The Regressed Princess - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Outcome

A gentle breeze blew, and leaves fell in abundance.

Two horses, one red and one white, galloped through the forest, alternating leads. Eleanor gripped the reins, casting a cold glance at Andra beside her. Even though she was riding the superior horse and her horsemanship wasn’t terrible, she still couldn’t achieve Andra’s effortless ease.

It had been this way in her previous life. Even though she was naturally loved by animals and rarely harmed by strange creatures, she was far inferior to Andra in terms of control and command. Was this a matter of natural talent, or a difference caused by a distinct aura and personality?

“Your Highness rides truly well. There shouldn’t be much danger ahead; how about I drop back to guard your rear?”

Andra, leading the way, slowed down to pull alongside the Princess. She shook her head dashingly, her long hair billowing in a brilliant wave.

Eleanor took a soft breath. The sixty years of her previous life had been so long; in her subconscious, Andra was like a sovereign within the mist. Yet, how lovely and considerate she had been at the very beginning. She pursed her lips to stop herself from smiling.

The little Princess nodded, then drew the “precious bow” her mother had bestowed upon her. This bow was indeed interesting, made of extremely dense and tough wood, similar to the Cudrania wood of Earth. Its purpose was likely that of an exquisite collectible toy, as the women of this world, who had undergone three stages of physical development, generally possessed uncanny strength and could easily draw a heavy bow to full extension.

This delicate bow was not only shorter and thinner, but its recurve arc was also completely different from the heavy bows commonly used by others. Its matching arrows were light and lovely, feeling hollow when weighed. The arrowheads were sharpened bone fragments; polishing such a set must have required immense labor, serving as a natural mark of authenticity.

This bow must have been the treasure of some consort, right? Perhaps her mother hadn’t had the chance to grant it to someone specific yet, and brought it out this time. Eleanor plucked the bowstring with her finger, suddenly realizing something was wrong: she didn’t have a finger tab or a bracer, she could easily get hurt!

Da-da, ta-ta.

The crisp sound of hooves approached from behind. Andra smiled somewhat bashfully. “Ah, Princess, I just realized I forgot to help you put on your protective gear.”

As she spoke of helping, her first step was to unbuckle her own chest and arm straps, removing her furry shawl along with her arm guards.

“Andra, what about you?” Eleanor bit her lip the moment the words left her mouth. Why was she even asking!

Sure enough, hearing the little Princess’s instinctive concern, Andra smiled like a cat that had stolen a fish. “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I won’t get hurt.”

She took the opportunity to wrap the shawl and arm guards around the Princess, then slid off her finger tab and placed it in Eleanor’s hand. Andra’s movements were fluid and gentle, possessing a stress-relieving sensation like smoothing out felt.

“You are truly lovely.” The girl’s golden hair brushed past Eleanor’s cheek, her voice permeating like silken threads.

Eleanor looked up, meeting Andra’s eyes filled with genuine admiration. Her face grew hot, but she refused to show weakness before Andra, merely raising her hand to give her a light swat.

Andra couldn’t help but smile. She released her grip on the edge of the finger tab and waved playfully at Eleanor. Then, as if afraid of being hit, she spurred the reins, controlling her bay horse to slip back.

“Your Highness—isn’t this just right?” She lingered behind on purpose for a moment before saying: “With me looking like this, your mother will be at ease.”

At the mention of the King of Nolanna, the smile in Eleanor’s eyes vanished. She certainly wouldn’t interpret this as the flirting of her past life, because even the most dull-witted person could hear the steady thud of hooves: the Imperial Guards were “hiding in the shadows.” They were intentionally making a bit of noise to greet the Hetuyan Royal Daughter and their own Princess.

They couldn’t be caught cheating. Eva’s view of Andra had always been “as long as she’s alive.” As long as she wasn’t killed, it didn’t matter if she was maimed.

So should I intentionally guide Eva to deal with Andra?

A highly tempting thought arose. Yes, the Hetuyans might take the opportunity to start a war or harass the borders. But when did the Hetuyans ever spare Nolanna during years of famine? Aguno and Attila wouldn’t be truly provoked; in all likelihood, they would only extort a portion of wealth and resources as compensation. Even in the extremely low-probability event that they truly wanted to “vent anger” for Andra, it would only result in small-scale conflict.

Gulp.

Eleanor nocked the string and slowly drew it back, the delicate arrow aiming aimlessly into the distance.

Should I do this? Can I do this? Will I do this? Why shouldn’t I do this?

A snow-white rabbit appeared in her field of vision. It emerged from the grass, twitching its nose alertly, chewing on blades of grass. Eleanor slowly lowered the arrowhead.

Andra would become strong in the future, very strong. …It was I who helped her. It was I who gave her her first soldiers, her adjutants, and all her knightly equipment. She is Andra; she will face a chaotic world in a few years. She only needs one person, one horse, and one sword to raise an army, then use their strength to sweep across the battlefields, gradually surging into a massive wave. It was I who gave her countless halos; it was I who helped her stabilize the rear!

It was you, but she seemed… to never have cared about “stability,” right?

The rabbit suddenly stood up, its small red eyes darting toward a certain spot. Eleanor tightened the bowstring, her fingers aching slightly.

In her previous life, Andra wore a crown, her blood-colored cloak fluttering in the wind. She laughed joyfully, splashing waves of blood across the battlefield; the moment she charged into the enemy ranks, it was like boiling metal. Invincible. She was invincible. As long as she was allowed to grow to maturity, she would be unrivaled under heaven.

Then what kind of Andra is fragile?

You know.

The girl washed clean by the river of blood seemed to return; “she” stood in the waist-deep river, gazing back at her.

Yes, I know. The Andra who can be deceived, harmed, and killed.

Whirr.

The arrow, carrying accumulated power, flew toward the rustling rabbit on the wind. The girl with a marigold in her hair, the girl who ignored danger to date her in the garden, the girl who held her toes to wash them in the stream, the red-faced youth after an argument… She had also seen the fragile, gentle, angry Andra—that living, breathing.

Swish!

The arrow struck the white rabbit hard, droplets of blood splattering.

“Ha… haah…” Eleanor found herself covered in tears at some unknown moment.

I have seen I know that the Andra who would protect me no matter what is the most fragile one.

Pata, dada.

Andra dismounted to pick up the rabbit. She pulled out the arrow turning back, she was startled: “Your Highness?!”

She quickly tied the rabbit and tossed it into the bag behind her horse, then ran to Eleanor’s side. The girl cautiously reached out to touch the little Princess’s arm, her head tilting instinctively. “What happened to you?”

Eleanor took a deep breath. The corners of her eyes stung, but the focused girl in her vision remained clear.

Shanhu, what if I cannot pay the reward for that person to help me? Eleanor my other self, how do I defeat an enemy that cannot be defeated?

Can I deceive her, harm her… kill her?

“Princess.” Andra didn’t dare offend the Princess, but she rested one hand on the horse’s back and guarded Eleanor’s body with the other, saying seriously: “It’s alright, I will be by your side. I will—do my best to make you victorious.”

Her last sentence was said so softly. Eleanor seemed to hear the youth of her previous life again, holding her hand and murmuring in her ear: “I will protect you forever, my love. Even if the seas run dry and stones crumble, even if time perishes.”

What did the little Princess reply back then? I can’t remember, Andra. I don’t know the weight of your love for me; perhaps, I fear I will never know. And my love for you… is it also not very heavy?

It doesn’t need dry seas or crumbling stones, or three lifetimes; it only needs a life that isn’t so happy.

She looked into Andra’s clear eyes, searching for that phantom of love. Then she laughed at herself: Forget it. Let it all go. Didn’t I already resolve to let each other go? Strength itself is not your fault. For the sake of our former love, let us part amicably and grow on our own, Andra.

“I’m fine… just,” the little Princess wiped her tears and sniffled bashfully, “the bunny was too cute~”

Andra was momentarily speechless, then burst into laughter along with Eleanor.

“Oh, that’s what she said?”

Eva was having a picnic on the lawn, laughing after hearing the messenger’s story. She swallowed the strawberry offered by a beauty, watching the small hourglass beside her listlessly until the last grain of sand fell.

“Good, my turn.”

She pushed away the beauty in her arms, shook her shoulders, and casually mounted a minister’s chestnut horse. Eva’s lethargy vanished the moment she straightened her body. A genuine, joyous smile appeared on her face.

“Ha.” The King let out a short laugh. Without any extra command, the horse flew out like an arrow from a bow, its hooves thudding against the carved mountain path.

Rabbits and birds scattered in terror. The Imperial Guards spurred their horses desperately to keep up with the King’s speed, but only those who had set out in advance managed to stay close.

“Screech.” An eagle’s cry came from the vast sky. The ruler in the forest suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with brilliance. She pursed her lips and easily drew a heavy bow of exaggerated strength; its creator had certainly not intended to save any effort for the archer every ornament was poured into the roar of the arrow’s release.

Vroom.

The arrow tore through the air, the sonic boom piercing straight through the eagle’s chest!

Swish-pop!

The majestic bird’s wings folded as it plummeted from the heights.

Dada, dada.

The guards scrambled to give chase, each holding a bag, wanting to bring back this prey for the King. However, Eva merely retracted her bow with a look of boredom, looking toward a certain direction in the forest.

Is it there… hum, they haven’t stayed obediently on the outermost perimeter.

She turned up the corners of her mouth and galloped toward the forest within her sight.

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