Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 159: Longing for Livia and Hate for Astrid

"Princess Astrid will be fine, Miss Lyra can rest assured."

Looking at Lyra, who was standing in front of her with her head lowered and gently clutching the hem of her skirt, Elise offered an answer that would slightly ease the other's worries.

"Is that so..." Lyra murmured thoughtfully after hearing this, pursing her lips and not pressing Elise for further explanation.

She believed that given the head maid's loyalty to Astrid, if anything were to happen, Elise would undoubtedly be more concerned than herself.

It's good that nothing's wrong.

Noticing Lyra's visible relief, Elise maintained her composure. "I'll go prepare dinner for Her Highness. Please wait here for a moment, Miss Lyra."

Elise thought to herself that as the most dazzling jewel of the Valeria Empire, the princess's charm was naturally beyond question.

She hadn't expected that even Miss Lyra, who had once clashed with Astrid, would now show such concern for her.

Or perhaps, with an added layer of special relationship, the two had indeed grown closer than before.

"Alright, I understand," Lyra replied.

Unaware of Elise's misunderstanding, Lyra nodded, watching as the maid left the corridor. She adjusted her white knee-high stockings and continued to wait outside Astrid's chamber.

An hour later, Elise returned to the palace with a tray of food. Although it was ostensibly prepared for Princess Astrid, it was actually a cover to discreetly provide the meal to Lyra, using the excuse that a personal maid needed to serve her mistress.

Sitting at the table and picking up her fork, Lyra ate gently, glancing at the empty bed. The black velvet covers spread over the soft single bed, with lace and gauze decorations adorning the pillows. The lavender cornflower patterns added a touch of mystery to the room.

The bed's decorations were no different from yesterday, except for the absence of the person who usually lay there for a nap.

After staring for a while, Lyra turned her gaze to the plate of grilled meat, her eyelashes fluttering as her blue eyes grew distant.

Is Her Highness eating on time...?

Meanwhile, in the dark castle of the royal palace, Amalia also received her dinner. Looking at the dishes that perfectly matched her taste, the golden-haired girl gripped her knife, her elbows pressing firmly against the table.

It hadn't been just a day or two; it seemed like ages since she had last eaten something she disliked. The only one who could achieve this was Livia, or rather, Astrid.

Amalia had never paid attention to these small details before, but now that the other was gone, she noticed the subtle changes in her daily life.

Taking a bite of beef stewed with potatoes, the rich sauce paired with tender beef and the slight sweetness from the berries created a delightful flavor that blossomed on her tongue.

As Amalia chewed the beef, she suddenly recalled the time when Astrid had accused her of disrespecting her elder sister and punished her by forbidding her from having dinner for a month. Back then, she had to make do with the leftovers from lunch to fill her stomach.

Astrid had been haughty and aggressive, especially towards her, the illegitimate daughter who was easy to control.

The sound of the knife clinking against the plate brought Amalia back to the present. She lowered her gaze, her heart trembling slightly.

She remembered Livia once telling her that children needed to eat well to grow.

So, Livia had prepared many snacks for her, like tarts with sweet jam, soft and delicious black forest cake, and salty dried meat.

There were also those cooking methods called hotpot and barbecue, perfect for late-night meals.

Amalia looked down, taking small bites, her eyes lingering on the grape juice on the table.

Infused with Livia's magic, the small bottle of grape juice was slightly chilled, not only tasting excellent but also preserving its freshness for a long time.

Livia had mentioned that her affinity for ice magic was high, allowing her to cast ice spells more effectively than mages of the same level, with less mental strain.

Amalia picked up one of the glass bottles, feeling the coolness in her hand. The pale purple liquid flowed slowly between her fingers.

It was Astrid who had once deprived her of dinner, and now it was Astrid who urged her to eat well.

Why... had things turned out this way...?

What exactly are you trying to do?

Removing the cork, Amalia took a sip of the grape juice. The sweet and sour taste was refreshing, and as she drank, she suddenly felt a few drops slide down her throat, choking her. She bent over, clutching her collarbone and coughing violently.

It wasn't until her throat burned with pain that the unbearable itch slowly subsided. However, the choking incident had significantly diminished her appetite.

After hastily eating a few bites, Amalia handed the remaining food to Auri. The golden-haired girl lay on her bed, her blue eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

Will Livia come tonight?

Or was this afternoon... their last meeting...?

Hugging her pillow tightly, Amalia's heart was in turmoil, filled with bitterness and pain, mixed with a hint of undeniable reluctance.

They hadn't even properly said goodbye, hadn't bid each other farewell.

On one hand, there was Astrid, whom she despised; on the other, there was Livia, who had been like a guiding light to her. These two conflicting identities clashed in Amalia's mind, quickly giving rise to even more complex emotions.

Livia had deceived her, but the warmth she had given her never faded. Even knowing Livia's true identity, Amalia still longed to be close to her.

What if... what if Astrid hadn't lied, and she had genuinely approached her out of affection?

Livia was Livia, and her care for her was the purest form of love.

Realizing she was spiraling into wild thoughts again, Amalia's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Perhaps Hibbort was right, she was indeed the child of a lowly woman. Even after being deceived so thoroughly, she still couldn't help but yearn to get closer, like a moth drawn to a flame, knowing full well it would burn.

Sitting up, Amalia walked to the desk and opened the book Livia had lent her. She extended her pink tongue, lightly licking her dry lips, and continued reading from where she had left off.

Though her mind was elsewhere, she managed to stumble through the text. At least while reading, Amalia could temporarily forget about Astrid and Livia.

A drowning person always tries to lift their head above water, even if only to catch a faint breath of air.

Time passed slowly. By the time it was nearly ten o'clock, Amalia glanced at the clock.

Following her usual routine, she went to the bathroom to shower. When she emerged in her nightgown, her golden hair still damp, the clock's hands were between ten and eleven.

Standing at the doorway for a moment, Amalia belatedly realized she shouldn't be lingering there. She gently grasped the door handle, her index and middle fingers aligned.

With just a slight push, she could close the door, leaving her with a private space to rest alone.

Hearing the faint ticking of the clock, Amalia turned to look at the desk. The flickering flame in the oil lamp seemed to momentarily captivate her, making her forget to exert any force.

Her fingers slowly slid off the handle, leaving the door ajar. Amalia returned to the desk, picked up the book, and flipped back to the page she had been reading.

Livia would usually arrive at the castle between 10:45 and 10:50 PM, that was the pattern she had deduced.

The soft yellow light illuminated the parchment in front of the girl, casting slender shadows from her delicate fingers.

Amalia stared at the page, her eyes moving from one line to the next, occasionally jumping back to re-read a previous line.

Tonight, the castle seemed eerily quiet, with only the occasional faint sound of wind from outside breaking the silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Amalia glanced at the clock again. It was already 11:10 PM, well past the time Livia usually arrived.

She hadn't heard the familiar footsteps.

Amalia fiddled with the corner of the page, her chin resting on her hand, her gaze unfocused on the book.

"If you want, I'll always be by your side."

Livia's voice echoed in Amalia's mind, each word striking her heart like a hammer.

Liar... you promised you'd always be with me...

Her fingers wrinkled the page slightly as Amalia pressed her knees together, her slender legs tightly intertwined. Her toes, delicate as ivory, curled tightly within her sandals.

If only she hadn't asked that question last night... would things have turned out differently?

Livia would still be Livia, her beloved elder sister, who would gently hug her every day and give her a tender goodnight kiss.

Why did she have to chase after that so-called truth?

Her hatred for Astrid, her longing for Livia, her regret for shattering the dream, and her insatiable curiosity, all these emotions exploded in Amalia's heart like fireworks.

Standing up, Amalia saw the paints and brushes Livia had given her, the magic notebook labeled with Lyra's name, the stacks of books, Auri's special food bowl, and the grand lord she had played with countless times by the bed.

Before Livia came, this room had been empty. Now, everywhere she looked, there were traces of Livia.

Was this Astrid's way of punishing her?

From now on, no one would stay up late with her to eat, tell her stories to help her sleep, or patiently teach her magic like Livia had. No one would give her the hugs and kisses that affirmed her identity.

It was all gone.

If sleeping alone last night had drained most of Amalia's energy, tonight's silence felt like the final straw that broke her emotional resilience, plunging her into an endless low.

Opening the drawer, she saw the necklace made of gemstones that held countless memories, lying quietly at the bottom of the desk.

Astrid had destroyed that dress, but Livia had sewn it back and given it to her.

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"In getting to know you, I've come to love your paintings, and I've come to love you. I want to be a true elder sister to you."

If your intentions were as pure as you claimed, where are you now?

Feeling something soft brush against her leg, Amalia looked down to see Auri sitting beside her. She gently reached out and picked up the orange cat.

"Meow..."

Auri let out a low purr, her round eyes fixed on the doorway.

Amalia stroked the cat's fur for a while, her heavy heart easing slightly.

It's only the first day without Livia... that's why I'm feeling so lost...

Habit will take over, and time will heal everything.

Continuing to pet the cat and comfort herself, Amalia waited until the clock struck twelve. She then left the room and, upon entering the corridor, noticed the light was on in the adjacent room.

"..."

Her heart sank, and her breathing grew shallow. Amalia pressed herself against the doorframe, her shadow merging with the darkness.

Could Livia still be here...?