[{"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-56":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},1801206,2401,"Chapter 56 56: Amalia","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>The quill in her hand moved gracefully, leaving light, elegant strokes on the parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she had finished sketching the outline of the sunset, Amalia glanced at the wall clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was six twenty-five, almost dinner time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering that today was the day of the transaction, she quickly set down her pen, changed into her shoes and socks, and descended the spiral staircase to the ground floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance of the castle, a young maid carrying a dinner plate in one hand and a crumpled leather bag in the other gazed at Amalia with an expression that was hard to read, somewhere between sadness and satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the slightly bulging bag in the maid's hand, Amalia's eyes flickered with a faint light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She touched the few gems left in her pocket and sighed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking out a finger-sized green agate, its translucent dark green surface glowed with a mesmerizing luster in the setting sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid's expression shifted to one of barely concealed excitement as she saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia accepted the bag from the maid, carefully rummaged through it to ensure everything was in order, and then handed the agate to the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid took the gem, bowed slightly, and her usually cold cheeks softened with a hint of respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Your Highness Amalia, for your generosity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single green agate could buy a plot of farmland in her hometown, and two of them could secure a large house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most servants in the palace considered delivering meals to the unfavored fourth princess, Amalia, a thankless task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While serving Princess Astrid might come with occasional scoldings, the rewards were far more substantial and the work far more prestigious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only this maid knew just how profitable her arrangement with Amalia truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A book, a pen, some oil paints for artwork, such simple items could be exchanged for a high-quality green agate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What other trade could offer such immense profit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the maid set down the dinner plate and walked away with the agate in hand, she couldn't help but feel a smug satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the maid left, Amalia picked up her bag and carried the dinner plate to her bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking through the narrow corridor, she passed door after door marked with room numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of her slightly heeled princess shoes echoed crisply against the floor tiles, creating a rhythmic cadence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascending to the sixth floor, she was met with an endless expanse of darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The royal castle, with its hundreds of rooms, was home to only one resident: the fourth princess, Amalia Valeria, the least favored of Emperor Hibbort's children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia had lived here for eight years, since she was six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a long time, enough to become familiar with every corner of the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, all she truly knew were the few rooms near her own and the spiral staircase she climbed and descended daily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing at the top of the staircase, Amalia looked down at the winding steps beneath her feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, she felt the urge to jump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her existence had never been blessed by anyone. If she died, no one would care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jump, a voice whispered in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But another voice quickly drowned it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You should take revenge on them. Take back everything that belongs to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body receded from the edge of the air, and the momentary dizziness in her mind quickly disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia walked into the room with a dinner plate and sat down at the table, picking up her fork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her dinner today consisted of fried fish, mashed potatoes, carrot pie, and a pea beef bisque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she was not particularly favored, as a member of the royal family, Amalia's three meals a day were not skimped on; on the contrary, they were quite lavish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only downside was that high-status individuals like Princess Astrid and Prince Lucas could request any dish they desired for their meals, while Amalia, who lived in the castle, had no such luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ate whatever the chef prepared, and if she didn't like it, her only option was to leave it untouched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia didn't care for fish, and after years of eating the same dishes, she had grown tired of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She put down her fork, wiped her lips, and prepared to continue painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid had brought her enough oil paint materials this time to last more than half a month, so she didn't have to worry about running out anytime soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia carefully placed the small box containing the oil paints in the drawer of her painting table, taking it out only when she needed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This way, she didn't have to worry about accidentally spilling it on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stroke by stroke, the remaining twilight in her mind poured onto the canvas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blonde girl looked focused, her turquoise eyes fixed on the quill in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 8:20 p.m., when Amalia finished the painting, she got up and went to the closet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took out a pure white silk nightdress, her eyes inadvertently falling on the richly decorated princess dress in the corner. Her pink lips pursed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The princess dress in the wardrobe was primarily white, with a thin pale pink belt at the waist and cascading pleats adorned with lace embellishments below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the most striking feature of the dress wasn't the silk fabric, it was the jewels used to decorate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each gem was worth a fortune, though curiously, one side of the dress was covered in precious stones, while the other side was bare, devoid of any adornment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia looked at the princess dress and was silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she bent down, stretched out her slender, pale hand, and pried off a few of the gems, placing them on the bedside table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every gem here was a reward from her trades with the maid, and each one had to be carefully accounted for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking a shower and changing into her nightdress, Amalia delivered her worn clothes and used cutlery to the door in two trips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone would come early the next morning to collect and clean them, so she didn't have to worry about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just put down her plate and was about to go upstairs to read a book when she suddenly heard a sharp sound behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meow~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning her head, she saw an orange kitten lying on the plate, its tiny paws gently tugging at the leftover fried fish Amalia hadn't finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cat? The blonde girl froze for a moment, her footsteps halting involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange cat glanced up at her, and seeing that Amalia made no move to stop it, it stretched out its pink tongue and began to lick the fried fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hidden in the shadows, Elise watched the interaction between the girl and the cat at the castle gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her posture remained straight, her expression unchanging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, Elise noticed Amalia looking around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she was sure no one was nearby, she crouched down and gently touched the orange cat's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the fried fish on the plate was finished, Amalia hesitated for half a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the cat meow twice as if preparing to leave, she bit her lip and gently picked it up, carrying it into the dimly lit castle under the moonlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty minutes later, in Astrid's bedroom, the silver-haired princess listened to Elise's report. Lying on her bed, Astrid raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well done, Elise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, Amalia didn't seem like the militaristic, misanthropic tyrant described in the future books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid twirled a strand of silver hair around her fingertip, her pink lips whispering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep an eye on Amalia for the next few days. I need more accurate information.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brief moment of tenderness didn't reveal much, and Astrid wanted to observe Amalia a little longer before deciding whether or not to make contact with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought of making contact with Amalia gave Astrid another headache. Not only did Amalia despise her as a high-spirited, wasteful sister, but the original Astrid had also provoked her repeatedly, saying many harsh and ugly things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't difficult to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Astrid was an adopted princess. Even though Emperor Hibbort adored her, the lack of a strong blood bond left her with a lingering sense of insecurity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this context, Amalia, the illegitimate daughter of the Fourth Princess, had become an outlet for Astrid's negative emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For years, Amalia had been a punching bag for Astrid's frustrations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Direct contact now would likely only deepen the animosity between them, and their encounters would undoubtedly be tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending Elise back to rest, Astrid lay alone in her room, silently pondering how to gain Amalia's trust, assuming Amalia hadn't completely succumbed to darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the naive and sweet heroine Lyra, Amalia, who had experienced the harsh realities of the world, was far more challenging to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winning her over would be an even greater struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, Astrid realized just how daunting it was to \"clean the slate\" of her past actions.\u003C\u002Fp>",1511,"2026-06-09T04:47:04.076Z",1,"novelbin.me","769882f092822a59a4a87642d5aa86316260179c3e663195290b4a514e394c37","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-57","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-55",607,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fprincess-s-struggle-for-survival-cover.jpg"]