Cassia entered, carrying a light tray of healthy food and a bowl of soup. She set the tray down on the table in front of Astra, then stepped aside.
"Please eat, Your Highness," Cassia urged gently. "You haven't eaten in a week. You must be hungry."
"Thanks, Cassie."
"It's Cassia, Your Highness. And you don't need to thank me; it's my duty," Cassia corrected.
"Yeah… Casia," Astra muttered, her voice casual.
Cassia said nothing further. Astra looked at her as she prepared to eat.
"Where is Geran?" she asked abruptly.
"Geran??!!" Cassia repeats the name confusedly then understanding something says, "Oh! You mean Gerald, he's guarding the door. Please eat, Your Highness."
"Okay."
Astra looked at the food, a sense of unease creeping over her, as though her sixth sense was warning her of something.
"E.L.S. Scan Foods," she murmured under her breath.
Ding...
[Food Scanning in progress...]
Ding...
[Food Scanning Completed.]
Ding...
[Low-Toxic Poison detected in all items except the soup.]
[Accumulated intake will cause gradual organ failure.]
Astra's smile deepened, a glint of irony in her eyes.
Oh. How amusing. She thought. Did my dear mother send it or the nobles who wants to support the lovely 2nd princess on the throne instead of me.
She picked up the spoon, her movements deliberate and measured. Even though I dislike soup, Cass always makes it herself and brings it for me when I'm sick. It's good for my health. The old me would have refused to eat it, but now... everything is different.
Astra sipped the soup slowly, savoring its taste. She ate only the soup, leaving the rest of the food untouched.
Cassia, relieved that the princess wasn't throwing a tantrum over food, smiled.
"I'm full. My head is heavy, so I'll rest," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Tell Gerod not to let anyone in, Cass."
"It's Cassia, Your Highness," Cassia corrected gently once again.
"Yeah, Casia."
Cassia: "..."
"Just call me whatever you like, Your Highness."
Cassia left with the tray, closing the door quietly behind her.
"Whatever I like..." Astra murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly as a wry smile carved her lips. You're just like her.
A distant memory tugged at her thoughts.
"It's been so many years since I last saw them... I wonder how they're doing now."
Her gaze shifted toward the bed then she slowly stands up and walked toward the bed.
"What am I even worried about? It's not like anyone can do anything to them."
Astra lay down carefully, the weight of her mind settling as her body relaxed. Her eyes closed and the room fell into silence.
I should rest instead.
Five days later–
In those five days, Astra did little but eat and sleep. After a stretch of doing nothing, she finally took a book from her shelf. The book was titled "The History of Aristynne."
After requesting it, Cassia had brought it from the library for her.
[There aren't many people who don't know about Aristynne. It was a land free from any empire or kingdom. No one had control over it, and it wasn't part of any kingdom or empire. Many would even call it the kingdom of Aristynne.
It was regarded as the most dangerous place that no one dared to invade or go to war with.
It was full of different magical creatures, species, and people, such as elves, dwarves, hybrids, strong and powerful knights with powers that could overthrow a kingdom, high-class mages, swordsmen, summoners, spiritualists, and even had a very powerful and well-known mage tower of its own.
Aristynne's strength was immeasurable. Everyone knew that if they went to war with Aristynne, they would suffer a very big loss. With powerful knights and magic weapons created by the dwarves, it was almost impossible to win against Aristynne...]
Astra was absorbed in the book when there was a knock on the door. A small frown appeared on her face as she closed the book and set it aside.
"Come in."
Cassia entered the room, her expression respectful but also slightly concerned. Astra gave her a questioning look, as if asking why she had come.
"Your Highness," Cassia began. "the young master of Rochester Duchy has come to visit you."
"Rockstar..." Astra muttered.
Cassia blinked. "...It's Rochester, Your Highness. Edrick Rochester... Your fiancé."
Astra waved a hand dismissively. "Well... Roche... or whatever. Let him in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Cassia sighed quietly to herself as she lefts the room. Over the past five days, she had noticed a change in the princess. Astra no longer got angry over trivial matters, didn't throw tantrums over food, and couldn't even remember names properly.
Cassia wondered if the princess's near-death experience and the injury to her head had something to do with this change. The once arrogant and haughty princess had become... different.
Meanwhile, Astra sat back in her chair, gaze drifting toward the ceiling.
"My Fiance..." she murmured softly.
Footsteps approached.
Her eyes shifted toward the door just as a boy stepped inside. He appeared to be around ten years old, dressed in black from head to toe.
He wore a stern expression, and despite his youth, he carried himself with the maturity of an adult. Astra's gaze fixed on him.
Blue hair gleamed faintly beneath the sunlight streaming through the window. His eyes—golden yellow—shone like polished metal, sharp and observant.
A young, handsome boy who could make anyone's heart flutter, even at this age…
Astra stared.
Wait a minute, why does this description sound familiar? Where have I seen this before?
Her eyes narrowed slightly as recognition stirred somewhere deep within her memory.
…Where have I seen this before?
Then—
Ding...
A blue panel appeared before Astra, who stared at it intently. Her expression grew serious as though something was triggering her memory, but she couldn't quite place it.
[Name: Edrick Rochester.]
[Identity: Heir to the Duchy of Rochester.]
[Relation: Fiancé.]
[[ Skills:
Cooking : None (0)
Combat : Advanced (35)
Defense : Vigilant (30)
Agility: Agile (24)
Intelligence: Sharp (32) ]]
[Ability: A Swordsman.]
[Special Ability: Magic Swordsman.]
[Characteristics: Stubborn, Strong-willed, Perfectionist. ]
[Potential: Strong Magic Swordmaster. ]
[Trait: He will die for those he cares about, but will destroy what he dislikes. ]
[Preference: Avoids Evelyn. Dislikes Evelyn. ]
[Backstory: Edrick grew up under strict training and neglect from his father, which shaped his troublesome personality. The constant pressure to meet high expectations and the lack of emotional support led to him becoming stubborn, strong-willed, and a perfectionist. His sense of loyalty runs deep—he will protect those he cares about at any cost, even if it means sacrificing himself. However, his intense nature also means that if he dislikes something or someone, he will have no qualms about destroying it.]