Princess’s Struggle for Survival

In her sleep, Astrid dreamed that she was lying on a pure white hospital bed, connected to a ventilator.

At just 28 years old, she had lost nearly all her physical functions due to illness.

Chemotherapy had taken away her sense of taste and most of her hair, leaving her frail and weak.

Pills, surgeries, chemotherapy, none of it had stopped her body from collapsing.

The only good thing was that Astrid wasn't completely alone.

Her younger sister would visit from time to time, bringing updates on, "The Innocent Knight of the Stained Light".

"If you die, I'll print out this series and burn it for you."

Astrid, lying in bed, glanced at her sister.

Though she pretended to be indifferent, she was really just trying to comfort her. The corners of her lips lifted slightly.

"But there have been only read three volumes..."

"So what? I'll keep waiting!"

Her sister held up a small booklet, its cover neatly displaying the title of her novel.

"In the future, I'll burn one volume for you every time there is new update. If you get bored over there, you can read them to pass the time."

"Or, since you can still hear, I'll read them to you!"

"So don't you dare die before you finish listening."

For the next month, Lyra's name became the most common word Astrid heard.

"Lyra suddenly realized that the arrogant and domineering silver-haired princess before her had orchestrated everything..."

"Lyra quickly chanted a spell in her heart, dazzling light surging over the surface of her armor..."

"Eventually, at the command of the new Emperor, the former princess Astrid was sentenced to life imprisonment on death row."

"...."

Astrid… Lyra…

Two familiar names churned in her mind.

Astrid's eyes fluttered open, revealing an unfamiliar sight, a pale pink ceiling, a lavishly decorated room, and an opulent chandelier hanging high above, a symbol of the extraordinary status of the room's owner.

"Am I... asleep?"

She lifted a hand to rub her eyes, her voice naturally slipping into a soft, seductive murmur, sweet and lazy, with an alluring charm.

As she moved her arms, she felt the cool touch of jewel embellishments on her gown and the silky embrace of light stockings hugging her thighs. It was only then that she realized she hadn't even changed her clothes.

Just as she sat up, she heard a voice.

"Her Highness Astrid is awake?"

Lyra's cheeks flushed slightly, and her crisp, pleasant voice rang in her ears.

It turned out that Princess Astrid had just woken up... and she even made a soft, adorable sound as she stretched.

Astrid let out a small grunt as she straightened her silver hair.

"...How long did I sleep?"

Lyra answered promptly, "Three hours. It's now late afternoon. You missed lunchtime."

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "So you've just been waiting here this whole time?"

Lyra nodded. "Well, I meditated for more than an hour in between."

Knights and mages primarily relied on physical training to expand their mental reserves, a cycle of depletion and restoration that strengthened their abilities.

Meditation could serve a similar purpose, but its effects were far less potent.

Astrid glanced at her. "Next time, you don't need to wait for me. If you're hungry, just go eat."

"You can also flip through those books," she added, gesturing to the stack on the table. "Just be sure to put the bookmark back when you're done."

With that, she slipped on her high heels and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up.

Lyra watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning her gaze toward the books on the table.

From the moment she sat down, she had noticed the stack of magic books beside her, especially the Introduction to Magical Knowledge on top. She had been eyeing it for a while, resisting the temptation.

But no matter how much she wanted to read it, it wasn't hers. Without permission, she wouldn't dare touch it.

That's why Astrid's words surprised her.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Lyra said sincerely before carefully opening the book.

Unlike the tattered scraps of notes she had managed to collect in her room, this Introduction to Magical Knowledge was a complete and detailed tome, packed with valuable information.

She quickly lost herself in the pages.

A while later, Astrid emerged from the bathroom, refreshed.

Without waiting for the maids, she decided to head to the kitchen.

Elise hadn't returned yet, and Astrid had no desire to endure the maids' usual bland, uninspired cooking.

So instead, she took a detour to the kitchen and pastry room, gathering ingredients before leading Lyra to the alchemy room.

There, she instructed Lyra to pack a small bag of chili peppers and aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves, along with a well-sized cauldron.

At first, Lyra wasn't sure what Astrid was planning, until they arrived at the back kitchen, where all the ingredients were stored.

"Do you have any dietary restrictions?" Astrid asked casually.

Lyra blinked in surprise. "Your Highness… are you planning to cook?"

Astrid ignored the question. "Do you like spicy food?"

"Yes," Lyra answered. "I love spicy food."

"Good. Go start the fire for me."

Astrid had already noticed that this world had yet to introduce chili peppers into its cuisine.

She had to take matters into her own hands.

As a child of a poor family Lyra had been chopping wood, hunting, and cooking over open flames since she was young.

When Astrid gave the order, she followed it with practiced ease.

The way she washed the vegetables and prepared the pan was smooth and precise, wasting neither time nor water.

Astrid watched, noticing how effortlessly Lyra moved, her delicate frame belying a quiet resilience.

For the first time, a hint of pity stirred in her heart.

If the original plot is followed, Lyra's future will be a bright one, but that doesn't mean she won't face hardship.

She still has a lot of suffering to endure, a lot of struggles to overcome.

After all, she is just a young girl, barely eighteen, about to leave the comfort of home.

As Astrid thought about this, her delicate body tilted slightly to the right.

Her long silver hair cascaded down, gently covering her brows. She poured the ingredients and started preparing them.

One of the perks of learning magic was that even when Astrid wore a princess gown, she didn't have to worry about hot oil splattering and ruining her clothes.

The flow of wind around her acted like a shield, guarding her from anything that might harm her.

Soon, the kitchen was filled with the rich scent of fish, mingled with the sharp aroma of chili peppers.

After a while, Astrid turned off the heat and divided the dish onto two plates, handing one to Lyra to take to the table.

"How about tasting it?" Astrid asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Lyra, still unsure, watched as Astrid added oil and salt to the pan, stirring the contents. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

When Lyra didn't immediately move, Astrid took the initiative. She picked up a piece of fish and tasted it herself.

The dish wasn't as refined as the meals prepared by chefs in her previous life, but it was still delicious overall.

It smelled good too...

After a moment, Lyra finally picked up a fork and placed a piece of meat in her mouth, chewing slowly.

The spicy kick, combined with the rich, savory flavor of fish, exploded on her taste buds. It was a novel and unexpected delight.

Dishes made in such a unique way...

Surprisingly delicious.