On the other side.
The White Tower.
Louis met with the White Tower Master, Gandalf.
At this moment, Gandalf was arguing with his student.
The mage earnestly said:
"This is a thesis on human magic, so what if it's 70% fluff? Isn't there still 30% of solid content?"
Gandalf blew his beard and glared, almost wishing he could pick up a sword and chop down this ungrateful pupil:
"Do you know I have deep-sea phobia?"
"I know, so what?"
"Reading your magic thesis, my phobia's about to kick in! Take your garbage and get out of my office!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mage placed the thesis on Gandalf's desk and strutted out of the office.
Louis: 6!
Rather deem himself trash than let his thesis be trash, huh?
Once the person left, Louis then said to Gandalf:
"Lord Gandalf, thank you for your help with the dance party matter."
Gandalf scratched his beard and said:
"I've known you for some time, and Beatrice even longer, but it's rare to see you both like this."
Louis warily replied, "Hmm?"
But Gandalf remained silent, becoming a riddleman.
"Lord Gandalf, you didn't tell her about my plans in advance, did you?"
Gandalf shook his head and said:
"How could I? I'm old, but I'm not stupid."
"Though your existence isn't a secret among the top brass, do you know what the Royal Guard says about you?"
Louis shook his head.
"They say that from conduct to character to ability, you are the most perfect prince for Lady Beatrice."
Gandalf laughed, "I used to think you were a bit lacking, but now, this look of yours is a step closer to their perfect description."
Louis calmly said, "I still have a long way to go."
"No need to be modest. For Ense, it's not that you're still far behind now, but fear that you're lacking in other areas."
"..."
"Haha, seeing you like this, I feel much younger. I'd love for Princess Beatrice to see it."
Louis swiftly changed the subject:
"... About the dance party tonight, I'll have to trouble you."
"Whoa, don't flaunt your romance in front of me. I'm just an old bag of bones, I can't take it."
The old mage patted Louis on the shoulder and said:
"Just do your best. There are many who covet your position, but also many who support you."
"I've prepared the part you wanted at the engagement ball; give it your all."
"His Majesty will be pleased to see this situation as well."
The old mage mumbled in his heart: "Being a mage is troublesome. Two young ones have now both come to me, and it's hard to refuse."
The old mage felt a bit like resigning.
...
Meanwhile, as the dance party officially began, on Olivia's side, a small issue arose.
Lumi frowned and cursed softly, "Why have they come?"
Olivia curiously followed Lumi's gaze and saw a carriage, emblazoned with the golden wild chrysanthemum family crest, slowly heading in their direction.
"The Todd Family has also come? Haven't they had enough beatings?"
Little Swan muttered softly.
The Todd Family was a new family with less than a century of history, but its overall strength was not inferior to any old aristocratic house.
Or rather, they were remnants of the old era.
Years ago, her father accidentally killed that foolish son of Duke Argyle, prompting the Duke to seize the opportunity to make trouble.
Duke Argyle, in conjunction with Duke But, acted as if they would cause a scene unless the royal family gave a satisfactory explanation.
They weren't fools; it was just that Argyle and But preferred to place another prince, with whom they had familial ties, on the throne.
Her own father, being the appointed candidate, ended up caught in the crossfire.
Later on...
Later, her father, armed with martial virtue, led his Royal Guard, and in the confrontation between the three armies, successively beheaded both Duke Argyle and Duke But.
In the following year, her father officially became emperor.
The Argyle and But families, leaderless, immediately cowered, meekly accepting the empire's punishment.
But, perhaps fearing post-retribution from the emperor or fearing their assets might be devoured by other predators,
the two families decided to make a reckless move, joining forces to transfer their family assets to a newly emerging noble family completely under their control—the Todd Family.
This move created a miracle in the history of the Ense Empire.
An aristocratic family with ducal foundations was born overnight.
Of course, over the years, due to the presence of the emperor, both the two dukes and the Todd Family behaved impeccably.
Except on Sister Wang's side, where the Todd Family people were particularly annoying.
If she remembered correctly, there was an extremely rude libertine from the Todd Family in the same class as Sister Wang.
Although Sister Wang never attended class, as Minister of the Seal, she had some necessary social obligations.
That Gregory Todd often pestered Sister Wang with seemingly unrealistic ideas.
Perhaps, at some point, he would embarrass the nation.
Isn't that a slap to Sister Wang's face?
Little Swan took a deep breath:
"It's all for Sister Wang, and has nothing to do with the nation!"
I, Olivia, today will clear the obstacles for you!
Anyone who dares to shame Sister Wang is my enemy!
Olivia akimbo:
"Sister Lumi, if they act tough in front of me later, you'll help me beat them up!"
Old Deng, beaten to a mental breakdown by her own father, still dares to act presumptuously in front of her?!
Olivia lifted her skirt and walked directly toward the carriage that had stopped.
At that moment, Gregory Todd, who had once had a brief encounter with Louis and tried to speak with Beatrice at the city gate, was preparing to get off the carriage.
Suddenly, he heard a bright and proud voice:
"Your young master is called Gregory Todd, right? Is he in the carriage? I have something to ask him."
...
Inside the carriage.
Harley Todd, the current head of the Todd Family, instinctively opened his eyes upon hearing that proud voice.
He glanced at the butler, gesturing for him to disembark.
The butler nodded and got out of the carriage.
Upon seeing the elegantly adorned Olivia, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately put on a friendly face:
"May I ask who you are?"
"Olivia, here to demand an explanation from your young master."
The butler's expression stiffened a bit, but his smile became even friendlier.
This Tino City, a single thrown brick might hit a Viscount, with a crowd of Barons watching nearby.
This girl, clearly pampered, seems like trouble.
He hesitated before saying:
"You have some business with our young master?"
Olivia shook her head and said:
"Alright, just tell Harley Todd that the daughter of an old acquaintance is here."
Then Little Swan muttered a phrase:
"If he doesn't come down, I'll show him what it means to be bullied by a princess!"
The butler politely asked her to wait a moment and climbed back into the carriage, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Typically, not many people in the Imperial Capital dared to offend the Todd Family.
But this time was really different.
The girl's expression was so naturally assumed that he dared not withhold anything.
Once on the carriage, he directly reported the situation to his master.
"Who?"
The originally napping Count Harley opened his eyes.
"What's the name you said?"
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