A Princess’s Struggle for Survival

"Her Highness Astrid... Did you come here specifically for me...?" Lyra asked timidly, clutching her suitcase as she trailed behind her mistress and servant.

She had indeed planned to pack her belongings, bid farewell to Miss Lina, and return to the palace. However, on her way back, she happened to pass by the Royal Capital Square. Upon seeing the entrance ceremony, she couldn't resist pausing to watch for a while.

Astrid didn't deny it, her graceful steps carrying a faint scent of perfume as she moved.

"After all, you're going to see Miss Lina. Who knows if you might run into someone else along the way?"

Lina was the noble lady Lyra had saved the day before, and the latter had been persuaded by Lina to attend the coming-of-age ball. Lina and Earl Tristian Velmont were siblings, both belonging to the prestigious Velmont family, one of the four great families of the Valeria Empire.

Princess Astrid... Lyra still couldn't bring herself to fully trust her. The previous acts of protection... were they merely to save face?

Recalling that Astrid had always harbored feelings for Earl Velmont, Lyra bit her lip. It wasn't just the mistrust that bothered her, there was something else, a faint ache in her heart.

Fortunately, the feeling was fleeting. Lyra quickly quickened her pace, following Astrid closely.

"That's... I didn't encounter Earl Velmont, nor did I have any contact with him."

Although working as Astrid's maid had been a forced arrangement, Lyra was determined to fulfill her duties properly since she had accepted the position.

Hearing Lyra suddenly mention Earl Velmont, Astrid's thoughts paused for a brief moment. She quickly recalled that she had deliberately crafted the image of having a crush on the Earl to justify keeping Lyra by her side.

"That's what you're supposed to do," Astrid replied calmly.

If Lyra misunderstood, so be it. It saved Astrid the trouble of explaining herself and allowed her to use this misunderstanding to her advantage.

In the early stages of the original story, aside from the third princess Astrid, the greatest threat to Lyra was the arrogant and greedy Prince Lucas.

According to the work, Astrid and Prince Lucas were aligned in the same faction.

The prince, being the most likely candidate for the throne, had been quietly expanding his influence and gathering strength to counter the second prince, who had long been a rival for the crown.

As someone who knew the story, Astrid was well aware that Prince Lucas was far from virtuous. Though he appeared gentle and composed on the surface, he was ruthless in private, exploiting and oppressing the innocent.

Sooner or later, such a person would face retribution at the hands of the protagonist.

Astrid knew she had to distance herself from him before the situation escalated.

The previous night, Prince Lucas had also been present at the event. His intention was to push for a marriage between Astrid and Earl Velmont, thereby securing the support of the powerful Velmont family.

Recalling the gray-haired man with sharp eyebrows at the banquet, Astrid shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Prince Lucas's plans were clever, but neither she nor the original owner of this body would ever successfully marry Earl Velmont.

And compared to Earl Velmont, it was Lyra who truly caught her eye.

Astrid glanced over at Lyra, who was struggling slightly with the suitcase she was dragging behind her. The girl's bare arms gleamed in the sunlight, smooth and radiant like fine porcelain.

Astrid's steps slowed subtly, and the wide parasol she carried tilted slightly, casting a cool shadow over Lyra.

Feeling the sudden shade, Lyra blinked a few times and looked up, only to see the cascade of silvery-white hair flowing down Astrid's back.

Was Princess Astrid slowing down for her...? Or was it just her imagination?

Astrid, however, paid no mind to Lyra's thoughts. Her mind was already preoccupied with the earlier problem.

The palace was currently filled with Prince Lucas's spies. Any unusual movement on her part would be noticed immediately.

It was unwise to openly confront him now, so she had to proceed carefully, like boiling a frog in warm water, gradually distancing herself from the prince's political faction.

Feeling the weight of her predicament, Astrid couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

The sins committed by the original owner of this body were too numerous, and washing herself clean would be no easier than trying to turn coal white.

"Does Her Highness Astrid want ice cream?"

Astrid's thoughts were interrupted by Lyra's voice. She turned to see the girl standing in front of a vendor, her eyes fixed intently on the stall's offerings.

Ice cream?

The shop in front of them was filled with various items, and a cool mist seeped out from the gaps of a storage box. Activating her elemental vision, Astrid noticed a faint dark blue elemental fluctuation emanating from the box, likely an ice-attribute crystal used to keep the contents cold.

She hadn't expected to find ice cream in this fantasy world. Temporarily setting aside her worries, Astrid quickly recalled, according to memories of original body, she also enjoyed cold desserts like this. She nodded slightly to Lyra.

"Yes, buy three."

Three ice creams cost a total of fifty-four silver coins, nearly half a gold coin.

After receiving the ice creams, Astrid handed one to Elise, the head maid holding the parasol, and another to Lyra.

"This... is for me?" Lyra looked at the ice cream being offered to her, her expression a mix of surprise and hesitation.

Because the cost of ice-attribute crystallization is high, the price of ice cream in this world has also skyrocketed. Such a luxurious dessert was something Lyra had only ever seen from a distance in the city. She never imagined that one day she would actually get to taste it.

"Or else?"

Seeing Lyra standing there dumbfounded, not reaching out to take the ice cream, Astrid raised an eyebrow slightly and let out a cold snort.

"If you don't like it, throw it away."

At these words, Lyra was momentarily stunned. After a brief hesitation, she finally reached out to take the ice cream. Her fingers brushed lightly against Astrid's white silk gloves, and the smooth, delicate sensation sent a faint shiver through her.

"Thank you, Your Highness Astrid..."

"It's just a dessert. The Valeria royal family isn't so stingy as to deny their servants a treat."

Astrid's gaze lingered on Lyra for a moment, making the girl too shy to meet her eyes. Lyra lowered her head and took a small bite of the ice cream's tip. Only when Astrid finally looked away did she dare to sneak a quick lick of the butterscotch frosting at the side.

Cold and sweet... Such a delicious dessert...

No wonder Her Highness Astrid likes it.

"In the afternoon, you'll be learning maid etiquette with Elise. I'll have other tasks for you later."

Astrid took a bite of her own ice cream, but it didn't evoke the same delight in her as it did in Lyra. Compared to the myriad of ice cream flavors from her past life, this one felt lacking, with less cream and a simpler taste.

Perhaps there's a chance to improve it, she thought. The breakfast she had eaten earlier reminded her a bit of the cuisine from her previous life, filling, but far from satisfying her palate.

"Yes, I understand," Lyra replied softly.

These arrangements had been discussed the day before, and she had no objections.