Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 57: Lyra’s Sour Feelings

After a long while of contemplation and still unable to find a suitable solution, Astrid set the matter aside for the time being and turned her thoughts to the upcoming business negotiations with the Velmont family.

If she could successfully negotiate the treaty and establish the perfume trade, Astrid and the Velmont family would form a small but significant community of shared interests.

Every military alliance or political group was built on a foundation of smaller, interconnected interests.

In Astrid's view, the perfume trade was a starting point, a stepping stone to securing the support of the Velmont family, one of the four great ducal houses.

However, the fact that it was Earl Tristian who would be leading the negotiations on their side left Astrid feeling uneasy.

It seemed everyone in the imperial capital knew of her supposed infatuation with Earl Tristian.

The original Astrid's crush was common knowledge, which explained why the Earl harbored such disdain for her.

How could someone as noble and self-respecting as Earl Tristian, the heir to a prestigious title, ever accept a frivolous, ill-tempered beauty like the original Astrid as his future wife?

Astrid reminded herself that during the negotiations, she would have to maintain the infatuated persona in front of Lyra, allowing the obedient pink-haired maid to find her own place to stay.

Though it was exhausting to act every day, it was necessary to avoid arousing Lyra's suspicions.

It also served to keep Prince Lucas somewhat off guard, which was, in its own way, a small advantage.

At night, in the royal capital of the Valeria Empire, within an elegantly decorated high-end restaurant, Earl Tristian sat in the innermost private box.

His back leaned against the seat, his right leg rested on the knee of his left, and his thick brown hair cascaded down to his shoulders.

Dressed in an expensive and luxurious brocade robe, he exuded an air of aristocratic refinement.

A few days prior, Tristan had heard from his aunt, Elowen Velmont, that she had recently been involved in a perfume-related business matter that required his personal attention.

Tristan was aware that Elowen had been experimenting with various perfumes some time ago.

He had also surmised that she might seek assistance from other knowledgeable individuals, though with little success.

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However, he never imagined that the person she would turn to would be the imperial princess Astrid, for whom he had never held a favorable opinion.

Astrid Calliste Valeria, hailed by Emperor Hibbort as the most beautiful and dazzling jewel of the Valeria Empire, was undeniably stunning in appearance.

With her magnificent, silky long silver-white hair, iconic bright red eyes, delicate facial features, and an enviable figure, Astrid stood out even among the most beautiful women.

Yet, beauty alone was not enough.

Tristan regarded Astrid as little more than a decorative vase, beautiful but ultimately useless.

Her temperament was notoriously arrogant and lazy, and she lacked the emotional intelligence necessary for effective interpersonal relations.

No matter how striking her appearance, without the talent and virtue to match, she was destined to be reduced to nothing more than a superficial figure, admired only for her looks.

Tristan held a deep disdain for this arrogant and domineering princess, and her repeated overtures towards him only served to exacerbate his aversion.

'Is my aunt mistaken...? How could Astrid possibly know how to make perfumes...?'

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, the irregular rhythm betraying his growing impatience.

'Could it be that the foolish woman used some trick to deceive Aunt Elowen?'

The thought of Astrid's past misdeeds caused Tristan's temples to throb, and his mind began to wander into darker suspicions.

'Perhaps Astrid orchestrated this meeting under the pretense of perfume-making, only to lure me into a private encounter. If she succeeded in convincing Elowen that she had created the perfume herself, it would explain today's arrangement.'

If his suspicions were correct, and Astrid had gone to such lengths to gain his attention, then she was truly desperate.

The idea that she might use this opportunity to express her feelings or propose a private dinner was intolerable.

Taking a sip of hot tea, Tristan glanced at the wall clock. It was seven-twelve, less than twenty minutes before their scheduled meeting.

This meeting was strictly business. If Astrid dared to stray from the topic, whether by inviting him to dine privately or, worse, confessing her feelings, Tristan would not hesitate to shut her down.

He was the future Grand Duke of the Valeria Empire, and he could not afford to entertain the advances of a woman as lacking in virtue and talent as Astrid.

'It would be best for Astrid to abandon her unrealistic fantasies and resign herself to being a pleasure-seeking princess. Tristan Velmont is a man far beyond her reach.'

Meanwhile, unaware that her intentions had been grossly misinterpreted by Tristan as yet another attempt to win his affection, Astrid sat in her carriage, gazing out the window with a distant expression.

Unlike the bustling East District, which remained lively even at night, the West District was markedly more serene.

The streets were immaculate, free of any debris, and patrolled by security personnel who ensured not only the prevention of theft but also that no impoverished or homeless individuals could intrude upon the elite and aristocratic neighborhoods.

The stark divide between poverty and wealth was cleverly demarcated by the imperial palace and academy at the heart of the capital, creating two distinct worlds, one to the east and one to the west.

After a while, the sound of horses' hooves ceased, signaling their arrival at the agreed-upon meeting place.

Elise and Lyra stepped out of the carriage first. Once Elise had firmly planted her feet on the ground, she turned to Astrid and extended her hand, assisting the princess as she alighted from the carriage.

"Elise, you can wait outside for a while. There's no need for you to come in," Astrid instructed.

The delicate fabric of her dress swayed gently as she landed, like ripples spreading across a lake after a raindrop falls.

Astrid was dressed entirely in black today black headbands, black silk gloves, a black close-fitting skirt, and even the over-the-knee stockings and high heels adorning her slender legs were of the deepest black.

The original Astrid's wardrobe was truly exquisite.

Astrid's fair, delicate skin, combined with her rare waist-length silver hair, was accentuated beautifully by the stark contrast of the black attire, enhancing her natural beauty.

After giving Elise her instructions, Astrid turned her gaze to Lyra.

A faint, watery glimmer flickered in her clear red eyes as she spoke.

"You know who I'm meeting today, don't you, Miss Lyra...?"

Hearing the slight chill in Astrid's voice, Lyra's heart tightened. After a moment, she replied softly, "...Yes."

"It's the Velmont family... Earl Tristian..."

As the intermediary who had facilitated their connection, Lyra was well aware of Earl Tristian's significance.

"So, you know what you're supposed to do?" Astrid asked rhetorically.

Lyra pursed her lips and answered in a low voice, "I will avoid meeting him."

Although Astrid had set a condition when their master-servant relationship was established that Lyra should not have private contact with Earl Tristian, in practice, this meant avoiding any interaction with him under any circumstances.

Seeing her maid's compliance, Astrid's lips curled into a faint smile.

With a soft hum, she strode forward, the sharp clicks of her hard-soled heels against the floor tiles echoing like a drumbeat in Lyra's heart.

"You can sit down somewhere nearby and have a bite to eat with Elise. I'll cover all the expenses."

As Astrid's voice faded into the distance, Lyra raised her head and gazed thoughtfully at the retreating figure of the princess.

Earl Tristian was someone whom Her Royal Highness Astrid deeply admired.

It was only natural that she wouldn't want others to interfere.

It was all perfectly normal... After all, Lyra didn't particularly care for Earl Tristian, and whether or not they met was of little consequence to her...

Turning to see the head maid, Elise, standing beside her, Lyra's thoughts drifted to the handsome man who had invited her to dance that day and the silver-haired beauty who had just walked away with such grace and nobility.

They would be heading to a private box to discuss business, and afterward, they would likely dine together.

A strange emotion suddenly welled up in her heart, sharp and sour, like biting into a lemon so tart that it twisted her insides.

Lyra frowned, confused by the feeling, her fingertips lightly tugging at the hem of her maid's skirt.

This feeling was even stronger than when she had thought of Charlotte.

Could it be that, without realizing it, she had fallen for Earl Tristian?

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"Lord Tristian, it has been some time since we last met. I trust Your Lordship has been well in the imperial capital. Have you had the opportunity to sample the renowned roasted tomatoes and salmon mashed potatoes of the city?"

Astrid regarded Earl Tristian, who sat across from her, her expression composed and serious.

Her words carried neither warmth nor coldness, maintaining a strictly formal and businesslike tone.