Chapter 32 Sister Thorn and Her Highness the Princess have always been special. ...
After the servants poured tea for the princess, they silently withdrew behind the curtain.
As Thorn lowered the curtain, she peeked through the gap and saw her sister standing behind Princess Eleanor; they looked like a perfect couple.
Some indescribable emotions welled up inside her, but she quickly and skillfully suppressed them without revealing a trace.
Thorn took a few steps forward and turned sideways in front of another tent.
This way, she and her two companions could form a triangular area, ensuring they wouldn't miss anyone passing by.
The three of them silently guarded every angle of the tent, as meticulously as they always did when standing guard for the princess, even more vigilant than in the palace gardens.
A quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour... and even longer passed.
His Highness repeatedly summoned Scarface's subordinates for inspection and even took in a rash and impetuous young girl.
Thorn had excellent hearing, and when she heard His Highness say that Elsa should also join the Princess Guard, her eyes twitched involuntarily.
"What's wrong?" his companion mouthed from the other side.
"It's nothing." She pretended nothing had happened, shook her head, and changed her posture.
We should not try to guess His Highness's thoughts.
Thorn tried to clear her mind, letting her gaze wander automatically in the vicinity. But her tangled thoughts still wouldn't leave her, drawing her memories back to a more distant past.
It was long enough that she was very young, and His Highness was even smaller.
My sister and the princess have always been special.
"You are Manzhu's shadow. You must give everything for Manzhu's future. Do you understand?" The mother's figure was exceptionally tall, blocking out the sky and the earth in the dimly lit room.
"Yes, I understand."
That's how she, so small and insignificant, answered.
There's no reason why this happened; Thorn knew it from the very beginning.
People generally believe that young children have poor memories and easily forget experiences from when they were a few years old. But Jingji is different from others; she still clearly remembers that day when she was 5 or 6 years old.
It was an ordinary morning when my mother died.
"Manzhu, promise me... you will protect Jingji."
That day, instead of hugging her as usual, her mother held little Manzhu tightly as if she were begging for mercy by clinging to her mother's leg, demanding a promise.
Manzhu nodded through her tears, while she stood by the bed, bewildered and helpless.
Shouldn't I be the one protecting Manzhu? My sister is such a noble person, how could she possibly protect me instead?
She and Manzhu were twins, but not auspicious twins; rather, they were inauspicious twins—the interpretation of which rested with their elders.
As the elder sister, Manzhu has beautiful long golden-red hair and noble light red eyes that are almost purple.
Her younger sister, however, had only gray hair and savage, blood-red eyes.
"That child deserved to die."
It is said that on the day she was born, her mother's mother made this prediction at her bedside.
However, her mother, of humble status, clung to her tightly, begging and pleading for her mother's mercy.
"This child will be useful."
“I will be useful.”
In the years that followed, her mother and she kept repeating these two sentences.
She will be useful, no matter how hard she tries, she can't compare to her sister. One day, Thorn also received a faint smile from her mother.
"Not bad," she condescendingly bestowed a compliment.
Unfortunately, her mother didn't live to see that day, so the joy that Thorn should have felt was just an empty emptiness.
She and her sister became the princess's personal guards.
Thorn knew her mother's ambition; she hoped her sister could go further and become His Highness's prince, so that His Highness could give birth to a child with the family's bloodline.
My sister would be very happy, wouldn't she? After all, His Highness is so wonderful.
The thorns raised their faces, blinking frantically in the sunlight.
The sun was just as scorching that day, even more intense than it is today.
The Nolana Sun Festival—a celebration of the birth of the first daughter of God, "Yang"—occurs on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month each year, precisely when the Nolana sun is at its hottest.
As the princess's personal guards, they naturally had to pray for Her Highness under the scorching sun, wishing her better health.
Sweat dripped down his nose; the thorns had gotten used to it.
Her dark skin is perfect for standing in the sun. I just hope my sister doesn't get too tanned, because peeling skin is painful and itchy.
rustle.
A small hand reached out from behind the carriage curtain and patted Thorn's shoulder.
"Your Highness, would you like some tea?" She turned around respectfully.
"thorns."
The frail girl smiled gently and called her name softly: "Come on, come up and rest for a while."
"Your Highness..." Jingji hesitated for a moment.
My sister said she had to follow every instruction from His Highness, but my mother also said that she must never slack off in serving the princess.
"Thorns, everything you do has only one purpose." Her mother's face flashed in her mind. "To help your sister seize the only position beside His Highness."
She stared blankly at the princess's outstretched hand.
If I were to hold Your Highness's hand at this moment, would I be helping my sister, or not...? Uh.
The little princess actually took her arm and pulled her towards the car.
His Highness was not very strong, but Thorn staggered to the carriage door as if being held by a giant, and sat down through the curtain.
It's really shady around Her Highness the Princess.
No, it wasn't shade, but a warmth that was slightly different from the sun.
For a moment, Thorn forgot the instruction not to look directly at the nobleman, and she couldn't help but raise her head to look at the prince sitting next to her.
Your Highness is special, and this specialness is no different from that of a deity.
Princesses, kings, the legendary Anya, gods... they are all inlaid in hard places and placed in high places for people to admire.
But now, the special princess sits beside her in such an ordinary way.
Look closely, and you'll see she's an incredibly lovely girl. She still has that innocent glow, and her normally round face appears less full due to her illness.
However, for a prince like this, I—
Thorn held her breath, looking at His Highness's slightly turned face and those bright—indescribable—eyes.
Are those Mom's eyes?
No, and yes.
Her mother had never had such a confident look in her eyes, as if no difficulty in the world was a problem. But from the moment she saw those eyes, Thorn thought of her mother.
Gentle, focused, slightly compassionate, and... full of love that needs no reason.
"!" Thorn's hand trembled; she was burned by the word "love."
How could she be worthy of speaking of love? Love belongs to Manzhu, and only to her perfect sister.
Yes, only the elder sister should become the princess's prince; they are such a perfect match.
“Thorns.” The young prince raised his hand and gently stroked her forehead, smiling as he said, “You’re still children, don’t work so hard. In the future, relax a little when no one can see you.”
"It's not hard work."
"Hahaha."
The prince, who was even younger than her, covered his mouth and trembled all over.
Even though her head was throbbing so badly she could barely stand, her eyes remained gentle and tender. "The way you were pouting and looking so miserable just now was like you were saying, 'Help me, please!' So tell me what's bothering you."
"No, Your Highness."
Thorns withdrew their gaze from the scorching sun and looked again at the magnificent tent before them.
She really had no worries, because from that day on she was determined to do one thing.
Mother and sister were right after all. Her Highness the Princess is wonderful and special. I should do everything I can to help the Princess and my sister get together. That's the right thing to do.
Thorn lowered her head and continued listening to the sounds inside the tent. She had already moved to a different location with everyone while she was spacing out.
After watching the performance, the princess selected three more people to serve as servants at the manor.
Thorn couldn't understand the princess's logic in choosing people, after all, the conversation between the three people and the princess was not smooth or perfect, and one of them even had a very rude tone.
However, Her Highness is definitely right, for example...
Thorn's fingers casually traced the hilt of her sword. His Highness had specifically instructed them before parting ways that she might attract assassins.
She felt excited, and also a sense of satisfaction at being recognized by His Highness.
Her Highness used to look at her like she was a child, a gaze that both captivated and unsettled her. But ever since her headaches stopped a few days ago, her gaze had changed.
His Highness remained gentle, even more so than before... But what pleased Thorn the most was that His Highness finally trusted her wholeheartedly, believing that she could complete the task entrusted to her.
Your Highness, I will absolutely not let you down.
Cough, cough, cough, cough.
It's so noisy. Is this kind of rough movement considered stealth?
Thorn could have waited until the opponent reached behind her before drawing her sword and slashing, but to ensure her companions were not injured, she gripped the hilt of her sword beforehand.
Clang!
A flash of gleaming sword light streaked past.
At the same time that Thorn pulled out his sword, the other boys also pulled out their swords one after another.
They didn't waste time on this obvious understanding and took flight like swallows.
clang!
Clang!
One after another, the clanging of metal clashing rang out as the young guards dispersed freely, like three claws with blades, flanking the larger number of slaves from different angles.
"Jingji, if possible... please try not to cause too many casualties, okay?" The princess's parting order still echoed in my ears.
Jing Ji's sword deflected slightly, and with a graceful flip, she knocked away the red-eyed dagger. In the instant her opponent froze, she swiftly threw a punch, striking him squarely in the abdomen.
"Ugh!" Her red eyes turned pale and she collapsed to the ground; her companions were in no better shape.
After only a dozen or so rounds, the guards casually raised their weapons and used the slashing tips of their swords to force the slaves to gather together.
“There are old and young, isn’t that too strange?” Natalie pulled out the slaves’ waistbands and tied them up. When she looked up, Thorn suddenly turned and rushed towards the tent.
"Hey, wait a minute, isn't that the entrance to the secret passage over there—"
Could it be that these slaves are conspiring with their slave owners to assassinate the princess? Thorn is in a hurry to rush over and help.
Natalie stamped her foot, ignoring all talk of slaves, and charged in with her companions, weapons in hand.
......
Tap tap, patter.
Eleanor walked through the shady secret passage.
With Scarface leading the way and guards bringing up the rear, she was in the safest position. Except for designated corners and secret chambers, it would be difficult for anyone to harm Her Highness, who was positioned in the middle of the group.
Eleanor looked around. In her previous life, she had traveled through secret passages in various places, but this was her first time visiting the secret passages in the commercial district of Norlana Royal City.
The construction here is not of a high standard, and many places give the impression that they might collapse.
"I'm a little tired." She deliberately stopped and yawned.
“Your Highness, there’s a convenient place to rest here.” Scarface eagerly offered to open a hidden door for her.
Eleanor raised her hand in a stop gesture, then smiled slightly, waved her fingers, and mouthed silently—
Watch out behind the door.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
