"Joanne, if it makes you feel better, I've got you something."
I had made up something at the moment. We were riding on Melvin with the new saddle I had earned. The ride was much more enjoyable, and I could feel that we were getting closer to Constance.
In searching for what I have, I picked up an artifact from the treasury that improves one's holy power by a long shot. I gave Joanne the crown-like artifact as an offering.
"Does your majesty like your crown?"
I attempted to lighten the mood, which surprisingly worked. Joanne looked at it and touched it with a surprised expression.
"Do you like it?"
"Thank you, but you shouldn't have. While destroying a city out of self-defense isn't unreasonable, if you do too much harm, it will be hard for the civilians."
I did take everything in the treasury room and killed the ruler. The city will be a messy place for a while. It was better not to mention those facts to Joanne.