Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 158: Envious Charlotte

By the time Amalia fully woke up, it was already 4:30 in the afternoon, nearing evening.

The sunlight outside the window wasn't as intense as it had been at noon, but it still carried the lingering heat unique to summer.

Amalia touched her groggy head, shifting her gaze from the wall clock to the quilt covering her.

Recalling the intimate touch she had shared with someone in her half-asleep state, Amalia lowered her eyes, her thin lips slightly pursed, her long lashes catching a few dazzling specks of light.

Though her thoughts weren't as clear as they had been before she fell asleep, Amalia could still distinguish whether what had happened in the afternoon was a dream or reality.

She had indeed clung to someone's arm, and from the feeling it gave her, it had to be Livia.

Her sister had come... and even tucked her in...

A few rays of sunlight filtered through her fingers and fell on her cheeks. Amalia straightened her back, curled up her legs, and sat silently on the bed, her mind racing in countless directions.

Hadn't Astrid left? Why had she come back at noon?

Or perhaps, she hadn't left at all in the morning and had actually been staying in the castle the whole time, just without letting Amalia notice.

Why hadn't she left...? Was it to mock her...?

Thinking of the comforting scent she had sensed while asleep, Amalia sniffed lightly.

The air no longer carried the scent of lemon but instead held a cold, faint aroma of roses, Astrid's signature fragrance.

Amalia already knew Livia's true identity. If Astrid had stayed to mock her, why would she have drunk that awful medicine and even pretended to tuck her in?

Could it be that Astrid was afraid she might do something drastic... and that's why she had stayed in the castle...?

Such thoughts flashed through Amalia's mind. She bit her lip, stretched her fair legs under the covers, and after a moment, pushed the quilt aside and got out of bed.

The attitude Astrid had shown last night didn't seem fake, but when combined with everything that had happened between them in the past, it all felt surreal.

People gradually mature from childishness, and Amalia might eventually accept that Astrid wasn't inherently bad. With time, she could let go of her jealousy and treat her with a more neutral attitude.

But to suddenly shift from despising someone to seeing them as a gentle, caring older sister, this stark contrast felt overwhelmingly unreal.

It was as if, in a story, Astrid had been possessed by some malevolent spirit.

But if it was someone like Livia, rather than a malevolent spirit, it felt more like a kind-hearted, gentle ghost.

Amalia's snow-white feet lightly stepped into her low-heeled sandals. She straightened her legs, smoothed her slightly messy hair, and brushed her golden locks into place.

Livia... Astrid...

The transformation potion could only change one's appearance and demeanor, not their inner self. The personalities of these two were worlds apart, how could they be the same person?

Perhaps Livia and Astrid were two completely different souls, just coincidentally trapped in the same body.

Unconsciously, Amalia began to find excuses for Livia, subconsciously separating Livia and Astrid in her mind, trying to treat them as two entirely independent individuals.

Closing her eyes, the golden hair in her memory turned silver under the moonlight.

The illusion ended, and Livia shed her disguise, reverting to Astrid Calliste, like Cinderella returning to her ordinary self as the clock struck twelve.

In the blink of an eye, Amalia dismissed these unrealistic thoughts.

Astrid was Livia, they were the same person.

Walking to the bathroom, Amalia washed her face, then pressed the water crystal to fill a cup with water. She took a few sips, feeling the cool liquid slide down her throat, moistening her dry lips.

Closing the door behind her, Amalia glanced next door. The room was empty, with only sunlight streaming through the window, casting a bright path on the floor, dotted with tiny floating particles.

Amalia stood still for a few seconds, tilting her head slightly to the left as her gaze swept the room, but she found no trace of Livia.

If she wasn't here, where else could Astrid be?

Amalia swallowed hard, staring blankly for a while before pushing open the door and slowly walking into the bedroom.

Perhaps it was better not to meet. At least she wouldn't feel so conflicted.

Sitting in front of the easel, Amalia took a deep breath and lifted the cloth covering the painting. Her eyes froze as she saw the nearly completed artwork.

On the canvas, a stunningly beautiful woman with golden hair and a white dress held a quill, her arm resting on the desk as she gazed intently at the words she was writing.

Under the warm orange light, the woman seemed enveloped in a soft haze. She sat quietly, her knees together, her back straight, her slightly upturned lips unintentionally forming a breathtaking curve.

This was a half-finished piece, the painting Amalia had originally intended to show Livia.

Her hand holding the canvas trembled slightly. The golden-haired girl stared at the figure in the painting, unable to bring herself to pick up the brush.

Was there any point in finishing this painting...?

Seeing the focused expression on the figure in the painting, Amalia hesitated.

---

Meanwhile, in the third princess's chambers, Lyra, who had been waiting for Astrid, stood alone outside the princess's bedroom, distractedly gazing at the paintings lining the corridor.

That morning, Elise's calm and decisive demeanor had reassured Lyra. Watching the head maid handle matters with such ease, Lyra's own heart had gradually calmed down.

Still, with Astrid having been absent all day, Lyra couldn't help but worry about the usually aloof silver-haired princess. Had something happened?

Had something unexpected occurred with Princess Amalia, preventing Astrid from returning on time?

What had Astrid been eating? There couldn't be a second person's food supply in the castle, were the two of them sharing?

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Lyra fiddled with the bow on her sleeve, silently wishing for time to pass quickly.

Perhaps by tomorrow morning, Princess Astrid would return safely.

Until then, she had to fulfill her duties as a personal maid and ensure no one discovered Astrid's absence.

Just as Lyra thought the day would pass uneventfully, an unexpected visitor arrived. A member of the maid team approached in her clacking heels, addressing Lyra respectfully.

"Miss Lyra, Countess Charlotte has come to visit Princess Astrid."

Countess Charlotte? Lyra paused, thinking of the mature, dignified countess.

Astrid and Charlotte were close, and Charlotte was aware of the plan to approach Amalia, possibly even more informed than Lyra herself, a mere maid.

Should she let Countess Charlotte know that Princess Astrid wasn't actually in her chambers?

Her thoughts racing, Lyra nodded and responded calmly.

"Princess Astrid is resting. Please ask Countess Charlotte to wait in the parlor for a while. I'll arrange for someone to convey Her Highness's response shortly."

The maid seemed unfazed by Lyra's composed reply she nodded.

"Understood, Miss Lyra."

After the maid left, Lyra stood guard for about five more minutes before turning to knock on the door.

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She whispered a question, and after half a minute, she seemed to receive permission from her mistress and entered Astrid's bedroom.

---

In the parlor, a mature woman with a curvaceous figure sat elegantly. Her mage robe, adorned with honeysuckle patterns, couldn't conceal her graceful frame.

Her dark hair cascaded down her back, and her long, fair legs, clad in sheer stockings, were crossed elegantly, exuding an air of nobility.

Charlotte placed her wand beside her, holding a teacup in her right hand. Her lips pressed against the rim as she sipped the black tea.

The magic classes at Isabess Magic Academy had just ended, and her investigation into the deactivated land had concluded as well.

Realizing it had been a while since she'd seen Astrid, Charlotte had finished her lesson plans and taken a carriage to the palace near the academy.

Tomorrow, she was heading to the eastern coast of the empire, to the city of Ostwycke, for a week-long seminar on magical circles. If she didn't see Astrid now, it would be a long time before they met again.

According to Elowen, the Empire Monthly was selling well, and Charlotte, as Astrid's aunt, felt a mix of emotions.

On one hand, she was delighted that her niece had achieved success. On the other, she regretted that Astrid was spending so much time on work rather than her magical studies.

A prodigy like Astrid should be locked in a room, dedicating herself entirely to magic, not squandering the talent so many could only dream of.

There was also a hint of personal jealousy. Since the newspaper's launch was a collaboration between Astrid and the Velmont family, Elowen, who bore the Velmont name, naturally had frequent contact with Astrid.

Watching her friend's daughter and her own close friend grow closer, Charlotte felt both happy and slightly envious.

Work was work, but it wouldn't hurt for Astrid to visit her aunt occasionally.

Sipping her tea leisurely, Charlotte had been waiting for twenty minutes since she'd sent the maid to deliver her message. It was about time for a response. She crossed her long legs elegantly, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.

A short while later, a maid arrived to inform her that Princess Astrid was unwell and unable to receive guests.

Astrid was sick?

Surprised, Charlotte set down her teacup, her dark eyes narrowing slightly.

At that moment, Elise entered the parlor, having completed her tasks. She waved her hand, signaling all the maids to leave.

"Good afternoon, Countess Charlotte. My apologies for not welcoming you properly."

Looking at the head maid, who held her skirt and bowed slightly, Charlotte shook her head gently.

"Elise, there's no need for formalities when we're alone."

"Is Astrid sick?"

Hearing the concern in Charlotte's voice, Elise hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

"Miss Astrid is fine. She's just temporarily unavailable."

Elise had instructed Lyra not to reveal Princess Astrid's absence under any circumstances.

While telling Charlotte wouldn't cause any issues, Lyra's cautious approach was exactly what a personal maid should embody.

No wonder Astrid had chosen Lyra as her companion, the pink-haired maid was impeccable in certain aspects.

"Unavailable? What happened?" Charlotte asked in a low voice.

A silencing barrier instantly spread through the room. Sensing the shift in the air's mana, Elise realized Charlotte had cast a spell. She organized her thoughts and began to explain.

After Elise finished recounting the situation, Charlotte frowned slightly, remaining silent for a moment.

Elise mentioned she had gone near the castle earlier to gather information. Due to the distance and the need to remain discreet, she had only vaguely sensed the presence of two people inside.

Without using mental energy, everyone's aura was similar, so Elise couldn't confirm if Astrid was among them.

Asking Charlotte to conduct a second investigation wasn't feasible. The palace was protected by multiple barriers, most of which targeted Crusader level Knights and Arcanist Level Mages.

A mage of Charlotte's level couldn't casually release mental energy to probe, as it would be considered disrespectful to the Valeria Empire's royal family and might even be mistaken for an assassination attempt, causing unnecessary trouble.

Elise had been able to release her mental energy earlier because of her position as the princess's personal maid and her expertise in concealment.

Unless it was a mage or knight who had previously locked onto her mental energy, most wouldn't detect her mental fluctuations if she deliberately hid them.

"In that case, I'll postpone my trip to Ostwycke tomorrow. If Astrid returns, let her know I need to speak with her."

The teaching seminar had already allocated a day of free time. Charlotte was essentially sacrificing her own rest period.

But compared to meeting Astrid and ensuring her safety, this bit of rest was insignificant.

"Understood. I'll inform Miss Astrid as soon as she returns," Elise replied.

Escorting Charlotte to the palace entrance, the two parted ways. Elise returned to the chambers, where she found Lyra still standing guard outside the princess's bedroom like a wooden statue.

"Miss Elise, earlier..."

Glancing around, Lyra whispered.

"Countess Charlotte came to visit Princess Astrid. I asked her to come another day."

Elise nodded, replying softly, "I've already met with Countess Charlotte."

"You did well, Lyra."

Throughout the day, Lyra's actions had fully demonstrated her loyalty and intelligence.

It seemed the pink-haired maid wasn't as clumsy as she sometimes appeared.

Hearing the head maid's praise, Lyra lowered her head shyly before speaking again.

"How is Princess Astrid...?"

After much thought, she couldn't help but worry.