Pushing open the door, greeted by a deep and sweet smell of fat powder, Charlotte sat at her desk, her body next to a half-hidden window.
The cool breeze entered the room, gently blowing her waist-length black hair.
The woman was still wearing a long dress from the banquet, with oblique arms and smooth white legs under the table, exuding charm.
Astrid stared at Charlotte for a few seconds, her voice delicate.
"Lady Charlotte doesn't seem to be in a good mood..."
Charlotte nodded coldly, her red lips parting slightly.
"My head was suddenly a little dizzy just now, so I sat down to blow the wind for a while."
"Why isn't Princess Astrid dancing?"
Although Charlotte was quite disappointed with Astrid's performance in recent years, the fact that the other party had taken the initiative to come to see her at this juncture still moved her deeply.
After so many years, there was some affection between them.
Astrid pursed her lips and then said, "Because I was worried that Lady Charlotte wasn't feeling well, I left the stage early."
"I also have something I want to talk to Lady Charlotte about alone."
Talking alone? A hint of doubt appeared in Charlotte's eyes, and she spoke slowly.
"What do you want to talk to me about?"
Astrid replied, "About what happened recently, and I want to ask Lady Charlotte to do me a favor."
No wonder she came over so soon today. It turned out she had something to ask of her.
Thinking that the two of them were usually in the royal capital, but Astrid had never once come to the magic academy to look for her, Charlotte's heart grew increasingly uncomfortable, and the little emotion she had felt earlier vanished in an instant.
This little conscienceless person never thinks of her unless she needs something.
"What's the favor?" Charlotte forced down her inner sourness and asked Astrid in a low voice.
"I would like to ask Lady Charlotte to add a person's name to the enrollment list of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic next year."
As soon as Astrid's words fell, Charlotte subconsciously frowned, her eyes filled with displeasure and anger.
What had happened some time ago had touched Charlotte's minefield, and now Astrid seemed oblivious to the situation, wanting her to use her position for personal gain.
It was her to change places, and now it was her to add people.
The entrance exam, which was barely fair, had been turned into a mess, and Astrid's words were simply challenging Charlotte's bottom line.
Closing her eyes and forcibly calming down, after half a minute, Charlotte asked Astrid in a cold voice.
"What's that person's name?"
Seeing that Charlotte had indeed followed her words and asked, Astrid pretended to think for a moment, then whispered.
"Lyra Beckett."
Hearing the somewhat familiar name, Charlotte lowered her folded legs and quickly realized where she had seen it before.
There had originally been this person in the enrollment quota of the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, but it was later manipulated by Astrid in the dark, and when she was enrolled, she was replaced by the second lady of the marquis's family named Sally.
"Is Lyra the one you swapped..."
Originally, Charlotte thought that when Astrid mentioned the specific name, she would have to educate her again, but upon hearing this answer, the woman was puzzled.
What exactly did Astrid want to do?
Astrid nodded: "Well, it's her."
"I want her to be able to study at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic at the beginning of spring next year."
As soon as the words fell, Charlotte couldn't help but ask,
"Why?"
This inconsistency was incomprehensible.
Astrid stared into Charlotte's eyes and replied in a low voice.
"Because I'm sorry for her."
The girl's tone was tinged with remorse, as if she truly realized the gravity of her mistake.
Charlotte was slightly stunned when she heard this, and immediately heard Astrid continue: "For me, it doesn't matter whether I can enter the magic academy or not, but for a child from a civilian background, being admitted to the Elizabeth Academy of Magic is the closest opportunity she has to change her life."
"I made the exam unfair and ruined Lyra's future..."
"So, I hope Lady Charlotte will give her another chance."
Astrid knew that with Lyra's magical talent, she could pass the exam 100% even if she went straight to it. The main purpose of her words was to convey another meaning.
Nominally, Charlotte would be helping Lyra enroll, but in reality, Astrid hoped that the other party would give her, the "evil princess" who admitted her mistakes, a chance to change her life and start anew.
Instead of admitting mistakes outright, it was better to introduce the topic step by step, showing remorse at just the right moment after the other party was drawn in, making it seem natural and not deliberate.
Charlotte was surprised when she heard this. She hadn't expected such words to come from Astrid's mouth.
Was she still the same arrogant princess spoiled by the emperor that she knew?
"You... Really mean it?" Charlotte asked softly.
Astrid's expression was serious, and her tone was exceptionally steady.
"Yes, I didn't care about other people's feelings at all. I only cared about my own happiness and did many wrong things, breaking the hearts of many people."
"Father, Elise, Lyra... And of course, you, Lady Charlotte, who has taken good care of me since I was a child..."
"Lady Charlotte, can you forgive me for being ignorant?"
After Astrid said these words, the room fell silent for a moment. Charlotte looked at the face in front of her, which bore some resemblance to Fanya's, and seemed to read determination and seriousness in Astrid's eyes.
A cool breeze rushed into the room, blowing the girl's thin and ornate skirt.
Charlotte felt her heart beat violently, and an emotion called relief surged through her chest.
Astrid... had truly grown up...
In a moment, Charlotte suddenly stood up, walked up to Astrid, stretched out her white jade arms, and took her into her embrace.
In an instant, Astrid felt herself gently wrapped in a warm embrace, and the mature, seductive fragrance of Charlotte's body filled her nostrils.
"Astrid..." Sensing the momentary struggle of the girl in her arms, Charlotte hurriedly loosened her grip, her plump chest lightly pressing against Astrid's, which was only slightly less full.
"I'm really glad you told me that."
Astrid, suddenly hugged by the mature older Lady, felt her chin touch something as soft as pastry, her cheeks flushing red.
Her hands hovered uncertainly, not knowing whether to pull away or return the hug.
But fortunately, her expression management was good enough, and Astrid quickly returned to normal, her arms slowly wrapping around Charlotte's waist.
"Have you forgiven me, then?" Astrid asked.
Immediately after, she felt the delicate body in her arms tremble slightly. Charlotte sniffed, composing herself, her voice as gentle as water.
"What do you think?"