[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-princess-s-struggle-for-survival":3,"chapter-princess-s-struggle-for-survival-princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-101":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Princess’s Struggle for Survival",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1801251,2401,"Chapter 101 101: A Foreign Word-Friend","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>In the end, Livia selected two paintings that caught her eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One depicted the dilapidated view of the bell tower, which had sold for eighteen gold coins, and the other was one of Amalia's early works, priced at fifteen gold coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Will Miss Livia take them now, or...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave them here for now. According to our agreement, every time I pay for a painting, I'll take the corresponding one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the room, Livia said, \"Go and write down what you need as soon as possible. That way, it will be easier for the servants to prepare everything quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia nodded and went to the next room. She sat down at the desk, picked up the pen and paper, and began to think carefully about what she needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifty-three gold coins was undoubtedly a significant sum, enough to sustain her for several years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, she needed various types of dyes. Recently, her blue-gray pigment had been running low, and she needed to replenish it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides dyes, she could also afford better pens and more professional drawing paper suitable for painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tip of the pen glided across the paper, leaving behind a few lines of neat handwriting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia paused for a moment, then added a few more items below, brushes and easels she had never dared to consider before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the neatly written list of transactions in front of her, Amalia suddenly felt an illusion, this thin piece of paper recording her needs was like a wish list given to the old man of the Holy Light during the Feast of Light in the Valeria Empire, a tradition where each child's beautiful dreams for the future were written down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia knew, of course, that there was no such thing as the old man of the Holy Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the parents who loved their children who truly fulfilled those wishes, not some fabricated figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia... the old man of the Holy Light... The comparison was too absurd to even consider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of the stark contrast between the two images, Livia and the mythical figure, Amalia's lips curved slightly, revealing a smile she hadn't noticed in years, one that had been absent for so long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few drops of ink fell from the tip of her pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia glanced at the paper in front of her, quickly shaking off the bizarre thoughts, and fell into deep contemplation once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from these... she didn't seem to have anything else she wanted...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had books, painting tools, and the rest Amalia either couldn't use or couldn't think of anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since she didn't need anything more for now, she could always address it later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl set down her pen, pushed open the bedroom door, and walked slowly to the next room, handing the list to Livia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without realizing it, Amalia had begun to feel that no matter what happened, Livia would always be there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the list, Livia read it carefully and asked softly, \"Are you sure you only want these for now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Amalia nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the girl's confirmation, Livia carefully tucked the list into her handbag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she unbuttoned it, the dark green potion bottle and the metal box inside clinked together, producing a crisp sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia paused, then took out the metal box and asked Amalia gently, \"Would you like something to eat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though eating supper at night wasn't ideal and could lead to weight gain, Amalia was so thin that a little extra food wouldn't hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia herself often ate dinner late at night and wasn't concerned about her own weight, unaware that Amalia had also been skipping breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blonde girl was momentarily stunned by the offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as Livia opened the metal box, a faint aroma of wheat filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia's eyes narrowed slightly as she saw inside the box, a few wheat cakes and five or six pieces of finely prepared jerky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since altering her sleep schedule, Amalia had often felt hungry at night, but there had been no one to provide her with supper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no choice but to endure until dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Amalia didn't immediately refuse, Livia quickly made up her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted the lunchbox and handed it to the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Amalia cautiously did not stretch out her hand, Livia first took a piece of jerky, brought it to her lips, bit it lightly, and ate a piece symbolically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's celebrate my surprise today, and Miss Amalia, have a bite to eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the woman's bright blue eyes, clear as sky, Amalia subconsciously placed her hand on her stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through a layer of silk, she could feel her stomach protesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I just eat a piece... it shouldn't be a big deal... Amalia thought, her gaze falling into a silent daze as she stared at the wheat cakes and jerky in the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Livia said it was a celebration... Nothing more...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment's hesitation, Amalia stretched out her soft hand and took a piece very carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never eaten this kind of dried meat in the castle, and at first glance, it seemed fresh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She held it in her palm, examining it carefully for a while, before slowly bringing it to her lips and poking out her pink tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next second, Amalia noticed Livia's gaze fixed on her cheeks. Her heart trembled suddenly, and she quickly closed her lips, taking the jerky into her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Livia smiled and said softly, \"Tell me how it tastes after eating.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time she watched Amalia eat, Livia thought this little tyrant was quite cute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, she thought of Lyra, who should have fallen asleep by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyra had eaten with her for the first time, and that nervous, shy look still lingered in Livia's memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Amalia stopped chewing and whispered, \"It's delicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was just simple hunger, or some other reason she couldn't quite place, but Amalia felt that what she had just eaten was unexpectedly delicious,.even more so than a normal palace meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Amalia eat what she had offered entirely, Livia felt a subtle emotion stir within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being able to accept food offered by others and eat it in their presence was an act of trust, a lowering of one's guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that Amalia's relationship with her had taken a deeper step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in the other's subconscious, she was no longer a stranger but a relatively friendly presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jerky is a specialty sent by a friend's my hometown. It really does taste good,\" Livia said as she took a piece of wheat cake from the box and gently handed it to Amalia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This one is not bad either. Try it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being fed by Livia once, Amalia felt as though some invisible shackles had broken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the item in the woman's hand, paused for a few seconds, and then chose to take it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wheat cake was a little dry at first, but the bite felt pleasantly glutinous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia chewed it carefully, soon detecting a subtle sweetness hidden between her tongue and teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While jerky might not be filling, this kind of wheat cake was definitely a good choice to satisfy hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia felt her stomach grow more comfortable after finishing a piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Miss Livia, for your hospitality...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Amalia had no reason to stay in Livia's room any longer. With a simple goodbye, she returned to her bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good night, Miss Amalia.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Livia's gentle voice, Amalia walked into her room, closed the door, and sat down on the bed with quiet steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auri was already asleep, curled into an orange mass in the cat's nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn't stir as someone passed by, continuing to sleep soundly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia glanced at the cat in the corner, her eyes gradually growing distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her work had been admired by Livia, and she had been able to barter for new painting tools, a deal far more favorable than any she had struck with the black-hearted maid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evening breeze brushed lightly against her skin, and the faint sweetness of the wheat cake she had just eaten lingered on her tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia bit her lip, and beneath the smooth silk of her skirt, her delicate ankles gently pressed together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was supposed to be a very happy night, yet she couldn't bring herself to feel joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This is a specialty sent by my friend's hometown…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia repeated Livia's words in her mind, over and over, her brow furrowing unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her palm rested against the sheets, her slender fingers twisting lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She should have realized that Livia couldn't spend every day with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia surely had other matters to attend to, and as a member of the royal family, social engagements were the last thing she lacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, someone like Livia, with her noble temperament and radiant presence, would naturally be the center of attention wherever she went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her background and status, it was no surprise that she had no shortage of friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Friend.' The word felt foreign to Amalia. Since childhood, no one had truly embodied its meaning in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>",1531,"2026-06-09T04:47:04.077Z",1,"novelbin.me","cb29ec4f983c251dda8cb12cc192aafef5074eb0f57ef5024f0ea787d0c40549","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-102","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-100",607,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fprincess-s-struggle-for-survival-cover.jpg"]