As Willis’s convoy departed from the Royal City, moving away from the Toukui Imperial Palace, news of her leaving Monsell spread like a tidal wave throughout the entire Imperial Capital.
People talked endlessly.
Inside the street…
“This is… the procession of the Second Princess, Willis Egbert. With such a grand display, where is she headed?”
“I don’t know. But what does it have to do with us where she goes? This plague-bringer—the farther she goes, the better!”
The crowd whispered quietly.
Ordinary civilians had no way of knowing the movements of an Imperial Princess.
But that didn’t stop them from watching the commotion…
Or rather, with Willis leaving, some even felt a bit relieved.
Although Willis herself hadn’t directly affected many, with her increasingly exaggerated reputation, no one wanted such a temperamental Imperial Princess looming over them.
Who knew which day you might fall into her hands and have bad luck?
Now that she was gone, it was something worth being a little happy about.
The guards cleared the way ahead.
Soon after, they left the Royal City avenue and arrived at the Yair Main Road.
Victoria hurriedly rushed back, and at this moment, she happened to arrive here.
“Your Highness, Guard Knight Victoria is here.”
The coachman outside the carriage shouted.
Willis nodded.
“Understood. Keep moving. Don’t mind her.”
“Yes!”
Although the coachman was a bit puzzled, he still nodded obediently.
As the wheels rolled over the smooth stone tiles, Victoria stood breathlessly among the crowd at the side.
The passing coachman and other guards cast her strange glances from the corners of their eyes…
A Guard Knight—not in the convoy?
And Willis didn’t even order the convoy to stop and let Victoria on?
With doubt, the coachman swung his whip, urging the horses to go faster, and the whole convoy sped up.
Victoria’s figure faded into the distance, gradually disappearing from sight.
“I heard the Second Princess is leaving?”
“Yeah, the convoy is over there.”
“Let’s go take a look!”
“What’s there to see? Be careful you don’t offend that female demon and end up strung up and beaten.”
“But I heard Willis is a super beauty. Putting everything else aside, don’t you want to see a beauty?”
“Are you insane?”
“Haha, let’s go, let’s go, let’s check it out.”
Some escaped, while others, driven by curiosity or other reasons, gathered on both sides of the street to watch the luxurious convoy.
Willis’s carriage was in the center, with a few mounted cavalry in front, followed by several less lavish carriages.
They looked like carriages for family members and supplies.
The grand convoy moved forward, and under countless gazes, soon arrived at the East Gate of Monsell.
“Your Highness, an Inquisitor from the Church of Judicature requests an audience.”
The convoy gradually slowed and stopped.
Willis spoke.
“No matter. Keep moving.”
“Yes!”
As the convoy continued forward, Willis opened the carriage window and glanced at Rodmenlin Lot, who was standing beside the Church of Judicature’s people, waiting to be received.
A slight look of surprise appeared on his face.
It seemed Her Highness the Princess had no intention of receiving him here.
“As expected, Her Highness the Princess won’t let me enter your carriage.”
Rodmenlin stood ahead, his expression a mix of laughter and helplessness.
“Inquisitor, you flatter me. The carriage is cramped and unsuitable for guests. Besides, it’s only a few words.”
Willis paused and smiled.
“Inquisitor, please return. Your sentiment, I accept.”
“In that case, I respectfully send off Her Highness the Princess. May you have a safe journey!”
Rodmenlin bowed deeply, then turned to Normankev beside him.
“Principal Justice, go. Be sure to protect Her Highness.”
“Understood.”
Normankev received the order, then led fifty Church of Judicature members to join Willis’s convoy.
However, they did not form a protective ring, but dispersed in all directions, acting as scouts.
Willis even saw ten people on horseback galloping ahead of the convoy, apparently to scout the road.
Normankev rode beside Willis’s carriage window, matching the carriage’s speed. He looked like Willis’s Guard Knight.
“Your Highness.”
“Mm. Thank you for your trouble.”
“Inquisitor earnestly asks Her Highness not to forget what was promised to the Church of Judicature.”
“Haha, don’t worry. Am I that kind of person?”
Willis sneered.
Normankev was silent for a few seconds, then asked,
“Your Highness, do you think the twelve hundred Imperial Guards are enough for safety?”
“Didn’t your information say the Storm Revolutionary Army, together with the Glorious Restoration Church, numbered at most three hundred? What’s there to fear with a thousand on our side?”
Normankev nodded.
“In numbers, that’s true. I only worry about them resorting to despicable methods.”
“Oh? But isn’t the Church of Judicature good at that?”
Willis looked at him playfully.
“Principal Justice, are you saying you have no confidence in seeing through their tricks?”
“Please rest assured, Your Highness.”
Normankev immediately straightened his expression.
“Then that’s settled. By the way, have you obtained any useful information these past few days?”
Faced with the question, Normankev shook his head.
“We caught some Storm Revolutionary Army spies in the Imperial Capital, but under torture, they only confessed worthless intelligence.”
“All we know is that the Storm Revolutionary Army temporarily cooperated with the Glorious Restoration Church, and there are several bases in the mountains outside Monsell, but we don’t know their locations.”
“If we had caught the thief who delivered the fake letter, maybe we’d be on our way to destroy their lair by now.”
Normankev let out a bitter laugh and continued.
“As for the elves, most within Monsell have relocated to unknown places. We suspect they joined the rebels.”
“But we interrogated the remaining elves and sent people to question elves elsewhere. The result was the same—they seemed unaware of the movements of the elves in the capital.”
“It’s as if…”
Normankev’s tone held speculation.
“As if they’re not a single group… Though they’re all from the Elf Realm, their goals differ, and they have no ties.”
Upon hearing this, Willis grew curious.
“Interrogating elves? With what?”
If it was those infamous torture devices she’d seen in the interrogation room, Willis licked her lips, an inexplicable restlessness rising in her heart.
But Normankev sighed.
“Your Highness, what are you thinking? His Majesty the Emperor now hints that we can’t afford to provoke the elves. Of course, torture can’t be used.”
“Then what did you use?”
Willis suddenly understood.
“Oh, magic.”
Normankev nodded without evasion.
The convoy had already passed through the East Gate. Ahead lay the bustling outer avenue of Monsell.
Many stalls and vendors traded here, forming an alternative Trade Long Street.
As the convoy passed, seeing the Heavenly Vault Sword on the carriage, the surrounding noisy crowd quieted down.
Normankev rode alongside, eyes vigilant as he scanned the surroundings.
“Though it’s magic, we can’t go overboard. After all, the elves are experts in this…”
“As long as everyone stays within acceptable bounds, it’s fine… Well then, Principal Justice, go about your duties.”
Willis was about to lower the curtain when Normankev hurriedly asked.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t the First Princess be in the convoy…? Uh, we heard…”
“Her? She’s in the carriage behind.”
Willis replied perfunctorily, then let down the curtain.
Seeing this, Normankev could only head to the rear, not daring to disturb further.
Once the convoy moved beyond the city gates, Normankev went to the very front to guide the way.
The towering City Walls of Monsell receded behind, and the convoy grew more distant in the eyes of many.
Outside the East Gate…
“Guard Knight Victoria is not present, and First Princess Sielyou didn’t come either. The Church of Judicature people did arrive as suspected, but only fifty… not worth fearing!”
“Hurry and report—Willis is guarded by only twelve hundred Imperial Guards!”
“This time, it’s your time to die! Willis Egbert!”
“Yes!”
Someone accepted the order and departed.