Chapter 48 Unable to Reach the End of Time It was a sword—a sword unlike any other…

child?

Eleanor slept so soundly last night that she didn't open her eyes until noon the next day, and began to slowly recall the events while lying in bed.

The people around me had already left, and the blanket my arm brushed against was ice cold.

In this life, Andra naturally wouldn't explain to her in detail where he was going or what he was going to do.

Eleanor covered her face nonchalantly, her memories still lingering of their loving past life.

Andra has always liked to sleep close to her since she was little, initially just shoulder to shoulder, head to head.

Once they've gotten to know each other better, Andra will pull her into his arms like a cuddly bear, letting her snuggle against his strong body and fall asleep.

It's normal for two people to wake up in any position after they've established a relationship.

She will most likely see Andra's bright eyes when she opens them, and the young man will smile and say "Good morning" before kissing her lips deeply.

Even when she later fell seriously ill, and Andra was always rushing to the next battlefield, the king would still rush to her palace as quickly as possible once he returned home.

Andra would flutter around her bed like a little bird, telling her fresh stories, sharing her experiences of war or the aftermath, and subtly suggesting things she wanted Eleanor to do for her.

Of course, Eleanor only needs to oversee things; the specific tasks can be carried out by her subordinates.

Andra would wash up first, and then in the evening he would almost reverently take his wife's arm and they would merge into each other in an exceptionally tender way.

Over the decades, there have naturally been unpleasant disputes.

Andra was in a hurry to have a baby for a period of time. She would stay in the princess's room for the first half of the night, and then come to see her in the second half.

Eleanor was still very young then, how could she possibly endure this?

She was so angry that she kept coughing, called her dirty, told her to get out, and cried uncontrollably.

Later... naturally, they made up.

How could the emperor and empress not get along? They loved each other so much.

Eleanor felt so guilty for uttering a single swear word at night that she couldn't sleep all night, her mind filled with Andra's hurt gaze.

Perhaps Andra was the same back then; she was not angered by her wife's outburst, did not utter a word in rebuttal, and did not take her anger out on the servants around her who heard the curses.

The next morning, she changed into brand new, freshly washed and dried clothes and rushed to Eleanor's side, kneeling by the bed like a child who had done something wrong and confessing to his wife.

"I just miss you so much, I never want to be apart from you..." The usually cheerful and laughing Wang actually shed tears.

"I really don't like them at all, I just want to sleep with you in my arms."

Eleanor wiped away the tears from Andra's eyes.

She had so much to say to her lover, and wanted to criticize him, but didn't know who to criticize.

Accusing Andra?

Those tribal chiefs and powerful lords never hesitated to exploit Andra, and without strong enough ties, their private rebellions and exploitation would only become more rampant.

Ender can kill them once, twice, three times... countless times, but what about the ordinary people who are caught up in the chaos?

Accusing those concubines?

What could the concubines do? Of course, they wanted to give birth to a healthy and strong princess with the handsome king. What else could they do? Could they possibly rebel against the family that gave them life and raised them?

But what about me? What did I do wrong?

Eleanor had no choice but to forgive, and they never discussed the topic again.

Andra began to bathe before each meeting with her and forbade the concubines from using incense or perfumes before their nightly visits... Eleanor simply laughed it off when she heard this news, a classic case of burying one's head in the sand.

......

Seeing that everyone else had children, Eleanor began to feel lonely.

"Andra, I also want to have a child."

Her king and her knight were obedient in everything else, but they hesitated on this one thing.

"But we'll all live to be a hundred years old."

Andra held her hand and said sincerely, "That child will surely be outstanding; she will inherit your wisdom and my strength."

“Then…” Eleanor’s eyes lit up.

Andra shook her head bitterly, touching the back of her hand.

“A seven- or eight-year-old child is adorable, and no one can bear to scold her. But what about a 30-year-old? She will see my existence as a complete obstacle, and I will see her existence as a huge threat... You know how I deal with my enemies, Eleanor.”

Eleanor fell silent; she knew the idiom, "Is there such a thing as a prince who reigns for 40 years?"

Others would be driven to the brink of madness after being crown princes for forty years, but if their children were born now, forty years would just be the starting price.

40 years? 70 years is more like it!

Andra pressed her advantage by whispering in her ear.

"Think about it, we can have children when we're in our sixties or seventies."

So when she turns 30, you and I—along with a whole bunch of strong, carefree old folks—will leave Hetuya. We'll sail across the sea in a big ship and explore the unknown horizon.

A promising future is unfolding before our eyes.

Eleanor was convinced; she knew Andra never lied to her.

They snuggled together tenderly for a moment.

As Eleanor closed her eyes, she suddenly remembered something, and she took some pre-ordered notebooks from the bedside table and handed them to Andra.

"Hmm? Is there a problem with taxes somewhere?"

Andra casually took it, flipped through it, and then threw it back with a snort. "What is this? The homework of those kids? The teachers should just keep an eye on this kind of thing."

Eleanor was stunned. "Wait, didn't you say you were going to train them well so they could be sent to various places as lords in the future?"

The key to managing a local area is to listen to me, right?

Andra didn't take it to heart, but she knew Eleanor cared a lot about the "quality" of the officials, so she smiled and said, "They're all children you raised, I don't mind."

"It's not a matter of whether I trust you or not!"

Eleanor, enraged, threw off the covers and slapped the children's notebooks onto her stomach: "They're your children too! Have some decency!"

A small flame ignited in his wife's eyes. Andra quickly picked up the notebook, flipped through it haphazardly, and nodded in a pretentious manner.

"Not bad, not bad, very excellent. Wow, you're both very smart."

Eleanor slapped her in anger.

"You just said you were worried about the mother-daughter relationship, but these kids are already born, and if you can't raise them well, you'll be the one with the headache!"

"Hahahaha." Andra threw down the notebook, clutching her stomach and laughing uncontrollably.

"Don't worry, Eleanor."

Her smile instantly chilled the warm palace.

Andra's words from that day still echoed in her ears, and Eleanor remembered them for a very, very long time... until this lifetime.

“They are not our children, so there’s no need to consider any relationship. I will suppress them forever, and no one can ever turn the tables on us or our children.”

"Eleanor, I hope our children will come a little later, to inherit a complete and peaceful kingdom."

"Eleanor, let's have a child."

"Hahaha..."

Even though she was completely numb, Eleanor was still amused by the difference between Andra's past and present lives, laughing until her bones ached.

So you were sincere all along.

“Phew…” Eleanor let out a long sigh and lay on the bed to continue thinking about something else.

The fact that Andra in this life is urging her to have a child as soon as possible must mean she has some plans for that child.

Andra was impatient; perhaps she thought her genius daughter could rule a country at the age of twelve or thirteen, so her plan for the child was to manage Norlanna for her?

Although Eleanor had absolutely no desire to have a child with Andra in this lifetime, she couldn't help but feel a little tempted when she thought about the possibility.

Mysella is utterly unfit to rule Norlanna, and Ophelia is hardly any better.

It's incredibly difficult to find a ruler in this world whose values ​​are close to modern ones and who is both upright and powerful.

If I could have a child with exceptional talent, and raise her with care and teach her with all my heart, perhaps she would grow into a holy king even stronger than Andra, possessing true compassion.

"Andra, I don't like the way you treat children."

"Don't treat people like props!"

Boom!

Her own voice boomed like thunder, jolting Eleanor awake.

What was I thinking just now?!

She couldn't help but raise her hand and touch her lower abdomen, secretly vowing that she would never let her child come into the world for such a reason.

Every person's life is irreplaceable, and every soul is free.

No matter how entangled she and Andra are, or how terrible the conflict may be, an innocent child should not be dragged into it.

Eleanor stopped letting her thoughts wander. She endured the dull pain, got up, changed her clothes, and slowly walked out of the tent.

She looked around and saw Andra standing on a high platform not far away, sparring with her adjutant. There were quite a few familiar faces around her.

Eleanor watched for a moment, then turned and went back.

......

She thought this scene would repeat itself for a long time in the future... many, many times.

After all, she could easily live out her days under Andra's protection.

Eleanor doesn't intend to continue living after the onset of the disease, so she can live for another ten years or so, with the highest cost-effectiveness being living to 40.

She wanted to use the rest of her life to figure out Hetuya's personnel, famous scholars, and useful products.

She can also use Andra's money to recruit scholars to continue researching the technology from her previous life and climb the technology tree.

Eleanor rallied and, upon reaching the Hetuya border, began contacting the Marigold Merchant Guild to act as a go-between for them and the Hetuya nobility.

A month later, the group successfully arrived in the capital of Hetuya.

The capital of Hetuya can be called the royal tent in a sense.

The ancient Hetuya were a nomadic people of the grasslands.

Although a large portion of the Hetuya people have established fixed settlements due to territorial expansion and the changing times, the royal family and chiefs still retain the tradition of traveling.

Queen Hetuya would build permanent palaces in pastures and other places she liked, but she would usually live in a heavy and luxurious tent with her queen and concubines.

Those tents are mostly white, gold, and red in color, and are often decorated with sun and cloud patterns. They are also called "Sun King's Tent" or "Golden King's Tent".

In her previous life, Eleanor rarely lived in a tent.

Because she was a pampered princess, she had made it clear to Andra from a young age that she disliked neither insects nor damp places.

So no matter how Andra arranged for herself and her concubines, Eleanor always managed to stay in a dry brick house.

Eleanor in this life naturally did not receive such treatment.

She was supposed to have a heavy tent like Andra, but Andra allowed her to live with him temporarily under the guise of their marriage.

Whenever Eleanor brings up the topic of personal space, Andra smiles knowingly and says, "I'm looking forward to our child."

Is this threatening my freedom?

Eleanor wasn't too bothered; she continued her cooperative efforts among the nobles of Hetuya and successfully obtained a lot of useful information.

Not only was Andra surprised by this, but the nobles who had been in contact with Eleanor were also curious.

The new queen exudes a powerful charisma that makes people feel an instant connection, as if they've known her forever.

The queen's gaze seemed somewhat distant, but once she spoke, she could make people feel as warm as a spring breeze.

No matter what their stance, any nobleman who spends even a short time with her will have to admit that she is a kind, intelligent person, very suitable for developing friendships.

Eleanor is a good listener and will offer practical and helpful advice after hearing your troubles.

She has the air and status of someone in a position of authority, yet she is completely unpretentious. As long as your words are meaningful, she never hesitates to offer sincere praise.

If that were all, many nobles wouldn't have held Eleanor in such high regard.

Ironically, this queen was also very knowledgeable in medicine.

Everyone soon discovered that the veterinarian she contacted was better than the most skilled old herdsmen on the grassland.

She not only knew how to manage cattle and sheep, but she was also exceptional at managing people.

Even in the homes of martial artists, there are many ordinary people. Eleanor's medical team can not only alleviate many troublesome ailments, but also ensure that the children in the homes of those who adopt her preventative advice are healthier.

Eleanor had only been queen for six months when rumors began to circulate that she was a wise woman who had received divine revelation.

Eleanor was happy that they thought so; in fact, she was the one who actively fueled some of the rumors.

She tried to cheer herself up despite the hardship: Just keep going like this. I have two older sisters in Nolana to help me out. I can hold on for another ten years without much trouble.

This life is about working hard for the next life; in the next life, I will definitely deal with Andra myself.

......

Another morning dawned, and Eleanor stepped out of her tent.

She mounted her white horse and skillfully patrolled Andra's territory for her.

The royal tents will stay in one place for a long time, and are now parked at the edge of a lush pasture.

The situation on the grassland was normal, and neither the guards nor the nobles in the distance made any unusual moves.

After surveying the plains, Eleanor stopped her horse in front of a tent that served as the royal treasury.

The warehouse manager's skin tightened as soon as the queen dismounted.

Hey, why are they even checking private funds?

She really wanted to reject this "gentle and kind" boss who was also good at auditing accounts.

Unfortunately, after reviewing the accounts compiled by the Queen, the King not only failed to forbid her from overstepping her bounds, but also told everyone, "From now on, Eleanor can look wherever she wants, or don't blame me for hanging you all up and beating you."

The king's hanging-up beating is no joke; he might knock half his body off, leaving only his head hanging there.

The administrator, with a bitter expression, led Eleanor inside, thinking to himself, "This is the king's treasury; surely no one would be so reckless as to steal from it?"

...However, the Hetuya royal family has always been forgetful, and since they haven't checked for so long, there must be some discrepancies.

She stared blankly at Eleanor's retreating figure as she conducted the search.

Sigh, I hope the king will listen to my excuses before he sees the accounts the queen has submitted...

"What is this?" The queen suddenly straightened up and picked out a long, thin object from a pile of things.

Eleanor's voice trembled slightly, and the administrator was also trembling with fear.

She quickly craned her neck—and when she saw what it was, cold sweat poured down her back.

It was a sword—a unique, high-quality steel sword.

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The author's note: There is one difference between this world and Earth. If a couple wants to have a child, in addition to being in good health, both of them must also have the desire to have a child. It's like a kind of ritual.

Therefore, there is no need for any means of contraception, and there is basically no such thing as a birth that is not desired by anyone.