2025.11.16
November twenty-first.
For the past few days, Wayne had been walking on thin ice with such caution and effort that his body fat decreased. His diligence pleased Silvia. If he hadn’t been training so persistently, he wouldn’t have received the fruit of his labor. She used him as an example to remind Veronica to work hard, or she would fall behind.
The audacity of the lie and the ready acceptance of said lie left Wayne speechless. He had reason to suspect that Veronica had been a silly girl that the Landos picked up somewhere, given the complete lack of resemblance she shared with Auston. Perhaps Wayne was Auston’s actual son, only he had returned as the heir through marriage.
Today, Auston wore a full suit and asked Megan to dress Wayne up for the occasion. A scum in the skin of a gentleman and a depraved man pretending to be righteous walked into the headquarters of the Ministry of Magic side by side.
The Department of Forest Resources Management owned numerous office buildings. Outside of the one that had belonged to a certain Vice Minister, which had been seized, each high-ranking member owned their own building, Auston included.
“The award ceremony is held annually,” Auston said. “When it’s open to the public, it’s always because of a political reason. Your situation is complicated, so you cannot receive the award in Buckingham Palace, but at the Ministry of Magic.”
Wayne hadn’t established himself in society, and his ID was the only thing representing him. He had not met the requirements for his name to be promoted externally. He was only receiving a medal because he had made a contribution to the Ministry of Magic.
It didn’t matter to Wayne. The medal was more for the Queen’s benefit. The royal family had never lauded anyone, and the annual award ceremony was at its core a celebration of the family’s own achievement.
The Queen was essentially saying that the ones receiving the medals had made great achievements under her wise leadership. That was the case no matter the era and the regime.
“Her Majesty’s office building houses a venue for awarding medals to mages, but first, you have to be officially recognized as the Lando heir,” Auston said with irritation.
Pleased by his reaction, Wayne chuckled and said, “Auston, you haven’t explained how the heir of a Tulip Family is made official. And how about the marriage? When is the engagement?”
“The marriage can wait. I have to pick an inauspicious day for that[1].”