Princess’s Struggle for Survival

Amalia bent down, picked up the cat into her arms, and sat on the bed, gently stroking its soft fur.

She had named the cat Auri, and as the second guest to settle in the castle in years, Amalia treated it with great care.

She provided it with ample food and even fashioned a cozy nest from her old clothes and broken boxes for it to rest in.

Auri, having spent much of its life as a stray, had initially struggled to adapt to domestic life.

But recently, it had grown more comfortable, recognizing the wooden box Amalia had made as its home.

In a way, Amalia and Auri were kindred spirits, both outcasts, one born unblessed and the other unwanted.

After spending some time cuddling Auri, Amalia stood and began tidying her drawing supplies.

To most, the paints might seem insignificant, but to her, they were precious treasures, to be used sparingly and stored carefully.

After sealing the paint containers and securing the lids, Amalia turned to find Auri pawing gently at the gap beneath the door.

'Does it want to go out for a walk?'

Amalia frowned slightly, then walked over and hesitated for a moment before deciding to open the door for the little cat.

Holding an oil lamp, she stepped into the corridor.

The air was noticeably colder than in her room, and Amalia, clad only in a thin white nightgown, felt the chill on her exposed calves.

She instinctively drew her knees closer together.

Auri seemed to sense something and trotted purposefully down the corridor.

The moonlight streaming through the arched windows cast silvery halos on the floor tiles.

Amalia followed, her footsteps echoing softly alongside the cat's.

She wasn't sure where Auri was leading her, but she feared that if the orange cat disappeared from her sight, it might vanish forever, leaving her to return to her lonely existence.

I wouldn't let that happen... never…'

The lamps along the corridor cast flickering light, stretching Amalia's shadow long across the floor.

As she neared the end of the hallway, Auri slowed, its dark eyes fixed ahead.

Amalia's expression darkened. She crouched and gently stroked Auri's back, the flickering flame of the lamp reflecting in her blue eyes like a stream of fire caught in a verdant shade.

Suddenly, Auri darted into the shadows.

Amalia's heart skipped a beat, and she hurried after the cat.

In the dim light, she saw Auri stop a few meters ahead, its head lowered as if nuzzling something.

Her pulse quickened. Holding her breath, Amalia moved closer, the light from her lamp dispelling the darkness.

There, she saw Auri rubbing against a hand clad in a pure white silk glove, adorned with delicate lace at the wrist.

A surge of emotion, neither fear nor surprise, but something in between, flooded Amalia's chest.

She had lived in the castle for years and knew that no one resided in this part of the building.

It was impossible for anyone to survive here without food or water.

Summoning her courage, Amalia raised the candlestick higher.

As the light fell on the figure petting the orange cat, her breath caught.

The figure was a woman of ethereal beauty, her golden hair cascading like waves down her slender waist.

She wore a plain white princess dress that accentuated her mature, curvaceous figure.

Her delicate features and porcelain skin seemed almost otherworldly, and her exposed shoulders glowed softly in the dim light.

The dress hugged her full chest, and the tulle skirt draped elegantly over her firm, rounded hips.

A thin ribbon with a honeysuckle pattern cinched her lower abdomen, while ornaments resembling necklaces adorned her slender waist.

Her long, smooth legs were encased in pure white stockings, slightly wrinkled at the ankles, exuding an air of purity and grace.

Her feet, clad in silver low-heeled shoes, peeked out from beneath the satin, the delicate insteps as pale as ice cream.

Even in the dim corridor, her noble and elegant presence was undeniable, like fine wine that only grew richer with time.

What struck Amalia most were the woman's blue eyes, so similar to her own, and the golden hair that shimmered like fields of wheat under the sun.

'Blond hair and blue eyes... the mark of the royal family of the Valeria Empire, a symbol of the purest, most noble bloodline in the land…'

'Who is she?'

'Or... is she even human at all? Could she be a ghost?'

At night, solemn and deep bell sounds echoed from the great bell tower in Capital City.

Each chime was like a rising tide, creating ripples in Amalia' heart.

"Who are you..."

Though Amalia was not familiar with areas beyond her usual range of activity, she had lived in the castle for over eight years.

The girl knew very well whether there were other people living here.

Whether the other party was a living person or an illusory ghost, Amalia would not let her take Auri away.

Seeing the alert look on the face of the blonde girl in front of her, with a strong defensive gleam in her eyes, the woman released the hand that had been stroking the orange cat.

She slowly stood up, her clear and bright light blue eyes reflecting Amalia' figure.

"I'm the new neighbor..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Auri leaned obediently against the woman's legs, the soft cat fur brushing against her white stockings, producing an almost imperceptible sound.

Amalia frowned slightly upon hearing this, growing even more cautious.

With the royal blood of the Valeria Empire... who else but her could be imprisoned here by the almighty emperor...

After a moment, Amalia spoke in a low voice.

"Give... Auri... back to me."

Since Amalia seldom communicated with others, at most uttering a few unclear words when dealing with the maids, even her speech had become unfamiliar over time.

The woman in the white dress narrowed her eyes slightly, taking a few seconds to digest Amalia's words before asking tentatively.

"Auri? Is that the name you gave it?"

Bending down and holding Auri in her arms, Amalia saw the woman's slender, pale arms wrapped around the orange cat.

Her body trembled subconsciously, her fingers clenched, and her calves pressed together.

She almost couldn't control the urge to snatch the cat from the other person.

The woman also noticed Amalia's tense reaction and sighed softly in her heart.

She lifted the big orange cat, which was about to become as soft as liquid, and gently handed it to the blonde girl.

Amalia quickly took the cat, still alert as ever, and while comforting Auri, she stared at the person in front of her.

Seeing that Amalia didn't want to answer her question, the woman showed no anger.

Instead, she smiled, her pink lips slightly parting.

"Don't be so nervous. You can call me Livia. It's our first meeting. I hope Miss Amalia will take good care of me."

After she finished speaking, the woman who called herself Livia extended her hand, wanting to shake hands with Amalia.

But seeing that Amalia was holding a cat in one hand and an oil lamp in the other, it was clear she had no hand to spare.

Livia raised her swan-like neck gracefully and softly chanted a spell.

"O Eternal Fire Spirit, ignite this at my command!"

The next second, the wicks on both sides of the wall ignited automatically, and the bright flames reflected on Livia.

The warm light made the woman's features more pronounced, her skin as white and tender as fine snow.

She made no movement, yet with a series of words that sounded like a spell, she easily lit the lamps.

It's magic... and she knows my name...

Realizing that Livia was not as fragile as she appeared and might even be a powerful magician, Amalia grew wary again, reluctant to put down the oil lamp and take Livia's hand.

After a while, Amalia trembled her lips slightly and spoke in a very low voice.

"Livia... Valeria..."

Valeria is the surname of the royal family of the Valeria Empire.

No matter how the person in front of her tried to hide it, the iconic blonde hair and blue eyes could not be faked.

She is also of the royal family, sharing similar blood to mine.

When Livia heard Amalia saying her name, something strange flickered in her blue eyes.

After a few seconds, she pursed her lips and smiled.

"Lady Amalia is very clever. You guessed my full name right away."

If one thought about it carefully, the most significant change in her relationship with Amalia, after it had been split and refined, was that she had transformed from an arrogant and vicious adopted sister into a gentle and considerate biological sister.

In Amalia's eyes, her image at this moment should be that of a mature older sister with blonde hair, blue eyes, and an elegant demeanor.

With her assumption almost confirmed, Livia continued to extend her hand.

However, seeing that Amalia had no intention of shaking it, she simply nodded coldly.

"...Hello."