Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 190: Gift

Feeling the warmth and softness from the palm of her hand, Astrid felt a momentary illusion, as if she were pressing against a warm pudding through a layer of silk.

Her gaze drifted downward, noticing the slight deformation of the snowy white skin between her fingers due to the pressure. Only then did Astrid’s ears flush with heat as she realized what she was doing.

Though they were both women, this kind of touch still felt too intimate, especially since the other party was a renowned beauty.

The alluring charm she exuded while drunk had even momentarily swayed Astrid, who was usually indifferent to such desires.

But it was just a fleeting moment.

Quickly calming her slightly accelerated heartbeat, Astrid spoke softly.

"...Lady Charlotte?"

Hearing the clear female voice, Charlotte’s drunkenness didn’t lessen; in fact, it seemed to deepen. Her tea-colored eyes shimmered, quietly reflecting Astrid’s face.

There was a time when Astrid was just a small figure, trailing behind Fanya like a child inseparable from her mother. Now, she had grown so much, and blossomed into such beauty.

Gently placing Astrid’s hand over her chest, Charlotte closed her eyes and, before the alcohol fully took over, channeled a trace of her mental energy.

Sensing the pressure from Charlotte’s hand, Astrid didn’t resist, allowing the woman to guide her until her extended finger touched a hard object.

It was the brooch on Charlotte’s evening gown, a sky-blue gemstone nestled within a metal frame.

In the next moment, as Charlotte continued to channel her mental energy, the gemstone gradually began to glow, and the surrounding space rippled.

A brilliant flash of white light later, Astrid found a slender wooden staff in her hand.

"Little Astr... I saw this staff during my trip to Ostwycke City that would suit you perfectly..."

Her voice, normally soft, had grown huskier with the alcohol, slow and seductive, as though touched by the darkness drifting in through the window.

"The staff is made entirely of frostwood... engraved with magical runes to aid the flow of mental energy, and the tip is embedded with an ice-attribute crystal from a high-level magical beast, the Frostbird..."

After a pause, Charlotte’s moist red lips parted slightly, her words coming out more clearly.

"...Since you’ll be enrolling at the Elizabeth Academy next year, as a mage, you can’t be without a staff."

Knowing Astrid had the highest affinity for ice elements, Charlotte had meticulously selected this staff, which had an innate advantage in casting ice magic.

Astrid looked at the slender staff in her hand, quickly sensing a faint chill spreading through the air. This coldness didn’t just come from the material but mostly from the crystal at its tip.

To prevent Charlotte’s exposed skin from getting cold from the frostwood, Astrid quickly moved the staff away.

The woman noticed the sudden disappearance of the cold sensation on her chest, along with the warm, soft hand that had gently withdrawn, causing her eyelashes to flutter unconsciously.

"Thank you, Lady Charlotte," Astrid said.

Charlotte pursed her lips and spoke softly, "Little Astr, didn’t I tell you before? You don’t need to be so formal with me."

Hearing this, Astrid nodded and adjusted her words with a smile.

"My tongue is clumsy. What I really wanted to say was..."

"I really like this gift."

Even though Charlotte was thousands of miles away in Ostwycke City, she still thought of Astrid in the capital. Just this thought alone was enough to move her.

Charlotte smiled warmly, her tone carrying a hint of a woman’s coquettishness.

"Still saying your tongue is clumsy? Among the people I know, Little Astr has the sweetest tongue."

If the former third princess had always been able to sting Charlotte with her sharp words, the current Astrid was like a warm little quilt, completely understanding her thoughts and knowing exactly how to make her happy. It was almost cunning, unlike her usual self.

Astrid’s eyes softened, and she reached out to hug Charlotte’s back, gently helping her sit up. Then, she handed the warm tea from the bedside table to Charlotte.

"Lady Charlotte, have some warm tea to rehydrate first."

Charlotte obediently leaned down and took a few sips.

The tea prepared by Lyra was just the right temperature, not too hot, sliding down her throat and into her stomach, bringing a faint, comfortable warmth.

After finishing the cup of tea, Astrid let Charlotte rest against the bed for a while as she went out to ask Lyra to prepare another cup and to have a brief chat with Amalia.

"Alright, you go."

Charlotte sat sideways on the bed, casually stretching her long legs over the edge. Her fair, delicate skin glowed like creamy milk under the moonlight.

Seeing Charlotte’s bare, tender feet resting on the carpet, Astrid brought over slippers for her to wear and neatly placed the silver high heels aside before slowly leaving the bedroom.

"I’ll be back soon."

Closing the door, Astrid saw Lyra standing guard in the hallway and said softly, "Could you prepare two more cups of warm tea?"

Lyra nodded and left. Astrid then walked to Amalia’s bedroom door, hesitated for a few seconds, and knocked.

"Livia, are you asleep?"

After a moment, the girl’s voice came from inside.

"Not yet... Did you need something, Sister?"

Hearing Amalia’s response, Astrid pushed the door open and entered the room.

Amalia sat on the bed with her hands by her sides, while the orange cat, Auri, obediently buried her head in her food bowl, munching away.

Noticing that the dark-haired girl had one leg wrapped in a white knee-high stocking while the other was bare, and a rolled-up stocking on the bedsheet that had likely just been taken off, Astrid spoke softly.

"Are you about to take a bath?"

Amalia nodded, her eyes carrying a hint of complexity.

"Yes, I was just about to."

Seeing Astrid’s concern when she helped Charlotte after the banquet, Amalia guessed that the Countess Charlotte, who exuded mature feminine charm, would likely be staying overnight at the palace, and most likely sharing a bed with Astrid.

A sour feeling welled up in her chest, and a strong sense of possessiveness surged uncontrollably.

Astrid’s bed was a double, and it could even fit three people, but firstly, Amalia wouldn’t sleep in the same bed with a stranger, and secondly, Astrid probably wouldn’t want her to force her way in.

Countess Charlotte had just returned to the capital after a week, and the two surely had much to talk about. Plus, the former was drunk and needed Astrid’s care more than Amalia did.

Looking at Amalia, whose eyes flickered with uncertainty, Astrid naturally knew what her little sister, who had been by her side day and night, was thinking. She gently walked forward, preparing to sit beside her.

Seeing this, Amalia quickly moved the white stocking she had just taken off to the side, making room for Astrid.

"Tonight... I might not be able to sleep with you..."

Though strictly speaking, Astrid wasn’t obligated to sleep with Amalia every night, her tone now was incredibly gentle, more like a request or discussion than a mere statement.

Amalia bit her tongue almost imperceptibly, the surge of reluctance flowing through her veins to her limbs.

After a while, the dark-haired girl spoke in a calm tone.

"Alright, I understand."

In fact, she had already guessed as much.

Hearing Amalia’s unnaturally calm voice, Astrid took her hand and spoke softly.

"Amalia..."

"I’m here."

Turning her head to look at Astrid, Amalia controlled her emotions and spoke slowly.

"Sister, are you worried that I won’t be able to sleep alone?"

"Or... that I’ll be unhappy..."

Amalia’s brief remarks hit the two points Astrid was most concerned about. She looked down at the petite girl beside her and spoke warmly.

"I was considering that... so..."

Ever since she had brought Amalia out of the castle, the latter would sneak into her room every night, insisting on sleeping together until Lyra came in the next morning.

Suddenly not being able to share a bed, Astrid worried that Amalia wouldn’t adjust well and feared that her actions might leave the girl feeling deeply disappointed.

Like a child transitioning to sleeping alone, it needed to be a gradual process. Amalia was sensitive by nature and had endured years of neglect, so Astrid felt she should give her more time and care.

As for independence and self-reliance, there would be plenty of time to teach her later. After all, Amalia couldn’t cling to her forever, especially if she were to become empress.

"So..." Before Astrid could continue, Amalia took over.

"Sister, you don’t need to worry so much about me."

It’s necessary to care for me this much; if only I were the only one around Sister.

Suppressing the selfish thoughts clamoring in her mind, Amalia spoke softly.

"Countess Charlotte is drunk and needs Sister’s care more than I do. For just one night, it’s fine."

Amalia knew better than anyone that Astrid treated her so well not out of any sense of obligation but simply out of love.

If it weren’t for that, Astrid wouldn’t have done so much for her just because of the blood they shared.

Having lacked affection since childhood, Amalia was even more careful with her emotions. Sister’s love should be cherished, not squandered through tantrums.

If she behaved well, Sister would surely like her more.

Hearing Amalia’s words, Astrid fell silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the clear eyes that should have been emerald green.

Amalia... was much more mature than she had imagined...

Yet precisely because of this, Astrid felt even more heartache for this poor princess who had been abandoned by her parents since childhood.

"Are you really okay?"

"Yes, really."

Amalia leaned her head against Astrid’s arm, nuzzling like a small animal.

"Just remember me, Sister. It’d be even better if you could think of me more before bed."

Even if she wanted to monopolize Astrid, tonight wasn’t the right time.

To reassure Astrid completely, Amalia tilted her head slightly, brushing aside a strand of silver hair that had fallen over her forehead, and planted a gentle kiss.

"Rest well, Sister~"

"Goodnight, see you tomorrow."

After the brief goodnight kiss, Astrid noticed that despite Amalia’s words of "see you tomorrow," her body still showed subtle reluctance.

Leaning down, Astrid returned the goodnight kiss in the same manner. Amalia’s eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she whispered.

"Today, I want one more kiss."

With that, Amalia poked her pink lips, her arms tightening around Astrid, her gaze full of anticipation.

It felt as if she wasn’t asking for a kiss on the forehead but on her cherry-like lips.

Astrid leaned down and gave Amalia an extra goodnight kiss, then gently ruffled her smooth hair, her voice exceptionally tender.

"Now you’ve had your kiss. I hope you’ll have sweet dreams tonight."

"You too, Sister."

After one last glance at Amalia, who was bending her knee to remove the other knee-high stocking, Astrid reached out, grabbed the sock, and helped her take it off.

"Well... goodnight."

As the door closed, the familiar sound of high heels gradually faded away. Amalia sat on the bed with her knees hugged, her eyes gazing wistfully in the direction Astrid had left.

There was one thing Amalia knew deep down: Astrid was aware of how much she loved her.

Her words wouldn’t completely reassure Astrid; instead, the latter would feel even more compelled to be good to her because of her maturity.

Livia, or rather the current Astrid, was such a gentle and kind person.

And she was an irredeemable, despicable seeker of love.

Give her some more time, and she would try to be less selfish.