Princess’s Struggle for Survival

"Miss Astrid….Ahem Astrid this is where I stayed when I first came to the capital," Lyra said, pointing to the modest-looking inn.

Astrid, who had been lost in thought, looked up and followed Lyra's gaze to the unremarkable building.

"It cost ten silver coins a night here, which was much more expensive than the inns in my hometown..."

When Testia first arrived, she spent a long time thinking about what to do.

She even considered spending the night on a bench and catching up on sleep after settling into her dormitory following the entrance ceremony at Isabeth's Academy of Magic.

Even without the series of events that followed, Lyra had eventually dismissed the idea of sleeping rough.

Her parents had always told her that while traveling, it was important to spend money wisely, especially as a young girl away from home, safety was the top priority.

"Then, since I let you stay in the palace that night, wasn't it a waste of the money you spent on the inn?" Astrid asked.

"It's not like that... I was just looking for a place to rest. At most, I just changed where I slept..."

Thinking about it, although Astrid had taken away her chance to stay in the student dormitory, she had also provided her with a place to live.

Thanks to Astrid, Lyra no longer had to worry about daily expenses for food and lodging.

The more she thought about it, the more Lyra realized that staying with Astrid wasn't such a bad arrangement.

She fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Her ultimate goal was to earn money to support her family and take care of her parents.

Working as Astrid's maid allowed her to earn a monthly stipend of ten gold coins, which added up to one hundred and twenty gold coins a year, a significant sum, especially since she didn't have to worry about food or shelter.

If she didn't attend the magic academy and simply remained Princess Astrid's personal maid, the outcome might not be so bad.

However, this thought was quickly dismissed.

Lyra recalled the incident in the underground Dungeon, the moment her sword had accidentally wounded Astrid, and the conversation she'd had with Charlotte in the living room.

Without attending the Elizabeth Academy of Magic of Magic, she wouldn't have the opportunity to learn more about magic.

And without that knowledge... she wouldn't be able to protect Princess Astrid.

-----

Because the hotel is situated on the outskirts of East City District, near the Elizabeth Academy of Magic in the heart of the imperial capital.

As a result, it doesn't attract many guests.

In just a few minutes, Astrid noticed two or three groups of travelers entering and exiting the gate.

They were modestly dressed, their clothes clean and well-kept, with smooth collars and cuffs, and neatly trimmed stubble.

From their appearance, they seemed to be small merchants who had come to the imperial capital for business or visitors visiting relatives and friends.

Standing on the side of the street with Lyra for a while, Astrid felt a few lines of gaze fall upon her.

She turned her head slightly and noticed a group of roughly dressed civilians staring at her with intense curiosity and amazement.

Although Astrid thought her attire was quite ordinary, most of the clothes in the original owner's wardrobe were luxurious and elegant.

Even the simplest outfit was expensive.

Combined with her naturally elegant and cold demeanor, as well as her iconic waist-length silver hair, it was clear to anyone that she was someone of high status, either wealthy or noble.

Astrid glanced at them calmly, and those who met her gaze instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to look further.

They muttered to themselves about how strikingly beautiful this noble lady was before returning to their tasks.

'Am I that intimidating?' Astrid wondered silently, though she maintained her composed and indifferent expression.

She heard footsteps beside her and adjusted her pace to match.

"Your Highness Astrid, um... Astrid..." Lyra began, still slightly unaccustomed to dropping the formal title.

Her voice was clear and melodious, like the chirping of a warbler. "Let's move on. There's still much to see."

Astrid gave a low hum in response, her hard-soled leather boots clicking softly against the tiled ground.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the largest and busiest market in the East City District.

The street was filled with vendors loudly hawking their goods, and wooden boards displayed fresh produce like carrots, greens, and tomatoes, glistening with water.

Lyra looked at the bustling market ahead and was about to step in when she suddenly paused, realizing a serious issue.

She was used to such environments, having often gone to town to buy groceries.

The noise and chaos didn't bother her; in fact, she found it somewhat comforting.

However, Princess Astrid was clearly not the type to visit such places.

The fact that she could cook at all was already surprising to Lyra, as she didn't fit the image of a delicate princess who avoided getting her hands dirty.

But accompanying her to a noisy, messy market with far worse sanitary conditions than the palace seemed like too much to ask.

Noticing Lyra's hesitation at the entrance, Astrid turned to her, her tone curious. "Why have you stopped?"

Lyra fidgeted slightly, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Perhaps we should go somewhere else?"

She glanced at Astrid's beautifully tailored pleated skirt and the slender, well-proportioned legs clad in black stockings.

If they were to get stained with blood or sewage, it would certainly ruin the elegant appearance.

Even if Astrid used magic to prevent such mishaps, she was still the princess of the empire.

It was already generous of her to wander the civilian areas with Lyra, but accompanying her to a vegetable market seemed inappropriate.

Noticing the slight hesitation on Lyra's face and the way her fingers curled slightly near her thighs, combined with the noisy environment around them, Astrid quickly understood what was troubling her.

Lyra was likely concerned that a delicate princess of noble status like Astrid would be unwilling to enter such a place and risk getting her shoes dirty.

After all, when they first met, Lyra had been so overwhelmed with emotion that she cried, and even then, she had been careful not to stain the carpet while wiping her tears.

"It's my first time in a place like this... It's quite interesting," Astrid murmured, her lips pursed and her voice cool.

"If you wish to visit, I don't mind seeing how the commoners live under the Empire's rule."

Lyra's background and personality made her inherently close to the common folk, and she harbored a deep-seated resentment toward those in power within the Empire.

This was evident later in the novel, as she gradually became involved in the social circles of the Valeria Empire's nobility.

Even with close friends like Lina Velmont or Tristian, who had shown her kindness on numerous occasions, Lyra never openly shared her private opinions on the divide between commoners and nobles.

She knew her friends were good people, but at their core, there was an irreconcilable difference.

Lina and Tristian, with their noble blood, always had to prioritize the interests of the Velmont family and could be ruthless when necessary.

To some extent, Lyra found more philosophical alignment with Charlotte, a countess who genuinely cared for the common folk, and their relationship gradually evolved into one of mentor and friend.

After staring into Astrid's bright red eyes, which seemed to reflect a faint glow, and confirming that the princess harbored no reluctance or displeasure, Lyra's expression brightened.

A subtle joy, like the tide washing over a beach, revealed the reflection of a clear blue sky in her eyes.

"Shall we go in and take a look?" Lyra asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Whatever you wish," Astrid replied gently, ensuring there were no unwanted observers nearby except for the maid she had discreetly stationed.

"But remember to use wind magic to keep the dust away. If anything gets on my clothes, Miss Lyra, you'll be responsible for cleaning it after the holidays."

Though Astrid's black attire was relatively resistant to dirt, she couldn't tolerate the idea of her clothes getting dirty.

This was one of the few traits she shared with the original owner of her body.

Hearing this, Lyra glanced at Astrid's pristine dress and the thick, impermeable black stockings beneath it.

A sudden thought crossed her mind, causing her ears to flush slightly.

She softly chanted a spell, her voice so quiet only she could hear it:

"Wind Spirit, please shield your believer from the filth of this world."

In the next moment, a gentle light swirled around Astrid, ensuring that any blood or dirty water that might splash toward her would be deflected by the flowing wind.

With the spell in place, the two walked side by side into the market.

The stalls near the entrance primarily sold fruits, vegetables, and various breakfast items like pies and lightly prepared cooked foods.