Princess’s Struggle for Survival

The night was still long. Amalia sat back in her chair, staring at the exquisitely crafted box in her hand for a while before gently opening it.

Inside was a soft, purple-gray cake, topped with a few berries of the same hue. It looked incredibly tempting.

Amalia hadn't eaten much for dinner, and her appetite was suddenly awakened. After a moment's hesitation, she picked up the metal spoon beside the box and took a small bite.

The rich jam paired with the fluffy cake was almost too sweet, enough to warm the heart.

Feeling her stomach settle, Amalia lowered her lashes and ate the cake in small bites, like a little cat.

"As long as it's nothing important, I'll come every night."

Thinking of Livia's past words, combined with what she had just said, Amalia's emotions became even more tangled. There was the joy of having Livia back, like finding something lost, but also a complex feeling she couldn't quite understand.

She clearly recognized that Astrid was Livia, but she still stubbornly longed for her sister's care and love.

Even more, she felt uncomfortable about the friend Livia had mentioned, especially the thought that this person had made Livia stay the night, causing her to miss two whole nights with her sister. This sense of disparity made Amalia even more uneasy.

On one hand, she hated Astrid, distrusting that the woman could truly be so kind to her. On the other hand, she wished Livia could be her sister alone, belonging to no one else, loving only her.

Intense hatred and extreme love mixed together, the shattered trust from reality mended by past warmth. By now, Amalia no longer knew what kind of emotions she held toward Livia.

The only thing she was certain of was that during these three days and two nights of solitude, she had realized she could no longer live without Livia. Even knowing that Livia's identity was false, that her care and affection might be fabricated, she still wanted it, when eating, when sleeping, even when petting the cat.

As long as Livia was by her side, even if it was all a lie.

After finishing the berry cake, Amalia wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief. After a moment's thought, she opened the magic book and study notes Livia had given her and continued her studies.

She needed to find something to do, to calm herself down.

Yesterday and the day before, her emotions had been too unstable to engage in deep meditation, and shallow sleep provided too little mental energy, insufficient for casting apprentice-level spells.

Now that Livia was next door, Amalia felt much more at ease and could finally enter a meditative state.

After meditating for about an hour and a half, Amalia gathered enough mental energy to cast a few beginner-level spells. She softly chanted the incantations while channeling her energy outward.

At that very moment, she felt a gentle force enveloping her.

It was Livia's mental energy...

As she guided the elemental particles in the air, Livia's energy assisted her in gathering them. Their mental energies intertwined in an unseen space, seemingly inseparable yet distinct, each transforming into magical power.

After casting a Wind Shield and a simple Ignition Spell, Amalia stopped channeling her energy and looked thoughtfully toward the door.

Could it be... that Livia had been observing her with her mental energy all along?

Was she worried that Amalia might struggle with her magic?

Before her identity was exposed, Livia would accompany Amalia in practicing magic with her mental energy every night.

Even now, with their relationship strained, Livia still cared for her in these small ways.

It was like a balloon with a hole. All of Amalia's emotions found an outlet at that moment. She stood up abruptly and walked to the next room.

No matter what had happened between them, Livia's attitude toward her had never changed. She had always been the gentle, caring older sister.

What reason did Amalia have to treat her with coldness?

Entering the room, Amalia saw that Livia wasn't sitting at the desk reading but was instead leaning against the bed, with a packed box beside her.

Amalia noticed that the wooden box contained stacks of thick parchment, Livia's writing tools and drafts, and some everyday items.

Why was Livia packing these things?

Was it because of her attitude...?

A suffocating thought flashed through Amalia's mind, and her heart ached.

"...Amalia?"

Livia looked at the girl standing at the door and had just called out to her when she saw the golden-haired girl quickly walk toward her.

"Tap..."

Her sandals slipped off, revealing delicate, smooth feet. Amalia climbed onto the bed and hugged Livia, who was leaning against the headboard. Her small body pressed against the woman as if afraid she might run away, her slender ankles tightly gripping Livia's feet.

"Sister... I don't hate you..."

She had never hated Livia, not for a single second.

"So... don't leave…"

Amalia's body was soft, holding her felt like cradling a warm, fluffy ball of cotton. But now, that cotton seemed to have abandoned its softness, becoming overwhelmingly oppressive.

Livia felt her arms tightly encircled by Amalia's embrace, her hands pressed against her sides near the hem of her skirt, while her ankles were firmly clamped by Amalia's delicate, pale feet, refusing to let her escape easily.

Despite Amalia's petite and slender frame, which usually didn't exude much strength, the way she held Livia now made it difficult for her to break free.

Sensing Livia's attempt to move, Amalia instinctively tightened her grip, her feet locking onto Livia even more firmly. Her calves rubbed against the smooth, delicate white stockings, producing a faint rustling sound.

"Sister, don't leave me..." Amalia's voice was soft, trembling slightly with vulnerability.

Before Livia could respond, Amalia tilted her head slightly and leaned in closer.

The next moment, Livia felt something soft and moist pressing tightly against her neck.

Since Amalia was shorter than Livia, she couldn't reach her sister's forehead while locking her legs around her. So, Amalia chose another accessible spot, her soft, cherry-blossom-pink lips gently touching Livia's neck. The contact between skin and lips sent a series of electric shivers through Livia.

"Amalia..."

Feeling Amalia's warmth and the faint cold fragrance in the air, Livia's body stiffened slightly, her pupils dilating.

Amalia also noticed the change in Livia's body. Her lips trailed down Livia's neck, landing on the delicate collarbone. She parted her lips slightly, her teeth gently biting down on the collarbone, as if in retaliation.

Why didn't you come to see me yesterday or the day before... Why did you stay overnight with someone else...

Are they more important than me?

The more she thought about it, the more suffocated she felt. Inhaling the familiar scent of Livia's body, Amalia felt a slight sense of comfort. She lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes brushing against Livia's skin.

She missed Livia so much.

Before the golden-haired girl could take her next move, Livia turned her head, breaking free from Amalia's grasp. Seeing this, Amalia's eyes dimmed, her mood sinking even lower. Her head and ears drooped like a kitten about to be abandoned.

"Sister..." Feeling Livia's arm slip out of her embrace, Amalia sniffled, her voice hoarse.

"...I missed you."

All the emotions she had been holding back condensed into this single, simple sentence. Amalia hugged her waist tightly, her slender white toes curling slightly against Livia's ankles.

After enduring these past few days, Amalia realized she could no longer live without Livia. The other had left too many traces in her life, making even a brief separation feel like having her bones ripped out, unbearable.

If Astrid wanted this effect, she had succeeded. Amalia no longer cared whether Astrid was lying to her.

She didn't want to think too much, nor did she need to.

Even if there was only the slightest, most insignificant possibility, she would still chase after it like a moth drawn to a flame.

Hearing Amalia's words, Livia was momentarily stunned. After a pause, her gaze softened.

She reached out and gently stroked Amalia's golden hair. The moment her hand touched Amalia's head, the golden-haired girl trembled slightly, her breath catching.

"I missed you too, Amalia," Livia said.

Her gentle, soothing voice echoed softly in the not-so-large room. There was no mental energy fluctuation, yet the simple sentence seemed to carry a peculiar magic, calming the fear and anxiety deep within Amalia's heart.

Amalia had often heard this phrase before, especially before discovering Livia's true identity. Almost every night, she would seek confirmation from Livia.

Not by directly asking if Livia had missed her during the day, but by expressing her own longing first, guiding Livia to respond in kind.

Though it was a bit manipulative, Amalia loved it. She could feel Livia's care for her through these responses, filling the void in her heart.

But what had once seemed so ordinary now made Amalia's nose sting and her eyes well up with tears.

"Sister, I shouldn't have treated you that way..."

"Please don't leave... okay..."

Hearing the pitiful tone in Amalia's voice, Livia felt her heart twinge. She placed her hand on Amalia's back, gently caressing her.

"When did I say I was leaving..."

Thinking Amalia's anxiety stemmed from their separation over the past two days, Livia added, "What happened yesterday and the day before was just a coincidence. You don't need to worry too much, Amalia."

She patted Amalia's back, and the golden-haired girl relaxed slightly, though her legs still clamped tightly around Livia's ankles, not giving her any room to move.

"Then why... were you packing..."