At yesterday’s victory celebration banquet, Lord Losterling had personally asked Astrid where the Empress would most suitably stay next. The result was that Amalia would lodge at her luxurious residence, without needing to find another place.

After months apart, given Amalia’s clingy nature, how could she possibly want to stay anywhere else?

Astrid softly hummed in agreement, cradling the petite, soft, and tender body of the silver-haired girl, her answer to the earlier question.

She truly missed the other too. And after just saying how delighted she was that Amalia had come, enduring such a small request would surely hurt Amalia’s feelings.

Hearing Astrid’s reply, Amalia curled her lips into a smile, closed her eyes, widened her knees slightly and leaned them against the silver-haired beauty’s waist, her two smooth, snow-white stocking-clad feet still resting atop Astrid’s legs as she whispered softly.

"Sister... let me properly check on you now..."

In her letters home, Astrid mostly mentioned official matters, always skimming over her own condition or simply reporting good news while omitting worries.

Now that she was here, she naturally had to inspect the current Imperial Regent carefully, to see whether Astrid had been injured somewhere and deliberately hidden it.

The next moment, Amalia’s mental force extended and wrapped around Astrid, just as Astrid had once done to Lyra, allowing another’s mental force to pass through barriers and into one’s body wasn’t difficult for two people so close and trusting.

The carriage continued forward with a slight vibration. Five minutes later, Amalia sensed something was missing. Her hand, clad in white silk gloves, moved from Astrid’s back and slowly pressed against her fullness.

A hard ruby pendant fell into Amalia’s palm. Her mental force probed it slightly, revealing its internal structure completely, complete with traces of magical stitching.

"Sister... was it this that shielded you from the spatial turbulence mentioned in the combat report?"

Although phrased as a question, from Amalia’s tone, she had already concluded the truth.

Astrid didn’t deny it, replying softly.

"Mm..."

"However, later Elise and Lady Charlotte helped me recover these gem fragments, and eventually pieced and reshaped them into one whole gem. The only thing lost was its spatial storage ability."

Compared to being entirely annihilated in spatial turbulence, this outcome was already the best possible. At least it left her with a memento.

So... Sister really did hide something from her...

After hearing Astrid’s words, Amalia’s hand stopped touching the gem. She leaned her body closer, trying to comfort Astrid with her own warmth.

Amalia never had a mother who loved her, so she couldn’t fully empathize with another person’s perspective, understanding the emotional weight of a mother’s heirloom to a daughter.

But her sister had taught her empathy. Putting herself in Astrid’s place, if something had been given to her by Astrid, Amalia knew she would never tolerate anyone taking it or damaging it, whether it was a gemstone, a wildflower, or even just a spoonful of cold vanilla ice cream.

So... the gemstone being damaged... Sister must have been heartbroken...

Thinking about the bitterness and sorrow Astrid might have felt, Amalia herself felt her heart clench, a dull, throbbing pain tugging at her chest.

"I see..."

Besides them, the Imperial Scepter radiated a gentle glow. Amalia lightly bit Astrid’s collarbone, using their intimate physical contact to guide Astrid’s mental force into the Imperial Scepter together.

If even Arcanist mage Charlotte couldn’t re-engrave the space-related magical circles, then naturally, she couldn’t restore the gem to its original state either.

But there were still some things Amalia could do.

For example, letting Astrid choose a new spatial storage device. After all, the Imperial Scepter still had stock, treasures belonging to past rulers, which Amalia could freely bestow.

"If Sister wants them, take them all."

"Everything I have, wealth, status, soul, or body, is yours, my dear Sister." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

A cool whisper echoed deep within her soul. Astrid gazed at the floating illusions before her: small gems, smooth hair ribbons, common rings, and medals forged from special metals.

Finally, Astrid’s gaze settled on a pair of spellcasting gloves, silk material, entirely black, extremely similar to the noble lady’s gloves she usually wore.

"Take two more, Sister..." Seeing the black silk gloves appear between them, Amalia whispered softly.

"Having a spare could prevent something like that from happening again."

To Amalia now, space storage devices, so precious in others’ eyes, were more like disposable consumables.

Originally intending to take only one, Astrid sensed Amalia’s seriousness. Even beyond the soul, her two white-stocking feet, previously relaxed atop Astrid’s legs, quietly pressed together, as if convinced to let her escape, their soft inner sides pressing against Astrid’s thighs.

"Then... one gem... and this ring..."

Thinking of another person who had also lost her dedicated space storage device during the White Maple Town incident, Astrid, after consulting Amalia, took the ring as well.

She imprinted her soul mark. Inside the silk glove, empty at first, she placed the gem and the ring.

Amalia gazed at the silver-haired beauty before her, head lowered in thought. She tilted her neck slightly, golden hair cascading over her elaborate gown and delicate white silk stockings. Her lips, tightly pressed, resembled a fledgling seeking food from its parents’ beak, gently pressing against Astrid’s.

Reunited after such a long separation, how could a mere hug be enough?

There had to be a kiss, long overdue.

The journey from the suburbs to Losterling City still had time. They had plenty of moments to express affection, to say the words that couldn’t fit into envelopes, to feel the warmth that words alone couldn’t carry.

After the kiss ended, Astrid looked into Amalia’s blue eyes, now misty and slightly hazy, and skillfully shifted the topic.

"With heels this high today, can you handle it, Amalia?"

The imperial carriage, though spacious compared to others, still wasn’t suitable as a substitute for a bed.

It was fine for teasing a little maid normally, but here, their identities were Regent and Empress, doing more would be too stimulating.

Hearing Astrid’s words, Amalia tilted her head, glancing at the pale silver metallic stiletto heels she had kicked off onto the carriage floor, their openings adorned with a beautiful honeysuckle bloom that had just hugged her ankles.

An Empress needed dignity, needed subordinates to look up to her. Clothing was a vital expression of character, something that couldn’t be ignored.

"It’s a bit tiring to wear, but since I don’t stand for long periods, it’s fine."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Amalia seemed to realize something. She fluttered her eyelashes and spoke in a voice so soft it was almost cloying.

"Then... maybe..."

"Sister could massage my feet for me?"

Immediately after speaking, the two soft, delicate feet that minutes ago had still had the strength to bind her knees to relax. Her toes curled slightly, then stretched, tugging at the sock tips, milky-white silk tinged with faint pink, like snow cream about to melt.

Faced with her younger sister’s perfectly reasonable request, Astrid didn’t refuse. She gently hugged Amalia’s slender, almost excessively thin waist, her voice carrying its usual indulgent tone.

"Then... lie down first."

"Mm."

As the words faded, the golden-haired girl shifted from sitting upright on Astrid’s lap to sitting sideways, her two slender, silky-white legs draping over the woman’s knees.

Feeling the pressure of Astrid’s fingers, Amalia blinked, her gaze fixed on the beloved face beside her.

In truth, compared to having her feet placed on Astrid’s thighs for a gentle massage, Amalia would rather rest her head on Astrid’s shoulders.

But... this is fine too...

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

Time passed, no one knew how long. The convoy entered the main city, passed through streets lined with magical energy streetlamps, and finally stopped at the temporary residence preparing for the Regent.

The satin-black shoe tip stepped onto the stone tiles. Astrid held Amalia’s hand as they stepped down from the carriage. The noble and elegant Imperial Scepter sparkled under the sunlight with every step the golden-haired Empress took.

Since the Empire had conducted only a limited number of test flights for magical energy airships, the estimated arrival time had some margin of error. Before the actual arrival, no one knew whether the Empress would arrive in the afternoon or at dusk.

"The city lord has specially prepared a welcome banquet for Her Majesty, and is currently waiting inside the residence..."

Hearing the servant’s inquiry laced with subtle probing, Astrid waved her hand calmly.

"Her Majesty has traveled a long way and must be weary. I’ll take her to rest first. Prepare the welcome banquet the day after tomorrow."

"At once, Your Highness the Regent."

The man in servant’s attire left the gate and boarded a carriage to report back. At that very moment, Lyra also stepped out of her carriage, her small leather shoes tapping slightly on the ground.

Astrid and Amalia’s carriage was positioned in the middle of the convoy. Even the highest-ranking nobles were separated by several guard carriages, maintaining a safe distance of several streets.

Returning to the familiar residence, and mindful that Astrid and Amalia hadn’t seen each other in a long time, Lyra wisely didn’t enter the house. Instead, she went to sit quietly in the adjacent garden.

Late autumn, early winter, the flowers in the garden pavilion had long withered, leaving only a few cold-resistant ones. Dry, yellow vines cling to the pavilion roof, quietly awaiting spring.

Inside the warm house, Astrid led Amalia on a tour of the residence, from the dining room to the guest chamber, then the study and sunroom, and finally to the bedroom where she and Lyra slept.

The moment she entered, Amalia caught a scent different from Astrid’s, while Astrid had her unique cold rose fragrance, this scent carried more warmth, like citrus washed in clear water, blended with a faint hint of mint.

It was definitely Lyra’s.

Amalia’s own intelligence network had long extended into Losterling City, but such private household secrets weren’t things she’d learn in detail, especially with Elise, a maid captain skilled in intelligence, always at Astrid’s side. Even the city lord probably didn’t know exactly what Astrid did here every day, let alone who slept in the Regent’s bed.

As for letters, specifically mentioning such things would be too strange.

Having roughly guessed the truth, Amalia remains composed, following Astrid past the desk. Her gaze lingered slightly on the two pillows on the soft, large bed before she spoke.

"Is the changing room this way too?"

"Mm."

Entering the changing room, the sight of the closet, filled with pastel pink and white, girlish blouses and skirts, and row upon row of pure white thigh-highs and stockings, was clearly at odds with Astrid’s usual cold, elegant, and alluring fashion style.

Her suspicion confirmed, Amalia narrowed her eyes slightly and whispered.

"Sister... have you been sleeping with Lyra this whole time..."

Facing Amalia’s expressionless, snow-white face, Astrid replied gently.

"Mostly."

It wasn’t exactly a lie. She truly hadn’t shared a bed with Lyra every single night.

Sometimes Astrid went to Charlotte’s place, discussing magic and also spending time emotionally with her own younger aunt.

Hearing this, a flicker of understanding passed through Amalia’s blue eyes. She took Astrid’s hand, her tone still soft.

"Then Sister, please show me the room we’ll be sleeping in tonight."

Leaving the bedroom, directly ahead lay a wide corridor. Amalia leaned over the second-floor railing and looked out, just able to see the garden pavilion, and Lyra sitting there.

The pink-haired girl was reading a book in the pavilion. Seeing to sense someone watching, she looked up, her gaze met Amalia’s at eye level.

The next moment, the Empress withdrew her gaze, her fingers gently stroking the golden hair at her side, intertwining into a loop.

Seeing Amalia turn and walk away, Lyra didn’t immediately shift her eyes. Instead, she continued staring down that corridor.

It has been a long time since she last saw Amalia. Indeed, the other had grown even more dominant.

She could sense it just from the look in her eyes.

Although a strange unease lingered faintly in her heart, Lyra couldn’t quickly find the answer. After a moment of thought, she flipped another page and immersed herself once more in the study of magic.

She’d chat with Amalia later.

If the other preferred to treat her not as a subject and ruler... but as a friend from the past...

In truth, that moment arrived even sooner than Lyra expected.

At seven-fifteen in the evening, inside the residence’s dining room, the head maid orderly included the other maids to serve the dishes, reminding them not to clumsily anger the new Empress.

By candlelight, Amalia, who by status should have sat at the head of the long table, sat to Astrid’s right, with the Regent herself occupying the head seat, and Lyra to the left.

This arrangement probably meant they could be a bit more casual during dinner?

Perhaps it was Amalia’s changed status, but Lyra felt a slight tension, which caused her to accidentally knock over a wine glass that hadn’t even been filled yet.

The transparent glass tumbled from the table, about to shatter on the floor. In a flash, Lyra leaned down and reached out, catching the stem just in time.

And in that instant, Lyra caught sight beneath the table, a duet of black and white.