The Regressed Princess - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: First Signs of Eminence

The exhibition area of the market was broad and bright; standing at the entrance, one could see a wide, trapezoidal layout.

During the day, everything was visible at a glance. By evening, slaves would light torches, ensuring every guest could clearly see the “merchandise’s” allure.

The merchants’ private tents, however, were entirely different.

They lacked the foul stench of the commoners’ districts. Layers of dazzling banners and awnings woven from colorful fabrics created the illusion of strolling through a wealthy family’s courtyard.

Doni personally lifted the platinum-and-white curtains for the Princess, leading her into the tallest tent at the very center.

Shasha, shasha.

Eleanor’s boots stepped across the plush carpet. A brief glance at the surrounding decor told her that this place rarely received guests.

Many items were similar in style to those used exclusively by the Nolana Royals.

Even if the concept of “Imperial Exclusives” didn’t strictly exist in this country, the petty Eva certainly didn’t like others imitating her family’s food, clothing, housing, or transportation.

Eleanor turned and winked at Jingji. “Go on, you and the others look around the vicinity. See if there’s anything else interesting to buy. Oh, right—I also need a pot of hot tea. Don’t overwork the people here.”

“Yes.” Jingji, dressed as an attendant, nodded. She led her three companions out of the tent with light, quick steps.

The clever Doni didn’t meddle. She automatically interpreted the Princess’s intent: Her Highness was sending her own attendants to brew tea, likely because she brought special tea leaves or feared poisoning.

Doni was glad not to be stained by royal secrets. Only after Eleanor finished her instructions did she offer warmly, “I wonder how many slaves you require? We can certainly discuss the price.”

Eleanor looked around. Perhaps to ensure the privacy of the conversation, Doni had ordered all her subordinates to withdraw outside.

This wasn’t ideal. If they were picked off one by one, or conversely, if they attacked others, things would spiral further out of control.

She thought for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands. “By the way, do you have any children here around my age?”

“Um, do you mean juvenile slaves…”

“No, not slaves.” The little princess flashed a pure, kind smile. “I feel my Guard is still missing one or two children; it would be nice to have a round number. You are well-traveled and experienced do you have any recommendations?”

Doni’s superficial smile instantly became genuine.

While Eleanor was coaxing Doni to call out Elsa and leading a grand procession to tour the treasure room, the people outside were not idle.

Lacking the two sisters Manzhu and Jingji, even though Andra had only just joined, the group vaguely felt that “she should be the one giving orders.”

The girl with golden-red hair sat atop her horse on a gentle slope, a perfect spot for observing the market nearby.

The last batch of guests had taken their money and left obediently. A dozen slaves and attendants moved in and out of the main gate.

Some were transporting goods, while others stood at the entrance politely turning away new customers.

According to the Princess’s orders, they only needed to stay here and wait for a signal from inside.

Their primary objective was naturally to protect the Princess, followed by suppressing and inflicting maximum damage on the enemy.

The Princess’s strategy was simple and clear, but… Andra was thinking.

According to the Princess, she was certain a rebellion would unfold today.

Who would the rebels be?

On the surface, there were many options: a certain princess, a great noble, an ambitious merchant…

Andra slowly curved her lips into a confident smile.

No, impossible.

The candidates mentioned above would never be so brainless.

Stirring up trouble in the Royal Capital right under the King of Nolana’s nose? Looking through history, few nobles dared to provoke a King whose ruling power remained intact.

Only those who have nothing would make such a risky choice, because they have no other options.

Therefore, today’s events essentially boiled down to only two possibilities:

1. Her Highness the Princess was misled.

2. The slaves intended to revolt against their masters.

“Ha.” The smile on her face grew more mocking.

How pathetic.

If escaping alone, a powerful person like her would have a slim chance of survival.

Even without any weapons, help, or a chosen moment, Andra had at least a fifty percent certainty of completing the difficult task of “opening the cage, leaving the capital, and attaining total freedom.”

However, when the objective changed to “leading a massive crowd of people out of the capital while ensuring the survival of oneself and at least thirty percent of the followers,” even she could only shake her head.

Stupid. An act of fools, without a doubt.

Initially, she had no interest in such foolish behavior.

Since it was happening in Nolana, why stop it? It would make for a fine joke over tea.

However.

Andra opened her eyes, a flash of interest dancing in her golden pupils.

To better protect Her Highness, a little extra toil is hardly worth mentioning.

“Follow me.” Andra suddenly galloped toward the city gate. Through that gate lay the outskirts of the city.

“Hey, wait! What are you doing? Her Highness told us to keep watch here!” Caroline shouted frantically, spurring her horse to follow.

She tried to block Andra with her horse, but she couldn’t catch up no matter how hard she tried.

“It’s quite simple.”

Andra didn’t get bogged down in the dilemma of obeying orders. She explained nonchalantly, “Her Highness said a rebellion will occur. If the slaves in the cages want to revolt, they must rely on the slave legions stationed outside.”

It took a moment for everyone’s minds to process Andra’s meaning.

It wasn’t just that the people inside wanted to coordinate with those outside; the slaves did too.

Nolana’s capital certainly wouldn’t allow a large number of foreign warriors to be stationed inside. Even the slave market was divided into two parts: the inner market used cages to restrict the movement of battle-slaves.

Meanwhile, the slave legions often conscripted or sold in “unit packages” were stationed outside the city, just like foreign armies. Since they were “well-trained” slaves managed by instructors, most people would overlook their threat.

Unless they intended to revolt as an entire organized unit!

“Wait, those slaves are actually going to mutiny?!” Caroline panicked. They were noble-bloods, yes, but the slave legions outside numbered at least a thousand!

If so many people revolted at once, the City Guard and Palace Guards wouldn’t be afraid, of course. But by the time the guards arrived, their small group of dozens might already be swallowed up!

“Heh.” A light laugh came from ahead.

“What are you laughing at!” Caroline was sweating profusely from anxiety.

Andra didn’t look back; her voice carried through the turbulent wind. “Think carefully. What is a slave?”

Ah? What kind of ghost of a question is that?

Caroline asked again unwillingly, but this time she received no answer.

The two were like a lead wolf and her deputy, indirectly causing the remaining hesitant guards to follow.

Trot-trot, trot-trot-trot.

The rhythmic sound of hooves crossed the city gate, drawing closer to the slave legion’s encampment.

During the approach, many members of the Princess’s Guard began to realize Andra’s intent.

The slave rebellion hadn’t started yet. Andra was heading to the camp specifically to prevent it in advance. As long as she stopped the legion from mutinying, the damage could be contained to the smallest possible area.

The Princess was protected by the merchants and the other half of the Guard. As long as the legion made no move, Her Highness was safe.

But a second question followed immediately.

“Hey, how exactly do you plan to stop a legion mutiny? Let me say this first—our small number isn’t even enough to block the gates.” Caroline asked under immense pressure, her stomach beginning to burn with phantom pain.

“Haha, it seems you still haven’t thought carefully about what I just said.”

“You!”

Andra didn’t answer. She silently raised her riding crop, pointed at an instructor training slaves, and then let go to accelerate her horse.

“?” The instructor… is there a problem with them?

“So that’s it,” a guard nearby murmured to herself. “The ones controlling those slaves… are the instructors.”

Caroline reflexively argued, “So what? If the slaves are going to rebel, they’ll surely kill all the instructors, they’ll—”

At that point, she understood as well.

Forget the slave legion; any legion in any country follows a structure of officers leading soldiers.

Because few people can receive professional military education, the vast majority of soldiers need—and only need—to follow the orders of their officers.

This approach has one prominent advantage: Officers live and train deeply with the soldiers, becoming the absolute soul of the unit. In a difficult environment, as long as an officer is waving a weapon at the front or back to hold the line, morale stays high.

Of course, the disadvantage is equally obvious. An army trained this way will fall into total chaos the moment it loses its officers, becoming nothing more than meat to be slaughtered by the enemy.

Nolana people or rather, any commander in this world with half a brain—loved the tactic of “killing the king and slaying the generals” because it was effective and tried-and-true.

The combat power of the slave legion stemmed primarily from infinite obedience to their commanders.

The officers were mostly family members or attendants of the slave owners, with a small portion being freed slaves or slaves with exceptional talent.

If this group of slaves decided to mutiny, they would certainly kill the slave owners’ officers before the revolt.

Conversely if a few of the slaves’ own leaders were cleaned out before they could show their hand, the entire legion would lose its nerve.

No matter how much pain they had endured or how much they had struggled to choose resistance…

If, at the very moment they finally plucked up the courage, a superior suddenly turned around, slapped them hard twice, and kicked away their “sword” and “shield”… the servility implanted in their marrow since childhood would re-envelop them, turning them back into submissive, numb slaves.

Gulp.

Even though they were of noble birth, they swallowed hard at Andra’s decisive and ruthless thinking.

How cruel!

Shua, shua.

Sometimes, a gust of wind brings a shiver.

As Andra jumped off her horse and walked gracefully toward the crowd, whether they were slaves, instructors, or the overseers left by the slave owners, they all instinctively lowered their weapons, like a pack of dogs watching the approach of a wolf king.

A smile that was by no means friendly hung on her face; she was terrifyingly dashing.

“You… Milord, what is your business?” The instructor didn’t know that in the original timeline, she would be killed from behind by a trusted slave in two hours. For now, all her vigilance was focused on the person before her.

Andra took her time surveying the surroundings, silently observing the expression of every slave. From their positioning, posture, and attire, she judged who the “potential leaders” were.

This one, this one, this one… and that one.

She muttered to herself, raising her finger to point out about twenty people.

“Just what are you.”

“I am the protector of a certain Great Lady. She requires some very… powerful soldiers.” Andra pulled out a coin purse and tossed it onto the ground.

Thud! Pure gold nuggets rolled out.

The girl tilted her head and rolled her shoulders; her golden-red hair shimmered like scattered ripples of light.

Clang!

A bright longsword was unsheathed in an instant.

“She has no need for trash. This money is a deposit for those who qualify.”

Andra lightly swung the heavy sword one that an average person would need two hands to hold with her right hand, laughing amidst the sound of the wind being sliced.

“It is also the blood money for those who die or are injured.”

Support