Princess’s Struggle for Survival

The year following the conclusion of the Magic Exchange Competition, in the capital of the Kingdom of Velys, Iris, clad in a long blue dress, returned to her estate holding a proposal just rejected by the king. As she prepared to head to the study to revise it with a pen, a maid reminded her she had a guest arriving that afternoon, currently waiting in the adjacent garden.

"It's the noble Saintess of Light, Lady Monica Angelis."

Hearing the name spoken by the maid, one known throughout the kingdom, Iris slightly narrowed her eyes, pausing briefly, a flicker of confusion stirring within her.

When she had returned to her homeland from the Valeria Empire, Monica had not met with her privately again, whether to avoid suspicion or due to other political considerations.

Although Iris considered herself inexperienced in politics, she understood what should and shouldn't be done, so she followed Monica's example and left no room for idle speculation.

But what did Monica want, coming to see her now?

"Alright, I understand."

Iris glanced at the stack of parchment in her hand, then raised her eyes toward the graceful, elegant figure waiting in the nearby garden, murmuring softly,

"Prepare two cups of tea. Have Miss Monica wait for me in the study."

"Yes, Your Highness Princess Iris."

The maid departed after receiving her orders. Iris exchanged a distant glance with Monica, gave a slight nod, then returned to the mansion's main hall.

Ten minutes later, in the study of Iris's estate, Monica slowly sat opposite the princess. Her soft, silky hair cascaded down her back, gently supporting her uplifted big breasts, her white dress. Her refined features, touched by light, carry a lazy expression tinged with a natural, innate allure.

Once the soundproof barrier blessed by the God of Light had been drawn, Monica straightened her posture. Her long, shapely legs in white silk stockings crossed elegantly, the sheer fabric pressed taut by the soft flesh, displaying perfectly the smooth tenderness of a woman's limbs.

"It's been a long time, Princess Iris."

Hearing Monica's gentle greeting, Iris politely responded with a few words, folding her hands under her chin, speaking softly.

"Miss Monica is undoubtedly extremely busy. I assume you're not here simply for idle chatter?"

Especially during such a sensitive period.

In the year following the Magic Exchange Competition, the Kingdom of Velys's military had reached its largest size in history. Annual military expenditures had increased several, even over a dozen times compared to a decade prior, this rising burden caused tax rates to climb further, worsening the lives of the common people.

As the religious organization with the deepest influence and greatest power within the empire, the Holy Church of Light played a key role in easing public tensions. They vigorously preached that the kingdom's actions were to spread light to distant lands, and that in the near future, evil heretics would face judgment, while the people beloved by the gods would gain far more land, grain, clothing, and wine than they had now.

To Iris, this was undoubtedly an illustrative promise, a pie in the sky. Yet she couldn't deny that without the Church's doctrinal propaganda, the Kingdom of Velys might have collapsed under accumulated domestic resentment before even declaring war.

War loomed imminent, waiting only for the Valeria Empire to show the slightest sign of fatigue. Then, without hesitation, the king will issue the order, launching this unjust war cloaked in the name of spreading faith but truly driven by self-interest and the desire to plunder foreign lands.

"Of course not." Monica's voice remained gentle as her hand lightly brushed aside, revealing her porcelain-white neck.

The next moment, the white ribbon hidden in Monica's hair shimmered with magical reflections. A flash of light crossed the study, and several stacks of parchment neatly arranged themselves on the desk.

"Princess Iris should be familiar with the Third Imperial Princess of the Valeria Empire, Her Highness Astrid Calliste."

"The Empire Weekly she founded has become an indispensable weekly read among the empire's upper class. Many valuable pieces of intelligence are published within it."

As Monica spoke, Iris shifted her gaze to the parchments before her. After years of improvements, the Empire Weekly's cover now bore a line of gold-embossed text created with special craftsmanship, indicating the specific issue number, while each corner features intricate metallic engravings of gold and silver patterns, making it appear more refined and better suited to the tastes of its readership.

"These are several issues from the past year I considered particularly useful."

Monica's fingertip pressed lightly on the parchment's surface, gently sliding the stack toward Iris.

Iris did not immediately pick them up, pausing for several seconds instead.

How could information published for public view be especially critical intelligence?

Especially given Astrid's meticulous nature.

Sensing Iris's doubt, Monica pursed her lips and continued.

"I understand what Princess Iris is thinking, but please take a moment to skim through them."

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

A gentle breeze stirs the liquid's surface, creating ripples. Monica raised her teacup with elegant motions, took a delicate sip, then turned her gaze toward Iris across the table.

"Does Princess Iris understand my meaning now?"

Iris puts down the parchment. The teacup beside her hand remains untouched, the surface of the tea is still perfectly level as when it was first poured.

"The Valeria Empire's level of magical devices has clearly improved compared to last year."

Although the articles Iris read did not state this directly, between the lines, they told the reader that the empire had affected earth-shaking changes during this period.

Whether it was the degree of magical device growing within aristocratic circles or the inherited technological sophistication, both were steadily advancing.

If she were the emperor of the Valeria Empire at this critical juncture, she would definitely consider using magical devices for something, such as equipping the army with new gear to enhance individual combat effectiveness.

Magical weapons... no, the current question wasn't whether they existed, but rather how advanced they had become...

"Princess Iris is correct, but that is not the point I wish to emphasize."

Such obvious intelligence wouldn't require Monica to bring it up personally, the other Kingdom of Velys elites certainly had realized this long ago.

"Princess Iris…" Monica moistened her throat, her amber-gold eyes calmly met Iris's.

"I've heard that every member of the royal bloodline must thoroughly study the History of the Kingdom of Velys and the Annals of the Lorian Empire."

"You should certainly know, Princess Iris, how greatly different human life was before the invention of the wheel compared to afterward."

"At that time, a massive boulder required several strong men or powerful knights with great physical strength to move. But once the wheel was invented, these troublesome problems were easily solved."

"Thanks to the wheel, crop irrigation became easier, transportation more convenient, and the population began to grow rapidly."

Monica leaned back in her chair, her slender fingers tracing across the parchment.

"Princess Iris probably has a vague understanding of what I'm describing."

After all, this was exactly why Monica insisted so strongly that magical devices could enable humanity to achieve a new leap forward.

Iris gazed at Monica, then spoke slowly.

"I understand what you mean."

It wasn't just about potential magic weapons. In the long term, the Valeria Empire's national strength will only grow stronger, eventually surpassing the Kingdom of Velys completely.

Monica nodded in response, then continued.

"Magical devices are the new 'wheel.' They will bring a series of new turning points."

"And these turning points won't only manifest in ordinary people's lives, they'll appear in many other areas as well."

"Just like how, with the advent of the wheel, the number of laborers performing backbreaking work rapidly decreased. Hardworking livestock replaced repetitive manual labor, and those people rendered obsolete by the times either perished or became cart drivers or craftsmen."

"This is an unavoidable process, Princess Iris."

"Someone must be prepared."

If Astrid had been presented and heard Monica's words, she might have marveled at the other woman's foresight and progressive thinking.

Productivity determines production relations. The economic base determines the superstructure. Rapid economic development inevitably brings about new social reforms.

This was also why most Valeria Empire nobles feared the rapid advancement of magical devices. Beyond worrying their magical knowledge might leak, they are also feared to damage their own interests.

Radical change carries risks, and risks mean hidden losses. To them, maintaining the status quo was always the safest choice.

Iris fell silent for a long time, her eyes fixed on the calm liquid's surface nearby.

"..."

The memory of her previous conversation with Astrid had already made Iris aware of how difficult her path forward would be. Now, Monica's analysis had silently added even more pressure.

She had to preserve the royal family while pushing for reform. The conflicts between commoners and nobles intensified. Her personal relationships clash with her ideals. Everywhere she looked, problems and difficulties waited for solutions.

"Why tell me all this, Miss Monica?" Iris asked.

She was merely an ordinary princess, the least favored by her father. Perhaps these matters were simply beyond her reach.

Upon hearing this, Monica blinked her eyes, her gaze followed Iris's line of sight to the delicate porcelain teacup.

"You are the only heir who holds a belief in peace and is willing to act upon it."

Knowing the path ahead is treacherous, yet still choosing to journey to a foreign land to maintain your faith and ideals.

That alone makes you surpass the other heirs by far.

"..."

After Monica's words, the study fell into prolonged silence. After an unknown length of time, Iris stared at the name engraved in gold on the parchment, her soft pink lips unconsciously tightening.

What had Princess Astrid done? Did she face similar difficulties as Iris?

...........

Meanwhile, far from the kingdom in the Valeria Empire, Astrid and Lyra entered a storage room and saw the remains of a frost wyvern, several times taller than themselves, encased in thick ice.

"This frost wyvern is said to have died over five hundred years ago. Its corpse was preserved in ice, so decomposition was extremely slow. Even now, we can still extract blue dragon blood from its body."

Astrid explained gently, watching the pink-haired girl step forward for a closer look, and Amalia, who though holding her hand, had already shifted her gaze entirely to the wyvern's remains.

"Frost dragons are an intelligent race. However, due to unknown reasons and their inherently weak reproductive capabilities, their numbers are extremely limited today. Most reside in the frozen wastelands of the world's northernmost reaches."

This lavish reward for winning the Magic Exchange Competition had originally been stored in Adler, an ice-free port in the Akures region of the empire's northeast. Just transporting it here had cost a significant amount of money and time.

Listening to Astrid while peering through the ice at the young dragon, Lyra fluttered her eyelashes, her blue eyes reflected the sturdy dragon scales and the sharp angles of the wyvern's face.

"If they're an intelligent race, won't its kin come seeking revenge?"

Perhaps only Lyra would ask such a question upon receiving the remains of a frost wyvern. Other mages would likely already be studying how best to exploit the corpse.

"No. The human empire has lost contact with the dragon clans for over a thousand years. This frost wyvern's remains were discovered as a trophy by Duke Charles' expedition team deep within the glaciers."

After speaking, Astrid turned and led Lyra to the side of the young dragon.

A massive claw-shaped wound was visible on the blue dragon's abdomen, blood frozen within the ice, staining it red.

"It was already dead when the exploration team found it. The time of death was roughly estimated based on burial depth."

It was said that when dragons die, they return to their ancestral resting grounds to enter eternal slumber under the gaze of the gods. But this one clearly wasn't so fortunate, dying so young in the wilds of the wilderness.

Astrid gently pressed her palm against the ice. As a mage with exceptional affinity for ice elements, she wasn't harmed by the cold, only feeling a faint chill.

Her gaze piercing through the ice, staring at the dragon beneath, Astrid couldn't help but recall that apocalyptic battle recreated through the brooch, utterly devastating.

In the distant past, there must have been some special connection between dragons and ancient humans.

And... she wasn't sure if it was an isolated case or a broader pattern...

But their relationship didn't seem to be a good one.

And that dark-haired girl who resembled an ancient human, she certainly knew many secrets about the ancient language.

As she pondered, Astrid felt a faint warmth near her ear, followed by a familiar, light fragrance brushing past her nose, clean and delicate, just like the one carrying it.

"Miss, Professor Charlotte has returned. She said the information you asked her to investigate recently has made new progress."

The head maid leaned down, her smooth, flawless silk-covered legs slightly bent as she whispered close to Astrid's shoulder.

"The specifics, Professor Charlotte wishes to discuss with Miss during dinner."