Elise had uttered the kind of death speech that, in fiction, would come true nine times out of ten.
Astrid shook her head, her voice soft as she responded.
"If you don't die, try not to say such things in the future. But I'm glad you answered like that."
Astrid's greatest concern had been the attitude of the head maid, Elise.
She wasn't sure if Elise would continue to follow her as depicted in the original book, now that "Astrid" was no longer the same person Elise had known.
It now seemed that Elise might not necessarily agree with the actions Astrid had taken, but she had chosen to stay by her side out of a sense of loyalty and gratitude, nothing more.
"Yes, Your Highness Astrid," Elise replied, bowing slightly. She placed her left hand over her chest and looked up to see Astrid holding a red magic crystal. The vibrant red hue within the crystal mirrored the color of Astrid's eyes.
"Elise,"
"I'm here,"
Astrid rubbed the magic crystal between her fingers and whispered, "Before my mother died, did she mention anything about this?"
In the novel, it had been mentioned numerous times that Princess Astrid always carried this magic crystal with her.
Not only was the gem exquisite in texture and color, making it a beautiful accessory, but it was also a keepsake left to her by her mother.
Astrid had once again attempted to probe the magic crystal with her mental energy, but it remained unresponsive, as if it were a bottomless pit.
"Miss Fanya didn't speak of it before she passed," Elise replied quietly.
Lady Fanya, Astrid's biological mother, had disappeared along with her husband in the chasms of the northern empire years ago.
The year after their disappearance, the current Emperor of Valeria had adopted Astrid as his brightest daughter, showering her with affection and privilege.
Astrid nodded and quickly gestured for Elise to come closer.
"Elise, try to infuse it with your mental energy,"
The maid took the magic crystal and attempted to channel her executive-level mental power into it.
Astrid observed the process using her elemental vision, but the crystal not only failed to react, it actively repelled Elise's energy.
"Your Highness Astrid, it refuses to accept my mental energy,"
Astrid's eyes narrowed slightly, and she murmured, "As I thought..."
There was only one explanation for this phenomenon: the magic crystal had been soul-bound.
Only a specific individual could infuse it with mental energy and unlock its true potential.
That individual was undoubtedly Lady Fanya, a high-level legendary Arcanist who had been just a few steps away from becoming a legendary Spellcreator.
To break the soul-bound seal, one would need the strength of at least a peak-level legendary Arcanist.
Unable to determine the purpose of the magic crystal for the time being, Astrid placed it back in its box and shifted her focus to another matter.
"Elise, I plan to disband the maid team in the coming days."
Princess Astrid had a team of about twenty maids in the palace, primarily responsible for assisting her in purchasing clothes, jewelry, and preparing her favorite desserts and tea.
However, not all of these maids were loyal to Astrid. Some were spies planted by Prince Lucas to monitor the movements of various factions within the palace.
Distinguishing between loyal maids and spies in a short period was challenging, and outright dismissals could easily arouse Lucas's suspicions.
Astrid's solution was to avoid making distinctions altogether and simply disband the entire maid team.
"Will Miss Lyra be dismissed as well?"
"No, she's special,"
Astrid's plan was to retain only two maids: Elise and Lyra.
Elise had served her for many years, so her continued presence would raise no eyebrows.
As for Lyra, Lucas likely viewed her as Astrid's new "toy," and removing her prematurely might draw unwanted attention.
"So, what do you need me to do?"
If the goal were simply to dismiss all the maids, Elise could handle it with a single command.
However, Astrid seemed intent on finding a less deliberate reason for the disbandment.
Astrid thought for a moment, then spoke softly, "It's simple. Tomorrow, add a small amount of seafood powder to my breakfast, just enough to go unnoticed."
Princess Astrid was allergic to shrimp and crab, so such foods were never served to her.
By orchestrating an allergic reaction, Astrid could create a plausible reason to disband the maid team in a fit of justified anger.
Realizing Astrid's plan, Elise frowned slightly and hesitated before speaking. "Your Highness, are you certain about this? Your health..."
"Yes, just ensure the dosage is moderate,"
Though the allergic reaction would be unpleasant, Astrid was determined to go through with this plan.
The idea of the delicate and willful Princess Astrid suffering such an ordeal would make it entirely reasonable for her to dismiss all the maids in a fit of rage.
Seeing Astrid's resolve, Elise chose not to press further and instead asked, "Is there anything else Her Highness requires?"
Astrid inhaled lightly, the night air sweet and cool. She straightened her legs and spoke in a voice that was clearer and softer than usual.
Elise's gaze lingered on the girl's slender, pale legs, exposed beneath the hem of her skirt. Bathed in moonlight, they seemed to glow with a silvery frost, soft and smooth to the eye.
"It's only spring, and the nights aren't as warm as one might think. Please be mindful of the cold and dress more warmly," Elise advised, her tone carrying a motherly concern.
Hearing Elise's gentle admonishment, Astrid turned her head to look at the tall, black-clad maid standing by the bed and smiled. "Alright, alright, I understand."
Though Elise was only twenty-five, younger than Astrid had been in her previous life, and blessed with long, elegant legs, she often carried herself with an air of maturity that made her seem older.
It seemed that caring for a spoiled imperial princess like Astrid had taken its toll on her.
As Elise turned to leave, Astrid suddenly spoke again, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Actually, there is one more thing."
Elise paused mid-step, her posture straight and composed. "Your Highness Astrid, please go on."
Astrid twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her voice cool and deliberate. "From now on, you don't need to call me 'Your Highness' when we're alone. Just call me Astrid."