Princess’s Struggle for Survival

"Then red is also fine?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air briefly froze. Astrid raised an eyebrow, her pink lips parting slightly.

"Why do you want red?"

Throughout Capital City and even the entire capital, red eyes were exclusive to the silver-haired princess Astrid. Having another person with red eyes would inevitably attract attention.

"Your Highness chose to take me out, most likely having already prepared a fake identity," Amalia said.

Last night, lying in bed, Livia had promised Amalia that she would always keep her by her side and never abandon her.

And Astrid was the most dazzling gem of the Valeria Empire. Anyone standing by her side would naturally attract attention.

"I think Your Highness wouldn't just bring a commoner into the palace, so a suitable excuse is needed."

The secrecy of a forged identity meant it couldn't be associated with the easily traceable upper class. No noble would show unwarranted care for a commoner, especially someone as notoriously arrogant as Princess Astrid Calliste.

"Your Highness saw the red eyes of this wandering girl and felt an immediate kinship, deciding to keep her by her side."

"This reason should be better than any other fabricated ones."

"And in a way, the more attention it attracts, the less likely people are to connect me with the Valeria family or the imprisoned fourth princess, Amalia."

Who would have thought that Astrid not only secretly took Amalia out of the castle but also let her openly appear in the public eye.

After listening to Amalia's words, Astrid slightly narrowed her eyes, inwardly marveling at how quickly the other's mind worked. Not only had she discovered her identity early on, but she could also think so clearly upon arriving in a new environment.

As expected of the future emperor of the Valeria Empire. When treating Amalia as Livia, Astrid had only experienced the side of the golden-haired girl that needed care and affection, overlooking the precocious mind cultivated by over a decade of solitary life.

"Amalia is indeed correct," Astrid replied.

The ink flower was a gift from Charlotte for potion-making, known only to the servants managing the potion materials in the manor. The plant membranes were arranged by Elise to be bought from the Honeysuckle Guild.

Upon learning of Astrid's general plan, this perfect and elegant head maid decisively gave up the idea of purchasing them herself, instead sending an intelligence officer with no apparent connection to Astrid to make the purchase.

Although Astrid and the Velmont family were currently in a cooperative relationship, no one could guarantee they would stand on the same side in matters of the throne.

So before establishing deeper ties of interest, Amalia's information couldn't be leaked, and the purchase of the plant membranes had to go through several processes to avoid detection by others, including Elowen, that these eye-color-altering membranes ultimately went to Astrid.

"Then I'll have Elise bring some red dye for you later."

Seeing a hint of confusion in Amalia's eyes, Astrid spoke softly.

"Your room is next to Elise's, the one diagonally across from my bedroom on the right."

Right across from Lyra's room.

Hearing this, Amalia suppressed the wild thoughts in her heart. She had thought she would be sleeping with Astrid and had even taken a good look at the large bed when she arrived.

So that wasn't the case...

Softly replying with a "Yes," Amalia heard Astrid speak again.

"By the way, outside, You can't keep using your original name."

"You can think about it and choose a name for yourself."

She no longer had to be called Amalia, nor bear the Valeria surname she disliked.

After a while, Amalia, having finished her thoughts, looked up at Astrid and spoke a name that was both familiar and strange to them.

"Livia Calliste."

The girl's clear and cold voice echoed in the room, like silver beads rolling on a jade plate, crisp and bright.

Looking into Amalia's blue eyes, Astrid narrowed her gaze and after a long while, softly spoke.

"If you wish to call yourself that, of course, you may."

In the Valeria Empire, there were orphans who had lost their parents due to war or accidents. To survive, they often became servants in wealthy households at a very young age. Some, who were favored, would be granted the same surname as their masters. Since it was the third princess, Astrid, who had taken in the wandering girl, it was only natural for her to bear the surname Calliste.

As for Livia, if Amalia had truly made up her mind, Astrid would not interfere with her choice.

After all, Livia Valeria had not appeared on the public stage, so even if Amalia took this name, it would not affect her subsequent actions.

After listening to Astrid's words, Amalia nodded and then spoke.

"Then I will go by this name from now on."

In Amalia's heart, Livia was her most important sister, while Calliste represented the silver-haired princess before her.

The two were essentially the same person. Inheriting Livia, discarding the imperial surname Valeria, and filling it with Calliste, which had a close relationship with her sister, this was the origin of Livia Calliste.

"Once decided, don't change it again. Amalia, go and take a look at the room I mentioned earlier, familiarize yourself with your future living environment, and modify your hair and eye color. The maids will be coming to work soon, and it would be risky if they saw you."

Although the maids in the palace had been replaced, and there should be no spies among them, it was still better for fewer people to know about such matters. Caution was always wise.

"I will write an introduction about your new identity and give it to you later. This is of great importance. If the Emperor detects any issues, we will all bear his wrath. Please read this introduction carefully."

"Additionally, I will have Lyra, the pink-haired maid who was standing at the door earlier, teach you how to prepare the light ink flower solution and how to change the color of the plant membranes."

From now on, Astrid and Amalia were on the same boat, and both were well aware of this.

"I understand," Amalia responded indifferently.

Bending down to pick up Auri, who was rolling on the carpet, the golden-haired girl pushed open the door and saw Lyra standing guard outside the bedroom.

Having received Astrid's orders beforehand, Lyra knew what to do. She took the transparent membrane and light ink flower solution from Amalia's hands and softly spoke.

"Princess Amalia, please follow me."

Looking at the respectful pink-haired maid before her, Amalia, holding the cat, silently followed behind Lyra.

She was Lyra... the owner of that magic notebook...

Entering the room Astrid had prepared for her in advance, Amalia raised her eyes and calmly surveyed her surroundings.

This bedroom was larger than the one she had in the castle, and the furniture was quite complete. Almost everything Amalia could think of was here.

"Princess Amalia, you are free to look around. If there's anything you want to know, you can ask me."

Lyra held a metal basin, adding light ink flower solution to it while speaking, then took out a water attribute crystal and used her mental power to make it release water.

Hearing this, Amalia remained silent, just holding Auri and walking around the room. Seeing the carpet on the steps near the bed, she took off her small leather shoes, her smooth white-stockinged feet gently stepping on the soft carpet.

Noticing Amalia walking to the bedside and picking up a slightly larger teapot, Lyra timely spoke.

"Princess Amalia, that is a magic device with a fire attribute crystal inside. Just press the protrusion on the side of the handle, and the water will automatically heat up. It should be ready in about seven or eight minutes."

Amalia also had such magic devices. The bathtub she used daily employed a similar working principle. However, compared to the high-tech products in the third princess's palace, the living utensils in the castle seemed quite outdated.

But Amalia could understand. The last time the palace introduced magic devices was several years ago. After that, the castle she lived in had been forgotten, leading to the failure of updating and upgrading the related devices, making them less convenient to use than those outside.

Staring at the teapot for a while, Amalia softly spoke.

"Miss Lyra, you don't need to call me 'Princess' anymore."

"Livia Calliste, that's my new name."

Livia... Calliste?

Hearing this, Lyra was momentarily stunned, but knowing part of Astrid's plan, she quickly reacted.

"Alright... Livia..."

"You can just call me Lyra."

This fourth princess seemed quite cold, not easy to get along with.

"By the way, Livia, the small room next to you is a painting hall. Princess Astrid specifically asked Elise to prepare painting tools for you. If you... if you feel bored, you can paint in there."

"But Princess Astrid also said that you should not expose your paintings, and try not to let others know that you can paint."

There were Amalia's paintings in the castle, and although not many people knew about them, to be safe, Astrid had made two preparations.

One was to have Amalia try not to expose herself, and the other was to have Elise take the time to hide all the paintings.

After listening, Amalia nodded, roughly understanding Astrid's intentions.