Princess’s Struggle for Survival

After spending the night accompanying Lyra in the infirmary, the next morning Astrid, having finished washing and grooming herself, received breakfast delivered by Elise along with a small table that could be placed on the bed.

"This should make meals slightly more convenient." Astrid spoke gently as she watched Elise carefully arrange the dishes from the food cart onto the tabletop.

"With this, aside from essential physiological needs, everything else Lyra requires can be handled right here in bed."

Staring at the miniature dining table set before her, along with the white napkin provided specifically to prevent food stains from soiling the bed linens, Lyra found herself momentarily speechless. She blankly gripped her fork.

It felt as though getting injured had suddenly turned her into a helpless baby in Astrid's eyes.

Although her knees and internal organs still ached slightly, after a night's rest the dull pain had subsided considerably. It shouldn't affect her normal daily activities too much.

"Thank you, Astrid, and Miss Elise as well..."

Hearing Lyra's quiet thanks, then watching her carefully begin eating, Astrid chose not to disturb her further. Instead, she took Amalia's hand and led her outside into the corridor.

The Magic Exchange Competition had concluded successfully, yet the work both visible and behind the scenes was far from over.

"Elise, spend the next couple days polishing the initial draft I gave you. Make sure the final version is completed before Friday and published in this week's Empire Weekly."

Astrid leaned down to kiss Amalia's forehead, then gently stroked the dark-haired little girl's cheek, letting her nuzzle against her fingers for a moment before turning to face the head maid.

"Friday also has the award ceremony. We'll need at least two to three pages of text and accompanying illustrations. We don't have much time left."

News of Lyra defeating a powerful opponent and claiming the championship had been openly announced within the Imperial capital circles. After a full day and night, the news was likely spread throughout the entire Empire.

Yet even if this joyful report traveled far and wide, as the Empire's sole official publication, they still needed to release an official article. Without a doubt, after this week's issue was published, nobles great and small will remember the name Lyra Beckett, and that knight's sword shines brilliantly like the midday sun.

If not constrained by the era, with such popularity, Lyra could have debuted as an idol and become Valeria Empire's mascot, a perfectly viable option.

Briefly allowing her thoughts to wander, Astrid then urged Elise on several key points for publicity, ensuring they could properly build momentum for Lyra while also enhancing the image of Carlotta's previously developed magical devices.

For instance, the luminescent-element particle collector resembles a nightlight (modified from a small night lamp), or the stability tester detects fire element activity (modified from an electric kettle).

[The Secret Behind Lyra's Ability to Overcome Stronger Opponents???]

[Revealed: The Key to High-Speed Spellcasting is Actually Connected to This Device]

Simply relying on newspaper promotion wouldn't realistically convince traditionalists to accept magical devices. However, through appropriate embellishment and tactful avoidance of controversial topics, they could gradually shift certain mindsets.

Initial efforts will focus on public opinion to create momentum, first allowing some people to recognize that the development of magical devices truly played a crucial role in improving noble lifestyles, thereby appropriately reducing their aversion. Later, the issue of benefit distribution could be resolved step by step once Amalia ascended further.

Reform couldn't be rushed. Propaganda and conflict were merely catalysts. To truly change the attitude of some traditionalists requires tangible benefits they could personally enjoy.

"Understood, Miss." Elise answered respectfully.

Astrid gave a slight nod. "Then go do it now."

With tight deadlines and heavy responsibilities, Elise, known for her efficiency, didn't hesitate at all and prepared to leave immediately after receiving the order.

"One more thing…" Astrid called softly, watching Elise's tall, elegant back.

"Go to the maid hall and assign two reliable people to assist with Lyra's daily care."

Elise nodded gently upon hearing this.

"Yes, Miss."

That had been her intention all along.

After seeing off the head maid, Astrid spent some additional time gently bonding with Amalia before spotting Linda and Lydia approaching to visit the patient.

"Princess Astrid, how is Miss Lyra's current condition?"

Being familiar friends, Astrid didn't hide much. After asking Lyra's permission, she allowed them into the room.

It was foreseeable that many more visitors would come to see Lyra in the coming days.

Once they leave, she'd have to remind the patient to only allow particularly close acquaintances to visit. Otherwise, given Lyra's current fame, the stream of visitors might completely overcrowd the infirmary, making peaceful recuperation impossible.

Lyra, being naturally pure-hearted, always struggles to refuse the apparent kindness shown by others.

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

In the afternoon, after accompanying Amalia through her nap, Astrid, who had changed clothes and taken a shower, returned to the infirmary where Lyra was staying. She first briefly explained to Lyra how to handle subsequent visitors, then brought up a question that had been lingering in her mind since yesterday.

That middle tier magus-level light-element spell specifically mentioned by the original author, possessing extremely high compatibility with Lyra, [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria].

"Lyra, although I did teach you the spell incantations and magic circle arrangements related to [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria]…"

"Ultimately, that's still a middle tier magus-level spell. Based on the quality of your mental energy after your recent breakthrough, it shouldn't have been sufficient to fully release it."

"How did you manage to successfully chant it?"

Actually, there was another point Astrid hadn't asked, why Lyra had chosen to release this spell she was so unfamiliar with.

Had she purely chosen to take a risky gamble just to win, or was it, like when she first faced the shadow and released [Lightfall] to disperse the deathly mist, some kind of combat instinct tells her this was exactly what she should do at that moment?

Facing Astrid's question, Lyra paused briefly, her gaze settling on the tiny, faintly shimmering sword-shaped light mark on her fingernail, before replying.

"If I have to explain the principle... I'm not entirely sure myself..."

"Perhaps due to my high affinity with light elements, when I chanted the first segment of the incantation, the light-element particles drawn in by my mental energy already met the release criteria for [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria]."

"Even during the subsequent second and third steps, drawing the magic circle encountered little resistance. The flow of mental energy was fast and stable, so I judged that I could fully release this spell."

Recalling carefully, at that moment she'd possessed sufficient confidence to release this decision, match-winning strike.

"In other words, purely based on intuition?" Astrid raised a hand to her chin, speaking softly.

"During the spell's release, did the Holy Sword of Light show any abnormalities?"

Although [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria] contains the word "sword" in its name, its actual release had nothing to do with a physical blade. It was merely a high-damage spell formed by arranging light-element particles into a sword-like energy wave. Using a staff as an auxiliary could achieve similar results.

"...The Holy Light Sword?"

Lyra blinked her eyes in response, her other hand instinctively lightly touched the tip of her index finger.

"..."

"When releasing it, I felt the blade seemed to emit slight vibrations continuously, but the amplitude was very small and easy to miss."

Probably, just gripping the hilt a little tighter could have suppressed the resonance between it and the light. At the time, Lyra mistakenly believed her wrist injury from Iris's shockwave was causing her to hold the sword unsteadily. Now, upon careful recollection, it seemed that wasn't the case.

Some kind of force had indeed been assisting her in releasing this spell.

After hearing Lyra's account, Astrid shifted her legs slightly, her bright red eyes reflected the former's folded hands.

In that case, the Sword of Light and [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria] must definitely have some connection.

If she broke down the entire spell, its effects, magic circle arrangement, and specific name, what conclusion might she reach?

Light magic, a release form similar to a physical sword beam, and a special resonance effect.

Moserria... Was that someone's name?

Gently fingering the deep blue brooch pinned to her left chest, a decorative accent on her black dress, the cold sensation stimulated Astrid's thoughts, causing her gaze to shift from Lyra back to her own pronounced curves.

Previously in the archive room, when she'd obtained this brooch suspected to be a relic left by ancient humans, she'd entered a certain kind of illusion, a legendary battle between humans and dragons spanning heaven and earth.

The lead dragon continuously shrieked as it charged toward its target, uttering a word similar to a person's name.

Grace.

Could it be that Moserria, like Grace, was also an ancient human from antiquity, and the sword currently in Lyra's hands had once belonged to him?

That would explain why the Sword of Light resonated specially with the spell named after Moseria.

But going further back, the spell creator Lady Gemini, active during the early days of the Lorin Empire, was the founder of modern spell incantations. The naming and incantation of [The Holy Judgment Sword of Moserria] were both created by her hands. What connection did she have with Moseria?

The ancient incantation of this spell shows no obvious difference from other explanatory or structural spells. Why did Gemini specifically translate it into this particular phrasing, rather than naming it after some other concrete form or effect of light magic, such as [Light Spear] or [Holy Light Purification]?

"Is that so... I see..."

The deeper she thought, the more tangled the mysteries became. Unconsciously, Astrid furrowed her delicate brows, interlacing her fingers beside her thigh clad in long black stockings, her toes idly swaying her high-heeled shoe.

Gemini, Grace, Moserria... and that shadow...

What connections exist between these people? Were they merely all ancient humans from before the Cataclysm?

Seeing Astrid's expression, Lyra pursed her lips, unsure what she was thinking, and simply sat up straight, silently waiting.

After a while, Astrid ended her contemplation and inquired about Lyra's physical condition for today.

"Let me know immediately if anything feels uncomfortable. The physician is right next door."

Lyra shook her head gently in response.

"I just took a nap. My body doesn't hurt nearly as much anymore."

"As long as I don't do strenuous exercise, I think attending the award ceremony should be fine."

Honestly, the fact that [Kingdom] could injure her, even while she wore the Holy Light Armor, meant its destructive power was absolutely terrifying. And that was merely the strength of an early tier Magnus.

If an Arcanist mage-level mental energy were used instead, collapsing half a town wouldn't be out of the question.

"Good. I'll send someone shortly to retrieve some beneficial magical recovery ingredients from the national treasury. Combined with the healing potions prepared by the physicians, it'll be twice as effective."

Looking at Lyra lying in bed, wearing a simple white nightgown, Astrid continued.

"Also, maids will come shortly to assist with your daily care. If you need anything, just disable the soundproofing barrier and call for them."

Hearing Astrid say this, Lyra instinctively spoke up.

"Then Astrid won't be..."

Staying overnight.

Halfway through, realizing her focus was inappropriate, Lyra immediately fell silent, swallowing slightly.

It was already kind of Astrid to assign dedicated personnel to care for her, yet she hadn't even properly expressed gratitude, instead sounding as if she was demanding Astrid to stay with her.

What kind of greedy creature was she, Lyra?

Seeing Lyra hesitant mid-sentence, Astrid, setting aside her previous thoughts, repeated her words slowly.

"Then Astrid won't be..."

The final word was drawn out especially long, like continuously tickling Lyra's heart. Astrid looked at the pink-haired girl before her, breathing softly.

"...staying with me tonight?"

Timid, yet carrying a hint of pouting sorrow. But paired with those slightly smiling, intensely alluring wine-red eyes, she didn't look sorrowful at all, rather, it seemed like deliberate seduction.

After finishing her sentence, seeing Lyra's beautiful face instantly flush red and those sky-blue eyes glistening with faint mist, Astrid, pleased with her successful teasing, lightly adjusted the lace trim on her sock cuff, her voice low and languid.

"I told you last night, didn't I? If Lyra went to sleep early, I'll stay here with you tonight, even if there are maids nearby."

"After asking my questions, you just held your pillow and didn't move. You did fulfill 'going to sleep early'."

Whether she'd truly fallen asleep, or had simply been too embarrassed to respond after being teased by Astrid, that remained to be investigated.

"..."

Unable to determine whether she should feel shyly annoyed by Astrid's teasing or happy about the subsequent promise of companionship, Lyra puffed her cheeks and lowered her head, her hands gripping her skirt hem. Yet deep down, she felt no unhappiness at all.

Princess Astrid truly was a person filled with mischievous quirks... But she truly treated her with the utmost kindness...

It was just unfortunate that she always ended up defeated. She wondered what the usually aloof Princess Astrid would look like when she became shy.