors to come to him.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, someone opened the compartment door.

Draco surveyed the compartment. The instant he saw Allen, his eyes lit up.

Ancestor Armand's manuscript! The Malfoy family's greatest treasure! A Nimbus 2000 for when I join the Quidditch team!

Draco was beside himself with excitement, but did his best to restrain it. He lifted his head with a touch of arrogance. "Oh, Allen! So this is where you are!"

He tried to hold back, but still rushed to Allen's side and clasped his hand tightly. "I've missed you so much!"

Allen calmly let him hold his hand and smiled warmly. "I've missed you too, Draco! You're my first friend, after all. I've been counting the days until school starts."

As though he had only just noticed the couple behind Draco, he rose and offered them the respectful greeting of a younger person, looking a little embarrassed. "Draco, who are these two?"

"Oh! These are my parents!"

Still gripping him, Draco pushed him forward a little. "Dad, Mum, this is the Muggle Crown Prince!"

In those few moments, Lucius had already studied Allen from head to toe.

The child before him was exceptionally handsome, with a poised, composed air and an effortless dignity in his movements. His suit was well tailored and tastefully coordinated, and a School Governor's ring adorned his right ring finger...

His status, manners, and conduct were all beyond reproach.

The older peacock shifted his gaze from the School Governor's ring on Allen's hand and curved his lips into the standard fifteen-degree Malfoy smile.

He stepped forward and bowed with a hand over his heart in an aristocratic greeting, his voice taking on an elaborate, singsong drawl.

"Allen Cornwall... Your Highness. Lucius Malfoy. It is an honor to meet you! Draco often speaks of you."

Draco had been desperate to see his ancestor's manuscript, but followed Lucius's gaze and noticed the School Governor's ring on Allen's hand.

When Lucius bowed, the little peacock frowned slightly, seemingly displeased that his father was greeting someone from a position of inferiority.

Allen smiled at Draco, then inclined his body slightly, returning the greeting as a Crown Prince would to a noble under his authority.

"I'm pleased to meet you too, Mr. Malfoy!" He then turned to the silent Narcissa beside him and gave a slight nod. "Madam!"

His self-assured yet courteous manner earned Lucius's private approval. "Draco tells me the two of you get along very well, Your Highness!"

Allen nodded with a smile. "Yes, Draco and I hit it off wonderfully. He's my first friend."

"Ah!" Lucius was delighted, and even his false smile became a little more genuine. "What a coincidence. You're our little dragon's first friend too."

"Little dragon?" Allen sounded very interested.

"Don't you dare call me that!" Draco snapped.

Lucius turned to Draco with a stern expression. "Draco, that was terribly rude!"

Allen smoothed things over with a smile. "It's all right, Mr. Malfoy! Draco's personality comes from being showered with affection. Who wouldn't envy that?"

He gestured toward the two gift boxes on the table and raised his wand to cast a Levitation Charm-

the spell was quite simple, and he had succeeded after trying it just once with a book-

sending the two gift boxes floating between himself and the elder Malfoy. "A small gift to mark our first meeting. I hope you and your wife will accept them."

Seeing his proficient Levitation Charm, Lucius narrowed his eyes, quickly weighing the boy's potential usefulness.

At the same time, he accepted and opened his gift with a false smile. A flicker of excitement appeared in his gray-blue eyes. "This!"

"Mr. Armando Malfoy made outstanding contributions to William the Conqueror and was therefore granted extensive lands in Wiltshire.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Armando disappeared before he could be awarded a title."

Allen adopted a deeply regretful expression. "This is a manuscript by Mr. Armando from the national museum's collection. It appears to concern the Malfoy family.

"But because no one could decipher its language, it has long been overlooked. I thought giving it to you would be the best possible home for this manuscript."

Lucius believed Allen completely. He recognized the writing, and the handwriting indeed matched the portion of the manuscript already in the Malfoy family's possession.

He could even sense a trace of magic flowing through it!

Holding the box carefully, Lucius gave Allen an appraising look. "Thank you for your generosity!"

Allen smiled as though he hadn't noticed. "I'm glad you like it. As for you, madam, I wasn't sure what you preferred, so I took the liberty of choosing an Earl Countess Brooch. I hope you like it."

Startled by Allen's generous gift of the manuscript, Narcissa only then remembered to open her own present.

On the black velvet lay a glittering peacock-feather brooch fashioned from diamonds and emeralds.

The Malfoy family's crest was a White Peacock, and generations of the family had been Slytherin students. The brooch suited the Malfoy family perfectly, showing just how much thought had gone into its selection!

Narcissa's eyes shone. She lowered her raised chin a little and curtsied. "Thank you, young prince. I like it very much."

Draco tugged unceremoniously at Allen's sleeve. "Hey, where's mine?"

Allen paused. "What?"

"My. Gift!" Draco frowned, stressing the word "gift."

Allen's gaze slid aside for an instant, but his smile remained perfectly confident.

He waved his wand, and an elegant, exquisitely made watch box hopped out of the Suitcase.

"I've prepared a fine watch for you. It's a timekeeping accessory from the Muggle World. I was going to show it to you after seeing your parents off."

His smile was sincere. "It's absolutely beautiful. I spent ages choosing it! Go on, see whether you like it."

Draco glanced at him and gave a soft huff, suppressing the upward curl of his lips as he opened the box. He was soon won over by its exquisite craftsmanship.

He immediately put the watch on his wrist and focused on adjusting the strap.

Lucius and Narcissa exchanged a glance. Seeing how the boys got along put them somewhat at ease, and they said goodbye to Allen.

Lucius reminded his son, "Draco, remember what I told you. Don't be willful when you're with His Highness."

Draco pouted.

Allen smiled helplessly and said to the older peacock and his wife, "Please don't worry. We'll help each other."