Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 82: A Father’s Concern (2)

However, since Astrid had raised the concern, he pursued it diligently.

While he found no evidence of poisoning, he did uncover some minor missteps Alistair had failed to conceal.

His second son was still too inexperienced, unable to even cover his tracks properly.

Clearly, he needed more time to mature and gain experience.

As for the true mastermind, Hibbort suspected his eldest son, Lucas Valeria.

Though unlikely, Lucas had one advantage over Alistair: he was closer to Astrid.

From a results-oriented perspective, Lucas was an indirect beneficiary, remaining unscathed and untraceable, so clean that even his father couldn't find fault.

"Father, you don't need to worry too much about this. After all, it's been a long time since the incident, and the new batch of maids I have now were personally selected by Lady Charlotte. Something like that won't happen again," Astrid said at the right moment, her tone calm and reassuring.

Hibbort stared at Astrid for a while, his blue eyes half-lidded, as if deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke slowly, "I'll keep looking into it..."

Then, shifting the topic, he asked, "You've been spending a lot of time with Countess Charlotte lately, haven't you?"

As someone in a position of power, Hibbort was naturally attuned to the political landscape.

"Yes, I've done many reckless things that have hurt Lady Charlotte..." Astrid repeated the words she had shared with Charlotte that night, her performance so sincere that even she felt convinced.

Hibbort listened intently, visibly surprised by her demeanor.

In the past, Astrid would never have let go of the issue of the poisoner so easily, nor would she have admitted her mistakes so frankly.

More often than not, she would have resorted to coquettish behavior to deflect blame.

Since adopting Astrid, Hibbort had been reluctant to scold his friend's daughter, let alone express anger toward her.

This had inadvertently fostered her arrogant and coquettish nature, which sometimes gave him headaches.

Hibbort was pleased to see this change in her, but then another thought crossed his mind.

"I've heard you've taken a liking to the eldest son of the Velmont family. Is that true?"

The eldest son of the Velmont family, Tristan, had been secretly admired by Astrid for a long time.

Given her past behavior, it would have been strange if Hibbort hadn't noticed.

Why was Hibbort bringing this up now? Was he planning to...?

Astrid met his gaze briefly, then responded softly, "I used to like him very much, but now... not so much."

She had only just completed the coming age ceremony, and according to Charlotte, she was now of marriageable age.

Hearing her response, Hibbort gently rubbed the ruby on his cane, his voice low and thoughtful. "...It's fine if you don't like him."

Originally, Hibbort had considered arranging a marriage between Astrid and Earl Tristian.

However, his intention wasn't driven by political motives.

Rather, as a father, he simply hoped his daughter would have a secure and bright future.

He knew his own health was declining, and the throne would eventually change hands.

Astrid, though a princess, bore no blood relation to the royal family.

Her beauty, renowned throughout the empire, could easily make her a target.

If she were to fall into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Marrying into the Velmont family would provide her with protection and allow her to continue living a life of comfort and security.

But it was clear that Astrid's feelings for Tristian were one-sided.

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Forcing a marriage would not only risk displeasing Duke Cedric, Byron's father, but also likely lead to an unhappy union.

Even if the marriage were to proceed, living with someone who didn't love her would only bring Astrid sorrow.

Of course, it was best if she could move on from her feelings.

"If you find someone you like, tell me in time. As long as the conditions are suitable, I will do everything in my power to support you," Hibbort said, his voice firm yet tender.

In his lifetime, he wanted to see Astrid happily married to someone who truly cared for her.

Astrid listened to Hibbort's words, her gaze lingering on the emperor's blond, slightly weathered hair.

Her emotions were a tangled mix of gratitude and melancholy.

This lion-hearted man, who ruled with strength and authority, treated the original Astrid as if she were his own daughter.

Even as he faced his own mortality, his thoughts were consumed with securing Astrid's future.

"Not for now, but I will tell you as soon as I do,"

Regarding her marriage, Astrid didn't dwell on it too much.

After all, she had only been in the World for a month and didn't have the extra time or energy to find a suitable partner.

Moreover, she lacked experience in building intimate relationships.

"Father, you don't need to worry about me. Perhaps one day in the future, I'll suddenly meet someone I truly like and who is worthy of sharing my life with."

As for when that might happen, it was all up to fate.

Given Astrid's current emotional state, it was highly unlikely that such a person would appear anytime soon.

After listening to Astrid's words, the man fell silent for a long time. It took three or four minutes before he finally spoke again.

"Emotional matters should indeed be carefully considered. It's always wise to think them through."

As the most precious jewel of the Valeria Empire, Hibbort sincerely hoped that Astrid's future partner would cherish her as much as he did, rather than using her as a pawn in political schemes or a tool to satisfy selfish desires.

Such a person would never be worthy of the pearl he held so dear.

"In addition, you should limit your interactions with both Princes in the future... Try to stay close to Countess Charlotte, the cornerstone of the Empire after the Four Dukes, and the one who cares for you the most."

Hibbort set aside his scepter and leaned back on the bench, crossing his legs.

His blue eyes reflected the soft glow of the bright red shard embedded in the top of his staff.

Astrid had heard similar advice from Lucas, but Hibbort's intentions were clearly different.

While Lucas wanted to use her connections to win over Charlotte, the Emperor, at the pinnacle of his power, had no such motives.

His concern was solely for Astrid, hoping that she would be cared for and protected by the countess in the future.

Listening to the man's low, steady voice, Astrid placed her hands on her knees and remained silent for a moment before pursing her lips.

"I know Lady Charlotte has always been very kind to me."

Having some knowledge of the future plot, Hibbort's words gave Astrid the impression that he was preparing her for what was to come.

According to the timeline, the man would likely live until Lyra graduated from the Elizabeth Academy of Magic and gained the ability to participate in Astrid's trial.

Although his life would not be long, it was estimated that he still had more than five years left.

It shouldn't be so early...

Astrid was lost in thought when Hibbort spoke again.

"I've heard from the servants that our dear Princess Astrid has been trying her hand at cooking this month?"

The sudden shift in topic caught Astrid off guard for a moment, but she quickly replied softly.

"It's just a small experiment. If you'd like to try it, Father, I can prepare something for you."

Hibbort, having lived for so long, had never heard of someone adding potion ingredients to a dish, let alone that it could taste good.

"Well, whenever you're free," Hibbort said with a smile.

Astrid's lips curled slightly. "If you want to try it, Father, I'm free anytime."

He had always treated her as his own, and cooking a few dishes for him was the least she could do.

The two sat on the bench with their backs to the fountain, basking in the sun as they chatted about the trivial matters of life like an ordinary father and daughter.

Gradually, Hibbort shed his imperial majesty, becoming gentle and kind.

It wasn't until around two o'clock in the afternoon that he noticed the passage of time and suggested Astrid return to her quarters for a nap and some rest.

"Very well, Father. Please remember to take care of your health as well and don't overwork yourself."

Leaving the back garden, Astrid summoned the two maids who had been waiting nearby for some time, and they walked together toward the dormitory.

Along the way, she gave instructions: Elise was to prepare all the ingredients and spices needed so Astrid could use them at any time, while Lyra, who had no immediate tasks, was to continue practicing the few elementary magic techniques she had recently learned.

Back in her private bedroom, Astrid sat at her desk, reflecting on her conversation with Emperor Hibbort.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingertips tapped lightly on the table.

In the original novel, Emperor Hibbort died due to the depletion of his life force caused by the Dark Wound's attack.

This condition was nearly irreversible, beyond the power of even several Arcanist level Mages, let alone someone like her to heal.

Although Astrid hoped, both out of moral friendship and practical interest, that Emperor Hibbort could live a few more years, objective facts wouldn't change based on her subjective will.

The most she could do was plan ahead to ensure that she or Amalia would have an absolute advantage in the impending struggle for the throne.

If possible, she would also do her best to help Emperor Hibbort have a relatively peaceful old age.

As she thought this, Astrid shifted slightly in her seat.

Her right leg crossed over her left knee.

During their conversation, Hibbort had specifically warned her to stay away from the both Princes, clearly intending for her to remain neutral and avoid the power struggle over the throne.

But now, sitting alone and revisiting the tone and demeanor of their talk, Astrid began to see a deeper layer of meaning.

Hibbort's eyes had been unusually serious when he spoke, and his tone was low, almost as if he had foreseen what might happen after his death.

Later in their chat, he had casually asked her if she was doing well, a question that now seemed to carry more weight.

At the time, Astrid had replied that she was fine, but now, more than half a month had passed since she accidentally ingested the seafood powder.

Hibbort's question couldn't have been about her allergy.

The only recent injury she had suffered was during the incident in the underground dungeon, where she had been wounded in the neck and arm by a sharp weapon.

Aside from Charlotte and her two maids, the only others who knew about this were the servants in the Countess' manor and a few of Lucas's men.

Thinking this through... there was only one possibility...

Hibbort must have known about what happened at Jones Farm.

It was unclear how much he knew, but for various reasons, he had chosen not to address it openly.

This also aligned with Emperor Hibbort's actions in the novel when the Lucas incident came to light.

The man at the pinnacle of imperial power had imprisoned his own son in the imperial capital for an entire year and had nearly stripped him of his status as a prince.

Looking back, it probably wasn't just because he was angered by Lucas's brutal and cold-blooded behavior.

Rather, it was because Lucas's mishandling of the situation had led to disastrous consequences, directly damaging the reputation of the Valeria Empire and causing significant financial losses.

All of this combined had made Hibbort deeply disappointed in his heir.

The reason Hibbort didn't want her to have more contact with both princes was likely due to their personalities and how they might treat this imperial princess once she no longer had his protection in the future.

....