CHAPTER 335: GEARS OF FATE

After that night of moonlit conversation by the Lake, the relationship between Astrid and Lyra returned to its former intimacy, as if the recent verbal restraint and polite distance had been Amalia’s illusion.

As for whether something had been changed, perhaps only the two involved knew.

In the second month of the holiday at Elizabeth Academy of Magic, Hibbort, far away in the Capital City, received information about Astrid’s recent activities.

With the tense situation at the border, as the emperor of a nation, Hibbort had little time to spare for matters outside of state affairs. Even for his most beloved daughter, he could only find a brief moment during breakfast to show some concerns.

"Princess Astrid has been staying in the remote village of Morin for the past month, with only a few trips to the nearby town of Kost for leisure..."

As Hibbort listened to the servant’s report, he picked up his teacup and gently stirred the surface with a spoon.

"According to the town mayor, Princess Astrid visited the town library, the clock tower, and other landmarks buildings under the guidance of Lyra Beckett, and returned to Morin Village that same day."

Lyra Beckett... her again...

Even without deliberate attention, Lyra was, after all, Astrid’s former personal maid and now a quite famous genius girl at Elizabeth Academy of Magic. Hibbort knew a bit about her background and talents.

Taking a sip of tea and looking at the half-eaten white bread on the tablecloth, Hibbort felt a sense of fullness in his stomach, his sharp eyebrows furrowing tightly.

When had his appetite become so small?

"Lyra... What was the academy’s subsequent assessment of her elemental affinity?"

Hibbort put down his teacup and gently speared a cherry tomato on his plate with a silver fork. Hearing the man’s question, the servant lowered his posture further and responded softly.

"The final result is that Lyra’s light element affinity, like Princess Astrid’s ice element affinity, has reached an exceptional level. However, since the exact strength cannot be measured, the so-called ’exceptional’ can only be a broad category that exceeds excellence, and how much it surpasses is still unknown."

"Princess Astrid requested the academy to keep this confidential for the time being, which was also supported by Countess Charlotte. From the current performance, it is a foregone conclusion that Lyra will become an Arcanist mage in the future."

"By then, she should become a powerful assistant to the Third Princess."

The close relationship between Astrid and Lyra was no secret in the capital. The full duel of gunpowder was enough to show the imperial princess’s fondness and protection for the latter. Now that Lyra was showing her exceptional talent, many speculated that Astrid had chosen her as a maid because she had seen her potential and talent.

Supporting someone with power during their humble beginnings and nurturing them step by step into a peerless powerhouse is far more credible than relying on outsiders attracted by benefits.

After listening, Hibbort nodded slightly and placed the cherry tomato in his mouth, chewing it carefully.

The sweet and sour juice filled his mouth but failed to stimulate a stronger appetite. Mechanically moving his teeth and completing the swallowing motion, Hibbort slowly spoke.

"Continue with the previous content."

Cultivating confidants, courting nobles, and supporting forces, Astrid’s series of actions made Hibbort feel many unusual things.

If Astrid were truly his biological daughter, with the blood of Varelis flowing in her veins, her two elder brothers might have another powerful competitor.

"Aside from visiting the town, Princess Astrid later inspected the mayor’s personal estate and spent about a week observing the operational structure of the entire town..."

"Princess Astrid’s meticulous inspection attitude almost made the mayor think it was Your Majesty’s intention... It is said that before leaving, a banquet was specially held to entertain the princess and thank her for her visit..."

Inspecting the town... understanding the operation of power at the groundswells level...

This was something Astrid shouldn’t have taken the initiative to do; it should have been her brother, Lucas Varelis.

While lamenting his son’s lack of talent, Hibbort gripped his fork, his gaze fixed on the golden reflection in the plate, his thin lips pursed slightly.

However... Astrid’s actions indeed surprised him more and more...

If it were just to cope with future turmoil, she didn’t seem to need to go this far. The political chips Astrid Calliste had accumulated were enough to keep her safe from harm after his death.

Was it that Lucas made her feel too uneasy, or was there another reason?

Thinking of the face so similar to his dear friend’s and Astrid’s usual display of filial piety, Hibbort lightly tapped the dining table, his eyes calm as still water.

Although he now sits on the imperial throne with great glory, in his youth, he had climbed to the throne by carefully observing and maneuvering. When it came to understanding people’s hearts, Hibbort believed he was not unfamiliar.

Astrid might have changed a lot, but in their subsequent conversations, Hibbort could feel her filial piety as a junior. This sense of fatherly love and filial piety was even stronger than that of his two disappointing sons, after all, before truly inheriting the throne, there were also irreconcilable conflicts between the emperor and the princes. And because Astrid had no blood relation and no inheritance rights, she was actually closer to him.

Moreover, compared to his sons, Hibbort indeed wished he had a more obedient and sensible daughter.

After learning about Astrid’s information, Hibbort waved his hand, signaling the servant to remove the dishes. When the study was empty, he turned to look at the imperial scepter leaning against the desk, which shone brightly in the sunlight.

No dynasty lasts forever; even the once-prosperous Lorin eventually fell due to internal and external troubles.

What he had to do, or could do, was to prolong the era of Varelis’s imperial power as much as possible, at least not letting it die out in his generation.

After some time, Hibbort felt a tickle in his throat, a smoky irritation that made him cover his mouth, trying to suppress the urge to cough.

Half a minute later, a burning pain lingered in his lungs and throat, and in the man’s broad palm, a pool of bright red blood soaked into the lines, emitting a faint metallic smell.

Time was running out... He had to act faster...

The gem at the top of the scepter flashed, and a cool stream of water enveloped Hibbort’s hand. After cleaning the blood, the liquid dissolved, leaving only a faint white mist.

Opening the population census report provided by Gregor, Hibbort exhaled a deep breath, his eyes scanning the surface of the paper.

At this moment, less than three years remain before this lion-like emperor would end his reign, and the gears of fate had already begun to turn in places unseen by all.

...........

The northern border of the empire, the territory of Duke Charles, Morin Village.

Amalia stood by the window, watching Auri playing happily with two dogs in the yard, her arm lightly resting on the windowsill, her crimson eyes reflecting the clear light.

Half a month ago, Astrid took her to inspect the operational model of Kost Town, including how the nobles collected taxes from merchants, how they established strict and feasible industry rules, and how they reaped the last bit of profit.

For whom the empire exists and prospered, the answer was actually quite simple. The deeper she delved into it, the more Amalia understood what the existence of the nobility meant truly.

They were the nurtured ones, enjoying a luxurious and decadent life thanks to the continuous output of the lower citizens, while the emperor was a higher-level noble, or the actual operator who enjoyed the largest piece of the cake.

There was no question of who was nobler than whom; it was just that this small group of people held an absolute advantage, continuously optimizing their bloodlines and seizing more resources to achieve long-term control and exploitation of the lower-level people.

The glory of hereditary succession was just their excuse for being superior, nothing more.

So if she were to take the throne in the future, what could she achieve...

As she pondered and watched the sunset outside the window, Amalia suddenly felt two warm arms encircle her neck, gently resting on her.

"What’s wrong, Livia?"

"Thinking about the town again?"

Signaling Elise to put sound barrier, Astrid hugged Amalia from behind, her slender silver hair blending with the jet-black strands, making them appear even smoother.

"Yeah."

Amalia grabbed Astrid’s hand and took a slight step back.

Feeling the petite, dark-haired girl in her arms, Astrid smiled softly, her voice gentle.

"Don’t think too much; there’s still time."

"Just like a clock needs precise mechanics to function, the operation of the state machinery also relies on these small gears."

"Sister..." Smelling the fragrance emanating from Astrid, Amalia opened her pink lips.

"I know."

Strive to improve people’s lives through practical actions, but don’t push too hard, as excessive harm to certain people’s interests will provoke a united backlash from the nobility.

This was the next emperor Astrid hoped for, and Amalia would strive to approach that image.

Seeing Amalia’s long and upward-curving eyelashes, Astrid blinked a few times, not saying anything more, just quietly holding her.

In fact, it was exactly because Amalia was Hibbort’s neglected illegitimate daughter, who hadn’t been tainted by the noble circle, that Astrid had the idea to change her.

Lucas was the emperor’s eldest son, naturally considering himself superior. Even if he didn’t harbor ill intentions towards her, he wouldn’t make many beneficial moves to the people’s livelihood after ascending the throne.

He believed from the core of his being that his bloodline was noble and that he was destined to be the supreme ruler revised by all.

After spending some tender moments with Amalia, Astrid’s peripheral vision caught Lyra walking toward the house in casual clothes. She casually helped Amalia tidy her hair and whisper.

"It’s time for dinner."

Today was also their last night in Morin Village; tomorrow they will return to the capital City to begin the next phase of their academic life.

Astrid remembered that there were many major plot points in the original story, including the land refractory dungeon that was supposed to be conquered in the future, all happening in Lyra’s second year at Elizabeth Academy of Magic.

Hearing this, Amalia nodded and turned loudly followed her downstairs.

Since it was their last meal, the Beckett couple prepared an extremely lavish dinner, with all kinds of meats except for the seafood that would cause Astrid to have an allergic reaction.

"Everyone, eat as much as you can. Tomorrow on the carriage, the journey is long, and you might not get to eat much good food."

The Beckett couple displayed their usual enthusiasm, and Astrid knew it was best not to refuse at this time, so she complied and ate a little more.

After dinner, Palfran had Lyra prepare the luggage for tomorrow’s departure and kept Astrid behind. The latter guessed the couple had something to say to her privately, so she let Elise take Amalia back to the room first.

"Do you have something to talk to me about, Uncle and Aunt?"

Looking at the polite imperial princess before them, Orian and Palfran exchanged glances and hesitated for a few seconds before speaking.

"Astrid... no, Princess Astrid..."

Hearing this address, Astrid was not surprised at all, just smiling and responding.

"Uncle and Aunt, no need to be so formal; just call me Astrid."

Let her think, it must be that silly maid who let it slip in her letter home.

Hearing this, Orian’s expression remained somewhat nervous, her tone gentle.

"Princess Astrid... thank you for always taking care of Lyra..."

"We don’t know how to repay you. If there was any lack of care during this time, we hope Princess Astrid will forgive us."

After this polite exchange, Astrid maintains her previous dignified, polite, and approachable demeanor, successfully dispelling the Beckett couple’s unease.

Although Princess Astrid was of noble status, she gave off a very friendly vibe. Being able to be friends with such a person, as parents, they can rest assured.

As for the rumors that Lyra’s admission spot was forcibly taken by Astrid, it was likely just a misunderstanding.

"It’s getting late; you two should rest well after tidying up."

Perhaps because she knew Lyra’s true feelings, Astrid always felt inexplicably guilty when facing the Beckett couple.

It was as if she had taken their most precious treasure, and they were completely unaware of it.

Leaving the kitchen, Astrid returned to the house and happened to meet Lyra waiting at the staircase.

"Astrid..."

The pink-haired girl rubbed the roots of her white stockings, a faint curiosity appeared in her blue eyes.

"That... that..."

"What did my parents talk to you about?"

Given that it concerns her parents’ attitude towards the person she loved, it was impossible not to care.

Hearing this, Astrid touched her lips, her tone gentle.

"Nothing much, just expressing their gratitude to me and hoping I would take care of you more."

But if things continue to develop at this rate, they might soon be taking care of each other in bed.