Chapter 112 The Road Ahead Is Long and Difficult "Did you tell Andra these things...?"

The prophet's abilities are sufficient to solve most problems, but some crises will still occur as usual, such as the Great Cold.

When the cold disaster arrives as scheduled, war will inevitably break out in Hetuya.

Regardless of whether the leader at the time was Aguno, Attila, or Andra.

In this lifetime, Eleanor had ample time and began planning well in advance.

She first established a vast warehouse system in various city-states and restricted the officials who took over the system with exceptionally harsh punishments.

Regardless of official rank or family affiliation, any oversights discovered during scheduled inspections will be thoroughly investigated.

The title of "sage" became stained with blood during those years, as Princess Eleanor, who was usually easy to talk to, was uncompromising on the issue of food.

For minor oversights, their property will be confiscated and repaired before stripping them of their official positions and even their noble status. But if a major blunder occurs, or if they resort to something like burning down a granary with a fire dragon, extermination of the entire clan will be the starting price, and the culprits will be torn to pieces!

"What does Your Highness mean by this?"

Countless eyes glared at her in the darkness, whispering among themselves in various places.

Don't you crave our support anymore? Are you going to betray us? A few meager rations are nothing to us!

All these exchanges were ineffective. Eleanor promised them that they could make money in many more ways, but she would never allow anyone to cross the line regarding food and arable land.

She likes land annexation? Very well, she likes it too—there are so many good lands in the world, why not take them all under my control?

The nobles were horrified. Land was their lifeblood, and yet this high and mighty princess dared to regard unregistered hidden fields as her own property?!

Even though they didn't fully understand the implications and far-reaching impact of land redistribution, this trend had already made them decide to eliminate Eleanor, this shameful traitor!

No matter how much benefit Her Highness the Princess had brought them, their lives were the most important thing!

In this era, the nobles' counterattacks and assassinations came much earlier, and once they struck, they were deadly.

They slandered Eva, saying that the princess was spreading rumors in an attempt to overthrow the peaceful country.

They spread rumors among the people, claiming that Eleanor was mentally unstable because of her physical disability, and that all the rules she issued would harm everyone.

Regardless of whether these schemes were useful or not, or how useful they were, it didn't stop them from simultaneously hiring assassins and manipulating death squads to attack Eleanor.

Kill, kill, kill!

Once you're dead—who will carry out those outdated policies!

A bloody year passed quickly, and the impregnable walls surrounding the princess instilled despair in the enemy.

Why does Princess Eleanor have so many talented people around her?

They weren't indifferent to fame and fortune, but the princess always managed to win them over with a grander narrative, and even if one or two were willing to act as traitors, Eleanor would quickly see through them.

Could it be that Princess Eleanor truly received a divine revelation and gained the prophetic power of the goddess of wisdom to see through everything?

Countless doubts arose in the minds of the nobles, who seemed to have found the real reason why "Princess Eleanor would betray us".

Kind prayers cannot stop the march of evil, but the threat of death and feudal beliefs can.

"You don't think I ask for nothing, do you?"

Eleanor shook her head and declared confidently at a private party, "The legendary reincarnation—it's true."

She raised a finger to her lips, everything was understood without words.

Severe laws and harsh punishments cannot provide lasting protection, but at least in the years leading up to the cold snap, the warehouses will be filled with enough food.

Food alone is not enough; distribution is a major problem.

“So, the land still has to be distributed to landless peasants,” Eleanor said with a smile.

Her "naive" idea was forcibly implemented under the drive of overwhelming power.

Absolute violence had caused her great suffering in her previous two lives, and in this life it has transformed into a sharp sword in her hand, enabling her to implement some measures that are ahead of their time.

If killing a small number of people can make more people happy, then why not give it a try?

She was certainly in pain.

Many of these dead people had been her friends, or even collaborated with her for several lifetimes.

However, the cycle of reincarnation ultimately distorts the mind due to its sensitivity.

—If she can sacrifice both Andra and herself, why can't you?

Yes, she still believes that everyone is equal and that free human beings should not be forced into becoming "necessary sacrifices".

But wouldn't such thinking be another form of arrogance?

I'm sorry, I'm numb with pain, and my wandering thoughts still have limits, so please let me witness the possibility of doing so firsthand.

In the year before the cold disaster struck, not only were the granaries of all the city-states of Norlanna filled with food, but Princess Eleanor also forcefully reduced the four great houses to two.

Blood Rose

The nobles, both high and low, remained silent, secretly using code names to refer to the bloodthirsty princess whose name could not be spoken directly.

They also tried to spread the terrible legend of Eleanor among the people, but those foolish commoners turned against them one after another under the lure of the fields.

Many people don't understand how inappropriate Eleanor's actions are; all they know is that following this little princess will indeed get you a share of land!

If it were just Eleanor, who was the only madwoman, things wouldn't have gotten out of control.

However, Her Highness has won over a number of outstanding individuals among the minor nobles, merchants, and commoners.

Years of planning erupted overnight, and the old nobles, who had been labeled as rebels, finally realized what a terrifying force the combination of schools and the army, which were meant to enlighten the people, was.

Before the disaster struck, Norlana had already become a hell for the old nobility!

......

Even though the mansions of nobles were filled with corpses and bloodshed, the palaces of the royal capital were still fragrant and pleasant.

"Princess Eleanor has arrived!" The attendants raised their voices eagerly, and without any further obstruction or announcement, they attentively drew back the curtain for the lady in her magnificent attire.

Eleanor's robes swept across the scarlet carpet as she entered Eva's chambers with light steps.

Wang sat steadily on the couch. This meeting had no fine wine or beautiful women, only his mother's scrutinizing face.

"You've accomplished something really important lately."

As she stated her position, Eleanor calmly replied, "The matter is now settled, and I believe they will behave well for a long time, allowing Mother to finally get some rest."

The princess chuckled at the end, and then burst into laughter with Eva.

"Hahaha, you really don't take them seriously... Ha!"

Eva's laughter was one of relief, but she quickly suppressed it and glanced sideways at her daughter. "You don't take Hetuya seriously either, do you?"

"Hmm, should we even bother with it?"

Eleanor crossed her arms innocently, admitting helplessly as her mother rolled her eyes. "I didn't mean to underestimate them, I just thought we should win with minimal losses."

Outsiders would likely be confused by this conversation, but the mother and daughter knew exactly what it meant.

They were talking about Eleanor's scheme against Hertuia: she had used the poison left by Ophelia to plant people in Hertuia many years in advance to poison Agunor and Attila for a long time.

In this life, Attila's journey is entirely under Eleanor's control.

Princess Hetuya would naturally feel that her assassination of her mother was not going too well—and when this grand drama would end was entirely up to Nolana.

Eleanor had already planned their fate.

After the cold wave arrives, Attila and Aguno will clash, resulting in the mutual destruction of the mother and daughter. Alisa, who is caught in the conflict, will also die tragically.

The people of Hetuya will be thrown into chaos, and then Andra will suddenly appear.

She will return in force as Queen Hetuya, bringing carts laden with grain and soothing the people's fears and sorrows like a savior.

In this way, the three neighboring countries of Hetuya, Nolana, and Belé can be temporarily linked together by blood ties.

This land is home to many countries, and forcibly unifying it would inevitably result in a great deal of bloodshed.

Therefore, she prefers to take a longer-term approach, allowing the three major powers to gradually move closer together based on shared interests.

It started with trade, then the distribution of the industrial chain, and gradually the bloodlines of nobles and commoners became blurred due to convenient transportation and the flow of people, eventually merging into one.

She could finally answer the question that Andra had asked in her first life.

Yes, I know the trend toward unification is right, and this plain will eventually be unified.

I hope there will be less bloodshed, so the king who completes the unification doesn't necessarily have to be us.

This process may take hundreds of years and be accomplished by a descendant or someone else's descendant.

That's good too.

She walked to Eva's side and, just like when she was a child, pressed her forehead against her mother's hand and slowly shared her thoughts.

Eleanor looked up, ready to rewind time: if the king showed disdain, fear, or even anger, she would immediately turn back time.

But it didn't happen.

Eva gazed into the void for a moment, then looked down into her eyes and said gently, "A good story. I have only one question."

Before Eleanor could speak, her mother pulled her into a tight embrace and asked with a sigh.

"Did you tell Andra these things?"

"...No."

She looked into her mother's eyes, neither telling Andra about her thoughts nor about the plans she had made for Hertuya.

Because reason tells us that Andra will not agree.

Eva gazed into her daughter's eyes for a few seconds, then whispered, "Do you know what will happen? You've always trusted that brat Hetuya, letting her be your sword... Have you ever thought about what you'll do when that sword is pointed at you?"

"......"

Eleanor was speechless; she... had tried it before.

Too much time has passed, and words cannot express it all.

The young princess pursed her lips and weakly retorted, "No way."

"Ha." Eva laughed sarcastically, her eyes seeming to already see the end.

......

Nature does not change according to human will; the cold disaster arrived as expected.

Along with news of the cold disaster came news of internal strife in Hetuya.

By the time this news reached every household, those in power were already aware of it.

Some people are even faster.

An elite squad quietly crossed the border and headed towards the grasslands.

"Your Highness, are you really not going to tell Princess Eleanor?" A knight looked uneasily at the golden-red figure in front of her.

Andra looked up and laughed in the morning sunlight, "Haha, don't be such a spoilsport, I'll give her a big surprise!"

The knights spurred their horses and galloped away into the distance, the leader squinting his eyes, lost in his beautiful imagination.

She had already learned through various channels that Attila was about to take action, so she took this opportunity to rush back.

Crown Prince Andra of Hetuya will, in front of all witnesses, slay the rebels and rightfully inherit Hetuya!

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Author's note: Eva (sighs): There's nothing new under the sun.

Eleanor eventually grew into her proudest daughter and also possessed the pride of a "king".

As a leader, it is impossible not to sacrifice a few to benefit the majority—Eleanor finally stepped into the limelight, deciding the lives of others entirely based on "her" own ideas, while also accepting that these were all her sins.

In her previous lives, she was a "Queen," an assistant hidden behind the "King." This was both a limitation imposed on her by others and a choice made by her own subconscious.

But she was too "greedy," and the "King" could not give her everything she asked for, so she came to the front of the stage and became the one who would bear everything.

So at the end of the first life, the Great Mother was somewhat surprised: She "saw" that Eleanor had gotten what she wanted, and Andra truly loved her. Since the happiness you sought was "love," then it should have been fulfilled.

But no, Eleanor loved Andra, loved her deeply, to the point of losing a part of herself—but she also loved happiness, the happiness that belonged to everyone.