Chapter 625: Correct Mindset
"Big sister... next time you can be a bit rougher, okay~"
In Capital City, within the private chambers of the Empire’s Regent, a sweet fragrance filled the bedroom where two orange lamps were lit. The dim light cast silhouettes of tightly pressed bodies onto the soft carpet, adding an even more sensual atmosphere to the already intimate scene.
Amalia lay nestled in Astrid’s embrace, her fingers gently playing with the silver hair that fell over her shoulder. Her smooth back pressed into softness, continuously feeling her sister’s love and warmth.
"I really like it when you’re like that, sister... it makes me feel so fulfilled, so happy..."
As she spoke, Amalia lightly rubbed her legs together. The delicate white thigh-high stockings appeared intact at first glance, but upon closer inspection, faint runs could be seen. Having sweated slightly from their earlier activities, the stockings clung even tighter to her skin, resembling a perfectly smooth, creamy cake.
The parts exposed from beneath the covers, her two soft, pristine white-stockinged feet, gently moved, stretching the reinforced toe sections thin, as if still savoring the lingering excitement.
Hearing her younger sister’s words, Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly, her chin continuing to rest atop Amalia’ head. Her faintly flushed skin was partially hidden beneath golden hair as she softly replied,
"Alright. I’ll listen to our little princess."
Considering Amalia’ delicate constitution and her generally frail nature as a mage, Astrid always focuses toward gentler approaches, trying not to make things too intense for her.
Yet it was Amalia herself who kept asking for more.
In that case... she’d indulge her desires. Try not to think too much, let rationality drift further away...
Hearing Astrid’s response, Amalia lightly licked her lips. Her other hand, no longer playing with hair, slowly slid downward, stopping at Astrid’s waist before settling between the lace-trimmed top of her pure black thigh-highs and her snow-white, smooth thighs, simultaneously feeling the stocking’s slickness and the skin’s softness.
Despite now being the Empress of the Empire, Amalia still cherished it when Astrid used affectionate pet names like "our little princess."
For one, it shows the closeness of their relationship. Secondly, it reminds Amalia of her position in Astrid’s heart.
Aside from herself, someone never loved by her father, every other princess in fairy tales was a cherished, pampered daughter of heaven, the apple of countless people’s eyes.
She wanted to be that person too, the one forever doted upon, forever gently treated by her sister.
Although, during that time... a little less gentleness wouldn’t be bad.
She wanted to see the side of her sister never shown before others. She wanted to feel her sister’s meticulous touches, and she wanted, most of all, for her sister to lose her composure because of her, to have every last bit of rationality melted away by rising body temperature.
"I love you most of all, sister," Amalia whispered softly.
As expected, the next moment, Astrid responded gently,
"I love you too, Amalia."
No matter how many times they repeat it, Astrid will always patiently respond, offering emotional reassurance, preventing that sensitive, insecure heart from overthinking.
Amalia curved her lips upward, turned her head, and gave Astrid’s cheek a soft peck. Her voice, soft and slightly moist, sounded like some kind of nocturnal bird.
"Next time... I want you to kiss me like this too..."
The golden-haired girl’s tone was undeniably coquettish. Combined with her fingertips continuously teasing the black stockings and the slight friction along her back, Astrid naturally understood the deeper meaning.
She meant... when Amalia helped from behind, she wanted her to turn her head to kiss...
The former almost-deranged tyrant Amalia had become far too perceptive in certain areas.
Or perhaps... it was because she, as the older sister, hadn’t set a proper example, leading to this current situation.
The other black-stockinged leg beneath the covers deliberately pushed the blanket aside, trapping Amalia’ white-stockinged leg. Then, taking advantage of her longer legs, she gently pressed the smooth arch of her foot against the soft sole of Amalia’ foot. Black and white stockings danced together, like a layer of delicious, appetizing dark chocolate draping over melting milk ice cream.
"Amalia... I really don’t know where you learn these things..."
"Still, it’s not unacceptable."
Compared to their hallway battles, this was truly minor in comparison.
With Astrid’s permission, Amalia’s blue eyes revealed subtle satisfaction. Watching her sister press their two white-stockinged feet together, her gaze lingered on the night-colored stocking that had darkened from earlier moisture, and her emotions rose once more.
Noticing the hand originally resting by her thigh beginning to slide upward toward the stockings, Astrid pinched Amalia’ cheek gently, softly admonishing,
Not today.
It was already late. Plus, they practically did this every day, already at a high frequency. For the sake of health, she, who had stronger self-control and a more prudent state, should take the initiative to stop.
Hearing Astrid’s words and sensing the seriousness in her tone, Amalia obediently ceased her movements, settling for minimal enjoyment of her beauty’s favors.
"Sister... you really plan to install a bed in the workshop?"
"Mm, that way, if Lady Charlotte gets tired, she can rest there during midday naps."
In truth, the palace wasn’t that large, and the mana workshop wasn’t too far from the Regent’s chambers. If Charlotte were truly exhausted, returning here to rest might actually be a better, quieter bedroom environment, plus the ever-available maid squad, allowing for doubly effective relaxation.
Amalia had clearly thought of this, her eyes narrowing into slits until her blue pupils were nearly invisible.
"Could it be... sister has other plans for installing that bed..."
Like occasionally napping there herself.
Although Amalia tried her best to suppress her inherent possessiveness, some jealousy couldn’t be restrained by reason alone. She wanted to monopolize her sister as much as possible, ideally napping together every noon.
Those privileges automatically hers during her time as a younger sister now, in her current role, weren’t so easily obtained. Yet Amalia held no regrets about taking that step forward. Without that risky gamble, given the eventual intimacy bound to form between Lyra and Astrid, she, who couldn’t become their beloved soon enough, would’ve remained just another ordinary favored younger sister.
This conflicted with Amalia’ desires. Without an early investment, there’d be no chance of creating their current wondrous, harmonious romantic relationship, nor could she have reached that agreement with Lyra, formerly her rival, now reconciled, to share her sister.
Under current circumstances, capturing her sister’s heart was their shared goal, involving both competition and cooperation, such as preventing even more people from joining in.
"What other plans?" Astrid softly countered.
"Of course, so you can lie on it yourself too."
Amalia’s words carry a subtle hidden meaning.
Back then, she and Astrid were purely sisters. Now, they’d already crossed that line, frequently fighting so intensely the sky and earth seemed to darken.
If a non-blood-related younger sister and older sister could do it, then why couldn’t an equally unrelated, indeed, never formally recognized, niece and aunt?
She just feared saying it outright would upset her sister, so Amalia used a relatively indirect, veiled expression.
Without that underlying thought, Astrid probably wouldn’t have understood.
"Amalia... are you worried I won’t be there during nap time?" Misinterpreting today’s exception as having made Amalia feel down, Astrid gently explained.
"I’m sorry. I’ve been too busy. I couldn’t nap with you today."
"..."
"I understand those things, sister~"
She wasn’t a child who’d cry and throw tantrums just because she missed one day of companionship.
"I don’t want apologies. I just want you to love me twice as much next time."
Regardless of form or action, giving and receiving love were always positive feedback for Amalia.
As long as it was Astrid, she’d be happy no matter what.
The female voice fell silent. Seeing that Astrid truly seemed to have no other thoughts, Amalia’ jealousy slightly eased as she softly said,
"Then, as sister wishes, we’ll start preparing tomorrow."
With both her and Lyra already claiming her, there was no way sister could have room for anyone else.
After chatting a bit more, Amalia removed her white stockings, bathed together with Astrid in the washroom, and finally lay down on the bed, drifting into dreams within warm arms.
.............
Meanwhile, Charlotte had been lying awake for a long time, the mature beauty with dark hair and tea-colored eyes stared at moonlight filtering through the window, unable to summon sleep.
Having worked so long during the day, both mind and body should have been exhausted. Yet lying on this soft bed, she still couldn’t fall asleep.
Perhaps the afternoon’s invention had been exceptionally significant, keeping her soul in an excited state for an extended period, with residual traces still lingering now, making sleep difficult.
Or perhaps it was because tonight, Charlotte had returned to this room, arranged exactly as it had been that night, unconsciously reminded her of what had happened then.
Even someone as perceptive as Astrid had spent considerable time on such matters. Although comforting her partner was a factor, judging from the expression on her niece’s face that night, how she lay beside her, lightly pinched her waist, and immediately reacted, it was clear she’d thoroughly enjoyed herself.
"..."
They say a beauty’s embrace is a hero’s grave, indeed, the sayings hold true.
Closing her eyes, Charlotte’s mind alternated between memories of that night’s pre-sleep conversation and this afternoon’s intimate scene of Astrid sitting on her lap, achieving spiritual resonance.
When Astrid proposed adding another bed to the workshop, her immediate reaction had been to refuse.
Was it because she thought it was too much trouble, deeming it unnecessary?
That was certainly one consideration, but Charlotte knew deep down it wasn’t the primary reason.
After hearing Astrid’s explanation, she’d acknowledged the bed’s necessity. Yet why, afterward, did she still feel somewhat unnatural, as if something unpleasant might occur?
Thinking this way, Charlotte couldn’t find the answer. But if she applies reverse reasoning...
Why had she agreed?
The answer was obvious. With a bed, she and Astrid could practice joint spellcasting without such intimacy, avoiding awkward situations like this afternoon.
Having to press lips against her neck... and exchanging...
Back during the Liya Tower Fortress days, they could simply lie on a bed, turn off the lights, embrace each other with relatively relaxed minds, spiritual resonance wouldn’t require such strict external conditions.
So... she’d agreed to the second proposal exactly to avoid intimacy with Astrid...
But why?
Why would she not want to be close to Astrid?
In her mind, the silver-haired, red-eyed Imperial Princess sat across from her at an ornate banquet table, gazing at her with exceptionally tender eyes.
Her heartbeat quickened slightly. As if grasping something, Charlotte fluttered her eyelashes briefly, reopening her tea-colored eyes to stare at the ceiling, not moving for a long time.
Besides agreeing to install the bed, another point indirectly proved she subconsciously resisted closeness with Astrid.
That was the magical resonance itself.
Something they once accomplished easily, they now couldn’t replicate, indicating a rift between them. During experiments, Astrid appeared far more at ease than her, meaning the one creating the rift was herself.
Could it be... that Astrid liking girls was truly so difficult for her to accept?
To the extent her body instinctively wanted to distance itself, to leave, to prevent the other from approaching?
Like some subconscious defense mechanism.
"..."
But why couldn’t she feel it?
No matter how hard she pondered, Charlotte couldn’t find even a trace of disgust towards Astrid.
She enjoyed having this younger generation nestled in her arms, enjoyed physical contact with her, and enjoyed seeing Astrid display more of those shining qualities she’d previously overlooked.
Even the faint, delicate fragrance lingering around her felt wonderfully pleasant to her.
If she truly resisted... would her body give such positive feedback?
Surely she wasn’t so contradictory, simultaneously liking and hating, existing in that delicate balance of conflict and harmony.
Whether her body was honest, Charlotte couldn’t currently determine. But her emotions were indeed conflicted now.
Perhaps... she just didn’t want Astrid to feel awkward...
After all, the other was a noble, and being too intimate with her same-gender elder wasn’t appropriate.
Yes, that must be it.
She was merely considering Astrid, their relationship, societal perceptions.
There was no mistake.
Under pressure from various emotions, Charlotte reached this conclusion, choosing, not from clear reasoning but from indescribable anxiety, not to deeply examine the logical chain or any other possibilities.
Due to an elder’s instinctive avoidance, she’d subconsciously shied away from Astrid’s intimate gestures. This was the "correct" mindset.
It definitely couldn’t be anything else.
