HP: She married Malfoy after becoming an exchange student.

[Reinhardt Estate, Germany]

Elias's fingertips traced the obsidian control panel inlaid with the family crest, and the red dots on the family's business map were flashing at a rate of three per second.

"Notify the Eastern European branch to increase the production capacity of Mine No. 17 by 30%. The raw material gap will be filled by air freight from North Africa. I will sign off on any cost overruns."

The only sounds in the study were his deep commands and the static from the holographic projection. Several people in charge stood by, wishing they could just disappear on the spot.

Elias didn't even look up. "Have the legal department draft the breach of contract waiver agreement now. I want to see the electronic version in twenty minutes."

The group left as if they had been saved.

……

The numbers on the console suddenly popped up with the Bach family logo—it was the evening primrose supply agreement that had just been finalized last month, with the appendix clearly stating that "during the marriage between Reinhard and Isabella, priority will be given to ensuring the supply of raw materials."

Elias's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. He ran his fingertip over the words "engagement" and then pulled up another data entry: "Notify the port of Hamburg to divert the spruce shipment originally destined for Paris and send two truckloads to Malfoy Manor first."

He glanced at the magical calendar on the wall, where the runes of Christmas holly had begun to flash. "Remember to reinforce the carriage with an antifreeze charm," Draco had previously complained to him about how the plants in his greenhouse always lost their leaves prematurely.

After the magical seal on the spruce transport document was completed, Elias grabbed the dark-patterned cloak hanging on the back of his chair—he needed to get to Berlin as soon as possible.

…………

"Sorry I'm late," Elias said, pushing open the carved wooden door of the Berlin Magic Council hall. Crystal chandeliers hung high, making the entire hall shine.

Dozens of eyes turned to look at them instantly; they were the center of attention.

A black robe embroidered with a six-pointed star silver pattern swept lightly across the ground, causing the magical contract paper on the long table to tremble gently in the breeze.

Today is the quarterly hearing on the circulation of magical materials, and representatives from half of Germany's pure-blood families are seated on either side of the long table. Everyone is watching this young heir, eager to make their move.

"Young Master Reinhardt has arrived at just the right time," said Count Eisenburg of Bavaria, his ruby ​​ring gleaming greedily as he twirled it.

"I heard that the Reinhardt family has a monopoly on the distribution rights of frost giant hair in the Norwegian ice plains? How about giving our family 30% in exchange? In exchange, we can give up bidding for the Saxon mines."

Elias sat down in the main seat and tapped the table with his fingertips. Three rolls of parchment unfolded automatically: "The werewolf family, clients of the Eisenberg family, just defaulted on three payments last month."

When he looked up, his gaze fell on the accounting wizard behind the other person. "We can talk about cooperation after the debt is settled—after all, the reputation of a pure-blood family is more important than magical materials, isn't it?"

A soft laugh came from the other end of the long table. Isabella Bach stirred her moon primrose tea with a silver spoon, her pale golden hair falling over her shoulder: "Father asked me to tell you that the autumn harvest of evening primrose is 15% less than expected, and the supply next quarter may have to be reduced."

She pushed over a silver box inlaid with the family crest. "But as 'compensation,' he asked me to give you this—a magic charm that can double the shelf life of evening primrose."

Elias opened the silver box and caught a glimpse of the Director of the Department of Magical Oversight standing at the entrance to the hall. The man's violet crown badge was dazzling—he was the highest-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic responsible for overseeing transnational magical transport.

"Young Master Reinhardt," the director's voice was deliberately gentle, but he was waving a seizure list in his hand, "the twelve crates of phoenix tail feathers that were shipped from France last week seem to have not gone through the proper declaration channels?"

Elias closed the silver box and handed it to the butler behind him: "Director, you can check last year's No. 73 exemption order."

He took out a roll of gold-embossed documents from inside his robe. "The 'Special Wartime Material Channel Agreement' signed between the Reinhardt family and the Ministry of Magic still has three years remaining. Phoenix tail feathers are emergency wartime materials and meet the exemption clause."

As the director's expression shifted from questioning to embarrassment, Elias turned to Isabella, his tone softening slightly: "Make up for the reduced share of evening primrose with Romanian vampire vines—also, have a messenger deliver the magic preservation charm to Reinhardt Manor tonight."

Isabella readily agreed.

The other family representatives looked at Elias calmly and decisively retorted to his attacks, and they all gave up trying to probe the young heir's intentions.

……

By the time the hearing ended, dusk had fallen through the stained-glass windows of the parliament hall.

The family silver ring in his pocket suddenly felt hot. He raised his hand to touch the ring and heard the voice of the Reinhardt family patriarch coming from within: "Elijas, things have been handled well. I knew it; entrusting the family business to you would be the best decision I ever made."

"Father, you flatter me."

"Busy with the Bach family lately?" Clearly, Elias's every move was under the watchful eye of the Reinhard family head. "Spend more time with the Bach family's young ladies; it'll help you build a relationship."

The word "emotion" brought a hint of mockery to Elias's eyes. "Hmm," he nodded, unwilling to say more.

Looking at his obedient son, old Reinhardt's eyes flashed with satisfaction.

It was already past midnight when Elias returned to the manor after finishing everything. He wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose and prepared to deal with the pile of documents on the table.

Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from the window. A silver-grey owl was preening its wings with its beak, and the Malfoy family crest was printed on the parchment scroll under its claws.

As he untied the letter, his fingertips touched the warmth of the paper's edge—clearly it had just been written.

Draco's handwriting carried his usual haughtiness, the ink seeping into the paper with tiny silver glints: "Those two carts of spruce you chose were a disaster, so crooked that even a house-elf couldn't straighten them."

"Don't think you can shirk responsibility by hiding in Germany. If anyone complains about the Christmas decorations at Malfoy Manor, I'll remove your name from the owl contact list."

On the back of the letter was a drawing of a crooked spruce tree, with a small note next to it: "Is this what you call 'top-tier tree shape'?"

Elias picked up his quill and quickly wrote on the reply paper: "I've had the butler send three more cartloads of spruce, along with the glowing star pendant you requested. Have the fairies trim them according to your drawing—if their drawing skills are good enough for them to understand."

He paused, then added, "After we've dealt with the Reinhardt family's affairs, I'll bring you back some of Berlin's most famous cinnamon cookies when we return to England."

Moonlight streamed through the window onto the letter, and Draco's crooked-necked spruce swayed gently in the magical halo, much like someone's slightly raised chin when they were being arrogant.

Elias folded the letter and put it into his inner pocket, then turned back to deal with the pile of family documents, a rare faint smile playing on his lips.