Bright specks of light rapidly dissolved as magic waned, leaving only a dome-shaped lamp powered by a light crystal still emitting a steady glow within the training room.

Leaning sideways at her desk, Lyra propped her cheek on one hand, her smooth pink hair cascading down to cover her ears and wrists. Her clear blue eyes reflected Astrid's slightly pursed lips.

Her heartbeat had unknowingly climbed to its peak; warm crept across her cheeks and the nape of her neck. Fixated on those tender rose-colored lips, Lyra's thoughts seemed to pause momentarily. The soft light pouring down from above blurred reality, creating a hazy sensation that made her wonder whether she was still awake or already dreaming.

'Just kiss her… You've always wanted to…'

'What would Princess Astrid's lips taste like? Would they be as soft and sweet as cotton candy, just like in her dreams?'

'Didn't you always want to do this?'

Halfway through her thoughts, Lyra suddenly realized something, the haze in her blue eyes slowly clearing.

Dreams… Wait, she wasn't dreaming now…

The steady, calm breath of the person before her drifted through the air, mingling with a faint scent of soap and a quietly intoxicating natural fragrance that made Lyra's body flush with warmth.

'No, no… I can't do something like this to Astrid without her knowing…'

That night, although Astrid hadn't outright rejected her confession, the subtle implications made it clear, she wasn't ready to accept Lyra as a lover yet.

This would be too fast. Too hasty.

Coming to this realization, Lyra stretched her stiff neck, trying to create a safe distance between herself and Astrid. Yet even as her mind urged her to pull back, her gaze remained locked, enchanted, on Astrid's lips, her entire body frozen in place.

The woman's delicate, rosy lips were exposed to the air, softly illuminated by the light, as if glazed with a layer of cherry pink enamel, glossy and tempting. The slight parting from her breath only emphasizes their visible softness.

Her throat felt dry. The desire to lean in and kiss surged once more. Within less than thirty centimeters, Lyra felt as if she were locked in a tug-of-war against an invisible force. Her elbow pressed against the desk became slightly numb, and beneath her cream-colored silk stockings, her pale toes curled instinctively, faintly scraping the sole of her shoe.

'It's just a simple kiss… It wouldn't hurt, would it?'

Princess Astrid often comforted Princess Amalia with forehead kisses.

Swallowing hard, the heat inside her scorched Lyra's thoughts, making her unconsciously search for excuses, justifications for what she was about to do.

They were each other's closest friends… A kiss shouldn't be such a big deal, right?

Time seemed to freeze completely. All Lyra could see was the silver-haired princess sleeping peacefully before her.

The distance closed inch by inch, close enough for Lyra to see every faint tremble of Astrid's lashes with each breath, close enough that their breaths mingled as if they were embracing in sleep.

The final five centimeters. Lyra closed her eyes, held her breath, and relied only on warmth to guide her position.

"..."

Are you really going to do this?

To give her your first kiss while Princess Astrid was unaware, or rather, to steal Princess Astrid's first kiss.

Most likely her first.

Bright light filtered through her eyelids, staining her vision a vivid red. Lyra bit her lip, fingers curling tightly into her palms.

Astrid must sleep so quietly because she trusts me.

Is this really how you show your feelings, Lyra, taking advantage while she's vulnerable?

Opening her eyes, the woman she'd longed to lay right before her. Her hands, free to move, were folded beneath her cheek, completely defenseless, revealing how exhausted she must have been before falling asleep.

Astrid had done so much for her, teaching her magic, training her in combat, providing her with wealth that improved her family's situation, and giving her a place to stay in the Capital City, surrounded by wolves.

Without Astrid, Lyra couldn't imagine what would have become of her, a mere early tier apprentice newly arrived in the capital. Even with her life-saving debt to Lina, the Velmont family's protection wouldn't have lasted forever, let alone care for her as gently and tenderly as Astrid had.

Thinking back to the moment Astrid shielded her from Lucas, declaring her a personal maid, Lyra's eyes sparkled slightly, and her rationality returned.

'Princess Astrid has been so kind to me… I absolutely can't hurt her…'

If that day ever comes, when they could be together as lovers, then she would honestly, openly ask Astrid for a kiss.

That's what a true knight of justice should do.

Gazing at Astrid's fair, unblemished face, Lyra fluttered her lashes, a flicker of tenderness crossing her eyes.

If it wasn't for her, Princess Astrid wouldn't have fallen asleep so quickly just from a brief rest.

Her fingers gently reached for Astrid's silver hair trailing behind, smoothing and straightening it as she used to do during her days as a personal maid. Once the strands were untangled, Lyra stared at the few silken locks coiled around her fingers, her gaze deepening.

After half a minute, she slowly lowered her head, raised the finger entwined with silver strands, and pressed a reverent, gentle kiss onto the one-of-a-kind silver hair of the Valeria Empire.

Coincidentally, the moment Lyra let go of the hair, Astrid stirred drowsily awake, like a sleeping beauty regaining consciousness.

"...Lyra?"

Seeing the pink hair scattered across the desk, Astrid murmured softly.

Lyra nodded, her voice gentle.

"Did you wake up, Astrid?"

"You fell asleep."

'I did?'

Lifting her head and recognizing the familiar walls around her, Astrid realized she was in the training room. Memories from before sleep quickly returned.

She had taught Lyra the incantation and technique for [Flickering Light, Passing Shadow], then let her practice it alone. She had been watching from the desk, then must have dozed off.

Glancing at the clock, it was nearly ten. She had been sleeping for at least half an hour.

"How did the spell practice go? Any questions?"

Before Lyra could respond, a crisp click of high heels echoed through the room. Astrid looked down at the satin stiletto lying on the floor, her small foot clad in black silk lightly nudging it before sliding back into place.

Falling asleep at a desk had its downsides, waking up with numb legs. Especially since she often likes to cross her legs while sitting. Now, after half a minute of recovery, her legs feel prickly, as if thousands of needles were piercing them.

"The spell seems fine. The effect wasn't bad, just not quite perfect."

Lyra replied softly, her eyes fixed on Astrid's hands gently pressing her thighs.

"If you'd like, I can recast it once more for you."

Astrid gave a slight nod, indicating she should proceed. Lyra didn't hesitate, casting [Flickering Light, Passing Shadow] again.

A moment later, seeing the magical effect surpassing her own by several times, Astrid blinked, truly impressed.

"Your light affinity really does amplify light magic significantly. This single spell is nearly as strong as two of mine."

Learning a few more spells of this type, Lyra might even stand a chance against a Magnus.

Hearing Astrid's words, Lyra's lips curled into a soft smile.

"It's because your notes were so detailed, almost breaking down every key point and feeding it to me…"

"If I had to learn it on my own, it might've taken me three or four days just to find the basics."

When it came to understanding various types of magic, Astrid truly stood in a league of her own.

Astrid didn't dwell on the topic, simply praising Lyra a few more times, enough to make her tail wag with pride, before speaking again.

"Practice more these next few days. Once you're fluent, try using it in matches."

"Also, wait five minutes before leaving."

Although healing magic could quickly resolve the numbness, it was better not to use magic for issues that could recover naturally.

A person's life force was finite. Healing magic, in a way, accelerated recovery by drawing on life force, inevitably causes some physical strain.

Lyra's gaze lingered on Astrid's legs. After a brief hesitation, her pink lips parted.

"Astrid… If your legs are still really numb…"

"I can massage them for you."

When she was Princess's personal maid, Elise had taught her many massage techniques.

Astrid studied Lyra for a few moments, recalling the skillful hands that once massaged her feet, then finally nodded.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you, Lyra."

With that, Astrid turned and sat sideways on the chair. Lyra stepped closer, positioning herself beside her.

As soon as she sat, Astrid placed her long, black-silk-clad legs onto Lyra's lap. Her rose-red eyes narrowed slightly, revealing only a thin slit.

Although Lyra's intention had truly been to help, the moment she felt the warm, smooth touch of Astrid's legs, the softness planned spreading under pressure sent a ripple through her heart.

She gradually gulped, ignoring the tempting glimpse of flesh faintly visible beneath the stretched black silk, and applied pressure with her fingertips at the right acupoints, gently pressing as if caressing a pudding.

Feeling the pressure, Astrid instinctively tensed her leg muscles. Her diamond-encrusted heels swayed slightly, tracing elegant arcs in the air.

Thankfully her legs were long, otherwise, a few more swings and those sharp heels might have poked Lyra.

"Mmm…"

After an indeterminate time, Astrid let out a soft moan from deep in her throat, sweet and lazy from just waking up, echoing in the room like a siren's call.

Lyra's cheeks are flushed red. Her mindset, originally focused on a serious massage, wavered once again.

"..."

After a while, Lyra spoke up.

"Should I press harder?"

Astrid shook her head.

"No, this is just right."

"How about your calves? Should I massage those too?"

"Yes."

As soon as she finished speaking, Astrid shifted backward slightly, adjusting her position.

But in this posture, the heels could easily hit someone. Lyra tried a few times and found it inconvenient, whispering softly.

"Astrid… Maybe I should help you take off your shoes?"

A brief silence. Astrid's crimson eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. Then, thinking they were already in this situation, she casually replied.

"Whatever you prefer. Do what's most convenient."

Hearing this, Lyra stared at Astrid's delicate, dainty ankle for a few seconds before reaching out and gently grasping the slender heel.

There was no "snap" sound, Lyra carefully placed the stiletto on the floor, neatly arranged it, and continued her task.

Through half-closed eyes, Astrid watched Lyra bend over, massaging her legs. Her gaze settled on the girl's flushed earlobes, and suddenly, she spoke up.

"Lyra, I've been curious about something…"

"How much do you actually know about… things between girls?"

She had always sensed this clumsy maid staring at her legs, could it be that she was thinking of something improper?

Lyra's face instantly turned as red as a tomato, stalling.

"Ahh…"

"I… I don't know that much."

If it weren't for a few hushed confessions from Linda, Lyra wouldn't even know that girls could fulfill each other in bed.

Hearing this, Astrid opened her half-closed eyes, her vivid red pupils calmly observing Lyra.

Just as she suspected, the pink-haired girl's ears grew even redder, and even the knees under her legs twitched up and down, as if trying to suppress her inner embarrassment.

In the original story, the Holy Light Knight was a steel-straight woman who avoided romantic entanglements, emotionally as innocent as a delicate little flower, her understanding limited to what she read in knightly novels.

Could it be that in this timeline, Lyra had not only realized her sexual orientation but already thought about such… risqué matters?

"I see…"

Astrid spoke softly, her red eyes seemed to pierce through the surface straight into Lyra's soul.

"So you do know at least a little…"

"You've surprised me, Lyra."

Lyra was just past teenagers, having certain thoughts about someone she liked was only natural. Astrid didn't mean anything by it; she was simply astonished.

Even a block of wood could bloom someday, it was truly remarkable…

After being teased like this, Lyra didn't utter another word. She kept her head down, finishing the massage, her cheeks still burning.

"Let's go, Astrid."

"Could you help me put my shoes back on? You placed them a bit far."

Hearing Astrid's words, Lyra's heartbeat skipped a beat. She quickly bent down and picked up the stiletto.

Gripping that exquisitely delicate black-silk foot, she carefully slipped the shoe back on. Her voice was slightly dry, but she tried hard to keep it steady.

"Is… is this alright?"

Astrid stood and tested the feel of her feet, then softly replied.

"Yes."

"As expected of Lyra~"