Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 164: Feeling Terrible

Facing her aunt's enthusiastic invitation, Astrid naturally smiled and agreed.

"Then I'll trouble you, Lady Charlotte."

Compared to staying overnight in the palace, Astrid actually preferred staying in the suburbs, especially in this private manor far from the capital.

Not only was the environment beautiful, but the owner was also gentle and intellectual, making her feel relaxed when interacting with her.

Perhaps this body inherently carried a sense of closeness to Charlotte, or maybe it was her personality, but Astrid really enjoyed communicating with this countess sister.

When she was with her, she didn't have to worry about the palace's internal intrigues or think too much about the uncertain future. She could just lie in bed, smell the familiar fragrance, and fall asleep.

"It's no trouble at all. I'm thrilled that Little Astr is willing to stay."

After saying this, Charlotte stood up, smoothing out the slightly wrinkled skirt from crossing her legs, and spoke softly.

"I'll go change my clothes, and then we'll head to the dining hall."

Hearing the crisp footsteps, Astrid watched Charlotte go to the adjacent dressing room.

When the woman reappeared, the previous dark purple silk dress had been replaced by a beautifully crafted black court dress, simple yet elegant.

Taking the woman's outstretched hand, Astrid gently clasped it and said in a clear voice.

"Let's go, my dear Lady Charlotte."

Hearing this, Charlotte instinctively narrowed her eyes and glanced at Astrid a few more times.

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"I suddenly remembered, the author of that love novel serialized in the Empire Monthly seems to be Little Astr..."

"Where did you learn all this?"

Not long ago, she had heard that Astrid had been getting along well with the second daughter of the Minister of Finance, Lydia, who had openly stated that Princess Astrid was the most interesting person she had ever met.

If Astrid's identity wasn't that of a princess but a prince, with her current personality and eloquence, she would probably win the hearts of many girls.

Thinking this, Charlotte felt a bit jealous but also a sense of relief. Compared to a haughty noble lady like Seri, the quiet and well-behaved Laurie was clearly a better match for Astrid.

Astrid smiled slightly upon hearing this: "I learned it all from books."

Strictly speaking, this wasn't a lie. Her inspiration for writing stories indeed came from the web novels of her past life.

Charlotte didn't ask further, just bent down to help Astrid tuck a strand of silver hair behind her ear and adjusted the ruby pendant on her chest.

After dinner, Astrid accompanied Charlotte for a stroll in the garden. They chatted about Astrid's childhood, occasionally shifting to recent noble gossip in the capital and some key points in magic studies.

Astrid's understanding of magic mostly came from the annotations of English incantations, while Charlotte was an Arcanist level mage who had climbed step by step. Her insights were of great importance to Astrid, who was still a beginner at best.

"Lady Charlotte, I remember that students entering the Elizabeth Academy of Magic can bring a personal servant," Astrid said.

These people were ostensibly personal servants but were more like study companions for the rich young ladies and gentlemen. They were responsible for taking notes, preparing materials for magic experiments, and taking care of their masters' daily needs.

Charlotte nodded, confirming Astrid's statement.

"That's right, every enrolled student has a companion slot."

However, these companions were not listed on the Elizabeth Academy of Magic's student roster, didn't receive specialized instruction from professors, didn't participate in graduation exams, and couldn't obtain the academy's official credentials.

This was why many untalented noble children would rather wait for years to get in through connections than enter as companions.

On one hand, as upper-class individuals, they couldn't bear the shame of entering the academy as a servant.

On the other hand, without the important credentials, they couldn't be considered graduates of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, which would significantly diminish their future prospects.

"So, Little Astr, are you planning to have Elise accompany you?"

Charlotte had heard Astrid's plan before. Next spring, she and a maid named Lyra would take the entrance exam to enter the Elizabeth Academy of Magic.

"Yes," Astrid softly replied.

"That's the idea for now."

Walking along the garden path, the crisp sound of high heels echoed continuously. The girl's pure black lace-trimmed dress swayed in the wind, revealing a glimpse of dark stockings.

After a while, Astrid said: "Lady Charlotte, let's go back and rest."

After nearly an hour of walking, the food should have settled.

"You have to head to the Velmora Knight Academy early tomorrow morning, so get some rest and recharge," Astrid added.

Charlotte nodded slightly and said softly.

"Alright, I'll listen to Little Astr."

After saying this, the woman secretly sighed in her heart. Astrid had really grown up, becoming more and more considerate.

Returning to the attic, Charlotte had the servants hand Astrid the prepared change of clothes. Holding her nightgown, Charlotte softly asked.

"Little Astr, do you want to take a bath together?"

Astrid sat on the edge of the bed, looking up to reply: "Lady Charlotte, you go first."

Although the original Astrid often bathed with Charlotte as a child, back then she was just a child without much sense of shame. Now that she was an adult, it was naturally embarrassing to bathe with an elder.

Charlotte didn't think much of it and went straight into the bathroom.

Hearing the sound of running water, Astrid suddenly recalled a certain golden-haired girl in the castle.

Amalia was already fourteen years old, barely out of the category of a child, but the latter showed no hint of the shame typical of a rebellious teenage girl.

Hugs, kisses, even bathing together in the same tub, Amalia's every action seemed to be proactive.

Livia had only taken one step towards her, but Amalia had responded with a passion several times stronger than her sister's.

After half an hour, Charlotte emerged from the bathroom, her body still steaming. Astrid, holding her clothes, greeted her and then entered the bathroom.

The bathroom was warm and humid, still carrying the mature and alluring scent of the woman. Astrid stood in front of the mirror, removing her clothes, and activated the elemental crystal with her mental energy.

Feeling the warm water flow over her skin, Astrid reached behind her neck, gently parting her long hair, letting the silver strands fall naturally down her back.

Usually, at this time, Amalia would also be heading to take a bath.

......

In the Capital, within the royal castle, a petite golden-haired girl held a towel, gently drying herself before changing into a pure white nightgown.

Leaving the bathroom, the corridor was silent. The dim light in the lantern swayed back and forth, and the wind blowing into the castle stirred her hair, causing her freshly washed legs to itch slightly.

Amalia entered her bedroom, leaving the door open, and went straight to the desk, opening a book.

At ten-thirty, Livia would be arriving soon.

Staring at the magic incantations marked in yellow and black on the page, Amalia frowned, trying to focus and read word by word.

Tonight, there was no moon, and only a few stars dotted the sky.

Her fingertips rested on the smooth parchment, the light from the oil lamp casting long shadows on the paper. Amalia read for half a minute, then glanced at the clock, repeating this cycle until the hour hand struck eleven.

Her right eyelid had been twitching since she sat down. Amalia closed her eyes, listening to her surroundings. Apart from the faint sound of Auri's wooden box, everything was eerily quiet.

No footsteps... Has Livia not come again?

But there shouldn't be no sound at all...

A sense of unease flashed through her heart. Amalia forced herself to read two more lines of the incantation before standing up and walking to the door.

Livia's room was dark. The light from the corridor slightly dispelled the darkness at the entrance, illuminating a small patch of gray-brown floor tiles.

Seeing this, Amalia's heart suddenly trembled, a chilling cold filling her chest.

No one's here...

Her feet seemed rooted to the spot, her legs wanting to move but unable to. Amalia stared at the floor tiles for a long time before finally regaining control of her body and turning her gaze to the room.

The bedroom was dim, the faint starlight unable to illuminate the entire space. Amalia stepped inside, the slight chill creeping up her legs, gradually enveloping her entire body like the night.

Using a basic fire spell to light the wick, Amalia looked around by the faint light, realizing that besides her, the room was empty.

Livia isn't here.

A cold thought flashed through Amalia's mind. She took a deep breath, feeling the intense heartbeat in her chest, and slowly walked to the desk.

The quill Livia usually used for writing was in the pen holder, the ink bottle tightly sealed without a gap. The yellowed parchment was neatly stacked beside the pen holder.

Amalia reached out to touch the quill. The slender pen was cold to the touch, slightly cool between her fingers.

The silent corridor, the unlit room, the cold quill, everything reminded Amalia of a reality staring her in the face.

Livia hadn't come as expected today, marking the second time in months that she had disappeared.

Gripping the quill tightly, Amalia's lips moved slightly, vaguely guessing a possibility she didn't want to admit.

Livia... won't come anymore...

Sitting on the chair where Livia usually wrote, Amalia felt no warmth through the silk fabric. The wooden chair was as cold as her heart at that moment.

Her cold attitude last night had hurt Livia, so she didn't want to see her anymore.

Sitting in silence, Amalia instinctively pressed her legs together. The quill's tip tapped the desk, making a soft sound.

Livia was gone, and she would never appear before her again.

Wasn't this the outcome she wanted?

Her fingers clenched until they turned white, her heart so heavy it felt hard to breathe. Amalia lowered her gaze, swallowing slightly.

As time passed, she would gradually forget Livia, forget that there had once been a gentle sister who had illuminated her life at some point.

Her disappearance would only speed up the process of forgetting.

But... why did she feel so terrible?