This little girl... seems to be feeling insecure…

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.

"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."

Astrid casually provided the reason she had prepared earlier.

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.

"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.

"But this place is dangerous. Please don't come here again, even if you're accompanied by Elise."

At this moment, Lucas still believed that the situation was under his control.

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.

Sensing the subtle dismissal in Lucas's words, Astrid pretended not to understand.

She glanced a few more times at the little lamb that was about to be buried alive and slowly spoke.

"What if we had another Countess Charlotte? She might be able to assist the Imperial Brother..."

Setting aside her political stance for the moment, Charlotte was an Arcanist and a professor of magic circles.

With her involvement, the chances of solving the land problem would undoubtedly increase significantly.

Hearing this, Lucas paused thoughtfully before replying, "Countess Charlotte is a busy woman. Where would she find the time to accompany you everywhere?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

"I'll try to convince her," Astrid said.

As for Charlotte, Astrid estimated that even if she asked her to move in and live with her, the former would not refuse.

Lucas looked at Astrid, who stood before him with a serious expression, and a faint doubt arose in his mind once again.

Why had Astrid been so eager to help him lately?

Was it because she had finally realized her precarious future and was clumsily trying to curry favor with him, the future emperor?

Or was there something else at play?

Upon careful consideration, Lucas realized that, in his subjective view, this nominal sister of his had never done anything to harm his interests.

They were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope, their fates intertwined, rising and falling together.

This thought quickly dispelled Lucas's suspicions, and he smiled gently, adopting a humble tone.

"Since my dear sister is so insistent, I won't say much more..."

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.

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.

Sooner or later, he would meet his end.

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.

The arrogance and recklessness in his eyes were difficult to conceal, and even the usually dull Lyra noticed it, her mood sinking slightly.

The way he looked at Her Highness Astrid... It was that kind of gaze...

Astrid noticed it too, but her heart remained unmoved.

She had long known Lucas's true nature in private and held no illusions about him.

She was merely the adopted daughter of Emperor Hibbort, without a trace of royal blood.

In Lucas's eyes, she had never been a noble royal sister worthy of comparison to him.

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.

From this perspective, the success of the fourth princess, Amalia, in the original story wasn't entirely bad for Astrid.

Although she had died in prison, at least her chastity had been preserved.

"If you need any help, please feel free to let me know..."

"I want to do something for you too... even if it's just a small thing..."

Astrid spoke these words with feigned sincerity, though she couldn't help feeling a wave of nausea in her heart.

Lucas's eyes lit up, and his gaze shifted past Astrid, landing directly on Lyra. His thoughts began to stir once more.

Astrid didn't give him a chance to speak further.

She gestured to Elise, who wrapped a lump of dirt in a handkerchief.

After exchanging a few polite words with Lucas, Astrid turned and left the field.

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.

This method of being buried alive... It's a bit too cruel...

Distracted for a moment, Lyra quickened her pace and accidentally bumped into the silver-haired princess walking quietly in front of her.

Inside the carriage, Lyra's cheeks were slightly red.

Her two slender and delicate white silk calves were pressed together, and her palms rested on her knees with some tension.

Although she had to help Princess Astrid with her hair every day, it was the first time she had been this close to her.

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.

A sweet scent of herbs and trees instantly filled her nostrils.

Astrid's silver hair was smooth and soft, more comfortable than most silk fabrics, Lyra thought.

Especially when the hair brushed against the tip of her nose, the friction, like a small brush, seemed to stir her heart slightly.

Although Astrid only glanced at her coldly afterward, the soft and wonderful touch lingered in Lyra's heart for a long time.

"Lyra, what are you thinking?"

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.

Lyra's expression faltered slightly at the question.

She pursed her pink lips a few times and replied in a low voice.

"Actually, it's nothing..."

More than the episode that had just happened, Lyra thought more about the relationship between Astrid and Lucas.

The latter's gaze on Astrid was clearly pathologically possessive, not at all like a brother looking at a sister.

But Princess Astrid didn't seem to mind this, and her words and demeanor revealed that she cared deeply for Lucas.

"So you're really thinking?" Astrid asked rhetorically.

Lyra hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded and hummed almost inaudibly.

"Her Highness Astrid..."

"I'm here," Astrid replied.

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?"

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.

If one day, Astrid really gave her to Lucas...

Just thinking of that scenario made Lyra's heart sink.

Especially after hearing the conversation between Astrid and Lucas earlier, the seemingly harmonious sibling relationship felt like a warning to her.

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.

Astrid turned her head upon hearing this, her beautiful eyes fluttering as she looked at Lyra with a puzzled expression.

This little girl... seems to be feeling insecure…