Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 191: Removing Clothes?

Returning to her bedroom, Astrid noticed a teal nightgown placed on the desk chair, along with a set of clean undergarments. Judging by the size, they weren’t hers.

Ever since the last time Astrid had Lyra change clothes in her chambers but hadn’t prepared the right size, forcing the girl to wear a freshly washed maid’s dress, the ever-efficient head maid had quickly prepared Charlotte’s clothing sizes in the wardrobe for any future overnight stays.

In addition to the Countess, Elise had also prepared clothes for others based on their measurements, such as the second daughter of the Minister of Finance, Lydia, or Miss Lina Velmont, who was on good terms with Lyra.

Once again marveling at Elise’s thoughtfulness, Astrid took off her shoes and saw Charlotte lying on her side by the bed, her dark hair cascading naturally down her back.

Looks like she’ll have to help her wash up...

Softly chanting a light magic spell, Astrid reached under Charlotte’s legs with one hand and gently supported her shoulders with the other, lifting her into her arms.

A sweet, rich fragrance wafted over, as if deliberately trying to invade her nostrils.

Holding her breath, Astrid forced herself to ignore the alluring scent and the softness under her hands. Bending her knees slightly, she pushed open the bathroom door.

Looking at the thin, elegant dress that clung to Charlotte’s figure, Astrid hesitated over whether to simply help her bathe when Charlotte murmured softly.

"I’ll do it myself..."

Charlotte had already woken up when Astrid was holding her, but her mind was still foggy, and she didn’t feel like moving.

Now, having a junior help her change clothes and wash her body was something Charlotte, as an adult, found quite embarrassing.

Hearing the person in her arms speak, Astrid hesitated for a moment before saying, "Can Lady Charlotte manage on her own...?"

Upon hearing this, Charlotte opened her hazy eyes, her red lips parting slightly as she exhaled softly through her delicate nose.

"...I’m not a child."

She wasn’t that delicate, unlike the nobles in the palace who couldn’t maintain a normal life without their maids.

Feeling the warm, sweet breath against her neck, mixed with Charlotte’s subtle perfume and a hint of intoxicating wine, Astrid spoke after a few seconds.

"I’ll be right outside. Just call if you need anything, Lady Charlotte."

With that, Astrid gently helped Charlotte into the bathtub. Noticing how the thin gauze on Charlotte’s side had become slightly transparent from the light sweat, she added softly, "Do you need help taking off your clothes?"

Hearing the girl’s cool voice, Charlotte’s thoughts cleared for a moment. She recalled the night of her birthday, when Astrid had unconsciously shown a hint of shyness upon learning they would be sharing a bed.

Thinking that Astrid might be even more embarrassed than she was, Charlotte’s faint sense of shame suddenly dissipated. She pursed her lips and relaxed her arms against the edge of the bathtub.

"Alright," Charlotte said.

After speaking, Astrid looked at the black-haired beauty before her, her long legs together, her smooth arms resting on the edge of the tub, her figure nearly perfect. For a moment, Astrid didn’t move.

Perhaps it was because she had also had some wine, but Astrid felt her ears growing warm. Her gaze fell on Charlotte’s slightly flushed cheeks, affected by the alcohol, and then down to her smooth, unblemished swan neck, free of any fabric.

Back at the castle, she had done the same for Amalia, even more intimately, not just removing clothes, but sharing the same bathtub, bathing and dressing together.

At that time, Astrid had been able to remain calm, but now she felt uneasy.

Waiting any longer would only make her emotional oddity more apparent. Astrid reached out and gently grasped the sash at Charlotte’s waist, her fingers deftly undoing the knot before moving to the back.

Feeling Astrid’s hands at her waist, accidentally brushing against her body curves, Charlotte’s body trembled slightly. She slowly turned, exposing the other sash that held her dress in place.

It was a bow tied with a thin string, beneath which was a body-hugging lavender silk fabric.

Astrid’s fingertips loosened the tight knot, pinching one end and pulling it out. In the next moment, the dress’s fastenings were completely undone, and it could now be removed.

Astrid placed her hands on Charlotte’s arms and gently slid the dress off, her gaze catching a glimpse of dark lace patterns and the crisscrossed straps of the undergarment at the waist.

Since the evening gown was backless, Charlotte’s undergarment naturally didn’t cover her back.

When Astrid noticed the waist straps, she immediately realized it wasn’t what she had initially thought.

Feeling a slight relief in her heart, Astrid set the dress aside and looked at Charlotte, now only in her undergarments. Her heart was still racing.

Back when she had done this with Amalia, she hadn’t felt anything.

Was it the alcohol?

Astrid’s eyes didn’t wander elsewhere. Suppressing the faint sense of oddity in her heart, she placed her fingers on the last layer of Charlotte’s clothing.

The scent of wine seemed to act as a catalyst for the night, and an indescribable ambiguous atmosphere began to spread in the bathroom.

Astrid unhooked the straps with a slow, deliberate motion, and the bra slipped away, freeing the soft weight of full, mature breasts.

The fabric slid down, no longer clinging, and the generous curves swayed gently in response.

Her eyes lingered on them, drawn to the natural heaviness, the subtle bounce, before a flicker of guilt made her hand retreat.

When she finally spoke, her voice trembled, almost imperceptibly, betraying the heat beneath her calm.

"Lady Charlotte, the rest... you can do it yourself..."

The pleasant female voice echoed in the bathroom. After a few seconds, Charlotte responded softly, "Mm."

With just that one word, both of them, for some reason, felt a simultaneous relief.

Feeling a few strands of hair sticking to the corner of her mouth, Charlotte closed her eyes, calming the growing sense of shame that had accompanied Astrid’s actions.

She had initially just wanted to tease the shy girl, but when Astrid had helped her remove the evening gown, leaving only two thin undergarments, the cool air against her skin, combined with Astrid’s gaze, made Charlotte feel somewhat unsettled.

If Astrid had really helped her remove the last two pieces, Charlotte wouldn’t have known how to face her junior.

Luckily, she had nearly said something after taking one out, but it was Astrid who hesitated first.

Under the influence of alcohol, Charlotte wasn’t as composed as usual, and she even felt a slight delight at Astrid’s earlier shyness.

Compared to a mature woman like her, little Astrid was still a bit young.

Sliding down her panty, Charlotte bent her legs and completely removed her remaining garments.

She then dispersed a bit of her mental energy, activating the water and fire elemental crystals beneath the bathtub.

Even drunk, an Arcanist level mage specializing in magic arrays could easily control such low-level crystals.

The mental energy transformed into magic flowed smoothly through the array, ensuring there was no risk of scalding herself.

As the hot water gradually covered her body, Charlotte raised her hand to touch her skin, her feet lifting slightly, creating ripples.

Meanwhile, Astrid, who had left the bathroom, stood at the door. Hearing the sound of running water inside, she silently cast a Clear Mind spell on herself.

Half an hour later, after Charlotte had finished her bath, Astrid helped her to bed, gave her a cup of hot tea, and then took her own clothes to the bathroom.

The bathtub had been drained, but the refreshing scent still lingered. Seeing Charlotte’s change of clothes placed to the side, Astrid removed her long dress and stockings, sitting gently in the bathtub.

It must have been the alcohol.

In her previous life, Astrid had never been in a relationship. Sometimes she wondered if she might be lesbian, but even with the same sex, she hadn’t felt any so-called primal urges.

Many of her friends had even joked that she was a true asexual.

The feeling she had just experienced was a first for her. While helping Charlotte remove her dress, she had felt a certain restlessness, which had spread to her cheeks and limbs.

As an adult, even if she hadn’t experienced it herself, she had heard enough to know what it meant. She might not be as straight as she thought, especially since it was Charlotte who had made her realize this.

Although they weren’t related by blood, Charlotte was like an older sister or aunt to her, a gentle elder. If she had any thoughts about her, it felt... wrong.

Fortunately, it was just the alcohol... her body had become more sensitive because of it...

Finding a reason to dispel the guilt in her heart, Astrid pressed the button to activate the crystals.

Inhaling the lingering scent in the bathroom, she found her most comfortable temperature and began to carefully wash herself.

When Astrid finished her bath and came out, Charlotte seemed to have already fallen asleep.

Looking at the woman’s long lashes, Astrid was about to place the perfume back on the bedside table when her lowered gaze met Charlotte’s slightly drunken tea-colored eyes.

"Lady Charlotte, aren’t you sleeping yet?"

"I’ll sleep after little Astrid gets into bed..."

The lazy, mature voice carried a low, alluring tone.

Hearing this, Astrid smiled slightly, reaching out to wrap her arm around Charlotte’s waist. She placed the perfume bottle behind Charlotte, not directly touching her back but leaving a small gap.

Reassuring herself that she wasn’t overthinking, Astrid spoke softly.

"Lady Charlotte, after you finish your academic guidance at the Velmora Knight Academy, won’t you be staying here for a while?"

Charlotte hummed softly in response, her cherry lips parting slightly.

"What’s the matter... does little Astrid miss me?"

Astrid nodded and replied, "I miss you a lot, Sister."

In the entire capital, there were only a few people she could truly relax around.

Compared to the still immature Lyra, the ever-needing-care Amalia, and Elowen Velmont, with whom she had business dealings, it was the head maid and Charlotte who made Astrid feel the most cared for.

"I’m glad Lady Charlotte came back on time," Astrid said.

Hearing the girl she had always doted on say such words, Charlotte felt a warm sensation in her heart.

"I also wanted to come back early to see little Astrid..."

Originally, after the teaching guidance, there were still the ball and dinner, which would have extended the trip by two or three days.

But Charlotte, eager to return, had left Ostwyckeg City as soon as she received her magic staff.

Noticing that the scent of perfume on Charlotte had faded after the bath, Astrid spoke slowly.

"I didn’t expect the birthday gift I gave Lady Charlotte to still have some left..."

Perfume was a consumable item. She knew the amount she had given would only last two to three months at most.

Yet, when Charlotte had attended the banquet tonight, Astrid had still caught a whiff of that familiar scent.

Hearing this, Charlotte chuckled softly, her watery eyes fixed on Astrid.

"Since it was a gift from little Astrid, of course I had to cherish it..."

But even if she cherished it, consumables were still consumables. After using it for so long, it should have been almost gone, which was why Astrid wanted to give Charlotte another bottle.

Not seeing the emotional change she had hoped for in those crimson eyes, Charlotte gently hugged Astrid, their chests pressed together.

"Besides... I don’t usually use it..."

The woman’s voice grew lower with each word, the final note carrying an unconscious allure.

"I only wear it when I’m meeting little Astrid."

Just as she had expected, a faint glimmer appeared in Astrid’s eyes, like stars scattered across the sea.

"Only when you meet me?" the silver-haired girl murmured, the moonlight falling gently on her delicate face.

Charlotte gazed at the girl’s exquisitely beautiful features under the moonlight and couldn’t help but reach out, cupping Astrid’s cheek. "Mm, because little Astrid is the most important person to me..."

With her close friend Fanya lost in the abyss, her daughter had become Charlotte’s most important emotional anchor.

When Hibbort had taken Astrid to the palace, Charlotte hadn’t firmly opposed it, ultimately leading to Astrid being influenced by the palace nobles and becoming the way she was.

This had always been a thorn in Charlotte’s heart. She had often wondered if things would have been different if she had insisted on keeping Astrid at the manor instead of letting her become the so-called third princess. This thought had often left Charlotte with a deep sense of guilt.

It was her, the elder, who had caused all this, not Astrid, whose worldview was still immature. It was her, busy with work, who had neglected the girl’s education and care.

Feeling the hand caressing her cheek, Astrid remained silent for a moment before replying softly.

"Lady Charlotte is also very important to me."

With that, Astrid pressed the perfume bottle against Charlotte’s back and slowly raised it.

Under the silvery light, the entire bottle of perfume took on a faint pink hue, different from the one Astrid had given Carlota before.

"This is..." Charlotte looked at the liquid in the bottle, her head slightly dizzy from the light.

Astrid replied gently, "It’s a new perfume I made, for Lady Charlotte."

Hearing this, Charlotte pinched Astrid’s cheek and said softly, "I think I’ve told you before, little Astrid? One bottle is enough for a birthday gift."

"Having too many makes it hard for me to cherish them..."

For some reason, Astrid sensed a hint of self-mockery in Charlotte’s tone, but soon, the woman continued.

"This isn’t a birthday gift, but a new perfume."

"People change, and one perfume can’t suit every stage of life."

Charlotte’s lips parted slightly as she said softly, "Little Astr means..."

Astrid’s next words were direct: "Lady Charlotte is more beautiful now than on your birthday, and more feminine."

"So, in this new perfume, I’ve toned down some of the elements that emphasize femininity, since Lady Charlotte doesn’t need any more of that."

Removing the perfume stopper, a rich peach scent mixed with sandalwood filled the air. Charlotte inhaled lightly, noticing a subtle woody aroma becoming more distinct.

If the previous bottle had gradually revealed the wearer’s allure, this one focused more on intellect and independence.

"It does smell nice."

Taking the perfume bottle, Charlotte suddenly thought of something and spoke with a rare sternness.

"Why does little Astrid always give me perfume? Do I really need it that much?"

Understanding the meaning behind Charlotte’s words, Astrid smiled and said softly.

"Hasn’t Lady Charlotte noticed? The perfumes I make for you are usually subtle, more of an enhancement."

"The wearer already has a scent that’s captivating, but the person making the perfume is a bit selfish, she doesn’t want others to smell the original fragrance, that’s all."

This could also be interpreted as Astrid not wanting her to get too close to others.

Suddenly being outmaneuvered by her junior, Charlotte’s neck turned slightly red, though the growing drunkenness masked it somewhat.

Little Astrid... is becoming more and more cheeky...