The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 361 Rose Manor
There is a place called Versailles southwest of Paris. Before Versailles literature became famous, it was famous all over the world for the Palace of Versailles.

In the Middle Ages, this was just a small village. It was not until the 17th century when Louis XIV built a palace here that it became a gathering place for nobles from all over France and gradually developed.

Today, France no longer has the Sun King or the Emperor of the First Empire. The palace that once belonged to the emperor has become a tourist destination, and Versailles has become a satellite city of Paris.

On the outskirts of Versailles, there is a luxurious classical-style manor, but people passing by the manor cannot see this manor with its neat outlines and solemn majesty.

This manor looks like a super mini version of the Palace of Versailles. The front entrance is a marble courtyard, and the red brick walls, marble sculptures and rose gold decorations complement each other.

The first floor of the building is a reception room and various activity venues, and the second floor is a study, bedroom suite and other private spaces. The interior decoration is also the same as the Palace of Versailles, using the Baroque style, but there are some differences in the details. There is also a garden built with a fountain as the center in the manor, and beautiful roses bloom at any time of the year.

This is Rosier's Rose Manor, where Vida Rosier was born and raised, and where her parents and ancestors all lived. Decades later, Vida returned to the manor and felt a sense of sadness.

The laughter of childhood, and the ability to make clouds and rain with a flip of his hand when he grows up; the carefree pursuit among the flowers, to falling in love at first sight, and then to following each other at the risk of life; the glory at the peak, to the desolation when he failed, this manor has witnessed too many stages of Vida Rozier's life.

Now, Vida returns to Rose Manor, which will witness the last moments of her life. The past is like smoke, which cannot be retrieved or recalled. Everything that she once cared about the most is not as important as the girl picking flowers in the garden.

A man walked out of the red brick building. He was dressed in black wizard robes, had thick hair and beard, and his mouth was invisible when he was not talking. Ida had seen this man before, in the cemetery in Little Whinging.

The bearded wizard walked up to Vida, leaned over, and said respectfully: "Madam, everyone is here, we can start anytime."

Vida nodded slightly, and the wizard immediately turned around and walked back to the red brick building, apparently to make preparations. Vida called to the girl in the courtyard: "Ada, come in! There are some people you should meet formally."

Hearing the call, Ada stopped picking roses and walked into the building with her grandmother Vida, carrying a basket of rose petals. Picking these roses was not done for fun. Ada wanted to make some rose wine, which would be good for Vida's health.

One old and one young, the two most distinguished women in Rose Manor, walked through one spacious and luxurious hall after another. These halls all told of Rosier's past glory and ambition.

In a luxuriously decorated hall, ten male and female wizards sat around a long table, talking in low voices. When Vida and Ada walked into the hall, these men and women immediately stopped talking and stood up to greet the two.

Stepping on the crimson Persian carpet, Vida sat in the main seat, and Ada sat next to her. The rest of the people sat in the back row, facing each other in pairs.

Even with twelve people sitting there, the area around the long table still seemed very empty. This hall was the largest room in the entire building and could accommodate many people, but the funny thing was that it was never full.

He had ambitions but never had the strength to match them. Vader once did very well, but he also failed.

The person sitting below Ada was exactly the bearded wizard in the garden. Ada had also seen the man sitting opposite the bearded wizard. He was probably the oldest person in the room, except for Vida.

"I think you have all met Ada," Vida said, "She is Louis' daughter and the granddaughter I have been looking for."

It has been more than a week since the holiday. Ada only stayed in Paris for three days, and spent the rest of the days in Rose Manor. Ada has seen everyone in the room. Although she can't remember some people's names, at least she is familiar with them.

"In a few months, Ada will be turning seventeen, and I am getting old." Vida continued, "From now on, the one you will be loyal to will be her, Esmeralda Jessica Drizzt."

These people were the people that Vader had hidden, the people that he had prepared for Louis. Among them were dark wizards and people who had nowhere else to go. They were all saved by Vader through his connections and money. Vader had never forced them to stay or leave, and he only had one requirement for them, which was absolute loyalty.

This loyalty sounds ridiculous and ineffective, far inferior to Voldemort's control over the Death Eaters, not to mention Grindelwald and his followers.

But the present of these people was given by Vader, and once they betrayed Vader, they would gain far more than they would lose. And among these people, except for three people, Vader had no trust in the rest, they were all tools, coming when called and leaving when dismissed.

The bearded man's name is Sergei, from Eastern Europe, and he was saved by Vida. If it weren't for Vida, Sergei would have died or would be in the icy Siberia. Sergei can be trusted.

The older man is called Daniel Dubois, a Frenchman who was also saved by Vida. He is the only one in the Dubois family who survived. It was Vida who saved him and it was Vida who avenged him. Daniel can also be trusted.

There is another woman who is sitting behind Daniel. She is the same age as Louis. Her name is Laura Fournier and she is also French. Vida never saved Laura. She stayed here only because she is still Louis' admirer, commonly known as a licker.

Laura Fournier is a very attractive woman with a curvy figure, tight skin, and a pretty face. She is also straightforward, which makes people feel that Louis is somewhat ungrateful.

Time has left no traces on Lola's face, but she herself has a long, ugly scar on her face, which was left after she found Louis' body.

No one knows why Louis fell in love with the Muggle woman Jessica Taylor, and no one knows why Laura Fournier cut her beautiful face after Louis died.

These three people are the ones Vida wants to leave for Aida. They are no match for Aida in magic, but they can provide Aida with the help she needs.

No matter what Ada wants to do in the future, having friends is far from enough. She also needs some people who can do the dirty work and people who can be trusted.

In fact, Vida could also introduce some of his old friends to Ada, but these old friends can all be linked to Grindelwald. Although Vida never regretted following Grindelwald, she did not want Ada's life to be labeled with Grindelwald.

The men and women in the room all looked at Ada with different expressions. They all knew that this day would come, but they didn't expect it to come so soon. This girl who hadn't even turned 17 yet would become their master.

The bearded Sergei had no expression on his face. From the first moment he saw Ada, he knew that he would be loyal to this girl with his life.

Daniel, who looked very old, looked at Ada with a smile on his face. He would do whatever Vida said. Even if Vida wanted him to die now, he would commit suicide without hesitation to show his loyalty.

Laura, who should have been beautiful but became ugly due to scars, quietly folded a paper rose and pushed it across the table in front of Ada. This was her loyalty.

In other words, it is Laura Fournier's deep love for Louis Rozier.

"Of course, I won't force you to pledge allegiance to Ada. That kind of loyalty is too cheap." Vida said, "You have fifteen minutes to consider whether to leave or stay. I won't make it difficult for those who want to leave, but you can never come back."

Vader tapped the table with her knuckles. Her voice was not loud but full of authority. She continued, "Those who choose to stay will only die if they dare to betray. You must think carefully."

(End of this chapter)