Everything went black for a moment when I stood up.
It seemed that staying up for a day and a night had taken quite a toll on my body.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Lola stepped forward with a worried inquiry, but Luo Li waved her hand.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired. A good sleep should fix it. Let's leave the rest for tomorrow. Back to the Temple, I need to rest."
The remaining matters weren't so urgent that they couldn't wait. I needed to rest well to build a good foundation for tomorrow's work.
Upon returning to the Temple, fatigue caused Luo Li to fall into a deep sleep the moment she touched the bed.
She didn't even have time to change out of her Saintess's robe before drifting into dreamland.
When she opened her eyes again, the sky was still dark, and Nara's voice reached her ears.
"Your Highness, Guardian Knight Hilda requests an audience."
"Let her in."
A crack opened in the Temple's main gates. Hilda, clad in her silver armor, walked in with a light step and stopped beneath the statue.
"Hilda, you're back. How is the situation at the front?"
The battlefield was ever-changing, and whether Brilliant City could return to normalcy depended on whether the demon army could be completely crushed this time.
Luo Li asked urgently, casting all else aside.
Hilda's lips curved into a smile as she nodded slightly, her posture unconsciously straightening.
"Your Highness, only remnants of the demon army have crossed the Moonlight River. Most of them have been annihilated. We have won."
Won. Finally, we won!
Relaxing suddenly, Luo Li let out a long breath. A heavy stone had finally been lifted from her heart.
Only then did she have the presence of mind to notice other things.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Your Highness, you have been asleep for fourteen hours. It is currently 4:33 AM."
Ella's voice came from beside her.
Glancing at Ella, Luo Li saw her holding a bright silver pocket watch.
In this world, clocks had become essential items in noble households.
Judging by the speed of technological development, it seemed to be the late Middle Ages, or something around that level.
A night's rest hadn't completely dispelled her exhaustion.
The fatigue left Luo Li's body feeling somewhat weak.
Even as the Saintess, and even with her levels, the cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death remained normal. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been Luo Li's turn to be this generation's Saintess.
Sensing Luo Li's poor condition, Hilda watched her with concern.
"Your Highness, is your health failing? Then your subordinate shall take her leave..."
"Wait a moment, Hilda."
Luo Li called out to the departing Hilda and then instructed Nara.
"Nara, have Lola come here. Tell her to bring the files on all the nuns."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nara nodded and turned to leave.
"Does Your Highness have any other instructions? If you are feeling unwell, I suggest you get more rest."
Hilda looked at Luo Li with a serious gaze.
She was clearly worried about the Saintess's health.
However, a bit of fatigue wouldn't hinder anything.
"Hilda, I went to see Cyrus."
"...Your Highness, you personally interviewed that traitor?"
Hilda's face immediately filled with worry.
"That is too dangerous. Please cherish yourself, Your Highness. You are the Saintess of the Moon. If something happens to you, the entire Kingdom of the Moon will fall into chaos!"
"Don't worry, Sake was there."
"That old bull? If he was there... it's barely acceptable. But Your Highness, if you need to go to a dangerous place like the prison next time, please make sure to take me with you!"
Hilda looked up seriously, the determination in her eyes making it impossible for Luo Li to refuse.
"Even if Sake is strong enough, he is still an outsider, after all."
"I understand."
Luo Li nodded, giving Hilda her promise.
"Hilda, I have a basic understanding of Cyrus's situation. The reason he defected is largely due to his family and status. I want to know... Hilda, what do you think of slaves?"
Hilda froze, clearly not expecting the Saintess to ask such a question so suddenly.
After a moment of thought, she spoke in a low voice.
"Regarding slaves, I believe... their existence does not align with the Sacred Canon. It is a... a..."
She seemed unable to find the right word for a moment.
Luo Li supplemented for her.
"A morbid anomaly."
"...Yes."
Hilda was stunned and looked at Luo Li in surprise, a flash of agreement in her eyes.
"Just as Your Highness described, slavery in the Holy Kingdom is a morbid anomaly. Personally, I believe this situation should not exist."
"However, that is only my personal opinion."
As expected, even a Guardian Knight could only speak in a personal capacity when facing the system of slavery, not daring to use her title as a knight.
"Your Highness, although this situation does not align with the canon... please be cautious, extremely cautious. This is not something that can be changed easily."
Hilda's gaze was full of seriousness and worry.
"Hilda, I understand your concerns."
Luo Li rubbed her forehead, which felt tight from overthinking.
"As for the system itself, even I probably cannot change it in a short time. Otherwise, one day you might hear the news of me falling into a river and drowning."
Hilda frowned, clearly thinking of the possibilities.
Attacking the system head-on would surely provoke resistance from the nobility.
"However..."
"However, what?"
"I cannot strike the system directly, but I can improve it from the sidelines."
The slave system could not be deleted. At least not in this world where individual strength could rival a nation, people would always be divided into ranks.
Therefore, the system could not be completely abolished.
But it could be changed!
"Your Highness, you called for me."
While Luo Li and Hilda were talking, Nara entered through the side door with Lola.
Lola's face showed signs of exhaustion, her eyes bloodshot. She clearly hadn't rested well.
"Lola, didn't you rest?"
Luo Li had slept for fourteen hours and was almost recovered, so why was Lola still like this?
"I thought Your Highness might need these records, so I went to the archives to check."
Lola turned around as several nuns pushed a small cart into the room.
On the cart were several stacks of thick, slightly worn books.
"Slave Regulations, Trade Regulations, Sacred Canon, Noble Regulations, and some related books. They are all here."
Lola's voice was calm, her expression unchanged. She didn't seem to have any intention of claiming credit; she simply pushed up her glasses.
"There are also the Biographies of the Saintesses of the Moon and the Demon Race Records. They are all here as well."
Good heavens. She had actually deduced what Luo Li wanted to do and what she wanted to know from just a few words and actions.
Such a person was absolutely the best candidate for a secretary.
As the boss, Luo Li was overjoyed.
"Excellent. Lola, go and rest now."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I suspect you will still have a use for me in the upcoming matters. I have already read through all these books tonight and have a general understanding of the situation, which can save Your Highness a lot of trouble."
Lola pushed up her glasses to hide the exhaustion behind the frames, her voice as flat as if she were simply reciting facts.
Lola, which angel sister sent you down to help me!?
I absolutely love you!
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