Ever since that voice echoed, Freya seemed to have undergone a complete transformation inside out.

Immediately, she no longer maintained a casual attitude. Instead, she fetched paper and pen, and astonishingly wrote a letter at a rapid speed.

The contents of the letter were nothing but an excuse she found for herself to temporarily leave home.

The excuse was not genuine, but enough to cover up.

After finishing writing, Freya placed the letter on the table and pressed it down with a water jug; then, she took something from the room where Wang Xiaole used to live.

Having completed these tasks, the door suddenly made a "creak," slowly opening a crack. A gust of wind rapidly passed through, causing the curtains inside the room to billow.

Alone, Freya walked out of the room and, upon arriving at the palace corridor, slipped away.

Freya was different from her former self.

Lucia and the "roommates" knew her as someone who walked without any regularity, taking strides as big as she pleased and sometimes hopping and skipping around erratically.

Now, things had changed. She walked with her legs close together, each step meticulously calculated.

After leaving the palace, Freya naturally visualized the shortest route in her mind; she skilfully avoided puddles and uncovered sewer openings along the way.

Summing up all these abnormal occurrences, one phrase came to mind:

Freya became smarter!

The smarter Freya had come to the city gates to leave Dibiles.

Naturally, her departure was temporary, as she would return in a few days; by then, she would have completed what she needed to do.

After arriving at the gates, Freya was intercepted by a row of guards fulfilling their duties, raising their weapons to stop her.

Based on the current situation of Dibiles going to war with Inran, citizens' movements in and out of the city were naturally restricted during such cautious times.

Essentially, anyone wanting to leave the city needed to present relevant documents, including identification.

Of course, for those thinking of leaving without the necessary documents, there was a way.

Those with such intentions could consider learning from Lucia.

That demon lord deliberately chose a moonless and windy night, sneaking past the guards in the early hours to escape.

Neither of the first two ways of leaving was viable for Freya.

She was not a native of Dibiles and lacked identification issued by any other country, essentially making her an "illegal resident";

in certain places, Freya was essentially like a stowaway lurking within another country without permission.

Escaping under the cover of night was even more implausible.

With time running short, Freya could not afford to wait any longer than Lucia, who had set off a day earlier.

During the day, it was more challenging to slip past the city gates than the palace gates.

Despite the palace's importance, with its multiple passageways, entering and exiting were relatively easy.

The city gates, on the other hand, required more attention, with only four main directions to watch, unlike the city walls, which were mostly unguarded.

At night, patrols and guards' visibility being compromised meant that with enough patience, there was always an opportunity to slip through.

An analysis revealed that both routes were blocked.

Thankfully, on that very day, Freya proved otherwise:

There was, in fact, a third way through!

Considering Wang Xiaole's current status in Dibiles, Freya fabricated a lie on the spot:

"I am an envoy sent by the Imperial Consort, on a mission assigned by His Highness to the city outskirts. Please let me pass immediately."

Evolving upon the Imperial Consort's name, the guards' demeanor noticeably shifted, becoming more cautious.

The Imperial Consort held a position in Dibiles that was at least equal to half of the Empress, and individuals (suspected) to be associated with such high-ranking figures required careful verification by the guards.

At that moment, they questioned:

"What evidence do you have to prove you are under the Imperial Consort?"

Freya's answer to this inquiry was spontaneous:

"If I were an impostor, I wouldn't be so confident or choose to approach directly; I'd slip out under the cover of darkness. If I were genuine, obstructing me now would only lead to regret on your part. Misfortune would befall you and your own foolish actions."

The changed Freya was now as eloquent as ever. In the past, speaking too much always led to trouble, perfectly illustrating the phrase "loose lips sink ships."

However, things were different now. Her words were carefully chosen, never bringing trouble upon herself, possibly just bewildering others.

Freya's logical argument did have merit, but the guards remained unconvinced and collectively asserted:

"We do not care for those tricks. Who's to say you're not using a calm façade to deceive us? You are not going anywhere!"

Their response was within expectations. Expressionless, Freya retorted:

"If I stay, it will delay my mission; to authenticate my identity, you would need to consult with His Highness, confirm that I am genuine, a conclusion you would have reached anyway. Your actions are not only meaningless but may lead to a poor evaluation of 'inefficiency.'"

In that moment, the guards were left speechless. Not due to the complexity of her words, but the sheer length of her statement.

Too many words in a book could make one drowsy; similarly, an overly lengthy conversation could leave one bewildered.

Seizing the brief moment before they recovered, Freya launched her counterattack:

"If you still doubt, you may let me exit the city first. To make things easier for you and hold me accountable, I will give you something in return."

Saying this, Freya handed the guards the small object she had taken from the room earlier.

While the guards could not accurately identify the object, they at least understood one thing:

"This is a token from the palace!"

Indeed, what Freya took from the room was the token Wang Xiaole possessed, given to him originally by Isabella.

When Wang Xiaole received the token, he was not yet married to Isabella. She had specially gifted it to him to facilitate his access to the court.

Later, when Wang Xiaole became the Imperial Consort, everyone within the palace recognized him. The token had since lost its practical use.

As a memento, Wang Xiaole kept the token in his original residence, trusting his roommates, who were allies.

This trust proved advantageous to Freya.

With the token in hand, Freya's level of suspicion lowered considerably.

Unfamiliar with palace rules and not understanding the specific nature of certain items, the guards, upon seeing the emblem on the token, recognized it as something originating from the royal family.

Claiming to be associated with the Imperial Consort with such confidence and presenting an item only those who had been inside the palace could possess, the guards pieced together the information and, noting Freya's composed expression, knew what to do.

"We apologize for delaying your journey earlier. You may leave the city now."

As Freya stood with her legs together, the guards bowed to her, promptly making way.

Little did they know:

At that moment, they had made a grave mistake.

Originally, that token had been intended for use by only one person, Wang Xiaole's master. Isabella had not intended to make things convenient for others but had not explicitly stated "For Master's Use Only."

Moreover, the token was designed for free movement within the palace; outside of it, the object was entirely useless.

Yet, Isabella could not have foreseen that the token would be taken.

The lower-ranking guards, having been bewildered by Freya's words and unaware of certain details, allowed her to succeed in leaving.

Departing from Dibiles, Freya embarked on her journey alone.

She was well aware that her decision to leave was not a passing fancy but a commitment to something she had been pursuing for many years.

Along the way, a phantom figure appeared before Freya, a mirage only she could see, reaching out as though to hold her hand, a touch that lingered for an extended period.

The phantom's hand was broad and warm; its palm felt slightly sweaty, trembling gently as the warmth and sweat transferred from its hand to Freya's hand and back.

Freya felt no ill intent from the phantom; rather, she sensed a gentle touch with an almost tender softness, akin to the warm breeze of a spring day, lingering steadfastly on her skin.

This sensation... so warm!

However, the warmth soon dissipated.

In the next instant, the phantom vanished, as a cool breeze swept by.

Her hair tousled by the wind, her fair face still radiated a stunning beauty. Yet beneath that exterior, her voice resonated deeply, melancholy to the point of sounding desolate:

"Even if you have reincarnated, even if I have seen you again, even if it has been a long time since then, I cannot find solace in the passage of time."

At that moment, Freya's pupils contracted suddenly, emitting a chilling glare akin to standing silver needles or blazing flames, gleaming with a vivid crimson hue.

Standing upright, she struck out with a clenched fist into the empty air, declaring in a cold tone:

"I will not let this go unanswered. I will seek vengeance for you no matter the cost!"

With a swift motion of her sleeve, every step she took bore immense force, as if she were determined to shatter the cobblestones beneath her feet.

A graceful figure strode beyond the borders, the trail lined with vibrant flowers in full bloom, petals swaying like dancing steps in the breeze;

wherever the flowers swirled, even the bright sky seemed to lose its radiance.