Louis sorted out his thoughts.

Simply looking at the time he took to resolve the incidents, there's no logic to be found within them.

However, if we consider "testing the Emperor" as a premise, it becomes apparent that the timing and location of various incidents across the Empire lately coincide remarkably.

First, there's the seemingly delayed Sapphire Dragon disaster.

The Sapphire Dragon disaster appears to be a magical calamity, but its root lies in the Wave of the Living Dead beneath Dragonbone Prairie.

In other words, the root problem broke out outside the Imperial Capital, yet within the attack range identified by the two legendary dragons as "the Emperor can kill them."

That is to say, during his prime, the Emperor should have been able to pay attention to the movements on the prairie.

Looking further back, the Subway Prairie Giant Rat incident has been confirmed by Beatrice to involve the Rudelson Organization.

This issue probably had signs before Louis transmigrated and was reborn, and the sewer... is located in the outer district of Tino City.

The first incident Louis resolved, the Tino City explosion, occurred at the junction of the inner and outer city. Once the explosion happened, contaminants would directly affect the inner city, even the Imperial Palace.

The dust explosion cracked recently was located at the grain warehouse on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace.

And the ancient portal transporting monsters from the Underground City is beneath the Royal Guard, on the hill and inside the mountain where the Royal Guard Training Ground was cultivated in the Imperial Palace.

However, considering that the monsters themselves are controlled, they can't just stay around the portal...

They are likely to continuously spread to deeper areas until threatening the resting places of the Iron Guards and Dark Crow Guards.

This well explains what Chris meant by "the resting souls are not disturbed."

Because the resting place is beneath the Imperial Bedroom, constantly under the Emperor's watch.

As long as the Emperor is unharmed, no one can disrupt their rest.

Recalling the Emperor's sleeping, awakening and disappearance recorded in the diary.

He widened his eyes:

"Step by step from afar, gradually approaching the Emperor's bedroom?"

"Is this a test of the Emperor's current condition?"

"Oh no, in this way, the death of Marquis York at our engagement ceremony might have deeper implications!"

"No, I need to alert Beatrice about this."

...

[Location: Hawk God Divine Hall Portal]

Heavy footsteps sounded.

One by one, knights fully clad in armor slowly stepped out from the depths of the darkness.

Their armor looked a bit worn, with a white crow emblem engraved on the chest and shoulder plates, and long power claws on the gauntlets.

If Louis were here, he would immediately recognize that these people were the Dark Crow Guards.

At this moment, the taller warrior leading them spoke in a deep voice:

"Have you cleaned up the debris defiling our brothers' peace?"

A Dark Crow said solemnly: "Captain, cleanup completed. Should we remind Lady Beatrice?"

The person referred to as captain took off his helmet, revealing his fierce face:

"His Majesty planned to move the gate outside for our continued task execution, but the gate has been taken up, so there's no need to interfere."

"Let's go, we have work to do. His Highness will understand how to deal with this after seeing the ancient portal."

...

[Location: Minister of the Seal's Office]

"I understand the situation, Louis, you've helped a lot."

Beatrice smiled slightly, with a hint of fatigue flashing in her eyes.

Louis responded, "Is this matter very troublesome?"

Beatrice shook her head and said, "Not as troublesome as imagined. Sewer rats can gnaw on grain stores only if they stay hidden."

"Once exposed, it's just a matter of filling in the gaps and perhaps even using them as bait to lure out those behind it."

"Compared to this, I'm more curious about something else..."

With a thump, Beatrice raised her leg high, resting it on Louis's shoulder, and with a push, pulled him closer.

She took off his helmet, whispered:

"My prince, are you ready to welcome our engagement feast?"

Louis blinked: "Beatrice, she truly loves teasing people."

Unfortunately, Louis enjoys taking risks for his advantage.

Even when Daxia people open a small stall, they think about taking over their opponents; how could he remain indifferent to the princess's provocation?

Especially now that he and Beatrice have both developed a closer relationship; being a bit too much shouldn't matter... perhaps?

So, shamelessly, he extended his hand and said, "I can't dance; will you teach me?"

"Sure."

Beatrice playfully winked and smiled boldly:

"After all, we can't just watch others dance at the ball when we're the protagonists."

Very much Beatrice's style.

Though too blunt, causing Louis to wonder if the shy corner he just saw was an illusion.

Beatrice probably doesn't have too many thoughts about it.

"Can you guess what I'm thinking now?" Beatrice provocatively asked, "Demons can instinctively sense others' emotional fluctuations; you should too, right?"

Louis shook his head: "Yes, but I've limited this ability, at least letting you see the real me, not a fabricated persona."

He silently added in his heart: "Fabricating personas is tiring, and protecting you is already quite taxing."

Beatrice smiled at the corner of her eyes, her voice filled with cheerful joy:

"Should I share some good news?"

"Tell me?"

Beatrice didn't reply immediately but withdrew her leg and spun around.

Her well-tailored attire highlighted her elegance and maturity, even though she wore smart pants, it gave an illusion of a skirt fluttering like petals around her.

She smiled confidently, pretended to lift an imaginary skirt:

"My prince, standing before you is a poor girl who has been busy for this country since she was fourteen."

"Thanks to this, you'll be the second male to dance with me. Doesn't that make you happier?"

Louis stubbornly wanted to ask why he's the second one, but Beatrice blocked his mouth with her fingers.

"The first was my father and mother when I was six. Now, tell me, are you happy?"

Louis barely noticed the corner of his mouth curve into a smile but replied honestly:

"I'm happy."

"Shall I teach you how to dance then?"

"...Okay."

After all, few universities teach ballroom dancing nowadays, he really doesn't know how.

Lead by Beatrice, a girl in knight attire with a boy in armor maintained slightly awkward movements, dancing in the not-so-spacious Minister of the Seal's Office.

No lights, no music, no audience.

Amidst twirling leaps, those fleeting movements gradually became mature from clumsy.

Professional strength, embodied in them both.

Beatrice also carried a hint of confusion in her gaze, her heart a bit chaotic, but she quickly suppressed excess emotion, steps precise and strong, enjoying this feeling.

Suddenly, she broke out of Louis's handhold, spinning gracefully in place several times.

When she stopped, she began falling backward.

The unexpected event made Louis somewhat anxious, reaching out to hold her waist, and their fluid movements abruptly halted.

They both seemed to sense each other's breath.

Beatrice playfully blinked, looking upwards at him, whispering in his ear:

"At the ball, make sure to hold me tight too!"

Louis helped her up, took his helmet off the table, wore it, then nodded:

"Okay."

He didn't notice Beatrice's slightly reddened ear tips as her eyes shimmered.

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