Princess’s Struggle for Survival

A person's energy is limited, after all. Even the protagonist of Destiny, Lyra, can't be proficient in everything.

Astrid couldn't explain that your refining potion depends on talent, so she could only find a reason to prevaricate.

Sometimes, having too much perseverance isn't always a good thing. It took a full half a year for Lyra to come to terms with the fact that she had no talent for potions.

If you can save some energy, it's better to do so. Giving up now is better than wasting effort on useless work later.

"If you have that time, try to learn as much magic or combat skills as possible. Not to mention whether your current strength is enough to protect me, even for yourself and your parents who are far away from home, you should restrain your distractions and focus on one or two areas of effort."

"There's no shortage of money in any line of work if you reach the top. Doesn't Miss Lyra understand that?"

Even after explaining this to Lyra, seeing that the other party had finally put her mind at ease, Astrid frowned slightly.

She was about to take the crystal bottle from the girl's hand when a rhythmic knock on the door echoed in her ears.

When she entered the house, Astrid had specifically told the staff not to disturb her easily.

Elise had also gone to prepare the potion materials and wouldn't return to the palace until the afternoon. Who could be knocking at this time?

An ominous premonition quietly rose in Astrid's heart, and the hand resting on her waist clenched unconsciously.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and a young man with blond hair and blue eyes walked into the alchemy room. Astrid looked at the newcomer, her bright red pupils constricting slightly.

The man wore a slim velvet robe embroidered with honeysuckle patterns, layered over a neat white gown. His fair skin and handsome face were complemented by a hint of cruelty in his eyes.

Prince Lucas, the crown prince who was currently most likely to ascend to the throne.

"Good morning, my dear royal sister."

"Did you suddenly come to the Alchemy Room to try your hand at refining potions?"

Yesterday, the palace informants reported that Princess Astrid had acquired a new personal maid and had spent the morning reading a book in the royal library.

"Just giving it a try. Countess Charlotte's birthday is approaching, and I wanted to do something for her."

Charlotte was the current professor at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic and one of the candidates for the next Vice-Dean of the academy. As a countess, her political support would be a significant boost for Lucas.

"Professor Charlotte's protégés are everywhere, and she has made extraordinary contributions to the Valeria Empire. The birthday gift should be well-prepared, and she will be very pleased if you show such thoughtfulness."

Prince Lucas smiled, doing his best to paint a picture of harmonious sibling relations.

After the failure of the marriage arrangement between Astrid and Earl Velmont at the end of the night's dance, it seemed like a good idea to shift focus to Charlotte instead.

Lucas knew that Astrid's mother had some connections with Charlotte, and he naturally hoped that his politically naive sister could forge a bond with the influential professor.

After exchanging a few casual pleasantries with Astrid, Lucas turned his attention to Lyra, who was standing beside the alchemy instrument, and spoke slowly.

"Is this your new maid?"

Lucas had encountered Lyra at the ball and was quite intrigued by her.

Firstly, the pink-haired girl had been invited to dance by the Earl Tristian Velmont, and secondly, she had been drenched in red wine by Astrid, making her one of the focal points of the evening.

"Yes, Lyra Beckett," Astrid replied flatly, though alarm bells were ringing in her mind.

She recalled that Prince Lucas in the original story had a complex relationship with Lyra, it was a mix of love and hate.

The relevant plot could be summarized in twelve words: "If I can't have her, I'll destroy her, and no one else shall be happy."

The blame, of course, lay in Lyra's overwhelming charm.

Except for Astrid, the vicious princess, nearly every other character, even the more morally ambiguous ones, held a favorable impression of her.

"A lovely name," Prince Lucas said softly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

From the moment the Earl Tristian Velmont had extended his invitation to Lyra, Lucas had already ordered a thorough investigation into her background. The results had been quite satisfying to him.

Born a commoner, her parents were still alive, and her only aristocratic connection was Miss Lina, whom she had rescued just a few days ago, coincidentally, the sister of the Earl Tristian Velmont.

With Astrid no longer a reliable ally, and given the Earl Tristian Velmont's apparent interest in Lyra, Lucas saw an opportunity.

He might as well offer her as a gift, it would be an apology and a gesture of goodwill.

Prince Lucas's gaze slowly swept over Lyra, taking in her delicate facial features and slender, snow-white silk-clad legs. A heat stirred in his chest.

Even if he didn't give her to Earl Tristian Velmont, keeping her for himself wouldn't be a bad choice.

Noticing the burning intensity in his eyes, Lyra felt a surge of unease and quietly moved closer to Astrid.

The man in front of her… didn't seem like a good person.

"Why isn't Elise here today?"

Although Lucas harbored thoughts of taking Lyra away, he didn't make a direct request.

Instead, he shifted the topic, inquiring about another maid.

"Elise went to gather materials for me. She'll be back in the afternoon," Astrid responded, sensing Lyra's discomfort and feeling displeased herself.

She had already guessed what Lucas was trying to do.

"No wonder Royal Sister is looking to recruit a new maid to fill the gap," Lucas said smoothly, maintaining his noble and refined demeanor.

"I have a few maids under my service. If the Royal Sister doesn't mind, I could send some to assist you as well."

Not only would this give him an excuse to demand Lyra in the future, but he could also plant more spies in Astrid's household. A double benefit.

Astrid smiled politely but declined, her tone unwavering. "There's no need for Brother to trouble himself. Elise and the others are more than enough to serve me, I'm not a child anymore."

Only completed the coming-of-age ceremony the day before yesterday, and now she thinks her wings have fully grown?

Hearing Astrid's refusal, Lucas felt a flicker of irritation. However, he quickly masked it, keeping his expression composed and relaxed.

"Regardless of how much I grow, I'll always be a reckless little sister in front of Royal Brother," Astrid added with an air of ease, shifting the conversation skillfully.

After a long while, Lucas still couldn't find a proper excuse to press further.

Resigning himself to the situation, he adopted the demeanor of a caring brother and asked if Astrid needed help with preparing gifts.

"I've already left the materials to Elise, and I'll handle the rest myself,"

"Besides, Royal Brother, didn't you say that a personally crafted gift holds more meaning?"

Since she had already put it that way, there was little more he could do. After lingering a little longer, Lucas eventually took his leave.

As he walked down the narrow hallway of the alchemy workshop, a lingering unease settled in his chest.

Astrid had been acting strange today… It almost felt like she had been leading him in circles the entire time.

••••••••

Earl and Count are of the same rank. And I will be using Earl here.

Earl's Wife = Countess

Count's Wife = Countess

For Female it's Countess

Tell me what do you think is better

Earl or Count