As the orchestral music approached its finale, Louis and Beatrice’s dance became increasingly fluid.
The two of them seemed as if they had been partners for years, Beatrice’s champagne-colored gown swirling, reflecting enchanting light and shadows.
"The dance is about to end, Louis, is there nothing you want to ask me?"
She had been expecting Louis to inquire about the matter with Qian, yet hadn’t heard a word, and seeing the opportune moment during the dance slipping away, she finally spoke up.
"What’s there to ask?"
He then felt Beatrice’s grip tighten slightly, and he heard her say:
"I thought you would be angry."
Louis blinked and said, "Actually, I knew at the time that Qian was helping you adjust your outfit."
Beatrice playfully scolded, "Then why did you speak like that back then."
Possibly picked up a bad habit from Alice.
In a serious setting, it feels a bit lacking without a little playfulness.
Who would have thought it would lead to a misunderstanding with Beatrice.
He paused and said, "The dance is about to end, how about a spectacular finish?"
"This time, you better catch me." Beatrice declared with conviction.
"Of course, the Beatrice I know is someone who stays spectacular to the very end."
Accompanied by her gentle laughter, in the lingering notes of the dance, her body spun and her skirt billowed.
The silver glint on her glass slippers and the precise tapping sound on the floor were crisp and powerful.
At this moment, all eyes were focused on the two of them.
In the final moment of the spin, the petal-like flared champagne gown gradually gathered, perfectly into Louis’s embrace around her waist.
For a moment, thunderous applause erupted at the venue.
After the ball, the venue transitioned into social time.
As the ball was about to end, the servants, who had been preparing backstage, brought out exquisite food.
Beatrice blinked and told Louis she was going backstage to change into a more convenient outfit.
Louis nodded and got up to head toward Marquis York’s direction.
Just as he arrived, he was met with teasing:
"Your Highness Louis, you were truly dazzling tonight, care for a drink?"
Marquis York stated with a touch of reserve while holding a wine glass.
He glanced at the attendant beside him, picked up a glass of wine, and drank it in one go.
However, no one noticed the pitch-black shadow slowly writhing inside Louis’s shirt.
Louis said, "Lord York, aren’t you having some snacks?"
York shook his head, "At a social ball, you young folks go ahead and eat. When I get a ride with the carriage, I snacked a bit; tonight I’ll at most have some fruit."
As he spoke, he pointed to a particular fruit on the elegant platter beside him.
Clearly, Marquis York was also quite picky, not eating just any fruit. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel⸺fire.net
Louis walked over nonchalantly and brought a small plate of those fruits.
A flick of his fingers, and a shadow engulfed the fruit from his sleeve.
Moments later, Limuru relayed the message.
Seeing that Marquis York showed no intention of eating, Louis hesitated.
The wine and the fruit were both non-toxic, so it was even less likely to be on the wine glass.
The Ense Nobility love equipping themselves with magic rings that detect poisons, Louis had one, Beatrice had one, naturally Marquis York had one too.
If there was poison on the wine glass, the magic ring would have activated long ago.
Suddenly, Louis seemed to think of something.
He said, "Lord York, the flower cake on your carriage was quite tasty."
Marquis York smiled with slight pride, "Of course, our family’s chef is quite skilled in this area."
Louis’s eyes lit up, "So, you’ve been eating this flower cake for many years?"
"Of course, every process is the result of years of refinement."
Today on the carriage, Limuru had also sneakily eaten quite a bit of flower cake.
The flower cake was fine.
But that doesn’t mean... combining them won’t cause issues.
Louis had Limuru internally mix these substances together.
Perhaps from standing too long, Marquis York felt a bit parched and was about to grab some fruit.
However, just as he was about to pick up the fruit, Louis reached out to stop him.
"Lord York, you’ve been targeted."
"I know, Princess from over there informed me, but I can be sure the food I eat is not poisoned."
That was the highest-grade magic ring for detecting toxins.
"No, Lord York, if you ate it, you would indeed be poisoned."
Louis gestured for Marquis York to follow.
Soon, they arrived in a room.
Beatrice, Qian, and several Secret Guards were seated inside.
Seeing Louis arrive, Beatrice rose and said:
Louis nodded, then addressed the group:
"Who was responsible for the wine?"
A Secret Guard stepped forward and said, "It was me, but I checked the drinks on site and can assure they’re non-toxic."
Louis nodded and said, "Of course it isn’t toxic, but mix them together, and that’s another story."
Although food incompatibility has long been proven to be a myth, the chance of combining natural foods to create a deadly toxin is extremely low.
But, it isn’t impossible.
Louis tugged at his sleeve, and a round Limuru squeezed out from it.
"The wine is non-toxic, the flower cake is non-toxic, and the fruit that Lord York enjoys is also non-toxic."
"But there’s an issue with the wine’s origin."
Grapes are a sensitive, subtle, and highly moldable fruit.
During winemaking, each decision by the winemaker—from the location and method of growing the grapes, to the handling post-production—impacts the wine’s flavor and aroma.