Chapter 14 The Decision to Take an Adventure Petite Eleanor tiptoed...
"Your Highness, are you having trouble sleeping?"
Eleanor pressed her face against the window frame, feeling the tremor in her heart.
She nodded silently and asked softly, "Did they ask you to come and take turns on guard duty?"
“Yes,” Andra answered briskly.
Eleanor tightened her fingers; her current situation was vastly different from her previous life.
In her previous life, Andra, as her guardian knight, naturally ate, lived, and slept with the princess, and was much closer to her than Manzhu and the others.
Isn't this a good thing?
Her eyes started to sting again. Eleanor bit her lip: Wouldn't it be better to keep her "away" from me while slowing down her progress and delaying Andra's future with a bunch of trivial matters?
If I were just a little bit more wicked, everything would go exactly as I wish, but I know perfectly well how dazzling Andra is.
The little princess leaned against the window, her voice somewhat ethereal: "...You don't need to do these things."
Andra's figure seemed to sway for a moment, but soon she heard the girl mutter to herself, "...Manju and Thorn shouldn't have done these things either."
Eleanor closed her eyes. Luxury is the art of waste.
In her past life, she boasted that she was more considerate of others than Andra or anyone else, yet she still enjoyed the nobility of wasting other people's lives.
The princess's room was located in the inner ring of the palace complex, with mature guards standing in the four corners of the room. Why would so many young nobles be needed to guard it all night?
It's nothing more than using these trivial rules to tame them, toil their bodies, and extinguish their youthful, free spirit.
"Andra".
“I’m here.” Andra’s right hand rested on the window frame, and she felt as if the princess’s hand was also gently resting there.
The little princess's voice was gentle and clear: "I will tell my mother to have the best swordsmanship instructor in Norlana teach you."
“Your Highness…” Why? Andra’s tone was a mixture of joy and doubt.
Because you were all taught by her in your past lives, even though you had two or three other teachers before.
Eleanor said with her eyes closed, "Because I want you to become stronger."
"Yes, I will protect Her Highness well..."
"That would make your lives much easier in the future."
Andra's drawn-out voice abruptly ended in Eleanor's calm tone.
Her long, golden-red hair brushed against the window frame in the darkness, almost causing her to bump her head.
The image of the little princess appeared in her mind: jet-black hair, almond-shaped amber eyes, slightly flushed cheeks, and... that gentle smile that seemed to be enduring something yet forgiving everything.
She is very useful.
At Eleanor's birthday party, Andra brushed aside Myrcella's provocative gesture and immediately spotted the little princess descending the steps.
The blooming roses couldn't conceal her beautiful face, yet Andra's heart, filled with amazement, was filled with the thought that Nolana's little princess was very useful.
She was the only legitimate princess of Norlana, and was extremely pampered.
As for that foolish Myrcella, who cares anymore?
When the little princess stood in front of her and earnestly lectured Myrcella, Andra simply thought that she was not only cute but also kind.
However, when the banquet ended, the little princess, who had heard that she was suffering from headaches, ran up to her, her cheeks flushed with a rosy blush.
Snap.
The petite Eleanor tiptoed and pinned a marigold flower to her temple.
"...It suits you very well." She smiled shyly, then disappeared from her sight.
That's proof of liking someone, so why—
Andra still remembers the pounding in her heart at that moment, and she just wonders: Why did you refuse when I understood the suggestion to kneel down?
My wonderful little princess, what exactly do you wish for me?
Andra whispered near the source of the voice, "Your Highness, I am not used to accepting kindness from others without giving it to them. If you have any requests, please be sure to state them clearly."
Eleanor quietly wiped away her tears in her steady voice.
How I miss Andra, so wary of everyone else. But have you noticed? Your voice is trembling a little now.
She likes me.
She should have fallen in love with me at first sight.
I am unilaterally escaping this future.
Eleanor clenched her fists, a strong premonition in her mind: if she cried here and now, confessing her fears, the difficulties she faced, and the love that was spreading like wildfire to Andra, she would surely receive the "ideal" answer.
She had long known what a wonderful lover Andra was.
Andra will surely listen to her to the end, and as the story draws to a close, he will unlock the window and leap inside.
"Leave everything to me." She would say this earnestly, just like in our past life, and then take my hand. We will make all difficulties give way to us, leading us down the same path as in our past life.
She will be Anya, whose name will be etched in history, and I will be the only love of her life.
哢哒.
Reason was still roaring, but the burning passion consumed everything.
When Eleanor regained consciousness, she had already unlatched the window and reached one hand out.
And Andra, true to her nature, seized that soft little hand without hesitation in the blink of an eye, and held it in her palm.
Right now, all it takes is saying a simple "I love you" to get everything back on track...?
Is that the right path?
Countless emotions and memories—happy, reassuring, sad, and desperate—enveloped her, turning her warm fingertips icy cold.
I've figured out what I need to do!
The women on Mount Eros smiled sincerely at the red silk, but in an instant, they turned into a pool of crimson, sinking into the underworld in endless regret.
Yes, Andra, I've figured out what I need to do. It's a truth I've only come to understand after a lifetime of struggle—
I also have my dreams.
Andra stood at the base of the wall, firmly grasping the small hand that was reaching out to her.
The moment she grasped that hand, her heart pounded, as if two flawless jade pieces had come together in the darkness.
Gods above.
Andra unconsciously bit her lip: Is this... a hint from Cupid?
It was mentioned in the oral tradition of Hetuya.
When your soulmate appears before you, without any warning, just a simple glance, a word, or a gesture from her, your heart will fall under the spell of Cupid.
She silently vowed in her heart that as long as this shy little princess was willing to express her feelings about love, she would do everything in her power to get closer to her.
"Andra, I've figured it out, I..."
"Hmm." Andra looked up and peered expectantly through the crack in the window; the little princess's amber eyes were so bright.
"Ha," Eleanor chuckled. "I really do want to be the princess of Norlana!"
"Hmm...uh?!"
"If I become a princess, will Andra still be willing to help me?"
The little princess blinked, but the light in Andra's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a cold, wary emotion.
She took half a step back.
Although he didn't shake his head, his voice was full of polite refusal: "Your Highness, my identity is too sensitive, and it may not be appropriate for me to join your plan."
...Andra, I've never seen you so scared before.
Eleanor nodded, leaning on the windowsill, and said seriously, "It's alright. Don't worry about the sword class. Manju and Thorn will both be there anyway, so one more won't make a difference. Just consider it my apology on behalf of my sister."
"How dare I? Thank you, Your Highness." Andra bowed respectfully as the window in front of her gradually closed, and those captivating eyes could no longer be seen.
"..." Andra silently stood up, reached into her collar, and took out a somewhat withered marigold from a bag close to her heart.
The girl with long, golden-red hair held the marigold in her hands and examined it for a long time, then swung her arm as if to throw it into the grass.
"Why......"
She finally sighed, put the flowers back in her pocket, and stood back in front of the window with her back to it.
This time, she kept her eyes straight ahead.
......
Eleanor lowered the window and let out a soft sigh of relief.
Phew~ I finally said it.
She tiptoed back to bed and slowly pulled up the covers.
She knew Andra would never agree to join her team; Andra was intelligent, capable, and ambitious.
A hostage from an enemy country may flirt with a princess in hopes of future rewards, but he must never mingle with a royal princess.
After all, political struggles can lead to a series of consequences, including death if one fails. The risk of allying with the princess of an enemy kingdom is too great; one wrong move and you could get burned.
It's okay, this is exactly the effect I wanted to achieve.
Eleanor closed her eyes, letting her breathing calm down, and slowly drifted into sleep.
Besides Andra, who else can be your prince? Who else can defend your territory? Who will protect your followers from harm?
These answers eventually converged into a single response.
【I】
I will become my princess, I will defend my territory, I will protect everything I own!
......
Three days later, in the early morning, Coral took out a comb as usual and personally combed the little princess's long hair.
She had just brushed aside Eleanor's dark hair when she noticed a thick stack of bound parchment on the table. Curious, she asked, "Your Highness, are all these papers filled with drawings? What are they?"
Eleanor patted the parchment. "It's all filled with writing, lots of drawings and suggestions."
"Oh~" Coral combed her hair a couple of times and asked slowly, "Drawings and suggestions? Who asked you to speak to Wang Jianyan?"
Coral frowned. The little princess was different from the other princesses. She could see the king directly at almost any time. Perhaps some people used her as a fast track. This would not do!
That's really strange. I've been following the princess every day and haven't seen anyone suspicious.
Eleanor saw Coral's serious expression through the bronze mirror and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, I wrote it all myself, and it's still very rough. I hope Mother can take me seriously and agree to hold the ceremony of drinking the Water of Grace for me."
"So... oh?"
The horn comb clattered to the ground. Coral grabbed Eleanor's shoulders and shook her, saying, "Little princess, you can't say things like that! Don't scare me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she gritted her teeth and looked around: thankfully, Her Highness the Princess had just woken up, and only she and the little servant carrying the basin were in the room. The guards were outside the door and shouldn't have heard anything.
Coral gave the little waitress a wink, and after she lifted the curtain and ran away, she knelt down in front of Eleanor, gritting her teeth as she said, "Your Highness, this is too dangerous! Don't be fooled!"
"Don't worry, Coral." Eleanor turned around, her long hair falling beside her face.
The little princess's expression, which was originally innocent and adorable, now carries a touch of mature gentleness, and even... a hint of loving kindness?
Eleanor looked at the coral as if gazing at a long-lost friend.
"Please have some faith in me, at least... let me give it a try."
As she said those words, her fingers remained on the six-petaled flower pendant on her chest.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
