Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 300: ’Lyra... Oh Lyra slow down your thoughts’

The hazy morning light filtered through the window onto the bed, and the floating dust danced gracefully in the bright beams. Lyra vaguely felt her eyelids glowing red and her body heating up from the light, so she opened her eyes and looked around.

Within her line of sight, light and darkness were cleverly divided by the window sill. In the distance was an unfamiliar desk with a bronze mirror, and the floor was covered with a tan-colored carpet.

As her mind gradually cleared, Lyra’s gaze shifted from far to near, taking in the enchanting scene before her.

The light reflected off the woman’s delicate collarbone, giving it a milky, warm hue. Looking up, she saw a smooth chin and soft pink lips, with a few strands of silver hair hanging by the ears, faintly shimmering with light.

Astrid Calliste... her crush was lying beside her at this moment...

Lyra’s blue eyes reflect the exquisitely beautiful face of the silver-haired princess. Unconsciously, her lips curved into a smile as she felt the soft and smooth sensation between her legs, her breathing soon slowed down.

The peaceful and comfortable atmosphere easily lulled one into drowsiness, even the destined heroine was no exception.

Moreover, at this very moment, the person sleeping beside her was a peerless beauty. Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to resist the allure of beauty, and being intoxicated by tender affections is only human nature.

The air was filled with a sweet fragrance, a mix of the other person’s natural scent and the gardenia scent from outside, carried into her nose by the morning breeze.

Lyra’s gaze swept over Astrid’s delicate nose, landing on her curved and slightly upside down eyelashes. The usually cold and clear red eyes were now hidden beneath the lashes, softening their sharpness and adding a touch of gentleness.

Her fingers twitched slightly, feeling the warmth like water filling her arms. Lyra stopped fidgeting, her eyelids fluttering a few times before closing again soon after.

There shouldn’t be anything else to do today... let’s sleep a little longer...

It’s rare to be this close to Astrid.

Although her eyes were closed, the image of that stunning face remained on her retina. Lyra’s lips curved like a crescent moon, not calming down for a long time.

When she woke up again, Astrid was no longer on the bed but sitting at the desk not far away.

The woman’s hands were behind her back, gently playing with her waist-length silver hair.

Her thin lips were slightly pursed, and her red eyes were half-closed, exuding a lazy and relaxed aura of someone who had just woken up. The white nightgown she wore last night was of a thin material, faintly revealing her alluring figure, adding an indescribable charm to the entire scene.

As if something had happened last night.

"Awake?"

Feeling a gaze on her, Astrid looked at the mirror and saw the pink-haired girl in the reflection opening her eyes, looking at her somewhat bewildered.

"Mm... what time is it?"

Lyra’s voice was soft, carrying a sweet, drowsy tone from just waking up.

Astrid changed at the clock on the wall and answered calmly.

"Seven twenty. There’s plenty of time for breakfast."

The inn’s breakfast service continued until nine in the morning. Even if they missed it, there were still some ready-to-eat foods like bread and dried meat.

"Rest a bit longer," Astrid said.

Last night, they had stayed up late together, and their physical exertion was more than usual. Plus, they hadn’t slept well the night before, so it was a good opportunity to relax.

Lyra responded with a soft hum, her hand unconsciously resting on the spot where Astrid had slept.

Whether it was because Astrid hadn’t been up for long and left some warmth, or because of the sunlight, Lyra felt the sheets under her palm slightly warm. The psychological comfort made even the sword mark on her fingernail glow.

To prevent Astrid from waiting too long and getting hungry, although she said she would rest a bit longer, Lyra only lay down for five more minutes before getting up to wash up. When she returned to the room, Astrid was already prepared to go out.

The woman’s nightgown had been replaced by a daily court dress, exquisite in design and intricate in decoration. Her long, delicate legs clad in black stockings were neatly crossed. Seeing Lyra approach, she spoke softly.

"I just asked the staff at the academy. The assessment has been confirmed to end early, but there are still two or three groups of students who haven’t returned, so we’ll have to wait at the inn a bit longer."

"As for the results of this assessment, the professors are discussing whether to cancel it outright or settle it based on the current scores."

As for the discussion results, Astrid didn’t care and wasn’t planning to ask specifically.

Her thoughts were now focused on experimenting with ancient languages and understanding the identity of that black-haired girl.

Hearing this, Lyra nodded slightly and sat gently on the edge of the bed. She took the white stockings from the washroom, neatly put them on her legs, and adjusted the toe positions.

"Okay, I understand."

Not just Astrid, but after experiencing so much, Lyra had also become indifferent to matters of grades.

Especially since they had slept together last night. Just recalling it makes Lyra’s heart beat faster.

If only it could be like this in the future.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t Princess Amalia... nor was she the lover Astrid will always keep in her heart...

Seeing this, Astrid nodded slightly and stopped fiddling with her brooch: "Let’s go have breakfast after you finish getting ready."

"It’s been a long time since I had a hot breakfast sitting on a chair."

.........

After careful consideration, the higher-ups of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic decided to settle the results of this assessment based on the current scores.

Although the scores Astrid and Lyra received were not among the best in this year’s freshmen, they were still ranked first within Class A, with an overall score of third place in the group. The top two spots were taken by Class S.

"Not bad."

Sitting in the carriage on the way back, Astrid, who could finally relax, was quite satisfied with this result.

Hearing this, Lyra nodded, expressing her agreement.

She was already very happy to have achieved this result.

Feeling the slight vibrations from the carriage seat, with the bright sunlight and green vegetation outside the window, Lyra looked back at the gradually receding town and suddenly remembered something else.

It took them over a day to get here from the capital. Taking the same route back, there was no reason it would be much faster.

This meant that before returning to Capital, they would have to stay at the temporary inn they had visited before, and they would only arrive in Capital tomorrow.

Did this mean... they would have to...

Sleep together again tonight.

Her gaze shifted to Astrid. The imperial princess had her legs crossed, arms folded, her signature red eyes looking out the window.

Recalling how last night, those clear eyes, as if filled with moonlight, were so close, and her freshly washed face, fair with a hint of pink, Lyra unnaturally turned her eyes away, pretending to continue looking at the scenery outside the carriage.

’Lyra, Lyra... as the book said...

Human greed is the hardest to control. Before this assessment, you never dared to easily fantasize about sharing a bed with Princess Astrid. How come now you can’t help but want to turn this occasional event into a frequent one?

After all, last night was only because of the ancient language matter that Princess Astrid actively invited her to stay overnight. In reality, their relationship probably hasn’t reached that level of closeness yet...

Right?’

Lyra pursed her lips, her two white-stockinged legs pressing tightly together.

No... not necessarily...

Since they are best friends, sleeping together isn’t something to be ashamed of. At least if both are girls, it’s quite normal in the Valeria Empire.

Astrid was relaxing, occasionally brushing aside a strand of silver hair that fell down, while Lyra was constantly hesitating and struggling over tonight’s matter.

Was there any reason that would allow her to rest openly with Princess Astrid? Tomorrow, back at the academy, with Princess Amalia around, they probably wouldn’t be able to share a bed like last night.

’Wait... Lyra...

What are you thinking now? Using the identity of a friend to take advantage of Princess Astrid?

But... if it’s about taking advantage, last night it was clear Princess Astrid who took the initiative...

Princess Astrid didn’t mind it, or perhaps she enjoyed teasing her this way, to some extent, it was consensual?

No, Princess Astrid had no idea what she was thinking, nor did she understand her desires and feelings.

In her eyes, she might just be an easy-to-tease child...

Or perhaps... a cute little puppy?’

The horse’s hooves and carriage wheels kicked up dust, and amid the creaking of the wood, Lyra peeked at Astrid out of the corner of her eye, thinking for a long time before speaking.

"Astrid..."

Hearing the girl’s voice, Astrid looked up at Lyra.

"What is it?"

Being stared at by those cold red eyes, Lyra felt her palms sweat. Thinking of what she was about to say, her shyness surged instantly.

"Um, that... the journey is long, so we’ll probably have to stay at the inn tonight..."

Just sleeping together, without doing anything inappropriate, all actions fit the definition of friends.

"Can we... study foreign languages together again?"

As she spoke, Lyra reached up and touched the pink hair by her ear, letting a few strands fall as a natural cover for the blush on her ears. Unbeknownst to her, this action, familiar to Astrid, expressed her shyness and nervousness.

Was studying ancient languages together really something to be so shy about? Astrid looked at Lyra’s lowered eyes, her lips curling slightly.

Both of them knew the underlying meaning of this statement, but since Lyra was the one to bring it up, as the active party, she naturally lost the upper hand. Facing an advantageous situation, Astrid never let it go easily.

"If it’s about foreign languages, we can study now," Astrid said.

With the silence enchantment in place, the carriage was no different from a room, and they had plenty of time to spare now.

Hearing this, Lyra fell silent for a moment, then raised her head to sneak a glance at Astrid, only to meet the woman’s slightly amused eyes.

"..."

"Studying now... might affect the carriage’s movement..."

The arrangement of elemental particles could affect other biological activities, and Lyra wasn’t wrong about that.

"True," Astrid raised her hand to touch her lips, her beautiful eyelashes fluttering like a brush.

"Then let’s do it tonight."

This answer was even more ambiguous than the previous one, as if Astrid really didn’t understand her meaning.

Hearing this, Lyra’s lips moved a few times, unsure of how to respond. Her foot lifted with the shoe heel, then gently fell back down.

After a while, the girl spoke again.

"Tonight... will it be like last night..."

Such a vague question could continue to be teased, but since it had come to this, Astrid decided not to play dumb anymore and instead intended to give her a little satisfaction.

After all, for a shy girl like Lyra, such an active statement was already quite surprising to Astrid.

"Of course, if you don’t mind the bed being too small," Astrid said.

At least in the two nights she had slept with Lyra, Astrid hadn’t found it uncomfortable. Lyra was soft, and holding her wasn’t inferior to Amalia.

Receiving a positive answer, Lyra’s eyes instantly brightened, like a little animal that had been satisfied. Astrid looked at the pink-haired girl, who had become happy because of her words, and felt a ripple in her heart.

Was it really that joyful just to sleep together?

"You seem quite happy to sleep with me?"

Astrid’s voice was soft, half curious and half teasing.

It felt like Lyra was exceedingly happy. In the original story, although the destined heroine valued friendship greatly, she hadn’t been this enthusiastic about any friend, even among the same gender.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Lyra hesitated for a few seconds before nodding.

"Yes..."

"I’ve always wanted to get closer to Astrid."

She wasn’t lying, but her reasons might be different from what Astrid thought.

Seeing Astrid lost in thought, Lyra was a bit worried she had revealed too much and spoke softly.

"And Astrid..."

"Would you... dislike this..."

Dislike lying so intimately together, with zero-distance physical contact.

Hearing this, Astrid looked at Lyra as if she were a fool, "If I disliked it, you would have been kicked off the bed long ago."

Although the determined heroine’s favor was important, Astrid hadn’t reached the point of forcing herself to satisfy the other party.

......

After another night, Astrid and Lyra arrived at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic in the afternoon of the second day. Elise had already arranged everything and came to greet them with Amalia.

"Miss, I’ve reserved a spot at the Wisteria Restaurant. Would you like to rest or go for a first meal?"

"Let’s have a first meal."

Upon receiving the order, the group headed to the Wisteria Restaurant. As soon as they entered the private room, Amalia, wearing a bubble dress and thin white stockings, hugged Astrid.

"Sister, I missed you."

"Good girl, I missed you too."

Feeling the little girl’s enthusiasm, Astrid gently patted her back, preparing to let go, but Amalia showed no intention of releasing her.

"I want to hug a bit longer," Amalia said.

Faced with her sister’s request, Astrid naturally wouldn’t refuse, letting her continue to hold on.

Sister’s scent... was still the one she was familiar with...

But perhaps because they had been in the same carriage earlier...

Why did it feel like there was another woman’s scent?

Thinking this, Amalia turned her head slightly, looking at Lyra, who was sitting obediently beside them, a hint of crisis quietly spreading in her heart.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by f(r)eew𝒆bn(o)vel.com