Chapter 603: Supporting with disappointment
’Compared to men, do I actually prefer soft and sweet girls?’
When she heard Astrid’s words, Charlotte froze, her fingers hovering over her left wrist as her mind raced to comprehend the other’s blunt statement.
Not liking men, preferring women instead.
Was Astrid actually... a lesbian?
If that were true, then it would explain why she never showed interest in all those young noblemen who constantly fawned over her, because she had never considered choosing any of them as a lifelong partner.
They were simply never on the list.
After the brief shock wore off, Charlotte inevitably began thinking deeper. Tracing back the timeline, the most recent event that came to mind was Astrid gifting her the spatial ring.
If this had been a man doing this for a woman, the entire sequence of actions could easily be interpreted as a marriage proposal. Now that Astrid had openly revealed her sexual orientation, equating the two didn’t seem far-fetched at all.
Could it be...?
A bold thought flashed through Charlotte’s mind, accompanied by a rapid heartbeat and rising body temperature.
Her ring finger suddenly felt scorching hot. The inner side of the ring, which should have been slightly cool, now feels like a branding iron, searing into her delicate, fair skin. Beneath the pale surface, blood rushed faster through her veins, stirred by her emotions.
No... impossible...
She must have misunderstood something.
This possibility was simply too outrageous. Charlotte had only thought about it for an instant before an intense sense of guilt washed over her, lingering heavily in her heart.
Seeing the slight tremor in the woman’s eyelashes, Astrid paused for a few seconds before speaking again.
"I just meant... if..."
"Lady Charlotte, could you accept me like that?"
Her words left room for interpretation, giving Charlotte plenty of space to think, or overthink.
Charlotte knew Astrid had once had feelings for Tristian. Even if that had merely been childish rivalry, it still seemed impossible for her feelings to have completely flipped to the opposite end of the spectrum.
But... if that had never been real in the first place, then why would Astrid suddenly bring this up now?
On the question of whether Astrid’s words were genuine, both women maintain a high level of unspoken understanding.
Astrid knew Charlotte understood what she meant. Charlotte also knew the question wasn’t baseless.
Yet, in certain details, their interpretations still differed...
For example, Astrid hadn’t realized that her past closeness with Charlotte, combined with these words, now sent ripples across the other woman’s heart.
"I..."
Suppressing the overwhelming sense of taboo swirling around her, Charlotte hesitated for a moment before answering with complex emotions.
"...still hold the view I expressed before."
Once, during a night spent sharing the same bed, Astrid had cautiously tested Charlotte’s stance on this matter. At the time, Charlotte had shared a relatively open-minded perspective, that true love wasn’t limited by gender.
As long as two people liked each other, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, their bond deserves lasting blessings.
So even now, knowing that Astrid actually preferred girls, Charlotte feels no sense of blame or judgment.
Love, in itself, should be free and beautiful. It wasn’t about marriage, nor merely physical relations. It was simply what it was.
After finishing her words, Charlotte gazed at the silver-haired girl before her, her warm tea-colored eyes shimmering like rippling water. She took a sip of tea to moisten her lips before softly asking,
"Astrid asking this... does it mean you’ve someone you like?"
Based on her understanding of Astrid, if this were merely a passing doubt, the girl wouldn’t have brought up such adult topics with her.
It must be... she had someone special.
At the very least, someone she held extremely strong feelings for.
A sudden spark lit up Charlotte’s mind, and immediately, she thought of the pink-haired girl touring the workshop outside, dressed in a pure and sweet style.
Could it be her?
Meanwhile, Astrid, hearing Charlotte’s question, maintaining her elegant posture, gently touching the deep blue brooch on her chest as she softly replied,
"Yes, Lady Charlotte, you could understand it that way."
In fact, it wasn’t just one person.
Upon hearing this, Charlotte narrowed her eyes slightly and pressed further.
"If I’m not mistaken... It’s Lyra?"
Given the circumstances, this was the only logical guess, at least far more plausible than that unthinkable possibility.
Astrid met Charlotte’s gaze seriously, then after a brief pause, gave her answer.
"Correct."
A single simple word erased Charlotte’s sense of taboo, replaced by a faint, almost imperceptible pang of loss, so subtle even she herself hadn’t fully noticed it.
"As expected," murmured the mature, dark-haired beauty, her crossed silk-covered legs quietly softening.
Looking at her younger sister’s delicate, refined features and amber-like light-brown eyes, Astrid paused briefly before dropping another bombshell.
"And also, Amalia."
Huh? Another one?
"..."
"???"
For a moment, Charlotte wondered if her ears had malfunctioned. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes as she quietly repeated the name Astrid had just mentioned.
"Amalia... Valeria?"
Astrid didn’t deny it. With a soft hum, she added,
"Me, her, and Lyra, we’ve already established our relationship."
The mere fact of Astrid coming out was enough to shock Charlotte. But to learn she liked not just one, but two people, and that the golden-haired empress Amalia Valeria was also Astrid’s acknowledged lover, was overwhelming.
Both she and Astrid had once been imperial princesses... How could this happen...?
Even if Astrid wasn’t Emperor Hibbort’s biological daughter and carried no Valeria blood, by title, the Third Princess and Fourth Princess were sisters. Even now, with Amalia as Empress, Astrid remains her close regent and confidant.
At this moment, Charlotte’s already shaking worldview completely collapsed.
Understanding that it would be difficult for Charlotte to fully accept this, Astrid kindly allowed her some time to process before continuing gently.
....................
In the Valeria Empire, due to the need to ensure the royal bloodline’s continuation, the system permitted the Emperor, the nation’s sovereignty, to have multiple concubines to bear heirs.
In a sense, someone like Hibbort Valeria, who had only one Empress his entire life, was the exception. Below the Emperor, royal princes, dukes, and nobles were allowed only one official wife; any other relationships held no legitimacy in the eyes of society and law.
But just because they weren’t recognized didn’t mean alternatives didn’t exist. Nobles seeking to preserve their bloodline or simply satisfy physical desires commonly kept mistresses. Beyond that, personal maids and attendants were frequent targets of favor.
Even if a woman bore a child, she had no chance of rising in status. At best, she could raise the illegitimate child in secret. If the noble wishes, they might later adopt the child; if not, even intensifying the bloodline was a luxury.
Thus, after hearing Astrid’s words, Charlotte didn’t quite know what to say.
Everyone else had emperors gathering concubines to fill their harem. But in Astrid’s case, it was the lofty Empress of the Empire who had become the concubine.
Then again, considering Amalia’s reclusive nature and all the efforts and risks Astrid had undertaken to put her on the throne, it made sense that she would be the one exclusively favored.
Still... no matter how she looked at it, these matters were difficult for Charlotte to accept in such a short time.
Her best friend Fanya’s biological daughter liked girls, and had made both the majestic Empress of the Empire and radiant Imperial Bastion fall for her, becoming her devoted lovers.
It was... almost too dreamlike.
Charlotte closed her eyes and gently massaged her temples, recalling past scenes of Amalia, Lyra, and Astrid sitting together at dinner. The unreality only intensified.
If Fanya were still alive, how would she feel?
Charlotte couldn’t answer that. At this moment, her heart was a tangled mix, regret at seeing her niece grow up and leave, yet also relief that she’d found a good match.
Judging from Astrid’s description of how the relationship developed, and from what Charlotte had witnessed of the two girls’ growth, she believed both Amalia and Lyra would bring happiness to Astrid.
Yet... no matter what, a faint sense of loss lingered, doomed to fade.
The silver ring sparkled under the light, making her skin appear even fairer, like a tender white bamboo shoot freshly dipped in water.
Perhaps it was something all elders felt, joy for the fledgling bird learning to fly freely, yet sorrow at no longer being needed or relying upon.
Although Astrid had shown independence early on, even becoming someone Charlotte could depend on in many ways, the reality of this day still stirs complex emotions within her.
Charlotte opened her mouth slightly, unsure of what to say, then remained silent for a few seconds before speaking softly.
"I suppose I really am getting old. I can’t quite understand the minds of today’s youth anymore."
That said, her beautiful, flawless face, her snow-white, smooth skin and wrinkle-free eyes, showed no signs of aging.
Perhaps the only thing resembling "old age" was the dignified aura unique to mature women, the three parts allure and seven parts languid grace in her every movement, combined with her curvaceous figure, perfectly embracing feminine charm.
Hearing this, Astrid faintly understood Charlotte’s attitude, realizing she simply needed more time to adjust.
"Lady Charlotte is being too modest. A being as radiant and dazzling as the sun in the sky, so long as people still have eyes to see, who would ever think you’re old?"
"I’ve seen you so often in the past that I never properly appreciated your beauty. After half a month apart, seeing you again, I can’t help but marvel, every inch of you is a masterpiece of the Creator."
Such flattering words would make anyone dizzy, especially when spoken by the Empire’s first beauty and her beloved junior, Astrid.
Already slightly flustered, Charlotte pursed her lips and whispered,
"With a mouth this sweet, no wonder you’re so beloved... Little Astr..."
Lyra and Amalia had both fallen, not just because Astrid truly cared for them and helped them in many ways, but also because of that undeniable, gentle coaxing, her secret weapon.
Charlotte couldn’t even imagine how many noble youths would beat their chests in regret, or how many noble daughters would secretly rejoice, if the news of Astrid being a lesbian ever got out.
"Of course. Making Lady Charlotte happy is also my wish," Astrid said, gazing at the woman with soft eyes.
"Besides, I’m not just flattering you. I’m simply speaking the truth."
On the verge of losing herself in the repeated "Lady Charlotte," Charlotte elegantly pressed her legs together, placing them diagonally before her. The sharp heel of her shoe scraped faintly against the floor tiles.
"I thought..."
"..."
Instinctively about to voice the misunderstanding she’d had earlier, Charlotte held back, giving a light cough instead.
No matter how she thought about it, that kind of thing shouldn’t be mentioned in front of Astrid, whether to preserve the last shreds of dignity as an elder, or due to some strange, indescribable emotions.
If Astrid found out she’d once thought that way, it would be far too embarrassing. Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to explicitly bring up that topic, though at this moment, she had completely forgotten that the intimate act of giving the ring and helping her put it on had been Astrid’s own doing.
Before Astrid could ask what she’d been about to say, Charlotte touched the ring and continued,
"So, what does Little Astr plan to do next?"
"Will you continue maintaining this relationship in the future?"
Astrid nodded gently.
"Yes. I’ve promised them."
"Since I’ve chosen this path, I must see it through to the end."
Having spoken, Astrid looked at Charlotte with calm eyes.
"Lady Charlotte, didn’t you also tell me that love, besides bringing emotional and physical joy, is inseparable from responsibility?"
Her lovers had given her love, time, and emotions. In return, she had to strive to give back, not let it be one-sided.
In a hundred-step journey, even if both didn’t walk fifty steps, at least one party should walk forty-eight or forty-nine for the relationship to be healthy.
Hearing Astrid’s words, Charlotte sighed, feeling that the girl was no longer the naive child she once was. Her pink lips parted slightly.
"As long as Little Astr understands that... It’s fine."
"No matter what, this path is one Little Astr chose herself. Telling me all this... you probably wanted to know my opinion.."
At this point, Charlotte wasn’t sure what else to say. She paused briefly before speaking softly again.
"I have no objections. Or rather, as long as Little Astr feels happiness in this relationship..."
"...I will offer my understanding and blessings."
Although she didn’t know why, there was still a faint, sour tingle in her heart.
Yet, she still chose to offer her support.
