Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 231: Miss Maid’s Last Day of Work

The warmth of spring began to seep into the Capital after a spring rain, and many noble ladies who loved beauty had already shed their heavy robes in favor of breathable gauze dresses.

The rhythmic clicking of their slender heels on the pavement echoed through the streets, making them look like blooming flowers.

Lyra walked into the post office with a letter she had written and a package the size of a chessboard. She found a line with fewer people and waited.

Tomorrow was the day of the entrance ceremony for the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, and many small and medium-sized nobles from other regions had arrived in the imperial capital the day before, making the usually less crowded streets around the academy bustling with activity.

Lyra saw carriages passing by outside the post office, their occupants coming and going like the tide.

Her thoughts drifted to the previous year when she had first arrived in this grand and magnificent imperial capital with her luggage, feeling like a country bumpkin who found everything new and exciting.

But upon reflection, it was indeed true. As a child from a village, she was the country bumpkin that the nobles of the imperial capital talked about, living in a poor and remote countryside.

Fortunately, she had met Miss Lina and Princess Astrid. At least Princess Astrid didn’t think that way and was willing to be friends with her.

Thinking of the princess who was currently taking a nap with her sister in the palace, Lyra unconsciously smiled and hummed a little tune from her hometown.

Tomorrow morning, the Elizabeth Academy of Magic would become even more lively, and she would enter the academy as a new student after the entrance ceremony.

Only by becoming strong enough to help Princess Astrid could she stand by her side openly. Learning magic was the quickest and most promising way to achieve this goal.

Lyra, you need to work harder than before!

"Hello, how may I help you?" the service lady asked gently when she saw the pink-haired girl with a dazed expression.

"Huh?" Lyra came to her senses and handed over her items.

"Ah... I want to send this letter and this package."

"Address and recipient?"

"The address is the village of Morin in the town of Kost. The recipient is Palfran Beckett."

The service lady found the small, remote village on the map and nodded.

"...Okay, that will be 25 silver coins. Please pay over there."

After paying, Lyra looked at the warm sunshine outside and turned into the bustling crowd.

Arriving at the palace, Lyra began to prepare for tonight’s dinner. As the last meal she would make as a maid for Princess Astrid, she had put a lot of effort into it.

She had started handling the ingredients a few hours ago and had already put the chicken into the pot to simmer.

Once everything was done and the food was kept warm in the pot with a fire attribute crystal, Lyra looked at her maid uniform.

She raised her hand and sniffed, detecting a faint smell of smoke. After hesitating, she decided to call Astrid for dinner after a quick shower.

Lyra quickly took a shower to wash off the smell of the kitchen and stood in front of the mirror in her undergarments.

Seeing her skin still damp, she pressed her lips together and glanced at the rows of maid uniforms in the wardrobe, her eyes finally settling on a small dress in the corner.

For this dinner, she had not only put effort into the ingredients but also into other aspects.

She reached out and felt the smooth silk fabric, carefully taking the dress out of the wardrobe. She held it up in front of the mirror and gently pressed it against her body.

She wanted to dress up a little before meeting Princess Astrid.

Half an hour later, in the palace dining hall, Astrid, who was chatting with Amalia, lifted her eyes at the sound of footsteps.

Under the light refracted by the crystal, a slightly blushing pink-haired girl walked towards her.

For this night, as a farewell to a special Chapter in her life, Lyra did not wear the maid uniform she usually wore. Instead, she had put on a backless dress.

The soft, thin fabric clung to her skin, outlining her slightly immature figure. A light white shawl covered her round and fragrant shoulders, reducing the exposure of her back and adding a touch of the purity and cuteness unique to a young girl.

Below, wheat-like tassels hung on both sides of Lyra’s chest, with gauze covering her breasts, revealing a small portion of her snow-white skin.

The hem of the dress did not reach her knees, exposing her slender and delicate legs covered by white stockings.

Even her shoes were carefully chosen, a pair of cute small high heels with silver satin and scattered diamonds.

The clever cut-out design revealed her smooth and delicate feet, gleaming like fragrant vanilla ice cream as she walked.

Lyra gently bit her lip, her left hand holding her right arm, and walked over shyly. Before she could speak, she heard Astrid’s soft voice.

"Lyra, you look especially beautiful tonight."

Even Astrid, who had been with her maid every day, had to admit that Lyra’s outfit was stunning.

Hearing Astrid’s praise, Lyra’s cheeks turned red. She glanced at the evening dress Astrid was wearing and the black stockings hidden under the table, and replied softly, "Princess Astrid... you look beautiful too."

Princess Astrid had changed her dress. It wasn’t the one she wore this morning.

Lyra’s gaze swept over Astrid’s slightly raised lips. She sat down across the table and placed her hands gently on her lap.

Was it because of this dinner that she had changed her dress?

Feeling the importance Astrid placed on her, Lyra felt a warmth in her heart. She turned to look at the other two guests for the night, Amalia and Elise.

Amalia was wearing a beautiful princess dress with opaque white leggings, while Elise had taken off her maid uniform and put on a shirt and a tight skirt that highlighted her mature figure as an older sister.

Not only Princess Astrid, but everyone had dressed up for her tonight.

Feeling a surge of emotion, Lyra pressed her lips together and whispered, "Then... let’s start dinner."

The tests for magic and combat skills would be left to the professors of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, but for her cooking skills, Lyra wanted to hear Astrid’s opinion.

As Lyra’s soft voice fell, the maids, who had already received Astrid’s instructions, poured juice and served the dishes one by one.

Roasted Chicken, herbal flavored pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, pepper steak, roasted eggplant and potatoes, and a pot of herbed chicken broth.

Astrid looked at the earthly dishes served by the maids and the silver cutlery in her hands, feeling a long-forgotten sense of strangeness.

For the past half year, she had been busy studying magic theory, writing novels, socializing with noble ladies, and helping Charlotte inspect the workshop to study the magic-powered airship. She had almost no time to cook.

She didn’t expect that Lyra had not only remembered this skill but had also done such a good job.

Astrid took a small piece of chicken with her fork, chewed it gently, and praised, "Lyra, your cooking skills are almost better than mine."

Lyra blushed and replied softly, "It’s not that good. It’s mainly because Princess Astrid taught me so well... I just practiced a lot and learned it."

Astrid had praised her.

If she had a tail like a puppy, Lyra would probably be wagging it uncontrollably.

"Miss Livia, how does it taste?"

"...It’s quite good."

"Miss Elise, did I make it too salty or too bland?"

"The flavor is just right. Miss Lyra, you put a lot of thought into it."

Hearing the similar opinions of the fourth princess and the head maid, Lyra happily took a sip of orange juice and said softly, "Then everyone, please enjoy the meal."

Although she was not leaving the imperial capital tomorrow, she was indeed leaving the palace that had accompanied her for a long time.

Lyra wanted to give this night a perfect ending.

Looking at Lyra’s shining eyes across the table, Astrid gave her a faint smile. Seeing this, Lyra’s blue eyes rippled slightly.

To make the girl happy, Astrid decided to eat more tonight, not worrying about maintaining her figure.

Noticing that the princess’s eating speed was faster than usual, Lyra’s smile grew wider.

If Princess Astrid liked her cooking, did that mean she might have a better chance of falling in love with her?

After some casual conversation, the dishes on the plates were almost finished. Lyra picked up her goblet and looked at Elise beside her. Her pink lips slightly parted, "Miss Elise... or perhaps I should call you Teacher Elise..."

"Thank you for your help and guidance this year, whether it was in maid work or combat skills."

From being thrown down by Elise with one move to now being able to fight with her for over a dozen moves with the same spiritual power, Lyra felt that her combat skills had significantly improved since she first arrived in the imperial capital. All of this was thanks to the head maid’s careful guidance.

"You are my teacher for life!"

Elise gently clinked her glass with Lyra’s and said calmly, "Lyra, you are the most diligent student I’ve ever met."

"Your hard work will be rewarded. Keep it up, Miss Lyra Beckett."

Hearing the woman’s words, not only did Lyra smile slightly, but Astrid, who was sitting quietly, also softened her gaze.

The maid who had been with her since childhood seemed to have become more human than before, no longer just a machine that blindly followed orders.

After a simple toast, Lyra finished her juice and poured herself another glass.

She turned to Amalia, the cold and dark-haired girl.

Although she seemed difficult to approach, her daily interactions and the painting in her room, which was exactly like the room’s decor, showed that she wasn’t that hard to get along with.

"Miss Livia... although you might not be happy to hear this..."

"But I always thought you were very cute and especially enthusiastic."

Lyra handed her glass to Amalia and whispered, "I’m very happy to have that painting, Livia."

Amalia fell silent for a few seconds, then picked up her glass and gently clinked it with Lyra’s.

"Why do you think I wouldn’t be happy to hear that I’m cute?" Being called cute wasn’t a big deal.

In fact, Amalia secretly wished she could be cuter so her sister would like her more.

"That was just my random thought," Lyra said softly.

After speaking, she heard Amalia whisper, "Keep it up."

As long as it wasn’t about taking her sister away, Amalia wasn’t stingy with encouragement.

"I will," Lyra said.

After finishing her juice, Lyra looked at the silver-haired princess across the table. Astrid didn’t have the cold aura she usually had.

The faint smile in her red eyes told Lyra that tonight, the ice mountain named Astrid Calliste had temporarily melted.

"Princess Astrid..."

Lyra’s voice grew softer. She put down her orange juice and picked up the goblet filled with red wine beside her.

"I’m very happy to be your personal maid, in every sense."

If it was the high monthly salary and the admission to the Elizabeth Academy of Magic that initially calmed her, it was Astrid’s kindness and trust that truly moved her.

Whether it was risking her life to investigate the farmland or giving the unemployed maids a generous settlement, Astrid showed a kindness and gentleness that was different from other nobles.

With the pride of a royal family and a love and care for the people at the bottom, she was special, the only Astrid Calliste.

"Thank you for taking care of me this year," Lyra said.

Perhaps without Princess Astrid, she would have entered the Elizabeth Academy of Magic as a student...

But looking at the results, Lyra actually wished that Astrid had swapped their positions back then, so she wouldn’t have met her and wouldn’t have felt the emotion called love in the story.

The sound of glasses clinking rang out. Looking at the wine shimmering in the light, Lyra took a sip, feeling a surge of emotions.

"Princess Astrid..."

The girl exhaled a breath of wine-scented air and whispered, "After dinner, can you do something with me?"

Astrid asked softly, "What is it?"

"...I want to dance with you," Lyra answered.

A dance for both of them, carrying the warmth of this gentle time.