Kost Town, the Clock Tower.
The afterglow of the evening sun fell on Amalia’s hair, turning the strands she had deliberately dyed black into an even brighter hue.
Amalia lowered her gaze, her vision filled with a warm orange glow. A sweet, fragrant scent wafted into her nose, and her back rested against a soft warmth.
As a comforting aura spread throughout her body, the raven-haired girl closed her eyes in contentnt, leaning quietly into Astrid’s arms like a lazy cat.
The clock ticked and tocked, and after an unknown amount of ti, a deep, resonant chi echoed with a penetrating force, one after another, spreading throughout the entire town.
Astrid held Amalia in her arms, her gaze occasionally falling on the delicate face bathed in twilight, and at other tis on the white-stockinged legs that swayed unconsciously in the evening breeze. A slight smile curled at the corners of her lips.
Back in the Capital City, she had taken Amalia to similar places before. However, in the capital, where eyes were everywhere, neither she nor Amalia could truly relax and enjoy the scenery.
Now, with only a few acquaintances accompanying them, they had climbed the highest building in the town. The change in mindset brought about a different appreciation of the scenery.
Breathing in the clean, crisp air at the top of the clock tower, Amalia watched as a few startled birds flew away from the low eaves, soaring upward and eventually perching on the railing.
One of them landed on her knee, its slender claws pressed lightly through the thin white stockings, causing a faint prickling sensation on her skin. Luckily, it didn’t exert much force, rely resting there gently.
Amalia looked at the bird resting on her thigh and unconsciously reached out her hand. Before her pale fingertips could touch it, the bird suddenly spread its wings and flew off into the distant sky.
Her gaze followed the departing bird, Amalia’s face calm. The fiery clouds in the sky reflected in her crimson pupils, revealing a depth that seed out of place for her age.
Even as the emperor, Hibbort had to face the duplicity of local nobles and the political constraints of the four dukes, and he couldn’t ignore the interests of others to act recklessly.
In other words, even if she successfully ascended to that position in the future, she wouldn’t gain true freedom, nor could she soar high in the sky like the birds before her.
To wear the crown is to bear its weight. With supre power, she will also gain new shackles.
Turning her head slightly, Amalia looked back. Astrid’s silver-white hair shone brilliantly in the sunset, her delicate nose and pink lips complenting each other perfectly, forming a breathtaking scene with her exquisite features.
"What is it, Livia?" Astrid asked softly as Amalia turned her head.
Amalia shook her head, her voice was clear. "Nothing, sister."
There was no such thing as absolute freedom in the world. Becoming the nominal supre ruler of the empire, she will have far more ti and energy to command in the future than the commoners who worked hard just to make ends et. Dwelling on it too much would only seem like unnecessary whining.
Moreover, stepping back a bit, part of Amalia’s motivation to beco emperor was to take revenge on Hibbort, to make him watch as his most hated illegitimate daughter stole his proud empire with the most tainted blood. Another part of her motivation was to repay Astrid Calliste.
Between freedom and love, Amalia values the latter more.
Her sister had led her out of the cage, so as a form of repaynt, she should do sothing for her sister.
Like the legitimate protection from the emperor of the empire, more personal freedom, and what Astrid desires, bringing a better life to every citizen of the empire in the na of the emperor.
As for a little selfishness...
Amalia’s gaze lingered on Astrid’s face, the sound of her heels tapping against the brick wall echoing softly.
She hoped that after becoming emperor, Astrid would continue to stay by her side as she did now.
"Sister..."
"Hmm?"
"The scenery here is beautiful."
Amalia turned her head back, looking at the peaceful border town outside the clock tower.
"I like it very much."
Sitting high up in the tower, looking down at the low eaves below, she faintly understood a bit of the mindset Astrid had tried to impart to her.
Even when in a high position, one should not forget to look down and see the land and people who carry the empire.
Hearing Amalia’s words, Astrid pursed her lips, her voice even gentler.
"I’m glad you like it."
"...Let’s stay a bit longer."
Watching the two princesses leaning against each other in the sunset, Lyra stood in place, feeling the peaceful atmosphere around her. Her tightly clenched lips finally relaxed.
Perhaps... perhaps it was just her illusion...
Princess Astrid was so gentle with those around her, how could she possibly be neglecting her...
"Let’s go see the fair later."
After a while, Lyra spoke.
Astrid nodded in response, her voice was warm.
"Alright."
Today’s outing had already taken a lot of their energy, so it was about ti to head back after a bit more wandering.
.........
After the trip to Kost Town, Lyra’s rural life returned to its usual calm, and the self-deception born from the harmonious atmosphere during the journey gradually unraveled in the days that followed.
Astrid didn’t seem to enjoy teasing people as much as before, and there was an added layer of mutual respect in her treatnt of her.
Lyra didn’t think this was a good thing, as she had seen similar behavior from Astrid towards other nobles before, and the latter had a clear definition for such actions, polite but perfunctory interactions.
But they weren’t ordinary friends who needed to maintain surface-level etiquette; they were best friends who had bared their hearts to each other. Their way of interacting shouldn’t be like this.
The Beckett couple might not notice these subtle changes, as Astrid had always been a dignified and polite noble lady in front of them, but in Lyra’s eyes, Astrid’s various actions seed to be sending signals of distancing herself.
What’s going on... why has it suddenly beco like this...
Every night before falling asleep, Lyra would ask herself this question.
She couldn’t find an answer; everything had happened so suddenly, as if Astrid’s attitude had undergone a drastic change overnight.
And... this wasn’t just cold treatnt...
Astrid was still gentle with her, but a certain natural and intimate interaction that had once been there had suddenly disappeared without a trace.
On the fourth day back in the Village, it started pouring heavily. Lyra didn’t go out hunting and stayed in her room except for als.
By six or seven in the evening, the rain began to subside. Lyra looked out the window at the thick, damp night and hesitated for a mont before getting up, leaving her bedroom, and knocked on Astrid’s door.
"Astrid?"
After a brief wait, a pleasant female voice ca from inside.
"Co in."
Entering the room, Lyra saw Amalia sitting at the desk reading, Elise brewing tea nearby, and the person who had just spoken half-reclining on the bed with an empire weekly magazine on her lap.
Lyra tightened her grip on her collar, her lips parting slightly.
"Um... am I disturbing you, Astrid?"
Astrid shook her head, placing the magazine on the bedside table.
"No, I just finished reading it."
"Does Lyra have sothing to say?"
Looking into those cold red eyes and at the others busy with their tasks, Lyra’s body stiffened. After a few seconds, she spoke.
"Actually... it’s nothing too important..."
"Just... um..."
Pausing for a mont, Lyra swallowed and said.
"Do you want to play a round of Grand Lord?"
She rembered that when they left, Elise had packed the ga pieces into the suitcase.
Astrid raised an eyebrow slightly, just as Amalia turned to seek her opinion. Their eyes t briefly in the air before the forr softly replied.
"Sure, we’re just idling anyway."
..........
Having not touched the board ga for a long ti, their skills had beco a bit rusty. Moreover, the rules of Grand Lord ant that luck played a significant role, so after a few rounds, it was mostly a back-and-forth, with no one dominating from start to finish.
Before they knew it, it was already nine in the evening. Seeing that it was getting late, they ended the ga, and Astrid had Elise put away the board. She then fetched so clean clothes and prepared to go downstairs to wash up.
Seeing Astrid about to leave the room, Lyra didn’t linger either. After saying goodbye to Amalia and Elise, she followed Astrid out of the room.
"Astrid, you had good luck today, drawing many effective cards."
Hearing Lyra’s words, Astrid nodded slightly, speaking softly.
"Pretty good. Luck cos and goes, it’s hard to predict."
But Lyra wasn’t wrong; today her luck was indeed good. Several tis she was on the brink of losing, but good fortune pulled her back, preventing her from being the first to be eliminated.
"Indeed..." Lyra stood at the stairway, softly agreeing.
"It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had this much fun."
Astrid blinked a few tis at this, casually replying.
"Has it been that long? Weren’t we having a good ti in Kost Town too?"
She could feel that Lyra’s mood had been low recently, but during their ti in Kost Town, the latter had seed relatively happier.
Lyra pursed her lips at this, her hand lightly rubbing the railing.
"Yeah, but today was fun too."
Lyra... just say what you want to say...
About how Astrid hasn’t been teasing her lately...
"Um, uh..."
"Astrid, lately... it’s just..."
But could she really say it out loud? It feels so strange no matter how she thought about it...
As if she wanted Astrid to tease her harshly.
Lyra opened her mouth, the words passing her throat but lingering on her lips, eventually turning into a completely unrelated statent.
"How’s the food?"
"..."
After all that, this is what you co up with? For a mont there, she thought Lyra was going to confess to her.
If confusion could be materialized, there would probably be a big "?" above Astrid’s head right now.
"The food’s great. Your parents’ cooking is excellent."
Stepping down the stairs, Astrid heard Lyra speak again.
"Then... how’s the sleep?"
At this, even Lyra herself felt that this series of questions was extrely odd.
Hearing this, Astrid stopped and turned to look at her.
"Sleeping well too."
"Is this all you wanted to ask, Lyra?"
Looking at the silver-haired princess standing alone in the middle of the stairs with clothes in her arms, Lyra’s heart pounded wildly, and her previously resolved determination wavered once more.
If she asked directly, would Astrid guess what she was thinking?
Those hidden, delicate thoughts and complex emotions she dared not ntion to anyone, if Astrid knew, would she agree now?
"..."
After a brief struggle, Lyra murmured softly in agreent.
"Ah... that’s all..."
"Astrid seems a bit down lately, so I thought I’d ask."
"If there’s nothing wrong, it must be my imagination."
Astrid stood still, her cool eyes still fixed on Lyra, before softly replying after a mont.
"I’m not feeling down."
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll go take a bath now."
Seeing that Lyra remained silent, Astrid turned and walked downstairs with her clothes.
Listening to the sound of sandals tapping on the floor gradually fade away, Lyra lightly bit her lip, her hand tightly gripping the railing.
After half a minute, Lyra crouched down, hugging her knees as she sat at the top of the stairs.
’You’re too scared to do this, too scared to do that, since when have you beco so timid?
It’s just asking Astrid if she’s angry, what’s the big deal...’
Not understanding what she had been fretting over these past few days, Lyra rested her chin on her knees, her face half-hidden between her arms, her lashes slightly lowered.
But... she really does seem colder...
’If I never ask, will Astrid always be like this... or is it like her period, just temporary...’
Closing her eyes, scenes from her past life as a maid kept flashing in her mind, Astrid’s dignified and polite deanor towards other nobles. Lyra subconsciously clenched her fingers, the pressure turning her palms slightly white.
’She doesn’t need to be so polite with ...’
Crouching at the top of the stairs, Lyra felt a pang of sadness, her mind swirling with scenes, all related to Astrid.
The conversation on the Fearless, the dance when her maid career ended, and those nights sharing a bed during the graduation exams.
What’s going on...
For no reason, Lyra felt a wave of resentnt, like a little puppy abandoned by its owner, pitifully hiding in a corner.
And just as her emotions were sinking lower, a cool, smooth hand suddenly touched her cheek.
"Why are you still sitting here, Lyra, even after I’ve finished bathing?" Astrid asked her.
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