Chapter 150: Come or Go as You Please (61/140)

August 20th, West Gate of Ushi City

The reconstruction work here had already reached halfway.

With Nidnia and Borden leading people to work day and night, plus all kinds of new talents they’d found

It was progressing fast.

Now it was early morning, and under the dazzling morning sun, Velis felt a sense of loss.

“Sister, can’t you just not leave?”

Velis was reluctant, but the other party didn’t care at all.

“Get lost! Staying here would just make me free labor for you…”

“By the way, are you the Lord of Ushi City or am I? Why does it feel like I worry more about this place than you do?”

“For your mess here, I even took two extra days off. I’m probably going to get my pay docked.”

Hill Yu shot her a glare, tidied her armor, and mounted her horse.

“Besides, on August 27th, you have to go to the Academy. Can’t you wait a few more days?”

The girl snorted coldly.

“Stop pretending. You’ll be so relieved once I’m gone!”

“Sigh… Sister, I’ll miss you.”

Velis sighed.

Hill Yu took away the five hundred soldiers she’d brought, as well as the taxes and military expenses to be handed over to the Empire.

And the reward from the Church of Judicature.

The caravans stretched for dozens of wagons.

For safety, Velis had the Wolf Spider Army assign two thousand men to escort Hill Yu as well.

Just in case any rebels targeted the money and tried to attack again.

Of course, money was secondary.

But with this, the city’s patrol strength decreased, and the Tiger Battalion and Shadow Horse Battalion would have to pick up the slack.

“Sister, take care. Be careful on the road! Remember, your safety comes first!”

Velis waved.

Hill Yu circled her horse twice in place.

“Alright, go back. The population census should be done within a few days.”

“Without me, the people under your command won’t cause trouble either. I’m leaving, so take care of things yourself. Hyah!”

With that, Hill Yu snapped her whip and galloped away.

Not long after, the grand procession headed from the west gate towards Monsell.

But Anne didn’t go with them.

She wanted to wait until the day Velis reported in, so they could go together.

Right now, she wasn’t a student of the Royal Academy, but by then she could enter the Academy as Velis’s assistant.

But judging by Ushi City’s current situation, Velis might have to keep her here a bit longer.

After all, many positions remained unfilled, and some newly appointed people hadn’t yet earned Velis’s trust.

With Anne here to oversee things, Velis could feel more at ease.

As for Ofilia…

“And the matter of Nidnia and Becky learning magic…”

On her way back, because of Hill Yu’s departure, Velis inevitably felt down.

Muttering about the two, she started thinking again about how to develop her own mage and swordsman teams in the future.

“Forget it, I should focus on the people around me first. I don’t have many resources at hand now.”

“But I can only wait until I get to the Academy and see if there’s a chance to help them.”

Velis looked up and sighed.

“Training talent is just too hard.”

Behind her, Victoria’s eye twitched at these words, thinking, ‘How is this training talent?’

Clearly, it was raising concubines!

She’d never seen Velis treat anyone else so well?!

Terrence, Borden, all those others—why didn’t you mention them?

For some reason, Victoria recalled that night—

Becky’s sweet, melodious, irresistible voice echoed the entire night.

The performance was even delayed until the afternoon the next day.

Don’t think she didn’t know!

Thinking of this, Victoria’s gaze involuntarily drifted to the hem of Velis’s skirt.

Somehow, a stifling discomfort filled her chest, refusing to dissipate.

After sending off her sister in the morning, Velis felt somewhat empty.

Especially now, with both Ofilia and Hill Yu gone, and Anne and Becky busy with their own affairs.

Nidnia also had no time to keep Velis company.

In the vast Castle Lord’s Mansion, people moved in and out, and the traces of the recent battle had already been erased.

After demolishing two small buildings next door, the mansion’s grounds expanded a bit more.

But as the space grew emptier, so did her heart.

Velis sat in the study, planning her next steps and writing them on paper.

From time to time, she habitually reached out, only to find neither Ofilia nor Becky by her side.

At this moment, a guard at the door spoke softly.

“Your Highness, the Elven Race seeks an audience.”

“Hm?”

Velis’s delicate body trembled.

“Oh, now that I think about it… today is the 20th.”

Another one to see off.

Sighing, Velis stood up and walked out.

Outside, Karo Mama waited with Jenfenny.

This young Star Seer in a starry robe seemed quite timid before Velis’s presence, hiding behind Karo Mama and not daring to show her face.

“Insolent! Hiding your face before Her Highness—come out!”

The soldier beside her scolded, and Velis didn’t stop him.

Jenfenny cautiously shuffled forward, still not daring to look up at Velis.

Velis also didn’t force her to look.

“Today is the agreed-upon day. Have you prepared your belongings?”

At the question, Karo Mama nodded.

“We have. My people packed everything early this morning.”

“We only await your approval, Your Highness, and we can begin the handover.”

“Alright!”

Velis agreed.

She then followed Karo Mama to the mansion’s gate.

Outside, as expected, dozens of elves stood guard around over a dozen carriages.

Each carriage bore a large chest.

Velis walked over and peeked inside—gold and jewels.

The Elven Race had truly gone to great lengths to redeem these elves.

Were they afraid she’d refuse if it wasn’t enough and decided to pay in full at once?

Velis was quite satisfied with their attitude.

Even though everyone knew it was ransom, outwardly they still had to act unconcerned.

The leading male elf saluted Velis.

“Your Highness Velis, this is a token of the Elven Race’s gratitude for saving our people. Please accept it.”

“At the same time, we’ve come to take them home.”

He was tall and handsome. Even under a concealing robe, his fine features were hard to hide.

Velis learned he was Zangewell Mario.

She almost wanted to ask if he could eat mushrooms to grow bigger, but instead raised another question.

“Are you the elves who left early after hearing the news from Monsell?”

He did not reply, his expression indifferent.

This was already considered rude.

A soldier beside her wanted to rush forward to defend his lord’s honor, but Velis waved him back.

After confirming the count, Velis lost interest.

“Enough, get people to move these things to the treasury and keep a strict watch.”

“Yes!”

The mansion’s soldiers began unloading.

Meanwhile, Karo Mama led out the elves who’d been under Velis’s house arrest, joining them with their kin.

Velis made no move to stop them.

From now on, they might never cross paths again.

“Your Highness, where is Winnie?”

Karo Mama approached and asked.

“Wait a moment, I’ll bring her out myself.”

Velis said no more, heading back inside.

Winnie had already learned from Velis that today was the day she’d leave.

So she’d packed early, sitting at the bedside awaiting the call.

When she saw Velis enter, she snorted.

“Can I go now?!”

“Yes.”

Velis nodded.

“Don’t think that saving my life and caring for me these days erases what you did to me, Velis!”

Winnie, fully recovered in mind and will, stood, her wild spirit blazing.

“If I get the chance, I’ll still kill you!”

“Really?”

In that moment, Velis showed a trace of loneliness.

This made Winnie, ready for a sharp retort, pause.

What kind of expression was that!?

Trying to act weak now?

It’s too late, Velis!

She’d been waiting for the chance to snap at this hateful woman before leaving, and now that moment had come.

But for Velis to suddenly show weakness—it caught Winnie off guard.

All the sharp words she’d prepared felt like stabbing into cotton.

“What do you think!? Stop faking it, Velis!”

“And besides, I don’t believe you’d really let me go out of kindness!”

Winnie stepped forward, her pretty face less than five centimeters from Velis’s, their chests almost touching.

She no longer cared about such contact.

After all, things that shouldn’t be done, and those that should, had all been taken by Velis with overwhelming force.

At this point, to show shyness or fear would only make the other party laugh.

Sure enough, at the instant their chests touched, Velis’s gaze wavered.

Winnie felt a surge of triumph.

“Looks like you know me well. But since I gave my word, I’ll let you go.”

Velis sighed.

Winnie puffed up angrily and demanded.

“Didn’t you say you absolutely wouldn’t release us before seven days? Why now? What are you plotting?!”

“Whatever it is, I’ll make you regret it!”

Faced with her ferocity, Velis for once stepped back.

“You know, my original plan was to let you and Ofilia go after five days if you could endure it…”

“You did it. Seven days was only a verbal agreement, and my bottom line has always been flexible.”

“You met my expectations. I can let you go.”

But Winnie didn’t believe it at all.

“Are you trying to fool a ghost, Velis?! If you’re doing this, you must be up to something!”

Her clear green eyes searched Velis’s face, looking for any sign.

But she found nothing.

“This time, I’m not.”

Velis stepped back again, looking innocent.

“I just thought—if you don’t want to stay, as a Princess, I have no choice but to let go.”

“What!?”

Winnie looked as if she’d heard a humiliating insult.

She grabbed Velis’s shoulders, shouting into her face.

“You took my purity, dominated me with your cruelty. Even though you’re not a man, you were even more excessive!”

“Even if my mind was unstable these days, I’ll never forget your humiliation!”

“Let go!? What right do you have to say that now!? If anyone’s letting go, it’s not going to be me! I’ll keep looking for chances to kill you!”

Though she kept talking about killing, Velis saw no such emotion on her face.

Instead, there was a kind of gritted-teeth stubbornness.

“Are you sure you want to threaten me like this? I still have the power to change my mind.”

After all, this was her territory.

Winnie snorted, glaring.

“You dare!?”

“Whether I dare or not, the fact remains I saved you and your people.”

“These past days, I cared for you. That’s a fact too…”

“From feeding to bathing to helping you pick flowers and use the chamber pot… Dirty work, tiring work, this Princess has done enough to make it up to you.”

“So what!?”

Winnie’s body trembled.

Thinking of how Velis had seen every embarrassing detail, she wanted to take action right now and chop her head off.

“Nothing. I just thought, for the last time, as a parting gift, I’d care for you again. How about it?”

“After all, this might be our last meeting…”

For once, the Imperial Princess revealed a reluctant expression.

Winnie was stunned for a few seconds, then her shame and anger rose.

“Wil! Lis! I’ll kill you, I swear!”

“Hmm, not very original or as forceful as before.”

“Then I’ll kill you now!”

“Hey? Wait, wait, I was kidding…”

“Where are you touching!?”

“Sorry… got used to it.”

Velis let go, dropping the fruit knife Winnie had picked up.

The two fell silent for a while, the mood turning strange.

Velis, thinking she might not see this beautiful, spirited elf for some time, couldn’t help feeling a little sad.

Her wildness, her hatred, her stubborn mouth—

All those flaws and strengths made Velis reluctant to let go.

But once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t turn back.

As for Winnie, under Velis’s gaze, her anger and hatred slowly became complicated.

Her eyes wandered the room where she’d been cared for these past days, dodging, flashing…

She recalled images of Velis caring for her.

Even if that care had an ulterior motive, she couldn’t deny it was the gentlest treatment she’d ever received from Velis.

After a long pause, she bit her lip and quietly asked…

“Why are you the only one who bullies me!?”

“Because I really like you…”

“Get out!”

Hearing such a shameless confession, the anger returned to Winnie’s face.

She would never admit that when she heard those words, her heart was stirred.

This wasn’t love!

It was possession!

It was desire!

It was domination!

Furious, Winnie raised her hand to strike Velis, only to have it easily caught.

Velis asked sincerely and seriously.

“So, do you accept?”

“Pervert! Go die ten thousand times!”