[{"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-89":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},1801239,2401,"Chapter 89 89: 'It can’t be fake.'","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-89",89,"\u003Cp>Hibbort had felt Lyra's eyes on him the moment she looked his way, but he had been engrossed in conversation with his daughter and hadn't acknowledged her until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid, noticing Hibbort's glance, followed his gaze to Lyra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the girl standing there awkwardly, she felt a flicker of amusement and decided to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong, Father?\" Astrid asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn't worried about Lyra's safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl had merely glanced at Hibbort, which wasn't a crime, especially with Astrid present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her presence, Hibbort had never been the stern, unapproachable emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the kind of dramatic, love-at-first-sight scenarios found in Mary Sue novels, where Hibbort would fall for Lyra and demand to marry her, such a thing was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbort wasn't a frivolous man but a known romantic, devoted to the memory of his late wife, the White Moonlight Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, all other beauties were merely fleeting distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man shook his head and replied in a low voice, \"Nothing. I just wanted to see the new maid you've hired recently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her pink hair, blue eyes, and delicate features, Lyra's appearance was indeed striking, almost rivaling the most cherished gem of the Valeria Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think, Father?\" Astrid asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether it's a deliberate choice or not is hard to say, but at least she won't bring shame to the royal family when you take her out for social events.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Hibbort to speak so highly of a commoner was a testament to Lyra's beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father is right. She is indeed very likable,\" Astrid replied with a smile, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbort and Astrid didn't lower their voices during their conversation, and Lyra, standing at the center of their discussion, heard every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl shifted uncomfortably, her legs pressing together, and the tips of her ears hidden beneath her long hair turned a faint shade of red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Her Highness Astrid said she was likable, was she complimenting her beauty, or was she subtly referencing the fictitious relationship between her and Earl Tristian?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Lyra wrestled with her thoughts, the father and daughter quickly concluded their conversation and moved on to the highlight of the evening: tasting the dishes prepared by Princess Astrid herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This... is lamb?\" Hibbort asked, eyeing the small cut of meat coated in a rich, fragrant sauce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, he hesitated, unsure how to approach it with his knife and fork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, I braised it in red wine with herbs to bring out the depth of flavor,\" Astrid explained, noticing his hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbort frowned slightly but followed her lead, slicing into the tender meat and taking a bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he chewed, the flavors unfolded, succulent lamb infused with the warmth of rosemary and thyme, the slight tang of wine perfectly complementing the richness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After swallowing, he looked at Astrid with genuine surprise. \"I truly didn't expect... such culinary skill hidden within the palace. What is this dish called?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as the emperor, he had never tasted anything quite like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid smiled softly. \"Lamb Navarin—braised lamb stew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her past life, it had been a beloved classic\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hibbort nodded, clearly impressed, and turned his attention to the other dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid had thoughtfully adapted the presentation to suit the refined dining habits of the court, ensuring everything could be enjoyed with proper utensils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And this?\" he asked, gesturing toward a dish of glistening roasted vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Root vegetables roasted with honey and balsamic vinegar,\" Astrid replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn't seem boiled or stewed...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I prefer roasting over an open flame or baking it concentrates the flavors while keeping the texture just right,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hibbort sampled each dish, Astrid took the opportunity to explain the key techniques behind their preparation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he couldn't fully grasp the intricacies, he appreciated her effort and thoughtfulness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dinner was a resounding success. Hibbort couldn't tell if it was a psychological effect, but he found Astrid's cooking exceptionally delicious, even surpassing the palace's head chef in certain aspects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe she had been cooking for less than half a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are excellent. When you have time, you should teach the palace chef how to prepare these dishes,\" Hibbort said, his tone warm with approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, Father,\" Astrid replied with a respectful nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his obedient and capable third daughter, Hibbort's stern expression softened into a rare smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and spoke in a gentle tone. \"Thank you for preparing such a wonderful meal for an old man like me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Astrid removed her gloves, stood gracefully, and curtsied with a smile. \"It was my pleasure, Father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time rewound to half an hour earlier. Emperor Hibbort was savoring food prepared by Astrid in the warm atmosphere of a loving father and his devoted daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Amalia, who had been so engrossed in her painting that she forgot to collect her meal on time, finally received her dinner at the castle gate, cold, as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight's dinner consisted of two pieces of fried fish fillet, a vegetable salad, a bowl of pea soup, and a small serving of apple pudding for dessert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying the food tray, Amalia climbed the stairs to her bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She placed the tray on the table and bent down to gently stroke Auri, who lay drowsily in her wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange cat, feeling the tender touch of the blonde girl, let out a soft meow, rose from her nest, and leaped onto the dining table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia, seeing this, forked a piece of fried fish fillet from her plate and placed it into the small iron basin she had prepared earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auri licked it a few times, nuzzled Amalia's hand affectionately, and then began to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After feeding Auri, Amalia scooped a spoonful of the beef soup and brought it to her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food, having been left on the steps and exposed to the wind, had turned completely cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soup tasted slightly salty and was far from enjoyable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a single sip, Amalia set the spoon down and poked at the limp fries on her plate with her fork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I'll just have to make do with this'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once dinner was over, Amalia carried the dirty plates and utensils back to the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alone, she ascended the spiral staircase of the castle once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of her heels clicking against the stone tiles echoed through the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia held an oil lamp, her expression cold and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Why hasn't Livia shown up all day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the blonde woman she had met in the castle corridor the previous night, Amalia frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her green eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Didn't she say she was moving in? Why haven't I seen her today?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncertain whether she felt relief or disappointment, Amalia slowed her pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flickering light of the oil lamp illuminated her fair, delicate face and cast a slender shadow on the stone walls behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia had assumed that once Livia moved into the castle, the servants would adjust the meals from a single portion to a double portion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, neither breakfast nor lunch had changed, as if the maid was unaware of the new resident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she thought about it carefully, Livia's prolonged absence from the room suggested she was fundamentally different from Amalia, the imprisoned illegitimate daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Livia likely had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, so it was only natural that she might dine elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staircase was dark and deep, and the light from the oil lamp was faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Amalia had walked these steps so many times that she knew each brick beneath her feet without needing to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Over eight years of confinement have made me intimately familiar with this staircase.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Livia Valeria… does she truly exist?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia couldn't help but wonder if the previous day's encounter had been nothing more than an unusually vivid dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dream in which a new visitor, a royal aristocrat with blonde hair and blue eyes, had appeared in the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought flashed through her mind in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia tightened her grip on the slender handle of the oil lamp and pressed her cherry-pink lips together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It can't be fake.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amalia did not spend the entire day lost in her own little world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, she would step out to the bathroom across from her bedroom to wash her brushes or replace the canvas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she turned back, she could easily glance into the room next door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door to that room was wide open, the floor spotless, and all the furniture, desk, chairs, and wardrobe, neatly arranged, a stark contrast to its previous state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this had been done by Livia, using the kind of magic that could gather and remove dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the crisp sound of her own footsteps, Amalia paused outside her boudoir and glanced unconsciously at the neighboring room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oil lamp in Livia's room remained unlit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bright moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silvery glow on the clean marble tiles, as if the floor had been coated with a layer of shimmering silver.\u003C\u002Fp>",1515,"2026-06-09T04:47:04.076Z",1,"novelbin.me","ac81025b2a5267e0af621e26c59297f059e80eb9064e61eb95ac210d89272b61","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-90","princess-s-struggle-for-survival-chapter-88",607,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fprincess-s-struggle-for-survival-cover.jpg"]