Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 276: Trial of Sword (6) - Second Trial

The next morning, Lyra noticed a clear difference in the food she was served compared to the previous day.

Although the bread still had a dark, almost black color and was roughly processed, it no longer had the dry leaf taste when eaten, and there were no longer small stones that could damage her teeth, allowing her to chew with a bit more confidence.

In addition to bread and water, her breakfast today also included a vegetable soup that wasn’t there before.

Lyra took a couple of sips and identified mushrooms and onions in it, seasoned with salt and a few other spices.

Compared to the bread, the soup could be considered quite delicious.

It was probably Princess Astrid who had given specific instructions... otherwise, the prison staff had no reason to improve her meals...

After finishing breakfast and waiting for the guards to collect the utensils and close the door, Lyra retrieved the dimmed Sword of Light from the haystack where she had slept the night before, her blue eyes silently gazing at the blade.

This new sword, which had revealed its true form from the knight’s sword, was identical in every detail to the light sword she had tried to draw on the high platform.

Last night, after a brief flash, the light sword had dimmed and became no different from an ordinary knight’s sword.

The only thing that intrigued Lyra was the special metal used to forge it.

It was a peculiar material she had never seen before.

The front side had a translucent white appearance, while the back was completely transparent.

Looking at it from either side, she could see the blade and the hay beneath it.

When she gently touched it, the blade felt slightly cold. Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though there were points of light flowing along the spine of the sword.

Unfortunately, apart from that brief moment last night, the sword had not emitted any light again, as if it had been briefly awakened only to fall back into a deep slumber.

What did it need her to do... and what was the purpose of creating this illusion...

Was it to test her?

Lyra raised the sword, and the sunlight from the iron window seeped through the cracks, falling on the translucent blade in the girl’s hand and reflecting her delicate face.

In the following days, Lyra and Astrid seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding.

The latter did not take back the sword capable of breaking chains, and Lyra obediently cooperated, waiting silently for the trial as she had said before.

As time passed, under Astrid’s investigation, Lyra’s background was thoroughly examined, and no evidence was found linking her to external forces.

On the other hand, Casto, due to his many misdeeds, provided Astrid with plenty of evidence against him, which was more than enough to send him to prison for half his life.

When Lyra entered the military court for the second time, her spirit was clearly much better.

Seeing Astrid seated in the jury box, the girl’s mind was at ease, and her hands, bound by handcuffs, slowly lowered to her abdomen.

This time, she was no longer alone in the trial.

As piece after piece of evidence was presented, Casto’s room for defense grew smaller and smaller.

Even the exaggerated statements he had made to ensure Lyra received a heavier sentence were extinguished in the face of the military’s dispatch orders.

Considering that the accused had indeed acted in self-defense and the consequences were not severe, only causing personal injury without affecting the overall battle, the judge sentenced Lyra to three years in prison.

Acquitting her would have led to a buildup of negative emotions among the lower ranks of the military, so a small punishment as a warning was deemed appropriate.

After hearing the verdict, Lyra nodded and chose to accept the sentence.

It was more or less what she had expected.

As for Casto, the other culprit, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and had all his illegal gains confiscated due to multiple charges.

After the trial, Astrid visited Lyra in prison once again. The latter stood by the haystack, her eyes gazing out the window at the few rays of sunlight coming in from outside.

"Miss Lyra, do you really accept this verdict?" Astrid asked her.

After a moment of silence, Lyra spoke softly.

"Someone once told me that there is no absolute balance between law and human sentiment..."

"My personal standard for judgment is between innocence and five years. As long as it falls within this range, I can accept it."

If it were just self-defense, she might not even have to serve a year in prison.

But since she had, in reality, harmed the empire’s security to some extent, it would be hard to justify not imposing some symbolic punishment.

Hearing this, Astrid raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice.

"You’re really magnanimous..."

With the charge of treason dismissed, there wasn’t much left against Lyra. If she had pushed a bit more, Astrid could have helped her avoid punishment altogether.

But judging from Lyra’s attitude, it seemed she had no intention of doing so.

"It’s not really magnanimity. After all, I was the one who damaged Casto’s eyes and fingers, and the empire lost a junior knight."

"Besides... if I were to receive no punishment at all, some people would be unhappy, right?"

Lyra could tell from the expressions and demeanor of the jury members that not everyone wanted her to be acquitted.

Hearing this, Astrid tapped her high heels a few times, the crisp sound echoing in the cell.

"Didn’t you say you would follow and uphold your own sense of justice?"

"Why have you given up now?"

Lyra smiled faintly and shook her head.

"I haven’t given up."

"The evidence presented by Princess Astrid was objective, and the judge’s verdict was a decision that balanced law and human sentiment."

"This is good enough."

At this point, the judge had to weigh far more considerations than what appeared on the surface, and the judgment of her case had long since shifted from mere fairness to whether she was willing to make a sacrifice.

"Now that the two nations are at war, and the military court jury consists of internal personnel, the judge should prioritize the sentiments of the lower ranks of the military, right, Princess Astrid?"

"..."

"You’re not wrong."

Astrid hadn’t expected that this pink-haired girl had even considered this layer. In other words, she understood why she received such a verdict and was willing to make the sacrifice.

After a brief silence, Astrid continued.

"In that case, I respect your choice."

"However, I do have another path that might interest you, Miss Lyra."

Lyra was momentarily stunned, her pink lips parting slightly.

"...Another path?"

The verdict had already been passed. What other path could there be?

Astrid casually smoothed her dress and spoke in a low voice.

"I can exchange your three-year prison sentence for one year of mandatory military service."

"If you want to change them, then go among them and see how these people live."

"Miss Lyra you are also an early Grand Knight, and joining the army would just fill the vacancy left by Casto due to his imprisonment."

As for the cold treatment and disdain Lyra might face, Astrid would use her influence to arrange for officers to take a little care of her, making sure those people wouldn’t dare to openly make things difficult for her.

"Of course, as the war situation becomes more intense, the casualty rate of soldiers is increasing day by day, so this is not a particularly good time to serve in the military."

"Whether to spend three years peacefully in prison or to go to the battlefield in person, Miss Lyra should think carefully about it herself. I’m just providing you with a channel."

After listening to Astrid’s words, Lyra looked at the small tip of the sword exposed in the haystack, thought for half a minute, and then answered softly.

"Can I think about it for a few days?"

"...Yes."

Astrid didn’t ask Lyra to give an answer immediately. After all, it was a matter of life and death, and it was good to think more about it.

"Then I will visit you the day after tomorrow. I hope Miss Lyra will have made a decision by then."

After saying that, there was nothing more to talk about by staying here. Astrid said she would leave first, then took out the key and prepared to close the door.

"Princess Astrid..."

Almost instinctively, Lyra called out softly. Hearing this, Astrid stopped her action, the key already half inserted into the lock.

"What is it?" Astrid asked her.

Lyra looked at the imperial princess who was only two people away from her and said softly.

"Princess Astrid, do you like seafood?"

Hearing this nightmare word, Astrid’s expression paused.

"I’m allergic to seafood, so I haven’t eaten it many times, so I can’t say I like it."

"Then... milk tea with black tea..."

"That’s not bad. I have a cup made by the maid every afternoon."

Feeling that Lyra’s two consecutive questions were a bit strange, Astrid blinked a few times, her pink lips slightly opened.

"Miss Lyra, why are you asking me these personal questions?"

"If it’s because of what happened before and you want to do something for me, please wait until you have served your three years in prison or come back safely from the front line, and then we can talk about it later."

"Or is it..."

Astrid placed a slender white finger on her delicate and plump lips, her silver-white hair swaying slightly as she leaned forward, her voice becoming a little more seductive.

"...do you like me?"

The woman’s words were spoken one by one, the corners of her lips curving into a charming smile.

Even in the illusion, Lyra’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat, and she became more determined in her original thoughts.

The Princess Astrid in front of her was a virtual image created based on her long-term interactions, so whether it was her appearance, expression, or those insignificant body movements, as long as she knew them, they were exactly the same as the real Astrid Calliste.

This kind of verbal teasing and the personality of secretly being good to others were basically all replicas of Astrid.

"Yes," Lyra nodded without denying it.

"I have already fallen in love with Princess Astrid."

Perhaps only in the illusion could she be so straightforward in conveying this long-accumulated feeling in her heart that she had long wanted to tell the other party.

Hearing this, Astrid’s beautiful eyes were slightly stunned, her face as cold as ever.

Seeing this, Lyra pursed her lips and said no more.

So in her heart, Princess Astrid would still have this expression when she heard a confession?

After a few seconds, Astrid burst into laughter, her voice a little more crisp.

"The kind of liking I’m talking about is different from Miss Lyra’s."

After saying that, she added a goodbye, held the handle, and quickly closed the cell door.

Smelling the lingering fragrance in the air, Lyra stood there in silence for a long time, and finally sat down on the haystack, thinking about what she should do next.

This illusion has not shown any signs of being broken so far, and it is still unclear how long it will last.

Perhaps she really has to spend three years in prison here, or complete a one-year military service.

Compared to the former, Lyra actually prefers the second option. The reason she didn’t agree immediately was that Astrid had once taught her not to make a rash decision on a whim, but to leave herself some time to think, of course, not to be too indecisive, as that would affect normal judgment.

Although it was an illusion, Lyra didn’t know if she would be considered a failure in drawing the sword if she really died, and whether everything before would become useless.

But once such an opportunity is missed, it may be difficult to have it again in the future.

She wanted to put herself in the shoes of the soldiers and think about their needs, and also wanted to use this opportunity to experiment and see how to change the logic of the army’s bottom layer that considers slaughter and plunder as normal.

"..."

Speaking of which, if the sword wanted her to make a decision, why didn’t it seal her memory from the beginning...

Thinking of this, Lyra rubbed the smooth sword body, her back gently leaning against the wall.

It’s really puzzling.

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