[{"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-44":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},1801194,2401,"Chapter 44 44: This little girl... seems to be feeling insecure…","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Upon receiving news of Astrid's arrival at Jones Farm, Lucas had rushed to the scene to see what his seemingly dull sister was up to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't the Imperial Brother mention that there was an emergency? It just so happened that I had some free time, so I thought I'd see if I could be of any help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid casually provided the reason she had prepared earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas felt a flicker of suspicion upon hearing this, but he quickly dismissed it, given Astrid's consistently harmless behavior, and did not dwell on it further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have such a kind heart, Imperial Sister. I am already very pleased,\" Lucas said with a gentle smile, his tone laced with apparent concern for Astrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this place is dangerous. Please don't come here again, even if you're accompanied by Elise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Lucas still believed that the situation was under his control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a month at most, his loyal mage, Velrik, would uncover the cause of the land's becoming barren and resolve the issue once and for all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the subtle dismissal in Lucas's words, Astrid pretended not to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced a few more times at the little lamb that was about to be buried alive and slowly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if we had another Countess Charlotte? She might be able to assist the Imperial Brother...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Setting aside her political stance for the moment, Charlotte was an Arcanist and a professor of magic circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her involvement, the chances of solving the land problem would undoubtedly increase significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Lucas paused thoughtfully before replying, \"Countess Charlotte is a busy woman. Where would she find the time to accompany you everywhere?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas was unsure of the current relationship between Astrid and Charlotte and could not be certain that Astrid could actually persuade the countess to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, one thing was clear: if Charlotte were to assist at Astrid's request, others would likely assume that the countess was leaning toward supporting the eldest prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas has already secured the political support of Duke Cassian Ashwick, one of the four dukes, who is primarily responsible for the development of the Empire's mineral resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the addition of Charlotte, he would gain an absolute inheritance advantage over the second prince, Alistair, who is only supported by a faction of minor nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll try to convince her,\" Astrid said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Charlotte, Astrid estimated that even if she asked her to move in and live with her, the former would not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas looked at Astrid, who stood before him with a serious expression, and a faint doubt arose in his mind once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had Astrid been so eager to help him lately?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because she had finally realized her precarious future and was clumsily trying to curry favor with him, the future emperor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was there something else at play?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon careful consideration, Lucas realized that, in his subjective view, this nominal sister of his had never done anything to harm his interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope, their fates intertwined, rising and falling together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thought quickly dispelled Lucas's suspicions, and he smiled gently, adopting a humble tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since my dear sister is so insistent, I won't say much more...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that the bowl of seafood had indeed opened Astrid's eyes a little, making her realize that he was the most trustworthy and reliable person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second prince, Alistair, was nothing more than livestock waiting to be slaughtered, like the lamb in the sack about to be buried alive in the soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sooner or later, he would meet his end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lucas's gaze swept over the three figures before him, Astrid, Lyra, and Elise, he seemed to envision the day he would ascend the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrogance and recklessness in his eyes were difficult to conceal, and even the usually dull Lyra noticed it, her mood sinking slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way he looked at Her Highness Astrid... It was that kind of gaze...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid noticed it too, but her heart remained unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had long known Lucas's true nature in private and held no illusions about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was merely the adopted daughter of Emperor Hibbort, without a trace of royal blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Lucas's eyes, she had never been a noble royal sister worthy of comparison to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he became emperor, this fool, who was driven by his baser instincts, would likely discard all restraint and not hesitate to force her into his bed, treating her as a mere plaything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this perspective, the success of the fourth princess, Amalia, in the original story wasn't entirely bad for Astrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she had died in prison, at least her chastity had been preserved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you need any help, please feel free to let me know...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to do something for you too... even if it's just a small thing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid spoke these words with feigned sincerity, though she couldn't help feeling a wave of nausea in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas's eyes lit up, and his gaze shifted past Astrid, landing directly on Lyra. His thoughts began to stir once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid didn't give him a chance to speak further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gestured to Elise, who wrapped a lump of dirt in a handkerchief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging a few polite words with Lucas, Astrid turned and left the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked away, the muffled sound of a shovel striking dirt echoed behind them. Lyra glanced back at the pit, where the little lamb had already been buried, its cries silenced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method of being buried alive... It's a bit too cruel...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Distracted for a moment, Lyra quickened her pace and accidentally bumped into the silver-haired princess walking quietly in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, Lyra's cheeks were slightly red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her two slender and delicate white silk calves were pressed together, and her palms rested on her knees with some tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she had to help Princess Astrid with her hair every day, it was the first time she had been this close to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accidentally walking a few steps faster, her chest hit Astrid's back directly, and her cheeks buried into the soft silver hair that cascaded down the princess's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sweet scent of herbs and trees instantly filled her nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid's silver hair was smooth and soft, more comfortable than most silk fabrics, Lyra thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when the hair brushed against the tip of her nose, the friction, like a small brush, seemed to stir her heart slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Astrid only glanced at her coldly afterward, the soft and wonderful touch lingered in Lyra's heart for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lyra, what are you thinking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that her pink-haired maid had been staring at the shoes on her feet, with a hint of confusion in her eyes, Astrid leaned forward and asked her softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyra's expression faltered slightly at the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pursed her pink lips a few times and replied in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Actually, it's nothing...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than the episode that had just happened, Lyra thought more about the relationship between Astrid and Lucas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter's gaze on Astrid was clearly pathologically possessive, not at all like a brother looking at a sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Princess Astrid didn't seem to mind this, and her words and demeanor revealed that she cared deeply for Lucas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you're really thinking?\" Astrid asked rhetorically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyra hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded and hummed almost inaudibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her Highness Astrid...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm here,\" Astrid replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driven by an invisible force, Lyra found herself asking, \"If Prince Lucas demands that I serve him as a maid, would Her Highness Astrid consent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lyra would be an adult in half a year, and she could sense that Lucas had ill intentions toward her, especially with that vicious gaze that seemed to want to devour her on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one day, Astrid really gave her to Lucas...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking of that scenario made Lyra's heart sink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after hearing the conversation between Astrid and Lucas earlier, the seemingly harmonious sibling relationship felt like a warning to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of them were royal family children, after all, their status noble, while she was just a dispensable ordinary maid, replaceable and discardable at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid turned her head upon hearing this, her beautiful eyes fluttering as she looked at Lyra with a puzzled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little girl... seems to be feeling insecure…\u003C\u002Fp>",1394,"2026-06-09T04:47:03.705Z",1,"novelbin.me","e2f4d71aaf01d7fc1039f4168332df4351476186e0a24551f4b1b6cb1eee20b1","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-45","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-43",607,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fprincess-s-struggle-for-survival-cover.jpg"]