After a prolonged exchange, Jeanne stepped out of the room looking thoroughly exhausted. She couldn't help but marvel that few tasks in this world were more demanding than cooling the fiery temper of a distressed Draco.
Talulah was deeply disturbed by the way those hidden figures had targeted Jeanne. Had she retained the impulsive streak from their very first meeting, she likely would have summoned the guards to drag the culprits into the light immediately.
With the help of Jeanne's incredible revelations, rooted out those schemers wouldn't have posed much of a challenge, even without standard proof. Anyone who truly understood Jeanne's nature would never doubt her word, and the villagers would have gladly assisted in squeezing the truth from their mouths.
"All right, that is quite enough!" Jeanne murmured, resting her hands on Talulah's shoulders as she offered a bright, reassuring smile. "If those characters genuinely attempt to cause trouble for me down the road, I will simply handle them when the time comes. I still maintain plenty of confidence when it comes to resolving disputes with a bit of raw force."
To any casual observer passing by, the sight of them in the quiet corner made it look as though the two leaders had fallen into a deep personal disagreement.
"Besides, compromising your health over characters of that nature is simply not worth the trouble. Compared to this mess, your well-being is far more valuable than whatever those folk are plotting..."
Jeanne kept up her gentle scolding, leaving Talulah with the uncanny impression that she was the one under threat. How had she ended up being comforted by the intended victim?
In truth, a few venomous glances meant very little to Jeanne. She had seen far worse in her journey, so why should she waste her energy worrying about strangers who chose to resent her for reasons beyond her control?
"You possess entirely too much patience," Talulah noted, offering a helpless roll of her eyes. The fiery anger in her spirit had largely dissipated, leaving only a lingering sense of injustice on behalf of the companion who had given so much to their movement.
She had always known some folk would fail to show gratitude, but she hadn't expected them to target the person they assumed was behind the relocation plan the very moment the march was mentioned.
Talulah drew a slow, deliberate breath of the frosty air, settling her thoughts so she could anticipate their worst possible moves. If a crisis arose, she wanted to be fully prepared.
In her mind, the most disastrous scenario involved these disgruntled elements rallying a like-minded crowd, waiting for Jeanne to venture outside the perimeter alone, and attempting to strike her down before blaming the entire tragedy on the local imperial scouts.
Of course, the inevitable outcome of such a plot was that Jeanne would simply wipe them out single-handedly. Talulah didn't believe for a second that any force on this wasteland possessed the capacity to end Jeanne's life.
Is that even possible? Not a chance. My Jeanne is entirely unmatched under the heavens.
"There we go, let's see a smile! Do not let those characters ruin your day."
Seeing that the Draco's expression had softened, Jeanne guided her out of the secluded room. She felt a quiet sense of relief knowing her stubborn companion had finally calmed down.
Then again, the two of them emerging together from an isolated corner felt a bit peculiar, didn't it? There wasn't any real need for them to seek out hidden spaces to talk. Returning to their actual quarters would have been far more sensible, especially since their home wasn't very far away. She truly couldn't fathom what had been running through Talulah's head.
"Whew..."
Talulah let out a lengthy exhale, casting a complex gaze across the village they had spent months building, returning the warm greetings of the passersby.
"If those characters actually dare to raise a hand against you, do not show a shred of mercy! Simply destroy them on the spot, and if any complications follow, I will handle the fallout myself."
Talulah delivered a firm pat to Jeanne's shoulder, offering those parting words before turning to stride away, looking as though she had urgent duties to attend to elsewhere.
Watching her hurried departure, Jeanne let out a soft chuckle, murmuring to herself, "She truly is a handful. To think she actually went out of her way to grant me permission to defend myself... do I look like someone who hesitates to strike back?"
"Who is a handful? From where I stand, neither of you is particularly easy to manage."
Alina's gentle voice sounded from behind, interrupting her thoughts. The Elafia walked forward, guiding Fafnir by the hand, having caught the tail end of Jeanne's solitary musings.
Even though she knew the two leaders wouldn't actually come to blows, their unusual behavior had prompted Alina to come check on the situation. If you understand someone thoroughly, guessing their next move becomes second nature.
Jeanne gave her a brief summary of the confrontation. Hearing the details, even a soul as remarkably gentle as Alina couldn't help but knit her brows in deep disapproval.
Still, she didn't match Talulah's explosive fury. Over the years, Alina had witnessed far too many instances of human frailty to find such resentment surprising.
The Elafia merely offered a sorrowful sigh, shaking her head as if mourning the grim fate awaiting those foolish enough to test Jeanne's patience.
"But if the march is truly set to begin, what are your plans?" Jeanne inquired.
Jeanne reached down to scoop up Fafnir, who immediately tangled herself around her like a stray cat finding its master. The young dragon's affectionate display was a stark contrast to her earlier detachment; the moment Jeanne reappeared, her clingy nature returned in full force.
"Me? I am naturally coming along with you," Alina answered matter-of-factly, her gaze locked onto Jeanne's eyes as if searching for any sign that she might be left behind. "You surely didn't intend to leave me stranded here while you and Talulah ran off to the south?"
"How could I? If you wish to join us, both Talulah and I would be overjoyed. But if you depart, who will look after the children?" Jeanne explained, waving her hands in a hasty gesture.
"We can simply leave their lessons in the hands of the other instructors," Alina replied smoothly. The settlement was no longer short on capable educators, so there was no reason to fret over the matter.
As for any perils they might encounter along the pathway, Jeanne felt entirely secure regarding Alina's safety. Given the Elafia's current capabilities, she was more than capable of defending her own person.
If worst came to worst, she could always leave Fafnir in Alina's care. With the young dragon acting as a guardian, even an imperial army corps would struggle to breach their defenses.
"I have no objections whatsoever, provided you can win over Talulah. My primary concern is that she will oppose your departure out of fear for your safety. That will truly test your persuasiveness!"
The two companions continued their banter as they walked. Alina looked entirely confident in her ability to handle the stubborn Draco and join the expedition south toward the hidden dangers ahead.
Jeanne shared that confidence. If she was the only one who could physically restrain Talulah, Alina was undoubtedly the only one who could talk her into submission; the Draco stood zero chance in a battle of wits against the Elafia.
That reality was proven beyond a doubt that very evening. Jeanne watched with sheer amazement as Alina mysteriously guided Talulah into her private room. When the Draco finally emerged, the firm refusal she had been preparing all day had vanished, replaced by a quiet, obedient nod of agreement.
Jeanne couldn't help but wonder: Did they truly just have a conversation in there? Did Alina utilize some hidden leverage, or does she possess some secret dirt on our fearsome leader?
A massive question mark lingered in Jeanne's mind.