Defying the Fate of Beheading

The despondent Marquis York left the bedchamber.

Yet, somehow, the exhaustion in his eyes seemed much lighter.

Beatrice softly said:

"Father, Marquis York is trustworthy."

The Emperor on the throne murmured in agreement and then laughed:

"You can handle this as you see fit. My daughter has grown into a competent Crown Princess."

"Cough, cough, Father, Louis is still here!"

Beatrice feigned a cough.

Iron Guard Rudolph showed an ambiguous smile and silently left the bedchamber.

As the door slowly closed, Louis suddenly realized a problem.

He was now meeting his future father-in-law.

—And it was in a way he completely hadn't expected.

Previously, most of his attention had been focused on the situation concerning Marquis York, making him completely forget that he needed to stand trial in the bedchamber as well.

He was also the one being tested.

Ahhhhh!

Inwardly, Louis let out a series of groundhog screams.

Beibei, why didn't you tell me in advance that I would be meeting my future father-in-law tonight?!

I'm not even ready with the gift!

Speaking of which, Louis finally understood why Beatrice had said there was no need to prepare a gift for the Emperor's meeting.

With the Emperor's current state, no gift would be of any use!

Perhaps noticing the nervousness in Louis, the Emperor laughed and said:

"Well, my good son-in-law, my daughter is quite likable, right?"

Louis nodded instinctively, bluntly saying, "Beatrice is amazing."

"Of course she is. After all, she is my daughter. Haha, it seems we at least agreed on this point."

"Seeing you so nervous, let me ask you a question today."

Louis nodded and said, "Go ahead."

In his mind, he had already imagined what the Emperor would ask.

On a serious note, he might ask, "Do you have the confidence to foster my daughter into the greatest Empress?"

To which Louis would surely pat his chest and promise:

"I will become her strongest support."

On a moderate note, he might ask, "Have you thought about what you plan to do in the future?"

To which Louis would sincerely say:

"Based on protecting Beatrice, I'll make both myself and the empire stronger."

For a moment, various tricky questions popped into his mind, and he quickly came up with fairly good answers.

However, just as he was ready to face the challenge, the Emperor suddenly chuckled and said:

"When is the official wedding? When will you have kids? How many?"

Louis's mind went blank at this unexpected question.

Before he could figure out how to respond, his mouth moved on its own:

"Whenever she wants!"

"The sooner, the better!!"

"Ten of them!!!"

"Ahhhhh, at the critical moment, my social anxiety turns me into a self-exploding tank!"

Louis's mind went blank on the spot.

For a moment, he just wanted to give up and stop thinking.

As for Beatrice, who was expressionless beside him, she seemed oblivious to what was said.

—That is, if you ignored the blush rapidly spreading from her collarbone to her entire face.

His brain... his brain wouldn't work anymore.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor laughed heartily and said loudly:

"Good, good, expand our royal family soon."

Beatrice retorted, "Father!"

At that moment, Beatrice finally couldn't hold back and showed a daughter's bashful demeanor.

The Emperor didn't say much more.

He just reminded them to take care of the little swan.

Louis and Beatrice naturally agreed.

There was no hesitation needed for such a thing.

The little swan, how adorable!

Yet, for some reason, Louis felt the Emperor was looking at him with a meaningful expression.

It wasn't a gaze filled with malice.

It felt more like he was watching a play for fun?

Not quite understanding, Louis followed Beatrice out of the bedchamber, ending this audience with the Emperor.

On the way back.

William and his grandfather went home together.

Lady Qian sat outside the carriage, driving.

Only the two inside exchanged glances uneasily.

"Oh no, how awkward, I just want to go home."

With the experience of two lives, Louis, a bachelor, swore it was his first encounter with meeting a future father-in-law like this.

Especially with such reckless words coming out at the scene.

Would Beatrice misunderstand that I'm craving her body?

Wait, for him now, that might not be a misunderstanding!

Darn it, can't explain it away.

So he decisively chose to change the subject:

"Beatrice."

"Hmm?"

"Do you really think Marquis York is as loyal to the Emperor as you guys believe?"

Beatrice nodded and said:

"In front of the Father, no one can lie, that's the effect of the Father's domain [Emperor]."

Louis rubbed his forehead and said, "But I have a feeling..."

"Hmm? What kind of feeling?"

He hesitated for a moment but continued:

"The grain warehouse where the dust explosion incident occurred, although it involved some handiwork from the Abyssal Church, based on my understanding of Marquis York during this time..."

"Marquis York is indeed that kind of meticulous old noble who's most demanding of himself."

"He comes from the grain reserve department and has received praise from every regional head; I don't believe he is an ordinary person."

"Would someone like that really ignore the potential risks of a dust explosion?"

"Isn't it possible, and I'm just suggesting it's possible, that Marquis York deliberately left a gap in this matter, waiting for someone foolish to fall into the trap?"

"After all, from the way he met with the Emperor today, he was really eager to know what the Emperor's current condition was."

Beatrice's eyes narrowed into slits, looking much like a little fox:

"Maybe he thought I might have imprisoned and seized power while Father was out of his mind."

"After all, Father hasn't handled state affairs for twenty years, and it's normal for people's hearts to be unsettled."

"As long as it's confirmed that he's still loyal to the Father and to the empire, that kind of possibility can be ignored."

"More than that, I'm actually more curious about one thing."

Louis tilted his head and said, "What's that?"

Beatrice suddenly leaned closer and whispered into Louis's ear:

"Do you remember what I just said?"

"No one can lie in front of the Father."

"So, my dear prince..."

Beatrice's voice was as soft as silk:

"Are you really this eager to marry me and have ten children?"

Louis: ???

The boomerang hit me in the face.

Oh no, he's being teased by Beatrice again.

...

[Location: Outside the Imperial Palace]

Marquis York boarded the carriage.

The carriage wheeled him towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Driving the carriage was a personal guard who, at the scene of the dust explosion incident, hid behind the Royal Guard and City Guard, too afraid to step forward.

(See the end of Chapter 60 for details)

Inside the carriage, Marquis York's expression had returned to calmness.

Bad news: The Emperor he revered most can't stand up now.

Good news: The Emperor hadn't neglected the empire for twenty years out of desire, but out of inability.

But in any case, he had come to know the results he wanted to know.

Looking at the twilight shrouded Tino City, Marquis York said with pained sorrow:

"Emperor, in matters like this, dragging down other nations and the major True God Churches would be enough."

"Why take on this endless slaughter alone?"

"You are truly... arrogant!"