After some murmuring and rising voices echoed through the chamber, Maximilian Voclain finally raised a hand to silence the noise. His voice rang cold and absolute.
"Now that we've heard your little speech—which, frankly, proves nothing—we will proceed as planned. You are hereby banished from France and expelled from Beauxbâtons. Furthermore, all of your House's vaults and holdings within French territory will be seized."
He looked around the room, searching for agreement among the gathered nobles. Charles Trévér stood abruptly.
Charles Trévér stood without hesitation. "I demand half of it," he declared. "My family has suffered the most damage in this entire mess. It's only fair
Eira turned her eyes toward Maximilian and asked flatly , "Are you serious?"
Maximilian smiled coldly. "Yes."
Eira let out a sigh and shook her head slightly. "I tried to reason with you," she said, her voice echoing in the ornate hall. "I dispelled every accusation you threw at me. I defended myself while you lot behaved like tyrants in powdered wigs. I thought maybe, just maybe, reason would win."
She paused, lifting her chin. "Then I don't have to hold back."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The nobles, sensing a shift, leaned in with a mixture of curiosity and caution as Eira continued:
"Do you think this little amount—a few million Galleons—is anything to me? Do you really think I care if you seize it?" She scoffed, looking down her nose at them. "If you'd begged me nicely, I might've donated it. There wasn't any need for this grand drama if money was all you wanted. Tsk, tsk, tsk…"
The hall erupted.
Insults and curses rang out as the nobles shouted over one another, unwilling to tolerate such humiliation. Some pointed and shouted that they wouldn't allow a girl like her to disgrace them.
Maximilian sneered and barked over the chaos, "That's enough! Let's end it here—"
But Eira cut in, voice firm. "Nope. Not yet."
She took a step forward, her voice suddenly sharper, louder, reverberating across the marble hall.
"Go on. Ban me. I dare you to. Then you'll see the real power of the White family. You'll understand why we are the most ancient untouched family that predates your bloodlines by centuries.and the powerful Houses in all of Europe."
Gasps followed her words, but she wasn't done.
"The French need the White family to maintain their relationship with Britain. Without us, there are no British benefits. Every year, thirty-seven percent of French magical trade is supported solely by British wizarding families. And twelve percent of that comes entirely from the White family."
Silence returned like a slap. Even the most vocal critics had nothing to say.
Maximilian's lip curled. "We can always find a replacement for the White family. You do not represent Britain."
Eira smiled.
"You're right. I don't represent Britain," she said. Then her voice dropped into something darker, colder, and infinitely more powerful.
"I am the Great Britain itself."
The words struck the room like thunder.
"Go on," she hissed. "I dare you to ban me and see what happens. I will make sure no French wizard steps foot on British soil. I will prevent any British family from doing business with you. Hell, I'll ensure you're cut off from all European magical communities. I will make it a living hell for all of you, I will make sure no British family does business with you. I will speak with the Germans. The Austrians. The Dutch. The Italians. I'll turn every European magical community against you until your proud little circle becomes a prison of your own making"
Maximilian looked visibly shaken. "You're bluffing."
The hall held its breath.
On the other side of the chamber, Alina Trévér was smiling—strangely, quietly—at Eira, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.
Eira didn't blink.
"Try me," she said simply. "And see it for yourself."
For a moment, no one moved. Then—unexpectedly—a voice rose from the front row.
"She's right."
The heads of the chamber snapped toward the speaker. It was Isabella Voclain, the French Minister of Magic, who had remained silent for the entire hearing… until now.
"The French noble families do rely on the British pure-blood families for trade and diplomacy," Isabella said. "And the Ministry of Magic needs the White family as a mediator between the two countries. If you ban her today—every one of you will be digging your own graves."
Maximilian's face twisted. "Isabella! Don't interfere!"
She turned her head slowly toward him, eyes cold as iron.
"Do not address me so casually, Lord Voclain," Isabella snapped. "I am not your sister in this hall. I am the Minister of the French Magical Government. And I will not tolerate your farce masquerading as law."
The air grew colder.
"I have tolerated your little performance long enough," she said. "It ends now."
Then she turned to the nobles seated around the chamber.
"All of you, hear me clearly. As of this moment, I formally sever all personal ties with the Voclain family. From today forward, I no longer claim the name. The Ministry of Magic will not protect or interfere in this personal conflict between the Voclain and Trévér families."
Maximilian rose, shouting, "Are you serious, Isabella?!"
But she didn't even spare him a glance.
Back in the stands, Eira's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that.
Isabella's voice rang clearly again.
"This hearing is over."
She turned and faced Eira directly.
"The Ministry of Magic will issue an official apology to the White family. All charges against the current matriarch, Lady Eira White, are to be dismissed. Furthermore, your family's holdings and vaults within France are to be protected by ministerial decree. No noble house shall claim, touch, or dispute them."
The silence broke into murmurs as she added:
"Due to the embarrassment caused today by the French noble community, the White family will also be exempt from taxes.for the next two fiscal years."
Several families shouted in protest.
"This is outrageous!"
"You're punishing us for your brother's behavior?"
Isabella ignored them all.
"This hearing," she repeated, "is unofficial. It is invalid. And now, it is over."
She turned and swept from the chamber, her cloak billowing behind her like a stormcloud.
For a moment, the room remained frozen.
Then Eira looked around at the stunned nobles, gave a small, sardonic smile, and whispered just loud enough:
"Well, that was fun."