When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 851 - 802: Evacuating Xia Lvcheng

Sitting in front of a luxurious mercury mirror, Moliat was motionless.

Her ivory comb was caught in her silver-white hair, but her eyes were staring blankly at herself in the mirror.

Although she stood almost a meter and ninety tall, the face in the mirror seemed that of a little girl under twenty.

Back when she first met Horn she was only about twenty-four or twenty-five; now she was almost thirty.

Horn... Papa...

She sat before the mirror for quite a while until the effect of the pain-relieving potion dissipated, and the stabbing pain in her back startled Moliat awake.

She quickly grabbed the iron mask from the dressing table and put it on her face, breathing a sigh of relief.

If not for the pain from her injuries, she would have almost been possessed by Jia Li once again.

Indeed, these anesthetic pain-relieving potions made from frog poison could paralyze the pain, but also numb Moliat's tense nerves.

She now had to wear the iron mask that covered her entire face to prevent Jia Li from taking over her body when she looked in the mirror.

At other times, it was fine; she would intentionally let Jia Li out in the yard for some air or call Jia Li to help when she was with Horn.

But most of the time, she maintained a state of full awareness and focus.

In this way, she could regain control of her body at any time.

The witch's ailment was that enormous mana inevitably brought mental pressure.

Just like Jeanne, although it's not obvious, she had signs of mania with symptoms of sudden excitement and aggressiveness.

However, she seemed to use this in warfare and army training.

Her good sister Catherine's symptoms were lighter, only occasionally having ghostly dreams, or constant nightmares at night.

The only exception was Horn.

During the time in Gulag, she could clearly feel Horn had a persistent state of paranoia, severe enough that she could even read the mind of "witches" like Horn.

Under normal circumstances, you cannot read the mind of a witch unless they are in a state of mental instability.

But by the time they met again at Xia Lvcheng after the farewell at Joan of Arc Castle, all symptoms of mana pressure had disappeared.

Later, his emotions were extremely stable, even the wizard with mental powers couldn't feel Horn's emotions.

What was happening with this peasant boy from Shangruifo County?

Was the revival by flying head really true?

After changing into fitted armor and hanging a simple longsword at her waist, Moliat moved her shoulders and walked out of the room.

After the third surgery from the witch doctor, she removed the broken bones and arrowheads from her body.

Spending three days drifting between dreams and reality, the injuries on her back and ribs had healed significantly.

Both the witch doctor and the regular physician told Moliat not to engage in intense activities for two months.

But given the current situation, how could there be none?

Coming into the outer hall, municipal officials and members of the parliament all raised their heads, looking at Moliat with varied expressions.

Many opened their mouths, but none spoke.

Perhaps due to the potion's effects, Moliat didn't notice this point; she simply pulled over a chair and sat down, "Clerk!"

Lucian, Moliat's secretary clerk, hurriedly ran over. He was a small citizen promoted after the Thousand River Valley war.

Unlike the previous positions full of nobles, Moliat truly adhered to the principle of meritocracy.

If you do a good job, you go up; if not, even if you're a noble, you'll be gone, replaced by someone who can do the job.

"Your Highness." Lucian bowed, presenting a three-day brief report.

"Before my surgery, Langsande County's reinforcements were almost at Shuimi Town, right?" Moliat casually flipped through the brief, asking nonchalantly.

"Yes."

"Have they entered the city? Who is the commander?"

"The commander is Jeska, they haven't entered the city yet..."

"Three days and still not entered the city?!" Moliat raised her head, "Has Shuimi Town not been captured? Impossible! What have you been doing?"

Lucian hesitated before finally saying aggrievedly, "We haven't done anything."

Moliat stared directly into Lucian's eyes, her pupils narrowing slightly, then quickly turning to the end of the brief.

In the next moment, her roar echoed through the entire hall, "Without my orders, who allowed you to randomly move the army?!"

Looking at the clerks and monks as silent as chickens, Moliat finally noticed they were packing documents and luggage.

She dropped the brief, suppressing her anger, "Where's Herman? Where are the Jeska people?"

"At the tower fort at the east city gate, should I inform them..."

"No need, I'll find them myself, bring my fiery mane!"

"You can't ride a warhorse!" The accompanying physician was aghast, "Find a walking horse, or have someone carry you over!"

Without listening to the physician finish speaking, Moliat strode out of the hall with long steps.

A moment later, a horse galloped away towards the east gate tower in a cloud of dust.

At the east gate, under the open circular archway, there were shouts of humans and neighs of horses. Large and small wagons, along with citizens leading children and supporting the elderly, were blocking the way.

On the side, there was a passageway reserved for soldiers, where soldiers, lined up in queues, were leaving through the passageway.

Inside the city port, one could see a shed enclosed with fences and tarps, which was the passage for infected soldiers.

They would board a designated troop transport ship, taken to the rear isolation monastery to be treated by specialized physicians.

A large amount of military supplies was also being loaded onto ships at the dock to leave.

A day's journey could transport supplies and wounded soldiers to a safe port and return.

Sweeping over all these, the anger in Moliat's eyes gradually transformed into gloom, and finally, calmness.

When she saw Herman waiting with a bitter smile at the tower by the city gate, she suddenly smiled, "If Uncle Herman wants to become the Autocratic Duke, just tell me."

As if knowing Moliat would say this, Herman helplessly patted the soft couch, inviting Moliat to sit down, "The order to move the army out of the city was mine."

"Who gave you the order?"

"The army had to retreat. I know this order should be given by you, but you are seriously injured and need rest."

Staring at Herman for a long while, Moliat glanced at the Attendant Officer beside her, "Pour two cups of tea."

The Attendant Officer turned and walked away. Seeing the other male and female servants in the room remaining still, he shouted in a low voice, "Those without a sense of consideration, all follow me."

After the servants, like awakening from a dream, left, Moliat said to Herman, "You, along with Uncle Vine, Uncle Moro, and Uncle Spirotchu are all family left to me by my father.

If asked whom I trust the most, it would be no others but you; I believe in your absolute loyalty.

But you also have to understand me. You are more aware of my current situation than I am, aren't you?"

In the premise of not consulting Moliat, moving the army without authorization, if she wasn't unrestricted, it would almost be like a military coup.

In fact, it was only Herman and Vine who had such prestige.

Even knights like Moro or Spirotchu couldn't move the troops without Moliat's signature.

Today, if they can move the army without Moliat's consent, then tomorrow, might they cut off her head without her consent, too?

"This is where I overstepped. I voluntarily hand over the role of acting Autocratic Duke." Herman removed the ceremonial sword from his waist and handed it to Moliat with both hands.

Standing in front of Herman for a long time, Moliat picked up the longsword, walked to Herman's side, and reattached it to him.

"Without a sword, how do you protect your lord?" Moliat gave Herman a hug, "I said, I won't enjoy the glory of capturing the Thousand River Valley alone; let's not act on impulse."

This exchange and return seemed simple but effectively dissolved many core rifts.

Moliat sat back on the soft couch, while Herman moved to the door, "Where's the tea? So slow!"

The servants immediately entered with tea and coffee, seeing the two reconciled, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Xia Lvcheng truly can't be held." Moliat added a spoonful of milk and sugar to the tea, "This time going back, perhaps both you and I have to lie low for a while."

"Those elites you promoted from the Duke's faction will all stand by your side, plus the support of the five mountain counties."

Moliat stirred her tea, "It's really ridiculous. I told the city's residents to defend to the death, yet now I'm retreating."

"You've already held out for three months." Herman reassured, "And it wasn't your order to retreat; it was mine."

"I won't hide behind my subordinates, making you take the blame for me. Your mistakes are yours; mine are mine."

Herman remained silent, simply pouring more tea.

"For the soldiers still engaged in battle on the outer walls, whether militia or enlisted soldiers, replace the healthy ones and take them with us."

"Will the Leia people realize we are fleeing?"

"Eventually." Moliat's voice lowered, "Take as many as you can with us; what's Horn's arrangement?"

"We'll first retreat to Kenke Town. Jeska's new army will cover our rear."

Moliat nodded with understanding.

From Kenke Town to Damp Dock, and including over a dozen renovated riverside castles like Haji Castle.

After three months of training and supplementation, these castles are all sufficient to resist enemy troops, plus the Holy Alliance Army will take turns for defense.

"I guess, Lord Saint Grandson is waiting for me in Rapids City right now?" Moliat asked playfully.

"Not only His Highness the Shepherd Leader, but your mother, Great Mage Patrick, and Duke Seching are all waiting for you in Rapids City."

A city of the neutral faction, along with a batch of supporters from our own side...

Moliat nodded, "I'll write a signed order and distribute it.

Give me the previous troop dispatch documents as well; I'll complete them with my signature."