Victoria, mingling with the crowd, was also watching Wendy beside the prison wagon. After all, Wendy was the reason she had come here in the first place.
Victoria's gaze lingered for a moment on Wendy's delicate face, its beauty undiminished by the dust:
"Looking at her now... she really is quite pretty."
She paused, then added, "Not that I'm any less pretty."
Then she shifted her gaze, looking with some concern at Sylvia, who stood behind Veronica.
At first, when Sylvia had told her she was busy today, Victoria had assumed she simply disliked places like execution grounds and was making an excuse not to come.
She had never expected Sylvia to come here with Veronica, let alone in a way that all but announced her identity.
Victoria knew Sylvia disliked scenes like this, and she knew that, just like her, Sylvia hated that deranged woman.
Yet even so, she was now standing beside Veronica...
Victoria could not help beginning to wonder:
Could it be... that the Church of Light has already started forcing Sylvia to take over as Saintess?
As the cries around them grew more fervent, the crowd became increasingly worked up. People even began shoving and jostling one another.
Several soldiers maintaining order were pushed back again and again by the surging crowd. The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Just then, Roland, standing behind the emperor, unleashed a fierce aura.
It spread as though it were tangible, instantly enveloping the entire square.
It was a cold, murderous presence, carrying the ruthless resolve and authority forged on the battlefield. Everyone who felt it seemed to have a bucket of cold water poured over their heads, falling silent despite themselves.
Order swiftly returned to the once-noisy crowd. Everyone fell utterly silent, no longer