Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 304: Want a Hug

"Lyra, is there something you need?"

Seated at her desk, flipping through the samples for next week’s newspaper, Astrid spoke softly after sensing the umpteenth gaze upon her.

"Ever since you sat down, you’ve been stealing glances at me..."

"If there’s something, just say it."

Mages are less perceptive than knights but still much more sensitive than ordinary people. Astrid had just returned to the dormitory to hold Amalia for a while before sitting at her desk to review the content for the next week’s newspaper. She vaguely felt someone’s gaze on her.

Upon being called out, Lyra’s breath momentarily halted, her legs stiffened, and her feet gently pressed against the table leg.

Indeed, as Astrid had said, Lyra had been stealing glances at her, and not just once or twice.

In these five minutes, she had glanced at her at least seven or eight times.

"No, nothing..."

Lyra bit her lip, trying to maintain a normal tone, then, as if to prove she was doing something else, deliberately placed her hand on the corner of a book page.

Astrid tilted her head in confusion at this response, her red eyes narrowing slightly, her thin dark silk-covered thighs rubbing together, producing the unique sandpaper-like sound of silk.

"Really? I thought you were dissatisfied with the upcoming work..."

In the past, Lyra might have suspected that Astrid really thought so, but after going through so much together, she now knows Astrid was just joking with her.

"Not at all..."

"...I’m very happy to serve Astrid."

In every sense.

Astrid faintly at this, crossed her legs, and turned back to face the desk.

"Then I’ll look forward to it."

Since Astrid started preparing for Amalia’s future ascension to the throne, Elise, who usually took care of her daily needs, didn’t have as much time as before to attend to her in detail.

Lyra largely filled this gap, and just the fact that she could be trusted made Astrid feel much more at ease.

Seeing that Astrid didn’t dwell too much on her stealing glances, Lyra’s rapid heartbeat finally slowed down, and she let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

On the way back to the dormitory, Lyra thought a lot, especially about the layout of Linda’s room and the hidden tension and unnaturalness in her eyes when she saw her.

Dark hair scattered on the bed, along with the usual maid’s stockings and shoes, the identity of the person hiding under the quilt was self-evident.

While marveling at how nobles were indeed more open in this regard, Lyra also pondered.

Linda and the girl on the bed... most likely had a master-servant relationship...

Both in gender and status, it was the same as her relationship with Princess Astrid.

Just realizing this, Lyra felt a surge of secret joy, as if Linda and the maid’s relationship increased her chances of a successful confession.

Perhaps within the nobility, it wasn’t particularly strange for two people like this to develop feelings of admiration.

Then... what would Princess Astrid think...

Out of respect for her friend and maintaining her promise, Lyra would never tell anyone about Linda’s affairs, but she was still curious about how Princess Astrid would feel if she knew.

I really want to know...

Her toes in slippers, the soft fluff lightly poking her skin through the thin white silk, Lyra’s fingers rubbed the pages back and forth, her gaze quietly falling on the bright dressing mirror on the desk.

"..."

After a moment of hesitation, Lyra moved the base of the mirror a few centimeters to the side, looking at the silver hair reflected in the mirror, her eyes involuntarily lowered for a moment before she adjusted the mirror back to its original position.

Lyra... you’re becoming more and more unreliable...

Don’t act like a pervert!

On the other side, Amalia, noticing these small movements of Lyra, frowned slightly, her deep red eyes shimmering with faint ripples as her eyelashes fluttered.

Lyra’s attitude towards her sister is really strange...

It wasn’t the first time she felt this way; Even in their usual daily interactions, Amalia could sense the occasional excessive enthusiasm from Lyra.

Lyra really enjoyed spending time with Astrid, sometimes even staring at her in a daze.

Sometimes, walking together after school, while Amalia focused on Astrid, she could always catch a glimpse of the former’s slightly raised corners of her mouth.

Friends... hmm...

The dark-haired girl narrowed her eyes, extended her pink, moist tongue, and lightly licked her dry lips. Her legs straightened, and she stood up in her slippers.

"Sister..."

Hearing Amalia call her, Astrid turned her head and saw the petite figure in front of her opening her arms. The little girl blinked, her plain white nightgown accentuating the delicate skin around her collarbone.

"Want a hug."

Although her facial expression didn’t change much, Amalia’s tone revealed obvious anticipation.

Didn’t we just hug a while ago...

A similar thought flashed through Astrid’s mind, but she didn’t voice it. Instead, she responded to Amalia with the same enthusiasm.

"Alright~ come here."

As the warm, soft scent body entered her embrace, the familiarity of soap mixed with the faint lavender fragrance of the girl’s body, Astrid gently patted Amalia’s back, letting her hug her.

Amalia rested her head on Astrid’s shoulder, feeling the smoothness of the silver hair brushing against her cheek, while looking at Lyra across from her.

The pink-haired girl sat upright, her shoulders moving very slightly, probably writing something.

After hugging for a while, just as Astrid thought Amalia would let go on her own as usual, the cold and aloof girl parted her delicate legs clad in white stockings and gently sat on her lap.

"Sister~"

Amalia leaned in very close, her lips almost touching Astrid’s earlobe, her voice sounding even sweeter than usual.

"I’m here," Astrid replied.

Lyra acting a bit strange is one thing, but why is Amalia suddenly so clingy too?

As Astrid pondered this, she felt the warmth on her lap move a few times. Amalia lifted her head and kissed her temple, her knees naturally bending, her thighs and calves stacking, placing her delicate white-stockinged feet on her lap.

"I want to hug you a bit longer," Amalia said.

The smooth strands of hair between her fingers lightly touched her skin, cool and comfortable. Hearing this, Astrid withdraws one hand and gently rubs Amalia’s head twice, speaking softly.

"You can hug me as long as you want before lunch."

Although she wasn’t quite sure why Amalia was suddenly like this, as her step-sister who was closer than a blood sister, Astrid naturally wouldn’t refuse this small request.

With Astrid’s permission, a faint smile appeared on Amalia’s lips, her crimson eyes reflected the pale pink figure opposite her.

Perhaps Amalia’s actions were partly to alleviate the inexplicable unease that had been lingering in her heart recently, but more so, it was instinctive.

She truly wanted an embrace filled with a sweet fragrance and as many kisses with Astrid as possible every day.

Wrapping her arms around the woman’s slender waist, Amalia buried her nose in the silver hair, secretly vowing in her heart.

She will strive to sit on that throne, no matter the cost.

If she succeeded in the end, she would allow Astrid to do whatever she wanted.

As long as she could stay by her side forever.

.............

After having lunch at the academy cafeteria, the four of them returned to the dormitory to start the final preparations before leaving.

Since the palace was close to the academy, it wouldn’t take much time to get there, and with it being just a two-month vacation, Astrid didn’t plan to bring much back, only packing some documents and materials in her bag.

Elise and Amalia did the same; the only one who needed to bring more things was Lyra, who was alone and away from home.

Seeing Lyra dragging a suitcase with wheels, gently wiping the sweat from her temples, Astrid suddenly remembered how, long ago, Lyra had also dragged large bags behind her, following her to the palace that was like a living hell for the destined heroine.

At the beginning, Lyra’s favorability towards her was probably negative.

Thinking about it now, the villainess and the heroine destined to fight to the death were now living under the same roof, even becoming intimate friends and confidantes.

It’s truly lamentable.

Returning to the familiar palace, to the servant’s room initially assigned to her, Lyra stood at the steps, took off her small leather shoes, and gently stepped onto the soft carpet. Inhaling the fragrance of flowers and trees in the air, she felt a surge of emotions.

Opening the suitcase, she arranged her things one by one. Lyra noticed new leaves growing on the potted plant by the window and extended a slender white finger to touch them gently.

After touching the plants and adding some water to the pot, Lyra sat on the soft bed, her hands resting on both sides, her legs swinging slightly. After a moment, she lay back on the bed.

Lyra Beckett... Astrid Calliste’s personal maid...

She could serve Princess Astrid again, even if it was just for two short months.

Her vision filled with the pure white ceiling, the metal-decorated chandelier refracting a few faint lights.

Lying on the bed for a short rest, perhaps because she was back in a familiar place, an indescribable sense of tranquility filled her entire body. Lyra gradually felt her mind becoming drowsy, so she sat up and shook her head.

First, take a bath, then take a nap...

Opening the wardrobe, she took out her change of clothes. Looking at the few maid dresses hanging on the hangers beside her, a faint smile appeared in Lyra’s eyes.

It had been a long time since she took a bath. This time, Lyra stayed in the bathtub for almost an hour before reluctantly drying herself and putting on her nightgown to return to her room.

Opening the bathroom door, a silver-haired beauty sat by the bed, her legs elegantly crossed, the back of her left hand resting against her snow-white, smooth chin, looking at her with interest.

"Lyra, are you taking longer baths now?"

Meeting those clear red eyes, Lyra subconsciously recalled the incident earlier when she stumbled upon Linda’s affair, and even this sentence seemed to take on a different meaning.

Taking longer baths... what’s the matter...

Would Princess Astrid think she...

Suddenly, it seemed like a light bulb went off, and everything became clear. Lyra’s cheeks turned slightly red, and her hands nervously rubbed her nightgown.

"...you kept me waiting."

Thanks to Astrid’s next sentence, which successfully ended Lyra’s wild thoughts.

"..."

"Astrid... is there something you need?"

Lyra moistened her throat and spoke softly while picking up a comb to tidy her hair.

"Nothing much, just came to see you," Astrid said.

Noticing that the woman was also wearing a white nightgown for her nap, a bold thought suddenly arose in Lyra’s heart.

Princess Astrid... could she be planning to sleep with her...

The possibility of this was extremely low, and upon careful consideration, Princess Astrid had no motive to do so.

However, Lyra still briefly explained the thought in her heart, treating it as her ordinary yet confident fantasy. Little did she know that this tiny change in expression had already been noticed by Astrid.

"Lyra, you didn’t think... I was going to sleep here, did you..."

Hit right on the mark, Lyra’s body stiffened, and her inner panic seemed to burst open.

’What to do, what to do, what to do, why did Astrid say that.

Could she have found out... that I like her...’

The pink-haired girl fell into brief chaos, and this dazed expression actually made Astrid not suspect anything.

"Thinking quite well... maybe next time..."

’So, she probably didn’t notice...

It was just me being too panicked.’

Getting back to the point, Astrid quickly stated her purpose, and Lyra gradually recovered from her state of shock.

"After not staying for a few months, take a look around today. If there’s anything missing in the room, remember to tell Elise."

"...okay."

"Starting tomorrow, we’ll officially begin work. Don’t forget."

’I understand.’

After a few words, Astrid placed her hand on her knee and spoke softly.

"Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?"

"You seem a bit off today, Lyra."

Ever since she left the palace and returned to the dormitory, Lyra had been acting a bit unnatural.

Hearing this, Lyra’s expression froze slightly, and her pink lips instinctively pursed.

’That kind of thing... how could I possibly say it...’

Fortunately, Lyra did have something she wanted to discuss with Astrid, so she quickly changed the subject.

"Well, if I must say, there is one thing..."

"I recently tried a new magic, or rather a combat skill, and it turned out quite well. I wanted Astrid to help me name it."

Then, Lyra detailed the techniques of using this combat skill and demonstrated it once in front of Astrid.

"Since it’s a light bursting from the tip of the sword, why not name it based on its manifestation."

Astrid crossed her legs, her long eyelashes casting delicate shadows.

"Keep it simple, how about calling it [Light Cascade]?"

The flowing light on the ground resembles a horizontal waterfall, indeed a very fitting name.

"Sounds good... let’s go with that..."

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