"I don’t want to have to magically wash it with water magic right when I need to wear it... That’d be such a hassle..."

A lazy, husky female voice echoed by Lyra’s ear. Compared to veiled implications, Astrid’s words were practically flirting outright.

Especially when Lyra recalled that little over half a month ago, during that one day when she was Astrid’s personal maid, Astrid hadn’t just taught her leg-to-leg techniques for relieving mental and physical stress, she’d even specifically reminded her the next day while strolling through the night market.

["If Lyra needs any special materials... to help you complete the whole process..."]

["Feel free to tell me anytime. Whatever you desire, I won’t hesitate to provide it."]

Those private whispers meant only for the two of them, anyone who thought deeply about such intimate words would find themselves struggling to stay composed.

And did she really seem that unrestrained!

Lyra desperately wanted to bite Astrid’s delicate, fair collarbone, but at this moment she didn’t even have the strength to lift her head. She could only curl her body and whisper with soft indignation.

"That sort of thing... will never happen..."

She wasn’t some pervert who constantly fantasized about doing naughty things with clothes belonging to someone she liked.

Meanwhile, a certain white-haired girl sitting in her study handling state affairs suddenly sneezed uncontrollably. Her brown little leather shoes slipped off from the tremor, revealing a pair of small, delicate white-stockinged feet.

Amalia touched the golden hair by her ear, her soft white-stockinged feet stepping onto the velvet chair cushion. She wondered why, despite the palace’s heating system being better than the old castle’s, she was getting symptoms of a cold again.

Could it be... her sister was thinking of her?

At this very moment, the regent princess the Blonde empress longed for merely faintly, gazing at the nearby Losterling City. She modified the airflow from her Wind Wings, her silk black dress covering her knees and concealing two long, smooth legs wrapped in silky black stockings, her heels firmly planted on the ground.

Losterling City didn’t have a no-fly zone, but considering how close the White Maple Town battle had been, the city lord had specially incorporated the city guard to keep a constant watch on the skies to prevent intrusions.

During such a sensitive time, Astrid saw no need to make exceptions. Besides, as Regent, setting an example for other nobles was only appropriate.

After boarding the carriage back to the mansion, Lyra finally left Astrid’s embrace, sitting on the wooden bench. The pink-haired girl leans against the carriage wall, her hands hanging limply in front of her.

"Go back and rest well, Lyra."

Astrid rubbed the deep blue brooch on her chest, feeling a slight emptiness around her neck, just a tiny bit unfamiliar. Her other hand rested on her knee, smoothing out the wrinkles in her black stockings caused by bending her legs.

"You’ve just become Arcanist Mage. Your mana quality has made a qualitative leap. Now you should stabilize your realm and take care of your body."

It was quite coincidental, Lyra’s two crucial advancements both occurred during battles, followed immediately by grueling fights, leaving no time to even catch her breath.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Lyra nodded slightly, answered softly.

"Mm, I’ll lie down as soon as I get back."

She was truly exhausted now, both mentally and physically, in desperate need of rest.

"What about you, Astrid?" Lyra asked.

The silver-haired beauty leaning against the window slightly crossed her legs, her gaze settling on Lyra’s cheek.

"The battle isn’t completely over yet, so I can’t keep you company."

Charles’s main force was still fighting in the cold wind. As Regent, Astrid naturally couldn’t afford to rest at a time like this. She still needed to stay in the command room, ready to issue orders at any moment.

If anything unexpected happened, say, if Brennild lost her head and herself threw into the fray, Astrid, as a visitor from another world who understood ancient languages, might just prove unexpectedly useful.

Understanding this, Lyra obediently nodded, and spoke gently.

"Okay, I understand."

Compared to personal feelings, national affairs are more urgent now. Astrid’s reasoning was completely justified.

When the carriage reached the mansion, Astrid personally escorted Lyra back to her room and watched her get into bed before leaving. She also invited Elise to remain on alert in the adjacent room, forbidding anyone from approaching.

"Be extra cautious when I’m not around, Miss."

Hearing the head maid’s rare words of warning, Astrid nodded softly in response.

"Of course."

The crisp sound of high heels gradually faded away until it disappeared completely. After removing her shorts and white stockings, Lyra lay in her familiar bedding, and the exhaustion in her entire body instantly surged over her.

It’s temporarily over.

Her hands naturally resting at her sides, feeling the softness of the blanket against her skin, Lyra gently rubbed her legs and slowly closed her eyes.

From now on... leave it to Duke Charles and the others...

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

When Lyra opened her eyes again, the light in the room had grown dimmer. A faint orange glow fell upon the bed and the soft reddish-brown plush rug beside it. The wooden nightstand shimmered with a gentle luster, and the yellowed book cover revealed golden letters under the light.

A silver-haired beauty in a pure black lace nightgown was reading, propped up on a snowy-white arm beside the bed. Her long eyelashes trembled faintly as her crimson eyes lowered over the pages.

Sensing a new subtle movement from the snow-white, tender legs that had silently entwined with hers when she slipped under the covers, Astrid lifted sideways, and indeed met a pair of hazy blue eyes, just awakened, their surface covered with a faint mist.

"Awake, Lyra?"

"Mm... what time is it..."

"Ten twenty at night. For healthy sleep habits, you should go back to sleep."

Modern medical knowledge had taught Astrid that regular sleep was essential for maintaining physical and mental health. Even an Early tier Arcanist was still human and couldn’t escape this iron rule.

Inhaling the alluring natural fragrance emanating from the person beside her pillow, feeling the tranquil atmosphere of waking up to see her beloved Regent propped on her cheek, quietly reading, Lyra ultimately abandoned the idea of going back to sleep immediately.

"Is the daytime battle completely over?" Lyra asked softly.

Astrid nodded, her fingers resting on the unread page, her voice gentle.

"It’s over. Duke Charles led the army to push back the Kingdom of Velys’s forces to their first line of defense, and incidentally captured some Holy Knights. They’ve already been escorted into the city."

"The prison meant for mages is even running short on space. Fortunately, thanks to Lady Charlotte’s help, several anti-magic barriers were temporarily reinforced, allowing them to be fully detained."

"This victory was achieved through everyone’s joint efforts."

They had thwarted the Pope’s military surprise attack. The scales of victory had completely tipped in favor of the Valeria Empire.

Now all they needed to consider was how to find a winning opportunity from the Kingdom of Velys’s internal chaos, and hang the king in a way that minimized harm to the common people.

It might sound somewhat unbelievable, but Astrid already had a preliminary plan, waiting to be gradually implemented.

After hearing this, Lyra softly hummed in acknowledgment, her leg pressed against Astrid’s knee instinctively tightening.

"That’s wonderful..."

The massive boulder blocking their path had finally been removed. The future was bright.

Noticing Lyra’s movement, Astrid set aside her book, her crimson eyes softening as if a sparkling star had fallen upon a lake’s surface.

"Thus, Lyra has officially graduated."

"As a student, you’ve earned the title ’The Bulwark of the Valeria Empire,’ and at twenty-two, you’re already a Arcanist Mage, a magical prodigy who’s rare even in the entire history of the empire."

With honor upon honor, Lyra had now completed half the plot of the original novel. She was a true Holy Light Knight without question.

Hearing Astrid’s praise, Lyra’s ears grew slightly warm, and a sudden hope flickered in her heart.

A twenty-two-year-old Arcanist Mage, alumni of this caliber were inevitably written into school history, for future students to admire.

So at this moment, did she have the qualifications to express her overflowing love, to the Empire’s Princess... no, the current Regent,

Or even... propose...

The fingers at her side slightly curled, then quickly retreated into her sleeve. Lyra used her long shirt sleeve to brush her nose and murmured.

"I just... had better luck..."

Whether this was true or not, both Lyra and Astrid knew, those past moments of sweat dripping from their foreheads during sparring sessions with the head maid, those endless days spent training in the tower until late at night, those experiences forged on the brink of life and death, had together shaped Lyra’s legend.

Arcanist Mages, by definition, were individuals whose life experiences were themselves Arcanist.

Ruffling Lyra’s hair, feeling as if the little pink-haired puppy’s nonexistent tail was wagging, Astrid slipped under the covers and gently embraced Lyra.

"No matter what, the current Lyra is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in the empire."

"I’m sure your parents would be proud to have a daughter like you."

Had the Lyra in her arms still been the naive girl who first came to the capital to study, she never would’ve imagined her future self could shine so brilliantly.

As she spoke, Astrid’s chin gently touched Lyra’s hair, her hand supporting her back, her movements intimate.

"Although... their greatest happiness probably isn’t exactly this..."

Her fingers lightly traced the girl’s slender shoulder blades, Astrid breathed softly.

"What truly matters is that Lyra left the battlefield alive and well."

Astrid had visited Lyra’s hometown and met her parents. Judging from how that couple treated Lyra, they likely wouldn’t care much about whether their daughter achieved fame and glory, their priority would be her happiness and well-being.

And this, in fact, was exactly what Astrid hoped for as well. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Hearing Astrid say this, Lyra pursed her lips, her delicate nose letting out a soft breath.

"You’re right, Astrid... Tomorrow I’ll write a letter home to report that I’m safe...."

Previously, she could only vaguely describe her military life, unable to reveal the true dangers of her work to her family. Now that everything had settled, she could honestly reply and share her current situation.

If she had time later, it would be best to return home for a visit, letting her parents properly see that she was truly unharmed and healthy.

Thinking of her parents far away in her hometown, Lyra’s heart involuntarily softened, no longer as strong as she had been during wartime. Lying in bed now, she recalled the Pope’s devastating Solar Flare, and a feeling of dread gradually rose within her.

She had been that close... to dying beside the shelter cave...

Everything, her ideals, her hopes, would have instantly disappeared along with the destruction of her body.

She’d never see her parents again. The middle-aged couple losing their daughter will only learn through others’ fragmented words that the once-honored knight had fallen in battle, leaving nothing behind.

Such a cruel reality, just thinking about it makes Lyra feel suffocated.

And precisely by that narrow margin, she will have never seen Astrid again.

The more she thought, the harder this subtle fear became to control. Lyra, who had walked the line between life and death, tightly hugged Astrid back, as if embracing the most precious treasure in the world.

"Astrid... what if I hadn’t advanced to Arcanist Mage..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, but both women in the embrace understood its meaning.

Sensing the sudden fragility displayed by the knight, the princess leaned her head against her shoulders, using her smooth silver hair to gently rub against Lyra’s face. Her voice was like water.

"There are no ’what ifs,’ Lyra."

When feeling anxious, what could comfort the heart better than a gentle embrace and soothing whispers?

"You did it, because you’re Lyra Beckett, the Holy Light Knight the Regent has always valued, the one who has created countless miracles."

"I’ve always believed this."

Not blind faith in a destined female lead blessed by fate, but belief in Lyra’s long-term dedication and hard work.

She was indeed talented, but no less impressive was the powerful resilience from deep within her heart. No matter how dangerous the situation, Lyra could always, like light, pierce through the cracks in an instant and radiant warmth.

Holding Lyra, refraining from teasing her with her legs or words, Astrid simply held her quietly, like an older sister comforting a little girl.

"It’s okay now, Lyra."

"Here, only I am with you. No one will hurt you."

The original novel’s enemies had long since turned swords into plowshares, indeed, in some ways, the ’plowshare’ aspect could be elaborated upon.

While marveling at the changes of fate, Astrid took the initiative to clasp Lyra’s hand, transferring her body warmth to her, helping her feel more tangibly that she was still alive.

"Almost no one can face death completely unperturbed. Regret, anxiety, fear, these are all perfectly normal human emotions."

Lyra might have mentally prepared herself to be killed the moment she stepped onto the battlefield, but in the second before death truly arrived, instinct would always override rational thought.

Because first and foremost, she was human, only then a soldier.

Astrid twirled Lyra’s pink hair, gently tucking it behind her ear.

"Tonight, it’s okay to cry a little."