Chapter 41 Attila held up the pendant on her chest and clenched her fist tightly...
The Queen of Norland, Eva, celebrated her 50th birthday in a low-key manner.
She didn't hold her favorite grand hunting party, nor did she take the initiative to appear on the bustling streets to enjoy the festivities with the people.
She didn't even bother to prepare banquets, only making a brief appearance when people from various countries and city-states came to the palace to pay their respects.
For three consecutive days, the king refused most private requests to see him, including Eleanor.
Perhaps Eva wouldn't refuse to let Myrcella visit the palace, but Eleanor had no intention of revealing Myrcella's whereabouts.
Since there was no rule in this world that "a princess may not enter the capital without being summoned," she simply placed Misella and some of her noble followers in a secret room where no one knew them, and forbade them from going out unless necessary.
Mysella asked naively, "My mother is dying, isn't she? Why can't I see her one last time?"
Eleanor told her a terrifying story about a broken cup as a signal, and behind a curtain were all executioners and axemen, so she stopped asking questions.
"Sis, I'm going out to take care of something. Remember to wait for me when I get back."
Eleanor activated the mechanism, and as the clattering sound rang out, she turned and instructed, "If the bell rings, don't wait for me. Just follow the others. They will come as agreed."
“Oh, okay.” Mysera agreed dryly, clutching her weapon nervously.
Eight years have passed, and the child is now in his twenties.
Although Myrcella's personality was still quite rebellious, she was nowhere near as bad as the children Eleanor had raised in her previous life. Fortunately, Myrcella had witnessed her sister's methods over the years, so at least she wouldn't go on and on about it in public anymore.
Eleanor slipped out of the city through the secret passage and found the Marigold Merchant Guild's post station on the midline between the private estate and the royal city.
The staff led the lightly dressed princess to the back, where all the horses in the stables had been fed and their coats gleamed.
This is where the first cavalrymen hid.
Her Highness mounted her horse, and the cavalrymen followed in silence.
They rode into the forest, and more figures gradually appeared, like a river slowly flowing into the sea.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.
Snap.
The sun arrived gracefully, bathed in the glow of the second day's sunrise.
Good morning, Your Highness.
Andra tied her long hair into a ponytail and waved spiritedly in the wind.
The dangerous mission to wipe out the Hetuya diplomatic corps had everyone on edge, except for the man who was about to kill his own blood-related sister, who seemed to be in excellent condition.
Andra was very well-behaved when she returned to the team.
But when the night was deep and everyone was setting up camp, Eleanor heard rustling sounds outside her tent.
A hand quietly lifted her tent flap and waved it in the air.
What should have been a terrifying scene brought a quiet smile to Eleanor's face: she remembered her past life.
At that time, Andra had no concept of boundaries or distance; she would appear by Andra's side at any time, whenever Andra wanted.
In her past life, Andra wouldn't just wave; she would make the "V" sign she had been taught, and she would immediately dart in and burrow into the blankets.
Eleanor's smile faded: The servants hadn't even informed her.
Andra is so cautious. Even though she screens her team members again and again, most of the people in the team that participated in this assassination were Andra's people. God knows how she did it.
As Eleanor pondered, she raised her hand and pressed down on Andra's outstretched fingers.
"Sit down." The princess's expression was icy.
Andra sat down cross-legged with a warm smile.
They huddled together in the narrow, dimly lit tent, as if embracing each other in the darkness.
"Your Highness," Andra's clear voice flowed gently in my ear, "You've brought so many people, why do you still need my help?"
Pleading didn't work. Eleanor wasn't swayed by her and calmly said, "This is what you want to do. I'm already being generous by having my people help you forge extra traces."
"Oh~" Andra nodded in understanding. "That's true, after all, we killed my sister. But I have a small question~"
She raised her eyebrows in surprise and asked, "Your Highness never makes mistakes, and I'm certainly not questioning you. But why are you so certain that my mother will also die soon?"
Aguno is quite different from Eva; she is as strong as a real wolf king and makes a big show of herself in front of the leaders of various tribes every hunting season to prove her bravery.
Moreover, the Hetuya people still retained the habits of nomadic peoples, and in order to unify the great chiefs, Aguno kept marrying new queens and having new children.
Regardless of whether her legal wife changes or not, she will eventually have a legitimate daughter who is even younger than Andra.
So if Aguno had lived longer, Andra and Attila's primary enemies would not have been each other, but rather a whole host of their children.
“Attila can’t wait; she’s Aguno’s eldest child. My men have sent some clues.”
There were no lights in the tent, but Andra could guess at Eleanor's leaning closer and even the way she looked up at him.
So beautiful.
In her eyes, Eleanor was like a quiet and elegant fox, lazily swishing her tail and casually deciding the fate of her enemies.
She swallowed hard and reached out her hand toward His Highness's swaying "tail".
"So, according to you, I have to kill my mother when I go back?"
Eleanor did not answer.
Since she was prepared to kill Attila ahead of time, she would naturally have to do the dirty work herself.
"Ah, I understand."
Andra laughed, and suddenly opened her arms and brazenly rubbed Eleanor's waist.
“Come back with me, Eleanor.”
Her slightly hoarse voice was like a poisoned blade, slowly cutting into flesh and blood, "Your sister will seize the throne of Norlana, and you... my little princess, you will become the most noble queen of Hetuya, the future Angel!"
Her arms were strong and powerful, yet she didn't tighten her grip on the girl in her arms any further. Her body heat and passion burned fiercely in the darkness, her eyes almost licking Eleanor's burning skin.
Andra can do it, she definitely can.
Anyone who is so tightly bound by her will believe it from the bottom of their heart.
Yes, Andra can do it.
Eleanor smelled the sun, the intense heat, the burning scent. How intense its heat was! Anyone near the sun would melt to the bone!
She pressed down on Andra's shoulders and pushed her back little by little.
Eleanor wasn't particularly strong, yet she possessed the strength of a Hercules, managing to push Andra away bit by bit.
The handsome young man wore a heartbreaking expression.
Unfortunately, it was too dark here, and Eleanor couldn't see anything.
"Alright, Andra, stop whining. We're leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Once you've killed your sister, get out of here quickly, or I'll have to figure out how to get rid of you!"
Eleanor grabbed her arm and pulled her outside.
Andra chuckled, speechless. "You're messing with me?"
She didn't press the matter further, but just as she was about to leave the tent, she said to Eleanor, "My promise to you will always stand."
"Okay, okay, I know," Eleanor said dismissively, pushing her out.
With a whoosh, the curtain was pulled back, and darkness returned.
Eleanor sat on the edge of the bed and hugged her shoulders.
What should I do next?
She tried to calm her fluctuating emotions through reflection.
Mysella should be able to successfully ascend the throne.
Not only is she the rightful heir, but in this life, she and her sister have also won over many nobles in advance.
Eva had a wonderful idea. She thought that by getting Myrcella away, she would make things easier for Ophelia, thus ensuring the safety of both her daughters.
However, how much control can a lazy king have over his subordinates?
Ophelia's greatest strengths are actually her mediocrity and her tendency to be easily influenced.
Some nobles might choose her because they think she's easy to manipulate; perhaps this is the path Ophelia walked in her past life.
But she and Mysella could bring even more benefits to the nobles—immense benefits bound by blood ties and marriage.
Their family is still active in officialdom, and her caravans are expanding in all directions.
Everyone was counting on her to spread newer and better technologies and ways to make money.
Furthermore, she and Myrcella each accepted marriage proposals from two prominent families.
Eleanor pictured Manju's face in her mind.
Manzhu was naturally willing, as she was certain that Manzhu had not been in a relationship with anyone in the past few years.
When she heard the news of the marriage alliance, Manzhu's expression showed both fear and a hint of secret joy.
“Your Highness, I am willing to offer you my utmost loyalty. You do not need to agree to the marriage; I am destined to stay by your side forever.”
The girl with long, golden-red hair, who was completely different from Andra, knelt beside her.
At that moment, Eleanor put down the letter, gently embraced Manju, and whispered in her ear, "I know. You will be a faithful lover, and you will never hurt me."
"Who would bear to hurt you?" Manzhu embraced her emotionally, and the two trembled slightly in the study, their emotions a complex mix of feelings.
Eleanor took a deep breath in the darkness: in this life, she would be deeply bound to Manju and Manju's family.
Mysella will become king, and I will support her for a period of time.
Then I'll probably arrange everything and then head out to sea... Andra... will only be a fleeting memory of my teenage years.
He then fell into a deep sleep that night.
......
We set off again early the next morning.
The experienced hunters and scouts soon discovered the extinguished campfire and more traces; they were getting closer and closer to Attila.
Eleanor decided to split her forces into several groups.
Andra and Manju split up, each pursuing one of the diverging clues. Meanwhile, she led Thorn and a portion of the princess's guard to protect the supplies and the horses being transferred.
Splash splash splash splash...
As they passed through a grove of trees, the surrounding bushes and fallen leaves suddenly billowed up!
Eleanor's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
She hadn't expected to be ambushed, but the Hetuya people, who claimed to only know how to fight on horseback, had actually abandoned their greatest asset—their horses—and risked their lives to lie in ambush here?!
"Capture her alive!" A cold voice pierced the air, binding his murderous subordinates like ropes.
Hertuya's royal elite and princess guards were instantly drawn into the chaos.
Da da da!
Thorn rode up from behind, cutting down one enemy after another who pounced on her, but the princess was still too far forward!
A pair of strong arms snatched Eleanor away before she could reach her, and then rode the princess's horse.
"Everyone, please stop."
Eleanor spoke up, and the princess guards immediately stopped their attack. Even after two of them were killed by the enemy, no one retaliated.
"Oh?" Attila looked at the little princess she held in her arms with a half-smile.
She's quite sensible. This princess is indeed as intelligent and decisive as rumored, and... even more beautiful than rumored.
She stroked the other person's thick, long black hair, her smile growing even deeper.
"Go!" Attila pulled on the reins and rushed out with the princess in his arms.
Her subordinates immediately broke away from the battle, mounted the princess's guards' horses, and galloped away.
Eleanor looked up at the top of Attila's head.
The deep purple in her name, interspersed with wisps of gold, is similar to her past life. Heaven truly favors Hetuya.
"Norlana's little princess, does she like looking at me so much?"
Attila playfully pinched her soft cheek.
The girl in her arms did not show the shyness or anger she had expected; she simply asked calmly, "When did you get there?"
"Oh, it's been a while, hasn't it? I didn't dare sleep well last night~"
Attila chuckled lightly, "There's nothing I can do. This is your territory, you know it better. If I keep running, you'll catch up with me sooner or later. So what do you say? I have no choice but to walk towards you."
Seeing her swing her arms outstretched, Eleanor finally couldn't help but bare her teeth.
As expected of sisters, this girl can be just as infuriating as Andra!
As Attila looked at her, she was also looking at Attila.
Both sisters have long, golden-red hair, but Andra's hair is more like flames, and her eyes are closer to gold. Attila's eyes are more blood-red, and her hair is closer to gold.
The two are probably about the same height, but Attila seems a bit more robust and leans towards a power type.
However, Eleanor knew that anyone who thought Andra was agile would first think they were right because of her nimble movements, only to regret their mistake when they parried the sword.
"Hey, little princess of Norlana."
Attila, having been scrutinized by her all the way, said with a smug look, "If you like me so much, why don't you marry me and become my queen? I've heard you're very intelligent, can cure many ailments, and can also do interesting handicrafts?"
"Hahaha." Eleanor couldn't help but laugh.
You two sisters have made similar promises, treating marriage as a reward. How confident are you in yourselves? You have no taste and you even demoted me.
She didn't rush to refute, but tilted her head and asked, "Really? You want me to be a queen? But you're going to kill Aguno in a few years, will I still be a queen then?"
The air suddenly turned cold.
The Hetuan cavalrymen who had just been watching her and Attila talk with amusement lowered their heads, their eyes darting around, cold sweat dripping down their noses.
"Who said that?! That's nonsense!"
Snap!
Attila gritted her teeth and slapped Eleanor hard across the face. "Enough! Shut up! I'll give you to my mother when I get back!"
Ha, that's really stupid.
Eleanor ignored her swollen mouth and thoughtfully glanced at the Hertuyas around her.
Attila seemed guilty, and some of the cavalrymen appeared to know the truth; they didn't take what she had just said as a joke.
According to the history of the previous life, Attila will successfully assassinate Aguno eight years later.
However, judging from the current situation, she has already won over quite a few people... When Andra kills her, it should be easy for her to reconnect with those who intend to assassinate the king, right?
Aguno's death will most likely come sooner than expected, though it's unclear by how much.
Da da, da da.
A rapid sound of horses' hooves, accompanied by dust, quickly approached.
They arrived so quickly!
Eleanor turned around abruptly.
The one leading the group was Manzhu.
Her long, golden-red hair, soaked and clinging to her face, screamed hoarsely, "Release His Highness—"
With that, what was there for Attila to hesitate about? She held the knife directly to Eleanor's neck and pressed it firmly.
"Get out of the way! Or I'll kill her!"
Eleanor's neck was bleeding from the blade, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Sigh, the two sisters are far too incompetent. If it were Andra, she wouldn't have needed to kidnap me at all...
Swoosh—
She heard a faint whooshing sound as blood splattered onto her face.
Eleanor pushed the blade away with all her might, and when she turned around, she saw an arrow piercing Attila's throat with perfect accuracy, leaving her with an incredulous expression.
Attila instinctively raised the hand holding the knife, wanting to kill the unseen enemy.
However, another arrow followed immediately, piercing through the gaps in her armor with a soft thud, drawing out a large amount of blood.
Through the misplaced body, Eleanor saw a domineering golden-red hue.
Andra's eyes burned with fury, a flame that seemed to burn everything, but it suddenly blazed brighter when he saw Eleanor.
Eleanor smiled. She held up the pendant to her chest and clenched her fist tightly!
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