Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 494: Special Warm Stone

Most nobles in the capital were generally aware of the intimate relationship between Astrid and Lyra. After all, the former never concealed her protection of the latter, whether it was Astrid, then still a princess, standing on the dueling platform of Elizabeth Academy of Magic and speaking out for Lyra in front of the entire audience, or her subsequent series of care and cultivation toward this gifted commoner regarding her studies and daily life, their closeness was widely known.

However, in the remote North, where information was scarce, how could the city guards who had never left their frozen posts possibly understand the bond between Astrid and Lyra? The only thing they knew was that Lyra had defeated Princess Iris of the Kingdom of Velys in a cross-level duel and was granted a Baroness title by the Emperor, an achievement closely tied to the Honor Knights.

Therefore, when they heard Lyra's voice, clearly different from her usual tone, many turned to look.

Only afterward did Lyra realize her voice had carried obvious excitement. She pressed her lips together, recalling the noble etiquette lessons taught by the head maid: when addressing nobles in public, one should use titles, positions, or other formal terms of respect.

Especially since Astrid was now visiting as a high-ranking noble, she shouldn't be careless.

After a moment's hesitation, Lyra added in a more formal tone.

"Your Grace, the Regent... welcome to the inspection..."

The previous sentence had been brimming with excitement, but the sudden shift to formality now seemed overly stiff, almost over-corrected.

Astrid gazed at the pink-haired girl before her, clad in radiant Holy Light Armor, her demeanor entirely different from the clumsy maid, like a completely transformed person. A soft, cherry-pink smile curved at her lips.

"Last night's inspection happened to coincide with the guard shift change, so I couldn't see our imperial fortress right away. Looking back, it's truly regrettable."

"Yet now, with your sword drawn and armor strapped on, Commander Lyra stands out more brilliantly than ever."

Compared to Lyra's brief lapse, Astrid's words were polite and proper, her manner and speech exuding the dignified elegance of a highly noble, utterly flawless.

She said it this way for two reasons: first, Lyra had been appointed by Duke Charles as commander responsible for one-third of the city's defense line, so appearing too girlish wouldn't help her establish authority in the military; second, Astrid also wanted to indulge a small personal amusement.

Lyra noticed that oddball humor as well.

Couldn't see it right away... but they had spent a long time talking backwards, and even slept in the same bed in the end...

And yet she spoke as if they were meeting for the first time today.

As her words ended, Astrid stepped forward gracefully, the sound of her black high heels clicking against the ground just as Lyra had heard countless times in the capital when she was still a maid.

"Almost forgot, I brought a warm stone for our knight lady."

A gemstone pendant shimmered, and a small pale-red stone appeared in Astrid's palm. This time, she didn't instruct a soldier to deliver it. Instead, she extended her hand personally, placing the gift into Lyra's.

"May warmth always stay with you," Astrid said.

Lyra accepted the small stone from her beloved. At first touch, it carried a faint warmth, as if traces of Astrid's hand temperature still lingered.

Of course, upon reflection, she knew it was just her imagination. Astrid had only touched the stone for a few seconds, how could the warmth be so noticeable?

Lyra received it gently, cradling it with both hands, lowering her blue eyes to examine it carefully. The surface pattern seemed different from the other warm stones she'd seen, naturally, as the commander who arrived early at the front lines, Lyra, had seen the soldiers' harvests from last night, those thoughtful gifts sent by the Regent.

In an inconspicuous spot at the lower right corner, a flower-like carved pattern occupied a small area of the warm stone. Lyra blinked her lashes, vaguely overlooked it.

At that moment, the sword scabbard hanging at her waist made a crisp sound as it brushed against her armor when she stepped forward. The beautiful floral engravings on the scabbard glittered in the light.

Hearing the sound, Lyra suddenly realized the source of those floral patterns was the decoration of the scabbard she had conjured to house her Holy Light Sword, that wild country flower that once bloomed in a small room in Morin Village, growing toward the light.

Astrid... remembered even this...?

It was such a trivial thing.

Her delicate white fingertips touched the warm stone. Only then did Lyra realize another thing.

So hers was the one Astrid had carefully selected and specially engraved, this unique, special-edition piece?

"..."

This gift didn't make her seem superior among the soldiers, contradicting Lyra's consistent frontline-leader combat style. At the same time, it perfectly expressed her special place in Astrid's heart, gentle and thoughtful.

A warmth welled up in her heart. Those usually resolute blue eyes shimmered with a soft light. Some soldiers nearby noticed, but the change was too swift, by the next second, her expression had returned to calm.

Commander Lyra... how could she have such a girlish side...?

Could it be because their eyes were playing tricks?

"Thank you, Your Grace, the Regent," Lyra whispered softly, lifting her gaze to meet Astrid's.

"I will keep it carefully."

Every token Astrid gave her, Lyra cherished deeply.

Seeing this, Astrid nodded slightly, then stepped forward, wrapping her arm around Lyra's waist in full view of everyone.

"You've worked hard all along."

Her elegant, silk-sleeved arm circled Lyra's waist, touching the hard armor, yet Astrid didn't seem to mind at all. She gave Lyra a gentle hug.

"I am proud that the Empire has Lyra, and all these knights who fight alongside her."

After the embrace, the black fabric of her dress creased slightly. Seeing Lyra's cheeks faintly flushed, Astrid's lips curved into a smile before she continued.

"Let's head to the military training ground. The speech is about to begin."

During the days aboard the mana airship, she hadn't just sat around sightseeing, Astrid had drafted and revised multiple versions of her speech.

Hearing Astrid's words, Lyra pressed the warm stone gently against her chest and murmured.

"Okay."

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

Because the Kingdom of Velys loomed nearby, ever ready to invade, this wartime speech led by Astrid wouldn't involve all soldiers. A portion still needed to remain on the walls, guarding against any surprise attacks.

As for the content, Astrid approached it from three main angles: first, strongly condemning the Kingdom of Velys's invasion of neighboring nations, defining it as unforgivable criminal behavior. Then, from a legal standpoint, she dismantled the absurd claim by the Velys King that Valeria Empire's lands rightfully belonged to his kingdom.

"Ever since the fall of the Lorin Empire, the two kings established the tundra beneath our feet and the continent-spanning abyssal fissure as a shared border, jointly swearing non-aggression. From that moment on, the Kingdom of Velys and Valeria Empire became two independent human kingdoms, each ruled by their own monarchs, with people and land belonging solely to their respective realms."

"For hundreds of years later, successive kings affirmed the legality of this border. On territorial matters, there has never been any dispute between the two nations."

"Their current attacks serve only the king's personal desires, an evil act that must be stopped."

After dispelling rumors and clarifying the righteousness of their resistance, Astrid shifted to emphasize its inevitability.

"The wolf called Velys has seen the Empire's fertile lands, calling them a divine miracle granted by the God of Light to all humanity, a paradise flowing with milk and honey."

"Once this ravenous wolf charges our gates, it will bare its fangs, extend its claws, and tear all beauty into shreds."

"Facing civilians, these vicious invaders will order their soldiers to slaughter without hesitation, as casually as butchering livestock. Blood will stain the earth, severed limbs will hang from tree branches."

"Even the legendary hells could not surpass such horror."

"Behind us lies the Empire, our homeland."

"The land where all our memories were born."

On the training field, Philice, daughter of Duke Charles, watched the imperial regent standing straight and confident under the sunlight, her elegance undeniable. Her gaze soon drifted to Lyra, who was staring at Astrid with unwavering focus.

The pink-haired, blue-eyed commander bathed in the morning light, her delicate features strikingly beautiful, her expression utterly clear, gazing devotedly at the silver-haired beauty at the center delivering her speech to the army.

It was a state... Philice had never seen before...

Although Lyra was always serious in her duties and gave off a warm presence, right now, as she stared at Astrid, her sky-blue eyes seemed to have found the very center of light in the world.

Even... making Philice feel something...

Deep feelings?

On the stage, Astrid continued her speech, spending nearly an hour elaborating the justification and necessity of their resistance. Her throat had grown slightly dry.

But clearly, the effect was good. The soldiers stared below at her intently, no longer listless as they once were.

Of course, this result was also thanks to Astrid's actions the previous night. The high-and-mighty regent personally visiting the troops, delivering warm stones to soldiers suffering from the cold, this was an act that would undoubtedly go down in history, especially in a medieval nation where almost all nobles treated commoners as tools and expendable resources, taking pride in exploitation.

Clearing her throat, Astrid looked over the crowd. Having just discussed national and personal grievances, her voice softened from its earlier intensity.

Now it was time to move beyond morale-boosting rhetoric and address practical matters.

"Though the new Empress remained in the capital, she deeply cared about the war effort. Not only has she reduced agricultural taxes in regions near the front lines, but she has also ensured abundant logistical supplies."

"You are heroes standing on the line between life and death, defending our homeland. Your rewards will naturally be generous. Here is the second decree issued after the new Empress' ascension: the quarterly military pay for every soldier will be increased, with the additional expenses covered by the royal family..."

"Moreover, those injured in battle can request free medical treatment from their towns. For the heroic souls who fall fighting the enemy, their families will receive a generous compensation package based on the household registration data submitted by each region to the royal court."

Spiritual and material incentives combined, honor and practical benefits both addressed, Astrid had done everything within a monarch's power.

The rest now relied on Empress Amalia, in charge of domestic affairs. As long as she assured supply lines, Astrid was confident she could revive the army's nearly moral depletion.

After the speech ended, all soldiers returned to their posts.

To demonstrate the regent's word was trusted, the city guards on duty today received a special meal: fresh fish transported from the Empire's southeastern rich seaports, preserved throughout the journey with ice-elemental crystal stones.

Even nobles rarely had the chance to taste such delicacies, let alone these northern-born who might never have seen sea in their lives.

In addition to the seafood, Amalia had also prepared some beef for those who couldn't eat it, and entrusted Astrid with a small amount of fine imperial wine, strictly portioned to prevent intoxication, allowing the soldiers a modest treat.

Sensing the rich aroma in the air and the soldiers bowing their heads to eat, Astrid, with her keen sense of smell, quietly slipped out of the dining hall to get some fresh air.

In her past life, she wouldn't have minded such things, but this body was far more fragile.

Although she was now a mage of Magnus level, capable of casting preemptive spells to prevent illness, after several unpleasant experiences, Astrid still chose to avoid it. Just the scent of seafood made her feel slightly unwell.

The morning speech had gone reasonably well. In the afternoon, she will visit the two other secondary fortresses, repeating today's actions and speech to the other soldiers.

With this in mind, Astrid urged Elise to inform Lyra, then headed to Duke Charles's residence to discuss the next steps.

This meeting, however, brought Astrid less-than-ideal news.

"I was just about to send someone to find Your Grace to discuss this matter."

In the command room, a yellowed map covered the wooden table. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Duke Charles sat at the table, his wrinkled hand resting on the edge, his voice low.

"Recently, soldiers reported that many people in Siyak town have contracted colds, showing symptoms of coughing, fever, and general weakness."

Sislin, Astrid knew the name. It was the town where her airship had landed last night, the nearest supply point to the frontline.

"I recall that the Empress' list to the logistics officers included various medicinal herbs and treatment supplies."

Astrid crossed one black-stockinged leg, her white wrist resting against her chin as she replied softly.

She certainly knew Charles wouldn't bring this up without reason. She was merely making it easy for him to continue, so they could get to the heart of the matter quickly.

"That's correct."

Charles nodded, his facial muscles twitching slightly.

"But the situation is not as simple as we imagined. According to the soldiers' reports, this doesn't seem to be an ordinary flu."

"It appears more like... some kind of plague..."