Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 497: "...Don’t tease me like this anymore.”

In Lyra’s memory, the noble and elegant Princess Astrid possessed many skills one wouldn’t expect from a princess of her stature.

For instance, cooking. Most noble ladies disliked dealing with firewood, rice, oil, and salt, believing such chores would soil their dresses and leave unpleasant odors on their bodies.

At most, they might know how to bake a few pastries or brew tea, just enough to satisfy their vanity before other nobles.

Yet Princess Astrid was skilled at preparing full-course meals. Even Hibbort remarked that the little princess’s dishes rivaled those of royal palace chefs.

Similarly, carpentry, requiring extensive time and frequent contact with wood and iron tools, was another area Astrid had dabbled in.

Back when playing Grand Lord, those intricately carved wooden figurines nearly identical to their likenesses were all crafted by Astrid’s own hands.

Imagining Astrid seated inside the mana energy airship, high above the ground, carefully recalling the details of her sword scabbard while using magic and carving tools to delicately engrave patterns onto warmstone...

Sunlight fell upon the woman’s cheek, accentuating her beautiful features into even greater refinement. Her slender waist was cinched by a silk ribbon, and her long, smooth legs were naturally crossed, everything felt serene and peaceful.

As this image surfaced in her mind, Lyra unconsciously bit her lip. Her legs instinctively drew closer to the wooden chair, the sturdy leg armor clinking softly against the slender table leg.

"So... this was handmade by Astrid?"

Her palm gently caressed the pure white scabbard hanging at her waist. The cool metal patterns touched her skin, transmitting distinct ridges and grooves.

Although the scabbard of the Sword of Light was shaped by Lyra’s own mental energy, even she couldn’t guarantee a perfect 1:1 replica without physical contact.

Yet these tiny details, ones even she sometimes overlooked, were firmly etched into her beloved’s memory.

Staring at the small warmstone on the table, Lyra felt as if her heart were soaked in honeyed syrup, sweetness permeating every corner.

Hearing Lyra’s question, Astrid didn’t deny it. She nodded slightly.

"Mm. I made it."

Just as Lyra had imagined, she had indeed completed this gift aboard the mana energy airship.

It had taken considerable time, but it was worth it, at least judging by Lyra’s current expression, she was only a few degrees away from becoming a whistling kettle.

Handmade versus casually ordering someone else to do it, these carried entirely different meanings. As the Empire’s Regent, Astrid was normally overwhelmed with affairs of state. The fact she found time for such things was deeply touching.

It feels unmistakably like being truly valued by the other person.

Warmth spread through her heart, dispelling the cold wind that had been blowing against her face atop the watchtower moments ago. The pink-haired girl fluttered her eyelashes and gave Astrid a gentle smile.

"I didn’t get the chance to tell you in front of everyone earlier..."

She had wanted to speak, but Astrid’s embrace had interrupted her. Besides, with so many soldiers watching nearby, Lyra had feared losing composure the moment she opened her mouth.

"...I really love this gift," Lyra said.

She loved everything Astrid gave her, but this one, crafted with such care, held far greater meaning than mere warmth.

Feeling Lyra’s joy, Astrid’s lips curved slightly upward. She casually swept aside the silver strands of hair hanging by her ear. Perhaps because she was in the same room with someone familiar, her mind wasn’t so tense, and even her toes relaxed, lightly flicking her black high heels.

"I’m glad you like it."

Truthfully, even Astrid she hadn’t expected to remember the patterns on Lyra’s sword scabbard so vividly.

Almost the moment she decided to make the gift, those intricate designs naturally surfaced in her mind, becoming perfect references for carving the warmstone.

Perhaps, in some unguarded moments, she had recorded every detail related to Lyra, storing them deep within her memory, ready to be revisited at any time, remaining vivid and fresh in the depths of her mind.

Gazing at the noble silver-haired regent across the table, her pink lips moving gently as she spoke, Lyra’s emotions grew even warmer, knowing how deeply Astrid cherished her.

Last night, upon their reunion, Lyra had been more overwhelmed and dazed than articulate in expressing her love. After such a long separation, seeing her beloved appear in this frigid northern frontier felt surreal. Even with tangible body warmth, that sense of unreality didn’t fade quickly.

Astrid truly remained unchanged.

Still as beautiful... as radiant as ever...

And Lyra wasn’t the only one who felt this way. After the speech, as Lyra walked along the long, wide city wall like a captain, she noticed the border soldiers’ eyes now sparkled with renewed determination.

Astrid’s speech had given them a clear purpose in battle, a definite enemy to resist, glorious honor, and the promise of wealth that would benefit their entire family.

Even if they died today, they would know exactly why they died, and how the Empire would care for their families.

If someone else had delivered such words this morning, Lyra, familiar with the upper class’s ways, might have dismissed it as mere tactics to boost morale, a politician’s lie, promises made publicly that might never be fulfilled.

But the speaker was Astrid Calliste. She believed wholeheartedly that the woman she loved would never betray these soldiers who sacrificed for their nation.

Noticing Lyra stared intently at her lips, her cheeks tinged with a faint red, whether from the cold or lingering emotion, Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly. The heel of her high heel tapped gently against the floor tiles.

"Come to think of it, why did you leave this morning without saying a word, Lyra?"

"Sharing a bed with someone, then leaving the next morning without a word, isn’t that unbecoming of a noble?"

Her cool tone echoed through the air, yet the words themselves carried undeniable undertones.

Sharing a bed... then leaving without a word...

While technically accurate, hearing it phrased that way felt strangely awkward.

As if... she were some utterly inconsiderate, terrible person...

At Astrid’s words, Lyra’s thoughts shifted from the speech back to their conversation. Her fair cheeks flushed slightly as she softly replied.

"I had guard duty this morning. I needed to wake up very early."

"Since Astrid was still sleeping... I didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t do anything. I just left quietly..."

Before leaving, watching Astrid’s sleeping face on the bed, Lyra hesitated for a moment, ultimately deciding against kissing her. Instead, she gently pulled the blanket over Astrid and quietly exited the room.

Although it had been ages since they last met, and her longing for closeness had long reached its peak, Lyra still chose not to act on it.

First, she might wake Astrid, rendering her careful, quiet morning routine pointless. Second, Astrid wasn’t awake, and they hadn’t officially defined their relationship, kissing her would be inappropriate.

So... she could only continue suppressing these feelings...

Hearing Lyra’s explanation, Astrid blinked. Her crimson eyes reflect the girl’s face, clear as a pristine ruby.

"Really... you did nothing at all?"

Astrid asked softly, her voice carrying a faint languidness. A subtle glint shimmered in her eyes, as if she could see straight into Lyra’s heart.

"I thought, at the very least, there might’ve been a morning kiss or something."

The phrasing, the familiar tone, this was still the Astrid who enjoyed teasing her.

It felt as if a switch had been flipped. Lyra recalled how Astrid used to tease her in the past, and all those intimate, heart-racing moments. Instantly, her pale ears turned bright red.

"A-A-Astrid..."

Had this been the Lyra from before, she would likely have stammered, "Th-that kind of thing, h-how could I possibly?" then blushed deeply, accusing Princess Astrid of teasing her again.

But now, she had already confessed her feelings fully to Astrid. After such a long separation from the one she loved, Lyra moistened her lips and spoke softly.

"If... if Astrid wants it..."

"...it’s okay."

More than Astrid wanted it, Lyra was the one who yearned most deeply to be close to the person before her.

Meeting Lyra’s gaze, Astrid let her other high heel gently touch the floor. She arched a delicate eyebrow and spoke gently.

"Could it be... Lyra doesn’t want to?"

As she spoke, Lyra felt something press against her leg armor. Glancing down under the table, she spotted a midnight-blue satin stiletto.

The exquisitely crafted toe tapped against the armor, producing a clear sound. The smooth, delicate foot, clad in sheer black stockings and only partially covered by leather, was exposed to the air, like a delectable slice of cake.

Lyra knew perfectly well this wasn’t accidental, there was ample space under the table. Even with both of them crossing their legs, their feet shouldn’t have been touched. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

This could only mean... Astrid did it on purpose...

Her brilliant white leg armor lightly tapped by a shoe as dark as night, Astrid applied minimal pressure, far less than a sword’s strike, but the impact on Lyra was no weaker.

If anything, a blade strikes the body, but this strikes the soul.

Seeing the girl momentarily dazed, as if struck by lightning, Astrid’s lips curled with amusement. Her pair of black-stockinged legs peeked partially from beneath her flowing skirt.

The next moment, a distinct sound echoed through the room, like silverware dropping onto a plate, or raindrops splashing into a pond.

"Why aren’t you speaking, Lyra?" Astrid propped her cheek on one hand, her beautiful eyes half-closed as she gazed at Lyra. Her snow-white wrist emerged from the black sleeve, so pale it was almost blinding.

Although the Holy Light Armor covered Lyra’s entire body, it was ultimately a light armor design. To ensure mobility, it leaves far more skin exposed than heavy plate armor, especially around the joints, where noticeable gaps remain.

And this gave the wicked woman the perfect opportunity to tease her.

To prevent chafing and for warmth in the freezing climate, Lyra had wrapped her legs in delicate white stockings, now faintly visible beneath the rigid armor, like fine snow caught between roof tiles.

Feeling warm against her calf, Lyra instinctively tensed her waist and averted her eyes. A pure black stiletto lay tilted on the floor, its sole reflects the tiles. The dark sole burned like fire in Lyra’s heart.

Seeing the girl remain silent, Astrid continued resting her arm on the table, her water-like eyes now fully closed, her long lashes quivering slightly.

The texture of the armor transferred faithfully to her skin, accompanied by the faint rustle of fabric. Focusing intently on the joints between armor plates, she felt a soft, ice-cream-like sensation gently touched by onyx. Alongside it, the blush on Lyra’s cheeks deepened.

Her gaze lowered further, catching sight of a delicate, petite black-stockinged ankle. Lyra felt her eyes grow hot, unable to look any lower.

Astrid... this is simply too much...

Above the table, the silver-haired, red-eyed imperial princess maintains an expression of calm elegance. Her exquisite, doll-like face bathed in light, her noble grace making it impossible for anyone to guess that she wasn’t simply resting with eyes closed.

All the undercurrents surged beneath the dining table.

Having confirmed Lyra’s calf lines were even straighter than she imagined, Astrid found a gap in the armor. Her lips curled into a more pronounced smile, tugging the sheer silk fabric like a tiny brush gently stroking.

Lyra’s heart pounded wildly, nearly bursting from her chest. Her hands, resting on the table, clenched tightly without notice.

She almost wanted to reach out and grab Astrid, preventing her from maintaining control.

Otherwise... she wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer.

Astrid... where on earth did she learn this trick...

"Astrid..."

Suddenly, the Holy Light Armor at Lyra’s knees clinked together. She swallowed hard and whispered.

"...Don’t tease me like this anymore."

This wasn’t just crossing a line, it was... it was...

She couldn’t put it into words.

Hearing Lyra’s plea, Astrid slowly opened her eyes. Across the table, the girl’s face was flushed crimson, her sky-blue pupils shimmering with moisture.

"So, you still haven’t given me an answer yet~"

Her enticing pink lips parted as Astrid spoke softly.

Completely under Astrid’s spell, Lyra’s heartbeat had reached its peak. Her once-clear blue eyes were now misty with emotion. The blush that had started at her ears had spread across her cheeks, even staining her pale neck.

"..."

"I..." The girl opened her mouth. Her pair of straight, slender, white-stockinged legs pressed tightly together, leaving no gap at all.

"I want..."

Compared to what she’d just experienced, even Astrid’s provocative actions seemed to make this statement easier to voice.

"I want... to kiss Astrid..."

Hearing Lyra’s answer, Astrid smiled radiantly, her voice dripping with allure.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier? I wouldn’t have refused you."

"Lyra~"

With that low, deep call, the woman leaned forward, slowly drawing closer to Lyra.