When Louis woke, the space beside him lacked its usual quiet.
He turned his head and saw Emily propped against a pillow, soothing the baby while half asleep.
The five-month-old infant was not crying, however. The baby simply gazed at him quietly with watery eyes, as though pondering life's three great questions.
Louis smiled softly, leaned over to kiss Emily's forehead, and whispered, "Let me. Get some more sleep."
Emily nodded, handed him the baby, and nestled back into her pillow, soon drifting into a light sleep again.
Louis picked up the infant. The small, soft body curled into the crook of his arm, chubby fingers clutching the front of his shirt with little strength but a firm grip.
"You're up even earlier than I am." Louis chuckled softly, humming a little as he rocked the baby, then raised a hand and swiped through the air.
The familiar hum sounded almost inaudibly, and a translucent screen unfolded before him.
[Daily Intelligence Update complete] [1: Duke Raymont is secretly mobilizing forces from his Third Legion without notifying the Imperial Capital.] [2: Kosa Coldtooth possesses the potential to become a Peak Knight.] [3: A veteran squad serving the North Sea's "Steel-Toothed Mad King" is heading to Dawnlight Harbor to raid ships. Arrival in fifteen days.]
Louis sat on the edge of the bed with the baby in his arms. He glanced at the first entry, his expression unruffled.
"Another one," he said flatly.
Since the emperor's disappearance, he had lost count of how many intelligence reports he had read about movements among the Empire's upper ranks.
Who was mobilizing troops, who was expanding their forces, who was allying with whom-new developments emerged almost every day.
The powder kegs of power were already in place. A single spark could blow the