Princess’s Struggle for Survival Chapter 608: Left Behind

Twenty minutes later, inside Elizabeth Academy of Magic, in Charlotte’s private office, the raven-haired beauty in an elegant mage’s robe set down her quill upon hearing a knock, her pink lips parting slightly.

"Co in."

The door opened. A pair of pure black stilettos tapped lightly against the floor as a silvery-white figure stepped into the office, followed closely by the female head maid with a cool, aloof expression.

"Good morning, Lady Charlotte."

Astrid greeted softly, taking a seat across from Charlotte.

Although she had just seen off one of the most important people in her life, as the Empire’s Regent, Astrid had always possessed excellent emotional control. After stepping off the carriage, the faint sorrow in her eyes had disappeared beneath the sunlight.

Seeing it was Astrid, Charlotte relaxed her posture slightly, resting one hand on her cheek, her beautiful amber eyes gazing quietly at the girl before her.

"Good morning, Little Astr."

"You’ve just seen Lyra off, haven’t you?"

Slightly surprised that Charlotte already knew she had left the city gates monts ago, Astrid didn’t hide it and simply nodded.

"Yes, she’s gone back."

At least compared to the turbulent, bumpy journey ho from a few years ago, now that Lyra had flight magic, her journey was considerably more convenient and fortunate.

"How did you know, Lady Charlotte?"

"Little Astr, have you forgotten? We discussed this during our last workshop eting."

"Oh, that’s right. Lady Charlotte still rembers."

Accepting the tea offered by her, Astrid took a small sip, her bewitching crimson eyes flickering as she examined Charlotte’s elegant and mysterious mage robe.

Perhaps due to being in the academy, Charlotte wasn’t wearing any lavish noble attire, like the white layered dress with a light brown short cape she’d worn during their last eting, or the rmaid gown at the banquet that had accentuated her stunning figure to the fullest.

Today, she wore only the most basic mage robe, with no extra decorations. From Astrid’s corner across the desk, she couldn’t see her legs, but occasionally she could hear the faint tap of shoe tips against the cabinet and the click of heels on the tiled floor, most likely, she wore high heels just like Astrid did.

The only accessory similar to jewelry is the silver-white spatial ring on her left ring finger.

Yet even so, this mature, raven-haired aunt with amber eyes couldn’t hide her charm. The loose robe did nothing to conceal her shapely curves, instead highlighting her noble grace through its monochro hue, combined with her fair, flawless skin, perfectly showcasing her most feminine allure.

After a few pleasantries, seeing that Astrid didn’t seem overly distressed by Lyra’s temporary departure, Charlotte finally felt at ease and inquired about her purpose.

"Why did Little Astr co visit today?"

As long as she wasn’t too upset, that was fine. Charlotte had never been in love herself, so she didn’t know how Astrid truly felt inside. But if Astrid needed her, she would do her best to be there, though she probably wouldn’t be needed. After all, Astrid’s other lover, the Emperor of the Empire, was still in the capital.

Wait... Could it be that Astrid ca to see her only because her girlfriend had left, giving her ti to visit?

At this thought, Charlotte’s gaze toward Astrid carried a hint of invisible resentnt. Under the desk, her silk-clad legs shifted as she crossed them, her hand gently smoothing her robe.

Still, if only she had known Astrid was coming, she would’ve applied so perfu and changed into a prettier outfit.

Although she didn’t know where this thought ca from, Charlotte truly felt that way now.

Hearing Charlotte’s question, Astrid replied softly.

"It’s been a week. Of course I missed Lady Charlotte."

Charlotte was married. This visit was half personal, half official. Astrid couldn’t just jump straight into business matters, so she decided to start with sothing pleasant.

"I heard Lady Charlotte ca to the academy to handle teaching affairs?"

The recent war between the two nations had temporarily taken Charlotte away from the capital and Elizabeth Academy of Magic. As a professor of magic circles, she hadn’t perford her duties in nearly a year, there must be plenty of work piled up.

"Yes. I’m finishing up old lesson plans first. The Headmaster intends to promote to Vice-Headmaster. My position as professor of magic circles might beco a thing of the past," Charlotte said gently, sharing the good news with Astrid.

Even without becoming Vice-Headmaster, Charlotte wouldn’t have had much ti left for teaching anyway. Magical device research alone consud most of her days, leaving barely enough ti for herself, let alone teaching. In fact, Charlotte had been the only Arcanist mage willing to remain at Elizabeth Academy of Magic to teach.

"Then Lady Charlotte should focus on your work. I’m not in a hurry."

With that, Astrid took another small sip of tea. The porcelain cup’s base touched the saucer with a barely audible sound.

"Don’t let my visit delay your matters."

Hearing Astrid’s words carrying a hint of departure, Charlotte shook her head gently.

"If possible, Little Astr, could you wait for for fifteen minutes? I’ll be done soon."

More than Astrid wanted to see her, Charlotte herself hoped to spend more ti with her.

After all, that person now has partners, two of them. She probably didn’t need emotional support from an older relative like her anymore.

But for Charlotte, Astrid was her only younger relative, or rather, the only intimate presence with whom she shared deep emotional bonds and common ideals.

Why do I feel increasingly bitter?

Receiving Astrid’s "Of course" in response, Charlotte picked up her quill again, making final edits to the last few lesson plans so they could be archived in Elizabeth Academy of Magic’s records.

Listening to the soft scratching of the quill on paper, Astrid quietly sipped her tea, gently brushed aside her long silver-white hair that had fallen over her shoulder, her vivid crimson eyes reflected Charlotte’s face, her gaze never wavering.

The warm sunlight streaming through the window illuminates the woman’s cheek, accentuating her refined, elegant features, making them appear especially three-dinsional. Her warm amber eyes sparkled with focus, reflecting lines of text as her slender fingers moved skillfully, leaving neat handwriting and long, slender shadows across the lesson plans.

Occasionally, a breeze stirs her raven hair, revealing Charlotte’s long, pale swan-like neck. A faint, cool fragrance diffused into the air, blending seamlessly with the scent of ink from the quill.

This, perhaps, was what they called intellectual beauty. Charlotte’s focused working mood was even more radiant than usual.

Charlotte, initially absorbed in her writing, unintentionally noticed Astrid’s lingering gaze during a page turn. Her pale fingertips paused for half a second, then continued flipping the page as if nothing had happened, reading line by line.

But being stared at like this stirred sothing within her.

A faint tension and unease sprouted in her heart. Emotions she had never felt while teaching on stage, under the gazes of many students, were now magnified millions of tis by Astrid’s single gaze. She almost regretted not having told her niece to sit on the sofa instead of watching her so closely.

The promised fifteen minutes eventually stretched nearly to half an hour. Charlotte set down her pen, using the completion of her writing as an excuse to let out a soft breath through her delicate nose, then lifted her gaze toward Astrid.

"I’m finished."

At her words, Astrid’s lips curved into a gentle smile. She passed the freshly poured hot tea to Charlotte and spoke softly.

"You’ve worked hard, Lady Charlotte."

Her vivid crimson eyes still reflect her face, as if carrying a special magic that could pull one into their depths.

Thinking of Astrid’s current sexual orientation, Charlotte accepted the cup. The porcelain base still carries the faint warmth of the other’s palm, and ripples stir in her heart.

Having a different sexual orientation didn’t an Astrid would fall for every woman she t. Charlotte didn’t hold the outsider’s mistaken belief that anyone would do.

Even if Astrid preferred n, her choice of partner wouldn’t be arbitrary. To catch the eye of the Empire’s Regent, one must be exceptionally outstanding.

But precisely because she understood this rationally, Charlotte felt her nervousness was entirely baseless.

It seed that ever since Astrid had confessed the truth to her, she had been trapped in so emotional loop, wanting to break free yet not knowing how.

"Little Astr, can you now tell what exactly you ca here for?"

"It’s probably not just to keep company."

Although Charlotte wished Astrid had co solely for companionship, the girl’s current busy schedule clearly didn’t support such a simple reason.

"Lady Charlotte, do you rember when I asked you about the spatial circle at Elizabeth Academy of Magic?"

"That ancient human ruin?"

"Yes."

Astrid spoke softly, sharing more information with Charlotte.

"According to ancient records, one reason the first king of the Valeria Empire chose Imperial City as the capital was because of that spatial circle."

"It is said that the spell creator Gemini once prophesied: ’The world’s mysteries will gradually be revealed, and the land shall eventually be pieced together by living beings.’"

"She did say those words."

Astrid had heard the prophecy directly from the Imperial Scepter. Based on that prophecy, the first king had chosen Imperial City as the capital, hoping that the glory of the Valeria royal family would endure through the ages.

Hearing this, Charlotte nodded, her voice gentle.

"Many scholars in the magical world believe the first part of the prophecy refers to soone in the future surpassing even Gemini, reaching the level of a spell creator and deciphering the world, that is, ’unveiling the veil.’"

"...And the latter half implies that the spatial circles left behind by ancient humans may one day be reactivated, becoming anchor points connecting various regions, thus ’piecing together the land.’"

Although the Valeria Empire had never ceased exploring the northeastern continent, their understanding of the entire world still remained at a very superficial level.

To the east of the continent lies an endless sea. Even the large fleets of the Pan-Human Alliance couldn’t pass through the central vortex. Arcanist mages capable of flight found wind elent particles growing increasingly thin the closer they flew to the east. Even with spirit-force materialized wings, they couldn’t cross the entire ocean. Not to ntion, far in the distance, gray magical-disrupting currents ford a chaotic zone that seed to isolate all life.

To the south, beyond the goblins’ mountains, lay another deep sea far away. To the north, the high-latitude dragon-inhabited regions endure perpetual cold, with violent lightning and dense snowstorms capable of burying all explorers.

Compared to these, the western continent holds more research potential. However, to the west of the Valeria Empire lay the hostile Kingdom of Velys, and beyond that kingdom regions were inhabited by other intelligent races, making travel inconvenient, this was exactly the region where Astrid and Lyra would eventually travel. Only by reaching the Arcanist mage level will they possess the strength to withstand the harsh environnts.

"Most people believe that reactivating that spatial circle requires a user to reach the level of a spell creator," Charlotte said gently, pronouncing each word with particular clarity.

"However, based on the journal Fanya left for Little Astr, there may be an interdiate rank between Arcanist mage and spell creator. We might not need to reach the ultimate stage..."

Restarting the spatial circle ans rearranging the existing foundation, not completely dismantling and rebuilding it from scratch. The difficulty difference was absolutely more than just one rank.

"Did... she ever try restarting the circle?" Astrid asked.

It took Charlotte a few seconds to realize "she" referred to Fanya. She was slightly puzzled by Astrid’s hesitant tone when referring to her mother, but quickly answered.

"Not just Fanya, Headmaster Anthony also studied this spatial circle ruin in great detail."

"The result was nothing."

Not only could they not restart it, they couldn’t even find any magical evidence beyond the ancient texts to prove it was indeed a spatial circle.

"To protect it from external damage and prevent potential dangers, the Headmaster has completely covered the ancient human ruin with an Arcanist-tier spell. Without the Emperor’s direct decree, even royals and dukes can only view it from a distance."

"Just like when Little Astr first enrolled, bringing Lyra on a tour."

At that ti, the Emperor was still Hibbort Valeria, and Astrid had only just begun learning magic. There was no need to request an imperial decree to visit sothing so far beyond her understanding, what if she accidentally touched sothing and the delicate imperial daughter fell into mortal danger?

"Little Astr brings it up now... Do you want to go take a look with you?"

"Yes. A peak tier magus level should barely reach the safety threshold."

"It’s a bit enough, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not the sa newly ascended Arcanist mage I once was."

Charlotte smiled charmingly, continuing along Astrid’s line of thought.

"One mid-tier Arcanist mage and one early tier Crusader should be able to handle most ergencies."

The mid-tier Arcanist mage was obviously her aunt. As for the other first-stage Crusader...

Astrid’s gaze settled on the cool, expressionless head maid standing silently beside her, crimson eyes flashing with surprise.

"When did this happen?"

The maid paused slightly, replying in a soft voice.

"Your Highness, the day after returning from White Maple Town to Imperial City."

"It hasn’t fully stabilized yet, so I didn’t report it to you."