Chapter 606: IDOL LYRA

"Lyra is going home next week?"

At the dining table, Amalia narrowed her eyes while sipping sweet vegetable soup, softly speaking up following Astrid’s earlier words.

"That means Lyra won’t be in the capital for at least over a month?"

They’d been to Morin Village once before. Amalia remembered being carried by Astrid as they sat atop the clock tower in the neighboring town, feeling the breeze while watching the sunset over the streets. Judging from that memory, the journey wasn’t short at all.

Besides, when one finally gets to go home after such a long time, Lyra would naturally want to stay longer so her parents could properly see her.

Across the table, the pink-haired girl took a sip of juice before softly replying.

"It won’t take that long. I’ll be flying there using my spiritual energy wings. Miss Elise conservatively estimates five days, but if things go quickly, I can make it in three. The round trip should take about six days."

In the Valeria Empire, where most rely on carriages for travel, covering the distance from the imperial heartland to a remote border town in just three days was incredibly fast, even magic-powered airships couldn’t match that speed.

"However..." Lyra paused, glancing at Astrid to her left, her voice gentle.

"...I plan to stay at home for about half a month this time."

Although she had only recently become officially involved with Astrid, entering that phase where lovers wanted to stick to each other constantly, her parents hadn’t seen her in ages, and Lyra truly missed them.

Beyond love, there are many other elements that make up a person’s life. At least for Lyra, her homecoming wasn’t just to reassure her parents. More than anything, she wanted to see them.

She wanted to taste their cooking, check if they were healthy, see her small yet cozy bedroom, the nameless little flowers on the windowsill, and the ivy climbing up the walls.

If only there were a spell allowing her to instantly teleport from the royal capital straight to her village.

"Adding in the travel time, that’s almost a month?" Amalia mused, her delicate ankle, sheathed in fine white stockings and black little leather shoes, clasping her sister’s high heel beneath the table, gently rubbing against it.

"Perfectly timed to coincide with the capital’s magical apparatus exhibition."

What she really meant was that for the next month, she could naturally spend every night climbing into her sister’s bed.

The only awkward part, perhaps, was that the underlying reason for this outcome, when analyzed closely, bordered on a cruel joke. Not that Amalia cared, unlike Lyra, whose parents were healthy and family complete, she had no need for family visits.

"Mm, that’s exactly what I was thinking," Lyra replied softly.

Like many imperial nobles, she didn’t want to miss this grand event. Especially after Astrid’s constant guidance revealing how these wondrous devices would shape the future, Lyra’s curiosity had grown even stronger.

A magician who maintained a lasting sense of exploration could go much further. This was a universally accepted truth in the magical world.

"Speaking of which, there’s something I’d like to ask you to look into when you return home."

"Eh? Me?"

"Yes. It’s about that article published in the Empire Weekly, ’The Fearless Imperial Bulwark, a Genius Maiden Radiant as Flowers and the Sun.’"

Amalia paused briefly before continuing.

"Many nobles are curious about the soil that nurtured Lyra. Some merchants want to capitalize on your popularity by expanding commercial activities around Morin Village. Basically, a bunch of complicated matters, some good, some bad."

"I’ll have the finance minister prepare a detailed report for our Empire’s Light. If you don’t approve, I’ll immediately issue orders to local nobles not to disturb the area without permission."

Lyra’s value had risen dramatically. A magical prodigy and a favorite of the Regent, countless nobles sought to gain her favor.

Just imagining that when she returned home, even Koster Town next door might display a glowing magical banner in the sky announcing ’Welcoming Lyra’s Homecoming,’ making Lyra cringe inwardly.

That sort of thing... absolutely not...

The mere mental image was enough to make her build another Losterling City on the spot.

"I’ll carefully review the report tonight..." Lyra mumbled, her legs instinctively tightening as she momentarily forgot how to use her knife and fork.

Still, as Amalia said, being noticed wasn’t necessarily all bad.

At the very least, her hometown would gain attention. People who had helped her in the past wouldn’t be easily bullied, and would have a chance to make their voices heard.

If there were initiatives involving trade routes or commerce, that would be even better.

Hearing this, Amalia blinked, silently considering her next moves. After taking another bite of beef fed to her by Astrid, she spoke gently.

"By the way, didn’t sister say that Marquise Charlotte will be staying at the palace soon?"

With the magic energy devices exhibition approaching, merely using a single hall from Elizabeth Academy of Magic might not be enough. Amalia planned to designate an area within the Royal Collections Museum on the palace’s eastern side to display large-scale exhibits, such as the control core of a magic-powered airship, miniature models of city defense cannons, household climate control systems integrating temperature, humidity, and airflow regulation, and hair dryers, the favorite of noble ladies.

For convenience, Astrid had personally invited Charlotte during her visit, asking her to temporarily reside at the palace to assist in setting up the exhibition.

After all, aside from Charlotte and Astrid, who else would better understand these ingenious inventions crafted by Charlotte herself?

"Yes. Lady Charlotte needs to properly arrange things at her workshop first. She’ll move in about half a month before the exhibition begins."

Already accustomed to Amalia’s habitual intimate gestures during meals, Astrid gently touched her leg beneath the table. Amalia, as if encouraged, let the toe of her glossy chocolate-colored little leather shoes lightly tap the floor, her two pink-tinged, snow-cone smooth white-stockinged feet naturally intertwining.

"That’s true. Her workload isn’t lighter than mine."

Forking a piece of beef into her mouth, the blonde loli chewed slowly, then swallowed and took a sip of grape juice, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"I’ve already sent the Valeria Imperial Family’s exclusive invitation letters to the four Dukes through the guards. For the remaining nobles, entry tickets will be randomly included as free inserts in the Empire Weekly."

"How did sister come up with the idea of using randomly distributed, limited tickets to control attendance, while still allowing those who really want to come to obtain them through reasonably accessible means?"

The number of nobles in the entire empire wasn’t small, yet not overwhelmingly huge. Without knowing the exact numbers, Amalia could only control the flow through internal screening, while having Astrid use the Empire Weekly to promote the event and capture their attention.

"I got the idea from ’Grand Lord,’" Astrid answered.

Of course, she was referring to the endless lottery events from her previous life, whether in mobile games or store promotions, there were always such convenient, controllable methods that limited total quantities.

Human weaknesses were hidden right there.

"Randomly distributing tickets per issue stirs competitive desire among the nobles, while fixed quotas ensure crowds don’t become overwhelming."

"The first two days will be ticket-only entry. The final day will be open to all nobles as well as students from Elizabeth Academy of Magic. This satisfies the nobles’ competitive vanity while achieving our goal of promoting magical apparatus."

The next step would be bringing these magical devices into every noble household, letting them personally experience the convenience, further weakening resistance, and constantly reinforcing the belief that the Valeria Imperial Family stood firmly on the side of noble interests.

As she finished speaking, noting the smooth milky crescent moon being playfully teased upward, Astrid lightly tapped her high heels. Amalia obediently stopped, instead clinging to her sister like a little sister.

"Sister... you’re so clever..." the white-stockinged loli murmured softly.

Astrid shook her head. "Just drawing from experience."

She felt that ever since coming to this other world, she hadn’t learned much that was good, but had easily passed on many of bad habits, things like subscriptions, advertisements, lotteries, all now implemented among the imperial nobles.

Perhaps sensing the subtle intimacy beneath the table, Lyra gradually straightened her legs, her two lotus-root-like white-stockinged calves gently pressing against Astrid’s ankles.

Since signing their cooperation contract, the relationship between Amalia and Lyra had clearly improved significantly. They’d moved beyond mutual hostility (as Amalia had once perceived their rivalry) into actual friendship.

Thus, that night, no leg-tangling scheming occurred, each simply stayed to her own side, like separate bodies of water not interfering with each other.

"How’s the situation with Kingdom of Velys?"

"Same as before. An Arcanist mage from the Church of Light still holds position at the front lines. Our scouts can’t get close."

"The operation to plant spies will have to be postponed further."

"Mm. We have to wait until the waters are murky before we have a chance to infiltrate."

Beyond Astrid’s concerns regarding the magical apparatus exhibition and espionage in Kingdom of Velys, Amalia mentioned many other matters requiring attention.

Even with the Regent helping share administrative duties, Amalia felt these endless tasks were overwhelming. She couldn’t imagine how Hibbort had managed everything alone back in his day.

Then again, perhaps it was because their eras were different. In times of peace, monarchs only needed to maintain stability. But an old emperor facing war at the dynasty’s end, or a new emperor standing at the crossroads of change, inevitably had far more to consider.

Chatting while eating, dinner lasted until past seven. Amalia placed her cream-cake-like white-stockinged lotus feet back into her shoes, straightened the sock wrinkles, and tapped her toes before standing upright.

"Lyra."

Hearing Amalia softly called her name, Lyra had just finished wiping her lips with a silk handkerchief. She patted her smooth thighs covered in white tights and looked up.

"Yes... Amalia...?" Lyra asked.

"I have something I want to say to you."

As the feminine voice fell, Astrid fluttered her eyelashes and softly spoke instead.

"Should I leave for a moment?"

"If sister wants to listen, you can stay."

Amalia moistened her lips. Her cute little fang peeked faintly as her pink lips parted and closed.

"Just some girl talking."

Imperial time had temporarily ended. Now was Amalia’s personal leisure.

Guessing what Amalia wanted to discuss with Lyra, Astrid didn’t leave but continued sitting. Amalia didn’t hide anything and spoke openly.

"Since Lyra will be going home next week and won’t be able to stay by sister’s side for a long time..."

"Then for these few days, I won’t compete with Lyra for sister."

Their original sharing agreement specified that unless under force majeure, or if sister herself had other intentions, the rules must be strictly followed.

In other words, even if Lyra went home, her absence would be voluntary and wouldn’t count as Amalia occupying her bed space.

"Eh?"

Hearing Amalia say this, Lyra was momentarily stunned, surprised by the other’s generosity.

She had expected Amalia, at most, to consider Astrid’s feelings and allow them extra time together on the last day. She never imagined this white-stockinged loli would willingly give up a whole week.

"If you don’t want to, it’s fine," Amalia affirmed.

Did Lyra really think she was being completely altruistic?

Astrid would naturally miss Lyra during the approaching month without her. She’d probably want to spend more time with her recently. Amalia was simply returning a favor.

Between someone constantly seen and someone absent for long periods, becoming mere memories, normal people would inevitably idealize the latter. Amalia simply wanted to ensure that while Astrid missed Lyra, she wouldn’t forget about her either.

Moreover, she refused to always be overshadowed by Lyra. If faced with similar situations, this pink-haired, blue-eyed knight of justice would undoubtedly act even more nobly than she could.

She could follow her true heart in making choices. She could suppress the flaws deep within her bloodline and become the kind of person her sister liked.

"... ..."

After a brief silence, Lyra understood Amalia’s thoughts and nodded.

"Then... alright..."

"But sleeping together stays the same."

"Hmm, I know."

Between personal desires and their lover’s emotions, both were searching for a balance. So it was for Lyra. So it was for Amalia.

As for Astrid, the Empire’s favorite consort and exclusive princess, who suddenly found her upcoming bed partners scheduled, she sat at the dining table, momentarily unsure of what to say.

Everything was meticulously arranged, yet her personal feelings were fully appreciated. The only thing she seemed to need to say was...

"I have no objections," Astrid said.

The result of this declaration was that night, the Regent’s private bedroom had its sheets changed twice, and even the windowsill was carefully wiped down with a cloth.

A certain holy knight of light was once again seized at her weakest point by a silver-haired succubus. After struggling valiantly for a while, she ultimately suffered defeat.

Some things couldn’t be overcome by physical strength alone. Perhaps, before accumulating sufficient experience, no matter what she did, she would find it difficult to escape the other’s high-level charm magic.