Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 478: "Just love me a little more... sister.”

The ripples of magical energy dissipated, and space returned to tranquility. Residual arcane particles scattered and drifted, finally vanishing into nothingness within Amalia’s gaze.

"Sister... The contract recorded upon the Imperial Scepter has been lifted..."

This meant that Astrid’s unconditional obedience to the Empire’s Emperor ended here.

The weeping white-haired girl’s long eyelashes drooped low, her slender waist trembling like a willow branch. She swallowed hard, her lips trembling slightly.

"There’s nothing left... that will bind you anymore."

Her sister was the moonlight that had descended over high walls to free her from her cage. How could she selfishly deprive the other of her freedom for her own desires?

Someone like that... didn’t deserve her sister’s love...

"I’m sorry... I’m sorry...."

Sobbing echoed through the room, interwoven with Amalia’s broken apologies, as if trying to express all her remorse to Astrid, the girl repeated the words over and over.

"I should’ve decided the moment we met, yet I kept delaying until now."

"I shouldn’t have hesitated so long..."

"I’m sorry... sister..."

In Amalia’s eyes, if Lyra were in her position, she would’ve immediately helped Astrid break the contract without hesitation. Unlike herself, a half-hearted girl filled with possessiveness, who had secretly clung to a sliver of hope, thinking that if her sister never mentioned it, she could preserve that vow.

On one side was possession, on the other, freedom. Her ever-growing desire constantly battles her reason. Her so-called love was far from pure.

She, who had been nurtured by her sister’s affection, claimed to be growing, yet still remains such a wretched mess.

What a despicable child.

Hearing Amalia’s choked words, Astrid finally understood why the girl was apologizing and why she was crying like this.

At some point in the afternoon, upon learning of the vow’s existence, Amalia’s heart inevitably wavered. On one hand, someone who had endured long-term imprisonment naturally detested restraints and shackles, feeling anger toward Hibbort for making her swear. On the other hand, the possessive instinct inherent in human love influenced her, and Amalia tried to deceive herself, pretending the matter was unimportant so she wouldn’t tell her sister.

Thus allowing the vow to remain, satisfying her heart’s constant desire to stay with Astrid.

Ultimately, the root of Amalia’s apology was her belief that she had stolen her sister’s trust and love, wavering on such a crucial matter and failing to make the right choice immediately. This triggered waves of self-doubt and self-loathing, leading to the current situation.

"Are you really apologizing to me just for a few hours of inner struggle, Amalia..."

Fingers gently stroking the girl’s eyelids through a napkin, warm tears absorbed by the fabric, leaving deeper stains, Astrid spoke softly.

"You’re being far too harsh on yourself."

Not to mention Amalia never abused the existence of this contract to do anything unpleasant to her. Judging from what Astrid knew, the hesitation hadn’t lasted long, merely the brief interval between afternoon tea and dinner.

It was only human nature. There was no need to doubt yourself over this.

Slowly releasing her hand from atop Amalia’s back, Astrid extended her arms downward, gently scooping up the girl’s legs, letting the two slender, white-stockinged calves rest upon her own skirt.

"In my eyes, a person’s goodness is judged by their actions, not their thoughts."

"Amalia making this choice has already proven she’s not a bad child."

Shifting perspective, placing herself in Amalia’s shoes, someone who had grown up starved of love naturally harbored intense possessiveness toward someone she cared for. Anyone else experiencing what Amalia had gone through would likely turn out just like her, perhaps even more obsessive.

What was truly rare and precious was her ability to suppress her own desires, to understand right from wrong, to know what should and shouldn’t be done, and to constantly maintain self-restraint.

Gently embracing Amalia’s waist, letting the girl’s bare, delicate shoulder press against her chest, Astrid leaned her forehead against the girl’s hair, whispering softly.

"I can understand part of what you’re thinking, and I roughly know why you’ve become like this."

"You don’t need to apologize to me, nor should you feel any guilt."

"You’ve done very well, Amalia."

A seventeen-year-old girl with a reclusive personality, so much so that calling her borderline yandere wouldn’t be an exaggeration, managing to suppress the possessive urges welling from deep within her heart through sheer willpower, controlling her instincts with reason, had already surpassed the vast majority of people in the world.

Feeling the soft, delicate touch beneath her legs, hearing the woman’s gentle, soothing voice by her ear, Amalia closed her eyes, listening as Astrid spoke again.

"There’s one more thing I have to correct you on, Amalia."

Fingers threading through golden strands of hair, gently smoothing them, Astrid looked at the girl before her, her pink lips parting slightly.

"You’re completely different from Lucas and Alistair. Don’t compare yourself to those two."

Alistair enjoyed torturing commoners, taking pleasure in their screams. Setting aside his terrible political talent, on a personal level, he was undoubtedly a full-blown psychopath.

As for Lucas, the deceased crown prince, he had indeed lusted after her during his lifetime. But that emotion wasn’t love, it was mere lust, a pervert driven by his lower instincts, nothing more than craving her body.

He had only behaved properly before because Hibbort was still alive and he couldn’t act freely. The moment he got an opportunity, like this unbreakable contract that had caused Amalia’s brief hesitation, he would’ve immediately tried to bed her.

"And besides... in my heart..."

Astrid pursed her lips, her tone soft. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"The current Amalia has, in certain aspects, already surpassed Father."

Surpassed... Hibbort?

Amalia slowly opened her eyes, beneath her long lashes, her pale blue pupils brimming with moisture.

"Where... where have I surpassed him..."

Toward this father, Amalia now harbored only seething anger. Even if he had done it for her sake, or for the Empire, the fact remains that he had placed shackles on her sister. Just thinking about how this man she hated most was repeating upon her sister what had once been done to her made forgiveness impossible.

"Father imprisoned Amalia because your birth was an accident to him, a blemish upon his true love."

"But in this entire affair, both of you were victims. A newborn child bears no fault, and an emperor deceived by a dancer is equally innocent."

"The one truly at fault was that wicked woman, greedy for wealth and status, scheming to climb the social ladder."

From Amalia’s perspective, she was labeled a bastard child from birth, scorned everywhere, then locked away in a castle by her own father, neglected for years. Resenting him was only natural.

But from Hibbort’s perspective, he had first been defiled by a dancer he didn’t love, tarnishing the purity of his once-sacred vows. Then, that woman secretly gave birth to a daughter, causing chaos within the palace.

Putting himself in Hibbort’s shoes, it would indeed be difficult for him to truly love a daughter born from such an accident.

"I can understand Father’s reasons for acting as he did, and I can also understand why Amalia hates him."

Astrid spoke gently, the hotpot on the table bubbling softly, adding a touch of warmth to the somber atmosphere.

"Father couldn’t overcome that inner barrier, so even knowing you were blameless, he still imprisoned Amalia in the castle, condemned to eternal confinement."

"Think about it, someone who could put aside their resentment and cherish the daughter of the woman who defiled them as their most precious treasure... such a person would truly deserve the title of ’saint.’"

"But clearly, Father is just an ordinary man, doing what ordinary men would do, driven by royal dignity and personal feelings, he took his anger out on a child who didn’t yet understand anything."

Astrid wasn’t saying this to belittle Hibbort or excuse him. If she were in the same situation, she wasn’t sure she could have raised Amalia as her own daughter either.

"Imposing the virtues of a saint upon an ordinary person and demanding they live up to it is, in itself, a form of cruelty and unfairness."

"But now, Amalia, your choice makes me feel deeply relieved."

"Only when facing fear does one become brave; temptation and desire are the same. When something you desire is right before your eyes, the restraint and perseverance become all the more precious."

"You’ve done wonderfully, Amalia."

Astrid meant these words sincerely, not just saying them to comfort Amalia.

The small, golden-haired girl in her arms had unknowingly grown into a pillar of the Empire, even surprising Astrid herself.

"To maintain noble self-control when faced with something easily attainable, restraining reason from succumbing to desire, placing respect for one’s lover above overwhelming emotions."

"So please, stop thinking you’ve done anything wrong."

"..."

Perhaps Astrid’s words had taken effect. After a brief silence, Amalia lifted her glistening eyes and spoke softly.

"Does sister really think that..."

Not viewing her wavering as a desecration of pure love, but instead affirming the decision she’d made after struggling.

"Of course..."

Astrid gently took Amalia’s hand and pressed it against her left chest, letting the palm feel the heart beating steadily within her chest.

"I really like the Amalia you are now."

Even though she’d cried until her dress was soaked, beneath her petite and adorable figure lay a firm and kind heart.

Sometimes, she was simply too considerate, making one feel a pang of sorrow.

Feeling sad over things that didn’t need to sadden her, doubting her own intentions.

Feeling the soft, smooth touch in her hand, and the faint heartbeat below, separated only by thin clothing and gentle curves, Amalia sniffled softly, a warm current flowing through her heart.

Sister was... so gentle to her...

"I love you, sister."

Emotions peaking, unable to hold back any longer, more tears slid down her cheeks. But this time, the tears weren’t born from self-loathing, but from the love that surrounded her like air, emanating from her sister.

The napkin used up, Astrid retrieved another silk handkerchief from her storage space, patiently wiping away Amalia’s tears.

Girls are made of water, ancient wisdom held true.

Just tonight, Amalia’s tears had already soaked through several handkerchiefs, even dampening Astrid’s sleeves.

Once the emotions had mostly subsided and Amalia’s tears finally stopped, she pulled her hand away from Astrid’s dress, wiped her face once more, then softly sniffed.

Under the light, the girl’s eyes were slightly red, yet she didn’t look at all worn out.

Seeing Amalia had calmed down, Astrid picked up the grape juice on the table and handed it to her for a sip, replenishing the fluids lost from crying and soothing her throat.

The cool juice slides down, Amalia fully recovered. Recalling Astrid’s earlier words, sharp as she was, she immediately caught the key point.

"Sister just said... ’respect for a lover’...."

"Does that mean you acknowledge my feelings for you as love for a lover?"

"..."

Astrid hadn’t expected that even in such a weeping state, Amalia could still catch the subtle details in her speech. Her crimson eyes softened slightly as she gently nodded.

"Mm."

If there had been even a sliver of doubt before, thinking Amalia might have misjudged her feelings, after this honest exchange, she no longer doubted.

Restraint was also a part of love, like a hand that longed to reach out but dared not touch.

"Then... Can I know your answer now..."

Amalia asked softly, her legs resting on Astrid’s knees tightening unconsciously.

The conversation circled back, finally reaching this crucial final step.

She hoped to hear the answer she desired from Astrid, even if not an immediate acceptance, just a hint of possibility.

Gazing into Amalia’s tear-dampened, glistening blue eyes, Astrid brushed a strand of silver hair falling over her chest and spoke softly.

"I don’t dislike the idea of growing closer to Amalia."

Whether physically or emotionally, she seemed to have no objection to becoming more intimate with Amalia.

"But right now, I can’t make any promises regarding a romantic relationship with you."

She and a certain pink-haired girl, though they hadn’t openly exchanged vows or formally established any relationship, still shared a certain ambiguous understanding.

"Because of Lyra?"

Amalia wrapped her arms around Astrid’s waist, her voice low.

"I understand what sister means..."

"But even if I can’t have you all to myself, I’ll still say this. I still want to be your lover."

"Because I love you deeply, sister."

"So, I just need you to love me."

"Just love me a little more... sister."

The golden-haired girl straightened her back, leaned forward, and gently pressed her lips against Astrid’s.