184: Chapter 182 The perfectly concluded press conference, and the foreseeable subsequent changes.

The press gallery was very quiet.

Although the reporters were very curious as to why Prince Suleiman, who had long been rumored to be at odds with the Queen, would attend her press conference.

But after all, it was a press conference convened and hosted by the Royal Family.

Before the organizers announced the official start, no one dared to take the liberty of asking questions now, but curiosity was hard to restrain, and the reporters all discussed in low voices with their colleagues.

Even though everyone lowered their voices, there were so many people that the rows of seats were suddenly filled with a low roar of noise.

Suleiman rested his interlaced fingers on the table in front of him, his eyes scanning the whispering reporters.

Amidst the whispering, it was impossible to hear clearly what they were talking about.

However, it was likely just the reason for his appearance in the auditorium and such.

Suleiman had always heard the rumors among the people.

Originally, he hadn't cared much.

He thought it was nothing more than the ridiculous imaginings of ordinary citizens, whose daily lives were far removed from the Royal Family, based on their own perspectives.

Like the Farmer in the fable who thought the Emperor must use a Golden Shoulder Pole to carry wheat.

But thinking about it now, Suleiman couldn't help but recall his career chasing power and the throne after reaching adulthood.

He had been obsessed with that crown, and because of it, he had grown distant from his mother and siblings, with whom he had once shared deep affection.

This thought remained hidden in his heart even after entering Hogwarts.

It wasn't until his mother drank the potion gifted by Mr. Dumbledore and returned to the age of twenty that he snapped out of it, somewhat dazed.

Waking from his contemplation, he tapped the microphone on the table, the sound interrupting the increasingly heated conversations of the reporters.

Once everyone's gaze was focused on him, Suleiman spoke into the microphone: "Welcome, Her Majesty the Queen."

As his voice fell, a young, beautiful, and tall woman stepped out from the side door of the wooden platform, an elegant and proper smile on her face, and walked with small steps to take her seat at the head of the long table.

"Gentlemen and ladies, I sincerely thank you for your kind presence. I now declare the press conference officially open."

Normally, when the host said these words, the reporters would immediately raise the questions they had written in their notebooks before coming.

Strangely, however, not a single person raised their hand at this moment; the entire auditorium was as quiet as the outskirts of a city on a late winter night.

Aside from the cold wind that occasionally blew down their necks, not a sound could be heard.

To this, the Queen had clearly expected it, and she unhurriedly leaned her face toward the microphone: "Everyone, are there no questions?"

The reporters were startled awake, and immediately one person forgot the rule of raising their hand to ask a question and stood up directly: "Who are you, and why are you sitting in the main seat?"

At a press conference held by the Queen, the one sitting in the main seat would naturally be the Queen.

It was undoubtedly a stupid question, yet no one present laughed, because in their minds, this was also the confusion they desperately wanted to resolve.

"The current Queen, Supreme Head of Parliament."

After listing all her titles, she said with a smile: "Please sit down. Next."

The reporter didn't seem to react: "What nonsense are you talking about? You look only twenty, our Queen is clearly..."

With a light press of her right hand to signal him to sit, the Queen did not intend to waste time on her physical changes and glanced at Suleiman.

On the way to the auditorium, he had been informed by his mother of the specific arrangements for the press conference; he didn't daze now and spoke into the wireless earphone in his ear:

"Pull it down."

The microphone he had intentionally left on transmitted these three words into the ears of every reporter.

A few seconds passed, and the staff behind the scenes flipped the switch, causing the curtain behind Suleiman to rise slowly.

The reporters, whose minds were still in a daze, focused their gazes there.

The curtain rose halfway, revealing a photograph of the upper body from the waist to the collarbone, covered in a luxurious Jeweled Gown.

As reporters stationed in London, and being British themselves, they were no strangers to the appearance of this gown.

This was the one the Queen wore when she was crowned.

At this point, some reporters noticed something was wrong.

The appearance of this woman on stage... was very similar to when the Queen was young.

No... it couldn't be, right?

What kind of joke is this?

The reporters who had vaguely guessed the truth unconsciously held their breath, staring intently at the photo as the curtain rose to the chin.

The curtain actually didn't rise slowly.

But in everyone's eyes, it was practically crawling like an ant.

After waiting "for a long time," the sound of the motor stopped, and the photo was completely exposed to the reporters' view.

"God! What is this?!"

"Our Queen... she, has returned to being twenty?"

The Queen did not immediately stop the exclamations that nearly shattered the ceiling, allowing the reporters to shout until they were exhausted and had to stop.

"That is how it is."

The Queen stood up, walked around the side of the long table to the edge of the wooden platform, and presented herself.

"I received a small gift from Hogwarts, and then, as you can see, I became younger."

Hearing this, the press gallery immediately showed signs of erupting again.

She pressed her hands down: "It is not something to be surprised about. In the near future, magic and Hogwarts will commonly appear throughout the Kingdom, including, of course, around all of you."

"Now, what is important is this." The Queen raised her right hand, and Suleiman behind her immediately switched the photo on the background electronic screen to an aerial shot of a giant crater.

"I believe you all felt a slight tremor in the London area a few months ago; this giant crater is the source."

"Your Majesty," a reporter asked, "is this crater... caused by a meteorite?"

"Idiot!" a companion beside him cursed. "A meteorite this big would only cause a slight tremor?"

Reminded, he probably also felt that his question was indeed stupid enough, and he sat back in his wooden chair with an embarrassed smile.

The Queen did not mind his presumptuous questioning and the somewhat laughable question.

When she first saw this aerial photo, her own mood wasn't much better.

With an understanding mood, she explained patiently: "The crater was created by the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Mr. Dumbledore."

"It is intended to show certain people that your power is insignificant in the eyes of Hogwarts."

"If you are unwilling to give up your delusions, Mr. Dumbledore will personally come for a face-to-face talk."

Regarding the vague wording in the Queen's speech, the reporters, who dealt with information year-round, understood exactly who she was pointing at without any difficulty.

A reporter raised their hand.

"I have a question."

"Your Majesty."

"Do you mean that Hogwarts belongs to the United Kingdom?"

The Queen's gaze swept over and saw the ID card placed on the table in front of him—an America reporter stationed in London.

A very agile reaction, just not used in the right place.

Laughing inwardly, the Queen replied with a calm expression: "Hogwarts does not belong to any side."

"The above warning is based on the friendship between Mr. Dumbledore and the Royal Family, and is conveyed by me on his behalf."

Only ten minutes had passed in the press conference, but the amount of information was explosive.

Whether it was the young Queen standing still on the stage or that giant crater, it fully whetted the reporters' appetites, and they raised their hands one after another, unable to restrain themselves.

However, the Queen suddenly turned and walked toward the side door: "Thank you once again for your kind presence. This press conference is now concluded."