A winter morning.
The north wind howled, and the world was covered in white snow.
The sky remained dim.
The dry wood burning in the fireplace made a crisp crackling and popping sound.
The young girl gently brushed aside a lock of emerald-green hair from her temple and adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses.
She looked out the window, and her thoughts couldn't help but drift back to June 15th, five months ago.
Everything began to change on that day.
Twirling the quill in her hand, she recalled the day she boarded the carriage with Her Highness to head to the battlefield.
Even though several months had passed, she still remembered that scene clearly.
The tip of the pen slowly landed on the blank paper.
【The Saintess Chronicles: Volume One, beginning on June 15th, Year 927 of the Holy Calendar.】
【June 15th, morning: Exorcist Witch Martha formulated a plan. That night, leading five thousand cavalry, she launched a simultaneous internal and external assault, defeating a demon army of one hundred thousand during the siege. Butcher Zuka was severely wounded, and the battle was decided in a single strike. The battlefield extended to the Moonlight River, and the situation was settled within two days.】
【June 17th, morning...】
【June 20th, morning...】
Writing it down step by step, even though she knew she had been a participant in all of it.
Looking back, Lola still couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
In just five months, the appearance of Brilliant City had completely changed.
Now, those patrolling the streets were no longer temporary officials chosen from hooligans.
Instead, they had all been replaced by infantry. Public security had shifted from local autonomy to a military system.
The crime rate had plummeted.
Every step Her Highness took seemed to be carefully considered.
Almost no major flaws appeared in any of the procedures.
Even if there were some, they did not affect the overall shift in the situation.
Now, even in the North Gate and West Gate districts, where the crime rate used to be the highest, the atmosphere was gradually improving.
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
"Bishop Lola, Sir Hilda has arrived for a visit."
The voice of a nun came from outside the door.
Hilda Cromwell, Her Highness's most trusted Guardian Knight.
"Let her in."
After saying that, Lola felt it might not be quite right.
No matter what, Hilda was one of Her Highness's confidants.
As a bishop, Lola's attitude could, to some extent, represent Her Highness's own stance.
She shouldn't let Her Highness's confidants feel neglected.
"No, I will go to meet her."
With that, Lola put down her pen, closed the blank book, and stood up to walk to the door.
By the time she reached the door, Hilda had already arrived.
The two looked at each other.
Seeing the valiant knight-princess before her, her armor dusted with white snow, Lola offered a small smile.
"Good morning, Sir Hilda."
"Good morning, Bishop Lola."
Hilda's voice was as crisp and loud as ever.
That energetic and spirited voice seemed to dispel some of the winter chill.
As expected of a knight, her powerful physical constitution allowed her to be completely unfazed by the freezing wind.
However, Lola was much more susceptible to the cold.
"Sir Hilda, you must be here for a reason. It is freezing outside, so let us speak indoors."
"Alright."
Hilda responded bluntly without any ceremony, following Lola into the room.
The warm air that greeted her as she entered refreshed her spirit, which had been worn down by the cold wind.
She casually unfastened her cloak and handed it to the nearby nun.
She added a brief word:
"Thank you."
The nun smiled and took the cloak with a slight nod, turning to hang it on the nearby rack.
Lola sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace and made a 'please' gesture with her hand.
Hilda nodded, the metal plates of her boots making a sharp clanking sound as she also approached the fireplace.
She sat down opposite Lola.
Soon, a nun brought over two cups of black tea.
"Sir Hilda, please have some tea."
"There is no rush for tea, Bishop Lola. I am here on official business."
"Very well, let us discuss business first. May I ask what brings you here, Sir Hilda?"
Lola smiled. This most trusted Guardian Knight of Her Highness was still as rigid as ever, doing everything by the book without the slightest deviation.
However, this also made things easier for her, saving a lot of superficial pleasantries.
The girl with the single ponytail nodded.
"Bishop Lola, I am somewhat aware of the financial issues this year, which is why I haven't brought this up until now."
"But in the last few days, the quarantine camp has been almost emptied, with no more than a few thousand people remaining."
"Due to the winter season, construction on the sub-city, Knight City, Family City, and Dragon City has been suspended."
"The financial pressure should have eased considerably by now, so... I have taken the liberty of coming here."
"I am here to request this year's winter bonuses for the Infantry Legion and the Knight Order."
Lola nodded with a smile and took a sip of black tea, feeling the warmth flow through her.
"Yes, I have already prepared for this."
"Sir Kevin had already discussed this with me when he returned."
Hearing this, Hilda's brow furrowed slightly.
"Then why weren't they distributed immediately? Winter is already the season for changing clothes, and a portion of the Infantry Legion has yet to receive their winter uniforms."
Lola took a deep breath, a hint of apology appearing on her face.
"Are there still people who haven't changed into winter gear? That is indeed an oversight on my part."
"There is no need for such guilt, Bishop Lola. Those in the army are aware of the situation this year."
"The rewards for the Knight Order this year are enough for them to change into a clean set of new clothes."
At this point, Hilda was clearly in a difficult position.
"But those in the infantry, because most of them do not have direct contact with the battlefield, have almost no prize money. In previous years, on the day of the winter solstice, a quarter's worth of pay would be distributed to help them."
"But this year, if cases of frostbite hadn't already appeared, I'm afraid those infantry officers still wouldn't have spoken up."
"Frostbite cases have already appeared!?" Lola stood up in shock.
At any time, the army was the backbone that allowed a country to stand tall.
The fact that the payments hadn't been distributed was indeed because she had been overwhelmed with work lately.
There was no helping it; there were too many things to handle now, and not just in Brilliant City.
The northeast region and Seaview City were now under the jurisdiction of Brilliant City.
Even Moonrise City, where the local nobility had been almost entirely wiped out due to the Saintess's assassination attempt, had indirectly come under Brilliant City's control.
Hilda nodded and said nothing more.
She trusted Bishop Lola just as Her Highness trusted her.
Lola's expression was grave. After a brief moment of contemplation, she said immediately:
"Understood. I will immediately arrange for the distribution of this year's winter supplies."
Seeing the faint dark circles under Lola's eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses, Hilda also understood her hardships.
"Thank you for your hard work."
However, Lola didn't seem to mind and just smiled.
"It is all for Her Highness."
"Yes, all for Her Highness."
That extremely lazy Her Highness, who desperately wanted to slack off, was probably still sleeping in~
Lola and Hilda looked at each other and simultaneously revealed strange smiles.
The room fell silent for a moment. Hilda finished her tea and stood up.
"I have finished what I came for, so I won't disturb you any longer, Bishop Lola."
Lola also hurriedly stood up to see her off.
"Thank you for coming, Sir Hilda. Please stabilize the army's morale once you return."
"I will."
As she spoke, Hilda seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She turned back to look at Lola.
"By the way, Sir Kevin also asked me to inquire about the situation in the south. How are things with the Kingdom of Flame?"
Lola pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:
"There is no news from the Kingdom of Flame for the time being. However, as long as Her Highness remains in the Kingdom of the Moon, I doubt the Kingdom of Flame would dare to start a war lightly."
Ever since the Kingdom of Flame moved its army to the border a month ago, they had not withdrawn even after a stern reprimand from the Pope.
It was as if they were flaunting their power, conducting military exercises right on the border.
In response, the Holy See's military forces had also moved in.
Both sides had coincidentally stopped at the edge of the Kingdom of the Sun's territory.
The Kingdom of the Sun was an island nation, and most of its territory was on the four offshore islands.
However, it still maintained a small portion of territory on the mainland.
Its area was not even half the size of a single province in the Kingdom of the Moon.
It was like a narrow, winding corridor connecting the Holy See to the four islands.
The eastern side of this corridor bordered two large provinces of the Kingdom of the Moon.
One was Twin-Wing City in the southwest, and the other was Twin River City in the south.
Its western side was the territory of the Kingdom of the Flame.
To its south was the Holy See.
It was essentially backed by the sea and surrounded by enemies on three sides.
Now, the Holy See and the Kingdom of Flame were pressing their forces into this position.
Clearly, they had developed a greedy desire for it.
In the history of five hundred years ago, wars between different races and nations began to stabilize.
The world map had not undergone major changes for nearly a thousand years.
She didn't know what was happening now for so many ambitious figures to suddenly emerge.
Lola even wondered if this was the mandate of heaven favoring Her Highness.
At least in her view, although Her Highness had started late, she would never lose.
"However, please inform Sir Kevin of this: the forces of the Holy See and the Kingdom of Flame are concentrated on the Gorge Island of the Kingdom of the Sun."
This territory, which resembled a passage, was not an island, yet it was still given the name 'Island'.
It seemed to represent a small bit of stubbornness from the ancestors of the Kingdom of the Sun.
Hilda gave an affirmative response.
"Understood, I will pass it on."
She paused again.
"And the dragon... forget it, that's still some time away, we don't need to consider it for now."
Lola knew what Hilda was talking about, and her expression turned slightly solemn.
"Regarding that matter, I will inform Her Highness and see if we can get any news from the Dragon King."
"Since you have your own plans, Bishop Lola, I won't involve myself further."
"Take care."
"No need to see me out."
Watching Hilda leave, Lola quickly turned around and called for someone to prepare the supplies.
From four in the morning until six-thirty, Lola did not stop for a moment.
It was only after she had finalized the supplies and the people to distribute them that she breathed a sigh of relief.
Checking the time, she ate breakfast and rested for a short while before changing into her official bishop's robe.
She adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and looked toward the back hall.
As soon as she stepped out the door, a massive figure nearby stood up.
She glanced at the giant form and the thick accumulation of snow on him.
"Sake, since you were here, why didn't you say anything?"
Why was this old bull so stubborn?
Insisting on guarding the door instead of coming inside.
It was so cold out there!
As if understanding Lola's meaning, Sake suddenly snorted two jets of hot air from his nostrils.
"No can do. I can't let my wife worry about me cheating!"
Lola blinked her eyes.
Even if she were blind, she wouldn't choose him!
This old bull's skin was certainly thick enough.
He really had quite the imagination!
"Based on what you're saying, it sounds like your wife has already questioned you?"
"Not really, but I've got to keep things straight and narrow. If the roles were reversed, I definitely wouldn't be comfortable with my wife taking care of another man. So... I have to be extra careful while protecting you!"
Hearing this, Lola felt both annoyed and amused.
Annoyed that this old bull was making such a fuss over nothing.
Amused because... this old bull's character was truly beyond reproach.
As expected of Her Highness, her eye for people was incredibly accurate.
Lola remembered how she had personally advised caution before, given that he was from another race.
"Fine, I won't argue with you. Let's go to the back hall."
At this point, Lola paused again.
"By the way, don't forget to go to the Finance Ministry today to collect your winter bonuses and buy your wife some new clothes."
"Bonuses are being handed out today?"
The old bull's eyes widened suddenly.
"Yes."
Lola nodded.
The two walked forward, chatting casually.
Originally, Lola lived in a side room of the Temple's front hall, which wasn't far from the back hall.
Assassination attempts were almost impossible here.
But Luo Li still felt uneasy.
So, for the past while, the old bull Sake had been assigned to her side.
Lola understood Her Highness's plan; she likely intended to have a Guardian Knight stay by her side permanently in a few days.
Lola thought about it.
There were many capable people around Her Highness.
But most of them already had their own positions.
Sir Lancelot was powerful, but the dragon cavalry regiment needed a leader.
Archmages Camilla and Ligeia both had their own duties.
One was the head of the Alchemists' Association, and the other was an advisor to the dragon cavalry regiment.
Neither could be spared.
Hilda and Cain took turns guarding the Temple and couldn't leave either.
As for the other knights, she didn't know how Her Highness planned to arrange them yet.
But knowing Her Highness's personality, she would never let them sit idle.
It was just that so much had happened lately that these minor details had been overlooked.
Now that the quarantine camp had completely settled down and construction on the sub-cities had stopped.
It was probably time to start dealing with these matters.
Lost in thought, she arrived at the second floor of the back hall.
At this moment, several nuns were already waiting quietly in front of Her Highness's bedroom door.
The one leading them was, of course, Nara.
Although there were many things to handle within the Temple.
Nara's primary duty was still to look after Her Highness's daily life.
Once she was familiar with the Temple's operations, she would naturally return here.
Nara noticed Lola but didn't say anything, only nodding.
Then she looked down at her pocket watch to check the time, took a deep breath, and slowly knocked on the door.
'Knock, knock-knock~'
"Your Highness, it is already seven-thirty. It is time to get up."
As she spoke, Nara pushed open the door.
Inside the room, a young girl was curled up on the bed, her silver hair scattered.
She opened a pair of listless crimson eyes and spoke in a lazy voice.
"Ugh... let me sleep for five more minutes, QwQ."
Rate on N.U.
