Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 146: New Product?

The next morning, Livia left the castle on time.

Amalia, who hadn't slept all night, sat on the edge of the bed, her tender white calves spread apart against the mattress.

Her smooth, round knees were directly illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, giving them a milky, delicate sheen.

She held a strand of golden hair in her hand, her emerald eyes slightly narrowed as she watched the hair gradually turn from golden to silver under the sunlight.

Although she had tried hard to convince herself that she might have simply forgotten that morning, the undeniable truth now lay before her.

Amalia let go of the strand of hair, her delicate white toes lightly gripping the bedsheet as she leaned halfway against the headboard.

Livia had indeed lied to her.

After a while, Amalia got up, washed, had breakfast, and sat down at her desk. She opened the magic book from last night and continued her studies.

As long as she didn't think about it, Livia would always be Livia, her dearest sister.

Meanwhile, Astrid returned to her chambers, took a comfortable hot bath, and drank some calming tea served by Lyra.

Just as she was about to rest, she noticed a small red dot on her pink-haired maid's finger, as if it had been pricked by a needle.

"What happened to your hand?" Astrid asked coldly.

Lyra's body trembled slightly, and she nearly dropped the teacup.

"I... accidentally hurt it..."

"Did you treat it?"

"Yes, it's a small wound. A bit of healing potion should take care of it."

Seeing that Lyra was indeed fine, Astrid looked away and continued.

"Tell me about the schedule Elise arranged."

Relieved that Astrid didn't press further about her wound, Lyra steadied the tray and spoke calmly.

"His Majesty heard that the newly released newspaper is in high demand and wants to know more about the sales details. Miss Elise hopes that after lunch, you can discuss this matter with His Majesty Hibbort."

"Miss Lydia, the second daughter of the Minister of Finance, has invited you to her residence for afternoon tea to discuss the clothing selection for the next issue of the newspaper. She seems very interested in the ongoing serialized story and hopes to meet the mysterious author through your connections, Princess Astrid."

Astrid had originally thought that the original Astrid wasn't well-connected enough to warrant the attention of the usually low-key daughter of the Minister of Finance. It turned out there was this layer of connection.

When the serialization first began, Astrid had disguised her identity, partly to conceal the fact that she was responsible for all sections of the newspaper, and partly to lessen the intense sense of shame she felt.

Apart from Elowen, Tristian, and other partners who knew the truth, as well as close maids like Lyra and Elise, no one knew that the creator of that domineering novel was the most favored princess of the empire, the third princess, Astrid.

In a way, Lydia was half a fan of hers.

Thinking of this second daughter, who was said to be well-liked by her parents, Astrid's mind involuntarily flashed to another person, Lydia's father, the Minister of Finance, Florence.

As the empire's Minister of Finance, Florence's relationship with the Velmont family had always been quite delicate.

As a subordinate of the emperor, he couldn't get too close to the four great dukes, but in many cases, as the person responsible for planning the empire's various expenditures, he also had to act as a buffer between Hibbort and the noble factions.

She wondered if she could use Lydia's connection to get close to Florence. Gaining the support of the empire's Minister of Finance would be crucial for Amalia's future ascension to the throne.

With her, the empire's princess, acting as a bridge, she could subtly connect Florence and the Velmont family without arousing unnecessary suspicion.

Thinking this far, Astrid couldn't help but shake her head, realizing she was becoming increasingly bold.

Even if Lydia was just interested in the story, even if the Minister of Finance found out, he wouldn't easily change his stance just because of his daughter's small hobby.

At least on the surface, Astrid represented the faction of the eldest prince, Lucas. Florence was loyal to the emperor, not the crown prince.

The struggle for the throne was something he would avoid if possible, to prevent getting involved in a thankless task that could easily lead to gossip.

Winning over Florence would require a long-term plan.

Seeing Princess Astrid deep in thought, Lyra wisely remained silent. After a few minutes, Astrid spoke again.

"What else?"

Lyra tightened her grip on the tray and said softly, "There's a dinner appointment with... Earl Tristian tonight..."

When mentioning Earl Tristian, Lyra's voice paused for half a second.

"He agreed?" Astrid's tone was somewhat surprised.

She had thought that Earl Tristian, being so busy, would take at least ten days to half a month to meet again after she had turned him down once.

It seemed the Velmont family also valued their deal with her, and it was quite considerate of Tristian to accommodate her for official matters.

Hearing the noticeable fluctuation in Astrid's usually calm voice when mentioning Earl Tristian, Lyra felt a faint bitterness in her heart and answered in a low tone.

"Yes, the location is also set. No. 42, Losa Road, West District, the Miles Restaurant. The meeting time is between six and eight, at your discretion."

"Then let's make it six," Astrid said.

Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.

Afternoon tea with Lydia wouldn't go past four-thirty. She could rest a bit and then go to the appointment, returning early to continue teaching Amalia magic.

Although Astrid thought this way, Lyra interpreted her response differently.

Earl Tristian had given a two-hour window for the meeting, meaning Astrid could have gone to the Miles Restaurant at seven, after digesting the afternoon tea.

Yet, she chose to go at six.

Did she want to spend more time with Earl Tristian? He had reserved such a long time for the meeting; even if she went at eight, they could still talk for over an hour.

Feeling increasingly sour, Lyra sniffed lightly, her fingertips burning, but she still responded softly to Astrid.

"Understood, Princess Astrid. I'll inform Miss Elise right away."

"Please rest early."

With that, watching Astrid close her eyes, Lyra turned and tiptoed out of the room in her small leather shoes.

In the hallway, the maids had finished their morning routines and were starting their day's work. Lyra handed the tray and storage basket to the life maids, her white-stockinged legs standing straight as she silently guarded outside Astrid's bedroom.

This task used to be Elise's, but now, with Elise constantly busy, Lyra was doing it more often.

...

As dusk approached, at No. 42, Losa Road, West District, the Miles Restaurant, Tristian sat on a plush seat, occasionally glancing at the clock on the wall.

Five fifty-two, eight minutes before his scheduled meeting with Astrid.

An excellent member of the Valeria royal family should have a good sense of time. Although Princess Astrid had been somewhat arrogant in the past, she was impeccable in noble etiquette.

Especially when meeting him, Astrid wouldn't be late. Tristian was quite confident about that.

The reason for choosing this place to discuss matters was partly because of the suitable environment, and partly because the Ceylon tea here had a soft, floral aroma that suited his taste, ranking among the best in the entire capital.

Taking a sip of the hot tea before him, Tristian placed his hand on the table, quietly savoring the flavor.

At five fifty-five, crisp footsteps sounded outside, followed by a rhythmic knock. Tristian said, "Come in," and the next second, a silver-haired beauty entered the room, led by a waiter.

Astrid was wearing a pure black ruffled dress today, without the usual headband. Her silver-white hair cascaded naturally, and the black gauze clung to her fair arms, accentuating her elegant and mysterious aura.

A decorative ribbon was tied near her waist, and below, a pair of thin black stockings encased her slender, well-proportioned legs. The diamond-studded high heels she wore highlighted her noble status.

Astrid walked gracefully, her crimson eyes glowing with a cold light in the dusk.

Tristian's eyes showed a hint of admiration, but it quickly disappeared.

Truly the gem of the Valeria Empire, Astrid was indeed a peerless beauty. Even Tristian had to admit that among the people he knew, this silver-haired princess and Lyra, whom he had met once at a banquet, were in a league of their own in terms of looks.

But after all that had happened, no matter how beautiful Astrid was, he had no interest in admiring her.

Thinking this, Tristian shifted his gaze to the bag Astrid was carrying and spoke slowly.

"Good evening, Princess Astrid. It's an honor to have dinner with you."

Astrid sat across the table and responded in a calm tone.

"Good evening. I had to postpone our meeting yesterday due to some matters. I hope you can forgive me."

"Princess Astrid, you're too kind. I also feel impolite for suddenly inviting you."

After some polite small talk, they finally got to the point. Tristian showed Astrid the sales report for the new newspaper and handed over her share of the profits.

"The dividends are all here. Princess Astrid can count them on the spot."

Hearing this, Astrid didn't open the bag Tristian handed her in front of him. In the early stages of the newspaper's creation, the Velmont family wouldn't care about such small sums, and Astrid didn't pay much attention to them either.

Profit was the foundation of cooperation, but trust was equally important. No one would overlook long-term development for short-term gains, especially when dealing with someone of such high status as the son of a duke.

"How's the perfume sales going?" Astrid asked.

"The initial market response has been good. Compared to other monotonous or inferior perfumes, the samples you provided, Princess Astrid, have a significant competitive edge."

At this, Tristian paused slightly before adding, "I heard from Professor Elowen that you plan to include soft promotions in the newspaper. When the next issue comes out next month, I believe a large number of customers will be attracted to purchase."

Tristian had also heard about the soft advertising. After learning the general approach, he immediately recognized it as a brilliant idea and was optimistic about its potential.

Hearing this, Astrid's lips curved slightly. Her black lace-gloved hands gently intertwined as she elegantly rested her chin on them, exuding a rational demeanor that made Tristian slightly stunned. He quickly composed himself, waiting for her next words.

She should have been a more irrational person...

"Lord Tristian, have you read the serialized novel?"

"The Overbearing Prince and His Runaway Bride's Peerless Pampering?"

Seeing Tristian say the title with a serious face, Astrid controlled her expression and nodded lightly.

"Then you might want to take a look at this."

Wondering why the topic had suddenly shifted from perfume to the novel, Tristian took the parchment Astrid handed him. Seeing that she didn't say anything more, he focused and began to read carefully.

The novel continued from the second chapter, with the domineering prince continuing to torment his wife, setting the stage for the later "chasing the wife to the crematorium" plot, while also introducing the prince's friend, the son of a minister, as the second male lead.

Compared to the domineering prince, this second male lead was gentle and polite, the epitome of a refined and amiable young nobleman.

Tristian carefully analyzed the plot, his gaze lingering on a particular passage.

"She smelled a fresh fragrance on the newcomer, like the evening breeze over the beach, the crimson sunset casting its afterglow, a faint mix of mint and sea salt lingering in the air."

If it were Lina, who hadn't been to many negotiation tables, she might have been immersed in the plot itself. But Tristian, having received elite education from a young age and being familiar with many marketing techniques, immediately saw Astrid's intention.

Her soft promotion wasn't hidden in other sections but was seamlessly integrated into the serialized novel, closely tied to the plot.

"Princess Astrid's ideas are indeed innovative," Tristian couldn't help but praise.

This method not only effectively avoided reader aversion but also subtly associated the product with the elegant and refined nobleman in the story.

With some additional promotional efforts, this perfume was bound to be a hit in the capital.

Astrid nodded but didn't take back the manuscript, continuing the conversation.

"So, Lord Tristian, what do you think will be the biggest challenge to our sales in the future?"

Hearing this, Tristian's expression became even more serious. After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Perfume is a luxury item. The audience for such products generally seeks exclusivity. If one type becomes widely used, it will inevitably affect its future sales."

No noble would want their perfume to frequently overlap with others', as it would give them a sense of cheap conformity.

Currently, the high-end perfume market was quite empty, and a single "Ocean Summer" wouldn't satisfy the empire's nobles, who always wanted to appear glamorous.

Astrid had fully understood this point when she made the deal with the Velmont family.

"So, Princess Astrid, do you have a new product?"

As soon as the man finished speaking, Astrid elegantly crossed her black-stockinged legs and took out a light pink glass bottle from her bag.

"Indeed."

(Image of Livia though not perfect but somewhat same.)