A small convocation

[Celestine's POV]

It was almost as if the kiss never happened. It was a mistake to him maybe. Something he can easily forget. But to me, it was a trigger. All my emotions that I had been holding broke down. I don't know how long I cried. But I know I cried a lot in front of him. My frustrations, my anger everything was laid bare.

It was a long time since I let my guard down. I still feel shaken. Back in the car, we did not exchange a single word anymore.

Our car was drawing near to the Mansion. A place which I was dreading to go. The Bell Mansion.

I wanted to ask Tom a lot of questions about my parents and family. But I could not.

The car came to a gentle stop in front of the grand wrought-iron gate, where my family members were waiting with poised and composed expressions. They exemplified the image of a pureblood family, with their impeccable grooming, sophisticated attire, and impressive bearing. However, I felt like the odd one out in this picture-perfect family, with my attire.

As Tom, emerged from the car, my family members greeted him with great reverence and deference, which was a true testament to the high regard they held for him. Meanwhile, I observed from the backseat, feeling somewhat detached from the family's customs and traditions.

"Mum, where are we?" Amelia asked curiously.

"Dear, we are at your maternal grandparent's place," I said.

"I have grandparents? Like Jax?" she asked almost jumping with joy.

I smiled at her. She was blissfully unaware of the situation she would be facing. All of them would probably assume her father is a muggle-born or something along those lines. I could not tell them who Amelia was, yet. I need to send her in hiding. As soon as possible!

As I got out of the car, I carefully cradled Amelia in my arms. The expression on my family's faces was one of pure shock as if they had stumbled upon a creature of exquisite ugliness and brutality in the depths of a forbidden forest. Their eyes were wide with surprise and their mouths slightly agape, as they took in the sight before them. It was clear that my sudden appearance with Amelia had caught them off guard and left them speechless.

"Celestine" I heard Mother shriek out as I walked towards them.

"Lady Bell" Tom started with his polite and annoying voice, this caught mothers' attention immediately.

"Yes, my lord" I heard mother say.

"I will be back today evening to discuss somethings. For now, I am giving you the necessary private time your family requires" Tom said giving me a side-eye.

I held on to Amelia a bit more tightly.

"Of course, my lord! Thank you for the consideration." my father said before my mother could speak.

Tom nodded and walked outside of the mansion.

As soon as our 'esteemed' emperor walked outside of the mansion Mother grabbed my hand and started dragging me inside the manor.

She wasn't speaking anything, but her face was full of anger and worry. All my other family members were walking behind her. Father was looking at me with a weird expression.

"Stop dragging me mother," I said annoyed.

Mother stopped at this and looked towards me with disbelief. 

"So, I should do what Celestine? Give that child born out of wedlock the love of a grandmother? Tell you it is alright to betray your emperor?" Mother asked mockingly.

"I wouldn't mind," I said.

"You-" mother was stopped by father.

"Let's discuss this in the living room Agnes. It is not proper for us to do it here." Father said with a voice barely controlling all the anger that was threatening to blast any time.

"Take the child," mother said to the maids.

Mother and father dragged me to the living room. I admit I am nervous.

Father closed the door and put a silencio spell around us.

Father and mother both sat opposite to me.

I felt like I was in an interview with a bar-club owner.

"Explain," mother said.

"What?" I said a bit too dismissively.

"Don't you dare play that game with me Celestine!" Mother said in a warning tone.

"I thought it was a serious conversation between three adults" I don't know what's wrong with me. I am supposed to do this only with Tom, not my parents.

"Celestine Bell," father said. "Who does that child belong to? Was that the reason you ran away from home?" mother questioned.

"That child belongs to me and no. My child was not the reason I ran away." I never ran away due to Amelia. I ran away because of Tom.

"Celestine I am asking about the father," Father said impatiently.

"My child's father is a half-blood. I am not going to tell the name."

"Celestine I can easily conduct the parent test. You should tell it to me."

"Well, then do it. But I must warn you I will send Amelia away from here tomorrow!"

"You are planning to run away again?" mother asked shocked.

"No, I will be executed tomorrow, or will it be today?" 

"Celestine. I must say your stay in the muggle world has deteriorated your manners" Father said with disgust.

Mother had tears of frustration in her eyes.

Father said, "Leave it dear, the emperor will make her speak today evening."

Mother nodded and said, "Go upstairs to your old room and make yourself presentable before the emperor."

[Tom's POV]

I need to know whose child is that. That child looks a lot like Celestine thankfully. If that child looked like her father, I might have killed her on the spot.

"Lady and Lord Bell" I acknowledged them as I sat in their living room.

"My lord" they bowed down.

"Have you done what I asked you to?"

"Yes, my lord. The parentis test will come by dinner." Lord Bell said.

"Did Celestine speak anything?"

"No, my lord" Lady Bell said this time.

"Hmm," I acknowledged. "Did you disown Celestine yet?"

"No, my lord. But I will do it-" I interrupted him.

"Do not do it."

"Pardon," Bell said.

"I do not like repeating myself," I spoke. 

Celestine entered the room at that moment. She was looking beautiful in the blue gown she was wearing. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and she wore a light shade of lipstick.

"My lord" she bowed down. She had no emotions on her face.

"Ms. Bell" I acknowledged. "Sit down," I said. Her parents motioned her to sit in between them.

Those eyes, those lips, that neck, everything about Celestine screamed beauty.

"Celestine" I started "we are going to discuss the betrayal thing first."

"Ok," she said with a voice sweeter than honey. I can't imagine how that voice would sound screaming my name again. Begging me. No, concentrate.

"I very well understand Celestine of the problem you went through. It is the reason you could not sign the treaty. Apart from that, you never showed any active form of betrayal. Hence you do not need to go to the Wizengamot. You will sign the treaty now considering it was special circumstances."

She looked shocked.

"Thank you, my lord," lord Bell said.

"You are extremely generous my lord" Lady Bell broke out.

Celestine looked surprised. A knock on the door made the Bell couple go up to the door. A servant was standing there.

I bent a bit closer to Celestine and said "It seems you wouldn't be executed after all! Disappointed that now you will have to face punishments for all those comments?"

She looked at me with confusion and said "Why?"

I smirked at her.

The Bell couple returned and handed me the letter. The parentis test.

"Before I open this, I would like to say something," I said to the Bell couple.

"Yes, my lord".

"Lady and Lord Bell, I intend to take your daughter, Celestine Bell as my wife."

A moment of silence followed my words. 

Celestine looked shocked beyond words "N-".

She was interrupted by her father who said, "My lord, it is an honour!".

"Fa-th" Celestine was again interrupted by her mother who had tears of joy "My lord, I cannot express the joy!".

"Now, then let me open the letter," I said which caused the Bell couple to look a bit gloomy.

Parentis Test

Name- Amelia Bell

Father Name- Tom Marvolo Riddle

Mother Name- Celestine Bell

Tom Marvolo Riddle. That means it was me. I was her father. My heir was living in a pathetic condition like that. Celestine never cheated on me. She was carrying my child. My heir.

Celestine was looking at me. She did not know the content of the letter. She was focused on the marriage. She knew she could not deny the marriage. Nor would I let her do so. At least not after this.

"Celestine give us a moment" I said to her.

She nodded, got up and walked out of the door.

"My lord, if we-" Bell was interrupted as I shoved the letter in front of his face.

"My lord, I-I " Lady Bell was stammering reading the content. Lord and Lady Bell were getting too many shocks today.

"The child is mine. I am the father. I did not know this was the case, Lord and Lady Bell. But do not fret I will take full responsibility" I said.