Princess’s Struggle for Survival

Seeing Lyra gently tapping the transparent glass at the belly of the cup, her sky-blue pupils seemed to contain a faint surprise. Astrid slowly spoke up.

"What's wrong? You look quite surprised."

"Could it be that when Lyra asked this question, your first thought was that I would refuse?"

Having just drank some wine, Astrid's lips became even more luscious than usual, looking as if they were coated with a glossy glaze under the lamplight, moist and full, appearing extremely tempting.

Lyra felt as if her heart had been suddenly branded by a hot iron. She pursed her lips, crossed her legs under the table, and did not speak immediately.

She had worried whether Astrid would be unwilling to go due to the relatively simple living conditions in the village compared to the imperial capital. After all, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.

Once you've experienced the convenience of magical devices, it's hard to give them up. But based on the living conditions from their long time together, Lyra didn't think Astrid was the kind of delicate noble lady who couldn't sleep without velvet and silk.

The reason she felt surprised was simply because Astrid agreed too straightforwardly, straightforward to the point of being a bit beyond her expectations.

"..."

"...Not really."

Finding a more suitable way to phrase it, Lyra explained in a low voice.

"I just thought that Astrid is very busy every day and might not have much time to visit my home."

Princess Astrid is so busy with state affairs that it's as if she's splitting herself in two. How could she have much free time to go to such a remote place and do something that doesn't significantly help her current situation?

Ultimately, it was because Lyra subconsciously thought that Astrid wouldn't waste time on things that didn't have much significance, like going to a faraway village just to meet a friend's family and see the land where she was born and raised.

She probably isn't that important.

Hearing this, Astrid put down her wine glass, her fingers brushed through her hair, playing with a strand of long silver hair.

"There are indeed many things to do, but that doesn't mean I can't take some time out to relax."

Apart from two practical exams, Astrid had basically never left the imperial capital. The farthest she had traveled was to stay at Countess Charlotte's private estate in the suburbs for a short while.

She was almost tired of living in this splendid Capital City.

"Being overly busy with work can easily make one forget how to live a normal life. It's not bad to relax occasionally," Astrid said.

There are still at least three years until Amalia ascends the throne. If she kept her spirits tense all the time, constantly worrying about this and that, Astrid feared that she would collapse from psychological self-consumption before that time came.

Looking at the person in front of her with her shimmering red eyes and listening to her words, Lyra's lips slightly curved upward, and her tone became a bit more cheerful.

"Alright, then I'll tell my family when I go back this time that Miss Astrid might come to visit in the future."

Miss? Hearing this address, Astrid raised an eyebrow and softly repeated.

"Miss Astrid?"

Apart from Elise, no one had called her that.

Hearing this, Lyra gently explained, "Because at the beginning, I was worried that my family would be concerned... so in my letters, I used a title like Miss Astrid..."

It was within the acceptable range for parents to think that their daughter had met a kind-hearted wealthy lady when she first arrived in the imperial capital. But once it escalated to the level of an imperial princess, parents would probably be a bit more worried.

"I see," Astrid nodded, understanding Lyra's reasoning.

"Then I'll use the identity Lyra mentioned when the time comes, a noble lady from some aristocratic family."

Essentially, this wasn't a lie. Hibbort had already granted titles to Fanya and Hughes, but since the two were missing and without suitable fiefs, it was inconvenient to directly inherit the titles to their daughters. This was also why Astrid's publicly declared identity had always been the Third Imperial Princess, rather than Countess Astrid.

"Mmm, that's fine," Lyra replied softly.

Liking someone is probably like this. When facing them, you always have an endless desire to share, from the small things like a blade of grass or a tree you see every day, to your friends and family, the environment you've lived in, all the beautiful things you want to share with them.

"Then... when will Astrid be free?" Brushing the pink hair hanging by her ear, Lyra asked in a low voice.

If it's soon, she will need to let her family prepare in advance.

Hearing this, Astrid thought for a moment before speaking.

"It's not certain yet, but we'll have to pick a time when both of us are free."

"How about next summer vacation? If nothing unexpected happens by then."

After more than a year of development, the Empire Weekly had grown to the point where Astrid didn't need to keep a constant eye on it. Once the courses at Elizabeth Academy of Magic were over, she would have enough free time to go out for a walk.

As long as Andreitadel and the others don't cause trouble, and the halo of the destined female lead doesn't trigger the plot ahead of time.

"Then it's settled for summer vacation."

After saying this, Lyra took a sip of juice. The cool liquid slides down her throat and into her stomach.

Once the vacation starts, let's go to her house together.

Princess Astrid is such a good person; her parents will surely like her too.

Suddenly, Lyra thought of something. Although she hadn't drunk any wine, her fair and delicate face flushed slightly.

Could this be considered... meet the parents in advance...

A baseless thought flashed through her mind, and Lyra couldn't help but inwardly clicked her tongue, her fingertips pressing against the cup wall, revealing fingerprints with a slight force.

She was overthinking again. She didn't even know for sure if Princess Astrid liked girls, yet she kept thinking one thing after another.

Lyra, you can't be so ordinary yet confident!

While the little maid was internally struggling, Astrid turned her head to look at Amalia. The raven-haired loli sat quietly, her white silk legs like cream ice cream sticks neatly pressed together, her crimson eyes silently watching her.

"Livia, do you want to come along then?" Astrid asked her.

Astrid already knew the answer to this question in her heart, and Amalia's response was indeed the same as she had considered.

"Mmm, I want to go together," the little girl nodded, her twin tails tied on both sides of her head swaying gently with the movement.

"Wherever my sister goes, I go."

Nowadays, Amalia's gestures already faintly carried the demeanor of an adult, but her clinginess towards her sister hadn't changed at all.

Of course, from Astrid's perspective, Amalia just wanted to stay by her sister's side out of affection, but in the latter's eyes, she had another reason she had to go.

She had only been apart from her sister for a few days during the practical exams, and Lyra had already climbed into her sister's bed. This time, it will be at least a month or two at the other's home. If she wasn't there, she didn't know how intimate they would become.

It was just to satisfy her forcibly suppressed yet unconsciously overflowing sense of possessiveness. Even if Astrid didn't ask, Amalia would have brought it up herself.

Rubbing her little sister's head, seeing her eyes change from cool to soft, Astrid turned her head to look at Lyra, her voice soft.

"Then it will be up to Lyra when the time comes."

"Ah... it's fine..."

Lowering her head, looking at the honeysuckle embroidery on the tablecloth, Lyra spoke softly.

"I'm... happy that Astrid can come to visit."

As soon as she finished speaking, as if realizing that saying this might make Astrid overthink, Lyra continued to explain.

"After all, Astrid has taken care of me for so long, and I also want to do something for you."

This reason should be without fault.

Hearing this, Astrid didn't think much of it and slowly uncrossed her legs.

"Then it's settled?"

While the empire is still under Hibbort's control, everything can still maintain a semblance of peace.

Let's go to Lyra's house and also let Amalia leave the capital to see the lives of most ordinary people under the empire's rule.

"Mmm, next summer."

Drinking the last bit of juice in her glass, Lyra picked up a silk handkerchief and wiped her mouth, softly responding.

Her parents had always wanted to meet this Miss Astrid, who often appeared in their letters and had taken such good care of their daughter.

.........

At night, Lyra finished checking her return luggage for the last time, turned around, and sat on the bed, gently kicking off her slippers, and fell backward.

The carriage arranged by Astrid will appear at the palace gate at noon tomorrow. For convenience, the former had her stay at the palace for the night so they could have breakfast together the next morning.

Smelling the floral fragrance in the air, Lyra relaxed, letting her hands hang by the side of her nightgown, allowing her pink hair to naturally spread out on the bedding.

She hadn't thought carefully during dinner, but now lying alone on the bed, Lyra quickly understood that the words Astrid had said at the dinner table were probably to take care of her emotions, not to overthink the separation, and to focus more on the joy of reuniting with her family.

Once again, she couldn't help but feel that Princess Astrid was truly gentle to the core. Lyra looked at the ceiling, unknowingly starting to space out.

After ten minutes, there was a knock on the door. From the sound, it was Astrid. Lyra sat up and said "Come in." Astrid, who had just taken a bath, walked in, brought two steaming cups of lemon milk.

"Is everything ready?"

Looking at the suitcase in the corner, Astrid handed one of the cups to Lyra and slowly sat down beside her.

Watching the soft bed slightly sink under the round pressure, Lyra blinked and opened her lips to answer.

"Mmm, just take it with me on the carriage tomorrow."

There weren't many things, just some clothes. The things she will need next year were left in her bedroom and not taken back.

"Astrid, aren't you going to sleep yet?" Watching Astrid elegantly take a sip of the hot milk, Lyra softly asked her.

"I'm about to sleep, just thought I'd come and see Lyra."

Astrid lifted her lips, her voice cool.

"After all, you're leaving tomorrow. Not seeing you for two months, I might miss Lyra a bit."

"Of course, if I'm disturbing your rest, I'll go back first."

Her thoughts completely led by the core information of "might miss Lyra a bit," the pink-haired girl only reacted to the latter part of the sentence after a while, hurriedly responding.

"No, no, I wasn't planning to rest yet."

Originally, she was about to sleep, but since Astrid had come over, she thought to spend a little more time with her.

Even if they didn't do anything, just sitting like this was fine.

Hearing this, Astrid gasped, her silver-white hair hanging over her shoulders like moonlight falling from the night sky.

"Lyra can be quite silly sometimes~"

"But, she's also very cute."

Astrid, of course, also knew that saying that would certainly make Lyra feel embarrassed, but she did it on purpose, who made the other so easy to tease. Lоvе this stоry? Shоw suppоrt аt МV2LЕМРYR.

With just a slightly more charming remark, Lyra would freeze up, as if her CPU had been fried by that one sentence, which was really quite amusing.

Realizing that Astrid was teasing her again, Lyra pursed her lips a few times. Unlike usual, she didn't blush and respond shyly, but just touched the pink hair by her ear, her neck turning pink, her voice soft.

"Um... Astrid..."

"..."

"...Would you really miss me?"

Even though she knew it was probably a joke, Lyra still wanted an answer.

Probably... she wouldn't not miss me...

Hearing Lyra's words, Astrid extended a slender, pale finger, gently pressed it against her lips, and answered with a charming allure.

"I'm not sure either, depending on my mood, I might, or I might not."

"Who knows?"

The woman's cool, slightly lazy voice echoed in the room. Hearing this, Lyra lowered her eyes and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Oh... I see..."

Looking at the pink-haired girl who seemed to have lost her wagging tail because of her answer, Astrid paused for a moment, then placed her hand on Lyra's soft, smooth thigh, her fingertips sliding up along the skin.

Finally, Astrid's hand slid past the neck, brushed over the pink lips, and stopped at the girl's delicate, small nose, giving it a gentle poke.

"I was teasing you~" Astrid said.

"Lyra, though sometimes a bit careless, is overall a good maid and a very worthwhile friend."

"I will miss you, Lyra."

Meeting those crimson eyes, seeing the seriousness in Astrid's gaze, Lyra's heartbeat was like drum beats.

Just a single sentence from the one she loved, for her, a moment in heaven and a moment in hell.

After a while, Lyra bit her lip, turned her eyes away so Astrid couldn't see, and responded softly.

"I will miss you too, Astrid."

More frequently and more deeply than you know.

Due to their positions, Astrid couldn't see the emotions in Lyra's eyes. Although she felt a bit strange in her heart, she only thought it was the melancholy of a girl at parting.

"Take care on your journey, Lyra."

That was all there was to say. Astrid stood up, her arms encircling Lyra's waist, giving her a full embrace.

"Have a safe trip, see you next year."

Feeling the warmth and overflowing fragrance in front of her chest, in a place where Astrid couldn't see, Lyra's eyes filled with intense affection, and she parted her lips to say.

"See you next year, Astrid."