[{"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-25":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},1801175,2401,"Chapter 25 25: Pastries","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>Leaving the council room, Astrid's tense spirit finally relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stretched her legs to ease her sore knees when suddenly, a shrill male voice reached her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The maid team is disbanded, and there are not enough maids available around the Imperial Sister so you need to help my brother do some filling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas smiled, a hint of smugness in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether intentionally or not, Astrid had done him a great favor this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unlikely the second prince had ever dreamed he was on his father's list of suspicions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I recently selected a new batch of maids. If the Imperial sister doesn't mind, she can take them for a while. If they prove useful, it wouldn't hurt to keep them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Astrid didn't want to trouble herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just having cleaned up one batch of spies, she wasn't keen on accepting another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She casually made up a reason to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was cheated by these careless maids some time ago. I don't want to recruit any more people for the time being. Elise alone is enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, Astrid felt her words were slightly inappropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was easy for Lucas to see that Lyra wanted to leave, so she immediately added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lyra is also learning how to make desserts, and I believe it won't be long before she can be effective.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lucas maintained his personable aristocratic posture, his eyes narrowed into slits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Imperial sister seems to value Miss Lyra.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does she deserve your trust? This incident is a good warning in case she's in the pastry...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid had fired almost all the maids in one go, and she should also be wary of this new toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Best... leave her to yourself...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guessing Lucas's ill intentions, Astrid's tone turned slightly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unclear if she was wary of Lyra or a little dissatisfied with Lucas's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll keep Elise on Lyra and not give her any chance to disobey me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much of a storm can a plaything make?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, Lyra wasn't here now. Astrid took the opportunity to make Lucas misunderstand even more, so he would willingly wait until she, a stupid princess who didn't know how to learn, got tired of playing and then threw Lyra to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to the bad image of the original owner being deeply rooted in people's minds, Lucas didn't have any doubts when he heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even dismissed some unbelievable speculations, such as Princess Astrid having been hiding all along but actually being a spy planted by Alistair's camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Currently, the only two contenders for the throne are the eldest prince Lucas and the second prince Alistair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the third princess Astrid is favored, because she has no royal blood, it's impossible for her to directly participate in the seizure of the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must find a suitable heir to rely on in order to enjoy wealth forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today's move essentially confirms Astrid's political faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the Imperial sister knows what's at stake, then I won't say more...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas straightened his shirt, looking every bit the good brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This time, I made you suffer. It just so happened that the pastries I entrusted someone to buy arrived this afternoon. I arranged for someone to send some to you later. They're all local specialties that can't be bought in the imperial capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If there's anything else you need, just say the word. No matter what happens, your royal brother will always support you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were high-sounding, but the man himself was a nasty character who coveted other people's girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid didn't believe there was any genuine brother-sister relationship between the original owner and Lucas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called care and support were merely tools for mutual use on the road to power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then thank you, Brother,\" Astrid replied with a smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas also tugged at the corners of his mouth: \"Between you and me, there's no need for thanks. Just say it directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Princess Astrid walked away, her long dress trailing behind her, her slender heels tapping the ground with a crisp sound, Lucas waved his hand to summon the servants closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give Elise the snacks and tea leaves, and prepare some unique jewelry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also, inform them not to make any moves lately.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Hibbort wants to thoroughly investigate Princess Astrid's allergies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it has nothing to do with him, to avoid being implicated in any unsavory matters related to him, Lucas decided to temporarily restrain himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Astrid returned to the garden, Lyra was still undergoing special training from Elise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the golden sunlight, the girl's snow-white face glistened with a thin layer of sweat, but Lyra herself didn't seem to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remained engrossed in practicing her knife swings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid sat elegantly in the gazebo, her pink lips softly reciting Elders Speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, she used her mental power to cool the black tea, taking small sips as she watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the night of the beating, when Lyra had asked her what to do with the maid and Astrid answered truthfully, the other's attitude toward her had noticeably cooled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lyra still maintained the respect a maid should have for her master, there was a subtle difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when Astrid taught Lyra magic, the girl would be visibly delighted when she understood something, her voice rising slightly, sweet and crisp, a pleasure to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, however, her tone was deliberately restrained, maintaining a neutral, almost indifferent demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid had read the original web novel and understood Lyra's character, sunny, warm, and deeply empathetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would undoubtedly be dissatisfied with Astrid's wanton cruelty toward others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little girl was simply angry with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Astrid wanted to explain herself to Lyra, but now was clearly not the most opportune time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lucas had not yet fallen, and she was still in a precarious position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acting out of character could easily cause trouble and draw unwanted attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early stages, she had to maintain the persona of the vicious princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any contradictory behavior might arouse Lyra's suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Astrid didn't like Earl Velmont and didn't treat Lyra like a toy, why had she forced her to stay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid couldn't explain. She couldn't reveal that she knew the plot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doing so would only make the destined heroine think she had ulterior motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hoped that in the future, Lyra would come to understand her efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Astrid thought about it, the more exhausted she felt. She rested her chin on her arm and let her body relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, the snacks Prince Lucas had promised arrived. Astrid urged Elise and Lyra to take a break and eat something to replenish their energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is what His Highness Lucas asked me to deliver,\" the servant said before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lucas's name, Lyra's eager expression faded. She looked at the dim sum with downcast eyes, her hands hanging limply at her sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Astrid's expression turned serious. \"One thing is one thing. You may hate Lucas, but the soft, glutinous pastries themselves are not at fault.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lyra hesitated for too long and didn't take anything to eat, Astrid quickly picked up a pastry and brought it to the girl's lips while she wasn't paying attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Open your mouth!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1220,"2026-06-09T04:47:03.705Z",1,"novelbin.me","be7b36816ce499db74c891c01a20186581a87628d0e7a01147726eae413ca024","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-26","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-24",607,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fprincess-s-struggle-for-survival-cover.jpg"]