Princess's Struggle for Survival

Thinking about it carefully, it really did make sense. Lyra turned her head and saw the head maid already carrying over a small porcelain tray. On it sat two teacups and a silver-engraved porcelain teapot for brewing. After pausing for a moment, she answered Astrid in a small voice.

"Then... alright..."

She wasn’t sure whether the wind around her body truly covered her completely, whether, in the midst of fighting, splashing blood might slip through gaps and stain the armor.

Washing up a little, washing away the dust and frost from the battlefield, could only do good.

Following Astrid’s steps, she arrived at the hot-spring room meant for changing. Separated by a thin curtain, Lyra heard the soft rustle of fabric. A faint, indistinct silhouette, cast by warm yellow light, fell upon the cloth, outlining the supple curves within.

With the slight movements of that shadow, a delicate rose fragrance slipped out through the gap in the screen, sweet and clean to the nose, mixed with a trace of the original owner’s distinctly cool, restrained aura. Lyra stood before the curtain, not reaching out to pull it aside right away, but hesitating for a few seconds.

At the same time, Astrid noticed the figure standing outside. With her helmet removed, no longer bound, the girl’s pale pink hair fell to her waist, just peeking past the edge of the curtain, thick and soft, like a sprig of cherry blossoms spilling over a wall.

They were practically an old married couple already, and Lyra still got shy so easily.

Guessing the pink-haired knight’s embarrassed mood, Astrid’s fingers lightly toyed with the buttons along her bodice, loosening them so the pure black noble gown slackened a little. The luxurious silk, held up by her figure, hung half on, and she spoke softly.

"Lyra, why aren’t you coming in... are you going to change outside?"

Aren’t you cold?

Hearing Astrid call her, Lyra let out a small "eh," then quickly realized what she was doing.

They were lovers. They’d done things far more intimate than this... and she was still fussing over changing in the same room?

Besides, they’d be soaking in the pool together in a moment anyway.

Taking a deep breath, Lyra reached out and drew the curtain. Having already removed her armor, she now slipped off her little leather shoes too, two soft, snowy feet stepping onto the tile. Her calves, wrapped in white stockings, crossed slightly as she walked forward. Coming in from the icy world outside, she looked like an enticing snow dessert freed from its wrapping.

Following the scattered light ahead, she saw the silver-haired beauty in black standing sideways. Fine silk with gold-and-silver embroidered trim, marking the wearer’s lofty status, fell along both arms. Smooth, fair shoulders were exposed to the air, and along those sleek lines, her delicate collarbones were fully on display.

Astrid had undone the gown’s fasteners, yet it hadn’t fallen away completely. Instead, it was held up by soft fullness, draped loosely over her body, her formerly immaculate, dignified poise turning into a lazy, seductive charm.

Lyra stood at the doorway, her breath caught for an instant. Her hand pressed to her chest, fingers curling into a fist.

It really felt like... someone was posing on purpose for her to see...

Taking off a dress wasn’t the same as putting one on, did she really need to linger at this step for that long?

That idiot maid was rarely clever, but there was one thing Lyra couldn’t deny: her lover, acknowledged across the empire as the number-one beauty, had far too much impact when half-undressed and turned sideways toward her.

Even after countless moments of skin-to-skin intimacy, that breathtaking aura, radiating from the inside out, still never fades.

"Lyra~"

"Mm... what is it, Astrid..."

As if she felt it still wasn’t enough, Astrid pressed her lips together, her voice low and soft.

"Help me undo the buttons in the back."

The front fasteners were already released. That meant the only ones left were the few along the woman’s spine.

"..."

After a pause of two or three seconds, Lyra softly hummed in reply, forcing herself to act naturally as she walked behind Astrid. Looking at the silver hair cascading down, she gently reached out and brushed it aside.

There were no straps extending upward over the shoulders to keep it in place, between the pale skin, the black lace edging was especially striking.

Lyra looked at the beauty’s cool, graceful shoulder blades. That flawless back, fair as snow, was so smooth it resembled a peeled egg, making anyone who saw it want to touch.

Steadying herself, she helped Astrid remove the "upper armor." Standing behind her, Lyra watched as the night-sky-colored gown slid down naturally, revealing the hazy line of the stockings’ waistband beneath.

The next step... Astrid could do it herself. She shouldn’t need her anymore...

Gazing at the soft sheen the sunlight drew from the silk, Lyra spoke first.

"Astrid, I’ll go change..."

If this continues, then once Astrid has her hands free, Lyra will most likely turn into a steam sprite again.

Astrid, hearing that, pinched the edge of the fabric, her tone teasing.

"Lyra’s professional skill seems a bit worse than before~"

"W-what... where?"

"When you were undoing the buttons, your hands were shaking a little."

As she spoke, Astrid slid the thin black stockings clinging to her skin down and off.

She was so steady when holding a sword, yet when undoing buttons, the back of her fingers kept brushing against Astrid.

Was she really that nervous?

"..."

Lyra’s ears warmed. She didn’t pick up Astrid’s bait.

Who in the entire empire could stay completely calm in a situation like this?

Besides, back when she was a maid, she’d never helped her mistress with anything this intimate.

If Astrid back then had made her do this every day, that bit of feeling, so subtle Lyra she hadn’t even noticed it, would’ve been discovered long ago.

"Maybe... I’ve been gripping a sword for too long..."

A tiny bit of stubborn denial, and Lyra lowered her head, quietly undoing the clothes wrapped around her body, her legs tightly pressed together.

"Oh? Is that so..."

Astrid didn’t continue teasing her on that topic. She simply stripped with casual ease, put on a bathrobe, then turned her head to look at the pink-haired girl who’d just taken off her shirt.

"Do you want me to help? Miss Knight."

Although Astrid only lifted back rather than turning her whole body, and though the bathrobe covered little more than the gown had, for Lyra this was still far beyond the syllabus.

Especially her lover’s cool yet alluring red eyes, and the proud springtime curves the robe couldn’t fully conceal, every detail was captivating.

"I... I can do it myself..." Lyra replied haltingly.

She quickly removed her skirt, then rolled down the white thigh-high stockings into loops and took them off. One hand hung at her waist while the other held her opposite elbow, forming a barrier that just happened to hide the shapely snowy peaks behind her arm.

"...All done."

Blushing, Lyra followed behind Astrid. Her blue eyes shimmered like rippling water as she kept her bathrobe tightly wrapped, walking all the way to the pool.

Elise, dressed in a black-and-white maid uniform, had already heated the bath to a suitable temperature. Seeing Astrid and Lyra arrive, she silently poured the tea.

"Miss, the water temperature is suitable. You may bathe."

"Thank you, Elise."

After speaking, Astrid looked at the head maid’s legs, her white stockings turning faintly translucent from the hot steam, and said softly.

"You should come in too."

"You’ve traveled far with me to the Kingdom of Velys, busy from morning to night. You should’ve rested long ago."

Hearing her mistress, Elise’s expression froze. She instinctively refused.

"No, Miss. I’ll stand guard outside."

Isn’t Duke Charles already in full control of this border city called Cherlos?"

This estate was now full of their own people, protected by layered military forces. No one would be so blind as to choose the Regent’s bathing time for an assassination attempt, and even if someone could manage it, facing three legend-tier mages, success would be impossible.

But...

Elise was about to say more when she suddenly met her mistress’s gaze. Realizing Astrid truly wanted her to stay and bathe together, she stopped insisting.

"...Then thank you, Miss."

In both the Valeria Empire and the Kingdom of Velys, there was no custom of masters and servants bathing together, unless it was the other kind of "personal" maid.

Astrid shook her head and told Elise again there was no need to thank her, adding a reason that sounded fairly reasonable.

"Since you’re here, please help refill our tea whenever needed."

"Understood, Miss."

After a while, the cold, elegant older-sister type with dark hair and dark eyes also changed into a bathrobe and came to the poolside. Astrid looked at the head maid, without that maid uniform, she seemed somehow different, and the corner of her lips lifted slightly.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Elise like this."

A standard maid outfit was pretty, but switching styles now and then brought different pleasure to the viewer.

Hearing Astrid’s words, the head maid answered gently.

"Is it inappropriate?"

"No. I just think it’s very beautiful."

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss."

To be able to stand beside the empire’s number-one beauty in the original novel as her lifelong loyal hound, Elise’s looks naturally were more than strong enough.

It was just that she was always on screen next to the empire’s jewel and the chosen heroine, and with her lower status, she didn’t shine as brightly.

After ensuring all other tasks were completed, Elise stepped into the bath and sat a little farther from Astrid and Lyra, leaving the two enough space to be together.

As warm water submerged her body, the head maid closed her eyes and rested quietly.

On the other side, Lyra was soaked so deep that only her collarbones and above remained in the air. Her pale pink hair was tied with a black ribbon instead of left loose in the pool.

Compared to a bathtub that could barely hold a person, this spacious artificial hot spring gave her an immense sense of freedom. Warm water flowed from all directions, nourishing her skin, as if even the chill stored in her bones was melting into the heat.

Her whole body felt light, as though the water were holding her up.

Her fingers brushed the surface of the pool. When she drew close, the warmth felt like a kiss landed on her fingertips.

"Astrid... I think I understand why those nobles are so obsessed with building such huge baths..."

Resting her chin on the edge, Lyra looked at the waterline nearly level with her eyes, her voice gentle.

"It really is comfortable."

Outside was an icy wasteland, yet inside was springlike warmth, a secluded paradise apart from the world. Light and heat blocked the cold wind, and all fatigue dissolved into nothing here.

Hearing Lyra, Astrid leaned against the pool’s edge, her silver hair spilling down over the marble steps. With arms folded and her cheek lightly propped, she replied warmly.

"Nobles have always understood enjoyment best. Even if disaster is right at their doorstep, as long as the blade hasn’t fallen yet, they can keep indulging."

"This city sits on the border between two nations, it’s a key route for marching armies. Even so, for pleasure on the front line at any time, the owner was still willing to spend a fortune to build a paradise like this."

This also explains why mana-powered devices had a market among nobles. Aside from vanity, they truly improved quality of life.

Looking at the pink-haired girl’s slightly narrowed blue eyes, faint satisfaction flowing through her brows, Astrid, who had dragged Lyra here to bathe, softened without realizing it.

In her past life, she’d never been to a public bath. It wasn’t about orientation, after all, back then Astrid didn’t even know she liked women, and wasn’t sensitive about it.

She simply disliked too many people soaking in the same pool.

Of course, people she was intimate with were another matter.

If there was a chance later, she could bring Amalia and Charlotte to soak too, preferably using the cheaper artificial baths they’d researched.

As Lyra soaked, eyes closed in comfort, she suddenly felt the water surface ripple. The next moment, a pair of smooth hands slipped around her waist and gently held her.

"...Eh?!"

Lyra let out an instinctive yelp. Her back was immediately pressed against two full, soft mounds, like slippery jelly spreading out, but far more tangible than the water.

If she paid attention, she could even feel faint friction.

It was different from when Astrid held her like this normally. In the bath there were no bothersome barriers, both warmth and skin could be felt completely.

Steam had already flushed Lyra’s earlobes a little red. Now, with Astrid hugging her like this, her cheeks burned hot.

Astrid had said that if she truly felt too guilty, she could treat this bath as serving her, the Regent.

But the head maid was still here... they couldn’t possibly, in front of Elise...

Absolutely not.

In truth, Lyra had been misled by that bad woman’s words from ten minutes earlier and let her thoughts run wild. Astrid simply wanted to hold her pink-haired knight like this, savoring the satisfaction of the girl’s soft, sweet body melting into her arms.

Resting her face slightly against Lyra’s smooth, clean shoulders, Astrid asked beside her ear.

"Isn’t it more comfortable like this?"

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