The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 7: Astrid Decides to Form an Alliance

The most reliable way to ensure the Crown Prince’s safety was to use a carriage that clearly displayed his affiliation with the Imperial Family.

Not just any empire’s emblem, but the grandiose carriage bearing the flag of Einthafen, which had conquered all but the northern region. Who would dare attack such a carriage?

Moreover, the carriage was escorted by the Silver Guard, ranked just below the Royal Guard, along with a detachment from the Grand Draconic Squadron.

This arrangement was, in essence, the most secure way to protect the Crown Prince’s safety.

On top of that, since Astrid von Miterien, who was almost certain to become the Crown Princess, had to accompany him back to the capital, even more stringent security measures were required.

“Uncle, then I’ll be on my way.”

“Alright, Leopold. Take good care of Astrid.”

“…Yes.”

A crisp response did not come.

Leopold left only a lukewarm reply, gave a light nod of his head, and boarded the carriage.

Normally, he would help Astrid board first and then get on himself. However, those familiar with the current relationship between Leopold and Astrid merely sighed inwardly and refrained from making any comments.

Astrid had no thoughts about it either.

In fact, she would have rejected him if Leopold had offered to escort her.

As she quietly watched the attendants load the travel bags into the luggage carriage, Astrid suddenly turned away.

‘There’s no turning back now. It’s inevitable. The die… has been cast!’

The morning of the departure for the academy had arrived.

Two days after receiving a letter that read “I’ll come to pick you up,” though its underlying meaning seemed closer to “I’ll come to kill you,” the Crown Prince had arrived. And today, the day after his arrival, it was time to set off.

They had to leave today to arrive at the Miterien family’s residence in the capital within a week, unpack, get some rest, and then prepare for the academy’s entrance ceremony the following week.

Since it was quite a grueling schedule, they needed to move quickly.

“Then, Father.”

Everyone from the estate had gathered to see off Astrid, the family’s young mistress. Wolfgang, clad in a cloak lined with polar bear fur, stepped forward a few paces.

“I’ll be off. Please stay healthy. I’ll return during the break.”

“Astie.”

Without answering Astrid’s words, Wolfgang reached out and firmly grasped her shoulders.

Though he gripped her with considerable strength, Astrid did not show any sign of pain.

Wolfgang’s tightly pressed lips moved a few times as if he was about to speak but then stopped. He repeated this several times until finally—

“Astie.”

He simply called his daughter’s name quietly.

Once she was sent to the capital, he wouldn’t be able to see her for several months.

Since parents were not allowed to attend the entrance ceremony, this would be their farewell until at least three more months had passed.

“Even if it’s hard, endure it.”

Wouldn’t most parents say, “If it’s hard, come back”?

As Astrid questioned this to herself, Wolfgang lightly patted her on the shoulders.

“If you make friends, don’t bully them. And don’t hit them. If you hit them, it’ll be a big problem. Got it? Just scare them a little instead.”

“Father, isn’t it normal for parents to worry about their children being bullied instead?”

At that remark, Wolfgang’s face displayed genuine surprise.

It was enough to make Astrid wonder if she’d said something she shouldn’t have.

“Being bullied? You? Astie, you’re saying that you might be bullied?”

‘What on earth was my original self’s image like?’

Feeling resentful toward the now-vanished original Astrid’s personality, Astrid obediently nodded.

“Then, I’ll be off.”

“Alright, go on.”

“Ashray, I’ll be back.”

“Yes! Sister, I’ll go next year, too!”

Standing behind Wolfgang, Ashray stepped forward and waved his hand vigorously.

He looked so much like a black bear that Astrid couldn’t help but smile softly.

“Get on quickly. We have to leave.”

The bittersweet moment of parting with family was shattered by Leopold’s single comment.

“You certainly have a knack for ruining the mood. Can’t you even wait for a proper farewell between father and daughter?”

With Ashray’s escort, Astrid boarded the carriage. As soon as she sat down, the attendant closed the carriage door.

Through the window, Wolfgang’s figure waving his hand and Ashray’s wild swinging of his entire arm grew smaller and smaller as the carriage slowly began to move.

* * *

“Don’t misunderstand.”

It had not been long since they’d started moving.

Leopold, who had been staring sullenly out the window, suddenly spoke. His words made Astrid, who had also been gazing out the opposite window, turn to look at him.

“What misunderstanding do you mean, Your Highness?”

“I didn’t write you a letter and come to fetch you because I wanted to.”

“I know. His Majesty ordered you to do it, and you obeyed reluctantly, didn’t you? Spoiled Crown Prince.”

“You…!”

Leopold’s golden eyebrows furrowed with all his might before he let out a low sigh, returning his face to its usual state. But the crease on his brow remained, clearly showing his discomfort.

“Astrid.”

“Yes.”

“Astrid von Miterien.”

“I’m listening. Please, go ahead, Your Highness.”

Astrid’s mood, too, was starting to sour.

There was still one week left. The thought of enduring this uncomfortable situation for an entire week weighed heavily on Astrid’s mind.

“You probably think you have everything, don’t you? Wealth, honor, family, power. But—”

“You’re wrong.”

She dared to cut off the Crown Prince’s words mid-sentence.

Leopold barely suppressed the surge of irritation that flared up within him. More than anger, he was curious about what exactly she thought was incorrect.

“What am I wrong about?”

“You forgot to include beauty.”

He was dumbfounded.

Astrid’s face was calm, as if she had merely stated an undeniable fact.

“You…! Ah, forget it. Fine. I’ll correct myself. Wealth, honor, family, power, and beauty. You’ve probably convinced yourself that you have them all.”

“And?”

The air inside the carriage had already turned icy cold.

Unlike Leopold, whose golden hair and naturally friendly-looking face gave him a pleasant appearance, Astrid’s cool and composed expression made her seem as sharp and cold as frost.

“But there’s one thing you’ll never have.”

“And what is that?”

Leopold clenched his hand into a fist, extending only his thumb to point at his chest.

“Me. You’ll never have me. Understand?”

‘As if I’d ever want you.’

She almost said it aloud.

Regardless, he was still the Crown Prince. While she could get away with most impudence, those words would certainly cross a line.

Astrid bit down on the words, keeping them in her throat as she took a deep breath.

“Your Highness, I’ll return those words to you just as they are. In fact, you’re even worse off. Your martial prowess is definitely below mine, so that’s one less point for you. But as for wealth, honor, family, and appearance… Yes, I’m sure you have all of those. Even so, there’s one thing you’ll never have.”

Yes, the same goes for you, too.

You yellow-haired fool.

“That would be the heart of Astrid von Miterien. Do you understand?”

“What nonsense…! Whatever. It’s mutual, then. Four years. We’ve got four years. I’ll use that time to expose every flaw you have and break off this engagement. The fact that you’re even following me to the academy shows your obsession, but I’ll make it clear that I have no intention of marrying you. Got it?!”

Astrid’s eyes widened.

Her eyes, filled with surprise, confusion, and disbelief, made Leopold feel more triumphant than he’d ever felt before.

Astrid’s lips moved as if to say something.

“…Can’t we do it now? The annulment.”

Her eyes burned with passion.

At this moment, her mind was filled with only one desire—to break off her engagement with Leopold. Any worries about possibly being married off to Ashray instead had completely vanished.

* * *

“I have no desire whatsoever to marry Your Highness. Do you understand?”

“The feeling is mutual. Well, this works out nicely. I never expected to find common ground with you of all people, but it’s a pleasant surprise.”

The frigid atmosphere that had filled the carriage was gone. In its place, an unexpectedly amicable mood had formed between Astrid and Leopold.

“But just saying we don’t want to get married isn’t enough to call off the engagement.”

“That’s true. The best way would be to find a more suitable partner for each of us.”

“Exactly.”

The promise made between their fathers had been solid. A promise made without the children’s consent, it would require a substantial reason to break.

For Leopold, it would mean finding a noblewoman more suited to the role of empress and mother of the empire’s citizens than Astrid.

For Astrid, it would mean finding a nobleman more capable of advancing the future of the Miterien family—and perhaps even the glory of Einthafen—than Leopold.

If they succeeded, they could annul the engagement and each find a new spouse. This was the conclusion the two of them reached.

Of course, whether they could find such individuals was another matter.

But since the academy was a gathering place for the empire’s young nobles, surely, there had to be someone.

To increase their chances, they decided to actively help each other find suitable marriage candidates.

Thus, within the confines of the carriage on the way to the academy, they secretly formed a pact—a secret agreement unbeknownst to their fathers.

“…That being said, don’t expect my treatment of you to change in the slightest, Astrid.”

“Your Highness, I’d say the same to you. And given that our majors are bound to differ, it’s inevitable that we’ll live separate lives. Unless, of course, you suddenly develop a hint of manliness.”

“Are you mocking swordsmanship?!”

“If running away and winning with a single strike isn’t considered unmanly, then I’d love to know what is.”

“Did you just…! Did you just say everything you wanted to say?!”