Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 107: They are only sister right?

In the early hours of the morning, Lyra heard the creaking of the wall clock across the bed.

She buried her head in the pillow, her cheeks gently rubbing against it, her long pale pink hair cascading over her shoulders and collarbone, becoming increasingly messy with her movements.

Half a minute later, after savoring the last moments under the covers, Lyra sat up and gazed out the window with sleepy eyes at the still-dark sky.

What time is it?

A sweet, natural moan escaped her throat, her voice tinged with the laziness of someone just waking up.

When her vision finally cleared, Lyra saw the hour hand pointing to the number five.

She patted her face, lifted the quilt, and slipped her feet into her slippers to get out of bed.

Brush teeth, wash face, fix hair, and change clothes.

Half an hour later, Lyra had changed into her usual maid dress.

She adjusted her attire in front of the mirror and, as she stomped her Mary Jane shoes into place, noticed the white silk stockings at her knees wrinkling slightly.

Her jade-like fingers reached under her skirt and gently pulled the stockings up.

Only when she felt the slight constriction of the stockings against her skin and the silk smoothing over her thighs did Lyra look up.

She fine-tuned the black and white maid's tiara on her head and, after ensuring her appearance was impeccable, left the room.

She wasn't usually in the habit of waking up this early, but after inquiring about Elise and Astrid, Lyra had decided to rise a little earlier than the others each day.

The corridor was silent, with a faint, soothing incense quietly permeating the space.

Lyra stood in front of Astrid's door, meditating and waiting. After ten minutes, she heard gentle footsteps approaching from not far away.

A vague black shadow slowly drew nearer, blending seamlessly with the surrounding darkness.

Without looking closely, it was difficult to discern the figure's exact size or shape.

As Astrid entered the mansion, her tense demeanor visibly relaxed.

She had been thinking about how to discuss with Hibbort the idea of starting a newspaper in the afternoon.

When she reached her room, she found Lyra standing motionless in the doorway, her eyes wary.

Remembering the infiltrator's robe she wore to conceal her body and aura, Astrid spoke softly.

"Lyra, did you not sleep at all?"

Hearing the familiar voice and watching as the figure removed the robe, revealing her trademark long silver-white hair and striking bright red eyes, Lyra quietly exhaled in relief.

She lowered her guard and responded softly.

"Good morning, Your Highness Astrid. I woke up earlier."

Seeing no trace of fatigue in Lyra's sky-blue eyes, Astrid nodded and asked, "So, you've been waiting for me?"

The maid team wouldn't have started work this early, and Astrid had returned at this hour precisely to maintain secrecy.

Although she didn't doubt the loyalty of those sent by Charlotte, the fewer people who knew about such matters, the better.

"Hmm." Lyra touched her skirt, her voice soft.

"Her Royal Highness Astrid returns late every early morning, and by then, everyone is still asleep. No one is available to attend to Her Highness's needs…"

"So, I thought I would come early and help Her Highness Astrid prepare for bed."

In the palace, only she and Elise could be considered Astrid's personal maids.

As the head maid, Elise had to manage numerous tasks during the day and could only rest late at night. Waking up early would leave her with little time to sleep.

Lyra, on the other hand, had little to occupy her mind beyond her studies and light duties.

She thought it would be better to rise early and take care of Princess Astrid, who often returned late.

Astrid raised her eyebrows slightly at this, her pink lips parting.

"You're quite proactive…"

She had previously told Elise to rest well and ensure she was fully recuperated to handle the day's tasks, advising her not to wait up late.

She hadn't expected Lyra, who was also aware of this, to take the initiative.

Yet, returning to the mansion in the hazy morning mist to find someone waiting for her stirred a rare warmth in Astrid's heart.

The feeling quickly ebbed away, like a receding tide, and she gently opened the door, inviting Lyra inside.

Standing outside for too long risked being seen by other early-rising maids, which wouldn't be ideal.

Following Astrid, Lyra caught a faint scent of roses in her hair, mingled with the earthy aroma of herbs and spices.

It reminded her of the smell from last night's kitchen.

Princess Astrid must have eaten outside, likely with the Fourth Princess, Amalia.

Lyra quickly deduced this and felt a flicker of joy that Astrid had succeeded in building a good relationship with Amalia.

But soon, an inexplicable sense of loss and a sour, unfathomable feeling crept into her chest.

It was just a meal between sisters. Why did it leave her feeling so unsettled?

Lyra knew her emotions made no sense. She shouldn't be harboring such strange feelings.

Shaking off the thoughts, she collected herself and spoke softly.

"Would Her Highness Astrid like to take a bath first, or would you prefer some light snacks?"

Lyra guessed Astrid wouldn't be too hungry, but out of a sense of duty, she asked anyway.

Astrid slowly untied her hairband, her hands brushing against her pale neck as she swept her silky silver hair back.

The strands shimmered under the lamplight.

"I'm not hungry. I'll take a bath and then go to bed."

"Understood. I'll prepare your clothes, Your Highness."

As the pink-haired maid disappeared into the cloakroom, Astrid sat on the edge of the bed.

The cozy atmosphere around her slowly made her feel sleepy.

However, as a modern person with a slight habit of cleanliness, Astrid couldn't possibly fall asleep while still smelling of herbs and spices.

She leaned forward, took off her boots, and then slipped off the black stockings clinging to her legs.

When Lyra returned to the bedroom with fresh clothes, Astrid was left wearing only a pleated skirt and an unbuttoned white shirt.

The pure black lace bra beneath the thin fabric added a touch of ambiguity to the scene.

Lyra's cheeks flushed slightly at the sight of Astrid sitting on the bed in such a disheveled state.

"Your… Your change of clothes is here…"

Although, in theory, a maid's duties sometimes involve physical contact with her mistress, Astrid usually avoided such situations.

Most of Lyra's tasks involved styling her hair or adjusting her skirt, nothing particularly intimate.

Today marked the first time in nearly two months of service that Lyra had seen Princess Astrid in such a state of undress.

Astrid turned at the sound of Lyra's voice. From Lyra's perspective, she could see the other's perfectly rounded curves and the striking, delicate ravine between them.

Astrid's bare, snow-white legs rested gently side by side, causing the young maid's ears to grow hot.

Taking the nightdress and undergarments from Lyra's hands, Astrid removed her shirt and stood up, heading into the bathroom.

As the sound of running water echoed from behind the door, Lyra glanced at the discarded shirt and stockings on the bed.

Her blush deepened. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out to gather them.

The moment her fingers touched the fabric, she could feel the residual warmth of Astrid's skin.

The soft, silky texture was surprisingly pleasant to the touch.

Lyra suddenly felt her hands grow uncomfortably hot.

Biting her lip, she quickly folded the garments and placed them in the storage box she had retrieved from the cloakroom, ready to hand them over to the other maids for washing along with the rest of the laundry.

Half an hour later, Astrid emerged from the bathroom, clean and dressed in her nightgown.

She found Lyra sitting at her desk, a basket of dirty clothes beside her and a cup of milk on the table.

"Milk helps with sleep. Please have some before you rest, Your Highness."

Seeing Astrid approach, Lyra picked up the cup of milk and spoke softly.

Astrid placed her discarded clothes into the basket and lifted the teacup with her slender fingers.

She pressed her lips to the rim of the cup and took a shallow sip.

After studying under Elise for so long, Lyra had grown into the image of a full-fledged maid, capable of serving with such grace and attention to detail that no fault could be found.

After finishing her tea, Astrid whispered,

"Miss Lyra, you're so thoughtful that I can hardly bear to let you go."

Astrid's words sent a tremor through Lyra's heart, but she remained silent, unable to respond.

In a year's time, she would no longer be Princess Astrid's personal maid. Astrid would no longer be her mistress.

Their relationship was bound by a contract, and once it ended, they would have no further ties.

Astrid would continue her life as an imperial princess, while Lyra would embark on a new journey at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic.

It was as if they were two lines on a plane, intersecting briefly at one point before diverging and moving farther apart.

"Your Highness Astrid, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now and let you rest."

"Go ahead."

With Astrid's permission, Lyra left the bedroom, basket in hand.

Yet, the bitter reluctance in her heart lingered, refusing to fade.

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If only Princess Astrid were as harsh as the rumors claimed… At least then, she wouldn't feel so conflicted now…

Her path was set, she was going to the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, and that wouldn't change because of one person or one thing.

Still, Lyra couldn't help but hope that she would see Princess Astrid again in the future.

She truly was a kind and gentle person.

....

After lunch, Astrid requested an audience with Hibbort through the servant in charge of the royal family's affairs.

About twenty minutes later, the servant returned with the news that Hibbort was resting in his quarters and was available to receive her.

Astrid nodded and made her way to Hibbort's palace.

Upon arriving, she knocked on the door and entered after receiving permission.

Inside, Hibbort was seated at his desk, engrossed in a book. When he noticed Astrid's arrival, his stern expression softened slightly.

"What brings you here, Astrid?"

He gestured for the servants to place a plate of strawberries on the dining cart and wheel it over to Astrid's side, inviting her to enjoy the fruit.

Hibbort sat up straight, his gaze warm and kind as he looked at the graceful imperial princess before him.

"Good afternoon, Father. I do have something I'd like to discuss with you," Astrid said softly, her bright red eyes meeting Hibbort's with quiet composure.

Given Hibbort's affection for Astrid, there was no need for her to beat around the bush. It was best to get straight to the point.

"Father, I've been reading some books recently and have come up with an idea."

"I'd like to create a publication that's released every month."

Astrid had learned that there was no such thing as a newspaper in this world. The closest concept she could think of was the one she had just described.

"A publication released every month?" Hibbort listened thoughtfully, pondering for a few moments before asking, "And what do you plan to write about?"

He was genuinely surprised. He hadn't known that his beloved daughter had an interest in writing.

"A variety of things, jewelry reviews, recent events in capital, or even serialized short stories."

"I don't have to write everything myself. I can always find talented writers to contribute."

Astrid's primary goal in founding this publication was threefold: to promote her perfume, to establish an intelligence-gathering agency directly under her control, and to seize the high ground of public opinion early on, thereby increasing her political leverage for the future.

Originally, she didn't need to consult Hibbort about launching the magazine.

However, informing him in advance would not only clarify his stance on the matter but also secure his tacit approval as the most powerful figure in the empire.

While Astrid was merely a noble princess with limited real authority, Hibbort was the true emperor of the nation.

His endorsement would provide the platform and backing necessary for the publication's distribution, benefiting Astrid without causing him any harm.

The difference between a private venture and an officially sanctioned publication wasn't just semantic, it carried significant implications in terms of influence and credibility.

Hibbort tapped the armrest of his chair thoughtfully and asked, "Astrid, is this related to your perfume venture?"

Astrid's expression remained calm as she nodded.

"At the moment, that's part of the idea."

Although her dealings with the Velmont family had been conducted discreetly, Hibbort, with his extensive network of informants throughout the imperial capital, would have been aware of her activities without even needing to pay special attention.

"So, how exactly do you plan to do it? Write reviews about perfumes?"

Hibbort had read some encyclopedic books on jewelry reviews and was familiar with common methods of commercial promotion.

He assumed Astrid was planning to use written content to stimulate consumer interest.

"Yes, something along those lines," Astrid replied softly.

Unlike the overwhelming and often annoying advertisements of her previous world, this world had no concept of advertising.

Publishing perfume-related reviews would not only avoid boring readers but might even pique their curiosity and interest.

Hibbort considered her proposal for a moment and found it both feasible and potentially valuable.

"Do as you wish, and let me know if you need any help."

As a father, Hibbort generally supported his children's endeavors.

Even if Astrid's venture failed, he had the means to handle the fallout and ensure she remained unharmed.