Isabella left the interrogation room after giving her orders. The air outside felt cooler than before, but her heart was still hot.
She walked along the stone corridor until she reached the back of the palace, where a tall tree grew through a crack in the floor. The branches stretched out above the roof and leaves shook gently in the wind.
She sat down on a thick tree root that had been carved into a simple bench and placed a hand on her stomach.
"I am tired," she muttered.
[You did a lot today.]
Bubu's screen appeared in her mind, floating lazily. [You cut off arms, adopted a mountain beast, scared grown men, and collected free labor. Very productive.]
Isabella leaned her head back against the trunk and closed her eyes for a moment.
"I do not want to just survive," she said quietly.
Bubu's screen paused.
"I thought you wanted to build a small safe village, raise your babies, cook good food, and bully your mates. When did the plan change?"
