Chapter 23 A resounding victory. Why do I like Andra? ...

Why do I like Andra?

Whenever the night was quiet and Eleanor lay ill in bed, she would ask herself this question.

It's simply unbelievable no matter how you look at it.

She was selfish, arrogant, disloyal, and possessive in a strange way. She would often try to get rid of the people around me... She had also lied to me.

Liking her is... hard to understand, isn't it?

Is it hard to understand?

All rationality is based on the premise that "Andra is not around".

Because as long as this passionate young woman, powerful young man, and dazzling king appear by your side, everything becomes beyond doubt.

Eleanor understood perfectly well that this beautiful young woman was a raw ore that shone brightly without needing polishing, and once tempered, she would be transformed into a sharp sword that would make the world fall at her feet.

She will become an emperor for all time, and no one can surpass her glory.

History will write page after page in her honor, and all future emperors will be proud to possess and inherit her bloodline.

Everyone who helped her, opposed her, was close to her, followed her, or even just talked about her can rise to prominence in her light and leave their small names in the book.

Oh, so I love "Andra the Great"?

Yes and no.

I love Andra, even without all the glamour.

Why?

because--

"I love you." The girl in golden-red robes opened her arms to her amidst a sea of ​​flowers covering the hillside.

"I will protect you with my whole life, my love."

Eleanor snapped out of her reverie and instinctively stepped in front of Andra, looking up with her at her mother's uncertain expression.

“Mother, the time has come.”

Eleanor put her hands on her hips, trying to make her small body more noticeable so as to remind her mother that she should keep her word.

Eva shifted her gaze slightly, and indeed, the hourglass held by the servants had only a few grains of sand left.

She chuckled and glanced at her daughter, who was fiercely protective of her offspring, then at the cunning hostage behind her, who was fearless and earnestly trying to deceive people. She could only shake her head.

Who needs your protection...?

"You two..."

Eva held up her finger, speechless for a moment, before saying after a few seconds, "Fine, whoever strikes first gets to keep it. Come on, bring me your prey."

Eleanor and Andra exchanged a glance, then obediently untied the bags from their horses and poured out the game, spreading it out on the grass.

"Hiss, hiss!"

Upon seeing the contents of the bag, the favored courtiers and attendants couldn't help but chuckle.

Even Eva reflexively let out two "ha" sounds. She quickly tightened her face, but unfortunately, she couldn't help but twitch her lips when she saw the little mole rolling around in a ball and still wriggling.

"Hehe~" Eleanor laughed along shyly.

"Don't chuckle yet." Eva walked up to her and kicked the little mole on the ground. "We're tied 12-12 now, so your reward..."

"Chirp chirp!"

Before she finished speaking, the larger mole among the baby moles suddenly let out a weak cry and slowly squeezed out a smooth, shiny baby.

Silence...a long silence.

Everyone silently turned to look at the hourglass, where the last grain of sand had fallen precisely after the baby mole was born, landing firmly on the line.

"By Mother Goddess..." Someone secretly drew wave patterns on their chest. What a coincidence! It's like destiny.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, what's this?!" Eva finally couldn't hold back her laughter.

She and the people around her laughed uproariously for a long time before finally managing to stop.

She waved her hand weakly at the little princess and said, "You win. The lakeside manor outside the city is yours from today onwards. If you need any craftsmen, just go to Aina."

As the king, one must naturally fulfill the bets made in public, and the more interesting the situation, the less one can renege on the agreement.

Besides, even she had her doubts about today's turn of events. After the mole gave birth, the manor had no choice but to be given away.

After announcing the results, Eva immediately turned around and jumped onto the chestnut horse.

"drive!"

She spurred her horse on as fast as she could, as if fleeing her dark past, to leave the bizarre experience behind.

"Mother—" Eleanor cried out quickly, "Your horse is still with me—"

This white horse was so white it shone, without a single stray hair, and its body was also pleasingly well-proportioned. It was clearly a top-quality horse, and she couldn't afford to lose it.

"Keep it for yourself!" The king's voice faded into the wind.

"Hahahaha." The people around laughed good-naturedly.

"Your Highness is truly fortunate."

"Congratulations, Your Highness."

There were friendly, ingratiating smiles everywhere, but apart from Aunt Kurdona coming over to say a few words, everyone else kept their distance, as if they were hiding from something.

...

After the king descended the mountain, the crowd spontaneously formed groups and left in twos and threes.

Eleanor was riding her tall white horse in the middle of the road when a chestnut horse came galloping up close.

“Your Highness Eleanor, why do you want a manor so much?” Andra approached her from behind, his eyes focused.

The guards and attendants were far apart, and their words were soft enough to linger only between them.

Yes, why do I want an estate so much?

Eleanor stood on the hill and looked down, where there were fragrant grasses and flowers everywhere.

"I want to do something more meaningful."

The little princess has narrow shoulders, and she looks very weak whenever she lowers her head.

But now she sits upright on the horse, her hands gripping the reins, and even her furrowed brows and focused gaze exude a great deal of spirit.

Andra nodded approvingly and said, "Yes, running the manor is good for your health, but—yet today's actions were far too dangerous."

She understood the little princess's urgent need to prove herself after being bedridden for a long time, and that she needed a team and a stepping stone to go to Enlin.

But whether it was rumored or actual, the king of Norlana was hardly a benevolent person.

The little princess can only rely on the king's favor. Falling out of favor and death are sometimes only a step away. Why risk her life for a few years of freedom?

When Andra tried to persuade her, she vaguely sensed something was off about Eleanor's behavior, but she suppressed the inexplicable feeling for the time being.

“Because of time, time is too precious,” Eleanor answered instinctively, then laughed in surprise.

Dangerous? How dare you call me dangerous!

She tightened the reins, slowing the pace slightly, and whispered a curse in Andra's ear: "Pah! What you did today was truly reckless!"

"~" Andra smiled, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head. "It just looks dangerous~"

“It just looks dangerous~” Eleanor replied sarcastically, mimicking her tone, which amused Andra so much that her eyes crinkled into a smile.

The little princess stopped dwelling on the previous question and rode her horse quickly forward.

They soon spotted the pavilion at the foot of the mountain, and the members of the princess's guard waiting anxiously inside.

"Your Highness! We just—" Upon seeing the princess, Manzhu rushed over.

Eleanor helped Manju off the horse and handed the white horse to the servants for safekeeping.

She said softly, "I know, there was a competition just now, so the guards definitely wouldn't let you in. Come on, let's go back and talk about it."

"Yes!" Manju nodded gratefully, and under Andra's strange gaze, she took the princess's hand and went home together.

......

After the group returned and had dinner, they each sat in a side hall of the palace, with Thorn guarding the door.

A round table was set up in the room. Andra, Manju, and Coral were sitting around the table, and many other seats were temporarily empty.

Eleanor looked around and gestured for everyone to relax.

She first asked Manzhu, "Has the family already sent people to keep a close eye on Manhani?"

“Yes.” Manzhu nodded seriously. “Manhani does have a bit too many connections as a mentor and clerk. We will keep a close eye on her.”

That's not surprising. After all, Manhani was able to climb to the position of prime minister and become extremely corrupt in her previous life. You couldn't have done that without good social skills.

She's still an official with little real power, basically just carrying out orders from above. It'll probably take a long time to find anything amiss.

Eleanor turned her gaze to the coral. "Is there anything unusual happening with Heidi?"

"No, she works very hard and doesn't try to communicate with outsiders."

Coral shook her head, and soon a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.

"Sister Coral, just say what you have to say."

"I think... if anyone wanted to kill you, it could only be one of the Second Prince's men, right?"

The room was completely silent.

Eleanor somewhat agreed: by process of elimination, it's clear that her eldest sister is nearing the end, and almost no one would bet on her. If Dasha wants to kill me, it would only be for personal revenge.

As for the third sister—Misella, if she were the kind of person who would kill her younger sister so ruthlessly in her teens, she wouldn't have died so young in her previous life.

Besides, they are sisters by blood, and your subordinates would never dare to act rashly.

He killed his master's sister when he was a child. Who knows if he will cry bitterly one night after he ascends the throne, vowing to avenge his sister?

But knowing it's the person behind Second Sister doesn't help; they might have acted on their own initiative... Is it really useless?

A flash of inspiration struck me.

[If we can kill the second sister, those crises won't happen.]

The dead cannot fight against the living.

Her mother and eldest sister didn't put any pressure on her, simply because they were destined to "die young."

If the second sister is eliminated, her power will vanish in an instant.

She is neither the king nor a powerful noble minister; she is merely a second princess who is not the crown prince.

That's not right.

Eleanor shook her head inwardly. In her past life, she had been truly heartbroken after hearing that Andra had brutally murdered her second sister. If she were to kill her sister now, wouldn't everything become a joke?

Ophelia was a mediocre king; for a king, mediocrity is a fault.

She couldn't help but clench her fists: Andra had stirred up many wars in her past life, but she was about to usher in a long period of peace... Compared to such a king who unified the world, what was Ophelia to the people?

If I were to replace Ophelia, even protecting just a few more citizens would be a just act... No, that's not just.

Her fingers were tightly clasped on the golden six-petaled flower, the blood-red lines resembling blood flowing through her palm.

I have six petals left.

I love Andra, I still love Andra.

Ophelia is my sister, and she seems to have no faults other than being mediocre.

I'd be willing to leave them a single petal, but if that petal withers because of them...

Crack.

Despite the pain in her palm, Eleanor secretly vowed: I will use their lives to bloom a second flower.

"Your Highness?" Coral looked at the little princess's furrowed brows with concern.

Eleanor loosened the pendant and shook her head gently. "I'm fine. By the way, send someone to take inventory of the estate that Mother gave us, and then go to the market tomorrow."

“Yes!” Coral clapped her hands and laughed, “Now that you have such a big manor, you should buy more loyal slaves!”

Eleanor was stunned. She had just said that she was going to the market to recruit Hudora in advance, and she hadn't thought about slaves at all.

The noble servants in the palace treated her with great equality; she almost forgot that slavery had not yet been overthrown by Andra.

“Hmm…” Eleanor’s eyes darted away.

The little princess looked sullen. Coral quickly gave Manzhu a wink.

Manzhu asked knowingly, "Your Highness, we're sure to buy lots and lots of beautiful clothes and jewels, as well as cute and pretty little birds tomorrow."

The princess did not smile at the clothes and jewels, but she also did not remain silent.

She said softly, "Tomorrow, Thorn will just follow me. Manju and Andra, you two go to the instructors and practice hard."

“Yes.” Manju agreed without hesitation, while Andra looked puzzled.

Eleanor pretended not to see Andra's deliberately widened eyes: I won't give you any more chances to win her favor, you idiot.