SAINTESS [Chapter 43] Open your heart

“How I brought you here, I'll bring you out the same way,” Isatia said slowly and deliberately. Although her voice was weak and feeble, her tone remained as confident as ever, as if everything were still under her control.

It seemed that aside from the early depletion of the vitality potion, everything else was within her calculations. She had prepared a backup plan, if the vitality potion given by Winnie ran out, she would use her own reserve of top-tier vitality potion.

However, she hadn't anticipated that after tasting the extremely high-purity vitality potion brewed from the Saintess's blood, the withdrawal symptoms would be so severe, so intense that without replenishment, her spirit would become abnormally lethargic, her body unsteady, unable to stand or move.

“Winnie.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Winnie asked, puzzled by Isatia calling him.

“Inside my storage pendant, there are quite a few vitality potions,” Isatia said in a soft, languid voice, like a dignified koala, creating a striking contrast to her usual self.

Well, to be fair, Isatia always spoke with a subtle hint of laziness, but no one ever dared underestimate her because of it. Instead, it added to her aura of effortless superiority.

“Huh? You want me to feed you the potion?” Winnie asked. “But won't those potions be ineffective?”

If they worked, Isatia wouldn't have been helpless against her stubborn illness, relying on the Saintess's blood for recovery, risking her life to enter this dangerous world created by divine authority.

“Better than nothing,” Isatia replied in her feeble voice. “I know you might resent me. After all, no matter how you look at it, you're in this peril because of me.”

“What you said earlier was correct. Since it's already happened, the key is how to solve the problem.” Isatia's voice remains full of reason and calmness. “At first, I thought you'd be the kind of fool who, when faced with trouble and hardships, would just whine and complain without offering any solutions. Thankfully, you're not that kind of person.”

Winnie entered the city, but they had nowhere to rest. After searching for a long time, he finally found a bench and gently placed Isatia onto it.

“Cough.” As he reached for the storage pendant in Isatia's bosom, Winnie coughed dryly, feeling awkward and unsure where to touch.

Seeing this, Isatia voluntarily lifted her head. Only then could Winnie maneuver around her slender, delicate swan neck, grasp both ends of the pendant, and successfully unfasten it from her neck.

“How do I use this? I can't open it?” Winnie stared blankly at the golden spear-and-crown-shaped pendant, unsure what to do.

Upon hearing this, Isatia gently lifted a finger. Her jade-like fingertip touched the golden crown pendant, and instantly, a pile appeared on the ground.

Winnie was curious about how this spatial storage pendant worked. If he remembered correctly, Isatia had stored all her belongings, including sketchbooks and notebooks, inside the pendant. How could she extract only the alchemical potions while leaving the rest untouched??

Well, evidently, it was beyond his imagination, a truly magical item.

Winnie picked up the vials of alchemical potions, twisted off the caps, and brought them to Isatia's lips.

Although weakened and listless, Isatia could still manage the simple act of opening her mouth.

Still, mistakes were inevitable. For instance, some spilled, trickling from the corner of her lips down to her snow-white, delicate collarbone potion.

"Ah! Sorry, Isatia!" Winnie quickly apologized.

Isatia shook her head, indicating it was fine.

Uh…

How should he put it?

Winnie stole a glance at Isatia's current appearance, the black-haired, purple-eyed beauty with a cold, expressionless face, seemingly unaware of the potion flowing down her skin.

For some reason, it feels strangely seductive.

Winnie silently averted his gaze and continued his task.

"How is it? Do you feel any better?" After feeding her several vials of alchemical potions, Winnie asked.

Isatia slowly shook her head.

Winnie had expected as much. Pouring these potions down probably wouldn't do much good.

Tsk tsk.

Just by looking at the labels on these potions, Winnie felt like he was dumping cups of flowing gold.

These were the finest alchemical potions, all crafted by the imperial court alchemists of the Tyrell Empire.

Such potions, made by famous alchemists serving the royal family, were rare treasures, unique, irreplaceable. Each use diminished the stock, unless the creator brewed new ones.

After patiently feeding her every last potion, Winnie looked at the lying Isatia. The only noticeable change is that her drooping eyelids could open slightly more than before. Otherwise, there seemed to be no improvement.

“Isatia, I've given you all the potions you brought. Do you feel any better?” Winnie wiped sweat from his brow. Even though higher-grade alchemical potions had fewer side effects, consuming this many couldn't possibly be safe??

This was like swallowing divine pills like candy??

Well, she was the First Princess of the Tyrell Empire, with the entire empire's resources at her disposal. Of course she could afford to be this reckless.

“Mmm.” Isatia gave a slight nod, then struggled to push herself upright.

It didn't take much thought to realize that perhaps there was some effect, but it was extremely limited. Still, it was better than nothing, at least now she could prop herself up.

“I'm feeling better,” Isatia's voice regained a bit of vigor.

“Can you stand up by yourself now?” Winnie asked.

Isatia remained silent. Earlier, she hadn't even had the strength to take out and drink the potion, forcing her to rely on being carried.

Winnie understood, given Isatia's strong-willed nature as the First Princess, she must have been extremely reluctant to be carried around like a puppet.

Isatia struggled to move her legs to the edge of the bench, using her hands to support herself as she attempted to stand. As expected, she failed, still unable to rise.

With Winnie's support, she sank back onto the bench.

“Alright, I shouldn't have suggested that. Seems like I'm still lacking a bit,” Winnie said, carefully adjusting Isatia on the bench like handling delicate porcelain, afraid she might topple over.

“So, looks like I'll have to carry you again, Isatia.” Winnie felt somewhat drained, after all, this was like weighted cross-country running. Although, considering he was carrying a fragrant, soft black-haired beauty for so long, it felt more like a reward than a burden.

Isatia didn't speak.

Winnie understood immediately. Given Isatia's personality, how could she possibly say something like, “Then please continue carrying me”?

Someone who always stands at the top of the food chain could never accept being reduced to a helpless, manipulable doll.

“Come on, Isatia. Where do you want to go?” Winnie crouched down in front of her, turning his back.

Soon, he felt a warm, soft weight press against his back, followed by a tickling sensation in his ears as a fragrant warm breath brushed past.

“Take me to the highest point of this city,” Isatia's voice seemed imbued with a certain enchantment, especially speaking so close, right by Winnie's ear, like a fragrant breeze caressing his earlobe.

Winnie froze. Through the thin black stockings, he could feel the soft touch of the girl's legs. A scented breeze brushed past, strands of hair grazing his face, making him tingle.

Well, he couldn't tell whether his cheeks were tingling or his heart.

The highest point??

His thoughts were momentarily chaotic, his mind unable to catch up.

As he barely recovered from the sensory assault, his thoughts remained hazy.

He focused his gaze, the sand-covered city unfolded before his eyes. Soon, his sight locked onto the Sand Tower, the tallest structure atop the city walls.

That location served as the boundary separating inner and outer city, also functioning as the inner city's wall. It was likely the highest point in this desert city.

But to get there, Winnie first needed to reach the city wall.

Thus, Winnie carried Isatia up to the watchtower, where, as expected, they were intercepted by Mars soldiers again. However, Winnie once again presented his Emissary priest identification card.

“Apologies, Lord Emissary, we failed to recognize you earlier. Welcome, and welcome your beloved wife to the watchtower. However, please refrain from violating military regulations and putting us in a difficult position,” said the squad leader guarding the wall. His rank and authority were clearly much higher than the Mars soldiers previously overseeing slave labor, and his tone with Winnie was notably firm.

Still, Winnie felt quite surprised, without him saying anything, how had this soldier already assumed Isatia was his wife??

How could he possibly tell? Ah, no, that wasn't the case at all?? They were merely affected by the secret realm's influence.

Winnie noticed Isatia's reaction from behind, no reaction at all. She clearly didn't mind this sudden assumption and accepted the premise.

To her, it was trivial and insignificant.

Well, as the future Empress of Tyrell, she never concerns herself with minor details.

After the soldiers granted passage, Winnie carried Isatia up the stairs.

“Phew, phew... How tall is this wall??” After climbing countless steps, finally reaching the watchtower, Winnie couldn't help but complain.

He felt drenched in sweat. His back, pressed tightly against a warm, soft, fragrant girl, was the sweatiest part, sticking closely to Isatia.

Winnie couldn't tell if all the sweat was him, or if Isatia was sweating too.

But now wasn't the time to ask about her condition. Winnie reached the top of the wall and looked down, gaining a panoramic view. However, due to Mars civilization's urban style, all surface structures were merely landmarks, the real activity lay underground. This created a feeling of living in an undeveloped primitive tribe.

From here, he can see both the city's scenery and its people, as well as the views outside, especially the frail figures crawling on the massive temples in the distance, carrying huge stone blocks. Anyone would worry they'd be crushed, killed, or worked to death at any moment.

“Leaving aside everything else, Mars's watchtowers are indeed built impressively high, everything inside and outside the city is visible, nothing hidden,” Winnie said. “Seems there are benefits to generally low buildings, just build the wall a bit higher, and nothing blocks your view.”

“One can imagine the Mars king standing here, overlooking the entire city. They probably enjoy this feeling,” Winnie added with a hint of sarcasm.

He didn't expect Isatia to respond, this was merely a complaint.

Besides, Isatia herself will one day become an empress. He wasn't sure if saying this might offend her. Now wasn't the time for ideological dissents.

“Really? Can you truly see everything?” Isatia responded, asking slowly and deliberately.

“Huh?”

“Winnie, what do you think a qualified ruler should be like?” Unexpectedly, Isatia continued expanding on the topic.

“Me? Isatia, I'm just an ordinary commoner. You're asking me something beyond my scope. How could I possibly have an opinion?” Winnie chuckled evasively.

“A true ruler must never be so narrow-minded, blinded by a single leaf,” said Isatia, gazing down at the toiling slaves below, whose lives held no visible hope.

"Kingship is a duty. Politics is the means and process to achieve goals, not the goal itself. An emperor has the obligation to protect his subjects, ensure their peace and prosperity, and lead them toward a better future, not treat them like disposable commodities," Isatia said vividly, her eyes fixed on the slaves below.

These words clearly came from the heart. Or rather, since only Winnie could hear her, Isatia had no reason to perform or put on a facade.

Winnie's eyes widened slightly. Come to think of it, due to his limited knowledge of the game, he knew little about the personalities of the other female protagonists besides Aesphyra and Mirexia.

As for Isatia, perhaps because of her first appearance and her mannerisms, Winnie had always assumed she was an aloof ruler who didn't care much about ordinary people.

If Isatia had a “favorability” system, she would've seen Winnie's affection for her skyrocketing from that statement.

“You're right. I think the same way,” Winnie nodded. “Looks like we're on the same page.”

He was beginning to understand now.

Isatia had always given off the impression of being a distant protagonist, someone you could feel the gap between when interacting with her. In her eyes, strength seems to be everything, along with a natural-born superiority that makes her seem like she belongs to a different world, a different class.

That was indeed true. Yet, Isatia's air of superiority never carried deliberate disdain, not even when she questioned Winnie's ability to help her, or what qualifications he had.

Now, Winnie was starting to grasp Isatia's mindset.

In her view, ensuring the people's peace and prosperity was the emperor's duty. Ordinary people shouldn't stand beside her, because they simply rely on the capability to do so.

As commoners, they should obediently stay behind the emperor, accepting the emperor's protection.