The Regressed Princess - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Shedding the Filters

A deafening voice slapped her out of her memories…

The Royal Academy… she was actually looking forward to it.

In Eleanor’s mind, her childhood was veiled in a layer of romantic gauze. Before the age of ten, her chronic headaches meant she rarely attended school, and she could barely write a few characters of this world’s language. Later, the pain stopped, but then she met Andra.

In her past life, she had treated the world like a romance game; playing and falling in love with Andra was, of course, far more important than attending school. By the time she was twelve and Andra was fourteen, neither of them went to the Royal Academy of Nolanna.

Instead, Eleanor had “bribed” her mother with various interesting trinkets to create a “Free Classroom” within the palace known to all as the Princess’s School. Under a continuous assault of acting spoiled and gifting ship models, King Eva of Nolanna waved a hand and allowed her to choose her own doctors and scholars for instruction.

The Eleanor of the past had unhesitatingly used her “Heavenly Eye” ability to screen for people of talent. She invited scholars proficient in agriculture and architecture, and spent gold to hire genius folk-craftsmen. Together, they formed a research team dedicated to replicating simpler devices from Earth to benefit the populace.

That had been a happy, fulfilling time. Not only could she lean into her lover’s embrace every day whispering interesting stories, but she also felt a profound sense of achievement as every small step tangibly improved the world.

Eleanor clenched her fist, as if holding a shining star. Back then, everyone was truly happy—herself, Andra, and the researchers. They looked at her with adoration, regarding her as the incarnation of the Goddess of Wisdom. Even in the most dangerous times, they followed her steadfastly to Enlin and eventually to Hetuya, where, with the support of the King and Queen, they founded the Star Institute.

Eleanor took a light breath, continuing down the cloister. Phew anyway, that’s a matter for two years from now. First, I’ll attend class with my sisters, then I’ll gather the talent one by one.

The guards cleared the way ahead while Coral walked beside her with synchronized steps, keeping her hand lowered and ready for the little princess to take it. Watching Coral’s movements, Eleanor’s fingers twitched instinctively as two memories merged in her mind.

In one, a respectful attendant supported a sickly Queen, steadily holding half her weight. She was surrounded by guards and beauties, all looking at her with concern, ensuring she would never fall. In the other, a young Eleanor curled up in Andra’s arms, whispering secrets while poking her lover’s handsome face. Her dangling shoes were spotless, occasionally brushing against Andra’s clothes.

Andra…

Eleanor slowed her pace as they passed the Hanging Gardens. The Royal Hanging Gardens of Nolanna were famous—not truly suspended, but built with undulating slopes, terraces, and climbing vines to create a lush, floating sensation. Eleanor walked to the center of the long bridge, resting a hand on the jade-colored railing to look down.

The Princess Guard’s training ground was directly below. In her past life, she would occasionally stand here with Andra to watch from afar. And in this life…

Tap.

Eleanor stood on her tiptoes to lean against the fence. Coral silently shielded her shoulders and waist. A golden figure flashed by below.

“Haha!” Andra let out a hearty laugh, nimbly dodging Thorn before parrying a strike from Manju with a single swing.

Eleanor nervously clutched her chest. They’re sparring… Does history have such strong inertia? Does what happened always repeat itself?

Clang.

The fierce bout stopped abruptly. Andra took the initiative to retreat. Thorn and Manju silently picked up their swords from the ground and nodded in greeting. The children watching from the sidelines burst into applause.

The atmosphere was… friendly? Eleanor smiled with a complicated heart. It seemed the past had changed. Their initial encounter was far less hostile, simply because she hadn’t announced Andra as her Guardian Knight. This was good; it fit her plan to distance herself from Andra and proved that the past could be altered—a flap of wings at one node could indeed stir a storm at another.

Then why… am I still so unhappy?

Eleanor couldn’t help but look up, and her eyes met those golden pupils. She froze, her right hand instinctively wanting to curl a finger a beckoning gesture. In their childhood, whenever she did this, Andra would rush over to take her hand. In their youth, they would kiss passionately in secluded corners.

The phantom of a burning kiss seemed to linger on her lips. Eleanor quickly lowered her hand and nodded to Andra with some tension.

Heh. The girl with golden-red hair stood in the sunlight and smiled slightly.

That smile was dashing but shallow. It stung Eleanor with a gentle sharpness: it was gone. The profound, obsessive love in those eyes was gone. If this were truly their first meeting, she might have been fooled by Andra’s charming expression.

But they had spent decades together! Every day, every night, every kiss, every touch… Andra didn’t like closing her eyes; she always gazed greedily at Eleanor. And Eleanor had been intoxicated by that burning passion, returning the gaze countless times.

Was it just the contrast between decades of accumulated love and a first meeting? No. Even if she had forgotten much, she clearly remembered Andra’s eyes full of lingering affection.

“From now on you are my Guardian Knight!” The little princess had taken the sword and the knight’s hand. Those golden eyes had shimmered, lit by a flame.

Why, with just this little change, is the way you look at me different? Our first meeting was at my tenth birthday banquet; I comforted you when you were bullied by my sister, and I pinned a marigold to your temple…

Enough! Stop being greedy.

Eleanor bit her lip. Reason hammered at her naivety: You chose to distance yourself from Andra. You were just plotting how to shake her off. Now you crave her gaze and passion? Ridiculous!

A deafening voice slapped her out of her memories. Eleanor, still holding her hand up, gave a small, shy wave, then retreated into Coral’s open embrace as if embarrassed.

“Sister Coral, let’s go.”

“Alright~” Coral had no idea what had flashed through the little princess’s mind in those few seconds. She took the princess’s hand and led her down the bridge. “Don’t overexert yourself. The older princesses have classes every day; they’re sturdy. If you feel unwell, just go to sleep. The tutors won’t say anything.”

“Mhm.” Eleanor nodded obediently, but excitement surged in her heart. Good, I’ll see my sisters soon! In this life, the four of us must cooperate and defeat Andra and the Hetuyans behind her!

The attendant at the door rang a bell. Coral turned the bronze handle, opening the heavy classroom doors.

Tinkle~ Tinkle…

The people inside turned their heads. The layout was somewhat like a modern classroom but with a different distribution. The tutor’s podium was at the front. There was no blackboard, but a rack on the side for hanging long scrolls. Six desks were placed closest to the teacher, while others were further back.

At those front six desks sat the three primary princesses and their study companions.

“Hello, sisters~” Eleanor greeted them sweetly, but as she looked up, she couldn’t help but shiver.

Something is wrong!

She knew the colors of her sisters’ names. Just like the last life, the text above their heads was Blue, Purple, and Purple. She couldn’t see her own name, but it surely wasn’t lower than Purple. According to the logic of a match-three game, three Purples should be able to defeat one Gold, right? And there was an extra Blue!

Eleanor’s optimism vanished the moment she saw her sisters’ faces clearly. She rubbed her eyes: her sisters had used their actual appearances to shatter her decades of “memory filters,” tearing open a cruel reality.

Eldest Sister, Dasha: Height 180cm, Weight… at least 160kg (320 lbs).

Eleanor’s memory of her eldest sister was blurry: a tall, gentle person who gave her many gifts… she should be someone willing to train hard in martial arts to help protect the country, right? But the massive figure before her exceeded the definition of “tall.” Dasha was like a giant ball of flesh, taking up an entire desk by herself. Her plump hands rested on the table. Forget practicing martial arts with that weight, she probably couldn’t even lift her legs.

Her eyes were indeed gentle; she even gave Eleanor a playful wink. Unfortunately, her neck was encased in what looked like two layers of inner tubes; it clearly wasn’t convenient for her to speak. No wonder Eleanor’s subconscious had doubted the third sister’s death but never the eldest’s she had clearly died of illness.

Eleanor gave her sister an awkward smile and struck Dasha’s name off the combat list: With this physical condition, don’t count on her for research or fighting.

She turned her gaze to the Second Sister, the so-called “Mediocre Queen Ophelia.” Whether in childhood memories or others’ words, this sister’s actions were… average.

Governance? The current King, Eva, had left an absolute mess for Ophelia. The people were starving, the nobles were bloated, and the treasury was drowning in debt… if Eleanor hadn’t helped hold things together, Nolanna might have shattered before Andra even attacked.

Martial prowess? Eleanor had never seen her fight. Supposedly, she had led troops against a rebel lord and Atilla once each. Before Andra took the kingdom, Ophelia held a record of zero wins, though she managed to escape every time. In the history books, her battles would likely be recorded as: “The King of Nolanna barely escaped with their life.”

The reason Ophelia’s name was Purple was likely because she was exceptionally gifted in writing and painting; she would surely leave a mark on history through her art. Realizing this, Eleanor grit her teeth and crossed Ophelia off the combat list too. Sister, you might be a debuff on the battlefield. I’ll… I’ll classify you as logistics for now.

“Lili, come~ want to sit with me?” Ophelia noticed her youngest sister’s gaze and patted the chair next to her. Her words were affectionate, but her tone was detached.

Marcella, sitting nearby, shouted, “What? Lili is definitely sitting with me!” She scooted over to make room. The noble study companion shook her head and brought over an extra chair.

Eleanor felt a surge of relief looking at Marcella’s energetic face: At least my own sister can fight! Although she had died mysteriously on the battlefield in the past life, according to others (including Andra), Marcella was a courageous vanguard with great combat instincts. If she gave her sister the best cavalry, the best horses, and the best armor, plus Manju and Thorn… they might be able to trade a few blows with Andra.

Eleanor relaxed slightly. Next, she would listen to her sisters’ political views and management talents. She hoped they could provide strong support against Hetuya.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she sat down gracefully, looking like a delicate evening primrose.

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