Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 188: Astrid’s Thoughts on Magic and Magical Devices

After discussing the delicious food on the table for a while, Astrid raised her glass, her crimson eyes glinting slightly.

"To celebrate Lady Charlotte’s successful journey."

Charlotte smiled and raised her glass as well, clinking it gently against Astrid’s.

The sound of glass meeting glass rang out crisply, and both took a small sip. Astrid then steered the conversation back to the beginning.

"So, whose idea was it for the Velmora Knight Academy to do this?"

Charlotte scooped up some potatoes and replied calmly, "If you had to pin it on someone, it would be the academy’s headmaster."

That said, everyone knew that the real push to raise the admission standards didn’t come from any one individual but from the nobles of the empire, both great and small.

The Velmora Knight Academy primarily trained knights. In the Valeria Empire, the nobles’ control over knightly knowledge was far less stringent than their control over magic. Thus, even for commoners, becoming a knight wasn’t particularly difficult, at least not compared to becoming a mage, which was a world apart in terms of difficulty.

Of course, this didn’t mean that just anyone could become a knight. Learning magic required the innate ability to sense elemental particles, and becoming a knight also required a certain level of mental energy as a foundation. If mages were one in thousands, then knights were one in a hundred, equally rare and precious.

"I can understand the pressure he’s under..." Charlotte took another sip of red wine, her mood somewhat complicated.

"Though that’s not entirely accurate. Perhaps this is simply what he believes."

The vast majority of the empire’s nobles held similar attitudes, with very few genuinely seeking change.

Having grown up in luxurious environments, they were almost incapable of considering the plight of the common folk.

Only those like Charlotte and Fanya, who came from humble backgrounds, sought to use magical devices to improve the lives of the masses.

Even Astrid... Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure if the princess could truly understand her perspective...

Seeing Charlotte’s delicate face illuminated by the candlelight, Astrid blinked and spoke after a moment.

"So, the Velmora Knight Academy is much harder to get into than the Elizabeth Academy of Magic."

"Don’t they have other ways to admit students? For example, transitioning from a knight to a mage? After all, the process of honing one’s mental energy might reveal a latent talent for magic."

Charlotte nodded. "I did inquire about that. The academy does have a system for transitioning between roles, but even if a student enters through the knight track, it’s still difficult for them to access magic."

Charlotte had even taken the time to visit the library at the Velmora Knight Academy. The materials on magic learning were scarce and riddled with gaps, making it nearly impossible to understand unless the reader was at least a middle stage apprentice or higher.

Thinking about it, the magical devices she researched faced similar challenges. Beyond the technical hurdles, the conservative attitudes of certain nobles also posed significant obstacles.

These nobles feared that if magical devices were widely adopted, commoners might gain access to magic and the potential to surpass them.

The once-exalted status of mages would no longer be as revered, which was why they sought to constantly restrict the development of magical devices.

As she spoke, Charlotte couldn’t help but take another sip of wine. Astrid, looking through the glass, noticed the moist, delicate imprint of Charlotte’s lips on the rim. After a few seconds, she spoke.

"So, Lady Charlotte, what do you think?"

She remembered from the story that Charlotte had once pushed for a slower-paced reform in the Elizabeth Academy of Magic’s curriculum but had been thwarted by the old nobles.

Hearing Astrid’s question, Charlotte looked up, her light brown eyes reflecting the princess’s face.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke softly. "I hope they can lower the admission threshold, allowing anyone who can sense elemental particles in a meditative state to enter."

This would at least ensure that the rare few with magical talent among the knights wouldn’t be held back by their social status, giving them a chance to shine.

As she finished, Charlotte watched Astrid closely, her eyes betraying a hint of both anticipation and worry.

She was eager to know how Astrid would react to her words. Would she side with the conservative nobles like Lucas and Alistair, remain neutral, or align with Charlotte and Fanya’s vision?

Privately, Charlotte hoped that the princess she had watched grow up could at least somewhat understand her convictions.

"Little Astr."

"Yes? I’m here, Lady Charlotte."

"..."After adjusting her words, Charlotte spoke gently.

"What do you think of my idea?"

In helping Lyra re-enroll in the academy, Charlotte had seen a change in Astrid. But given the period of estrangement between them, Charlotte was also aware of how deeply Astrid had once been immersed in the hedonistic world of the nobles. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Hearing this, Astrid fluttered her lashes, the warm candlelight casting a sprinkling of light on her eyelashes.

"I think Lady Charlotte’s suggestion is excellent."

As soon as she finished, Astrid added, "The royal bloodline generally grants successors strong magical talent, and nobles often seek to marry those with powerful magic abilities to ensure their descendants have high elemental affinity."

This was why Charlotte’s suitors were always numerous. Beyond her status, her magical talent was a crucial factor for noble heirs seeking a partner.

A young Arcanist level mage like Charlotte had already proven her exceptional talent in magic, not to mention her striking beauty and figure, which had made her a renowned beauty across the empire.

"However, the empire is vast and populous. There are bound to be many talents buried beneath the sand and stones, much like my mother and Lady Charlotte."

"These individuals simply lack a stage to showcase their talents. To discard them would be a waste."

Hearing this, Charlotte’s tea-colored eyes brightened slightly, clearly surprised by Astrid’s words. Amalia, who had been silently observing, also stopped eating and turned her gaze to the silver-haired princess.

Noticing the surprise in Charlotte’s eyes, Astrid smiled and concluded, "Think about the magical devices Lady Charlotte has been promoting. Decades ago, who would have thought that bathwater could be heated by simply pressing a fire crystal at the bottom of the tub? Who could have imagined that fetching water wouldn’t require digging wells or finding rivers, but merely touching a water crystal no larger than the palm of one’s hand?"

"Magic is a discipline that benefits all of humanity. Restricting it only hinders everyone’s progress."

This was also the central theme she had heard her sister mention in the original novel, the story of a young knight named Lyra from a remote village who, through her own efforts, ultimately changed the entire empire.

After listening to Astrid’s words, Charlotte fell silent for a long time before finally speaking in a complex tone.

"Little Astr... do you really think that way...?"

Though it might sound a bit harsh, the princess’s open-mindedness truly surprised her.

"Yes." Astrid nodded, smiling gently.

"These past few days, I’ve heard Elise speak a lot about my mother."

"Everything I have was given to me by my parents, and they were once commoners, people I could see walking the streets of the eastern district, potential talents buried beneath the sand."

"As her daughter, I should inherit my mother’s ideals and make magic and magical devices that truly benefit everyone."

Astrid’s melodious voice echoed in the dining room, only to be contained by the silencing barrier Charlotte had cast, preventing it from spreading outside.

Looking across the table at Astrid, Charlotte was momentarily dazed by the princess’s crimson eyes, which shimmered in the candlelight, a trait inherited from Fanya.

She couldn’t help but recall the days they had spent together researching magical devices and the countless magic arrays etched into the crystals.

"If Fanya knew that Little Astr thought this way... she would be so proud of you..."

Charlotte drained the remaining liquid in her glass and waved her hand. In the next moment, Lyra approached with a wine bottle and refilled it.

"Thank you," Charlotte said.

Lyra shook her head. "It’s my honor to serve you, my lady."

She had been standing nearby, listening to the conversation between Astrid and Charlotte.

Though she didn’t fully understand it, Lyra could sense the princess’s attitude toward others.

Princess Astrid was truly different from all the other nobles she had met. She didn’t hesitate to give those with potential a chance to try.

Returning to the shadows, Lyra watched as Charlotte raised her glass to Astrid once more, and the princess smiled, lifting her own glass to meet it.

The crimson liquid swirled in the air before disappearing between two pairs of red lips.

Astrid noticed Charlotte’s slightly flushed cheeks, her fair skin tinged with a faint blush from the alcohol, and the delicate flush creeping up her neck.

If Charlotte before drinking was an elegant narcissus, then the countess after drinking was a blooming rose, exuding a mature and alluring charm that captivated without effort.

If they kept drinking like this, Charlotte would surely be drunk soon.

Astrid considered whether to remind her, but since Charlotte hadn’t cast a sobriety spell, she decided against it.

Seeing her so happy, it wouldn’t be a problem if she got drunk tonight. She could always take care of her.