Princess’s Struggle for Survival

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

But if they were to hide them... why not just not prepare these things...

Painting was just a way for her to express emotions and pass the time in her cage. Now that she had a new emotional outlet, she naturally wouldn't be as obsessed as before.

Thinking of what Livia had once said to her, Amalia suddenly realized something and froze in place, holding Auri.

Amalia, you will gain your freedom.

Turning around, she walked into the painting studio Lyra had mentioned. As a place for painting, the room wasn't very large, somewhat like a transformed walk-in closet.

Looking at the prepared easel, dyes, and the obviously expensive brushes on the stand, Amalia unconsciously pursed her lips, her delicate toes wrapped in white stockings slightly curling inward.

Freedom... Astrid had indeed given her the broadest choice within her capabilities, even taking on risks that shouldn't have existed...

Was this what Livia wanted to express...

Closing her eyes, the two figures in her mind gradually overlapped. Livia was Astrid, the only difference being that bottle of dark green magic potion.

Was it Livia she liked, or the heart that had illuminated her.

"Livia, I've finished preparing the light ink flower solution here, and the membranes are soaking in the dye. They'll be ready in a moment."

Lyra's words interrupted Amalia's thoughts. The latter opened her eyes and softly responded.

"Alright."

Returning to the bedroom, Lyra had Amalia come a bit closer. Seeing the black liquid in the basin, the golden-haired girl slightly frowned but obediently lowered her head, letting Lyra work.

Due to the posture, Auri jumped out of Amalia's arms and began exploring the new environment, soon finding a small nest for itself, a wooden box similar in size to the one it had before.

Noticing the orange cat lying in the box, tucking its four white paws underneath, looking like a spilled orange juice, Lyra blinked and softly said.

"It's still so unafraid of strangers..."

As soon as the pink-haired maid finished speaking, Amalia, who had lowered her head, slightly froze.

Lyra... did she know Auri...

Recalling carefully, Auri had been squirming in her arms the whole way, as if it had seen something particularly interesting.

"Lyra... have you met Auri before..." Amalia asked.

Thinking that Astrid had already explained this to Amalia, Lyra didn't overthink it and softly replied.

"Yes, when Miss Elise brought it over, I even blew its fur."

"At that time, it wasn't this fat, just a small one, but it wasn't afraid of strangers and was very friendly."

Watching her golden hair being dyed into a deep black, Amalia imperceptibly swallowed and remained silent.

So even Auri, who had accompanied her for so long... was brought over by Astrid...

After a while, Lyra finished the dyeing work and handed the red plant membrane to Amalia, letting her put it on herself.

"This solution dries quickly, just wait two or three minutes. To avoid injuring your eyes, you can put the plant membrane on yourself."

Amalia nodded, took the membrane, and carefully placed it over her eyes.

It was quite magical. Although the membrane had been dyed red, wearing it didn't turn her vision red as one might expect. Instead, she could see even more clearly than before.

"Here, Livia."

Lyra somehow produced a small mirror. Amalia looked at her reflection in the mirror, her black hair and red eyes, and gently blinked a few times. Her crimson eyes shimmered, vaguely resembling Astrid.

Stripped of the Valeria surname and concealing her royal appearance, she was now Livia Calliste, not the illegitimate daughter Amalia Valeria.

All of this was bestowed upon her by Astrid.

Suddenly feeling an itch on her leg, Lyra looked down and saw Auri placing its paw on her calf. The thin white stockings rubbed against the cat's fur, making a faint but pleasant sound.

It had been a while since she last petted a cat.

Unable to resist cute cats and dogs, Lyra crouched down and gently rubbed Auri's head. The orange cat obediently let Lyra pet it, even exposing its chin.

Seeing this, Amalia's body stiffened, a faint chill flashing in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed the discomfort caused by possessiveness.

Lyra was the owner of that magic notebook and had been of great help to her. Just petting the cat was no big deal.

Moreover, she was Livia's personal maid and had known Auri before.

Amalia took a deep breath, her tense legs gradually relaxing.

After a few seconds, remembering she still had tasks to attend to, Lyra stopped petting the cat and handed a piece of parchment to Amalia.

"Livia, this is what Princess Astrid asked me to give you."

It must be the identity introduction she mentioned earlier.

Seeing Amalia take the parchment, Lyra slightly bowed.

"Then I won't disturb you anymore."

Elise had gone to assist Astrid with her bath and change of clothes, and she needed to prepare the tea.

Amalia said "Alright," and as the door closed, her gaze slowly lingered on the paper.

The words on the parchment were fresh, with a faint scent of ink. The handwriting was elegant and noble, identical to Livia's.

Livia Calliste, born in a village in the northern part of the empire that had been destroyed by magical beasts. Her parents died in a magical brown bear attack when she was eleven, after which she wandered around, surviving by begging.

Later, she followed a merchant caravan to Post City, where she happened to meet Princess Astrid, who was out for a stroll. Seeing her good looks and the red eyes strikingly similar to her own, Astrid decided to take her in.

The background Astrid provided was not detailed, leaving much room for interpretation. This was typical for a hastily fabricated identity. Being too detailed could lead to mistakes.

Flipping through, there was some knowledge matching the background, such as how to eat wild grass roots, how to sneak into a merchant caravan to get a ride, and the weather changes and magical beast activities in the northern part of the empire.

The entire page covered almost all the details she might expose, and Astrid seemed to have thought of everything.

Recalling Livia writing at her desk every night, Amalia vaguely saw the silver-haired princess Astrid Calliste, who was just a corridor away, thinking seriously.

Her already wavering heart now became even more unstable.

...

For the entire day, Amalia did not leave the room. Astrid had Lyra deliver meals on time, and she herself went over to accompany her for a while. However, Amalia remained cold, saying she wanted to paint after just a few minutes.

Looking at the moonlight scattered through the window, Astrid rubbed her temples, closed her eyes, and lay down in bed.

It might take some time for Amalia to accept her.

As she thought, her thoughts gradually blurred, and Astrid, who hadn't slept for two days and a night, quickly fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, in a daze, Astrid felt a warm, soft body slip into her bed, a familiar fragrance wafting to her nose.

Amalia gently wrapped her arms around Astrid's waist, burying her head in the other's neck. Feeling Astrid wake up, the girl pursed her lips and softly spoke.

"Livia said she would stay with me..."

"Without someone holding me, I can't sleep."

After a pause, Amalia moved her leg closer to Astrid's knee and continued.

"Livia didn't come, so I had to come and sleep with you."

Hearing this, Astrid didn't open her eyes, just let Amalia continue holding her, her hand gently resting on the other's back, just like Livia usually did.

Feeling the incredibly gentle touch on her back, Amalia's nose tingled.

"Sleep," Astrid said.

After a few seconds, Amalia's voice trembled slightly.

"Goodnight..."

"...Sister."

#####

Notes: Well Volume Two Ends here. I know it was slow though no one commented still I felt it that way. I will try to make third volume more better. Before I planned to extend this volume even more like it would have taken more time in exposing identity but when I felt it was slow I changed some part. Another thing was some intimate scenes between Amalia and Livia/Astrid but I remembered Amalia is minor and we can't progress intimate scenes this fast.

Now let's talk about third volume I have small outline. So third volume will be be small if I say around 50 to 60 words. It's a volume before Academy. So there will be more development in emotions between Charlotte and Astrid. Third Volume will also have some more new buisness with the knowledge of modern technology. While we won't ignore Lyra. Because if when she saw Astrid and Amalia or Astrid and Charlotte flirting how would she be able to control herself. So you have to see. Lastly in volume three Lyra will be turned eighteen. So that's some good news I guess.

Now Sorry for ranting here.