The Regressed Princess - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Adornment — The Youth’s Voice Was Firm and Earnest, Suppressing…

Official diplomacy between nations requires many ritualistic steps. Even though the development of “etiquette” on the Moon-Mist Continent lagged far behind that of Earth with no concepts like burning incense or bathing before ceremonies except for weddings and sacrifices an audience with a sovereign still required advance notice.

According to the most formal protocol, Eleanor should have sent a parchment scroll via official channels before setting out, filled with flowery flattery and politely asking, “Is your Sovereign available? We are coming to discuss such-and-such matters.” Belai would naturally not refuse; relevant officials or even the Sovereign herself would return a passionate letter: “Nolanna and our country are important trading partners and allies; we share such-and-such history in short, you are welcome to visit.”

Next, Eleanor would need to prepare credentials and rare gifts, select intelligent and dignified attendants, and travel in a grand procession to Philli. Along the way, they would leave unmistakable traces to show they were a professional diplomatic team and not spies—though the two were often one and the same.

Upon reaching Philli, they couldn’t just knock on the palace gates. Unless there was a matter of grave importance, they had to first contact the local high noble in charge of foreign affairs, spend some time together like friends, and then have that noble report their arrival. The Sovereign would then choose an auspicious day primarily a day she was free to grant an audience. Given Belai’s love for theater and banquets, it would likely be a very busy night.

These were the standard procedures, and in three lifetimes, Eleanor had never followed them once with the King of Belai.

For reasons known only to her, she reached out directly through chamber of commerce channels to the Minister of Foreign Affairs who also happened to be the chairman of another merchant guild. For reasons equally mysterious, that person delivered the letter to the King of Belai with maximum speed. As luck would have it, the King was free today and happened to be hosting a banquet…

In short, while Eleanor was settling her group into an inn and before the sun had fully set, a letter from the royal family was delivered into her hands. The messenger and Eleanor looked at each other with a hint of awkwardness: this was too fast. Why was the King of Belai in such a hurry? Usually, one would maintain a dignified silence for a few days.

However, this played right into Eleanor’s hands. She wanted all major events to explode within these six days.

“Our thanks for your Sovereign’s hospitality; we shall arrive on time.”

The Princess put on a composed expression, accepted the letter with both hands, and saw the messenger out the door.

“Your Highness, today of all days?”

Andra had overheard. In public, she addressed her as “Your Highness,” but her legs naturally carried her close to Eleanor to inspect the invitation together. Written in elegant script on vellum was a succinct message: The King of Belai warmly welcomed the envoy of Nolanna especially the wise Princess Eleanor to join her joyous banquet tonight.

Please believe, it shall be a beauty unlike any you have ever experienced. May our cooperation be firm and evergreen.

It didn’t read like a sovereign’s invitation to a foreign princess; it read more like a private email between two guild leaders. Perhaps the difference wasn’t as large as she thought; the King of Belai was likely being intentionally intimate to make their first meeting feel informal. Regardless, Eleanor did not intend to refuse such a convenient invitation.

This way, the audience with the King and the killing of Andra could be arranged within the same six-day window.

Different countries possess different architectural styles. From afar, the royal tents of Hetuya stood in the center of the plains like overturned colorful vanity boxes. Nolanna’s palace was white and gold, resembling a fairy-tale castle with exquisite gardens and corridors.

As for Belai… it looked like building blocks. “Narrow and small” became a unique style in Philli; to maximize space, architects considered vertical stacking from the start. The master craftsmen of Belai painted different palace chambers in various hues, piecing together a multicolored architectural set like Lego blocks. It sat atop the “seashell” of Philli like a kaleidoscopic pearl.

Eleanor and Andra now stood inside a blue “block.” The Belaians before them were bowing and scraping with forced smiles, but Eleanor remained unmoved.

“No need. We brought our own clothes.”

As soon as the Princess spoke, Heidi and the others stepped forward carrying several trunks. Coral walked to a trunk, opened the lid, and tilted it slightly. A stream of moonlight seemed to pour out—thin silk and stoles that looked like unmelting snow, with rubies and sapphires shimmering under the light like a scattering of stars. The gowns brought by the Nolannans were breathtaking; they would be appropriate for any banquet.

Despite this, the Belaian official confidently pulled back a red cloth covering a garment rack. The lights seemed to dim. Once the shimmer faded from their retinas, they saw a heavily crafted ice-blue gown in the “puffy mermaid” style currently trendy in Belai. The waist was cinched while the hips flared out, and the portion below the calves used layered fabric to create the rippling effect of petals and waves. The hem was like the spontaneous brushstrokes of a master painter, outlining a poetic fish-tail train.

Even ignoring the peak craftsmanship and the countless hours of labor sewn into it, one only had to look at the pure gemstone on the bodice and the perfectly round, bright pearls along the waist and hem to know this was a custom dress prepared by the King of Belai with great passion.

Terrifying! The faces of Eleanor’s retinue darkened: As if we can’t see your little scheme!

If the King of Belai merely needed a Nolannan delegation to grace her somewhat flawed coronation, she should have maintained a dignified diplomatic process, allowing the envoys to prepare their credentials and gifts and walk through the main gates with honor. Instead, she used the etiquette of a friend to express intimacy.

No one present was a fool. They immediately thought of the most likely reason: The King of Belai wanted to marry Eleanor!

By any normal metric, a new King of Belai could never marry a Queen like Eleanor she was not only Eva’s most beloved daughter but also Nolanna’s only legitimate Princess of the direct line. Among all of Nolanna’s “Princesses,” only Eleanor’s future children would remain in the line of succession.

Ha! Andra looked at the luxurious dress and almost laughed in anger: A mere King of Belai dares to covet her lover? In her eyes, the King was already a dead woman on her conquest board. She turned her face aside, suppressing her rage and leaving the scene to Eleanor.

The little Princess acted as if she didn’t sense the King’s unspeakable intentions. She walked to the mermaid dress, her fingertip tracing the air near the dazzling pearls.

“Beautiful…” She lowered her eyes and said with regret, “But pearls and gemstones are too heavy. Thank the King of Belai for her kindness, but please believe that our Nolannan attire is equally beautiful.”

She stood by the rack with her shoulders slightly slumped; her tilted posture made her look frail. Anyone looking at her would think that imposing heavy weights on her weak body was an act of cruelty.

The courtier sent by the King was a shrewd businesswoman. With a quick glance, the attendants immediately supported the jewel-encrusted rack and pushed it behind a curtain.

“Then we shall not intrude. The performances and the ball shall begin upon your arrival.” The courtier placed a hand on her chest and bowed respectfully.

Caroline, acting the part of a reckless Nolannan noble, frowned and questioned, “A performance? You don’t expect us to perform, do you?”

“Of course not. We have prepared the finest theatrical performance for Her Highness and should she wish, she may dance with our great King during the subsequent ball.”

The statement hung in the air with no one responding; the atmosphere turned cold instantly. The lavishly dressed courtier did not feel awkward; she simply skipped the topic and said with a smile, “Noble Highness, the ball I mentioned is a masquerade following the play. If you are tired, you may observe from the high balcony, or you may leave early to return and rest.”

She paused intentionally, and seeing the Princess’s half-smiling gaze, she smiled back with a touch of feigned regret. “Please rest assured. You are our honored guest; there is no need for restraint.”

The King of Belai had gauged her posture skillfully. Through her confidant, she signaled to the Nolannans: today was not a formal diplomatic occasion, but a “regular social gathering” where close friends could leave early. Thus, they had no reason to refuse. Eleanor nodded with poise.

“Very well. We shall not keep your Sovereign waiting.” She raised her hand, signaling her intent to change.

“Yes. I shall wait outside for your arrival.” The beautiful courtier curled her lips and glided away with the elegant, toe-pointing grace of a dancer. The Belaian attendants pushed the jewel-laden rack into a corner and slipped out, leaving the cloud-like gowns quietly behind.

As soon as the Belaians left, the Nolannans began huffing in indignation.

Coral pointed at the garments and sneered, “Your Highness, their masquerade tonight has a mythological theme!”

The selected delegation of twenty included no one but Nolannan nobles, except for Andra. If they didn’t want to be rude, the Belaians should have sent dozens of costumes fitting the theme. Since Eleanor and Andra were of high status, the polite thing would have been to provide at least four options related to major deities or their incarnations. Instead, looking at these clothes… Heh, what are you Belaians thinking?

Of the thirty-odd gowns sent, only two were related to the theme. One was the mermaid dress recommended to Eleanor likely representing Lilia, the Goddess of Love who descended to become a mermaid in Belaian myth. The other was related to the God of War.

But that garment wasn’t nearly ornate enough. It didn’t look like the God of War himself, but rather an ancient king guided by the god to put it bluntly, a servant of the God of War.

The Nolannan Princess plays the incarnation of the Goddess of Love, while the Hetuyan Princess is a mere servant of War? Furthermore, the two were rumored to be lovers, yet in mythology, the Goddess of Love and the God of War were often “antagonists.” Lilia frequently toyed with Onoa or prevented Onoa’s “persecution” of certain lovers. Onoa, in turn, had killed Lilia’s mortal paramours.

To have a couple dance in such costumes was strange no matter how one looked at it. Of course, any behavior could be brushed off with “You’re overthinking it,” but the King of Belai’s intent was far too blatant.

Everyone grumbled about the rude King while changing into the gowns brought from Nolanna. Just as Eleanor turned her back and spread her arms for Coral to drape her shawl, a hand lightly pressed onto her shoulder.

Andra leaned against her cheek and whispered, “I promise she won’t be dancing for long.”

The youth’s voice was firm and earnest, suppressing a violent flicker of flame.

Eleanor froze. Before Andra’s handsome silhouette could fully form in her mind, a low sound of weeping echoed in her ears. The cries from the life before last were like waves hitting the shore, accusing the King and the army of their bloody slaughter.

“We truly don’t dare anymore…” “Please, please have mercy on me.” “My mother is already dead! Why! Why won’t you let my child go!!”

In the face of any danger, Andra would always block the way for her. However, when the war ended, the King could not cover the Queen’s eyes. For the sake of the merciful Angel, the Great Anya forgave the foolish commoners who had been exploited by the old King, releasing the displaced soldiers and slaves to find food on the streets.

Initially, Eleanor and her followers managed the fallen small nations, but she was simply too tired; her body and spirit were slowly decaying. As for later… those nations eventually welcomed a precious peace years later. Those who survived “forgot” the suffering, for before peace arrived, they had endured a darkness deeper than the night.

The King had embraced her exhausted Queen and said with a smile, “Be good, don’t carry those burdens on yourself. They were killing each other.”

Rustle, rustle.

Consciousness gradually returned. Eleanor found Andra holding her hand, leading her through the corridor. Andra’s attire was likely… Yang from Hetuyan legend?

The youth’s golden-red hair was bathed in the lamplight. She looked back with a bright smile, as if saying, “Leave it to me.” The main doors of the hall opened to them, and attendants and guards on either side offered smiles.

Her lover’s strong arm was right before her, yet Eleanor’s ears echoed with Andra’s unruly words from the past:

“Eleanor, I will become the King of Kings!”

“Mmh? I know, our subjects are indeed not enough, hahahaha.”

“Then once we defeat them, we’ll go home.”

“Her Highness Eleanor and Her Highness Andra arrive!”

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