In the Regent’s chambers, within the private bedroom specially prepared for the esteemed reformist leader Charlotte, the mature beauty with black hair and tea-colored eyes stood before the wardrobe, gazing at the various noble gowns and lace hats inside. Charlotte fell into deep thought.

The clothes prepared by Astrid were far more complete than she had imagined. She had originally thought she’d need to retrieve her attire from her ring storage, but everything was already prepared within the imperial palace, all that was missing was her presence.

Gently touching the silk fabric, its smooth, cool texture reminded Charlotte of how precious the materials of these garments truly were.

Facing the tall, full-length mirror, Charlotte gently moved aside her mage robe. The deep purple fabric slides over her high curves and flat abdomen, lightly brushing against the lace top of her thigh-high stockings. As her two silk-clad legs swayed slightly, the dress settled neatly around her delicate, petite ankles.

After changing into the backless gown retrieved from the wardrobe, Charlotte slipped back into her silver stilettos. Staring at her reflection, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, revealing an elegant, graceful figure, her slender, pale fingers rested lightly on her chin, gently brushing her cheek before touching her earlobe.

"..."

How could this dress fit so perfectly, down to the very last measurement?

Although Charlotte had stayed over at Astrid’s before and worn clothes prepared for her, that was ages ago, and everything had long since been updated.

The only explanation was that Astrid had completely memorized every inch of her measurements, enabling her to precisely tailor the garments to fit flawlessly, then instructing the royal seamstresses to craft them accordingly.

At that thought, a fleeting trace of shyness flickered across the tea-colored eyes of the black-haired beauty in the mirror. Charlotte turned sideways, continuing to examine herself, then changed into another dress a moment later.

Still the same familiar size, perfectly balancing aesthetics and comfort. Even if Charlotte had custom-ordered her own clothes, they probably wouldn’t fit as well as the styles available in the Regent’s chambers.

Astrid... truly went to great lengths...

But she wondered... would she come visit her tonight?

Charlotte fluttered her eyelashes. Her delicate, long lashes swept over her clear, luminous tea-colored eyes like a soft, fine brush lightly stroking beautiful amber gems.

Thinking back to how Amalia had displayed such strong possessiveness during dinner, combined with the fact that they were now officially blessed as a couple, it was unlikely Astrid would leave that warm embrace to come chat with her.

Most likely, she’d be spending the night alone.

Straightening her legs slightly, Charlotte couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of competing with a little girl who was so much younger than herself for Astrid’s attention.

Are you really vying for affection with a younger generation, Miss Charlotte?

Had it just been too long since she’d interacted with others, making her suddenly this lonely?

Internally chiding herself for becoming sentimental with age, craving warmth, she who had once felt nothing for love, who could spend an entire day in the laboratory, how had she become so different?

Could it be that seeing everyone else settling down made her feel even more solitary?

Pushing down the strange, intrusive thoughts, Charlotte placed her mage robe into her spatial ring and removed it from the nearby interior decor. She picked up another piece and tried it on, sure enough, it fit her measurements perfectly.

Not tight at all, everything was just right.

Grabbing her nightgown and the outfit she’d wear tomorrow, Charlotte left the walk-in closet and headed to the washroom. A soft rustling of fabric ended as her thin, translucent stockings dropped into the laundry basket, neatly stacked with the other two garments. Soon after, the fire and water elemental crystals activated, gradually filling the room with warm, humid air.

...............

Without a doubt, what Astrid had heard earlier wasn’t a mistake in word order, it was exactly what Amalia had meant.

Astrid had originally assumed the Empress’s combat stamina would be as it always seemed, collapsing into her arms after just two or three rounds, nuzzling her neck like a sleepy kitten, then gently stirring her smooth, petite white-stockinged feet under the blankets, eventually pressing them against Astrid’s calves.

Both were physically frail mages, yet tonight, for some reason, perhaps because Astrid had given her permission, Amalia had become far more aggressive than ever before.

So much so that the silver-haired, red-eyed imperial succubus began to doubt whether the gentle lamb she knew had ever been real, whether the golden-haired girl lying on the soft bed saying she was tired yet satisfied was merely a figment of a past dream.

The games she’d played with Lyra were being replayed, carpet, desk, windowsill.

What would be next, the entrance hall, or the gem-encrusted throne?

"Big sister... it’s still not enough..."

"You spent the whole week with Lyra... you should spend more time with me too..."

----------------

Perhaps it really had been too long, Amalia’s needs required thorough attention.

Astrid blinked, her once-cold face now faintly flushed. Her black-stockinged feet, smooth as dark chocolate, rested on the bedsheets. Her delicate toes, slightly spread, resembled a beautiful black lotus.

Meanwhile, Charlotte had finished bathing and changing. Dressed in a pure black silk nightgown, she sat on the edge of the bed, carefully combing her hair.

She’d stay in the palace tonight, then return to the estate tomorrow to properly study those ancient human relics.

The primordial form of arcane particles could activate ancient human spatial arrays, undoubtedly a promising research direction, and indirect proof supporting the considerations of the Elders Speech Genesis Theory.

Perhaps long ago, ancient humans had surpassed modern civilization not just in magical systems, but also in magic machinery, possibly exceeding them in that area as well.

And then there was Astrid’s hypothesis, that Elders Speech Language wasn’t used by ancient humans at all, but belonged to deities.

It wasn’t impossible. Just as modern humans couldn’t decipher the knowledge limitations of Elders Speech, if a conceptual-level force truly had altered the entire world...

What was its purpose? What had caused this to happen?

Was the apocalypse truly, as recorded in ancient texts, a punishment from the Nature God upon living beings?

And... Astrid...

Even if Charlotte refused to ask, the fact remained, Astrid could understand Elders Speech.

If it were Fanya’s research, there was no reason she’d only share such vital information with a child who might never pursue magic, nor could she guarantee that Astrid Calliste would break free from her supposed constraints and understand Elders Speech.

Just how many secrets did this niece, whom she had watched grow up, still keep from her?

The scent of shampoo drifted through the air, a delicate fragrance curling around her nose. Charlotte pressed her legs together, the more she thought, the thicker the fog of mystery became.

So many unknowns lay before her, any mage would be bursting with curiosity. Charlotte was no exception.

Besides that, there was a vague, unidentifiable worry tugging at her heart.

Astrid was still Astrid... there was no mistake...

Her soul hadn’t changed, yet her personality had undeniably shifted.

"..."

Glancing at the wall clock, it was still a while before nine. Having shared a bed with Astrid at Liya Tower Tower before, Charlotte knew this wasn’t her usual bedtime. Her quiet thoughts stirred once more.

Maybe... she should go talk to Astrid...

If she was disturbing them, she could just return immediately.

Curiosity and concern gnawed at Charlotte’s heart like ants. On top of that, a faint bitterness mingled in, unseen by her rational mind.

Biting her lip, Charlotte brought her hands behind her neck, gently lifting her smooth, black hair. Her pale legs, still slightly damp, straightened once more.

Just going to ask... it shouldn’t...

Wearing her silver sandals, she pushed open the bedroom door. The faint scent of incense lingered in the corridor’s air as she walked slowly toward Astrid’s room.

Wall lamps on both sides stretched her shadow long. The continuously operating fire-elemental crystals added a warm, cozy glow to the Regent’s palace in the winter night.

Only a few steps away, she arrived in moments. Charlotte stared at the ornate door before her, hesitating before placing her soft hand upon it, her pale knuckles mere centimeters from the surface. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

But just then, she heard a soft, gentle pant.

Like a cat perched atop a wall at night, or a nightingale whose song had just ceased, it was brief and quick, yet Charlotte, standing right at the door, heard it perfectly. It successfully halted her from knocking.

Mages generally didn’t have the same sensory acuity as knights of equal rank, a well-known fact in the magical community. But one thing must be clarified: this "inferiority" was only relative to knights of the same level.

Compared to ordinary people, their senses were still overwhelming, not to mention numerous arcane spells exist to enhance the five senses.

That sound just now... couldn’t have been a mistake...

Her hand suspended before the door, Charlotte’s heart pounded, unwilling to settle.

And then, a clearer sound reached her ears.

That voice... Was that, Astrid?

Although muffled, softer and more drawn-out than during the day, Charlotte still recognized it, this was the voice of the noble Imperial Regent.

At this hour, in her own bedroom, with a confirmed lover present, what else could such a sound possibly mean?

Charlotte might not have experience or romantic relationships, but that didn’t mean she was completely ignorant of such matters. In an instant, she understood the situation.

They were...

Knowing about Astrid and Amalia’s relationship didn’t prevent her from feeling embarrassed upon testifying it firsthand, especially since, compared to Amalia who lived with Astrid day and night, Charlotte was still caught in old habits, often subconsciously reverting the Third and Fourth Princesses back to their former roles.

Now, both her habitual thinking and self-deception were shattered, revealing the truth in full clarity.

Seriously... why wasn’t there a soundproof barrier?

Even if the head maid was stationed nearby, even if the chambers were filled with royal confidants, even if no one would come by...

They still shouldn’t be acting so freely.

Charlotte instinctively stepped back. The heel of her sandal tapped faintly against the carpet, though clearly, the sound wouldn’t interrupt the two deeply submerged inside.

Was it her maternal instinct kicking in that made her feel so flustered?

Listening to the soft sounds from just beyond the door, the muffled moans and gentle pants that seemed capable of melting one’s bones, Charlotte’s cheeks flushed faintly. Even her tea-colored eyes lowered instinctively, gazing at the silver straps hugging her pale foot arch.

Astrid... actually made sounds like this?

It was simply... too unexpected...

She withdrew her hand that had been about to knock, letting it rest against the hem of her deep black nightgown. She stood frozen in place, as if her feet had taken root.

She didn’t activate elemental vision, nor did she channel her mental energy, yet her mind suddenly flashed with the scene inside: the entryway she’d once walked through herself, Amalia in her sweet princess dress and soft white stockings sitting at the dinner table, and the ever-noble, dignified Imperial Princess who always favored black to accentuate her snow-white skin and lustrous silver hair.

At that moment, the door gently trembled, as if nudged by something, accompanied by a bone-melting, alluring moan.

"???"

The sudden movement snapped Charlotte completely back to reality, finally making her realize how inappropriate her eavesdropping had been.

She had only come to talk to Astrid about the ancient human remains discovered that afternoon. If Astrid was busy, she could simply discuss it tomorrow.

How did she end up eavesdropping like this?

And most important... such embarrassing content...

Turning around, she forced herself to ignore what she’d heard. Charlotte quietly reinforced a silence barrier on the door, then pressed her hand to her lips, tiptoeing back to her bedroom.

She understood the principles of "do not see what is improper, do not hear what is improper."

Still... Astrid and Amalia were being far too reckless...

She clearly remembered the Regent’s bed was large and soft enough, wasn’t that sufficient?

...Truly, the youth of today.

Sitting on the soft bed, Charlotte closed her eyes, placing a hand gently over her left chest to steady her heartbeat.