Half an hour later.
With a gentle flick of his wand, his damp, silky white hair instantly became fluffy and dry.
Lorin let his hair drape loosely down his back as he examined his body.
“Merlin’s beard, this vibrant vitality…
I feel just like a first-year wizard…” Lorin marveled at his own strength.
After all, during the seven-plus years since his transmigration, strength had been an incredibly distant luxury.
“In a magical duel, the advantage of my current physique is simply unimaginable…”
Lorin walked back to the full-length mirror, admiring his physique inch by inch with pride.
It was only natural to be unable to contain one’s excitement after recovering from a chronic illness.
“I popped the champagne too early.”
Sensing his remaining vitality, Lorin felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him, instantly snapping him out of his ecstasy.
He put on a fresh robe and sat at the edge of his bed, lost in thought.
“My life expectancy…
there might only be three years left…”
The Book of Gryffindor didn’t just drain Lorin’s blood; it was sucking his very life force!
For example, the old Lorin might have lived to a hundred.
But now, he might not even make it to twenty…
Even though he had begun practicing the breathing technique of *The Heavenly Scripture*, the Book of Gryffindor was still continuously draining the restored life force.
He had no way of knowing how long he could hold out.
According to Lorin’s estimates, he could probably last another three years or so.
If his life force couldn’t be replenished in time, then in three years, Breya would truly have to bury her own child.
Oh, in the Montmorency family, it would probably be a brunette burying a white-haired boy.
“But with a healthy body, my plan to steal the Philosopher’s Stone might have a much higher success rate…”
Just as Lorin’s mind was wandering, old Raynt knocked softly on his door.
“Young Master Lorin, Madame Breya said she is waiting for you for lunch.”
“Alright, Raynt.
Tell Mother I’ll be right out.”
Glancing at his physique and the loose-fitting bathrobe, Lorin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
*Right, time to change.*
Within a few minutes, Lorin quickly changed into a white-and-gold French-style suit.
It was cut like a modern suit but was obviously far more ornate.
Sword-shaped cufflinks and buttons showed the designer’s unique craftsmanship.
“Mm, sharp and safe.” Lorin took a final, satisfied look at himself in the mirror and walked with his head held high toward the dining room.
As soon as he reached the dining room, he heard Breya’s disgruntled complaints.
“Anna, I told you not to put so much sugar in the cooking.
Don’t you know how weak little Lorin’s body is?”
“Mother, I requested it.”
Lorin’s gentle voice drifted over.
To the cooking maid, Anna, it sounded like a saving grace from heaven.
Waving his hand to dismiss Anna, Lorin walked up behind Breya and massaged her arms, carefully regulating his strength.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mother.
But I really am much better now.”
“Good heavens, it really is my little Lorin…” Breya’s body trembled as she spoke in a shaky voice, reaching out with trembling hands to touch the well-proportioned muscles on Lorin’s arm.
“Let’s eat first.”
“Okay.”
He effortlessly cut a medium-rare steak and placed a piece on her plate.
“Mother, the ingredients for my medicinal bath…
they must have been very expensive, right?”
“Just some old antiques, nothing of value.” Breya shook her head, and Lorin didn’t press further.
Since his mother didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t ask.
“By the way, Mother, I think I heard you mention something about the head of the Goblin King Hercules?”
“Yes, why do you ask, little Lorin?” Breya took a bite of her escargot in red wine and ladled a bowl of French stew for Lorin.
“Apple stewed lamb chops.
Your favorite, little Lorin.
Though Anna’s skill is still a bit lacking.”
“The heat is actually managed quite well, Mother.” Lorin smiled and speared a lamb chop with his fork.
“If I remember correctly, Hercules was a king who revived the Goblins, wasn’t he?
*A History of Magic* once mentioned him.
If not for Hercules, the Goblins wouldn’t have dared to wage that goblin rebellion against the wizards…”
“I don’t know much about wizarding affairs.” Breya placed a crème brûlée in front of Lorin with a smile, not explaining further.
“But little Lorin, do you still need to go to Hogwarts?
Your illness seems to have completely cleared up.”
“I do, Mother.
I’m not completely cured.” Lorin didn’t hide his condition from his mother entirely, but he claimed he had twenty years of life force left instead of three, to keep her from worrying too much.
After all, no matter what, Breya was one of the people Lorin trusted most.
“I need certain things.
Only at Hogwarts can I possibly be fully cured…”
“Well, whatever happens, tell us if you are ever mistreated.” Since Lorin was set on it, Breya didn’t force her own will upon him.
“Little Lorin, you must remember: the Church could carry out witch hunts a thousand years ago, and our Montmorency family can just as easily initiate one again today.”
“Haha, I know.
You’re the best, Mother.” Lorin didn’t dwell on the subject, steering the conversation toward trivial daily matters.
“By the way, baby Lorin, how are your wizarding duel skills?”
“Excellent, Mother.”
“Is that so?
You don’t need to report for work at Hogwarts until September, right?”
“Yes, I can still keep you company for over a month.”
“Little Lorin is the sweetest.
But the living conditions at Hogwarts…
they really leave a lot to be desired.” Just thinking of Lorin going to Hogwarts made Breya feel uncomfortable.
“Tell you what, I’ll give you another two hundred million francs, and you can buy a manor to live in near Hogwarts.”
“Mother, there are no ready-made manors near Hogwarts.” Lorin patted Breya’s hand with a helpless smile, trying to change the subject again.
“Oh, right, Mother.
Fleur said she’ll come visit us next Easter.”
“Really?
That’s wonderful.
But don’t change the subject, little Lorin.” Breya pouted and lightly tapped Lorin’s head with her left hand.
If there isn’t a manor, we’ll just build one.”
“Forget it, Mother, there’s no need.
You can use that money to enjoy a beautiful, sunny trip to Hawaii instead.”
“Or perhaps a trip to see the cherry blossoms at Mount Fuji.”
“Oh, you.
Fine, do as you please.
Just remember to ask if you run short of money.”
“Mhm.”
…
And so, a warm, peaceful day passed slowly with Lorin spending his time by Breya’s side.
“Little Lorin, remember to wake up early tomorrow.
Old Raynt will teach you how to control your newly acquired strength.”
“Alright.”
“Well then, goodnight, little Lorin.” Breya winked, stretched, and went to her room to sleep.
“Goodnight, Mother.”
Just then, the Two-Way Mirror began to vibrate again.
Lorin quickly returned to his room.
“Darling, I miss…”
Her red lips parted slightly, but like a frozen webpage, Fleur stood frozen, unable to speak for a long time.
“What is it, my dear Fleur?” Lorin leaned lazily against the headboard, smiling gently at Fleur.
“You…
you…
are you Lorin Montmorency?!”
“The one and only.” Lorin winked, a hint of playfulness glinting in his slightly upturned eyes.
“Then what is our token of love?”
“A pair of wedding rings crafted from goblin gems, which I enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm, a space-stabilizing charm, and a few little tricks of my own invention.”
“Where did we first start dating?”
“At an etiquette dueling exhibition, of course.
I accidentally used too much force that time and nearly knocked Miss Delacour to the ground…”
“Fortunately, I caught you in the end, didn’t I?”
“Then…
when was our first kiss?” Fleur’s voice grew softer and softer, but her cheeks were flushed red, and she stared unblinkingly at Lorin.
“Ah, that was one Christmas.
We agreed to go skiing in the Alps.
In the end, you lost your footing, and I lost mine even worse, and then we bumped into…”
“Bumped into?”
“Well, maybe one of us couldn’t help themselves, and then…”
“Who?”
“Alright, it was me who couldn’t resist.
I had a romantic encounter in the snow with the beautiful Fleur.”
“Well, you really are Lorin.” Fleur Delacour’s deep blue eyes shimmered with a brilliant light, though her voice was still filled with disbelief.
“Lorin, darling, can you untie your bathrobe?
Let me have a look.”
Lorin: ???