The most immediate effect of the disbandment of the maid team on Princess Astrid is the loss of her afternoon tea.
Although Elise can also prepare desserts and brew black tea, she must stay by Astrid's side most of the time.
Now, with the additional responsibility of guiding Lyra, Elise is even less available than before.
Lyra, too, possesses some cake-baking skills, which she claims to have acquired while working at a cake shop in town.
However, her expertise is limited to baking; she knows nothing beyond that.
"I should control my weight," Astrid thought to herself.
After all, the most remarkable aspect of this so-called "vicious princess" lies in her appearance, and she cannot afford to indulge herself recklessly.
Gazing at the silver-haired beauty in a pure black dress reflected in the mirror, Astrid gently touched her neck and adjusted the crimson magic crystal pendant resting at the center of her collarbone.
The pendant complemented her smooth, cream-colored skin perfectly.
Today marks the third day of Astrid's seafood allergy. After such a long period of rest, it is time for her to pay a visit to the high Emperor of the Valeria Empire.
"Elise, continue training with Lyra this morning," Astrid instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness," Elise replied.
Turning her head, Astrid glanced at the pink-haired maid standing beside her, hands folded and posture upright. She smiled faintly.
"It's been a bit of a stretch..."
Engaging in combat with a Master Knight-level powerhouse yields far greater strength improvement than mere practice.
After several days of sparring with Elise, Lyra's combat skills have improved significantly.
She can now hold her own for the first five moves without the opponent resorting to mental power, a remarkable achievement for a low level knight.
"If I return early, I'll teach you how to prepare a new dish at noon," Astrid promised.
Lyra's eyes lit up at the offer, and she bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
After addressing the necessary matters, Astrid followed the attendants to the main hall of the palace, where Emperor Hibbort's council chamber was located.
As she walked through the wide, tiled corridors adorned with semicircular arched windows and scattered minaret-shaped eaves, Astrid stepped on the luxurious fur carpet flanked by beautifully framed oil paintings.
Occasionally, a few waiters carrying trays passed by, each bowing respectfully upon seeing her.
Upon arriving at the door of the council hall, the attendant announced her presence.
Astrid waited briefly before the dark golden doors before her slowly opened, they were powered by magic.
The girl took a deep breath and walked slowly into the hall, holding her skirt delicately.
Because the Valeria Empire had not been at war in recent years, the council hall was sparsely populated, with only a few officials present. The four dukes were notably absent.
Grand Prince Lucas, Chancellor of the Exchequer Edmund, Minister of the Internal Affairs Gregor Rhodes... Astrid's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the central throne, where a blonde man exuding the aura of a lion sat.
Emperor Hibbort wore a dark green military uniform that accentuated his muscular frame.
The pure black double-breasted jacket was neatly buttoned, and an iron medallion with a honeysuckle pattern adorned his left chest.
The cuffs and bow tie were intricately embroidered, adding to his regal appearance.
Dazzling sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the man's long golden hair, which shimmered like ears of wheat.
His resolute face, sharp and angular, seemed as though it had been carved by a master sculptor.
He sat quietly on the throne, hands resting on his scepter, his turquoise eyes slightly narrowed, yet radiating an undeniable presence.
As Princess Astrid half-bowed at the foot of the steps, Hibbort's eyes softened with a rare hint of affection. He spoke in a gentle tone.
"Rise, my most precious and beautiful jewel of the Valeria Empire."
Astrid straightened up, a bright smile gracing her lips.
"Thank you, Father."
Seeing that Astrid's condition had significantly improved, Hibbort nodded with relief.
"If there is anything uncomfortable, inform me immediately. The physicians of the entire palace, nah, the entire empire, are at your disposal."
Hibbort had been close friends with Astrid's parents during their youth.
Now that they had both sacrificed their lives for the empire, leaving behind only their daughter, Hibbort naturally doted on Astrid in every way possible.
"Thanks to my father's concern, your daughter is no longer in any serious trouble," Astrid replied softly.
After a brief exchange, Hibbort brought up the ongoing investigation into the origin of the seafood powder that had caused Astrid's allergic reaction. He asked for her thoughts on the matter.
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, a sharp gaze suddenly fell upon Astrid. She quickly identified the source.
Lucas lowered his head, his gaze fixed intently on Astrid, as if silently urging her to speak.
Although Astrid herself was not deeply involved in political matters, she was well aware of the longstanding feud between Lucas and the second prince.
If she could use this incident to cast suspicion on the latter, whether it succeeded or not, it would greatly benefit Lucas.
If evidence were indeed found, Hibbort would likely be deeply disappointed in the second prince.
Even if nothing concrete was uncovered, given Hibbort's affection for Astrid, he might still harbor some suspicion toward the second prince.
At this moment, Lucas wished more than ever that Astrid would demonstrate a bit more political acumen and seize this rare opportunity.
"Elise has interrogated the maids, and none of them admitted to putting seafood powder in the soup..." Astrid began, her voice calm and measured.
"In other words, this was not an unintentional mistake by a maid, but the work of someone behind the scenes?" Hibbort interjected, his tone grave.
"So far, it seems that way,"
Hibbort's expression darkened, his fingers absently rubbing the scepter in his hand.
Lucas, noticing this, grew increasingly excited.
He was on the verge of standing up to speak on Astrid's behalf, to steer the conversation firmly in the direction of implicating the second prince.
Astrid, of course, understood what Lucas wanted her to do. She silently weighed her options.
The second prince, Alistair, was no saint either.
While slightly less lustful than Lucas, he was far more ruthless, a true psychopath who had committed countless atrocities, including desecrating corpses and other unspeakable acts.
Perhaps it would be wise to follow Lucas's lead and grant him this favor.
Not only would it help confuse him, but it could also provide cover for her future plans to contact the true emperor of the novel's storyline, the Fourth Royal Princess, Amalia.
With this in mind, Astrid chose her moment carefully and added, "I heard Elise mention that the seafood powder had a taste reminiscent of the shrimp and crab specialties from the southern port of Ostwycke."
The port of Ostwycke was part of the second prince's fiefdom. Astrid's remark was a clear jab at Alistair.
Hibbort rested his chin thoughtfully on one hand, his gaze shifting from Astrid to Lucas, who stood nearby.
Lucas straightened his posture, meeting Hibbort's gaze with a humble yet unwavering expression, showing no signs of backing down.
After a long pause, Emperor Hibbort finally broke the silence, his voice low and measured. "That is a very useful piece of information. I will instruct the investigators to pay closer attention to this lead."
His words carried an unspoken warning: anyone who dared to harm Princess Astrid would face his wrath and vengeance.