Horn blinked, having a hard ti recognizing the witch in front of him after she had washed and put on makeup.
The rose of the igedi Comrce Association walked over slowly, reaching out to tuck her reddish-brown long hair behind her ear, leaving a few strands hanging down from her temples.
The parted hairstyle revealed a smooth forehead, despite Catherine applying light blush to her cheekbones, trying to use a blush between orange and pink and rose-colored lipstick as cover, but it couldn’t hide the pallor on her weary face and lips.
Unlike Jeanne’s hurried strides, Jia Li’s calm and steady large steps, or Hilov’s gliding gait, Catherine’s walking posture was that of an elegant lady.
Her back straight, a smile on her face as she looked ahead, she walked with unparalleled balance and lightness.
According to so etiquette courtiers, this walking style allows a lady wearing a long dress to run across Rogue Street without exposing her ankles, making it the most suitable pace for a baron’s daughter, a knight’s daughter, and city noblewon.
While the noblewon (above Count) steps are different.
Because noblewon aren’t allowed to walk fast, and they have to wear heavy gold and silver jewelry with various gemstones, there’s no way they can walk casually.
As she stepped, the hem of her long-sleeved dress of black-purple brocade swayed, and the lace trim peeking out from the sleeve lining continued to tremble as she lifted the skirt.
Seeing Horn staring at her intently, Catherine slightly raised her chest and propped up the vase-shaped white silk ties at her chest, the rounded curve faintly visible beneath the sliding silk.
"Look good?" Catherine asked as she stood in front of Horn, almost involuntarily. She regretted it as soon as she spoke, feeling the tone was akin to that of a wife newly dressed after a bath.
In fact, just washing up, Catherine felt a bit too presumptuous towards Horn.
It was awkward enough to embrace the first ti eting, let alone discussing random topics about old won.
Moreover, this Salvation Army leader was not only her savior but also the savior of Rapids City and would serve as its military protection for a long ti to co, deserving due respect.
Her middle finger tightly pressed into her palm, Catherine rarely anxiously focused on Horn, feeling both disrespectful yet hopeful for his answer.
Horn had been well-trained for such questions since the days of the Gulag sisters: "I’m face-blind, can’t tell if soone’s pretty."
Catherine naturally pouted before quickly switching back to a graceful smile, sitting beside Horn.
"Mr. Horn, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I must represent the igedi Comrce Association in thanking you for saving Rapids City."
"No, you saved Rapids City. I just chased away those Noble Alliance Army troops." Horn thought of that day when Catherine, nearly exhausted, had blocked the Church’s army with her vine wall, speaking sincerely.
Catherine shook her head: "Thank you for saving . I won’t stubbornly make things awkward for you.
Find an opportunity to send to Black Snake Bay. I happen to be managing the White Mountain Hermitage, and those astrologers have nominated several tis as leader."
"Right now, that’s not possible."
"Why?"
"I still need your prestige to unify all of Rapids City. You’re basically half the founder of Rapids City, and we need you."
"But I think, they probably won’t listen to anymore, will they?" Catherine raised a hand with a bitter smile, gesturing to herself with difficulty, "I’m a witch after all..."
"You are the Saintess! Anyone who dares call you a witch is guilty of aiding demons, and anyone who commits demon aid will lose their head!" Horn said firmly, "Can a witch save so many innocent lives?"
"I..."
"Would a witch create so much wealth, feed countless people, and build good houses for them? Would soone sacrificing themselves for believers be a witch?"
Horn sneered: "The world is blinded by demons; witches are wrong, priests are right, this identity politics is too rotten."
Interrupted, Catherine sniffed but did not seem particularly angry, instead, a strange sense of unwarranted grievance erged.
Originally accepting being chirped at by the citizens, Catherine couldn’t help but feel newly aggrieved, thanks to Horn’s words.
"Just focus on recovering, I’ve already sent Armand to start operating for you in the city." Horn looked at Catherine in front of him, her thick and long eyelashes sadly fluttering, "Rest assured, you will only be the Saintess."
Catherine shook her head gently: "I know those citizens too well; they’re not easy to fool like farrs..."
"Don’t speak nonsense, when have I ever misled anyone?" Looking through the briefing in his hand, Horn said without lifting his head, "If I ever misled anyone, my head would fall off."
Seeing Horn’s confident deanor, Catherine’s originally complex emotions cald down, quietly observing this young man a year younger than herself.
The two sat opposite each other for so ti before Catherine suddenly spoke: "I want to see the current Rapids City. Can you take to see it?"
Horn closed the briefing in his hand, staring at Catherine’s face for a mont before speaking: "Then you must prepare yourself ntally."
"I can accept that."
Supporting Catherine’s arm, Horn led her to the terrace, the dazzling red of the sunset making Catherine squint after being inside for a long ti.
Yet upon reopening her eyes, she couldn’t help but choke.
The once Baihua Cathedral was reduced to ashes in the flas, Saint Shelley’s gilded bronze statue had its head knocked off by the knights who couldn’t take it away in ti, the inner city river, once clear, was now muddy, carrying floating wooden boards, strips of cloth and even corpses.
Most houses had lost their wall surfaces, revealing mottled walls with wooden fras hanging a few ignorant children laughing.
But those raggedly dressed common folk artisans lacked such cheer; they cursed while clearing the rubble under the Salvation Army’s command.
Rapids City was full of broken scenery in the sunset.
Could this still be her Rapids City?
"Currently, the Port District of Rapids City is mostly destroyed, due to the previous Red Dragon’s Breath fire, the deliberate arson by Extraordinary Knights, and the vine wall and street fighting...I must say, much of Rapids City is now ruins."
Looking at the tents on corners and refugees sleeping in broken remnants, Horn jotted two notes: "The remaining infrastructure of Rapids City is estimated to be unable to support the remaining thirty thousand people; at least ten thousand must migrate elsewhere."
"Saint Master..." Catherine’s fingers turned white from gripping the railing, "How could this happen? Why could this happen..."
"But we’ve won, haven’t we?" Horn gently patted Catherine’s slightly trembling back: "Don’t worry, as long as Rapids City isn’t destroyed, as long as the people are here, there will be a day of rebuilding."
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