The Regressed Princess - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Early Evacuation

Trot-trot, trot-trot.

The crisp sound of horses’ hooves echoed through the alleyway, gradually tapering off as they reached the market.

A small hand emerged from the carriage, making a gesture to halt.

The Princess’s Guard consisted entirely of educated noble girls; they understood discipline well and stopped by the roadside almost silently.

Across the wall lay the slave section of the Great Market. One didn’t even need to look up to see the rows of iron cages or smell the stench a sharp, bloody odor starkly different from the Royal Palace or the gardens.

Everyone looked curiously at the little princess, wondering what kind of plan she had in mind.

Eleanor shook her head, declining Shanhu’s embrace, and stepped down from the carriage supported by Manzhu’s hand.

She first surveyed the market’s main gate, then spoke softly: “I have received definitive information from someone that a massive riot will break out in this market today.”

Someone? Who could that ‘someone’ be?

Everyone looked at Manzhu, but Manzhu was also looking at the others with suspicious eyes.

“Your Highness, specifically who will cause the riot?” Shanhu suggested seriously. “If it’s a certain lord trying to stir up trouble, we can notify the City Guard and let them come catch the rats in a jar!”

Eleanor gave a bitter smile.

She knew, of course, that Shanhu’s decision was the logical one.

Why should a princess get involved in such a dangerous situation? Whether it was a noble rebellion or a slave uprising, wouldn’t it be better to tell others what she foresaw and watch the scenery from a safe place?

No, it wouldn’t. Because I have my principles… and my power.

Eleanor couldn’t help but touch her pendant.

Because she possessed the power to “reload,” she wanted to guide everything toward a better future.

In the previous life where “nothing changed,” this rebellion must have resulted in many deaths among merchants, citizens, and most of all… the slaves themselves.

Were the merchants innocent?

Even without using modern morality to judge ancient people under slavery, their actions—such as whipping, verbal abuse, and letting others freeze and starve—were all instances of unnecessary cruelty.

However, the laws of this era did not judge the merchants for these actions against slaves.

It wasn’t that their crimes didn’t deserve death; it was that they hadn’t committed a “crime” at all in the eyes of the law.

Can one kill a person simply because they aren’t moral enough? Before judging the merchants, it seemed the laws of the land were what truly needed judging.

If Eleanor still had slight doubts about the guilt and treatment of the slave owners, she felt nothing but pure sympathy for the citizens and slaves.

One side was merely maintaining their daily lives, while the other was trying to break through a hopeless existence.

If the “reload” ability didn’t exist, Eleanor might have said “self-preservation comes first,” but now she clearly possessed the power to change this tragedy.

I can—I must endure the pain of death for the sake of a better future.

She took a soft breath, her raised eyes shimmering with light. “Please rest assured, everyone. Since I dare to come here in person, none among us shall lose their lives today!”

If anyone does, it will only be me.

Manzhu responded with a hand over her heart: “We would not hesitate to give our lives for Your Highness. How shall we act?”

“Good. First, Jingji and the sisters I specifically requested to wear plain clothes.”

Eleanor walked to the back row. Jingji and three high-skilled members of the personal guard had already changed into attendants’ clothes, blending into the servant group.

Aside from Jingji, who was sufficiently humble, the others didn’t quite look the part. However, as long as they ditched their flamboyant clothes and hid in the crowd, who would have the patience to distinguish between a noble and a noble’s attendant?

Good, no obvious flaws.

The princess nodded with satisfaction and said, “Your mission is heavy. You must be constantly on guard against enemies reaching out for you, and watch for anyone hiding in the shadows attempting to assassinate me they will likely use a bow and arrow.”

“Yes!” Jingji and the three sisters lowered their heads sharply.

Judging by their grim expressions, other orders might be sidelined depending on the situation, but protecting the princess was the eternal priority.

This was the advantage of foresight.

In the last loop, someone hiding in the crowd had shot an arrow at her. Eleanor hadn’t seen the person’s face clearly then, but thinking about it now, the flaws were obvious.

Her dress was completely different from a slave trader’s; the slaves wouldn’t mistake her out of hatred.

Based on age, she was just a 10-year-old child—a high-ranking person being protected. Alive, she would be more of a “burden” to the team’s combat effectiveness than dead.

Who would attack an unthreatening “reverse scale” (vital spot) before the leader gave the order?

Nolana had not abolished corporal punishment. A commoner or slave injuring a noble would face horrific penalties.

What reason could possibly drive someone to take such a huge risk to shoot her? The reason “thirsting for freedom” wasn’t enough.

Eleanor finished assigning the special units, then walked halfway around the remaining guard members, softly picking half of them. After a moment’s thought, she also pointed out Andra.

“You, you, you, and… you.”

Her gaze lingered on Andra for a moment longer before she shifted her finger as if nothing were wrong, pointing toward a gentle slope outside the main gate.

“You wait over there. Once you hear fighting inside or see a signal arrow, charge in immediately.”

“Yes,” the guards responded in unison.

Andra rode her horse closer. She lowered her head with feigned humility and said, “A pincer tactic is indeed wise, but Your Highness need not put yourself in danger…”

As she spoke, she glanced at Shanhu and Manzhu with the corner of her eye, clearly implying to Eleanor: Let those two burst in as the “noble guests”; you stay in a safe place.

Eleanor laughed and shook her head. “No, there is still a difference between a Princess and an ordinary noble. And—”

The little princess tilted her head up proudly and walked to an attendant to stroke a magnificent white horse.

“Some things only I can do best!”

She made a sharp leap and slid right off the horse’s back.

The horse blinked innocently and slowly knelt halfway to the ground.

Cough, cough.

Her Highness flipped herself onto the horse, chest out, and rode inward.

The morning sun hid shyly behind the clouds, lining them with a golden border.

The morning customers, however, were far more uninhibited than the sun.

They put on their finest clothes to head to the market to pick out goods, showing only a hint of embarrassment when haggling.

Traders scanned the crowd with eyes sharper than vultures, figuring out in seconds who was a wealthy big spender and whose new clothes hid ragged burlap.

Some guests could not be faked, nor did they need any disguise.

Trot—trot-trot.

The crisp, orderly sound of hooves approached from nearby.

A dozen or so beautiful and handsome young girls on tall horses slowly entered the market, making no effort to hide their presence.

They should have dismounted.

Though there weren’t many people in the early morning, in a few hours many minor nobles and citizens would come to pick out “merchandise.” This many horses would block the road.

However, no one paid attention to that. Their gazes were focused entirely on the girl at the head of the group.

She was a little girl with slightly curly black hair. Her petite stature made the stallion look even more majestic.

That horse, white as jade without a single stray hair, reminded some of their King—Eva—who favored similar white horses.

Others were more direct: Aside from the royal family, what other noble could lead a dozen flamboyant noble youths through the Royal Capital so boldly?

The girl’s identity was obvious.

Her Royal Highness… The traders exchanged excited glances.

Everyone knew the King loved her youngest daughter most, giving her the stars if she asked.

The King had granted this frail, sickly princess a massive bedchamber adjacent to the Sky Garden and allowed her to rest in a luxurious carriage during any public ceremony.

For such a prestigious princess, even the scraps she dropped would be enough to feed us for a year, right?

People couldn’t help but imagine mountains of gold and spilled jewels.

They scanned Eleanor’s neck, earlobes, and wrists with eager eyes, only to find to their surprise that the princess’s attire was actually quite simple.

Her ears weren’t pierced, so she wore no earrings. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders without a pearl hairnet or a gold/silver circlet.

If one could explain this by saying “the Princess is still young, the King hopes her future Prince Consort will personally provide these intimate pieces,” then the fact that she wore no bracelets and only a single gold pendant on her neck… such a look was truly “shabby.”

“As expected of a true Princess!”

A voice drew the attention of those nearby.

She looked at the girl and said with mock seriousness, “Her Highness must have the most delicate skin; her whole body can only bear the weight of that one piece of jewelry on her neck.”

Oh~ Everyone nodded in realization, but looking back, something felt off.

The girl on the horse looked quite spirited; where was the “weak and sickly” person from the rumors?

Before they could think it through, Eleanor had already trotted her horse in front of the crowd.

Whether they were vendors or citizens wandering early in the morning, everyone instinctively crowded forward, wanting to get closer to the princess—just a little closer.

“Back off! Don’t let assassins blend in!!”

A pink-haired noble girl unsheathed a longsword and brandished it in a circle toward the crowd, her roar making everyone retreat.

“Alright, alright.” Eleanor signaled for Batina to return to the line.

She smiled warmly at everyone: “Good morning, fellow citizens. I’ve only come today to pick out some slaves, however… cough cough.”

The little princess coughed twice, appearing a bit embarrassed. “It truly is dangerous with so many people, and I fear a stampede. How about this: everyone, please accept my thanks and come back another day?”

As soon as she finished speaking, two attendants carried a thick chest between them from the left and right. It hit the ground with a heavy thud.

Shanhu leaned over to flip open the chest, grabbed a handful of copper coins, and let them clatter back in.

Clink— The sunlight hit the warm copper coins. Every single one was a thick “Great Copper Coin,” and the chest was filled to the brim.

The little princess rode her horse to the side of the chest.

She didn’t grab a handful of coins and scatter them on the ground like other nobles doing charity during festivals. Instead, she said very gently, “Please line up one by one. Everyone take twenty coins and go home for a hot meal.”

“Thank you for your grace!”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

No one disobeyed the princess. Everyone’s faces beamed with happy smiles.

Even the minor nobles, who didn’t care for copper coins, felt the princess was acting prudently.

If some madman suddenly assassinated the princess, none of their heads would be enough to pay for it. Seeing her once was enough. Leave, quickly.

Under the watchful eyes of the Guard, the crowd lined up and left through the gates.

The market vendors also proactively sent out their subordinates to stand guard outside, ensuring no new customers would barge in and disturb the princess.

The atmosphere inside the market was harmonious and lively, yet a few individuals showed looks of anxiety.

“Tch.” A sturdy woman with auburn hair carrying a basket turned to run toward a corner.

But just as she took a step, a girl’s earnest call came from behind her.

“Friend over there.” Eleanor giggled behind her hand. “Could you show me around this place for a bit?”

Andra: A good strategy using a small amount of money to remove annoying “meat shields” and loose-lipped gossips.

Eleanor: As long as I evacuate the crowd, no innocent citizens will get hurt. Scattering flowers.

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