The next morning dawned over Beauxbâtons in its usual serene splendor. Golden light streamed through the high arched windows of the Ombrelune Hall, glinting off the crystal chandeliers and bathing the silver tableware in soft warmth.
Eira sat calmly at her table, delicately spreading blueberry jam over a slice of warm brioche, sipping tea with the serenity of someone who had thoroughly embarrassed her rival in public the night before. Her duel with Julian had ended in glorious humiliation—for him—and she was already savoring the silence it had bought her. No more arrogant glares across corridors. No more smirking proposals for Valentine's Day for Fleur.
Just peace, pastries and prestige.
Until something hit her on the head.
Lightly.
She blinked and looked up.
Fleur stood beside her, holding a rolled-up copy of Le Cri Magique, the most widely read magical newspaper in France. Her expression was a mixture of amusement, horror, and exasperation.
"Read this," Fleur said, unrolling the newspaper and dropping it into Eira's lap. "Let's see how far your sarcasm travels."
Eira raised a brow, took the paper, and began to read.
The headline stretched in bold, enchanted lettering across the top of the page:
⸻
"Tragic Romance or Political Scandal? Trévér–Voclain Heirs Rumored to Have Shared a Forbidden Love"
—By Jean-Baptiste Fournier, Investigative Reporter
In a shocking development that is shaking the highest tiers of wizarding society, anonymous sources close to Beauxbâtons Academy have confirmed whispers long buried beneath the elegant facades of two powerful pureblood families.
According to one influential source, Roman Trévér —the late eldest son of the prestigious Trévér family—and Cecil Voclain, the not acknowledged heir to the Voclain name (known publicly as "Cecil White") may have shared not only bloodstained history, but something far more intimate: a secret, forbidden relationship.
Reports suggest that the two young men were romantically involved, and that their deaths—both mysterious and brutal—may not have been the product of political warfare, but of personal betrayal and family shame.
Even more damning, the same source alleges that the death of Josh Alain (a former secret lover of Cecil Voclain) was orchestrated by Roman Trevor himself, driven by jealousy and rage.
The details remain murky, but the implications are crystal clear:
Did the Trevor and Voclain families conspire to silence their own sons to protect their reputation? Did fear of exposure drive them to murder?
And if so, what does this say about the wizarding world's treatment of same-sex relationships?
⸻
Eira let out a long, slow whistle as she turned the page.
"Someone," she muttered, "really enjoyed our little conversation yesterday."
Fleur sat beside her, snatched a croissant, and nodded. "Well, it seems my charming analogy about Romeo and Juliet has become the national headline."
"They didn't quote me and you directly," Eira said, scanning the fine print.
"No," Fleur replied dryly, "but they said the story was 'confirmed by one of the most important student figures at Beauxbâtons.' Subtle."
Eira's eyes flicked back to the parchment. The article continued:
⸻
"What Happened in That Villa?"
Last month, both Roman Trevor and Cecil White were found dead in the Trévér Villa outside Épernay. The official statement from the Ministry claimed it was a "violent confrontation between rival heirs," but the story has never satisfied public curiosity.
New rumors suggest it was not a duel of inheritance—but of heartbreak.
Both families have remained silent, but when asked for comment, Lord Charles Trévér—Roman's Father and current patriarch of the Trévér family—dismissed the rumors as "filthy lies created to poison the minds of impressionable youth."
Lord Maximilian Voclain of the Voclain family declined to comment.
However, sources in the Magical Justice Bureau have confirmed that the case remains "unresolved" and "under quiet investigation."
⸻
Eira folded her hands and leaned back.
"Well," she said with a smile, "that escalated quickly."
Fleur rubbed her temples. "You think?"
"They even got poor Josh involved," Eira added. "Imagine dying off-page and still being dragged into scandal."
Fleur rolled her eyes. "This is going to make the conflict even bloodier. The Voclains and the Trévérs are already at each other's throats. Now this adds shame, politics, and sexuality to the mix."
Eira's smile twisted.
"It's not a political feud anymore," she said. "It's a matter of family honor now. And family shame."
'And I didn't even mean to spark it, she thought privately.
But I suppose this will make things more… juicy.'
She read further, and the article shifted tone.
⸻
"Love in the Shadows: Is Magical France Safe for Same-Sex Couples?"
The rumored affair between Roman Trévér and Cecil White has reawakened a long-ignored question in wizarding society:
Are same-sex relationships truly accepted in France's magical world?
While some progress has been made in recent decades—same-sex unions have been legally recognized since 1973 in the magical court system—many prominent pureblood families continue to treat such relationships as taboo.
Reactions to the current rumor have been divided.
Henri Maréchal, editor of the conservative La Vérité Sorcière, wrote on his personal Pensieve blog, "If such a relationship did occur, it speaks volumes about the moral decay within our ancient houses. The bloodlines must be preserved—not perverted."
In contrast, activist Camille Dureux of the Free Magique Movement said, "If the rumors are true, then Roman and Cecil were victims—not of love, but of hate. And that hate comes from families who value name and pride more than the lives of their own children."
Public opinion across France remains mixed. In a poll conducted last year by the Le Cri Magique, only 52% of wizarding adults said they would support their child if they were in a same-sex relationship. Among pureblood families, the number dropped to 38%.
The silence from the Trévér and Voclain families only fuels further speculation.
⸻
Eira paused, fingers resting on the page.
The laughter of yesterday had faded. This was no longer a joke. This was the wizarding world showing its true face.
She handed the paper back to Fleur, who looked half-ready to scream and half-ready to start writing a reply to the editor.
"So," Eira said after a beat, "what now?"
Fleur shrugged. "Now? They'll deny everything. Then accuse the paper of slander. And then probably try to kill each other publicly instead of privately."
"And if they suspect it was me?" Eira asked, tone light but calculating.
Fleur gave her a flat look. "Then you'd better keep your wand very close. Because honor duels? Those are just the beginning."
Eira stirred her tea calmly.
Let them suspect. Let them squirm. I didn't say anything false.
In truth, she had no way of knowing if the rumors were real—but that hardly mattered. The seed had been planted. And now the great trees of pride and paranoia were growing fast.
Honor. Bloodlines. Shame. Love. Lies.
And all because of a duel, a few sarcastic words, and a newspaper editor with a taste for drama.
Eira smiled quietly to herself.
This war wasn't just magical anymore.
Now it was personal.