Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 59: Signing Deal

Upon reflection, the other party's considerable concessions were likely tied to her status as a princess and her role in the production process.

Astrid herself was not in dire need of money and had not made excessive commercial demands regarding the perfume.

Additionally, she was responsible for the most crucial and irreplaceable part of the process, directly influencing the quality of the perfume, so it was reasonable for her to take a larger share of the profits.

As Astrid studied the parchment with a focused expression, Tristian sat upright across the table.

His gaze occasionally drifted to the perfume bottle on the table or to Astrid's hand holding the parchment.

"Do I need to be present at all times to oversee the perfume-making process?"

Tristian shook his head and replied in a calm tone, "No, you only need to explain the mixing process and the specific measurements for each fragrance."

He then produced another piece of parchment, which outlined the confidentiality agreement for the perfume.

It stipulated that during the collaboration with the Velmont family, Astrid was prohibited from disclosing the perfume formula or authorizing a third party to sell it.

In return, for every bottle of perfume sold by the Velmont family, Astrid would receive a permanent dividend.

After a moment, Astrid set down the contract and smiled at Tristian.

"I can accept these terms."

"Shall we proceed with the signing now?"

In two contracts, each in duplicate, Astrid and Tristian carefully checked the dates and signed their names at the lower right corner.

Noticing the dark black ink on the parchment, Astrid suddenly understood why, in this world, it was customary to dine after concluding business.

It wasn't just about fostering camaraderie over a meal but also allowing the squid ink used for signatures to dry completely over half an hour.

After putting away the contract, Tristian tapped on a small bulge next to the table.

The wind attribute crystals inside reacted to the impact, activating the magic array engraved within.

A gentle breeze swept through the wind chimes by the door, their crisp sound signaling the waitstaff that it was time to serve the meal.

Astrid glanced up at the swaying wind chimes and couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

This truly was a high-end restaurant, with service standards that rivaled those of the fine dining establishments from her previous life.

Tristian, inadvertently catching sight of Astrid's smooth, fair profile and the long, silver-white hair that shimmered softly in the light, shook his head slightly and quickly furrowed his brow.

He had to admit that Princess Astrid was exceptionally well-dressed today, and her demeanor at the negotiation table had been surprisingly composed, devoid of the eagerness he had anticipated.

He hoped she would maintain this aloof, calculated attitude throughout the meal, playing her part to the end without revealing any hint of desperation, lest it provoke his disdain.

---

Outside the private room, Lyra sat at a corner table, a knife in one hand and a fork in the other, delicately cutting into the steak on her plate.

Her eyes occasionally drifted toward the corridor, lingering on the spot where Astrid had disappeared.

A steak, a glass of wine, a dessert, and a few small tomatoes, this was the dinner prepared for the two maids.

Lyra hadn't planned to order such an expensive meal, but when Elise picked up the menu and, with an impassive expression, selected a set meal without hesitation, her dark, inky eyes silently fixed on Lyra, the latter had no choice but to order the same.

Though the price was steep, the food was exquisite.

The chef's skill nearly matched that of the palace cooks. The steak was cooked to perfection, neither tough nor overly bloody, and melted in the mouth.

Noticing Lyra's distracted gaze and wandering attention, Elise finished her meal gracefully and stood up to take her position.

Meanwhile, a significant portion of Lyra's steak remained untouched.

Lost in thought, Lyra barely registered Elise's movements.

Just as she was about to take another bite of her steak, a familiar figure caught her eye.

Lina Velmont, having learned that her brother was meeting Princess Astrid to discuss business, had seized the opportunity to speak with Lyra privately.

After her evening self-study at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, she hurried to the dining room.

As Lyra noticed Lina, the latter also spotted her. The young noblewoman immediately quickened her pace, her little leather shoes clicking against the floor as she approached.

The letter she had mentioned to Lyra during their last encounter, this was her chance to finally deliver it. The thought made Lina hasten her steps even more.

For Astrid, who had been accustomed to indulging in a vast array of delicacies in her previous life and was used to savoring the finest dishes from the mountains and seas in the palace, today's dinner could only be considered decent.

The ingredients and cooking techniques employed did not offer any particular surprises, yet the dining atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.

Tristian kept his head down throughout the meal, never uttering a word.

Astrid, on her part, had no interest in engaging in any conversation beyond business matters with him.

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The two of them dined in silence, with only the occasional faint clink of knives and forks against plates breaking the quiet.

Even the sound of chewing was barely audible, a testament to the refined dining etiquette of the Valeria Empire's nobility.

As the blade of his knife sliced through the steak, Tristian used the reflection on his plate to observe Astrid.

She sipped her red wine with an impassive expression, her lips becoming moist and soft from the wine.

What's going on with Astrid today? She's so calm...

Tristian chewed his steak slowly, growing increasingly puzzled by her behavior.

She should have been the one to initiate a conversation, trying to draw my attention.

Why has she been so focused on her meal without saying a word?

Could it be that the food here is more appealing than my presence?

Had Astrid been aware of Tristian's thoughts, she might have sighed inwardly.

While the food at the restaurant was nothing extraordinary, it was certainly more agreeable to her than the company across the table.

The original Astrid might have harbored deep feelings for Tristian, but Astrid felt nothing for him.

To her, dining with someone she barely knew was merely an uncomfortable necessity.

After an awkward yet harmonious dinner, Astrid dabbed her lips with a napkin and glanced at the wall clock.

Thirty minutes had passed since they had signed the terms, and it was nearly time to leave.

"By the way, Lord Tristian," she began, "I recall mentioning to Professor Elowen that I wished to purchase a batch of intermediate potions from you."

Thinking that Astrid had finally broken her silence, Tristian expected her to make some peculiar remark.

However, she remained focused on business. Narrowing his eyes, he retrieved a storage belt filled with potions and a small leather-bound book from behind him.

"These are the potions the Velmont family has recently prepared for sale. Each bottle is labeled, and this book contains the relevant instructions,"

Astrid took the belt, her hand sinking slightly under its weight.

It contained forty or fifty bottles, enough to supply a small-scale war.

Noticing her reaction, Tristian added, "Aunt Elowen has instructed that these potions be given to you free of charge, Your Highness. If you find them satisfactory, you may enjoy a half-price discount on future purchases."

Such a generous offering of intermediate potions was undoubtedly costly, and Elowen's gesture spoke volumes about her sincerity.

Astrid ran her fingers over the belt, her tone softening.

"I'll visit Professor Elowen in person to express my gratitude."

Whether out of noble etiquette or simple courtesy, it was only proper for her to meet Elowen at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic again.

With that, Astrid rose to her feet, her pink lips parting lightly.

"Lord Tristian, thank you for coming tonight to discuss matters. The time is almost up, so I won't take any more of your time. I'll take my leave now."

As Astrid gathered the instruction book and potions, her expression remained calm.

She turned and walked away without hesitation.

Tristian's pupils contracted slightly as he replied in a low voice, "Your Highness Astrid, do take care on your way back."

Astrid acknowledged his words with a soft hum, followed by the brief sound of her heels clicking against the floor and the dull thud of the door closing behind her.

She left without so much as a backward glance.

From the moment they had entered the room to the moment she departed, they had not even shaken hands.

Leaving the private room, Astrid walked into the main hall of the restaurant.

The first thing she noticed upon exiting the hallway was Lyra and Lina sitting together.

Lina held a thin piece of cardboard in her hand, scribbling something just out of Elise's line of sight.

Astrid deliberately lifted her heel and stepped firmly on the floor tiles, creating a noticeable sound.

She then turned her head, pretending not to see anything.