An Enraged Lina

Lina fell silent instantly.

Though she seemed naive, her war intuition and perceptiveness were unparalleled among anyone I had met since arriving in this world.

She could measure distances on the map with her bare hands, without even glancing at the scale, a testament to her profound understanding of the Eight Nations of the Holy Church's terrain.

One glance was enough for her to estimate with remarkable accuracy.

And this highness, according to rumors, was invincible in battle.

While the rumors might be exaggerated, I believed that, at the very least, under her leadership, the Black Armored Knights were no laughing matter.

They were definitely an elite force.

Even on a slightly cool summer morning, the temperature should have been around twenty degrees Celsius.

Yet, they endured the stifling heat, the entire army motionless.

Such willpower was beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

From the current situation, it seemed her war instincts were also exceptional.

To what extent, I couldn't yet determine.

After all, you never know what you've got until you put it to the test.

"That's right, Your Highness Luo Li truly has no other choice."

She furrowed her brow slightly and murmured softly.

"If you don't attack, the demons will surely conquer the Kingdom of the Sun. Even if Her Highness Momoka's strength isn't weak and she can hold out for a while, she won't be able to last long."

Lina turned her head back to look at the map.

"Even if the entire army were to support the Kingdom of the Sun now, sending enough troops to withstand hundreds of thousands of demons would take at least over a month. With such a long time, Her Highness Momoka is bound to lose."

"Precisely, which is why I have no choice."

I offered a faint smile. In this situation, if the Kingdom of the Sun couldn't be saved, then the next to fall would undoubtedly be my Kingdom of the Moon.

Although the Kingdom of Flame also bordered the Kingdom of the Sun, the Kingdom of Flame, including its surrounding small nations, had incredibly complex terrain; even I felt a tingle in my scalp just looking at the map.

It was teeming with venomous insects and magical bugs, and swarming with wild and magical beasts. Without a guide, one could easily get lost after crossing just one mountain.

"But it doesn't matter!!"

Lina's voice suddenly rose a pitch. She looked at me with a serious gaze, her delicate face filled with confidence.

"Your Highness Luo Li, don't worry. This time—I'm here."

In that moment, the girl before me seemed to be enveloped in a mystical light, her entire being radiating an intense aura that drew people in.

Her confident yet vibrant voice was like a powerful stimulant, piercing deeply into my chest!

An inexplicable sense of security slowly enveloped me... What the hell?!

I snapped my head back, realizing what was happening, and felt a sudden jolt of alarm!

Holy moly, I almost fell for it!

No... I already had.

I glanced back at Lina, who was looking at me with a bewildered expression, and my heart swelled with admiration.

She truly possessed the talent of a great general.

Just a single sentence, without any unnecessary actions, had given me an incredibly strong sense of security.

It even made one instinctively want to rely on her.

Such immense personal charisma was undoubtedly why she commanded the ten thousand Black Armored Knights.

Let alone those hot-blooded men, even I, a former man, almost succumbed.

As expected of the Saintess of War; without such personal charisma, how could she live up to that title?

Fortunately, I cut my losses in time, pulling back my heart that had almost grown dependent on her.

Otherwise, I might truly have become her fangirl.

"Your Highness Luo Li, what's wrong?"

Lina tilted her head, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"N-nothing."

Even now, I hesitated to look directly into the girl's face, fearing I might accidentally fall for her.

Falling for her wasn't the problem; the problem was that I was a girl now!

I couldn't possibly give someone happiness.

While everyone's definition of happiness differed, I, at least, believed happiness encompassed a harmonious family, a loving spouse, many children, and a prosperous life.

Among these four points, there was one that, as a woman, I couldn't provide to another woman.

Many children, indeed~

I'd even lost my 'seed bag,' so how could I have a full house of kids?!

"Hmm, if Your Highness Luo Li feels unwell, you can rest. Oh, right, is there anything you need me to do? I'm so bored just sitting around~"

Lina looked left and right, full of energy, her entire being radiating an enviable vitality.

Just as I was still hesitating, Lola suddenly spoke.

"Your Highness Lina, the armies from the other nations should be arriving soon. My lady isn't very familiar with military management. Would you be able to assist her?"

"No problem, leave it to me!"

I instinctively glanced back at Lola and nodded slightly.

Indeed, this was something I hadn't thought of initially, but now that she was here, she was the perfect person to organize the troops.

First, she was a general, and she also held the title of Saintess, combined with her ten thousand Black Armored Knights and her own strength.

No matter how unruly the arriving individuals were, they wouldn't dare to cross her.

"Where are they all? If they're new recruits, I'll have to get to work quickly."

"According to calculations, today should be the day the army from the Snow Country arrives. If Your Highness Lina has time, perhaps you'd like to go see them?"

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

Lina stood up. As she reached the doorway, she didn't forget to glance back at me and instruct:

"Your Highness Luo Li, you should rest well today. Your complexion doesn't look too good. Is it... that time of the month?"

My mouth twitched. I rolled my eyes at Lina, ignoring her.

She seemed to enjoy my eye-roll, giggled, and turned to leave.

Then I heard her shout loudly from outside the door:

"Hey, you there! Which way is the Snow Country's army?!"

Hilda's voice responded to her.

"Reporting to Your Highness Lina, the scouts from the Snow Country arrived in the early morning. They will enter the city through the North Gate. If Your Highness Lina wishes to meet them, you should go to the North Gate."

"Hey, someone, guide me."

Hilda's voice, this time, held a hint of helplessness.

"Your Highness Lina, my name is Hilda, the glorious Guardian Knight of Brilliant City..."

"Alright, alright, got it, got it~"

Hearing their conversation, I exchanged a glance with Lola, who wore a wry smile:

"To think, the Saintess of War would have such a personality. Your Highness... what do you think of her?"

I also chuckled.

But it was a confident smile.

"Don't underestimate the Saintess of War~ Her strength is one thing, but most importantly... her ability to lead an army is absolutely the strongest I've ever witnessed."

Lola looked at me in surprise.

"I rarely hear Your Highness praise others so highly. Is this highness really... that formidable? She doesn't seem like it."

"Heh, a pure heart and the talent of a general aren't mutually exclusive, my little Lola. You still have much to learn~"

No sooner had I finished speaking than Lola's small face suddenly flushed. She immediately lowered her head, her voice becoming somewhat meek.

"Your Highness, today's administrative affairs aren't finished yet... I, I'll go get to work."

"Oh~ Hmm... go ahead."

I watched her, puzzled, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. Head down, her face unnaturally flushed, she took a series of small, quick steps and departed.

Only the back of a girl in red remained.

Was that... the call of nature?

I turned and asked Nara.

"What's wrong with Lola? Is she unwell? Or... is it the call of nature?"

Nara smiled faintly, her pretty face also tinged with a slight blush.

"Well~ Your Highness did it, so why ask others?"

"Huh? What did I do?"

I turned back, utterly bewildered, but Nara didn't answer. Instead, she called someone to clear away the desserts from the table.

Watching the exquisite desserts being taken away, I felt a lingering craving and quickly said:

"Hey, hey, hey, save some for me."

"No can do~ Your Highness has a set amount of food each day. Eating too much will make you uncomfortable. Of course, if you're truly hungry, that's different~"

How did I not notice this little girl had the potential of a busybody housekeeper?

"Alright, alright~ Take it all away then."

I patted my stomach. Having finished breakfast and so many desserts, I indeed felt quite full.

Eating more would definitely make me uncomfortable.

"Don't waste the remaining desserts. Take some to Hilda."

"Yes~"

I stood up and stretched a bit. I actually didn't have much to do today. After all, I was only responsible for major strategic decisions; the detailed issues didn't require my attention at all.

If I had to personally handle everything, what would Lola and the others be for?

However, this also left me completely free.

I leaned back on the sacred bed, gazing blankly outside.

Nara stood by my side, not showing the slightest annoyance, and idly stared with me.

Outside the Temple, birds chirped, their clear calls echoing around the great hall. Since the hall was separated from the street outside, and loud noises were forbidden nearby, there weren't many people around.

Today, I wasn't in the mood to read, but I was in the mood to space out.

After all, I wouldn't have another chance to space out for a while.

Sometimes, spacing out is good for the brain.

As I zoned out, I lost track of how much time had passed.

It wasn't until a crisp and energetic voice reached my ears that I snapped out of my daze.

I looked up towards the doorway.

There, Lina stormed in from outside, her face contorted with fury.

She was dragging a person by the hand, whose face was filled with terror.

"Hey! Your Highness Luo Li, aren't you going to manage Brilliant City's public security~ How can there even be trash like this?"

With that, the person was flung below the divine platform, landing with a thud on the ground.

Public security?

I truly hadn't paid much attention to that aspect.

After all, the infantry army was currently in charge of that within the city.

"What's wrong? Why is Your Highness Lina so angry? Don't rush, tell me slowly."

I glanced at the person prostrate beneath the divine platform, trembling so much they dared not even lift their head, and looked at Lina with a heart full of questions.

Lina, meanwhile, was livid.

"This fellow was extorting people at the North Gate. I just nudged him, and he actually fell to the ground, pretending to be dead, demanding ten gold coins to get up."

"Such a thing happened? Your Highness Lina, please wait a moment."

I lowered my head, looking at the man prostrate beneath the divine platform.

For some reason, he felt familiar.

"You... look up."

However, the moment those words left my mouth, he not only didn't look up but curled into a ball, trembling so much that even his hair seemed to be breakdancing.

Something's fishy.

"Guards!"

Several knights quickly entered from outside, kneeling on one knee and responding loudly.

"Here!"

"Lift him up, let me see him."

"Yes!!"

The knights didn't care if he was afraid. They stepped forward and lifted the man, one of them pinching his chin to turn his face towards me.

The moment I saw his face, a thought popped into my head.

So familiar.

Yet I couldn't place him.

Just then, Nara's reminder came to my ear.

"Your Highness, do you remember that time we went to Dragon City and encountered some ruffians on the road?"

Gasp!

As soon as Nara said that, I instantly remembered.

That day, on the way to Dragon City, we ran into a group of hooligans. Of course, I didn't pay them much mind and simply had them sent to prison to serve their time.

But... how many days has it been?

Not even a week, right?

I only just dealt with them!

How could this person appear again?

"Are you sure... it's him?"

I didn't have much of an impression of this person; after all, I'd only seen him from a distance before ordering him dealt with.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, it's definitely him."

Nara whispered in my ear.

But this... instantly filled my heart with an unnamed rage.

I personally gave the order, and it was my Praetorian Knights who escorted him to prison. Even a fool shouldn't have released them.

Yet, the reality before me clearly stated:

'Someone pulled strings, paid money, and used influence and wealth to get them released.'

"Your Highness Lina, please sit for a moment. I will resolve this issue immediately."

I offered Lina a faint smile, then turned to Nara and instructed:

"Have someone take Your Highness Lina to rest; do not treat her lightly. Immediately send Lola and Sake to see me, and Lord Audis."

Augus isn't needed for now; he doesn't handle matters here.

"Yes."

Nara nodded and promptly carried out my instructions.

Approximately five minutes later, Lola was the first to arrive at the Temple. Upon entering, she first glanced at the person kneeling on the ground, then subtly pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, as if she had already understood something.

Immediately after, Lord Audis also rushed in from outside, his aged face covered in sweat, his breathing ragged.

"May I ask, Your Highness, what urgent matter required your humble servant's presence?"

Lord Audis entered, first glancing at the person kneeling on the ground, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. However, he didn't ask further; instead, he bowed to me first before asking that question.

"Come and sit first. Nara, serve Lord Audis some tea."

I smiled as I looked at Audis. Although the old man had pledged his allegiance to me, he wasn't arrogant about his contributions, and I was extremely pleased by that.

Regardless, having him rush here at his age was also my fault.

However, the current problem was more significant.

No matter how old Audis got, as long as I was here, his body wouldn't have any issues.

Once he pledged allegiance to me, his only choice was to die of old age.

And before that, he would work for me until he died.

With my level of healing art, it wouldn't be a problem for this old man to live for at least another twenty or thirty years.

Failing eyesight, unsteady legs—none of those were issues with me~

As long as you haven't drawn your last breath, I can make you instantly full of vigor.