It took half a minute before Lyra finally grasped the hidden meaning behind Amalia’s words. After unconsciously imagining an intimate scene, Lyra’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Her two white-stockinged feet, crossed and touching at the bedside, gently rubbed against each other’s smooth tips. The semi-transparent thigh-highs she faintly revealed her delicate, cute toes, neatly arranged like precious jade.

If they spent Sunday together... just the two of them and Astrid...

Recalling the private welcome banquet held in Losterling City for the Empire’s Empress, where she and Amalia had been competing under the table, nearly forcing Astrid’s legs apart to claim the seats on either side, Lyra pursed her lips, her ears burning hot.

If things really turned out as Amalia suggested, it would be too scandalous.

That kind of thing... absolutely couldn’t happen...

In Lyra’s mind, lovers should only do things that bring happiness to each other, no third party should ever intrude. Just thinking about such a scene made Lyra so embarrassed she wished she could vanish into the nearest crack in the floor.

And... would Astrid even agree?

Even within the noble circles, where outward etiquette was strictly observed but private lives were considered often chaotic, this would still be extreme.

As for whether Amalia would truly be willing, even if she hadn’t said it today, based on Lyra’s understanding of the other girl, the white-stockinged girl was fully capable of doing such things, and there was a high chance she’d do it right in front of Lyra, just to prove how close she was with her "Sister."

For instance, when lying together resting, Amalia would deliberately raise her leg, which was already pressed between Astrid’s knees.

If her legs behaved like that even under the covers, how many subtle little actions were hidden beneath the surface with her more flexible hands? That night, when Lyra had come to Astrid’s room hugging a pillow, she could vaguely sense it all.

The golden-haired Empress’s fighting power... was far greater than she’d imagined...

Lying on the wide, soft double bed, Lyra rolled around once on top of the blanket, buried her head into the pillow, then consciously bent her knees, propping both legs, sheathed in delicate white stockings, vertically atop the quilt. She gently tugged at the sock cuffs, smoothing out the wrinkles around her ankles.

Feeling a slight tightness along her legs, the pink-haired girl let go and instead wrapped her lotus-like arms around the pillow, pressing her delicate nose against the fabric as she exhaled.

I don’t want to lose. Not at all.

Lyra, you need to stand your ground a little more. Don’t let others look down on you.

Especially in matters like this... she absolutely refused to be overshadowed by Amalia.

Meanwhile, Astrid, the very empress cherished in the hearts of two imperial nobles, had also finished her conversation with Lydia and stood up to take her leave. Just as she was about to depart, the second daughter, who had been acting like a devoted fan all along, suddenly spoke.

"By the way, Astrid, this time you returned feeling... different. Your entire aura has changed."

Hearing this, Astrid slowed her steps. Her thin, pure black skirt fluttered just past her knees, revealing only a small portion of her smooth, alluring black-stockinged legs and the intricate high heels beneath her feet, shimmering with delicate glimmers.

"Oh? Why do you say that, Lydia?" Astrid asked.

Lydia replied softly, "It’s just a feeling... I can’t quite put it into words..."

It wasn’t due to her transition from Third Princess to Regent. Rather, it was something else, something beyond her personal experience, something her limited life knowledge couldn’t clearly articulate.

"Astrid seems... more mature than before. Well, even before, you were already quite mature, of course."

If she had to describe it outwardly, Astrid had grown even more charming. In her every gesture and movement, that noble, aloof allure was fully on display.

Put more directly, she had become even more captivating. Not just to the opposite sex, but even Lydia, a fellow woman, found herself somewhat entranced. In the short time they’d spent drinking tea, her eyes had wandered more than once, completely captivated by the regent’s peerless beauty.

Although Lydia, being a self-proclaimed beauty enthusiast, had fawned over Astrid before, she’d never felt such an intense sense of awe.

Hearing Lydia’s words, Astrid thoughtfully raised a hand to lightly touch her cheek. Her fair skin contrasted against the black fabric, making the imperial princess appear even more radiant and enchanting.

After a moment, Astrid responded.

"Perhaps it’s simply because I’ve experienced more, so compared to my former self, I carry a bit more composure."

"People change, don’t they, great author Lydia?"

Hearing the praise in Astrid’s voice, Lydia’s eyes sparkled, her tone growing even more joyful.

"It’s all thanks to Astrid’s excellent guidance."

The second daughter of the Minister of Finance held no political power, was a magic failure, and if she couldn’t cultivate even one respectable skill, her future would likely be sealed by an arranged marriage.

It was Astrid’s patient mentorship, along with the Empire Weekly as a platform, that gave her the chance to showcase her talent. Even though Lydia still hadn’t completely broken free from her family’s constraints, at least through her collaboration with Astrid, she now has more influence at home. Combined with her father’s affection, her room for maneuvering had greatly increased.

One could say the Regent was not only her friend, but also her idol, and her benefactor.

If Astrid were of the opposite gender, a silver-haired, crimson-eyed prince with unmatched charisma, perhaps she would pick an auspicious day to shyly confess her feelings.

Lydia only turned back after seeing Astrid all the way outside the estate. Staring at the night-sky-colored high heels stepping onto the carriage, and the silver hair cascading down the slender waist, the girl stood motionless, lost in thought for a long time.

Actually... girls might be better...

After all, Astrid seemed to care little about gender, only about love itself.

Unaware that she was developing slight homosexual tendencies, Lydia snapped out of her daze and lifted her nearly floor-dragging skirt, her heels clicking "dada" as she walked back to her room.

Even if she could accept being with a girl, Astrid would never choose her. After all, millions of people wanted to be close to the Regent, some even dreamed of stealing a kiss. Among them, she wasn’t even a small fish, more like a mere shrimp.

Not to mention... there was already a presence beside Astrid, shining as sacred brilliantly as the sun...

...............

Back at the palace, after sharing dinner as usual with Lyra and Amalia, Astrid first stayed in the latter’s room to discuss the specific arrangements and implementation plans for the upcoming intelligence operation.

Since Astrid had returned to the Capital City, and with the intention of staying close, Amalia only went to the main hall and studied during the day. When night falls, she will come to the Third Princess’s chambers to rest instead of staying in the main imperial palace where the past emperors reside.

Holding Amalia in her arms while listening to her report, Astrid’s gaze was gentle. Her arms lightly encircled the girl’s waist, her palm resting on the flat abdomen, separated from the skin only by a layer of dress fabric and a sheer pair of white pantyhose.

"The current intelligence unit has already withdrawn on the last batch of mana-powered transport airships, heading toward the supply town nearest to Liya Tower Fortress. Duke Charles will, based on frontline conditions, infiltrate them across the border into the Kingdom of Velys."

"The cold front has arrived. Blizzards from the northwest have buried the roads. Carriages and horses can no longer pass, and large-scale military advances are impossible. This harsh condition not only hinders Kingdom of Velys’s invasion but also completely halts our offensive. Even the most vigilant border nobles will inevitably let their guard down in the face of such a natural disaster."

"Once the timing is right, they will advance in small units, bypassing the first frontline fortress via the steep snowy mountains, areas impassable by regular armies, and enter the smaller towns in the southeastern region of the kingdom."

"Previous foreign wars created numerous departments that lost their young, able-bodied laborers. The mixed military units of mercenaries and private lords’ troops made census and population tracking extremely difficult. Combined with the Velys royal family’s weak control over regional nobles, constant falsified or missing reports, and frequent refugees along the border, the defeated Kingdom of Velys is full of exploitable loopholes."

Here, Amalia tapped the desk, her gaze fixed on the map of the Kingdom of Velys stored inside the imperial scepter by Kanto.

"The only regret is that the spies left behind by the late emperor in the kingdom have been stranded deep within enemy territory due to the closed trade and sealed borders. This operation’s secondary objective is to establish contact with them."

Both nations’ intelligence operations had actually begun before the war officially began, dating back to the time of Kanto or even earlier. However, the abrupt severing of trade and territorial blockades severely increases information flow. Only after the Church of Light’s cavalry invaded the imperial lands did both sides regain opportunities to gather intelligence.

After listening to Amalia’s analysis, Astrid slightly nodded and softly added:

"At Liya Tower Fortress, Lyra used [Sword of Light] to briefly contact Monica Angelis."

"That Saintess might serve as a useful cover."

If they were perfectly in sync, with Monica as an inside agent, the upcoming operation would undoubtedly become twice as effective.

Hearing Astrid mentioned that voluptuous Saintess, Amalia inexplicably felt uneasy. She blinked and asked quietly:

"Does my sister trust her that much?"

She’s supposed to be a Saintess, dressed so pure and chaste, yet somehow... something always feels off.

"I wouldn’t say I fully trust her. It’s just that other factors have influenced my judgment."

During the battle at Liya Tower Fortress, Monica had provided intelligence about [The Holy Radiant City]. That alone was proof of her sincerity.

Moreover, in those dreams confirmed to align with the original story, Lyra had formed an alliance with Monica and fought side by side. Astrid’s trust in the latter had risen another level because of that.

Although Amalia didn’t understand why her Sister thought this way, she unconditionally trusted Astrid. Since the other insisted, she will proceed with the plan, treating Saintess Monica as a potential ally-in-waiting, a final backup insurance in her strategic layout.

They continued discussing today’s work matters for a while, Empress and regent exchanging opinions on recently passed legislation, ensuring a degree of humanistic care while pressing the inevitable pains of bold reform.

When discussing official business, Amalia could completely suppress her personal desires. Work was work. Distracting yourself will only lead to failure. Thus, she unintentionally wriggled in her sister’s arms to tempt her into tightening her embrace around her waist, nor did she let her white-stockinged feet intentionally slip from her shoes to softly sway like a crescent moon beside Astrid’s calves, rubbing against the pure black patterned stockings.

Those little acts of flirtation between lovers could wait until after official matters were settled.

When the time came, Amalia asked Astrid for a loving kiss, then did all of the above, before releasing her and preparing to return to her own room alone.

Faced with such unusually generous behavior from Amalia, Astrid couldn’t help but ask in confusion:

"Aren’t you going to have me stay with you tonight?"

Rather than believing her "little girl had grown up," Astrid suspected there was another reason.

"Tonight, Sister should stay with Lyra."

Amalia gently touched her lips with one hand, glancing back at Astrid. Her princess dazzling dress swayed slightly with her body, like a blooming flower.

"If you two fight, come find me. I’ll be sleeping next door~"

With that, Amalia said goodnight, waiting for Astrid’s response before closing the door.

What was that about...

Amalia was usually the most clingy one. Why was she so unusually generous tonight? Astrid’s intuition told her this was related to both her and Lyra. She knocked gently on the latter’s door and entered politely.

Inside the room, the faint sound of running water seeped through the bathroom door into the bedroom. Lyra must have been showering. Through the frosted glass, Astrid could make out a faint, slender silhouette.

Kicking off her high heels, stepping barefoot in her smooth, dark chocolate-like feet, Astrid walked to the desk. She removed her hair ribbon, letting her silky silver hair fall naturally, then took off her shawl, exposing her smooth, round shoulders to the air.

The ever-attentive head maid brought in a prepared mana-heated kettle, poured a cup of tea for each of them, left the items, and exited the room with Astrid’s silent permission.

Then, Astrid lifted her teacup and took a sip. The water sounds in the bathroom cease. A delicate figure standing behind the frosted glass, thick hair cascading down her waist, yet unable to conceal the girl’s well-developed, graceful form.

Astrid didn’t look away. She remained seated at the desk, elegantly crossing her black-stockinged legs as she sipped her tea.

Whether she was waiting for her hair to dry naturally or not, tonight Lyra took longer than usual to change into her nightgown. By the time Astrid finished her tea, the pink-haired girl, wrapped in a faint mist, emerged from the bathroom wearing slippers.

A white silk nightgown clings tightly to her figure. Her skin, fresh from the bath, was pale with a soft pink hue. Lyra wiped her face with a towel while lifting her sky-blue eyes towards Astrid.

Compared to before, her legs now bore two white stockings extending past the hem of her nightgown. Since the hem fell past her knees, it was unclear at first glance whether they were thigh-highs or pantyhose.

But one thing was known to every seasoned lover: when someone puts on stockings after bathing, it’s rarely for comfort, after all, who enjoys being restrained while sleeping?