The news of Mark and the others’ execution was delivered by someone from the Church of Judicature.
At this moment, Willis was dozing in her carriage, surrounded by beautiful women.
Inside the carriage, various fragrances mingled, fresh and intoxicating.
Sielyou, Ofilia, Winnie, Victoria, Annie…
And Willis herself.
Originally, Willis wanted to chat, but since all the women were silent, she lost the mood to speak as well.
To her left sat Ofilia, to her right, Winnie Kanasha.
Sitting between the two women, Willis rested with her eyes closed, feeling quite content.
Of course, if one ignored her hand that was secretly causing mischief on the two women.
And the expressions of the two as they struggled to suppress their outbursts…
And the furious glare from Anne Donald opposite, whose eyes seemed ready to spit fire…
It was still a rather harmonious scene.
“Your Highness, someone claiming to be from the Church of Judicature says they have intelligence for you.”
A Soldier called out from outside the carriage window.
Willis responded, “Bring it in.”
“Yes!”
Soon, the Soldier approached on horseback, handing a slip of paper through the window.
Willis signaled for Winnie to take it. The female Elf shot her a displeased glare but complied.
Spreading out the slip and reading it, Willis smiled.
“This is the fate of opposing this Imperial Princess…”
These words made Winnie Kanasha beside her look complicated, while Ofilia seemed to want to punch that hateful smiling face.
“Your Highness, that person also said that His Majesty the Emperor has ordered Her Highness the Grand Princess to command the 2,500 City Defense Army to return. Only 500 guards are allowed to remain by your side…”
“And all losses must be doubled and repaid to the Imperial Treasury after arriving at Ushi City.”
Rarely, Willis burst out with a curse at these words.
“Damn!”
“Willis!”
Sielyou opposite her warned, “Mind your status!”
Willis’s face, which had been smug just moments ago, now turned uncomfortable.
“Isn’t it just borrowing some men? Why do I have to compensate for the losses? Weren’t these people given to you, Imperial Sister?”
“In name, yes, but weren’t you the one using them?”
Sielyou rolled her eyes at her.
“Do you think Father Emperor would have nothing to say about this?”
Hearing this, Willis sighed.
“Forget it. After this great battle, we’re down to only 2,500 or so…”
“Those Rebels are truly fierce. Even after being schemed against by this Imperial Princess, they still managed to bite off a piece of my flesh. How hateful!”
Nearly seven hundred were lost, including Soldiers, equipment, and various supplies—all costs that fell on Willis.
Not to mention the expenses of sending troops.
It wasn’t a small sum!
“Well, at least Ushi City has been profitable these past two years. Still, it hurts a bit.”
Willis waved her hand, signaling for Sielyou to make preparations.
By sunset, the Soldier sent to deliver the Imperial Decree caught up to Willis’s group at a gallop.
After defeating the Rebels, Willis’s march had slowed.
After all, everyone had fought through the night two days before and needed to recover. The captured Elves couldn’t move quickly either.
So it wasn’t difficult for the messenger to catch up.
After confirming the messenger’s token and the contents of the Holy Decree, Sielyou left only 500 men, sending the rest of the City Defense Army back.
“Father Emperor just can’t bear to let me be well. He withdraws the troops right after my victory, as if hoping I’d die!”
Seated in the carriage, Willis gazed at the now halved army, feeling empty inside.
She didn’t like men, but the army was an exception.
With them around, there was a sense of security!
“Luckily, Father Emperor said nothing about how to handle these Elves. It seems he’s left it up to me by default.”
Hearing this, Sielyou rolled her eyes.
“Alright, once we reach Ushi City, you’re the lord there. How many troops you want is up to you, isn’t it?”
Although the Imperial Law limited the number of private Soldiers an Imperial Princess could have, Willis was not only an Imperial Princess but also the Lord of Ushi City!
Besides, the law was one thing; reality was another.
The private Soldiers in the Empire’s noble families had long since exceeded the legal limit in secret.
As long as there were no signs of rebellion, the Empire typically only gave warnings and monitored their activities.
Forced reductions were rare.
Moreover, Willis held the status of Demon Princess.
“But all of that is money!”
Willis spread her hands helplessly.
“If I want to maintain an army, money, grain, equipment, horses, camps…”
“Even magic, swordsmanship, military formations… I have to provide all of it…”
Willis’s words left everyone in the carriage dumbfounded.
“It’s still better to use the Empire’s existing forces. Use them when needed, return them when not, so much easier!”
At that moment, Winnie Kanasha suddenly spoke.
“Willis~”
“Hmm? What did you call me?”
Willis narrowed her eyes, her gaze turning cold.
Hearing this, Ofilia watched with a touch of schadenfreude.
Unable to resist the tyrant Willis, but seeing the bullying once suffered now fall on another beautiful girl, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction.
In Ofilia’s eyes, this Elf named Winnie Kanasha also looked resentful and resistant.
But in the end, after a battle of wills, she still compromised.
Just like Ofilia had.
“Mas… Master…”
“Good. That’s better. Speak, what is it?”
Willis’s smile was infuriating, making Ofilia suddenly snap back to reality.
What was she gloating about?
This was a demon, a lustful woman!
She’d just let this fiend succeed again!
She should be angry, sorrowful!
This Elf was also a poor soul, forced into this!
Hmm?
That’s right!
Since everyone was forced, couldn’t she join forces with her…
Ofilia’s eyes darted back and forth, but Willis ignored her.
“Master… I… I want to…”
Winnie stared at Willis, nearly shooting fire from her eyes, gritting her teeth.
“Now that the City Defense Army is gone, could my people ride in the carriages they left behind?”
Their group of Elves had lost many, some dead, some captured.
Continuing their mission was impossible.
But at the very least, Winnie wanted to secure a more comfortable environment for her people.
Willis refused to let them go, keeping them under guard day and night, threatening them with their lives at any sign of movement.
Escape was impossible, but Winnie had at least negotiated that her people wouldn’t be sold, merely serving as maids for Willis for two years.
Now, she wanted more.
Little by little.
“But those carriages are filled with the supplies I won, and nearly thirty Giant Ballista.”
Willis countered.
“Do you think those Elves who don’t share my loyalties are worth more than those supplies?”
At her words, Winnie trembled with rage.
This hateful woman, actually comparing her people to lifeless objects!
“You… You… What do you want!?”
“Beg me!”
Willis smirked.
“As long as you ask, it’s not impossible.”
“I know you and your people are probably always thinking about escape…”
“But don’t worry. I won’t give you the chance!”
“Your people are watched day and night—even when sleeping or using the toilet, there are maids with them!”
“If anyone moves, they’ll be shot full of arrows!”
“As for you, if you leave my side for more than ten minutes, I’ll order those Elves killed…”
“I say this so you understand—plotting to escape or help them escape is impossible.”
“Now, beg me!”
Willis looked down at Winnie with a lofty air.
At that moment, in the eyes of the other women, she was no different from a villain forcing a good woman into prostitution.
And opposite her, Anne Donald wanted nothing more than to punch Willis.
This hateful woman, was she blind?
Why torment a hateful Elf instead of pursuing a beauty like her?
Willis, are you blind?!
In the strangely tense carriage, Winnie clenched her fingers until they turned white.
At last, she forced out the words.
“Will… Willis Master, I beg you…”
“Mm, not bad! This Imperial Princess agrees!”
After all, she wasn’t a demon.
Meals are eaten one bite at a time, and tickets are collected bit by bit. That much she understood.
But just then, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the momentum sent Winnie and Ofilia tumbling into Willis’s arms.
From outside, the driver’s frightened shout was heard.
“Your Highness, there are mountain bandits! The number is around a thousand!”