Princess’s Struggle for Survival

Leaving the Emperor's Palace, Astrid walked through the golden palace corridors.

The blazing sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the girl's dark lace headband and the shawls draped over her shoulders, casting a brighter glow on her silver hair than usual.

In the proposal to start a newspaper, Hibbort had placed great trust in her and offered significant support.

Not only was he willing to use his influence as a backer, but he also promised to provide all the assistance he could.

There was no doubt that Hibbort Valeria, as an adoptive father, was a kind and loving one.

He genuinely cared for the daughter of his late friend, who was not related to him by blood.

Beyond political support, he even allocated a substantial amount of start-up capital to her, addressing her immediate needs.

With Hibbort's endorsement, Astrid's future actions would face little resistance from external forces.

This official backing meant she could pursue her ambitions on a scale no one had attempted before.

As the first to venture into this uncharted territory, she had a strong chance of securing the largest and most rewarding share of the opportunity.

When she returned to her residence, Elise informed her that some of her jewels had been circulated in the market, while the rest had been sent to the auction house.

It would take some time for the results to materialize. Astrid nodded in understanding, her emotions remaining steady.

Hibbort had already provided her with a generous amount of start-up funds, so she wasn't in a hurry to access the money from the jewels.

As for regret, Astrid saw the greatest value of these jewels in their ability to be exchanged for money.

Although she had worked in the perfume industry in her previous life and had frequent interactions with high society, she wasn't as fanatical about luxury as many others in that world.

She valued the beauty and practicality of items when it came to fashion, rather than their rarity or the artificially inflated prestige often associated with them.

"Elise, please go to the Minister of the Finance later to collect the funds. Also, arrange for someone to inquire about Professor Elowen's availability. I need to discuss something with her."

The Velmont family was the political force she was most interested in at the moment.

Astrid planned to approach Elowen to discuss details about propaganda efforts and to secure the raw materials needed for the newspaper, such as ink, parchment, and hemp rope for binding.

"Understood, I'll take care of it," Elise replied.

As the head maid left the room, Astrid leaned back in her chair. Her legs, clad in black silk, crossed naturally, and the black heels on her feet caught the sunlight, shimmering faintly.

According to the information Astrid had gathered during this time, there were indeed other types of paper in the empire besides parchment.

Some linen paper from the Pan-Human Alliance had briefly circulated in the past two years, but for various reasons, it quickly disappeared from the sight of the upper nobility.

If one thought about it, the magic scrolls in the library were mostly written on parchment, using ink infused with magical fluctuations.

These expensive materials created a barrier that prevented common people from accessing knowledge.

If cheap linen paper were to dominate the mainstream market, the first to suffer would be the traditional parchment industry.

This meant that the Velmont family, which held a near-monopoly on this industry in the empire, would lose a significant portion of their profits.

At this juncture, it was clear that Astrid could not pioneer the use of linen paper at the expense of her allies.

More importantly, she didn't know whether it was the Velmont family hindering the circulation of linen paper, Emperor Hibbort implementing policies to suppress the rise of commoners, or the wealthy merchants and nobles of the entire Valeria Empire who were responsible.

Astrid knew her current foundation was unstable.

Even if she wanted to push for change, she lacked the necessary power.

Instead of going against the tide, it was better to go with the flow and target the noble class first.

After all, the Velmont family had asked her to design perfumes aimed at small and medium-sized aristocrats who could afford luxury goods.

If they could buy perfumes, they could certainly afford newspapers printed on parchment.

As for whether she could bring about broader changes in the future, it would depend on the connections and power she could accumulate.

Just as Charlotte had attempted to reform the admission process at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, the results had proven that individual efforts were rarely enough to shake entrenched interests.

How could the noble children, who had been exposed to magic from a young age, willingly share the same starting line with commoners and progress through the curriculum together?

For now, Astrid decided to use parchment as the material for the newspaper.

The ink quality would be determined through negotiations with Elowen.

As for printing, while there was no traditional printing technology in this world, there was a similar magic-based method called replication.

This technique, especially for text information unrelated to the magic and lacking magical fluctuations, required minimal mental energy. Even a peak level apprentice could perform it easily.

The rhythmic tapping of her heels against the floor tiles filled the room as Astrid absentmindedly twirled a strand of hair resting on her collarbone.

She turned her head slightly to look at Lyra, who was standing guard nearby, and asked casually, "Lyra, have you read story books?"

Hearing Astrid address her, Lyra was momentarily startled.

She quickly averted her gaze from wherever it had been deliberately fixed and replied in a soft voice.

"It used to be sold in town, and I saw a little bit of it."

Not only were the stories bought from local stalls expensive, but the pages were often on the verge of falling apart.

The only thing that had truly helped Lyra was a fragment of an introductory magical scroll that had been accidentally tucked inside one of those books.

That small, unexpected discovery had set the maid, who might have otherwise spent her life as the village flower, on a path she had never imagined.

"And can you write?" Astrid asked again.

"Huh?!" Lyra's expression froze, her mouth opening slightly in surprise.

"Write... What to write?"

Listening to Her Royal Highness, she guessed Astrid wanted her to write stories.

"Write about the things you've read that you find interesting," Astrid replied lightly.

Lyra didn't hesitate at all and immediately shook her head.

"No, I can't."

She had never written anything longer than a family letter, let alone a structured and engaging story.

There was also the unspoken issue of her limited education.

Unlike Astrid, who had enjoyed the privileges of noble education, Lyra had grown up in a place where educational resources were scarce.

Some rare words were completely unfamiliar to her. How could she possibly write a story that everyone would enjoy?

Seeing Lyra shake her head, Astrid didn't press further.

Instead, she rested her cheeks on her hands, lost in thought about the next steps.

The raw materials needed for the newspaper were one thing, but the real challenge was creating content that would attract readers and keep them coming back.

Given the limitations of medieval productivity, Astrid didn't plan to start with a daily publication.

Instead, she aimed for a biweekly magazine and would adjust from there.

What did the nobles of Valeria want to read?

The answer to this question was both complex and simple.

The original Astrid had been a typical, uneducated noble lady, and her preferences could serve as a rough guide to what other noble children might enjoy.

Jewelry, clothing, novel magical devices, and palace gossip, these were the things that supposedly captivated the aristocracy.

The first two topics were within Astrid's knowledge, but the latter two were more challenging.

She had little understanding of magical devices and limited exposure to them.

As for palace gossip, while it could generate interest, it was too sensitive and risky to focus on in the early stages of the newspaper.

Even with the backing of the empire's power center, she couldn't afford to act recklessly.

"Lyra!"

"Your Highness."

"Pour me a cup of tea."

"Okay."

After a while, Lyra returned with a steaming cup of tea.

Astrid took a sip and set the cup on the desk beside her, her delicate body gradually relaxing as she continued to ponder her next move.

"Pinch my shoulders for me," Astrid said softly.

"Hmm," Lyra replied.

With just the right amount of pressure, Lyra's hands kneaded Astrid's shoulders.

The silver-haired princess closed her eyes, savoring the rare warmth and tranquility of the afternoon.

Tonight, Astrid planned to draft her first manuscript.

Once Elise arranged the necessary staff, she would gather some significant news from the imperial capital to fill the pages.

For the inaugural publication, she needed to prepare thoroughly.

As Lyra massaged her through the fabric of her clothes, she noticed the relaxed expression on Astrid's face, her chest rising and falling gently with each breath.

Though she didn't know what the princess was thinking, Lyra was content to ease Astrid's fatigue in her own small way. That was enough for her.

---

In the evening, Livia arrived at the castle where Amalia lived, right on time. Unlike previous days, it was Amalia, usually so reserved, who spoke first.

"Good evening, Livia," Amalia greeted as the door to her room opened.

Livia stepped inside to find the blonde girl seated at her desk, dressed in a white nightgown.

Her smooth, pale calves peeked out like tender lotus roots, and she held a pen in her hand, turning to greet Livia with a soft smile.

"Good evening to you too," Livia replied gently.

The door to Amalia's bedroom, usually closed, now stood open, a clear signal of friendship.

Livia entered, carrying a stack of parchment.

The room was filled with the faint scent of lavender and ink. Amalia glanced around and said softly, "If there's no chair, you can sit on my bed."

The bed, often considered the most private space, was a sanctuary for many.

Yet Amalia seemed unbothered, even inviting Livia to sit there.

Livia recalled the words Amalia had spoken the night before and felt a warm smile tug at her lips.

It seemed Amalia truly considered her a friend and was expressing it in every way she could.

Sitting gently at the edge of the bed, Livia pulled out a few bottles of grape juice from her bag.

She didn't open them but set them aside, quietly watching Amalia paint.

The girl's expression was one of intense focus as she worked. She held the brush as if it were an extension of her thoughts, each stroke precise and deliberate.

The colors blended seamlessly on the paper, never crossing the invisible boundaries Amalia had set. Livia leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees, her blue eyes fixed on the painting.

The room was silent except for the soft sound of the brush against the paper and the faint rhythm of their breathing.

Livia could tell Amalia was putting the finishing touches on her work, so she waited patiently, not wanting to interrupt.

As the last stroke fell, Amalia exhaled softly, set the pen on the shelf, and took a moment to examine her painting with a serious gaze.

"It's beautiful," Livia remarked at just the right moment.

Amalia turned her head, her eyes meeting Livia's light blue pupils.

Livia rested her chin on one hand, a gentle smile on her face.

A few strands of her blonde hair fell from her forehead to her chest, soft and silky, like delicate tassels adorning her placket.

The end of the bed wasn't far from the easel, just over a meter away.

The two were so close that Amalia could see her own reflection in Livia's eyes and feel the warmth of her presence in the small space.

A cool breeze drifted through the window, brushing against Livia's golden hair, which shimmered like fields of wheat.

The light fragrance of her hair, carried by the evening breeze, filled the room with a pleasant aroma.

In the next moment, Amalia felt a cool touch on her cheek.

She glanced to the side and saw a snow-white hand holding a crystal bottle filled with a deep purple-red liquid.

The bottle pressed gently against Amalia's face, its cool surface causing her fair skin to dimple slightly. A flicker of surprise crossed the girl's eyes.

"Yesterday, I noticed how much you enjoyed it, so I brought a few more bottles," Livia said with a smile, withdrawing her hand and offering the bottle of grape juice to Amalia.

Her lips curved softly as she added, "You've been working so hard. Consider this a reward."

Amalia stared at the bottle for a few seconds before accepting it.

She covered the canvas with a cloth, murmured a quiet "thank you," and gently removed the cork.

Bringing the bottle to her lips, she took a small sip.

The taste was similar to yesterday's, but perhaps due to her mood, Amalia found this bottle even smoother and more fragrant.

After a moment, Amalia noticed the stack of parchment in Livia's arms and asked, "What are you planning to do with all that paper?"

Seeing the blonde girl's sudden curiosity, Livia took a sip of her own grape juice and replied in a soft tone, "I'm going to write something. I'll send it out once it's finished."

"What kind of things?" Amalia inquired.

"Just a little story, and maybe a review of something."

The sooner the newspaper was established, the better.

Since she had to come over every night to spend time with Amalia, it was the perfect opportunity to work on her writing.

"What about you?" Livia asked, turning the conversation to Amalia.

"Did you do any reading today?"

Amalia nodded. "Yes, I read for a while this afternoon, and I spent the rest of the evening painting."

If there was one thing to note, it was that the third and fourth princesses of the empire were both night owls, making up for their sleep during the day and staying energetic well into the night.