Chapter 5 The Chase "Got you, Your Highness."...
The first sweet chirping of birds rang out in the early morning. The servants of the gods opened the courtyard gate and swept the path in front of the courtyard for Anqi, who had just finished bathing. The clean paving stones emitted a jade-like glow.
Eleanor changed into a pure white dress that symbolized rebirth and walked barefoot out of the porch.
The priest draped a thin veil over her, then raised his hands to the sky and proclaimed, "I swear on my life and honor that Princess Angelo Eleanor will remain faithful in this marriage."
The priest on the left handed her a walnut cane, and the lower-ranking priests diligently applied insect-repelling oil to her wrists and ankles, chanting softly as they did so: "I have witnessed that you have devoted so much to your family."
Finally, the priest dressed in a pale yellow robe came over.
She held a pair of sturdy shoes in her hands, knelt down on one knee before Eleanor, and carefully put them on for her, saying as she did so, "I have been raised by you, and it is only right that I ease your pain."
After the attendants finished adorning her, they respectfully stepped aside and scattered flower petals to offer their blessings.
The priest of Cupid came to the mountain path and said softly, "Rest assured, the goddess is already waiting for you at the summit. Please allow me to accompany you for a little longer."
"Thank you," Eleanor said sincerely.
Strictly following tradition, someone like her who has never given birth would have to climb a mountain barefoot to get a divorce. The servants of Cupid not only turned a blind eye to this, but also gave her an extra walking stick.
“Compared to your contributions, this is insignificant,” the priest said with a smile as he led the way.
The path beneath their feet was exceptionally smooth. Even though it was summer, when vegetation was at its most lush, the shrubs on both sides had been neatly trimmed, leaving little room for prickly plants.
After walking several dozen steps, the priest stopped at the entrance to the forest and gently stopped Eleanor, who was about to enter the mountains.
"Anqi, please wait a moment."
She spoke with deep emotion, saying, "I know you are not someone who would break a marriage and commitment lightly. If you have any grievances, I am willing to listen."
Eleanor turned away, hesitated for a moment, and could only smile bitterly: How can I tell you this?
Whenever someone mentions Andra, they praise her beauty, power, and ability.
Whenever someone mentions Andra to me, I'm reminded of the sweet memories we shared, and I even smile from the bottom of my heart. So, can they truly understand those cracks?
The priestess saw the queen's anguish and tentatively asked, "Is it because of the child? A biological child is indeed a powerful bond between lovers. If it is because of this... my lord..."
“No! It has nothing to do with children, nothing to do with any children.” Eleanor firmly grasped the priestess’s hand, stopping her from continuing to talk about children.
She really didn't want another good person like Hudora to be put in an awkward position because of her conflict with Andra. Or perhaps... to mend the rift between Andra and her, to welcome the birth of a new life.
How could she not care about Andra's children at all? But it's all Andra's fault, and Andra's fault alone.
Eleanor gazed intently into the priest's eyes, and with an unwavering look and tone, persuaded the kind priest.
A look of relief, as if to say "I knew it," appeared on the priest's face.
She stepped forward and tentatively took Eleanor's hand in return, saying softly, "Perhaps you've heard a folktale. Once upon a time, there was a couple who loved each other very much. One of them would go out to fish with a net, while the other would stay home to chop wood and cook."
“Every time, the person who cooks is in charge of dividing the fish. She cuts the fish in half. She gives the meat with the head to her lover and keeps the fish tail with many bones for herself.”
"As the days went by, the person in charge of cooking became increasingly resentful: 'I always give you the better fish head, can't you even think of me once?' So one evening, she forcefully threw the fish tail into her lover's bowl."
Upon hearing this, Eleanor laughed.
She had certainly heard the story before, and there was even another version in her original world.
She didn't interrupt the priest's story. When the priest finished saying, "My lover cried, and you finally decided to share the delicious fish tail with me," she smiled, nodded, and then shook her head.
"No, we... don't have similar reasons."
The priestess's eyes reflected Angie's smile, weak yet gentle. Eleanor held her hand and whispered, "Andra... she's the kind of person who would pile a whole bunch of fish in front of me at once."
"Then why...?"
In the instant she looked up, Eleanor's eyes seemed to shimmer with countless fragments. "Because Andra never cares about my thoughts, much less about fish."
The priest hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly tried to salvage the situation: "Perhaps... perhaps if you and Anya sit down and have a proper talk, everything will be different. Marriage and love are matters between two people... and..."
She bit her lip, as if making a firm decision, took a deep breath, and said loudly, "Angie, if she or Anya has ever made you feel humiliated or uncomfortable anywhere, please tell me. As servants of the goddess of love, the goddess and I will certainly seek justice for you. You don't need to climb the sacred mountain; that would deprive you of your rightful rights!"
That's... such sincere advice. How could I possibly accept such a sacrifice?
Eleanor smiled in the warm sunlight, then waved and turned to walk into the forest.
“Angie—think of the people of Hertuya! This is your country!” the priest shouted at her retreating figure.
The queen's figure disappeared into the forest, her tone indifferent: "Nolana... my motherland has fallen, and my sister was killed by Andra."
The priest's pursuit came to a halt, albeit with a stagger.
Her feet seemed to be stuck to the outside of the forest as if burned. After a long, long time, she folded her hands and shouted loudly into the boundless forest, "Angie—Princess Eleanor, where are you going from now on?"
Where can you go from here?
She received no answer; the only sound in the vast forest was the leaves chasing the wind.
......
The summer breeze stirred up waves of heat, but as Eleanor ventured deep into the forest, a wave of moisture evaporated and splattered all over her body.
It felt a bit sticky to the touch, but my skin didn't feel as hot anymore.
Where will I go from here, and what can I do? Her feet didn't stop; she continued walking forward.
Eleanor didn't blame the priests for their repeated persuasion and obstruction.
Whether in their eyes or in the eyes of others, Angie, who had lost her motherland, cut her hair in front of the goddess and swore to sever all ties with Anya, and then she really had nowhere to go.
Andra possesses the strongest army, and the temple can temporarily accommodate Eleanor after her divorce, but they will have no choice but to compromise if Andra exerts even a little pressure.
Eleanor will indeed no longer be anyone's wife by then, but what does that matter?
So, go home? Norlana is a fallen kingdom; what home is there to call home?
The idea of a princess of a fallen kingdom divorcing her conqueror and returning to her homeland is the worst kind of joke.
Ah, where should I go then?
die?
Eleanor started walking, and faces flashed through her mind.
At first, it was her living followers: Hudora, Coral's daughter, Little Coral, and her most loyal bodyguard, Manju.
Then came the images of many deceased people who had believed that she and Andra could create a better future.
...or simply believing her.
I see.
Eleanor suddenly realized what she wanted to do.
I want to create a better future for more people.
Gods, is it too late for such a dream?
She looked up, and the dense trees drooped their branches for her, revealing bright red ribbons.
Those ribbons were not illusions, but real markings.
The priests pruned some branches overnight and hung eye-catching silk on the branches to guide her on a clear and effortless path.
"ha..."
Eleanor raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes and pressed her palm against her chest.
It's wonderful that the methods of silkworm rearing and silk spinning have been brought to the world.
To repay this pure kindness, I must, absolutely must, make a vow before the idol, and then journey to a wider world. Before my life completely fades away, I will release as much energy as possible!
Her previously weak legs were infused with new strength, and for a moment Eleanor forgot her physical pain. She ran lightly on the grass, a rosy smile on her face.
"Ha...ha..." Her chest rose and fell with the movement as she breathed heavily through the bright red ribbons.
salad.
Eleanor's hairband fell to the ground as she ran, leaving only a rose hairpin holding up the last few strands of hair. Her long, black hair was thus scattered in the wind.
Knock knock, knock knock.
The surrounding woods grew deeper and deeper, and Eleanor's frail body could no longer support her. She held onto a tree trunk with one hand, clutching her chest and taking deep breaths.
rustling, soft and soft.
Eleanor froze, listening intently. It sounded like soft, rustling sounds of grass rubbing together. No, not just rubbing… it was coming straight at me!
Eleanor's back was instantly soaked with sweat, and she swallowed a mouthful of slightly bloody saliva.
She stopped moving, but the dark shadow behind her was still slowly moving through the grass.
To make such a loud noise, it must be quite large... a lion? A tiger? Such a massive mountain range, perhaps a brown bear!
Swish!
Eleanor gritted her teeth, tore open her skirt, and took off running. The shadowy figure paused for a moment, then chased after her at an even faster pace.
Crackling sound, crackling sound.
*Pasha, pasha pasha*
The rhythms on both sides were completely different. Eleanor ran until her face was flushed, and she felt a dull pain in her chest and abdomen, but the sounds around her grew louder and louder.
Huff, huff.
Her vision began to blur, and she could only barely make out the red ribbons on the treetops as she ran forward, following the path of bright red.
call--
The wind whistled in from the side, making a light, crisp sound, like a cheetah charging forward.
Eleanor hurriedly dodged, stepping on a broken branch.
"ah--"
*Slap*
A dark figure enveloped me from behind. There was no excruciating pain as I had imagined, only a pair of strong arms.
"Are you alright, Eleanor?"
Golden-red strands of hair were mixed with jet-black long hair, like a raging wildfire.
Andra caught Eleanor's unsteady body, holding her firmly in his warm embrace, letting his thin wife nestle tightly against his strong chest.
"Phew~" She pressed her cheek against Eleanor's and then lowered her head to examine her closely for a long time.
Eleanor also looked up, gazing at her lover's youthful face... no, a face far more captivating than when he was young.
Seeing his wife's blank expression, Andra subtly curled the corners of his mouth.
She lowered her head at the opportune moment and whispered tenderly in her wife's ear, "I've got you, my little princess."
Eleanor looked up, and in a daze, she seemed to see the sun-drenched garden of her childhood.
The girl from back then emerged from behind the bushes, wrapped her arms around her waist with her grass-covered hands, and offered her a fully bloomed rose.
"We've caught you, Your Highness."
A note from the author:
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