Chapter 75.3 The Truth of Life

 On vacation in the woods, we had a picnic by the lake, and the sisters were openly having fun, joking around, and even playing a game of "tickle your neighbor," in which I was the victim of two blondes. It was awesome. Fleur can be very different and it's hard to know what she's really like, but the main thing I realized is that she's a good person, not mean. At least nobody in her family or she tried to get me drunk. Unlike some people.

— I can see you're not too thrilled about what's coming up.

— You're very perceptive, my friend. — I chuckle sarcastically.

— You misunderstand me. I can see your displeasure and even irritation. — Paul spoke in a calm and friendly tone, walking next to me. — And discernment has nothing to do with it. Our society is a big, beautiful theater where everyone chooses roles, tries on different masks until they find one or more ideal ones. You'll never be your own person here if you don't learn to hide your thoughts and feelings. Not to react to provocation.

— So they're trying to drug me with some crap and I'm supposed to smile and kiss their hands?

— That's right. — the boy smiled broadly. — That's the way it is here. Back in the Sharmbaton we begin to learn tricks, tricks, tricks, tricks to reach our targets. If you succeed in drugging your target, you win, and you have every right to enjoy your victory. Lose? Well, you should have tried harder, and you can only blame yourself for losing. No one will take you by the hand through life, except relatives, and even then, not every clan will accept such a thing, rather, such a thing is an exception to the rules. The revolution showed us how weakness ends, so we're practicing on each other.

— So if I'm captured, subjugated, or killed, they have a right to do that?

— That's right. — The boy nodded. — It's a fight of the strongest, and only the smartest and most cunning will come out on top. The fate of the others is to obey, to serve.

— The whole thing stinks. — I was in a bad mood before, and I'm in a bad mood now. — Now I understand the distribution of classes in Beauxbatons.

— France is traditionally known for being the best in medicine, potions, beauty, and illusion. We are the best in the world in the arts of seduction, health and beauty. Didn't you know that? — Paul was a little surprised.

— No, — I shook my head. — And after what you said, I have no desire to go to Beauxbatons.

— That's your business. — I shrugged. — But you can't pass the mastery exam without an official training document. You need at least five standard training courses and an approved ministerial exam on top of that.

— And Hogwarts?

— No matter what the British say, Hogwarts isn't the best wizarding school in the world, but it's not the worst either, so — a halfway house.

— But at least it doesn't have a lot of poisoners, right?

— Britain is traditionally not strong in potions and medicine, but in curses they are recognized masters, not for nothing in Germany and Britain so "walked" the Inquisition. If love and beauty as well as cunning and guile play a role in the blood of the French sorcerer, every witch from the Tin Islands can cast a curse that is difficult to remove. And if the witch is well trained, she can generally save anyone. — The boy shrugged shakily.

— You said 'witch', but what about her husbands? Do they cast curses as well?

— In a way. — Dunois grinned. — Even an untrained witch born on the islands can cast curses. The men have developed a love for the art of dueling, compensating for their natural gifts and gradually becoming some of the best duelists in Europe and the world.

— How interesting... — I replied quietly.

We had just entered the Ministry of Magic through the main entrance, which led to a hall specially designed for such gatherings. I didn't answer Paul — it wasn't the time for that, there was a battle ahead!

The first hour and a half went well, but nothing particularly good happened, which caused my mood to freeze at one point. The Dunois family had arrived in full force, the twins having already turned thirteen. In general, children were not always allowed to attend such gatherings, not even after a certain age.

 In the magical world, that age was set at ten, so that the children of the highborn could get to know each other, establish some kind of relationship, learn to communicate more or less adequately with various strangers, and so on, before going to the school of magic.

Arriving at the reception, the Dunois were divided. At first, I thought about following someone, but then I changed my mind and decided to go to a secluded corner and sit quietly for a while. The redhead was really annoying, and if she played her game today, I might just snap, and I'd lose the crumbs of respect I'd gained and become a pariah. It would be a shame to lose what I've earned.

By the way, today I was dressed in a Muggle tuxedo, black and red shirt, shoes of the same color, everything else black. Paul, on the other hand, was dressed the opposite of me, in all light colors: white and silver.

I look around and slowly make my way to the buffet tables — I haven't eaten yet, it's eight o'clock at night, and I don't expect to. I'd like to add that I've never liked being stared at while eating, but living at Miyazaki's has changed me a lot, so I have no problem standing with a plate in my hands and chewing in front of a crowd. But I don't want any alcohol today — I'm not in the mood, although I wouldn't say no to a beer and fish.... I wonder how the ponytail is doing. Nanao also likes fish and beer.