The dress she wore was simple but elegant—completely free of lace or extravagant decorations. It was designed with clean lines and practicality in mind.
Falling to her ankles and without a petticoat, the dress allowed freedom of movement. Its soft fabric flowed smoothly without tightness or restriction.
It made working much easier.
At first, the nobles had frowned at the princess's unorthodox fashion choices. But over time, even they began to adapt.
In fact, the trend among noblewomen's attire had gradually shifted toward simplicity ever since Princess Astrid became the de facto ruler of the Lania Kingdom.
Astrid herself found such garments far more suitable for carrying out her duties than showy dresses meant to draw attention at court.
As her authority grew and she stepped into the heart of political life, the royal court followed her lead—favoring function over flair.
Her influence, however, extended beyond governance. It was quietly shaping the culture of the entire kingdom.
Yet Astrid paid little mind to such changes. What mattered to her wasn't the clothing she wore—it was what she could accomplish while wearing it.
"His Majesty is stable," Anita reported. "He hasn't regained consciousness yet, but most of the toxins have been cleared from his body."
Astrid reached for her father's hand, which lay outside the covers.
Once icy cold, it now held warmth. Relief softened her expression.
Thanks to Anita's consistent healing—morning and night—Charles V was in a much more stable condition.
His once pallid face had regained a healthy blush, and instead of pained groans, the room was filled with steady, peaceful breathing.
Seeing her father brought Astrid immense comfort.
Though she couldn't be at his side constantly, Anita's devotion allowed her to focus fully on affairs of state.
The queen, too, remained quietly by the king's side. She no longer plotted her usual schemes.
More than anyone, the queen understood that her own future depended on the king's recovery. And so, for now, she fulfilled her role as caregiver without deviation.
The royal palace had returned to a rare state of tranquility.
With the queen's influence visibly diminished, Astrid finally found a sense of ease she had long lacked.
But that peace didn't last.
As Charles V's condition improved, Astrid began to feel the true weight of the responsibility she now bore.
The time spent observing and assisting her father had not been enough.
It was one thing to act as an advisor or supporter by the king's side—quite another to stand at the center of government, making final decisions and shaping the fate of a nation.
Her first great trial came in the form of the kingdom's financial crisis.
The royal treasury had been drained by war and the uncooperative attitudes of the nobility.
She convened a financial council, joining her ministers to discuss solutions—but the nobles were more interested in shifting blame than solving problems.
One blamed reduced agricultural output from the war; another pointed to the excessive costs of border defense.
Their self-centered remarks tested Astrid's patience.
The root of the issue was clear: it stemmed from the greed and self-preservation of the nobility.
They cared more for their lands and personal fortunes than the welfare of the kingdom. As a result, the people's lives grew increasingly desperate.
A recent conversation with Michael lingered in Astrid's mind.
He had spoken of his territory in the kingdom's northwest and shared stories of the people there—of how they struggled, of how he felt personally responsible for their well-being.
His deep sense of duty left a lasting impression on her.
Michael's sincerity forced Astrid to reconsider her own perspective on her kingdom and its people.
She had once believed that the wellbeing of the common folk fell under the jurisdiction of their respective lords. Each noble was expected to care for their own.
But through that conversation, she came to a new realization: those people were not merely subjects of this or that noble—they were citizens of Lania. Her people.
Now, the suffering of the commoners was no longer just numbers on a report.
It had become a vivid, personal reality she could no longer ignore.
The faces of starving children, the weary eyes of the sick and elderly, the displaced survivors of war—all flashed clearly in her mind's eye.
"While they sit in silk and dine on delicacies, clutching fortunes they don't deserve… my people starve in rags, crying in silence."
The thought alone kept her up at night.
"Well then, I'll be counting on you again today, Anita."
With a graceful smile, Astrid rose to her feet. There was much to be done.
Though Duke Capone and several elder statesmen supported her, the important decisions still rested squarely on her shoulders.
At the top of today's agenda was filling the vacant position in the Northwestern Province.
Many nobles involved in the rebellion had either been executed or fallen in battle, leaving their territories leaderless.
The matter of who would govern the Northwestern Province was not a simple one.
Strategically, the region held vital importance.
Thus, deciding who would take control of the land had direct implications for the stability of the Lania Kingdom.
To address the issue, Princess Astrid began discussions with Duke Capone.
The chamber they met in was adorned with gilded decorations and marble pillars, but in light of current circumstances, even such grandeur felt hollow.
Duke Capone, who had already formed a secret agreement with Michael, was the first to speak.
"There's really no need to debate this further. Countless soldiers earned merit under Grand Duke Michael's command. Why not distribute the lands of the Northwestern Province among them?"
Princess Astrid nodded in agreement.
She had already been deliberating over which lands to reward to those who had distinguished themselves in the war.
Titles were easy enough to grant—create a suitable rank and name, and it was done.
But estates… those were different.
This was a defensive war, not a war for territory, which made the question of land distribution even more delicate.
Now that a vast amount of land in the Northwest had been left unclaimed, the opportunity was too perfect to ignore.
"Wouldn't the southern nobles raise strong objections?"