Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 489: My dear Knight

Forty minutes ago, during the shift change among night guards, a convoy of carriages entered the town from the southeast of Liya Tower Fortress. Among them was Charles and the group accompanying Astrid.

Unaware that she and Lyra had narrowly missed meeting each other on the wall, Astrid stepped down from the carriage and was personally escorted by Duke Charles up the stairs beside the southeast gate. She then proceeded to inspect each defensive outpost along the wall.

Many soldiers might not have known the name Astrid Calliste, nor realized she had become the Empire's regent, but even Duke Charles behaved with utmost deference before this woman in black, clearly indicating her extraordinary status.

"It's already deep into the night, the ground is frozen and the air bitterly cold. Despite these harsh conditions, you all continue steadfastly at your posts. Your loyalty and devotion to the Empire are evident to heaven and earth."

Wearing delicate black lace gloves, she gently touched the brim of her hat. Her snow-white silver hair cascaded down to her waist. Astrid fluttered her eyelashes, and the ruby pendant around her neck emitted faint glimmers of light.

"My name is Astrid Calliste, the current regent of the Valeria Empire, appointed by the new Empress."

"I feel fortunate that the Empire has warriors such as yourselves."

Her spatial artifact rippled with infused mental energy, and soon, an exquisitely crafted cloth pouch appears in her palm.

"Please have Duke Charles arrange for these to be distributed among the soldiers."

After speaking, Astrid handed the pouch to her attendant and gently explained,

"Inside are heat stones capable of warding off the cold. Simply warm them by the fire normally, and wear them close to your body when on duty to ensure continuous warmth."

Compared to complex magical devices, these small stones, which merely stored and released heat, were relatively easy to manufacture. They also didn't require expensive crystalline stones available on the market. However, their raw materials were somewhat special, only found in specific mines within the Duke Thomas Redgrave's territory.

At a time like this, distributing them through her hands as the regent will serve to significantly boost the morale of the troops.

Upon hearing this, Charles gave a slight nod and signaled his attendant to take the pouch and distribute it according to the number of soldiers.

Seeing this, Astrid pursed her lips and continued walking forward with her long, graceful strides.

"As the first line of defense against the invasion of the Kingdom of Velys, each section of this wall is inscribed with defensive magical circles, designed to shield the guards from offensive magic and prevent irreparable casualties."

Seeing Astrid continue forward, Charles kept his hands clasped behind his back and calmly explained the outpost's layout.

"Temporary stations are set up every fifty meters, mainly for warming the soldiers, operating more precise magic-powered weapons, and providing short periods of rest."

The thick moonlight shrouded the frozen plains. Scattered sounds of hammering reached Astrid's ears as she approached part of the wall. The silver-haired girl paused momentarily, her slender heels tapping sharply against the bricks with a crisp "click."

Below the wall, artisans in thick woolen robes swung hammers, while others held sturdy nails, carving intricate patterns into the wall surface.

"Must this be done at this hour?" Astrid ran her hand along the edge of the wall, her pink lips parting slightly.

Charles nodded and replied in a smooth voice.

"Although visibility is poorer at night, the dark elements permeating the air make it difficult for the Church Knight Order's light circles to function."

"In other words, this is the time when the light knights find it hardest to launch an attack. Therefore, we usually let the artisans sleep during the day and work at night."

"The section they're repairing now was a primary target of the Church Knight Order just a few days ago. If we don't hasten the repairs, it will easily become a breakthrough point in our next engagement."

Once the frontline is breached, the threat extends beyond just the artisans to every soldier within Liya Tower Fortress.

After hearing this, Astrid's delicate brows slightly furrowed, then relaxed after a moment. She continued walking with elegant strides along the towering wall.

She inspected the soldiers stationed along the wall, personally handing out the warming stones. When Astrid reached a lookout post on the northeastern section of the wall, Charles spoke up appropriately.

"Further ahead lies the defensive sector of our newly promoted Knight Captain, Lyra Beckett."

As a flank position, the defensive pressure here wasn't too great, making it ideal for the gifted magic academy graduate, strong in combat but lacking the experience of veteran soldiers, to gain practical training.

However, based on Lyra's recent performance, she wasn't much different from the veterans. Her battlefield commands were quick and accurate, and she possessed a powerful sense of responsibility that naturally inspired others to follow her.

This was the rarest quality in a commander and the primary source of true leadership.

Hearing this, Astrid gave a slight nod and entered the temporary station where Lyra had countless times sat and counted the seconds.

Perhaps her luck wasn't good, but Lyra happened to be among those who had just been relieved from duty. She was no longer in the station but had gone inside the fortress to the dining hall for a meal.

Knowing this, Astrid didn't stop her inspection. Instead, she continued methodically distributing the warming stones, offering words of comfort, promising the Empire would pay wages on time, actively organizing logistics, and providing compensation to the families of injured and deceased soldiers.

It could be said without exaggeration that the treatment of frontline soldiers in the Valeria Empire surpasses that of most medieval kingdoms Astrid remembered from her past life.

'I hope my dear sister can hold the rear. This is just the beginning.'

After completing the final round of inspections, Astrid planned to leave the rest for tomorrow, the regent's arrival at the front carried a significance nearly equal to the Empress herself leading the troops in person. Even if not done ostentatiously, at the very least, orders should be issued to the entire army, and formations arranged for the regent to review the military display.

Leaving the wall, she gently brushed aside her hair cooled by the wind, feeling the warmth from her shawl. Astrid calmly asked Charles where she would be staying that night.

"If it's not a bother, there are private rest rooms in the central fortress, although their furnishings and layout cannot compare to those in Siyak Town."

Astrid had arrived in haste, and news traveled slowly. Even if Charles had wanted to, he couldn't have prepared a luxurious residence fully equipped with magical devices, comparable to a palace, within just a few hours.

"No matter. With the war in such a critical state, even someone as noble as a prince should live simply."

Glancing sideways at the endless night beyond the gate, as if recalling something, Astrid slowly spoke.

"Where is Lyra staying now?"

"Your Highness, she's also in the central fortress, in the private bedroom designated for officers."

"Is that so?"

Her night-sky colored dress swayed gently, like a lotus blooming on snow. Astrid brushed her hair aside and spoke softly.

"Then take me there."

"At this hour, she should have finished dinner and returned to her room to rest."

Knowing the regent had a close relationship with the Honorary Knight, and that Astrid had even communicated with him before Lyra's arrival at Liya Tower Fortress, asking him to look after her, Charles naturally didn't inquire further. He simply replied with respectful demeanor.

"As you command, Your Highness."

Ten minutes later, at the private bedroom where the Knight Captain rested, Astrid, having received Elise to settle her luggage, stood before the door. She inserted the key into the lock and gently turned it.

It had been a long time since they last met, and emotions couldn't help but run high. Even Astrid, usually composed, felt a faint sense of anticipation stirring in her heart.

She wondered how Lyra was doing now. Through letters, she couldn't see the real person, and there was always a sense of unreality.

Vaguely sensing her emotions were more intense than she'd imagined, Astrid heard a soft "click" from the lock. She gently pushed, and the door opened.

A faint, delicate scent of a young woman instantly filled with her nostrils, like rosemary, yet also reminiscent of citrus, carrying a sweet, sun-kissed fragrance.

As a master of perfumes, Astrid was always sensitive to scents and immediately recognized this long-missed, pleasant aroma and its owner.

A certain long-lost pink-haired maid.

A faint "tap" reached her ears, like water spilling over a container onto the floor nearby. Not seeing Lyra in the room, Astrid immediately understood something, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly.

Is she taking a bath?

Bending down, she gently and silently removed her two delicate high heels that could easily make noise. Her smooth, silk-covered feet, as dark and smooth as chocolate, stepped onto the carpet. Astrid walked forward slowly, approaching the soft bed.

Inside the bathroom, Lyra seemed unaware anyone had entered the room. She kept her eyes closed, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

After all, the central fortress houses three knight captains, Duke Charles and his family, and the Arcanist mage Carlotta, key figures all protected by the highest-level defensive barrier. Except for Duke Charles and Lyra herself, no other being could breach the barrier and enter this private room.

Therefore, this small, intimate space was virtually impossible for assassins to infiltrate. Only here would Lyra truly relax and let her guard down, no longer constantly sensing her surroundings.

Meanwhile, Astrid controlled her steps, minimizing any sound she might make. Her gaze fell upon a small wooden figurine placed quietly on the nightstand.

The carved doll held a slender wooden sword raised high against its chest. Beside the base lay a black silk hair ribbon. Although an item as easily misplaced as socks, Lyra clearly cherished it deeply. Even after returning from the front lines, exhausted, she had carefully folded it and placed it on the nightstand. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Astrid gazed at the ribbon, and her thoughts drifted back to the day they parted.

After a brief contemplation, Astrid didn't reach out to touch the ribbon. Instead, she heard the water sounds from the bathroom becoming clearer, realizing Lyra was about to finish washing. A faint smile curved her lips.

Since she hadn't seen it on the bed upon entering, she decided to keep the surprise going a little longer.

She stepped quietly to the window, preparing to use the curtains to conceal most of her body. Seeing it worked well but realizing it might also easily frighten someone, she ultimately chose to sit at the desk, using the solid wooden chair back to hide herself.

The bathroom door opened. Lyra, already changed into her clothes for the next day, lay down on the bed as usual, preparing to fall asleep.

Suddenly, she lightly sniffed the air, sensing something unusual. The pink-haired girl rubbed her head, sitting up with a slightly puzzled expression.

Could it be... she missed the other person so much that she was hallucinating?

But... this scent is exactly the same as Astrid's...

As someone who had once personally served the Third Imperial Princess, Lyra knew it all too well.

Curling her white-stockinged legs, she carefully sniffed the air. Besides her own soap scent and the clean grass scent from her clothes, there truly was a particularly pleasant fragrance.

Finding her slippers, she slowly stood up. Lyra tiptoed toward the room's entrance, her steps more tense and tentative than usual.

Like seeing a beam of light in the dark, yet afraid it wasn't a guiding lantern but merely fireflies fallen into the mud.

The closer she got to the entrance, the faster her heart beat. Lyra, vaguely suspecting what might be happening, unconsciously held her breath. The sword-shaped light mark on her fingernail flickered faintly, forming a dim glow.

Within this dim light pillar, Lyra lowered her gaze and saw the pair of night-sky colored high heels, elaborately decorated, neatly placed at the entrance by Astrid.

Her emotions suddenly surged. A bright color flooded her mind. The impact of this instant left Lyra momentarily dazed, even causing her sky-blue pupils to briefly lose focus.

A... Astrid?

Perhaps fearing what she saw wasn't real but just a hallucination born from longing, Lyra bent her knees. Her slender, pale fingertips gently touched the outer edge of the high heels and the thin black strap that usually encircled the woman's delicate ankle.

It wasn't the cold from prolonged exposure to the freezing air, but carried a faint residual warmth.

Not a hallucination... This is a real, tangible object...

Could it be... Astrid...

The next moment, Lyra felt a pair of slender, soft arms gently wrap around her neck. A soft, full sensation pressed against her back. Warm breath brushed her sensitive ears, making every cell in her body tremble.

"Long time no see, my dear..."

Astrid's voice was soft. Her pink lips neared Lyra's earlobe, and even her legs, covered by stockings, pressed against the pink-haired girl's knees.

"...Miss Knight~"

Her fingers lightly caressed Lyra's chin, gently tapping her lips. Astrid continued.

"Have you been thinking of me lately?"

The sweet, floral scent, now several times stronger than before, splashed against her neck, as if her entire body were enveloped in fragrance.

Lyra's body trembled slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

"A... Astrid..."

How could she be here, at this moment?

"It's me."

Astrid gently released the arms around Lyra's neck, her voice soft.

"You just checked the shoes I took off. If they're real, then I am too."

Her hand trailed down, gliding along the smooth lines of the girl's flat back, neatly smoothing the freshly washed pink hair.

"This isn't a dream~"

No sooner had the words left her lips than Astrid felt something hard press against her waist.