Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 217: Minister of Finance Could Notice Issue

In the control room, Elandor Ferras gazed at the control panel constructed from magic circles.

He gently channeled his mental energy, allowing the converted mana to flow along the engraved patterns to the corresponding wind attribute crystal stones.

Upon receiving the relevant commands, the wind attribute crystal group at the six o’clock position of the airship released wind elements.

The surging jet of air blew open the protective metal flaps, providing immense forward thrust to the entire vessel.

Since the airship required a significant amount of power, Charlotte had not made the magic circles overly complex.

For instance, controlling the wind output of a single crystal was not a concern. Instead, she only needed to consider how many fully charged wind crystals needed to be activated at once to propel the airship forward against air resistance.

Based on this, the method of controlling speed became quite simple: merely reduce or increase the number of activated crystals in the corresponding direction.

In the dining room, as soon as Charlotte finished speaking, almost everyone turned their gaze toward the transparent window beside them.

The airship had somehow already arrived above the capital city. From inside the cabin, the entire Capital could be seen spread out below.

Lydia saw the glazed tiles shimmering in the sunlight, the metal spires atop the palace gleaming brilliantly.

Aside from the exquisitely decorated royal palace, the most striking features were the grand library of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic and the streets radiating outward from the academy, spreading like a massive spider web.

So this is what the capital looks like... it’s so beautiful...

Lydia had never seen the Capital from the sky before, nor had she imagined it would be such a breathtaking sight.

Seeing the obvious excitement on his daughter’s face, Minster of Finance Florence placed his hands on his knees and thoughtfully glanced at Tristian Velmont, who was seated not far away.

Although Florence was indeed astonished by the novelty of the magic-powered airship, his focus was different from that of the younger generation.

He was more concerned with whether such a transport vehicle could create greater value beyond serving as a sightseeing tool for nobles.

For example, using it to transport goods or directly deploying it in warfare.

Hibbort’s expectations for magic-powered machinery had always leaned toward the latter, though due to various reasons, he had not yet revealed this.

He wondered if the young Earl Tristian, as the son of the Duke Cedric and the future head of the Velmont family, had realized the potential value of the airship.

"Here you go, this is red wine from the Polis region..."

Florence’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a servant. He saw a maid carrying a tray, placing a goblet filled with crimson liquid on the table.

"Miss Lydia is underage, so Her Highness Astrid specially instructed us to prepare grape juice for her. Please enjoy."

Watching the maid leave, Florence did not immediately reach for the wine glass.

Through the transparent glass, he noticed the liquid inside was exceptionally calm, without even the slightest ripple.

Even the most luxurious carriage was unsuitable for drinking wine, as it was a consensus among the nobility of the Valeria Empire.

No one could predict whether the rolling wheels might hit a bump, causing the carriage to jolt and spill the precious wine onto equally valuable clothing, maximizing the loss.

Lifting the stem of the glass, Florence watched the wine sway with the motion and took a small sip, his gaze fixed on the window the entire time.

This magic-powered airship... is unexpectedly smooth...

From the emperor’s words, it seemed that Princess Astrid had played more than just the roles of raw material supplier and ambassador in this endeavor. She was also the true originator of this idea.

Putting down the glass, Florence quickly thought of another matter, feeling a surge of doubt.

On one hand, Lucas was trying to gain more political support from the Duke Cassian. On the other, Princess Astrid, who had once been very close to the crown prince, was actively courting reformist nobles who did not get along with the Duke Cassian.

What exactly were they up to...

Unbeknownst to them, the airship had arrived above the central Elizabeth Academy of Magic in the capital.

Charlotte enveloped the airship with her mental energy, ensuring that none of the crystals had malfunctioned, her crimson lips parting slightly.

"If anyone wishes to take in more of the scenery below, you may now head to the deck above." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"However, it’s windy outside, so it’s best to wear a few extra layers."

It was deep winter, and the cold wind from the northwestern plateau of the empire felt like knives on the skin.

Coupled with their altitude of nearly two kilometers, anyone not dressed warmly would surely catch a cold.

Most of the guests exchanged glances and then rose from their seats, leaving the dining room.

Only a few, preferring the warmth indoors, chose to observe the outside through the cabin windows.

Seeing this, Charlotte did not insist. She instructed the maids to refill the wine glasses promptly and then led the group of nobles to the deck.

Seizing this opportunity, Astrid stood up and left the dining room with the head maid, heading to the room where Amalia and Lyra were.

After comforting the former with a few words, she went out again to check for any potential issues.

Once Charlotte had finished entertaining the guests, they returned together to the relatively private lounge.

"Lady Charlotte, how is Professor Elandor doing?"

"Everything’s normal. The wind speed is within controllable limits. We just need to adjust the direction slightly."

"Then it all depends on whether we can maintain stability during the circumnavigation of the imperial city."

"Indeed, so I’ll keep a close eye on the airship’s condition."

Before the test flight, Astrid’s biggest concern had been environmental factors.

The northwest wind common in the capital during winter could easily affect the airship’s trajectory. So far, Elandor’s piloting skills had proven to be quite impressive.

After exchanging a few more words, Charlotte sat down beside Astrid, crossing her long, slender legs.

The thin, transparent stockings added a smooth sheen to her already fair skin, glowing enchantingly under the light.

Sensing that Charlotte was noticeably more relaxed than before, Astrid took the other woman’s hand and gently placed it on her own leg, speaking in a soft voice.

"I’ve also checked everything just now. I didn’t find anything unusual."

It seemed that Hibbort’s presence on the airship had indeed served as a deterrent.

Otherwise, those old nobles who opposed the development of magic devices would surely have made a move.

Charlotte nodded upon hearing this, her toes lightly hooking her high heels, revealing the smooth, delicate skin of her feet wrapped in silk.

"Gregor Rhodes is the Minister of Internal Affairs selected by His Majesty from the Council of State. He is loyal only to the royal family. No matter how much prejudice he holds against magic-devices, he would not continue to oppose it once the emperor has made his stance clear."

In the Valeria Empire, the power of the Minister of Internal Affairs derived from the emperor.

Everything they did had to follow the emperor’s will. They were merely the emperor’s eyes, ears, and limbs, extensions of the royal family, executors of the emperor’s commands.

They could offer opinions but could never influence Hibbort’s decisions.

Hearing this, Astrid curved her lips and spoke softly.

"Indeed. After this test flight, His Majesty’s attitude should become even clearer."

The airship would take only a few minutes to traverse the entire imperial city. Anyone with a discerning eye could see the potential value of this aerial behemoth.

"However..." Suddenly thinking of something, a trace of worry appeared in the woman’s beautiful eyes.

"Little Astr, you’ve done so much this time. Won’t it look bad in the eyes of the crown prince?"

Florence could see the issue, and Charlotte naturally noticed it too.

She had previously brought this up with Astrid, but the latter had not given her a clear answer, only saying that she would negotiate with Lucasl when the time came.

"Lady Charlotte, there’s no need to worry too much about this. As long as Livia remains hidden, everything will be fine," Astrid replied.

"After all, there are only two apparent heirs to the empire. Although I am nominally the emperor’s daughter and the empire’s third princess, I have not been given the Valeria surname properly, nor do I carry royal blood in my veins. Competing for the throne against the princes with direct lineage is impossible."

"Lucas knows this, so he will only speculate in two directions: either I’ve done something foolish again, or I’ve struck some deal with the second prince. Given that I chose to conceal his evidence in the land degradation case last time, from Lucas’s perspective, the former is the most likely possibility."

He had always hoped that I would get closer to Countess Charlotte, but now, without realizing it, I’ve gotten too close, almost overdoing it.

Hearing Astrid mention her, Amalia looked up, her gaze meeting the former’s. Astrid reached out with her other hand and gently ruffled the dark-haired girl’s head.

"An... Amalia, do you know why I’m doing this?"

After listening to their conversation for so long, Astrid wanted to hear the thoughts of this future emperor.

Amalia remained silent for a moment before her pink lips parted.

"The emperor wishes to see the continued development of magic-devices, so he will tolerate all of your actions. By doing this, you not only gain convenience but also win his favor."

"In the matter of imperial succession, the attitudes of the dukes are important but not crucial. Compared to other minor nobles, their decisions carry significant weight, but compared to the emperor, their opinions seem almost negligible."

"Having the emperor’s support means having the support of the Council of State and the four ministers. You can explain to Lucas that you are currying the emperor’s favor to pave the way for your future, ensuring that you can continue to accumulate strength under this protective umbrella. Before you truly possess the political power to compete with the princes, Lucas is the best candidate to attract Alistair’s hatred."

Amalia could clearly see that, compared to the two princes, her advantages were minimal.

Only by letting them fight to the death could she have the best chance of ascending the throne.

Muddying the waters would only benefit them.

After hearing Amalia’s words, Astrid smiled with satisfaction and poked the girl’s cheek.

"My little princess is very clever~"

Compared to half a year ago when she had just left the castle, Amalia had become much wiser, and her demeanor no longer seemed as gloomy.

When silent, Amalia looked like a sweet, adorable little girl, akin to a cream cake. But whenever the topic turned to politics, whether it was a psychological effect or not, this original tyrant always gave Astrid a faint sense of an imposing aura.

"But there’s one thing Amalia might not know..." Astrid spoke slowly.

"Among the empire’s four dukes, aside from the Duke Velmont who remains neutral, the Duke Cassian and the Duke Thomas have aligned themselves with the crown prince and the second prince, respectively."

"The remaining Duke Charles is closely linked to the royal family. He is responsible for guarding the borders and ensuring the empire’s territorial integrity. At the same time, his army is also the emperor’s blade, which can be taken over by the imperial scepter when necessary. As long as we secure His Majesty’s support, Duke Charles will also side with us."

To ensure that no internal turmoil would occur after succession, this army had to be under their control.

Amalia nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, leaning closer to Astrid.

"I understand."

Thinking about it this way... sister is practically handing the throne to me...

After a brief exchange in the lounge, the airship entered its final phase: circumnavigating the Capital. At this point, it would be somewhat impolite for Charlotte not to make an appearance.

The group headed to the deck together, where nobles dressed in various colors were gathered in small groups, chatting softly. Some leaned against the railings, admiring the beautiful scenery below the airship.

The wind attribute crystals once again released a large jet of air, but this time it was not from the six o’clock position. Instead, the metal flaps at the one o’clock position were blown open, emitting low rumbling sounds.

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