Chapter 177 Lucius: I desperately want to improve!

Chapter 177 Lucius: I desperately want to improve!

Henry didn't reply, he just looked at him.

Lucius continued, "Draco often talks about you after he comes home. He says you took good care of him at school and that he learned a lot from the way you did things."

At this point, he turned and glanced at Draco.

Draco's face flushed slightly, but he didn't say anything.

“I know my son,” Lucius said. “He’s been too protected since he was little, and sometimes he doesn’t know how to get along with people. But it’s a blessing for him to have a friend like you.”

Henry picked up his coffee cup and took another sip.

"Mr. Malfoy, you're too kind," he said. "Draco is a good man, he just needs a little time to adjust."

Lucius smiled: "Your Highness always speaks so tactfully."

He put down his coffee cup, crossed his hands on the table, and a thoughtful look flashed in his gray eyes.

"Your Highness," he said, his tone becoming more formal, "may I ask—what are your thoughts on the current state of pure-blood families?"

The question came as a surprise, and Henry looked at him without answering immediately.

Lucius's gaze was calm, but there was a certain expectation hidden in his eyes.

Henry thought for a moment and then slowly said, "I think that pure-blood families have their advantages and limitations."

The advantage lies in inheritance; magic, knowledge, and connections all require time to accumulate. The limitation lies in clinging to the past—if you only focus on past glories, you can easily miss future opportunities.

Lucius listened and nodded thoughtfully.

"Your Highness is quite right," he said. "Then what do you think a family like the Malfoys should do?"

"Is Mr. Malfoy testing me?" Henry asked, looking at him.

Lucius smiled and shook his head: "It's not a test, I just want to hear Your Highness's opinion."

Henry was silent for a moment, then suddenly remembered something—perhaps he could test Lucius.

Then he spoke, his tone still casual, but what he said made Lucius's eyes widen slightly.

"The Malfoy family has a long and rich history, which should be an advantage," he said. "But to my knowledge, the Malfoy viscount title has not yet been inherited."

Lucius leaned forward slightly.

A glint of light flashed in those gray eyes.

That was a longing, a longing that had been buried deep in my heart for decades.

But he quickly regained his composure, leaned back in his chair, picked up his coffee cup, and took a sip.

"Your Highness is well-informed," he said, his tone sounding calm, but a slight tremor could be heard if one listened carefully. "Indeed, the Malfoy title has been vacant for many years."

Henry stirred the coffee in his cup gently with a silver spoon, his movements casual.

“I’ve heard my father mention it,” he said. “The Malfoy family’s titles in the Muggle world were bestowed during the Norman Conquest, weren’t they?”

Lucius nodded.

"Yes, my ancestor Armand Malfoy served in the military for William the Conqueror, who personally bestowed upon him the title of Viscount. But then—"

He stopped there.

But Henry knew that later, as secrecy laws became stricter, pure-blood families gradually withdrew from the Muggle world, and their relationship with the Muggle royal family became increasingly distant.

Although the title still exists, the matter of succession has been put on hold.

"It's not a good thing for a title to remain vacant for too long," Henry said. "The longer it stays vacant, the more difficult it becomes to inherit. And, according to the rules, if there is no heir, the title may be revoked."

Lucius's fingers tightened slightly.

It was a very subtle movement, but Henry saw it.

"Your Highness is right," Lucius said, a hint of tension in his voice, "but—"

Inheriting a title requires royal approval, and the Malfoy family and the royal family—have had no contact for many years.

He paused, his gray eyes looking at Henry with a hint of expectation in them.

"Your Highness means—?"

Henry didn't answer directly; he picked up his coffee cup and took a sip.

This action made Lucius's gaze follow the coffee cup back and forth.

"Mr. Malfoy," he set down his glass, "what are your expectations of Draco?"

The turn of events came suddenly. Lucius was stunned for a moment, then looked at Draco.

Draco had been sitting quietly, listening to his father and Henry's conversation, but he was as oblivious as a duck listening to thunder.

Lucius looked at him, his gaze softening slightly.

"I hope he can go further than I have." His voice was soft, carrying the heartfelt expectation shared by parents everywhere. "I hope he can take the Malfoy family to the next level."

"Draco is my friend," Henry said. "I'll help him."

This is a simple statement, but the meaning is very clear.

Lucius looked at him, a glint of light flashing in his gray eyes.

"Your Highness," his voice held a hint of genuine excitement, "if—if the Malfoy family's title can be preserved, the Malfoy family is willing—"

"Mr. Malfoy," Henry interrupted him, his tone still calm, "these things can't be rushed. I was just mentioning it casually."

Lucius took a deep breath and nodded.

"Your Highness is right, I was too impatient."

He picked up his coffee cup, took another sip, and tried to hide his emotions.

But the light in those eyes couldn't be suppressed.

Not urgent?

How can I not be anxious?

Your Highness, I hope you can understand this matter. I am eager to improve myself!

Draco watched this scene with mixed feelings; he had never seen his father like this before.

The father, who was always proud, always composed, and always aloof, now had a light in his eyes that he had never seen before.

It was a longing, an expectation, an expression as if one had seen something precious.

And all of this was because of a casual remark made by Henry.

He looked at Henry, his gaze somewhat complicated.

I knew His Highness was very capable, but I never expected him to be so capable that he couldn't even comprehend it.

Henry seemed to sense his gaze and turned to look at him.

His gaze was calm and gentle.

Draco's heart suddenly calmed down.

"Your Highness," Lucius began, his voice now calm, "regardless of how this matter ultimately turns out, the Malfoy family will be grateful for your help."

"Mr. Malfoy, you're too kind," Henry said with a smile.

He tapped the side of his coffee cup with his small spoon and said softly, "However, regarding the title, I suggest Mr. Malfoy start preparing now. Gather the necessary materials and clarify the relationships that need to be sorted out. When the time is right, things will go much more smoothly."

Lucius's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness is right. The Malfoy family will remember what you said today."

"Mr. Malfoy, you're too kind. I was just mentioning it casually."

Henry smiled and stood up.

"It's getting late, Mrs. Weasley and the others should be out soon, I'll take my leave now."

Lucius also stood up.

"I will see Your Highness off."

"No need," Henry waved his hand. "Mr. Malfoy, please stay. Let Draco see me off."

Lucius nodded, and Draco stood up and followed Henry all the way to the alley entrance.

"Henry," he suddenly said.

Henry turned around.

"What's wrong?"

Draco looked at him, opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't know how to say it.

In the end, he simply said, "Thank you."

"No need, see you when school starts." Henry smiled.

"See you when school starts." Draco nodded.

Henry turned and walked toward the bookstore, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

Draco stood there, watching his retreating figure, for a long time.

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