Yivanna ate quietly, her spoon scraping softly against the wooden bowl as she watched the knights and maids around the fire. Away from Avalor's capital, everyone seemed… lighter. The knights laughed freely, some joking loudly, while the maids giggled among themselves. It was almost peaceful.
So they can smile, Yivanna thought. A shame the empire only lets them do it when they're being exiled.
Her mind drifted to the land awaiting them.
"System," she called inwardly, "give me information on Elondria."
"Replying Host. Elondria is the second-largest city under Avalor. It is referred to as 'the Barren Lands' due to the infertility of its soil. Reports describe the inhabitants as savage and barbaric, driven mad by hunger."
Yivanna paused mid-bite.
Barbaric? Hunger-mad? Wow. Wonderful.
Not even five minutes in and she already felt like she was being shipped to a medieval zombie apocalypse.
"Wait, if it's the second-largest city, why was it abandoned?" she asked.
"Corruption," the system answered bluntly. "To answer your next question proactively: yes, Elondria has nobles. One upper-class noble—the city lord. Seven middle-class nobles. Twelve lower-class nobles."
Yivanna sat up straighter.
Ah. So that was it.
The money never reached the people. The nobles pocketed everything and left the peasants to die.
Classic medieval behavior. Classic power imbalance. Classic corruption.
She was practically back in the business world.
Except this time, instead of fighting hostile CEOs, she'd be fighting starvation and stupidity.
Great.
Yivanna finished eating and stood up.
Nanny Dina scrambled to her feet. "Your Highness, are you returning to the carriage?"
"No. Keagan," she said, turning, "gather everyone."
Even Keagan—who usually had a calm expression—blinked at her in surprise.
"Right away, Your Highness."
Soon, the knights and maids formed a loose circle around the fire. Their faces were curious, tired, and most of all, unsure.
Keagan raised his voice. "Her Highness has something to say."
The chatter died immediately.
Yivanna stepped forward, her expression calm but her eyes sharp.
"Everyone," she began, "you already know this, but let me say it clearly. We were not sent here by choice. I was framed for something I didn't do and banished."
A few knights clenched their fists. Some maids lowered their heads. They all knew. But hearing it out loud… hit different.
"They told you that you were sent to protect me." She let out a short laugh. "But be honest—if the empire really cared about my safety, would they send the best knights? The strongest healers? The most trusted maids?"
Silence.
She continued, voice steady.
"No. They sent you because they saw you as disposable. Unimportant. A burden they could hide in a forgotten place and pretend never existed."
Several knights shifted uncomfortably. One or two looked like they wanted to punch a tree.
"But," Yivanna raised her chin, "they made one mistake."
She took a step forward.
"Even a wanderhorn beast can survive anywhere. So why can't we? Why should we die just because they want us to?"
Her voice grew stronger.
"We may be the ones the empire abandoned… but we are not weak. We are not worthless. If they throw us into the Barren Lands, then we'll turn it into a kingdom. If they expect us to die—then let's survive so loudly it shakes the throne room."
Boom.
Even Yivanna felt goosebumps at her own speech.
Her past-life CEO mode was activated.
The reaction was instant.
"I'm with you!"
"Count me in!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Hands shot up. Eyes burned with determination.
The hopelessness from earlier had been wiped clean, replaced by something sharper—pride.
Nanny Dina's eyes shone with relief. "My princess…" she whispered under her breath.
Keagan stepped forward, meeting her gaze steadily. "I've always been with you, Your Highness."
Ah.
Yivanna's heart did a stupid little flip.
Focus, Lihua. Focus.
Hormones, please control yourselves. This is not the time.
She raised her hand high.
"From today, we are not remnants of Avalor. We are citizens of Elondria. And we will rise. Together."
She shouted:
"To Elondria!"
And they roared back:
"To Elondria!!"
Their voices echoed into the night, strong and full of life.
A beginning.
A promise.
A spark in the darkness.
They were starting a new life.
And it would begin in Elondria.