The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 15: Astrid is Teased

“Hik.”

“Stop it.”

“Hik.”

“I told you to stop.”

“Hik.”

“I said stop!”

“Hik.”

They were on their way to the dining hall.

Astrid walked with her greatsword slung over her back, while beside her, Leopold kept making the odd “hik” sound with every step.

“Cadet Leopold, please show some dignity.”

At last, her patience was wearing thin.

Her icy expression now carried a subtle tinge of irritation. When her eyes, filled with barely restrained annoyance, turned toward Leopold, he snickered with amusement.

“But you see, it’s just too funny. That stone-cold face of yours actually went ‘Hik’ like a startled kitten. I’ve never heard you make that sound in all the years I’ve known you.”

“I’m a person too, you know. I’m allowed to be surprised. Is that clear?”

Suppressing the rising irritation, Astrid took a deep breath.

As she inhaled and exhaled slowly, she fought the growing desire to knock Leopold upside the head. But she couldn’t.

If she hit him, he’d die.

She’d seen it herself during the duel with the instructor. Her strength had long since surpassed that of a normal human.

If she struck Leopold with that strength… it’d be treason. Treason.

With that grim reminder, Astrid exercised superhuman patience.

“Hik.”

“…I’m telling you, stop it.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll stop.”

Clearing his throat with a fake cough, Leopold walked alongside Astrid with a satisfied grin.

“Still, maybe it’s thanks to that that you’re not shaking anymore.”

‘…!’

He was right.

Her hands, which had been trembling from the aftermath of the fight, were now steady.

In front of the dining hall, squads had already gathered in clusters.

During the four-week initiation period, cadets were required to eat together as a squad. Even if class ended early, they weren’t allowed to eat or rest ahead of schedule.

‘This is exactly like basic training.’

The persistent sense of deja vu unsettled Astrid, but there was no helping it. Rules were rules.

“Cadet Astrid.”

“…?”

Just as she was checking the meal schedule with Leopold, someone called her name.

She turned around to see a girl with honey-gold hair smiling warmly at her.

“I’m Akemilla. Akemilla Uraid. I’m not a noble, so you can be at ease with me.”

“Astrid von Miterien.”

Come to think of it, this was the girl who had called Leopold during class earlier.

No wonder she had looked familiar.

“Cadet Leopold, Cadet Akemilla is…”

Astrid assumed she’d come to see Leopold.

She had no intention of interfering.

She’s pretty, capable enough to be here, and while being a commoner is a slight downside—

“Cadet Akemilla?”

Leopold tilted his head in confusion, glancing between Akemilla and Astrid.

“Cadet Akemilla, do you have business with me?”

‘Look at him using formal speech. He’s never managed it with me, and yet he’s perfectly polite here.’

This, for some reason, annoyed Astrid to no end.

Akemilla’s eyes widened in surprise before she waved her hands in denial.

“No, actually, I’m here because I have a question for Cadet Astrid.”

“Me?”

Not Leopold, but Astrid?

Astrid’s eyes widened as Akemilla gazed at her with a bright smile.

“Yes. Would you have a moment after lunch? I’d love to talk with you.”

“After lunch?”

The lunch break wasn’t that long. They only had an hour, and it wasn’t time she wanted to waste.

“If it’s inconvenient, how about after the day’s lessons during free time?”

Her perceptiveness was sharp.

There was nothing to object to if it was during free time.

“Alright, I’ll answer your questions as best I can.”

She figured Akemilla wanted to ask about Leopold, as Astrid was the one closest to him.

“Great. Then I’ll visit you after dinner.”

“Sounds good.”

Akemilla offered a light bow before walking away. But as soon as she did, someone tapped Astrid on the shoulder.

When she turned around, she saw a head of green hair—and peeking through that hair, a long, pointed ear.

It was Eranya, the elf, waving lightly with a grin.

“There you are, Squad Leader. We’ve been waiting for you up ahead.”

The direction Eranya pointed to was the exact opposite of where Astrid and Leopold had come from.

In other words, they’d simply missed each other along the way.

“Squad Leader, you did great this morning. It was really impressive.”

Astein’s narrow eyes made it impossible to tell if he was smiling or being sarcastic.

The question-mark-shaped wooden staff slung over his back swayed with his movements.

“It’s nothing special. Let’s head in. Our break time is getting shorter.”

With only an hour for lunch, every minute counted.

The faster they ate, the more time they’d have to rest.

—

“So then, bam! She knocked the axe’s head clean off!”

Even during their meal, it wasn’t peaceful.

Astrid’s face had turned slightly red, but Leopold was too caught up in his animated retelling of the morning’s duel to notice.

“That’s right, Cadet Leopold. That’s when Cadet Astrid, with that cold, sharp expression, said—”Both of us are unarmed. Then, only one option remains,”” Astein added, his voice mimicking Astrid’s tone.

“It was such a spectacle, Cadet Astein. They went bam! and clashed like this, gripping each other’s hands…” Leopold gestured, mimicking two bears grappling with each other.

“Wow, really? Like a couple of bears fighting?” Eranya’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“I mean, Astrid’s about the size of a bear, so it’s fitting.”

“Calling me a bear is a bit much, don’t you think?” Astrid quietly protested.

But in truth, she couldn’t deny that from the side, she may have looked like a bear wrestling with Varian.

“I’m just calling it like I see it. Honestly, instead of ‘Snowfield Leopard,’ you should be called ‘Snowfield Polar Bear.’”

“…A little…”

The words, Take better care of your fiancée, almost slipped from Astrid’s mouth before she could stop herself.

Her own thoughts startled her. Why had that come to mind?

“Haha, but still, Cadet Leopold, calling her a bear is too much. There’s no bear this beautiful in the world, is there? Such a lovely lady deserves a more fitting title.” Astein’s playful tone carried a hint of mischief.

“Astein, you’re just trying to get on the squad leader’s good side. I’m just speaking the truth.” Leopold smirked.

Even Astein and Eranya, who hadn’t been present at the duel, had somehow caught wind of the rumors.

The gossip had spiraled out of control—claims that Astrid had wrestled the instructor, broken his arm, or even slammed him into the ground spread like wildfire.

“Everyone, please focus on eating. Do you think our lunch break is endless?”

They needed to eat quickly and make time for a short rest in the dorms.

She wasn’t particularly tired, but the thought of resting still lingered in her mind.

“But it’s reassuring to have Cadet Astrid as our squad leader. If we ever have a mock battle, we’re bound to win with her on our side, right?” Astein’s head tilted slightly as he looked at Astrid.

Since his eyes were always squinted, it was hard to tell where he was looking, but since his face was pointed at her, he was probably staring at her.

“We’ll have to see. Battles aren’t won with strength alone. You can’t rely solely on me. Each of you, Cadet Eranya and Cadet Astein, must fulfill your roles with determination—”

“Alright, alright. Let’s just eat, Squad Leader. The food’s getting cold.” Leopold grinned slyly.

“Don’t suddenly act polite just for this,” Astrid grumbled, glaring at him.

Suppressing her irritation, she focused on her meal, moving her spoon methodically.

“Ugh, how long do we have to keep eating this mashed turnip stuff?” Leopold’s grumbles went ignored.

—

After finishing lunch, they had about 30 minutes of free time left.

It took 5 minutes to walk to the dorms and another 10 to the training ground, which left them with only 15 minutes to spare.

“There’s supposed to be a canteen, right?”

“A canteen? Maybe we can get snacks or drinks?” Eranya’s ears perked up.

Despite being an elf, her interest in something so ordinary seemed oddly out of place.

“Does Cadet Eranya, as an elf, even eat snacks like that?” Astrid asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course! They’re delicious,” Eranya said with a grin as she brushed her windswept green hair back into place.

Her pure, unclouded smile was so innocent that it almost seemed unnatural.

“Well then, whoever wants to visit the canteen can go ahead. I’ll be resting near the training ground.”

“I’ll head there too,” Astein said, stepping forward.

Leopold and Eranya seemed eager to check out the canteen, while Astrid and Astein decided to rest near the training ground.

“Alright, see you back at the dorms later. Let’s meet up before dinner and eat together,” Astrid said.

“Yes, ma’am! Understood, Squad Leader!” Eranya playfully saluted, her posture sloppy. Then, she waved as she walked off with Leopold, the two chatting animatedly.

That left only Astrid and Astein.

“Well then, Cadet Astein. I’ll see you later,” Astrid said with a slight nod.

Since the Knight Studies and Magic Studies training halls were in opposite directions, they parted ways.

Astein stayed in place, quietly watching Astrid’s back as she walked away.

Her figure gradually shrank into the distance.

His perpetually closed eyes slowly opened, revealing his sharp gaze. His pupils locked onto Astrid’s retreating form.

“You’ve grown well, Astrid. Yes, you’ve grown splendidly… so very… very well,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.