CHAPTER 334: "IN THE FUTURE... PLEASE CONTINUE TO BULLY ME..."

If it weren’t for the matter with Lyra, Astrid might never have considered any plans regarding love.

Magic, the throne, the empire in dire need of revival, parents lost to the abyss, and the unexplored treasure trove of another world, compared to when her memories first returned, Astrid now had too many things to do. Even taking a break required squeezing out some free time, so where would she find the time to think about love?

Moreover, as she had just mentioned, she truly hadn’t encountered anyone who could evoke a strong sense of affection in her. Even Lyra, who had the positive impression from the original novel, was merely a kind girl who deserved the world’s gentleness in Astrid’s eyes.

"Lady Charlotte once privately asked me about my attitude towards future marriage. After all, most noble ladies who became adults should consider their life’s major affairs at this time, either personally seeking a partner or having their family choose for them. The final outcome can only be one of two things..."

"Either compromise for the family’s benefit and enter into a marriage contract with someone they don’t like but find advantageous, or, by chance, the chosen partner happens to be someone they’ve already secretly admired. Although such coincidental unions are rare, they do happen, and only such fortuitous matches can barely be called a win-win."

As she spoke, Astrid bent her knees, gently slipping off her silver-strapped sandals and casually placing them aside. Her delicate, soft, feet stepped onto the lake’s surface, allowing the cool water to wash over her ankles.

Listening to the gentle and calm tone blending with the evening breeze, Lyra’s gaze followed the rippling lake, tracing the graceful arch of the woman’s foot, passing the tender legs wrapped in a white silk dress, and finally resting on the face bathed in moonlight.

"Astrid... do you also have to consider those things?"

Lyra’s voice was soft, her gaze at Astrid tinged with a hint of conflict.

She had thought about such things too, which was why she had been striving to improve herself, hoping to appear slightly more compatible when standing beside Astrid in the future.

However, Lyra also knew deep down that if it came to family background and the potential political value one could offer, ten thousand of her might not compare to the son of a duke.

She could only work hard, putting in more effort and time than others to get closer.

Hearing this, Astrid’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She tilted her face up slightly and looked back at Lyra, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

"Doesn’t Lyra already know the answer to that question in her heart? If we disregard emotions and only consider the political value attached to marriage itself, why would I have refused Tristian Velmont’s proposal back then?"

Marrying into the Velmont family would have been an absolutely profitable deal for Astrid, especially with the empire’s increasingly unpredictable situation. Having a duke and an emperor as her backers would have ensured her peace of mind, as long as she didn’t deliberately court disaster.

This was also Tristian’s thought at the time. The only problem was that Astrid had never treated her marriage as a bargaining chip on the negotiation table, so there was no question of marrying for gain.

"I am the emperor’s most beloved princess and the daughter of his most regretful friend. Therefore, while enjoying noble courtesies, I don’t need to marry someone I don’t like like other canaries. This is my good fortune."

Astrid paused, her long, curved lashes appearing even more delicate as she looked back and up.

She could understand Lyra’s state of being overly concerned, but she still needed to take this opportunity to clarify things.

"What I mean is, I have complete autonomy over my love life, but I’m not yet prepared to fall in love with someone, nor do I have any intention of spending my life with someone as a partner for the time being."

This was already a very tactful way of giving Lyra an answer. Given the other’s personality, she should be able to handle it.

Despite being prepared, when Astrid spoke these words, Lyra couldn’t help but feel her body tighten, her heart as if gripped tightly by an unseen hand, preventing it from beating.

Intense feelings of loss and defeat instantly overwhelmed Lyra. She straightened her legs, her fingers clutching her skirt tightly, her teeth biting her lips until they turned pale.

Before she had even formally confessed, Astrid’s words had already pinned her down on the confession seat, announcing the answer in advance.

Her first crush in life had ended with the person in question discovering it and gently rejecting her.

Even at this point, Lyra still clung to a sliver of hope, something even she found hard to believe, perhaps Astrid was deliberately teasing her, perhaps the next second the other would mischievously smile and tell her it wasn’t like that.

’I like you too, Lyra.’

"..."

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. Looking at the pink-haired girl with tightly pursed lips and downcast eyes, Astrid turned back, maintaining a posture that might completely save her spine. Her tender, snow-white feet swayed lightly, stirring up ripples in the water.

After an unknown period, Lyra spoke softly.

"I understand... Astrid..."

In such matters, Astrid wouldn’t joke, and she should let go of those unrealistic thoughts.

The other’s feelings truly hadn’t reached that point yet; she had thought too much.

Sensing the disappointment in Lyra’s tone, Astrid, with her back turned, sighed quietly. Just as she was about to comfort her, Lyra spoke first.

"Astrid... can I ask you a few questions?"

"Go ahead."

Hearing Astrid’s response, Lyra released her grip on her skirt and raised her sapphire-clear eyes again, staring as the other’s pink lips parted.

"Astrid said you don’t want to fall in love now because no one has made your heart flutter..."

"Then... what kind of girl would make Astrid’s heart flutter?"

Was she still reluctant to give up?

Hearing this, Astrid’s red eyes narrowed slightly. She propped her hands beside her hips, leisurely arranging her silver hair, and after a while, spoke.

"I don’t know."

It wasn’t that she was unwilling to answer Lyra, but she truly couldn’t find the answer to this question.

Liking someone is easy, but to elevate that to love, for Astrid, it becomes a daunting task.

Looking at the woman’s slender and beautiful silhouette under the moonlight, Lyra extended her pink tongue, lightly moistening her lips, then spoke.

"Would Astrid suddenly feel a heartbeat for someone she’s known for a long time?"

Perhaps she didn’t yet have what it took to move Astrid, but there was no guarantee she wouldn’t in the future. At least, from Astrid’s earlier words, Lyra could sense that Astrid probably liked her, though it was still a long way from love.

Take it slow... as Astrid said...

She couldn’t just make the other realize she liked her and then expect the other to accept her confession. That would be unrealistic.

Confession is a hymn of triumph, not a call to charge. Having clarified her feelings and no longer treating each other with vague emotions, moving forward step by step from now on was also a form of progress.

Detecting the sincere and fervent gaze from Lyra, Astrid remained silent for a moment, still giving an ambiguous answer.

"Maybe, maybe not."

"I’ve never had a similar experience, so aren’t these questions a bit out of scope?"

Hearing Astrid’s words, Lyra also realized this, and the sense of loss lingering in her heart lessened slightly.

But no matter what, at least now Astrid had no one who made her heart flutter, and her preference for girls aligned well with her. There was no need to worry about any inherent shortcomings.

Compared to the former state of complete ignorance, now she at least had a foundation, knowing that Astrid might come to like her in the future.

That was enough... she couldn’t be too greedy...

Seeing that Lyra hadn’t spoken for a long time, Astrid glanced back at her.

"What’s wrong?"

Lyra met those deep red eyes, and after a moment, softly replied.

"...Nothing."

Thinking carefully, before accompanying Princess Astrid to the lake, her heart had been far more anxious than now, even considering that Astrid might be uncomfortable with her liking girls and thus deliberately distancing herself.

But that wasn’t the case. Astrid not only didn’t oppose her sexual orientation but even admitted that she also preferred girls. The reason for rejecting the confession was simply that things had happened too quickly, and she wasn’t yet prepared, plus she truly didn’t feel that intense flutter.

She still had a chance... a chance for Astrid to come to like her in the future...

Understanding these key points, Lyra’s mood quickly improved, her tone changing from the earlier somberness to a slightly lighter one.

"Astrid..."

"...Thank you."

Noticing Lyra’s suddenly brighter state, Astrid raised an eyebrow and spoke with some confusion.

"Thank me for what? For discussing my views on love with you?"

Lyra shook her head, forcibly suppressing the last bit of disappointment in her heart—even though she had come to understand, the bitterness of a rejected confession would linger in the girl’s heart for a long time.

"Of course not..."

"I just want to thank Astrid for always taking care of me."

Even rejecting a confession was done so gently, truly the best noble she had ever met.

At this moment, what Lyra was most grateful for was that Astrid had interrupted her words on the tip of her tongue.

If she had really said it then, completely tearing open that layer of paper, laying everything bare, she might have been at a loss on how to face Astrid.

This was good; both understood the feelings, though they couldn’t return to the beginning, they retained a final glimmer of hope.

Hearing this, Astrid hooked her lips and turned back, not speaking further.

Moonlight spilled down, enveloping the deep lake in a silver veil. Soft feet swayed gently, stirring fine silver fragments on the calm lake surface.

Lyra had unknowingly sat beside Astrid, neither too close nor too far.

After a long while, the girl spoke softly.

"I feel really lucky..."

"To have met Astrid and become your personal maid."

Waking Princess Astrid every morning, helping her arrange her hair and apply makeup, tidying her room, preparing tea, now looking back, it was truly a beautiful and unforgettable memory.

"Why are you so good to me..." Lyra’s voice was soft, her watery blue eyes reflecting Astrid’s profile.

If it was out of guilt, there was no need to go this far.

Moreover, after spending so much time together, Lyra was increasingly unclear as to why Astrid had stripped her of her admission spot back then.

She always felt that the third princess who could do such a thing and the noble and gentle Astrid Oviciya before her had a faint sense of disconnect.

Hearing this, Astrid glanced sideways at Lyra. The pink-haired girl’s ears hidden in her hair were slightly red, but she still firmly met her gaze.

"..."

"If choosing you before was a coincidence..."

"Later, it was simply because I liked you, and there was an appreciation for not wanting a promising seedling to be buried."

"I believe Lyra will become a knight with a strong sense of justice in the future, and even a pride of the entire empire."

A simple sentence, but Lyra felt a deep sense of trust and care from Astrid’s tone.

Simply liking... and appreciating...

Was that it?

"I’m not that amazing..."

Joy filled her chest, Lyra touched the pink hair by her ear, thinking of more things that could make her slightly happier.

For example, Astrid had only ever had that kind of teasing towards her, and only ever bullied her often. Whether it was Laurie or other noble ladies, none had ever received such an honor.

In Astrid’s heart, she must be relatively special, otherwise, she wouldn’t be considered the other’s best friend.

Keep going, Lyra, you’re already quite close to Princess Astrid.

Just a bit more effort!

"That’s why I said in the future, not now."

As she spoke, Astrid lifted her skirt, stepping into the clear lake with her fair legs.

Feeling the cool water wash over her calves, stopping at her knees, Astrid turned back, facing the full moon, her voice surprisingly gentle.

"I believe Lyra will definitely achieve it."

Not just because of the original novel, but also because of the resilience she had sensed from Lyra during their long time together.

Extraordinary talent coupled with a heart willing to constantly strive for a goal, truly deserving of the halo of the protagonist of destiny.

Looking at the silver-haired beauty standing in the lake, as pure as the moon, Lyra’s heart raced unusually fast. After a moment of hesitation, the girl stood up, the sword-shaped light mark on her nail slightly glowing, as if a strong emotion had suddenly overflowed.

"I will continue to work hard, Astrid."

Even if she didn’t think so herself, under her beloved’s encouragement, at this moment, Lyra seemed to truly believe that she could become a radiant knight of light in the future.

Hearing this, Astrid’s eyes rippled with a smile, feeling the night breeze blowing from all directions, her mood thus relaxed, she slowly closed her eyes.

"Astrid."

"Hmm?"

"There’s something I want to ask of you..."

In the darkness, Astrid heard a shy yet firm voice coming from directly in front.

"In the future... please continue to bully me..."