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Everyone turned to see a woman in white robes, with wavy blonde hair, a tall figure, and terribly pale skin making her way through the parted soldiers. It was Rosalina. Layna’s reaction was immediate; her eyes widened, her pupils shrank, and her body trembled uncontrollably at the sight.

Noticing Layna’s distress, Yaeger inquired, “She’s the one who bullied you?”

“It’s her,” Layna confirmed softly, her face pallid.

“I’ll teach her a lesson for you,” Yaeger promised, her expression stoic.

“Yes,” Layna responded, a sense of sweetness enveloping her despite the situation, her thoughts echoing, ‘I love her so much!’

“Hehehe, Layna and Black-hearted Princess, I really like you both. Just don’t leave~” Rosalina said, pressing her hands to her face, her cheeks flushed. To the uninitiated, her demeanor might seem shy, but those familiar with her nature felt a mix of revulsion and fear.

“Rosalina, what are you doing here?” Farat asked, his expression souring.

“I’m here to check on my little cuties and lend you a hand,” Rosalina replied, dropping her hands and smiling.

“No, I can handle this myself,” Farat dismissed her, gesturing as if shooing away an irritating presence.

“Don’t worry, I won’t steal your thunder. I’m just eager to ‘care’ for the Black-hearted Princess. Besides, they’ll end up under my watch regardless, so what’s the difference?” Rosalina argued, hands on her hips, her tone nonchalant.

Farat’s mood seemed to lighten at her reasoning, recalling her peculiar predilections.

He cautioned, “Just remember, you can’t kill them. Lord Blei wants them alive for questioning.” Farat felt it necessary to remind her, knowing her tendencies could lead to unforeseen outcomes.

“Don’t worry, I’ll only ‘cherish’ them until they’re half-dead at most~” Rosalina chirped, unsettling everyone within earshot. Her definition of ‘half-dead’ sounded more harrowing than actual death.

“Do as you please,” Farat replied, his expression strained, as long as they remained alive for interrogation.

Amidst their conversation, Yaeger and Layna seemed overlooked. “Layna, should I kill them all or leave them half-dead?” Yaeger asked casually.

Layna, taken aback, eventually said, “Half-dead, I guess. Killing them would bring too much trouble your way.” Despite the allure of outright vengeance, the consequences within the Empire’s grand prison were a consideration.

‘It’s odd, those two seem stronger than Princess, yet why do I feel she can prevail?’ Layna pondered, puzzled by her own confidence in Yaeger.

Yaeger’s statement, though not loudly spoken, was heard by all, casting a surreal atmosphere over the crowd. Some looked at her with pity, questioning if fear had driven her to delusion. Her bold claim, given the dire circumstances, seemed ludicrous to them.

Farat, seen as capable of effortlessly overpowering Yaeger, and Rosalina, while slightly weaker, were both deemed formidable adversaries against her.

“Foolishly naive,” someone whispered, the sentiment echoing through the murmurs of the crowd.

“She looks so pretty but turns out she’s stupid. What a shame,” Farat sneered, while Rosalina, eyeing Yaeger, expressed a twisted form of affection.

Yaeger, unfazed by their remarks, instructed Layna, “Get back inside for now. I’ll wrap this up quickly.”

“Yes, be careful,” Layna complied, retreating to her cell.

Once Layna was safe, Yaeger swiftly erected a barrier around the cell door, preemptively securing Layna from any potential threats. It was a cautious measure, ensuring Layna’s safety was paramount. This precaution, while perhaps unnecessary, underscored Yaeger’s determination to protect her ally at all costs.

“Hehehe, do you actually think you can defeat us all just by yourself?” Rosalina teased, her pale finger pressed to her lips as she chuckled.

“Arrest her!” On the other side, Farat commanded grimly, eager to leave the foul-smelling location as soon as possible.

Before Farat could finish his command, the well-trained black-armored soldiers unsheathed their weapons, fixing their fierce gazes on Yaeger. The corridor, wider than typical prison passageways, was crowded, making it less than ideal for combat. Yet, they believed in their numbers, convinced that a human wave tactic would soon overwhelm the Black-hearted Princess.

However, they were sorely mistaken. Reality proved to be far harsher. “Ahhhhh!” Before the soldiers could even approach Yaeger, a semitransparent fox tail materialized and sent them flying, their screams filling the air. Moreover, the space was dominated by fierce sword energy.

“[Thousand Waves].” An attractive voice announced the attack, splitting the wave of sword energy in two and causing more screams of pain. Farat’s eyes darkened as he punched with his massive fists, dispelling the sword energy, while Rosalina casually waved her hand, effortlessly neutralizing the sword energy before her. They appeared remarkably composed, in stark contrast to their allies who were tumbling and wailing in pain.

“Useless beings!” Farat berated upon witnessing the scene. He had rushed here, supported by powerful allies, with only low-level soldiers in tow, hoping they’d gain practical experience. However, these soldiers proved ineffectual against the Black-hearted Princess.

Yaeger, on the other hand, had launched her attacks with full force, aiming to eliminate the lesser threats swiftly. Her strategy was decidedly effective.

“[Greatwave].” With a swift swing of her sword, she unleashed a more lethal sword skill, generating a massive wave of sword energy that sent both injured and uninjured soldiers, along with Rosalina’s jailers, flying.

“It’s easier than chopping vegetables. How boring,” Yaeger commented nonchalantly, sheathing her sword. The denser the enemy’s ranks, the more devastating her area-of-effect attacks were, allowing her to clear the area with just two moves.

Yet, Farat and Rosalina stood unscathed and furious, their earlier arrogance evaporated as they watched their forces decimated, a stark humiliation. “I hate it when people peek at me,” Yaeger stated, ignoring them. With a swing of her sword, she bisected a nearby floating gray orb, cutting off one of the projections in front of Mark and the other high-ranking officials.

“I don’t have much time. I better take care of you quickly,” she said, drawing a fragment radiating holy light, her tone calm and resolute.