Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 90: "Auri... I almost forgot about you..."

At that moment, Amalia suddenly recalled the pair of silver-white high heels Livia had worn the previous night.

The exquisitely crafted satin shoes, adorned with dazzling diamonds, had resembled the sparkling princess slippers from the tale of Cinderella.

After a brief pause, Amalia shook her head and turned the handle of her own door.

'Why am I thinking about her again...'

Returning to her bedroom, she resumed work on the painting she had left unfinished the day before.

Before she knew it, the night had grown late.

Amalia usually washed up and went to bed before nine o'clock.

Today, however, when she glanced at the clock, it was already nine forty, a little later than usual.

She fetched some clean clothes from the closet and prepared to take a hot bath.

Stepping out of her boudoir, she glanced once more at the room next door.

It remained empty; Livia still hadn't returned.

'It's so late... Will she not come back tonight?'

Amalia unbuttoned her coat, removed her white stockings, and slipped her slender feet into a pair of low-heeled sandals.

She averted her gaze from Livia's room and walked into the bathroom alone.

Pressing the water button in the corner, steaming liquid poured into the porcelain bathtub.

Amalia picked up a wooden basin, scooped some cold water from the sink, and added it to the tub.

She tested the temperature with her fingers, ensuring it was just right, then lifted her fair legs and settled gently into the water.

In recent years, magical devices had become widely popular among the aristocracy in the imperial capital, and the castle where Amalia resided had undergone some facility upgrades.

However, the temperature control circle had yet to be put into use, leaving Amalia's bathroom without the artificial temperature regulation found in places like Charlotte's Manor.

As for using mental energy to adjust the flow of magical power within the crystal to alter the water temperature, it was still far too advanced for the blonde girl who struggled even with basic meditation.

Scooping water manually was far simpler.

Soon, a thin mist filled the bathroom.

Amalia leaned back against the tub and slowly closed her eyes, which ached slightly from staring at the canvas all day.

A quarter of an hour later, at the entrance of the castle, Astrid, who had just consumed a potion, removed her infiltrator's robe and made her way up the stairs, following the path Amalia usually took.

After dining with Hibbort, Astrid had spent over ten minutes chatting with the emperor before returning to her room to rest.

Now, she had come to the castle where Amalia lived.

Anticipating that the blonde girl might still be withdrawn, Astrid had brought two additional books this time.

If the situation was the same as the previous night, she could at least read to pass the time instead of staring at the stars in boredom.

As she reached the sixth floor and turned the corner of the staircase, Astrid heard the sound of dripping water.

Before she could process the thought, the bathroom door suddenly swung open from the inside.

Seeing the scattered dots of light on the ground through the crack in the door, Amalia pressed a button to turn off the light-attribute crystal used for bathroom lighting, then walked slowly into the corridor.

The wet low-heeled sandals made a faint sound against the bricks.

The girl's smooth blonde hair fell naturally to her waist, swaying in a graceful arc as she moved.

The hem of her pure white skirt lifted slightly, carrying with it a faint fragrance, reminiscent of orchids or fresh citrus.

As she stepped outside, the chill in the air made Amalia frown unconsciously.

She lightly rubbed her slender, smooth calves, but the gesture did little to warm them.

Livia looked at the blonde girl in front of him, who was wearing only a strappy nightgown that revealed her snow-white shoulders and delicate collarbones.

With a smile, she spoke. "Good evening, Miss Amalia. Were you just taking a bath?"

Hearing the voice, Amalia's body stiffened.

She turned her head and saw a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes standing not far from the stairs.

Her long eyelashes framed a gentle, smiling face.

Livia was still wearing the same elegant princess dress as usual, though the lower half of her outfit had been slightly altered.

Instead of the white stockings and diamond high heels from the previous day, she now wore skin-colored stockings so sheer they were almost invisible.

The stockings accentuated the woman's already well-proportioned and graceful legs.

On her feet, she wore a pair of lace-up calf boots.

The white boots, matching the tone of her dress, not only emphasized her nobility but also added a touch of softness to her demeanor.

Amalia's gaze, however, was drawn to the two books in Livia's arms.

Whether it was due to the dim light or the lingering moisture in her eyes from the shower, she couldn't make out the titles clearly.

She could only see that the books were bound in pure black leather, similar to the material of the bag tied at Livia's waist.

"Good evening..."

Amalia responded in a slightly cold tone, quietly steadying her heartbeat, which had quickened momentarily upon unexpectedly encountering someone.

Why does she always appear at this time... It was the same last night...

With her arms hanging at her sides and her palms brushing against the silky fabric of her nightgown, Amalia felt a slight chill rising from beneath her skirt.

A wave of discomfort washed over her. Her cheek tilted slightly to the left, avoiding Livia's gaze.

When they had first met, Amalia had also been wearing a similar lightweight silk nightgown, but at the time, her attention had been entirely on Livia, leaving her unaware of her own state.

Now, fresh from the shower, the moisture on her body had not yet fully evaporated.

Amalia could feel the thin fabric of her dress clinging to her skin, the dampness making it slightly transparent.

Especially under Livia's calm and focused gaze, Amalia felt an overwhelming sense of exposure, as if she had been seen through entirely.

The shame of it made her even more uneasy.

Her legs and shoulders, exposed to the cool air, felt warm, her skin tinged with a faint pink.

As Amalia was about to step back into the house, Livia spoke at just the right moment.

"How was your day, Miss Amalia?"

It was nearly impossible to expect the blonde girl to initiate conversation.

When dealing with someone so introverted and reserved, a certain degree of initiative was necessary.

Otherwise, even if Hibbort were no longer around, their relationship would likely remain nothing more than that of distant neighbors.

"Very good... No need to bother... Miss Livia..."

Amalia spoke haltingly, her voice as cold as ever. Livia blinked her long eyelashes but maintained her gentle smile.

In Lyra's eyes, Astrid often appeared as a cold and villainous figure, but now, with Amalia, the roles seemed reversed.

However, while Astrid's villainous persona was shaped by the plot of the original novel, Amalia's introverted nature, her high vigilance and reluctance to interact with others, was a product of her own lived experiences.

Just as Livia was about to say something more, Amalia quickly stepped into her room, glanced back, uttered a cold "Good night," and closed the door.

The clear sound of the bolt locking echoed softly.

Astrid, standing in the corridor, let out a quiet sigh and walked into the adjacent room with the books still in her arms.

It seemed there would be no progress today.

Looking at the nearly tidied-up furniture and relieved that she wouldn't have to sit on the windowsill again, Astrid chanted a spell to summon a gentle breeze of wind magic, beginning the final touches of her cleaning.

This would be her home for a long time to come, her second home since arriving in this world. It deserved to be cared for properly.

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Just across the wall, Amalia leaned against the window, letting the evening breeze tousle her hair and help the lingering moisture from her shower evaporate.

The clock on the wall showed ten twenty. Livia had returned to the castle unusually late.

Thinking back to the encounter in the corridor, Amalia blinked, the light in her eyes flickering as she gazed out the window.

One hand held up her long hair, while the other rested gently on her chest.

The warmth of her palm against her smooth skin contrasted with the drumming of her heartbeat, and her thoughts began to scatter.

When she had stepped out of the shower and seen Livia Valeria standing in the corridor, an indescribable emotion had stirred within Amalia.

There was a flicker of worry that Livia's sudden presence might bring unnecessary complications, but also an inexplicable joy that seemed to rise from deep within.

Livia hadn't lied.

She truly intended to stay in the castle, and from now on, she would likely return to spend the night next door at this hour every evening.

For Amalia, having a gentle and easygoing older sister as a neighbor wasn't a bad thing.

The problem was that Livia was from the Valeria family, sharing the same blood as the man who had abandoned her in this castle and never looked back.

Amalia disliked the name Valeria. She held no fondness for the royal nobles who bore it.

Though Livia didn't carry herself with the arrogance of Princess Astrid, and her words and actions were always gentle and polite, Amalia couldn't ignore the striking resemblance of her long golden hair to her own, nor the piercing dark green eyes that haunted her dreams.

She must never involve herself with the Valeria family again.

The fleeting desire for connection cooled, replaced by a steady, resolute heartbeat.

Amalia lowered her hand from her chest and let her gaze fall on the finished canvas across the room.

She didn't need anyone's company.

Books, pens, and a canvas to bring her fantasies to life were enough.

At that moment, Auri padded over to Amalia's legs, brushing her whiskers against her calves. Amalia picked up the cat and held her close, her expression softening.

"Auri... I almost forgot about you..."

Rather than engaging in hollow social interactions, she preferred the quiet companionship of a cat who only knew how to eat, sleep, and offer the comfort of his soft fur.