Princess’s Struggle for Survival

Lyra, who was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper, naturally couldn't have imagined that Astrid had fired the maids to deceive Lucas.

But now she knew that Princess Astrid's heart wasn't as domineering as it had seemed at the time.

Astrid had claimed to be furious, even threatening to deduct two months' wages.

Yet, when the maids were packing their bags and preparing to leave, Astrid remembered how they had cared for her before.

Her heart softened, though she was too ashamed to keep them.

Instead, she expressed her apologies by increasing their severance pay.

She was gentle at heart, but her introverted nature made her reluctant to show it.

If Astrid were by Lyra's side now, unaware of the elaborate romantic narrative the girl had constructed in her mind, she might have suspected that she wasn't playing the role of a cold-hearted villain but rather a delicate, tsundere heroine.

Seeing that Lyra hadn't spoken for a long time, Elise broke the silence softly.

"Miss Lyra, rest early. You've worked hard today."

Elise still had plenty of mental energy left, but Lyra was truly exhausted.

If she didn't sleep now, she likely wouldn't recover by morning.

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Miss Elise. I'll go to sleep right away," Lyra replied softly.

After a quarter of an hour, Lyra heard the slow, steady breathing of the woman beside her.

Elise had been fighting in the underground dungeon for so long, and now she could finally rest.

She didn't force herself to meditate but instead slipped into a light sleep to replenish her depleted mental energy.

Staring at the unfamiliar bedroom ceiling, Lyra felt the fatigue in her limbs, but her mind remained restless.

Over and over, she thought of the cold figure in the black gauze dress, with her silver hair and crimson eyes.

The handwriting on that letter... It's also very similar to Princess Astrid's...

As more and more evidence suggested that Astrid, the noble princess of the Empire, might not be as arrogant as the rumors claimed, Lyra couldn't help but recall the letter Lina had given her and the unidentified informant.

If there had only been a slight chance that Lyra suspected Astrid was the whistleblower, after experiencing the dark spirit attack, the late-night talks, and learning about Astrid's attitude toward severance pay, that possibility suddenly soared to over fifty percent.

If that letter really was from Astrid... If protecting her parents from Lucas's threat was also an instruction to Miss Lina...

Lyra felt her heart pounding in her chest, and her palms, clutching the quilt, grew slightly damp.

Her slender legs curled up and pressed together, then straightened again.

She even felt the urge to show Astrid the letter immediately and ask her if she was the one who had written the letter.

"..."

After a long while, Lyra told herself to stay calm and not act rashly.

Even if she confirmed that Astrid had written the letter, it wouldn't change anything.

It would only satisfy her growing curiosity.

Young Lyra didn't realize until this moment how much she had changed from a month ago.

Now, every question she pondered seemed to revolve around the woman named Astrid.

Early the next morning, the spirited Astrid returned to the palace under the escort of Charlotte.

The maiden had just stepped into the garden when she heard the maid report that Prince Lucas wished to discuss something with her and was waiting in the dining room.

Without much thought, Astrid knew the prince must have come regarding last night's incident.

She had already prepared her speech in advance.

Instructing Lyra and Elise to continue their daily training, she made her way alone to the dining room to join the preoccupied prince for a Western breakfast.

Not long after they sat down, Lucas, after a few feigned words of concern, subtly tried to glean details about Charlotte's attitude toward the incident.

Astrid skillfully dodged his probing questions, leaving the prince increasingly impatient.

Finally, she casually mentioned, "Father has many responsibilities; he hardly has time to concern himself with the private affairs of his children. I only suffered a minor injury, so it's best not to trouble him with it. Lady Charlotte likely won't mention this to him either."

Satisfied, Lucas felt a sense of relief and took a sip of the mushroom soup in front of him.

He then shifted the conversation to another matter that weighed on his mind. "Imperial sister, are the two magic crystals that recorded the return to the enchantment still with you?"

Though Astrid had recently shown unwavering support for him, Lucas, ever suspicious, remained uneasy.

The magic crystals contained crucial evidence, the entire process of the mercenaries burying civilians alive and the subsequent land mutation.

He believed this key evidence would only be foolproof if it were in his possession.

Hearing this, Astrid's eyes flickered with a trace of confusion.

She slowly uncrossed her black-stockinged legs under the table, the sharp click of her high heels echoing against the floor tiles.

"I originally placed the magic crystals in my bag yesterday, but I'm not sure if I lost them while running or if I accidentally threw them away when I panicked and discarded the potions indiscriminately."

Astrid wasn't certain how sensitive Lucas's information network was, but to maintain his trust, she didn't hide her recent dealings with the Velmont family regarding the potions.

On the matter of succession, she needed to appear aligned with Lucas, at least for now.

If the eldest prince were to be attacked, it would be difficult to counter the second prince Alistair's next move.

Only by keeping the both princes locked in a struggle, restraining each other, could Amalia eventually secure the throne.

"The magic crystals were lost... Is it really such a coincidence?" Lucas thought to himself, his turquoise eyes narrowing as they swept over the silver-haired princess before him.

After a pause, he said, "It's all my fault for not taking better care of you. I should have sent more guards to ensure your safety. I won't let you fall into such danger again."

Though his words sounded apologetic, they also served as a subtle way to prevent Astrid from involving herself further in such matters.

This time, Astrid had not only emerged unscathed but had also inadvertently resolved the issue of the barren land. Lucas was both pleased and wary of this outcome.

Thankfully, a previously intractable affair had finally come to an end.

Charlotte's actions had clearly aligned with his interests, yet Lucas couldn't shake the unease that Astrid's recent behavior had exceeded his expectations.

The beautiful silver-haired princess had begun to give him an unsettling sense of being out of control.

Of course, Lucas hoped Astrid would support him in his bid for the throne.

However, her recent actions, pointing fingers at Alistair in front of Emperor Hibbort or asking Charlotte to handle the barren land problem, were done without his instruction.

She had shown a strong initiative, which left him wary.

Was she still the carefree Imperial sister who only concerned herself with amusement and remained oblivious to the shifting political landscape?

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lucas steered the conversation back to the magic crystal.

"The first magic crystal may be lost if it was left in the enchantment, but I recall the second one was collected by Countess Charlotte afterward. Where is it now?"

The second crystal didn't record the detailed burial process, only the exposed white bones as evidence.

While its importance paled in comparison to the first, it could still cause him some trouble if it fell into the hands of political enemies.

Astrid gracefully picked up a fried mushroom, her lips glistening as they parted to speak. "The second piece is, of course, in the hands of Lady Charlotte. The magic crystal records the entire process of the enchantment, from its formation to its end. She mentioned she would take it to study it carefully."

Her response was nearly flawless, leaving Lucas without a reasonable excuse to demand its return.

He nodded quietly, offering praise for Charlotte's actions.

"Countess Charlotte is a conscientious and responsible professor. Her thirst for knowledge is something every mage should aspire to emulate."

"Brother is right, Though Lady Charlotte is already an Arcanist, her dedication to the study of magic has remained unwavering for years."

They continued to exchange the kind of polite, superficial conversation typical of Valeria Empire nobility.

By the time the food on their plates was mostly gone, Astrid picked up a cloth and dabbed her lips gently, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"If the imperial brother has nothing else to discuss, I shall take my leave for now."

Interacting with Lucas was hardly a pleasant experience, and she couldn't even recall what she had eaten by the end of it.

"Of course, Imperial sister. Take care, and rest well, especially with your injury," Lucas replied, his gaze lingering on Astrid's slender figure.

Her delicate body was accentuated by an intricately decorated dress, and the thin black stockings hugging her legs resembled ribbons on a gift box, waiting to be unwrapped.

Although Lucas maintained the facade of a harmless, caring brother, a flicker of greed lingered in his eyes as they followed Astrid.

She caught his gaze just as she turned to leave, and inwardly sighed at the prince's unrelenting lust.

It seemed his thoughts were perpetually consumed by desire, a trait she found both predictable and repulsive.

Her disgust for Lucas deepened, and without bothering to exchange further pleasantries, Astrid strode out of the dining room, her long legs carrying her away swiftly.

If her memory served her correctly, Lucas would soon be leaving the Imperial Capital for an extended period, embroiled in yet another round of overt and covert struggles with his brother and sworn rival, Alistair.

Out of sight, out of mind. Freed from Lucas's stifling presence, Astrid could finally breathe easier in the Imperial Capital.

She would now be able to focus entirely on her dealings with the Velmont family and her efforts to guide and educate Amalia.