Chapter 143 Fall, the fourth petal, reflected in their eyes...

It rained all over Hetuya for a day, then the sun shone for three days in a row.

Unlike previous incarnations, this Hetuya had been trading with Norlana for several years at this time.

Although no high platform was built outside the altar of heaven, several cities rose from the ground, connecting the various roads in a dense network.

The crown was supposed to be placed on King Hetuya by the high priest of Onoa, but Andra casually picked up the crown and put it on her own head before the priest could step forward.

A pure gold crown adorned her magnificent long hair, making her face even more beautiful.

Andra turned to the side and asked Princess Nolana beside her, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, "Would you like me to place the Queen's crown on your head?"

Eleanor couldn't help but smile: the person in front of her was really different from Andra in the past.

If it were the original Andra, she would have snatched the crown from the priest and hurriedly put it on her head.

They are the same person, yet they traversed different paths, ultimately making many drastically different choices and becoming "another version of themselves."

Eleanor pursed her lips, pleased to see the flickering light in Andra's eyes: she naturally longed for her lover to wear the crown, a symbol of commitment, of "I belong to you."

If it were the Eleanor of the past, she would have been moved to grant Andra's every wish if her lover's eyes were red and she showed even the slightest sign of grievance or hope.

But now Andra isn't being coquettish, and she has no intention of backing down.

Princess Norlana smiled as she straightened her lover's cloak, which had been blown askew by the wind. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she laughed loudly and said, "That's not proper! Let's have a formal wedding when we are of equal status."

coax--

The spectators burst into friendly laughter, while those in the back rows eagerly inquired about what had happened, wishing they could stick close to His Majesty and the Princess to listen closely.

Equal status?

Andra paused, then quickly realized what he meant: "You mean Eva..."

"Shh." Eleanor slapped her shoulder hard, almost sticking her finger to her lips.

How could you say something like that? If you said it, everyone would think that Nolana was about to stage a story about a princess killing her mother!

"snort."

Andra raised an eyebrow at her childish behavior and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, when the time comes..."

【"——, ————"】

Hey, what was she trying to say?

The fragmented memories piled up in her mind spiraled away like quicksand, and Andra blinked blankly.

Eleanor pressed her cheek against hers, smiling as she agreed, "Okay, I'll definitely prepare a grand wedding for you!"

"...Hello."

Andra sensed something was off, but she was also infected by her lover's smile and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The rituals of Hetuya were less elaborate and placed more emphasis on displaying bravery.

Every Hetuya king, upon ascending the throne, would hold a grand tournament and hunting ceremony to prove himself as the rightful wolf king before the god of royal power and war.

The tournaments held by Attila before were too small in scale, and many people felt from the bottom of their hearts that they were not significant, and that this princess who killed her mother would not be counted among the "kings" in the future.

In times of war, the Hetuya king's "hunt" often referred to the invasion of large tribes—or even the Norlana.

They will forge their crown with blood and solidify their rule with wealth.

However, Princess Norlana bluntly stated, "Blood? Attila has already paid for it. Anyone who disagrees can sign up themselves."

Someone—especially Princess Alisa, who wished to remain anonymous—whispered behind their backs: "What right do the Nolana people have to tell us how to do things?"

As a result, at the tournament the next day, Princess Eleanor showed them with her sword what it meant to say, "I am the truth."

She stood on the ring, winning all three of her battles and all ten of her battles.

The figure wielding his sword against the wind could only make a difference between "one move, two moves, or three moves" when facing a renowned warrior.

After two days of continuous fighting, the warriors of Hertuya jokingly said at a bonfire party that they had a new ranking system.

They are "One-Move Warrior", "Two-Move Warrior", and "Three-Move Warrior".

The warriors who had won the first, second, and third rounds raised their glasses and laughed heartily, while the eyes of the Hetuya people around them who were not qualified to go on stage turned red.

On the third day, Eleanor did not appear. Andra calmly stepped into the ring, ready to face the challenge of all warriors as the champion.

The legend of one move, two moves, three moves has begun again.

It is conceivable that swordsmen for the next hundred years will forever be shrouded in two heavy dark clouds.

So, who is stronger, the strongest Princess Hetuya (former) or the strongest Princess Norlana?

On the evening of the third day, Eleanor sat on the hillside, chewing on a blade of grass, gazing at Andra, who had just finished his fight in the ring.

This was the first time she had witnessed the Hetuya coronation ceremony from this perspective.

The previous times, I either missed out or sat in the stands dressed in a gorgeous gown, chatting and laughing with the nobles and building relationships.

"Splash—"

People not far away stretched out their arms and waved vigorously, desperately expressing their praise for the king.

Magnificent! Andra! Magnificent! Hetuya!

Such a powerful king will surely bring a prosperous future to Hetuya.

Amidst the revelry, someone suddenly shouted, "Wait! The two strongest warriors haven't faced off yet!"

Everyone turned to look at the person who had spoken: lol, it really was Alisa.

Eleanor frowned, and Andra's expression wasn't good either.

In such a setting, neither of them would be a mood killer, regardless of who wins or loses.

Fortunately, the king didn't need to speak; his loyal ministers came to his rescue.

Hudora, standing in the crowd, retorted, "Princess Eleanor has already sparred with His Majesty Andra, didn't you witness it yourself?"

"Bullshit, when did I—" Alisa began to deny it, but suddenly her cheeks flushed red like a goose with its throat choked.

She—she actually witnessed it.

How could she not go and see what was happening when Andra led her people to kill the "fake Eleanor"?

Well, she rode her horse as fast as she could to the outskirts of the battlefield, just in time for a solar eclipse.

The sun closed its eyes, and she relied on her night vision to stare intently.

In a daze, I seemed to see Andra pierce Eleanor's chest with a sword, and Eleanor then severed Andra's head... helmet or head?

She was so frightened on the hillside that she screamed and clung to the servant beside her, rocking back and forth.

But when the sun opened its eyes again, the two people in the sunlight hadn't even started fighting yet!

Alisa felt like fainting just thinking about the servants' expressions at the time.

“Your Highness, I heard you cheered loudly during that exciting battle.” Hudora smiled like a cunning fox.

Alisa bit her lip and nodded. "Yes..."

Damn it, I can't just admit that I was screaming in terror.

She clenched her fists and slowly backed away, preparing to shield everyone in front of her to end the conversation.

But then she saw Eleanor and Andra jump down the hillside and off the ring, respectively, as the two tall, fierce women walked towards her at the same time.

"What are you going to do?"

Alisa got goosebumps. She didn't dare point at Eleanor, so she simply turned to the side and pointed at Andra with one finger: "Hey, don't come any closer!"

Eleanor first grabbed her left shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Princess Alisa, you are a princess of Hetuya, I am a guest~ I cannot hurt you."

Andra was a step too late, grabbing her right shoulder even harder and coldly echoing, "Yes, let's settle this in a more polite way."

The Hetuya people had two favorite ways of dueling.

Weapon duels and wrestling.

The two lovers both have their weapons tucked into their waistbands. How will they duel? It's hard to guess.

Alisa forced a relieved smile: "Uh...we can make up—ah!"

She took flight.

......

The duel that day ended in a friendly draw.

Since none of the participants brought a measuring tape, they roughly measured the distance with their strides, and it was about twenty-four steps, which was pretty much the same.

As for the wedding of King Hetuya and Princess Nolana... that's a story from a very, very long time later.

Queen Eva of Norlanna lived to the age of 89, and under her rule—primarily with the assistance of Princess Eleanor—Norlanna experienced a period of unprecedented prosperity and productivity.

Princess Eleanor became a legendary heroine, ruling, or rather, touring the world as the mere "Princess of Norlana".

Her favorite adventure is to travel the continent with an elite squad, offering help to everyone she sees in distress—whether commoner or noble.

That help could be a letter, a suggestion, a specific person, or a sword.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, how shall we proclaim your illustrious name?"

Those who had received assistance and poets from various places inquired about the matter.

Surrounded by sunlight and torches, the young man left with a smile, saying, "Call me a friend."

Sensitive people understood her meaning: Kind person, you may be brave enough to walk with me, strong enough to hold up a giant umbrella and ignite a raging fire.

A weak nature, difficult circumstances, and a diseased body may prevent you from taking this path, or even from uttering a groan that can be heard.

But that's okay, just consider "me" a friend.

He is not a king inherited by blood, not a god who needs to be worshipped, and not an instigator who uses favors and righteousness as leverage.

She just kept moving forward, never stopping.

She would occasionally linger, but frequently return, bringing judgment to every injustice she witnessed.

Princess Eleanor needs no crowning; she never claimed the title of Empress before her mother's death, but she had received the title of "Holy Queen" before that.

Where is her homeland?

In Norlana, in Hetuya, in Belé... on the long track she has traveled.

More and more people are willing to act as her messengers, spreading and conveying her words and gifts.

If future generations exist, she will surely be an inescapable legend and an unsolved mystery in history books.

During the lifetime of Princess Eleanor—His Majesty the Holy King—large-scale wars decreased significantly.

She always treats the smallest symptoms, addressing the root cause of ulceration.

More food, fewer worms, and she recommends capable people to every country. Every nobleman must think twice before doing anything wrong, for there is a sword hanging over his head.

The grand wedding was repeatedly postponed, and everyone seemed to have forgotten that Princess Norlana had never married—oh, that was, of course, a lie.

Everyone believed that Princess Elinor's promise of "one love for one lifetime" was unbreakable.

So they turned their expectant gaze to Andra, the King of Hetuya: Will you break your vow? Then Your Highness can marry someone else and have lovely and wise offspring!

The answer was disappointing... but I was also relieved.

His Majesty Andra did not break the oath that is almost impossible for a king to keep.

Some people spread rumors with great seriousness, telling everyone that the two kings had argued many times in private.

Hey, both Hertuya and Norlana need an heir!

Isn't their behavior willful and detrimental to the country?

But rumors cannot change the facts.

Both kings withstood all the pressure to get married—and there were even a few farcical "succession wars".

In other countries, the war of succession is a rebellion launched by impatient heirs against their mothers.

However, the war between Hertuya and Norlana was caused by an impatient nobleman who led an armed procession, loudly urging marriage, only to be driven away in a sorry state by chili and onion water.

Seventy-year-old Eva remains sharp of hearing and sight, but the formal wedding of the two royalty seems a long way off.

On New Year's Eve of the year Eva turned seventy, Eleanor and Andra met at Enlin as they had done every year.

Eva also missed her daughters and planned to spend the New Year with them. For this purpose, she specially summoned Myrcella, who had lived in Belé for a long time—so Myrcella and her family also came over under the guise of diplomacy.

Eleanor was delayed for a few days by matters concerning Manju, and drove into the city before sunset.

Andra, encouraged by his ministers, went to the square to greet his late lover.

As it is the New Year, the whole city is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the scene is even more magnificent than in previous years.

Every follower and friend in Eleanor's party, and all the wise ministers accompanying Andra, had changed into their finest clothes to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.

Nobles and commoners alike had their faces painted with celebratory rouge, and they walked the streets carrying bouquets of flowers, ribbons, and fabric flowers.

Eva led Eliza to the city wall, where Coral busied herself urging the former princess guards to quickly unfurl their belongings.

At the moment the two kings met in the square, flower petals fell like rain.

One, two, three layers of soft, white-gold gauze drifted down along with the petals.

Everyone watched intently as the exceptionally large veil, embroidered with countless blessings in gold thread, swayed in the wind.

"oh--"

Judging from the wind direction, it's about to drift out of the square.

"oh!!!"

Another strong gust of wind suddenly blew up the veils, covering the crowns of the two monarchs.

The crystals and jewels inlaid on it sparkled brilliantly under the burst of fireworks.

Thousands of golden-red meteors rose and fell, with a few real silver star trails seemingly mixed in with the night sky.

However, no one made a wish upon the shooting star at that moment.

Their eyes reflected the fireworks in the sky, and—the loving kisses that took place at the turn of dawn and dusk.

-----------------------

Author's note: If this is the final timeline [rainbow fart], then the origin of the two future brides' oversized white veils has been found.