Chapter 9 Diary - Chronicle Zero, the beginning of all things.

Zero is the beginning of all things.

The concept of "Year 1 AD" was proposed by Eleanor in her previous life.

She designated the day Andra officially ascended the throne as the first year of the Common Era and promoted a new calendar system called the lunar calendar throughout the country.

Eleanor naturally stopped writing, then placed a dot about one-third of the way down the line and gently wrote on it in cursive script: "[21 AD, the date of Andra's ascension to the throne in my previous life]".

As for the first year of the Common Era in this lifetime—it's today, of course!

[0, Year 1 AD - Backtracking Point]

Eleanor marked the two dots, then gathered her thoughts and moved the pen to the end of the line segment: "[57 AD, my death date in my previous life]".

From Andra's coronation to my death, a total of 36 years passed—what a long, long time!

As Eleanor stroked her still-young face, she carefully searched her hazy memories: her memories of Andra's other wives and children had vanished with the wind, leaving only Andra's face.

Andra praying, Andra happy, Andra proud, Andra full of determination, and finally... Andra in despair and heartbreak.

Eleanor sighed. She could draw no satisfaction or solace from the scene before her death, only a deep sense of bewilderment.

Did Andra really love me? She probably did. When she promised, "Even if Nolana falls, I will not tolerate anyone trampling on your dignity," she was probably serious.

And I... loved Andra just as deeply.

She clutched her slightly aching chest: So even in the end, when I died, I didn't really use all my strength to leave her.

I must leave.

Eleanor looked up abruptly and saw that her right hand had written a line on the parchment, the ink almost soaking through the paper.

It seems that even with the mercy of the gods, some of the wounds from the past life still flowed down.

She rallied, tapped a number between 0 and 21, and added, "[In 19 AD, Andra fought his sister Attila at Enlin and won.]"

Enlin is the territory of Princess Eleanor, a world still in transition from slavery to feudalism, where the royal family maintains its rule through a system of fiefdoms.

Although princesses do not have the right to inherit the entire kingdom like princesses, they still have nominal territories.

As for Attila—she is Andra's blood-related sister.

When Eleanor first heard this name in her previous life, she was a little surprised, thinking that some historical figure from Earth had traveled through time.

Later I learned that the world highly reveres the "a" sound, considering it the original sound of humankind.

Therefore, the name Attila is very common, almost synonymous with Xiulan and Zihan.

If you shout "Attila!" at the grassland market during festivals, at least a dozen tall, rugged women will look up and reply with "Hey!"

Attila is the eldest daughter of Agunor, the king of Hetuya. Because the world generally practices the system of succession by the youngest son, Attila was raised as a general from a young age, and everyone assumed that she would become a servant to one of her younger sisters.

The younger daughter, Andra, was in no better shape, as their mother, Agunau, was still young and had plenty of time to have more daughters with the Queen.

Therefore, she was implicitly considered an unfortunate soul without inheritance rights and was simply and brutally sent to the neighboring country of Norlana as a hostage. Of course, what happened later...?

Eleanor marked a dot and wrote: "[In 16 AD, Arguno, King of Hetuya, died, presumably murdered by Attila.]"

How the King of Hetuya died is not important; everyone assumes that Attila killed him, since the second princess of Hetuya also died on the same day.

Now, only Attila and Andra remain as princesses of Hetuya.

Naturally, in order to deal with her younger sister who automatically inherited the right to the throne, Attila turned her sword against Nolana, whether she intended to use someone else to kill her or do it herself.

This approach makes perfect sense; the relationship between Hertuya and Norlana is already complicated, not to mention—

Eleanor silently wrote: "In the year 16 AD, it was a time of cold and famine."

That winter was unusually cold; even in the warmest southern part of Norlanda, a foot of snow fell, not to mention Hetuya, which was already further north.

Most conflicts between people and between countries can be temporarily resolved through the exchange of interests in other areas, but famine is the only exception.

Eleanor shuddered as she recalled the frozen memories.

That winter... was truly cold. Only Enlin, under her rule, enjoyed unimaginable prosperity.

In 16 AD, Eleanor took control of Enlin for eight years.

Over the past eight years, the superior varieties she has sought and the cultivation methods she has promoted have benefited people all over Norlana, including neighboring countries on the plains.

However, the heavy taxes levied by the lords became like sharp blades piercing the gaping mouths of the common people, and the grassland kingdom of Hetuya was on the verge of destruction due to a great cold disaster.

So, in the dead of night, in the stillness of the night, Hetuya's cavalry knocked on the gates of Norlana. The main force then swept across several territories within days, staining Enlin with blood.

Driven by the deep-seated fear, Eleanor picked up her pen and wrote down most of the details that were slipping away on the next page of parchment, including the specific proportions of ink and pulp, as well as the important parts of the farm tools and the people involved.

My past self was so naive.

Eleanor's tears fell onto the back of her hand: she had always been pampered in the royal gardens, indulging in a romantic childhood love affair with Andra.

It wasn't until he was 18 that he and his friends hurriedly went to Enlin because his mother was critically ill and he didn't want to get involved in the treacherous situation in Norlana.

In the eight years from 8 to 16 AD, she worked with artisans to build waterwheels and mills, and improved paper, pens, ink, and a large number of agricultural tools. She also collected three extremely useful seeds, naming them corn, rice, and cotton, and promoted farming methods adapted to local conditions.

She had accomplished many of the tasks that every transmigrated lord was required to do, so she could then comfortably enjoy a blissful romantic relationship with Andra.

When they first took over the territory, they were so busy running around that it almost affected their relationship.

So later, she and Andra slowed down, and after things got back on track, they hunted together and searched for hot springs in the mountains.

They could frolic among the vibrant wildflowers, or simply go home, blow out the oil lamp, and roll together into the fluffy quilt.

Eleanor covered her forehead: many of her memories from her past life were blurry, but she still remembered every detail of that night.

She patted the cotton blanket with one hand and stroked Andra's cheek with the other, saying happily, "See, cotton is very useful, isn't it? Next year we'll be able to harvest this warm crop..."

Bang!

The messenger kicked open the lord's door and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Enemy attack—!"

Clang—clang clang—

Meanwhile, the tower's bells and firelight echoed through the cold night.

With a radiant smile, Andra leaped out of bed in an instant. She quickly donned her light armor, drew her longsword, and headed outside.

"Eleanor, wait for me to come back." Her expression was solemn, but her tone was very relaxed.

Perhaps out of concern for her lover's safety, or perhaps out of a sense of duty as a lord, Eleanor also threw off the covers, hurriedly donned her cloak, and chased after him.

"I...I'll go to the tower to watch over you."

Of course, that's all she could say. How could a weakling possibly go to the battlefield with a war god?

Eleanor smiled wryly as she wrote.

The difference between a princess and a royal princess is that the princess did not drink the "blessing water" that suppressed the blood river before the age of twelve, so her muscles and bones would not undergo a third growth spurt.

The common folk distinction between pregnant and non-pregnant individuals is also due to similar medicinal soups.

In fact, non-pregnant women are not truly unable to conceive. They still experience menstruation for two or three days a year. However, once they become pregnant, they face an almost 100% chance of a difficult childbirth, which is why they are called non-pregnant women.

In a world where one warrior can easily defeat dozens of ordinary people, such a gap is simply too deadly.

So even Eleanor, the spoiled little princess who could see the world as a dating game, could only climb to the top of a tall building under the protection of the most elite princess guards and use her homemade telescope to gaze at Andra's back.

Andra is very strong, extremely strong.

Eleanor never doubted this, not only because of Andra's golden name, but also because—

哢哒.

Her pen, which was writing so softly, couldn't help but pause. Eleanor looked out the window: Manju and Thorn were changing shifts with the adult guards, preparing to attend the morning training session.

At this time in their previous lives, they were fighting against Andra. As for the reason...

"Your Highness, I will be your protective sword."

Eleanor's cheeks flushed with excitement as she looked at the kneeling girl. She stepped forward and took Andra's hand, her eyes and heart filled with the radiant beauty.

Andra smiled back, and the little princess couldn't help but clutch her chest: How beautiful!

She had suffered from headaches for ten years, but on this day she was quietly cured.

Then... Eleanor's eyes reflected Andra's youthful face: We must be destined lovers, right?

If this were a dating game, then the main storyline of my life would be meeting you.

As the chosen one, everything about me should be special.

The little princess took Andra's sword, kissed his forehead before he stood up, and loudly declared, "From now on, you are my guardian knight!"

She was so focused on holding Andra's hand that she didn't turn around to see Manju's pale face and Jingji's gloomy expression.

They did not remain silent.

“Your Highness, I believe this matter is still open to discussion,” Manzhu stepped forward first.

Thorn's opposition was even more direct; she knelt down on one knee, drew her sword, and held it in her hands.

“Your Highness, please arrange a duel between me and Andra. Only the victor will be qualified to protect you.”

They disliked the young man who had so easily won the princess's favor, and were even more suspicious of the sinister intentions of this hostage, Hetuya.

However, the Princess Guard is independent of any other organization, and all appointments and dismissals depend entirely on the mood of the King and Princess, so the only way to forcibly stop them is through a duel.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that,” Eleanor laughed, but Andra had already reached over her shoulder and shielded her with a shadow.

The blonde girl slowly drew her longsword into the sunlight and chuckled, "You—come at me all at once."

The cold wind of the sword overlapped with the garden and the snowy night.

As a child, Andra easily brushed aside the thorns and left a mark on Manju's chest.

The adult Andra was like a tiger, a lion... no, she was a black dragon in a dream. When the falling stones on the wall quietly stopped, the city gates roared open, and the draped night was torn apart by the uniform hoofbeats.

Only one person rode at the very front—

Andra led a regiment nominally a security force, but in reality, her personal cavalry. They tore through the Hetuya phalanx like knives cutting through butter, branding deep fear onto faces, both mature and young.

Flames, blood...blood, more blood!

"Ha, hahahaha."

Andra laughed loudly on the battlefield, reaping ears of wheat with his longsword.

She was like a ghost hunting for life, while Eleanor, who had been standing on the tower, collapsed into Manju's arms, her face pale and tears streaming down her face.

She knew... Andra was right.

Fighting to defend one's country is absolutely just, and any killings that ensue are for the sake of protecting more innocent people.

But what have the people, who are caught up in natural disasters and exploitation, done wrong? They haven't even had the opportunity to receive an education.

Snowflakes mingled with tears as they fell softly.

She hated war, hated killing, and hated the taste of blood.

"If only we could end all wars," she thought, harboring a naive and grand ambition deep within her heart.

“Eleanor, I know you don’t like fighting, and you especially dislike war.”

Despite his wife's pained expression, Andra, returning victorious, didn't utter a single complaint.

She knelt by the bed, gently cupped Eleanor's face, and kissed her tenderly like a true guardian knight, then solemnly made a promise.

“Your Highness, I will never let blood splatter on your dress in my entire life. As long as I live, no blade can harm you.”

Yes, Andra, you kept your promise very well, except for - the last day.

Eleanor rubbed her eyes with a wry smile, realizing an important problem.

She had already written down the most crucial things from her past life in her diary.

1. 8 AD - She was 18 years old.

My mother passed away, and the country was in turmoil. I almost didn't make it to Enlin alive.

2. 16 AD - She was 26 years old.

King Hetuya died, a great cold disaster struck, and Attila led his army to breach the kingdom's borders.

3. 19 AD - She was 29 years old.

Andra utterly defeated Attila in the first and final battles.

4. In 21 AD, at the age of 31, Andra ascended the throne.

5. In 57 AD, she died at the age of 67 as Queen Hetuya.

......

Upon closer inspection, each and every one of these events is inextricably linked to Andra. How can she circumvent Andra to steer the future in the best possible direction?

Putting everything else aside, the two major battles, both internal and external, that one has to face at the ages of 18 and 26 are quite challenging enough.

Eleanor bit her lip, her head aching: Who could win these two battles without Andra? Manju or Thorn?

A note from the author:

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The book has reached 30,000 words! Because of ranking issues this Thursday, updates will be paused until Thursday afternoon. Don't worry, updates will be irregular before it becomes a paid book due to ranking issues, but it will be fine after that. This is a good opportunity to regroup. I'll let you know in advance if anything unexpected happens, thank you~