Seeing how serious his son was, Lucius narrowed his eyes and spoke lightly.
"Have you decided?"
A flicker of conflict crossed Draco's eyes, but faced with his closest family, he answered honestly.
"No, but I still want to know the answer. Please teach me, Dad."
Lucius studied Draco for a long moment, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Then he stood, picked up the Ceremonial Cane from the floor, and paced around the hall for a while before speaking.
"Do you know why I've always kept the Goyle and Crabbe families by my side?"
Draco thought of his two little lackeys and answered hesitantly.
"Because they're stupid and obedient."
Lucius neither confirmed nor denied it.
"That's only half right. You haven't seen the underlying reason."
"Half? The reason?"
Draco looked puzzled for a moment, then settled into an attentive, receptive expression.
Lucius was rather enjoying this moment of teaching his son.
"Those in power certainly like loyal, capable subordinates. But people's hearts are complicated, and spells like Occlumency exist. So-called loyalty is impossible to measure."
Draco opened his mouth, but could find no argument.
As though something had occurred to him, Lucius's expression suddenly grew complicated. Then he continued.
"There's a very good saying: if someone can pretend to be kind their entire life, then they truly are kind. Loyalty to a person can be judged the same way. So even if you harbor other intentions, as long as no one discovers them, it doesn't count as betrayal."
Draco's mouth fell wide open, and his cowlick practically turned into an exclamation mark!
His dad had made being two-faced sound so respectable that it shook his entire worldview.
Lucius rested a hand on Draco's shoulder and spoke patiently.
"Reality isn't a fairy tale. It's naked cruelty. All right, you