Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 62: She is easy to win over

"The batch of maids that were sent to you earlier, are you satisfied with them?" Charlotte asked.

Astrid nodded upon hearing this: "Yes, they are very diligent in their work, attentive, and know exactly what to do and when to do it."

Compared to the previous spies planted among the staff, Charlotte's group of maids are indeed dedicated to serving her daily needs.

"Miss Sharon's cakes are exceptionally well-made. Has little Astr tried them?"

Sharon, one of the maids, specializes in dessert making and is assigned by Elise to prepare tea and pastries for afternoon tea every day.

"I've had her Black Forest cakes and doughnuts."

"How do they taste?"

"They're delicious. The Black Forest cake is fluffy and soft, the doughnuts have just the right amount of sugar, and paired with her special black tea, they aren't too heavy."

Charlotte chuckled softly.

"It seems I made the right choice."

Seeing that the staff she arranged has pleased Astrid so much, Charlotte, as her aunt, naturally feels at ease.

After chatting with Astrid for a while, Charlotte brought up the results of the previous investigation into the deactivation of the land.

During this time, she had consulted several professors at the college who might have insights into the situation and gathered their opinions for reference.

However, the results were still inconclusive.

"The cause of the barren land is still unknown, but it is clear that livestock grazing has somewhat hindered the spread of the barren area."

Charlotte couldn't shake the feeling that this sacrificial approach posed a serious safety risk.

It felt like they were feeding a monster with an ever-growing appetite, and sooner or later, something would go wrong.

But until the situation becomes clearer, she has no valid reason to stop Lucas.

She has many eyes to identify problems, but what she truly values are those who can provide practical solutions.

"Lady Charlotte, how is the situation with the Retrospective Enchantment?" Astrid asked softly.

Charlotte smoothed her hair and replied gently, "The Retrospective Enchantment hasn't been tampered with by anyone and continues to record everything that happens daily."

When setting up the enchantment, Charlotte had added a resonance circle. If the enchantment were ever destroyed, she would be the first to know.

Astrid lowered her head slightly upon hearing this, feeling a sense of relief.

She vividly remembered the large-scale evil spirit outbreak that occurred midway through the novel.

With this enchantment in place, Lucas should not dare to act recklessly.

Looking at the girl in the black dress sitting gracefully before her, her long silver-white hair cascading softly, Charlotte hesitated for a moment before retrieving a finely crafted box from her drawer.

"Little Astr, come here."

Astrid approached slowly, catching a faint whiff of roses from Charlotte, mingled with a subtle, natural fragrance that wasn't from any perfume.

Charlotte opened the wooden box, took out a black silk headband, and held it up gently, placing it in front of Astrid's eyes.

"Although I didn't make the headband myself, I added a wind blessing to it. It can make your body feel lighter and help you gather wind element particles from the air more quickly."

There was another effect Charlotte didn't mention: if the elemental fluctuations around Astrid exceeded the level of a Magnus, the magic circle on the headband would automatically alert Charlotte and indicate the general direction of the source.

While the headband had its practical benefits, Charlotte's primary intention was to add an extra layer of protection for Astrid.

In case of an emergency, she would be able to detect it immediately and rush to the scene.

"Lady Charlotte... Why did you suddenly think of giving me this?" Astrid looked at the headband with surprise in her eyes.

Charlotte glanced at her, her tone almost imperceptibly soft.

"I'm your elder. Isn't it normal for me to give something to little Astr?"

With that, Charlotte picked up the headband and gently wrapped her slender, pale arms around Astrid's neck, her deft fingers weaving softly through the strands of hair.

As the rich, alluring scent of Charlotte's body filled the air, and the warmth of her arm brushed against Astrid's neck, Astrid's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Her crimson eyes gazed intently at Charlotte until the older woman finished tying the headband and slowly withdrew her arm.

The long silver-white hair, now adorned with a black ribbon, added an air of nobility to Astrid's demeanor.

Charlotte looked at the beautiful girl before her, her heart swelling with satisfaction.

'She truly is Lady Fanya's child. No matter how she dresses, she radiates unparalleled beauty.'

"Not to mention the young nobles in the imperial capital who are just beginning to explore love, even if it were other girls, I'm sure many would be captivated by our little Astr."

In the Valeria Empire, women could marry as early as eighteen.

Thinking about it, Astrid had just celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony a little over half a month ago, and it was natural for Charlotte to consider her future marriage.

Charlotte had heard that Astrid had once harbored a secret affection for Tristian Velmont, the heir to the Velmont family.

However, Tristian had shown little interest in her, and frankly, Charlotte herself didn't want Astrid to marry him.

Having witnessed countless political marriages over the years, Charlotte knew how difficult it was to find happiness in a one-sided love.

She felt it was her duty to guide Astrid away from such a path and not let her waste her heart on someone who didn't reciprocate her feelings.

The imperial capital was brimming with talented young men, and Astrid's own qualities were exceptional.

At most, her temper could be a bit fiery, but when Charlotte thought about the possibility of Astrid marrying someone in the future, she couldn't help but feel a pang of reluctance.

'If it really comes to it, it's fine to stay single like me. That's still better than spending a lifetime with an emotionless ice block.'

Astrid hadn't realized when the conversation had taken such a turn.

By the time she could react, Charlotte had already launched into a detailed account of the eligible young men in the imperial capital, subtly hinting that Astrid shouldn't limit herself to just one person.

Although Charlotte wasn't particularly interested in the so-called high society nobles, she knew that given Astrid's noble status, Emperor Hibbort would never allow her to marry someone without influence or reputation.

Astrid's future spouse would undoubtedly be a prominent figure in the empire.

Fortunately, Astrid was favored enough, and she didn't have a drop of royal blood.

Even if her choices were confined to the aristocratic circle, she still had a degree of freedom in determining her fate and wouldn't be reduced to a pawn in a political marriage.

"Lady Charlotte, to be honest, I don't have any plans to marry anytime soon..."

To prevent Charlotte from continuing down this path, Astrid decided to be direct.

"I did have feelings for Earl Tristian before, but not anymore."

The original Astrid's infatuation with Tristian had been obvious to those around her.

She had pursued him fervently, but Tristian had always maintained a cold distance, often avoiding her and showing clear resistance to her advances.

"Just as you said, Lady Charlotte, it's better to let go of unrequited love. Reflecting on it, I realize I may not have liked him as much as I thought. It was more of an obsession born from not being able to have what I wanted."

Astrid's words were earnest and thoughtful, and Charlotte could sense the resolve in her tone.

Charlotte's fingers touched her lips, and the tenderness in her eyes seemed to melt into a pool of warmth.

"It's... best that you've come to this realization," Charlotte said softly.

She was familiar with Elowen's nephew. Compared to someone as aloof as Lucas, he was indeed a better match.

At twenty-five, he had already risen to a great rank in Knights, making him one of the most promising young talents of his generation.

If Tristian and Astrid were truly in love, Charlotte, as an elder, wouldn't mind playing the role of a matchmaker.

However, given the current situation, it was clear that forcing a relationship would only lead to bitterness.

After all, a relationship built on one-sided affection would never bear sweet fruit.

Sensing Charlotte's genuine concern for her, Astrid smiled softly and leaned slightly against the woman's alluring figure.

Her pink lips parted gently as she spoke.

"Let's set aside the matter of marriage for now. Don't worry..."

"If I can't find someone I truly like, I suppose I'll just stay by Lady Charlotte's side for the rest of my life, as I have been. I just hope you won't find me bothersome when that time comes."

These words came from the depths of Astrid's heart.

In her previous life, she had remained single despite numerous suitors.

She had rejected them all, citing her indifference to romance, and even her own sister had begun to question her sexual orientation.

Astrid had never felt the urgency to fall in love, until she found herself transmigrated into this novel.

Even the protagonist, Lyra, didn't have a lasting romantic subplot till she read.

Astrid, as the villainess, had no such inclinations either.

When Charlotte heard Astrid's words, especially the part about "staying by Lady Charlotte's side for the rest of my life," her long, curved eyelashes trembled faintly, and her heart seemed to skip a beat, as if struck by an electric current.

After a moment, Charlotte collected herself and reached out to gently pat Astrid's head.

Her tone was light, almost teasing. "Little Astr, you're a grown woman now. What kind of talk is this about sticking to me for the rest of your life?"

Though, in truth, she wouldn't mind it at all.

Astrid glanced at Charlotte's smooth, pale wrist and asked softly, "Does Lady Charlotte find me annoying?"

In all honesty, Astrid felt her words might come across as a bit coquettish, but they were fitting for a younger person seeking affection from an elder.

"Of course not," Charlotte replied, shaking her head, her voice warm and gentle. "Little Astr, you're welcome to stay as long as you like. My door is always open for you."

The manor had been too quiet for far too long, and Charlotte secretly hoped Astrid would visit more often to bring some life and warmth to the place.

-----

After a while, Elowen finally returned to the office.

Hearing that Astrid had something to discuss with her best friend, Charlotte excused herself and moved to the next room, settling into an office chair to wait quietly.

"Your Highness Astrid, are you saying that someone's perception of you hasn't changed even after you drank the transformation potion?"

Elowen's tone was filled with surprise as she listened to Astrid recount the events of the previous night. Her expression mirrored her astonishment.

She had personally made those potions and knew their exact effects.

Logically, such a situation shouldn't have occurred.

"Transformation potions generally enhance the drinker's image in the eyes of others. If someone's perception of you hasn't changed, there are only two possible explanations."

"The first possibility is that you're meeting the person for the first time, and they have no preconceived image of you to alter."

Astrid and Lyra had been living together for over half a month, so the first possibility was out of the question.

"What about the second possibility?" Astrid asked Elowen.

"The second possibility is that your image in her eyes is already so favorable that the potion has little to no effect."

At least in terms of the potion's mechanics, this was the most plausible explanation.

Astrid frowned slightly upon hearing this, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

She had never imagined that Lyra could hold such a high opinion of her.

If this were true, then this naive maid was far too easy to win over.

Just by teaching her a few dishes and some basic magic, she had already started leaning toward becoming a loyal follower.

But upon closer reflection, it made sense. After all, the protagonist of the original story was a simple and innocent character in the early stages, untouched by the trials and tribulations that would come later.

The Lyra of this moment was undoubtedly a representation of youthful softness and vulnerability.

Now that she was certain the potion wasn't faulty, Astrid thanked Elowen and gracefully expressed her gratitude for the potion.

Finally, she got to the main point.

"If I drink this potion regularly, will there be any side effects?" Astrid asked softly.

In the future, when she would inevitably encounter the fourth princess Amalia, she expected to consume this potion as frequently as water.

If there were any negative effects, it was better to understand them as soon as possible.

Elowen nodded seriously after hearing this. "There are some significant side effects."

"For example, drinking too much at once can cause bloating, drinking it after a meal may lead to regurgitation, and drinking it before a meal can suppress your appetite..."

Were these even considered side effects?

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Astrid stared at Professor Elowen, who was speaking with such earnestness, to confirm that she wasn't making a poor joke.

Realizing that Elowen was genuinely trying to warn her, Astrid suddenly found the short-haired woman, who stood half a head shorter than her, unexpectedly endearing.

"...I see," Astrid said after a moment.

"Professor Elowen, I would like to purchase more transformation potions from you."