Beneath the moonlight, Lyra's heartbeat traveled honestly through fabric and skin to reach Astrid. Her sky-blue eyes, which had been drizzling slightly moments ago, still held traces of moisture, resembling a piece of clear, fragile glass.

After several minutes, Astrid heard Lyra call her name.

"Astrid."

"Hmm?"

"I want to hold you a little longer."

"...Alright. Hold on."

Hearing Astrid's reply, Lyra softly sniffled, her hands sliding down from Astrid's waist to interlock their fingers atop the bench's surface.

"Then… for another ten minutes no, fifteen minutes…" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Although she had shared a bed with Astrid every night until now, when it came to someone she truly loved, who would ever feel such intimate contact was excessive?

Especially tonight this was the first time Lyra Beckett was embracing Astrid as her lover. Naturally, she wanted to hold hands properly, to hug tightly.

Astrid curved her lips in a gentle smile. Her long, slender legs wrapped in sheer black stockings continued their quiet dance against Lyra's form as she leaned closer, whispering softly into the pink-haired girl's ear.

"Half an hour, or even longer it's fine. As long as you, Lyra, are willing."

"Embrace me however long you wish."

The cool evening breeze brushed past. The girl in her arms feels soft and sweet, like a delicious strawberry cake radiating an alluring fragrance. Just by holding each other closely, Astrid experiences an indescribable sense of peace and comfort.

Undeniably, she was cherishing every single moment spent with Lyra.

Is this what they call... love?

Just holding someone close could bring such heartfelt satisfaction.

Lyra's heart softened even further at Astrid's words, obediently pressing her face against Astrid's neck. Her light breath brushed against Astrid's skin, and the girl's natural scent grew increasingly noticeable in their closeness.

Although they called it an embrace, barely half a minute passed before Lyra gently pecked a kiss onto Astrid's smooth, long swan-like neck. She had hoped such a delicate gesture wouldn't be noticed. Yet the next moment, Astrid spoke.

"Lyra... really is just like a little puppy..."

So affectionate, and so fond of hugging and kissing.

"...I'm not!"

Lyra denied it with flushed cheeks, continuing to press Astrid down. The softness beneath their black and white dresses pressed tightly together, causing a sliver of smooth, delicate skin to peek out enticingly.

The next moment, Astrid's other night-sky-colored high heel quietly slipped off, landing with a soft "tap." The Sword of Light, already resting on the ground, reflected the ornate metal decorations on the shoe's sole and also the inner lining that the princess had earlier stepped on so elegantly with her delicate, black-stockinged feet.

"Pfft..."

Hearing Lyra deny it so hastily, Astrid let out a soft chuckle. Her gentle tone blended into the moonlight, like silver bells swaying gently in the wind.

"Alright, alright. Not at all."

You're just so adorable, Lyra.

If she had said those words directly, Lyra would've been both delighted and embarrassed. Realizing this, Astrid immediately voiced her thoughts.

"Lyra like this is also very cute."

Even though she clearly was, she still insisted she wasn't a little puppy.

Just as expected, Lyra's cheeks grew even warmer. Her toes, wrapped in creamy white stockings, curled slightly, and the little heeled shoe dangling from her foot began to sway unsteadily.

"Astrid... you're so mean..."

She definitely knew saying such things would make her flustered. She did it on purpose.

Forget what she said earlier. Astrid had already figured out every inch of her body, and probably her mind too.

Tightening her grip on Astrid's hand, gently lifting the delicate palm, Lyra felt a cool, smooth sensation on her fingertips. Astrid's silver hair that had fallen onto the bench.

Slowly lifting her face, she gazed at the silver-haired beauty lying on the wooden bench before her, those vivid crimson eyes quietly watching her. That exquisite, delicate face looked flawless under the moonlight, a perfect blend of cool elegance and allure, carrying a natural nobility. The lazy, seductive glimmer in her eyes seemed to lure others into surrender.

Throughout the entire Valeria Empire, probably no one could resist the charm of the widely acknowledged most beautiful woman, now completely defenseless in her beauty.

Lyra leaned down again, initiating a long, deep kiss.

Five minutes passed and time to kiss again!

Slightly surprised by Lyra's boundless energy, Astrid didn't refuse. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as her two black-stockinged legs tightened.

One Lyra, one Amalia both seemed insatiable.

Still, Astrid completely understood why Lyra was so passionate now that their relationship had been confirmed.

Putting herself in Lyra's position, thinking about how she usually treated herm if not for Lyra's extremely high moral standards, with all that teasing, verbal flirtation, and leg-rubbing, just a slight loss of self-control would've turned Lyra's private office desk into a dining table, and the Regent's bedroom bed would need new sheets every day.

After a while, the kiss ended. Astrid moistened her lips, instinctively wanting to squeeze her legs tighter only realizing retrospectively it was impossible and giving up.

Even someone made of iron couldn't remain unaffected by a beautiful girl's tender affection.

Still, at least... she wasn't as sensitive as Lyra, and didn't appear as flustered...

Having tasted the Regent's sweetness, the pink-haired girl's face looked more disheveled than ever. She suddenly ended the embrace, instantly sitting upright, hands clutching her skirt. Only the white fabric trembled slightly whether from the evening breeze or something else, it was hard to say.

After half a minute, Lyra aside a strand of pink hair brushed from her forehead, noting Astrid's half-amused, half-teasing gaze. The blush that had just begun to fade surged back onto her cheeks.

"Astrid... why are you... looking at me like that..."

Could she... have noticed?

Was it really that obvious?

As women, noting such subtle changes were naturally easy. Especially since Astrid and Lyra had been intimate many times she naturally understood exactly what her silly knight was feeling.

In battle, Lyra's strength was unquestionable. But in this other kind of combat, her performance seemed less resilient.

In fact, one could even say... she was kind of weak.

"It's nothing~ Lyra."

Astrid propped her cheek with one hand. Her two black-stockinged feet, freed from their lace-up heels, didn't put them back on. Instead, she gently placed them atop Lyra's legs, their toes touching like two smooth, warm pieces of ink jade connected together.

"I just think this isn't necessarily a bad thing. If your threshold for stress relief is low, doesn't that mean you're easier to satisfy?"

"Quick and fast is also adorable~"

"!!!"

Facing Astrid's words that were speeding toward liftoff, Lyra was completely overwhelmed. She lowered her head, her gaze landed exactly on the smooth, delicate back of Astrid's black-stockinged feet.

The Regent, a royal princess second only to the Empress herself, wore clothing naturally expensive and finely crafted including the stockings on her legs.

Even to the naked eye, one can feel their soft, silky texture. And worn by none other than the empire's most beautiful woman, it was even more captivating.

There was no way she could... stay composed now...

"Astrid... you're too wicked," Lyra whispered.

If she had known earlier, she would've definitely kept away from such a mischievous woman who could disrupt her thoughts.

At the very least... she should've pretended to resist a bit...

She couldn't let the other side bully her so easily.

Astrid didn't suppress the curve of her lips, simply leaning her back against the bench's armrest, gently smoothing down her cascading silver strands.

This long, straight silver hair was beautiful, but required time and care to maintain.

A few more minutes passed, and Lyra's body heat slightly subsided. The girl moistened her dry throat and spoke softly.

"Um... Astrid..."

"Did what I said earlier disappointed you?"

Noticing the careful hesitation in Lyra's voice, Astrid brushed her hair from her ear and replied.

"What do you mean, Lyra?"

"I mean... I said I'm not actually the Lyra in your heart."

The one who always upholds justice, balanced like a scale, the Holy Light Knight.

If Astrid only loved that fictional version of her, then her current self would fall too far short.

Astrid gently swayed her legs, speaking gently.

No.

What Lyra said was indeed reasonable. For a long time, she had truly seen Lyra as that noble figure so much so that before tonight's conversation, she believed Lyra would most likely make a different choice.

But was that really Lyra?

After experiencing different events and facing different choices, people don't always make the same decisions.

The Holy Light Knight, the destined heroine from the story. Yes, that was Lyra, but not entirely. Or rather, it was only one facet of her, not the whole.

She had her own desires, felt disappointed when she felt unappreciated, got angry when something rightfully hers was taken away, and wanted to actively fight for things even if it made others sad.

She wasn't the Buddha cutting flesh to feed eagles. She was the flesh-and-blood Lyra.

"I love the Lyra I've lived with day by day, not a fictional existence born from my own imagination."

Astrid brushed a strand of pink hair belonging to Lyra, her tone steady.

"So naturally, there's no disappointment."

In fact, Lyra's words tonight had also enlightened Astrid, helping her understand her true feelings.

All along, she had unconsciously placed herself into the role of a higher being capable of clearly observing everything. Even after realizing the characters in the novel were real, living beings, that predictive instinct from her memories still gave Astrid a certain sense of detachment from this world.

Whether Lyra or Amalia, they were no longer rigid figures, but travelers walking forward on new life paths, influenced by her.

The little tyrant could become an enlightened empress, and the Holy Light Knight could also seek love for herself.

Taking Lyra's hand into her own, Astrid's gaze turned tender.

"I love you, Lyra."

"A strong, brave knight lady, with a bit of a little girl's heart."

"Jealousy, small tantrums. They're all normal. You don't need to be so cautious with me."

Holding the girl's hand, she gently kissed the back of it. Feeling Astrid's action, Lyra's little heeled shoes lightly tapped together, her heart as if soaked in warm honey.

When it came to sweet talk, Astrid's naturally self-taught level was far beyond Lyra's.

So much so that the pink-haired girl, who had just thought Astrid was utterly wicked, now only felt how wonderful she was. How could she be so perfect? She wanted to marry her right this instant.

A thousand words, and the clumsy pink-haired maid finally managed to squeeze out just one sentence.

"O-okay... I love you too..."

After speaking, afraid she hadn't expressed enough, Lyra quickly added.

"...I love you the most."

Finishing, her eyes lowered. With her other hand, she gently grasped one of Astrid's slender ankles, feeling the smooth skin through the thin silk.

"And... maybe Lyra wasn't entirely wrong about some things."

"Hmm?"

"Perhaps I really did read your entire life in a storybook."

"..."

"That kind of thing... is impossible..."

Lyra replied softly. Her fingers wanted to touch more, yet feared her actions would seem too obsessive, so she merely lightly rested them on the ankle.

"But still, Astrid sometimes gives me the feeling... as if you know something no one else does... makes me feel uneasy, like you might disappear at any moment..."

As if the person before her didn't truly belong to this world.

"A strange sense of detachment?" Astrid casually added.

Lyra nodded in affirmation.

"Yes."

"How about now?"

"Now it's gone."

Perhaps it was the power of their promise. After agreeing to become lovers, Lyra truly felt the silver-haired beauty before she had become more tangible.

Hearing Lyra's words, Astrid fluttered her eyelashes, softly replying.

"Is that so..."

She felt the same.

Previously, walking through this reincarnated world, she had indeed felt a vague, floating daze. Even with familial bonds like Hibbort, Charlotte, Elise, and Amalia serving as anchors, something had still been missing.

Now, having accepted Lyra's feelings, and hearing words, the original story's destined heroine will never have expressed words about love that probably never existed. An intense, overwhelming reality quietly flooded her mind.

"Thank you, Lyra," Astrid said.

"Huh... thank me for what..."

The girl blinked in confusion, feeling as if Astrid had stolen her lines.

After all the help Astrid had given her through life and studies. Every achievement she had was due to Astrid's support. It should be her thanking Astrid.

"For many, many things," Astrid answered.

She couldn't explain it clearly to Lyra now. In the future, they could just walk hand in hand and figure it out together.

Used to Astrid's cryptic behavior, Lyra didn't dig deeper. Instead, she gently swung her white-stockinged leg resting on the bench. The rosy blush on her delicate face, illuminated by moonlight, grew even more prominent.

Anyway, they were lovers now. She would understand eventually.

She loved Astrid the most.