The next day, riding in a luxurious carriage headed toward Charlotte’s private estate, Astrid was still pondering the question Lyra had asked her the previous night, shortly after they’d shared supreme ecstasy.

Astrid’s final answer, of course, was no. Although she enjoyed teasing that silly little maid, and liked provoking her with slightly excessive words or physical gestures, doing anything particularly intimate with her in Amalia’s presence always felt strangely awkward.

Having the golden-haired, blue-eyed white-stockinged girl watch her every move, seeing her expressions and behaviors laid completely bare, even amplifying details that normally shouldn’t be noticed,

Even if it were the reverse, with pure and adorable girlfriend Lyra observing nearby, Astrid’s already hard-to-ignore sense of taboo would only intensify, though in a certain sense, that might not even be a bad thing.

But at least for now, Astrid really couldn’t accept such a thing. She needed to wait until she could fully embrace Amalia as both sister and lover, able to freely enjoy the pleasure the girl brought her, before discussing anything further.

Until then, something like what happened under the dining table that night, having one on each side to hold and rest together, was already the best possible outcome.

"..."

But having such a compromise in her thoughts... didn’t that mean she wasn’t so rigid after all?

The swaying carriage caused her skirt to flutter gently. Her silver hair, cascading down, concealed the fluffy cuffs, revealing only a sliver of snow-white wrist, simultaneously accentuating the delicate beauty of her profile.

Come to think of it... Lyra’s choice of words really was strange no matter how she looked at it...

Even scheduling days like first-third-fifth, second-fourth-sixth, it wasn’t Lyra and Amalia taking turns on duty at all. Clearly, it was her, the Empire’s Regent, constantly shuttling between the Empress’ and Bastion’s bedchambers.

Having to help relieve accumulated daily stress, while offering emotional comfort, though strictly speaking, all of this was mutual.

If she had to be honest, she was actually the one serving in bed.

Lost in thought, she unconsciously crossed her black-stockinged legs, the hard heel tapping the carriage floor with a crisp sound, snapping Astrid back to reality.

Turning her head, she saw Lyra’s gaze fixed on the window. Astrid spoke softly.

"Lyra, have you decided when you want to go back?"

Last night, after a period of affection, Lyra had shared some of her plans with Astrid, like taking time to return to Morin Village and visit her long-separated parents.

Lyra’s last visit home had been to tell her parents she was enlisting. For the past half-year, she’d stayed in the Northlands, guarding the Empire’s frontier. The only things she could send back to her hometown were letters filled with a daughter’s concern and gold coins to improve their living conditions.

Now that the war situation had calmed, it was time to return home, let her parents see her healthy and safe, and report her well-being in the most direct way.

"Next week."

Hearing Astrid’s question, Lyra snapped back to attention. Her shiny black little leather shoes tapped together, her delicate, snow-like white-stockinged legs pressing tightly together, looking especially beautiful.

"After I finish recording the documents needed for the Empire Weekly, I’ll head back."

Though she’d miss Astrid, Lyra wanted to go home even more.

Love was important, but that didn’t mean family should be completely set aside. After experiencing so much danger in the first half of the year, Lyra’s longing to return home was stronger than ever before.

"Once you’ve set the date, I’ll have Elise arrange the travel."

"Actually, it’s not necessary. This time, I plan to go back on my own."

"Using flight magic?"

"Yeah."

Lyra was now an Early tier Arcanist. Whether using transparent wings materialized from mental energy, or light wings constructed from light magic, she could cross mountains and rivers, returning to her homeland at the fastest speed possible.

With necessary luggage stored within the Light Sword’s storage space, carriages, basic transportation, would only be a burden.

Hearing Lyra’s words, Astrid nodded, realizing this was indeed much faster than traveling by carriage, and reminded her to be careful on the road.

Lyra fluttered her eyelashes and replied softly.

"Don’t worry, Astrid. I’m an early tier Arcanist now. It’s not easy for me to run into danger."

The number of powerful beings in the entire Empire who could threaten her was extremely limited. Not to mention, after being promoted by the Empire Weekly, Lyra Beckett was almost becoming an idol across the entire nobility. Wherever she went, local nobles would treat her as an honored guest.

"I know that, of course..."

Astrid gently crossed her legs, crimson eyes glinting.

"I’m worried about someone getting lost... After all, traveling by carriage on a main road and flying in a direction toward a single point are two completely different concepts..."

Lyra had never traveled long distances this way before. If her sense of direction were slightly off, she might end up veering southeast into the Empire and accidentally enter some pan-human alliance side quest.

Hearing Astrid say this, the pink-haired girl unusually didn’t argue that she wasn’t stupid, instead seriously contemplating the possibility.

Back when she first arrived in the capital, Lyra had carried her suitcase and wandered around the bustling metropolis for a long time before finding a place to stay.

Could it be... she really was an idiot?!

Just then, Elise, the head maid who had grown accustomed to her young mistress being affectionate with Lyra, timely spoke up from her seat opposite them.

"Miss, I can help Lyra plan her upcoming flight route. I’ll mark locations prone to getting lost with cities, towns, or landmark buildings for reference."

"If Lyra flies directly, at a legendary mage’s flying speed, it’ll take more than five days. She can rest briefly at marked locations to replenish energy and mental power, and recalibrate her direction."

After hearing Elise’s suggestion, Astrid gave a slight nod, pinched Lyra’s cheek, and softly parted her red lips.

"Thank you, Elise."

"It’s my honor to serve you, Miss."

With Astrid gently touching her cheek, Lyra’s ears turned red, and her hand, which had been resting beside her skirt, retaliated by lifting higher, placing itself on the woman’s smooth thigh wrapped in sheer black stockings.

Sensing Lyra’s little move, Astrid didn’t reject it. Instead, she extended her other hand, slightly lifting her skirt to let Lyra more directly feel the silk.

As for anything more intimate... with Elise present, continuing would be impolite...

They hadn’t become so desperate as to discuss life passionately on a carriage.

The creaking sway of the carriage continued endlessly. Sunlight streaming through the window gap alternated between wide and narrow.

Feeling the smooth touch against her palm, Lyra quietly pressed her lips together, her cheeks faintly reddening. She didn’t know whether to pull away or keep touching, so she just kept her hand stiffly in place.

They were lovers now... it wasn’t a big deal...

Thinking this, her fingers moved slightly. The next second, Lyra heard Astrid’s gentle voice.

"You’re going home this time, but I have too much official business to accompany you. We’ll have to go together another time."

"Also, if your parents are willing and don’t mind the long journey, Lyra could bring them to visit the Imperial capital."

"If they come, I’ll welcome them properly."

After all, she was the one who had taken their daughter away from them.

After hearing this, Lyra thought for a few seconds, then ultimately shook her head, declining Astrid’s kind offer.

"They probably won’t come."

The journey from Morin Village to the capital, how much time and effort it would take, wasn’t insignificant. It might be manageable for healthy young people, but Lyra’s parents were already middle-aged. A round trip taking a full month would definitely be too much for them.

They’d have to consider it again once magical airship transportation technology matured.

Hearing Lyra’s words, Astrid didn’t insist further. Looking at Lyra’s hands resting on her lap, touching yet afraid to touch, she slightly lifted the corner of her lips.

Lyra was so awkward... wanting it but also shy...

Then, she lifted her right leg resting on her knee, creating a gap between the smooth black silk, placed Lyra’s snow-white soft hand in the middle, and gently closed her leg around it.

Before Lyra could react, Astrid gave a seductive smile and quickly changed the subject.

"Lyra, did you come along this time to keep me company?"

She’d just finished lunch. Originally, she’d planned to come see Charlotte alone. Lyra should have been taking her midday rest right now, not accompanying her out of the palace.

Lyra was momentarily stunned by the question. She felt warm, cool, smooth sensations all around her palm. Her gaze dropped, and her entire body felt as if it had been scorched.

Stay calm... Lyra...

Princess Astrid... is just like this...

After a while, the girl took a deep breath and replied softly.

"Yeah..."

There was nothing to be embarrassed about. She really did just want to spend more time with Astrid.

Sleeping, chatting, going anywhere, it didn’t matter. She was just as clingy as Amalia.

Listening to the rustling sound of fabric brushing against skin, feeling Astrid gently squeeze her hand as if using it like a bookmark, Lyra’s heartbeat accelerated rapidly. In the end, she still didn’t have the courage to pull away.

You’re secretly enjoying it too, aren’t you... Lyra Beckett...

Princess Astrid was right after all... you’re truly an unabashed little pervert...

Struggling to shift her focus back to the previous topic, the suggestion of bringing her parents to the capital, Lyra suddenly realized a detail she’d overlooked earlier.

She and Astrid had already become a couple. Wouldn’t doing that be... meeting the parents?

Wasn’t it too soon? She hadn’t even proposed yet...

No... what soon or not soon, the chances of her parents coming were extremely low anyway...

Astrid was just trying to tell her she didn’t mind moving quickly into the next stage.

...Talking about marriage?

Suddenly, an image flashed in her mind, a beautiful figure in a pure white wedding dress, with silver hair and crimson eyes. Once again, Lyra blushed from her own overly vivid imagination and quickly shook her head.

It’s still way too early... how did I even start thinking about wedding dresses...

And speaking of meeting parents, it wasn’t as if Astrid didn’t have anyone either. For example, the person they were going to see now, Charlotte, besides being a college professor and Imperial Marquis, had another identity directly related to the latter.

Fanya’s best friend, Astrid’s birth mother, and the elder who had watched the Third Princess grow up. Officially, she was Astrid’s godmother.

In that case, she, who had secretly pledged herself to Astrid, should also regard Charlotte as family.

An existence who was both mentor and friend suddenly becoming a senior family member, Lyra wasn’t sure how to face Charlotte, especially since both she and Astrid were girls.

Would she give her blessing... or harbor worry and doubt...

"In that case, you do have a point."

After hearing Lyra’s concerns, Astrid fluttered her eyelashes, then spoke after a few seconds.

"Still, Lyra, you don’t need to worry too much."

"Based on my understanding of Lady Charlotte, she’s not that traditional."

Back when Astrid first realized she might have feelings for girls, she had cautiously tested Charlotte’s views. The latter’s opinion was somewhat ambiguous, seeming accepting, yet not entirely so.

Charlotte had said that if it was love blossoming, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, it should be blessed. But if it was purely out of lust and pleasure, like nobles forcing commoners, or keeping pets, then regardless of gender, she would look down on it.

It sounded like she encouraged free love, but Charlotte’s actual thoughts might not be exactly what Astrid interpreted.

The contradiction probably lay in this... some relatively open-minded elders could accept same-sex relationships in the world, but when it came to their own descendants, especially direct ones, they would suddenly become unwilling to accept it...

The carriage continued forward. Inside, the two fell into silence, saying nothing for a while. Finally, Astrid spoke first.

"Lyra, would you be willing to tell Lady Charlotte about our relationship?"

"Eh?"

Why did it feel like this sentence should be her asking Astrid?

Feeling her role reversed, Lyra was momentarily confused. Her lips parted for a while before she finally gave an answer true to her heart.

"I... I..."

"...Of course I don’t mind."

If this relationship was to be revealed, the first to know should be the closest family of the couple.

For Astrid, her biological parents had disappeared into the Abyss, their fates unknown. Her adoptive father, Hibbort, had already passed away. The closest people left to her were the head maid, Amalia, and Charlotte.

The first two already knew. Only this mature-tempered aunt remained in the dark.

"Don’t mind...?"

Hearing a hint of reluctance in Lyra’s voice, probably because she wasn’t ready yet, Astrid hesitated for half a second, about to say something, when the pink-haired girl beside her changed her words.

"What I mean is..."

"...I’m willing."

After all, the truth would eventually come out. There was no avoiding it, sooner or later.

Besides, Lyra also wanted to know, what exactly was Charlotte’s attitude toward them?

Then, why not take this opportunity... to openly declare their intimate relationship...