Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 498: I want More

As Astrid’s face drew closer, those crimson eyes shimmering like starlight skies gradually enlarged in Lyra’s vision, so much that she could even count the number of the other girl’s eyelashes, and see her own reflection mirrored in both of those beautiful pupils.

Her body temperature had already begun soaring the moment that exquisitely crafted midnight-blue high heel dropped to the floor, and when she felt the smooth, delicate touch of silken thighs against her own legs, encased in pristine white stockings, straight and firm, it was as if warm jade had lightly brushed against her. Lyra’s mind plunged into utter chaos, briefly losing all sense of where she was.

Astrid’s actions now... didn’t quite resemble those of a dignified and proper imperial princess.

Rather, they were more akin to those of a silver-haired succubus, lethal in her charm.

Outwardly, she remained so calm and composed, dressed in a black gown, radiating nobility and cold beauty. But beneath that surface, she was being so daring.

Her pale, slender neck gulped slightly. Lyra bit her pink lips gently, her hands resting limply on the hem of her skirt. Her cheeks, flushed like sunset clouds, were dazzlingly rosy.

Delicate, silk-covered feet brushed against leg armor. The soft fabric and steel gently rubbed, creating faint sounds, while part of it slipped into the gaps, black and white intertwining, producing a soft, whispering rustle.

At this moment, in contrast to the rigid inner lining of the armor, that softness stood out more distinctly. Like a serpent, it gently kissed its way upward from the knee, gliding over Lyra’s thigh, which was clad in thick white stockings.

Astrid halted her advance when she was still a short distance away. Tilting her head slightly, her long silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating her already porcelain-white skin. Her blood-red eyes shimmered with an undeniable allure, glistening under the warm indoor lighting, the liquid-like waves within them impossible for Lyra to ignore.

"Just do what you want," Astrid said, curling her lips upward with a slight rise in tone.

This confident, carefree posture seemed to bet on the fact that Lyra wouldn’t dare make those intimate moves. As proof, the actions beneath the dining table grew even bolder, nearly touching Lyra’s skirt hem.

When your beloved acts like this... who could possibly hold back?

Stuck in a desolate, freezing land, enduring the high-pressure environment of constant separation and farewells, she had long yearned for Astrid. Now, faced once again with the other’s teasing and provocation, Lyra felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She took a deep breath, straightened her back, leaned forward, and kissed the lips she had dreamed of.

Astrid didn’t reject her. More accurately, her entire purpose was to guide Lyra into expressing her inner emotions, instead of suppressing them like a monk, only daring to gaze at her with shy, hopeful eyes, afraid to do anything more.

Lips met lips. Like most girls of her age, Lyra didn’t dare open her eyes to look at her kissing partner. Nervously, she closed her eyelids, pressed her lips together tightly, and silently savored the warmth and softness of the other.

She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but today Astrid seemed unusually proactive. Her teasing was different from before, no longer just playful jabs that stopped short.

Previously, Astrid would leave her limbs burning hot, face flushed red, but would never take the initiative to "cool her down." Instead, she’d make Lyra calm herself alone, typically by squeezing her legs around the blanket, burying her face in the sheets, slowly quieting the storm in her heart.

Or else she’d have to wash her face, letting the cool water soothe her rising temperature while washing away the vivid, sensual scenes that uncontrollably sprang to mind in the mind of a girl experiencing first love.

At this tender age, facing someone you loved, there were always those instinctive, hard-to-repress fantasies, something even a pure-hearted holy knight couldn’t avoid.

The sensation of lips meeting felt like kissing a cloud floating in the sky, impossibly soft. Upon closer attention, it was somewhat like cotton candy dusted with powdered sugar, with sweetness trickling between the teeth like delicate threads.

Or perhaps, it was like that day when the aloof, noble silver-haired beauty had ordered the head maid to buy her an ice cream under the blazing sun upon her arrival in the capital.

Perhaps aided by the dual filters of nostalgia and first love, in Lyra’s heart, the taste of that ice cream had been exceptionally sweet. Yet even that couldn’t compare to the current sensation, a soft, fragrant warmth that seemed to reach straight into her soul.

She and Astrid... had kissed again...

And this time, it was with Astrid’s consent, and initiated by herself.

Recalling her first encounter with Astrid, carried away by emotion, Lyra boldly did something daring, just like the first time she’d tasted the cool, refreshing ice cream.

"..."

Noticing Lyra’s movement, Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly. Her pearly teeth parted gently, allowing the pink-haired girl before her to gather sweetness.

She didn’t mind such actions at all.

Moreover, while kissing, feeling Lyra’s softness and sweetness, Astrid herself vaguely felt addicted. And unlike when she did such things with Amalia, she no longer carried that overwhelming guilt of taking advantage of a younger, petite junior. Now, she can follow her own will and become even more proactive.

Sensing Astrid’s growing passion, Lyra, caught off guard and losing the upper hand, instinctively opened her eyes. Before her was the empire’s most beautiful woman, clear eyes, perfect teeth, skin like fresh snow, now blushing faintly, her pale cheeks tinged with red. Her usual coolness now interwoven with a seductive charm, she looked exactly like an imperial succubus whose allure had been maxed out.

Her mind dazzled by the stunning sight, Lyra completely lost control. The dominant force of the kiss seamlessly shifted from Astrid to herself.

At times, Lyra felt like a small boat tossed in waves; at others, like a dancer held at the waist and back by her partner, moving in rhythm, co-creating a passionate dance accompanied by soft, wet sounds.

When both were nearly out of breath, Astrid chose to end this intimate moment.

Compared to that kiss of farewell during their previous parting, this reunion kiss was clearly deeper, more intense, and far more varied.

Lyra felt her entire body go limp. Her burning warmth blocked out the earlier cold, its effect even surpassing the thermal legwear beneath her armor.

Although already deeply submerged, she still wanted more.

They had been apart for so long, communicating only through letters... This tiny moment, how could it possibly be enough?

Watching Astrid prepare to return to her seat, Lyra didn’t know where she found the strength. She placed her palms on the dining table and leaned forward once more.

One step back, one step forward. Astrid’s movement lagged half a beat, and Lyra closed the gap again. Gazing into those eyes that, just minutes ago, had been as clear and pure as the sky, now hazy and dreamy from her own actions, like a drifting bottle filled with water, swaying on the sea’s surface, Astrid couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips, accepting Lyra’s demand.

Perhaps, deep down, she did harbor a bit of mischievousness, whether it was an unreleased part of her true nature, she wasn’t sure.

Astrid loved seeing Lyra gradually lose her rationality before her very eyes. The most direct manifestation was through a series of teasing actions, transforming the girl from a polite, composed maid into a blushing, flustered young woman.

Now, though Lyra wore not a maid’s uniform but a set of holy light armor, her expression remained that of a shy, blushing girl, so delicate she seemed ready to burst into tears at the slightest touch.

It made Astrid want to go even further.

Her fingers traced along the girl’s back armor, pausing slightly at the shoulder blades. She slipped off her high heels, and her bare, silk-covered feet didn’t remain idle either, continuing to pluck at Lyra’s heartstrings.

Thankfully, the Holy Light Armor covered many of the wearer’s vital areas. Had Lyra still been wearing the pale pink pleated skirt she often wore back at the academy, Astrid’s touch could’ve wandered to unimaginable places by now.

Although... that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing...

After all, Lyra still had duties to attend to. Letting everything out completely wasn’t ideal.

Today... would have to suffice.

After a long while, Lyra finally parted her lips, gazing at the flower-like, crimson lips before her, her sapphire-blue eyes misty with emotion.

’I want more.’

That was Lyra’s first thought. The contact with Astrid moments ago had felt almost magical, stirring an irresistible desire to continue.

It wasn’t just about the sweetness, this also brought her a kind of fulfillment she’d never known before.

Compared to the physical excitement and pleasure, the psychological impact was even more pronounced. Perhaps this was the true meaning of a kiss.

Cotton candy was soft and fluffy; ice cream was cool, smooth, and sweet. A kiss without love might not even compare to those.

Only when emotion was added did this contact become so precious, so deeply touching to Lyra, so piercing to the soul.

Seeing the longing in Lyra’s eyes, Astrid, who usually remained so composed before her, suppressed her own desire and spoke softly.

"If we don’t eat soon, the food will get cold."

Her moist voice carries a subtle depth, unmistakably hinting at what had just occurred.

Even Astrid herself, upon her own words, had a fleeting hearing thought of a better way to tease Lyra.

Would you rather eat lunch first...

Or eat me first?

Of course, lunch break was short, and this wasn’t the time for such things. Astrid dismissed the idea after a moment’s thought.

If she kept teasing, Lyra might truly be overwhelmed.

And then, things will become difficult to resolve.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Lyra snapped out of her daze. She moistened her glossy pink lips, her voice equally soft.

"Mm... okay..."

Swallowing, she still feels a lingering, unfamiliar fragrance in her mouth. She took a deep breath, and at the same time, felt the warmth against her legs vanish.

Under the table, Astrid located the high heel that had fallen earlier. But because it had landed at an angle, the shoe rested diagonally against the floor. Trying to slide her foot in with just one leg proved impossible.

"Lyra... Could I ask you a favor?" Astrid fluttered her eyelashes, speaking gently.

"Help me put my shoes back on."

At those words, Lyra, who had just begun to cool down, trembled slightly. Her fingers unconsciously rested on the edge of the table.

"..."

After a moment, the pink-haired girl whispered softly.

"O-okay... Astrid..."

A year of serving as a maid had taught Lyra many things, leaving her with invaluable experience in attending to Astrid.

With her other hand, she picked up the high heel lying on the floor. Carefully, Lyra guided the black-silk-covered toes into the shoe, her gaze briefly passing over the woman’s refined ankle, all while hearing a sound in the air different from normal breathing.

Across the table, Astrid watched Lyra, who had lowered her head and now showed only her pale pink hair. A strange feeling suddenly stirred in her heart.

Astrid didn’t like situations where she couldn’t see what was happening, even though she knew Lyra was well-behaved and wouldn’t do anything strange.

But... it still felt odd.

Especially with her ankle now held in the other’s hand. Even when teaching Amalia adult knowledge, she had never felt this passive.

After a moment, feeling solid ground beneath her foot and hearing the crisp sound of the heel clicking, Astrid regained her composure. Her gaze settled on Lyra, who had just straightened her posture. The pink-haired girl’s face was bright red, completely under Astrid’s spell after the series of earlier actions.

"Go to the restroom before eating," Astrid gently reminded.

Given Lyra’s current state, she probably needed to cool down a bit.

Lyra nodded, her voice barely audible.

"Mm... I’ll go now..."

Standing up, her two legs, clad in white silk and Holy Light Armor, still felt somewhat weak. Lyra leaned on the chair back for support, quickly turned around, and hurried out of the private room.

Opening the door, the breeze from outside slightly calmed her racing heart. The teeth that had been tightly biting her lips slowly relaxed.

It’s... hard to hold back...

How could Astrid be so... skilled...

Thinking about how Astrid will remain at the border for some time, Lyra’s heart pounded faster.

Astrid didn’t seem to mind kissing her at all... In the future, they could be close like this...

Perhaps even more so.

But if this continues, she might truly be ruined.