Chapter 66 The Fool: "You'll always protect me, right?"...

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and a young man with long, golden-red hair leaned against the corridor of the Marigold Palace, arms crossed. Andra's eyes were slightly lowered, and his expression was somewhat lonely.

Her sword hung diagonally at her waist.

The training grounds were not far away, but no matter how many servants came and went, she still leaned against the porch, waiting for Eleanor to finish round after round of "negotiations".

The little princess has returned from the king's bedchamber.

She had been busy at the market all day, and she was already yawning in the carriage. Such a young child should go to bed early.

But Eleanor refused Coral's advice; her eyes shone with an astonishing light, flashing with an unusually burning flame. That flame frightened Coral and also froze Andra in place.

Her Highness was now completely absorbed, and she was visibly excited as she left King Norlana's palace.

Eleanor was excited. What was she excited about?

Andra fell into thought: she was also somewhat excited today, initially because of her "date alone" with the little princess. Later, it was because she and Eleanor had gone through a crisis together and felt the distance between them growing closer.

The princess—she seems to be in a hurry.

"Andra, will you come with me to a very, very far place?"

According to the princess, that very far away place was Enlin or some distant country, but Andra felt that her expression at the time clearly meant more than that.

The first thing Eleanor did upon her return was to pack. She anxiously instructed her servants, "Hurry, hurry! Don't forget anything! Everyone, do as I say!"

Instead of leaving it to Coral to handle, she meticulously assigned each of the different tasks.

The only reason Her Highness is acting so "unruly" is because there wasn't enough time.

She has to break down tasks into smaller parts and assign them to different people to complete simultaneously within a limited timeframe, and only she may understand the background and consequences of each task; the others can only follow instructions.

Needless to say, she brought gold and silver jewelry, as well as potted plants and herbs. What she carried most were rolls of parchment. She also instructed her servants to go into the city to find scholars, both famous and unknown, and to persuade them to come to the palace using different rhetoric.

"Today or tomorrow!" The princess waved her little hand, as if dragging it out until the third day would lead to failure, such as being rejected by Eva after she regained consciousness.

Andra was initially very curious, and her excitement was also caught up with by the little princess: What exactly was Eleanor plotting? Why was she in such a hurry? What roles did King Nolana and she herself play in all of this?

But when the first guest minister was invited into the palace for a detailed discussion, an unease wiped the leisurely smile off her face.

Andra shifted his position, listening intently to the conversation inside the palace from a corner where no one was looking.

Eleanor invited many people, many different people, many strangers who, by all accounts, would never know a little princess.

She “interviewed” them in batches in her palace—occasionally alone, but mostly in groups, or perhaps “tried to persuade” them.

The little princess's usual way of communicating with most people is, "I want to build Enlin, and you are the talents I need."

She described different purposes to different people: building ingenious devices, cultivating rare plants, conducting medical research, and opening up lucrative business routes...

She speaks to people in a human language and to ghosts in a ghost language, narrating what interests people of different ages and backgrounds.

Her Highness seems to know everything, and not just a little bit.

Even if someone initially hesitates because she is too young or has other difficulties, they will widen their eyes after a few whispered words, as if they have seen a benefactor or confidant who has been guided by the gods.

Andra couldn't understand many of the technical topics, but she understood Eleanor's promises to the group.

Eleanor told the dubious scholar that she would fund her medical practice in the city and provide her with shelter.

Upon seeing craftsmen and farmers, she would immediately promise them land and houses, saying that as long as they followed her orders, they wouldn't even have to worry about their children's employment, as she would arrange a sweet little home for them in the vast plantation.

Andra astutely noticed that Eleanor spoke differently to those of similar status.

She did not simply and crudely promise the poor money, the rich status, or scholars honor and freedom.

She could tell several worried guests where the things they were looking for or where the humans were.

She also whispered with an old man who had his eyes closed, using some unspeakable exchange to persuade him to agree to drag his frail body along on the journey.

Eleanor was even able to pinpoint the one person who particularly loved to travel among several seemingly unremarkable, wary noble scholars.

Then, he would "quietly" tell her in private that he would select a suitable person to embark on a tour of the whole country and even the world after the situation in Enlin stabilized!

This is so strange, Andra frowned.

Her nascent feelings had not been extinguished, but were instead washed away by buckets of cold water, sinking deeper into her thoughts.

Eleanor did not hide from anyone when entertaining guests; she allowed slaves, servants, and even the scholars she had just agreed to recruit to observe her from a distance or outside the window, "quietly" listening to her conversations with others.

She is like a legendary sage or a deity descended to earth, instantly gaining the trust of others with secrets and codes known only to herself.

Andra gradually realized that Eleanor's most cherished "luggage" was not gold and silver jewelry, nor even the royal guards temporarily bestowed upon her by King Norlana, but rather this group of scholars and strangers whose specific identities were unknown.

Because Her Highness decided to leave the capital immediately, she went to great lengths to persuade them, without even putting on an act.

Andra waited outside for a long time, and only took a deep breath when the last invited guest was escorted into the building by a servant: not a single person had refused the price offered by Eleanor!

Regardless of their expressions when they arrived—happy, distressed, surprised, numb—they all left with a strange hope, as if the little princess's vitality and courage flowed into their eyes through her words.

Is this intelligence? No, this is... a miracle!

Andra touched her rapidly beating heart to her chest, and she finally understood why she was so uneasy.

This is not the Eleanor she first met.

Not that... the "prey" that "Andra" decided to hunt.

The idea that I want to marry Eleanor didn't arise after feelings blossomed; it existed from the very beginning.

Ever since becoming the unfortunate proton, Andra has been thinking about how to break the deadlock.

The mother's choice to send Andra to Nolana from among her three children was not because she was mediocre, but rather because she was exceptionally outstanding. So outstanding that the young and strong Aguno, after much agonizing thought, gritted his teeth and made this cowardly decision.

Yes, Wang, in the prime of his life, "frankly" showed his deep fear of his daughter, a girl who was only thirteen or fourteen years old.

Andra's gaze was deep.

When she brought back prey that was almost identical to her mother's during the hunting season... no, it was already inevitable when the chiefs praised her extraordinary strength and talent one after another.

Hertuya had no place to settle her, and Agunor would never allow a young wolf to bite the wolf king's throat before she grew old.

On the contrary, Norlana has more than one way out.

She could hide her talents and make a living in the palace, or she could find an opportunity to run a business and become Hetuya's spy. She could even turn around and run away, sacrificing her identity to gain "freedom".

These roads are not good enough, not fast enough, and cannot immediately yield sufficient benefits—they are all terrible!

Andra watched as the little princess took the handkerchief from Coral's hands to wipe her sweat, and thought to herself: It turns out we're just as anxious.

Her eagerness stemmed from her deep desire to seize the best, fastest, and most dignified path that the gods had given her: to marry a princess who was close in age, beautiful, and noble enough.

So when she first saw Eleanor, no... long before she set foot on Norlana, when she knew there was a princess of marriageable age in Norlana, this approach became inevitable.

An ambitious hunter wanted to capture this lovely bird and have her bestow upon him wings of blessing so he could soar into the sky!

Andra clenched her fingers as she saw Eleanor lower the handkerchief and nod at her.

I love you, Eleanor.

Her eyes shone with a light that only he could see:

Andra loved the fragility and vulnerability of young girls so much.

The moment she first saw the sickly little princess, she thought of protecting her forever in a magnificent and soft palace, so that the little bird could always sing comfortably for her.

But you are no longer that frail, sickly bird.

No wonder her mother looked at her with such mixed feelings. Didn't she also have a strange feeling when she saw the real Eleanor—or rather, the Eleanor she didn't know?

Panic... Am I feeling fear and panic?

Am I afraid of a lovely, pitiful girl, a young woman I've decided is destined to become my wife?

Andra almost burst out laughing: How is that possible?

She was even a little puzzled as to why her heart was beating so fast, and why her intuition was ringing in her ears as if she had encountered some kind of huge threat.

Is it love? It must be love.

The girl, who was very young but not at all naive, was leaving the hall and slowly walking towards her.

As Andra watched Eleanor step out the door, she suddenly thought of her mother.

Her mother, Queen Hetuya, and Eleanor share many superficial similarities: they both have noble birth, elegant and fluent speech, and beautiful appearances... but they are completely different kinds of people.

Compared to other princesses, my mother was extremely intelligent.

She was able to completely win over her mother with her charm and the power of her family, and she could also completely control the servants she had grown up with.

In terms of management, she was good at recognizing and utilizing talent; at least the family's sheep flocks and caravans did not suffer any significant losses because of her.

Andra had observed what her mother did every day since she was a child.

She could guess her mother's motives from her every action, which often revolved around how to please Aguno, how to strengthen the connection between Aguno and her family, and how to gain more benefits.

Of course, the mother also cares about her three daughters.

The mother trusted Attila the most because she thought Attila was simple-minded, and—Andra’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile: and she was the furthest from the throne.

Agno and his mother never guarded against Attila; they simply treated her as a hardworking and useful sheepdog.

As for the second sister, Alisa, she was practically invisible in the family.

She disliked being sandwiched between two outstanding sisters and thus always found excuses to go hunting, and it is said that she also had dealings with caravans.

As for herself—

A fleeting look of apprehension and worry crossed the mother's eyes. It wasn't as if she were looking at her daughter, but rather as if she had spotted a "flaw" that would displease the king. Like a swift horse with a limp, no matter how magnificent it is, it's an eyesore.

Andra felt a dull ache in her chest.

They were too short-sighted; they saw her talent but refused to accept it at all.

The same goes for mothers.

She clearly wanted to eliminate the danger of her daughter usurping the throne, yet she couldn't bear to part with the last bit of benefit and face, so she arrogantly sent her over, hoping that Norlana would take action. This was full of the foolishness of a clever person.

Ta-da.

Eleanor's soft yet clear footsteps temporarily interrupted Andra's icy thoughts.

She looked up at the little princess walking towards her, and for a moment she suddenly understood a little of what her mother had been thinking.

Is Eleanor in danger? ...Yes, she is. If such a bright child were not the Nolana princess but the Nolana princess, she would probably be in even more danger than Attila.

So—do I want to kill her?

No way, not at all.

Andra could feel his heart pounding—the pounding of a young man's newly born love, and also his arrogance.

She doesn't need to question the meaning of the treasure like a fool; she only needs to hold it in her hands, kiss it, and seal it in her heart.

Andra didn't let Eleanor come to her side; instead, she strode towards her and intercepted the princess just before she stepped out of the palace.

"Andra." The little princess's pale face flushed with excitement.

She embraced him warmly, her movements still carrying the afterglow of the banquet and invitation.

The girl leaned on her shoulder and whispered, "You heard me, didn't you? I want to go to Enlin first. Then... then to Belle."

Eleanor gracefully and naturally released her hands after the hug, leaving the two face to face.

Her eyes were slightly further away, making them appear clear and bright.

This is a message she hasn't mentioned to anyone yet, the most important one—the name of the country she really wants to go to.

She made it clear that she wanted to go to Belleville, and only told her that.

This is an invitation...the most trusted and special invitation.

A smile involuntarily crept onto Andra's face.

Her lips moved, as if she were about to accept the invitation, but a stinging pain, like being aimed at by an arrow, made her want to turn back.

No, the danger isn't ahead, but rather... in the direction of the princess?

Andra's mouth was dry: for the first time, she doubted whether her premonition of danger was wrong.

She just thought that Eleanor was "dangerous" was just a compliment to the treasure.

The princess looked at her with hope, and that one glance instantly dispelled any premonition of danger.

Love overwhelmed Andra's eyes, calming her down once more.

It's probably just my imagination.

Even with these thoughts in mind, her cautious nature led her to prepare a more prudent and advantageous answer. For example, agreeing to a senior position in Enlin, and as for Belle...

Whew.

The girl's giggles were irresistible, and the little princess suddenly grabbed her wrist and stood on tiptoe.

Chirp.

Eleanor placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Andra," she whispered her name, her reflection shimmering in her eyes.

"You'll always protect me, right?"

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The author says: She wasn't stupid, but she became a fool after falling in love.

There is more than one fool.