The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Episode 83. As Long As We Don’t Get Caught (1)

Astein wasn’t pleased with the way things were unfolding. While everything seemed to be going according to plan, plans always had a way of falling apart due to unforeseen variables.

The blessings of the stars were said to number twelve in total. This much was known. 

However, the twelfth blessing’s nature and effects remained a complete mystery. 

The other eleven, on the other hand, were well-documented and widely understood.

Astein had dedicated his entire life to researching these star blessings.

The blessings of the stars.

What an elegant and poetic phrase.

Even the name sounded beautiful, resonating like music.

The blessings were said to bestow extraordinary power on their bearers—strength far beyond human limitations.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Astein’s entire existence revolved around the blessings. He was utterly captivated by them.

Some people were born with a star’s blessing, while others acquired one through chance encounters later in life.

A universal rule governed the blessings: a person could have only one. No one in recorded history had ever possessed more than one at a time.

“Astrid…”

Astein had first met Astrid when he served as her tutor during her childhood. Watching her back then had driven home how unfair the world could be.

It wasn’t a matter of the petty inequalities between nobles and commoners. No, this was something far greater.

The star blessings he had yearned for, searched for, and devoted himself to for so many years had completely eluded him.

Yet Astrid—this dim-witted girl—possessed not one, but two. And not just any blessings, but Divine Power and Divine Arms, the most suitable blessings for a warrior.

It was incomprehensible.

Completely unacceptable.

If even a single lesser blessing—like Divine Spirit or Divine Wisdom—had been bestowed upon him, Astein might not have felt so bitter.

But no. The blessings had spurned him entirely, and instead adorned Astrid with their power.

So, Astein made a decision.

If he couldn’t have them, he would take them.

“Is the plan progressing smoothly?”

“It’s going well enough.”

Veracien hummed a cheerful tune as she sat across from Astein, idly squishing the small, black, blob-like demon in her hands. Her mood seemed irrepressibly good.

“You seem to be in high spirits.”

“Of course! Soon, this academy might turn into a mating village, you know.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

Astein frowned. Veracien occasionally came out with absurd remarks like this. A mating village? The academy strictly prohibited personal relationships, especially romantic ones.

In principle, romantic entanglements were banned here. The idea of a mating village was absurd.

“As long as you don’t get caught, it’s fine.”

“What?”

Veracien stopped squishing the demon and raised a finger to her lips, leaning forward with a mock-serious expression.

“If you don’t get caught, it’s not a violation.”

“….”

“Understand?”

“…If you say so.”

Realizing there was no point in arguing, Astein shook his head.

“By the way, take this.”

Veracien pulled a letter from her coat and handed it to Astein, though her expression suggested she wasn’t thrilled about it.

“This is from that girl. Do we really have to go this far?”

“What are you referring to?”

Astein examined the seal. The emblem was familiar—the crest of the Miterien Ducal Family.

“It’s the Miterien crest. It seems you acquired it properly. It’ll be useful, so what’s the problem?”

Muttering internally that this was far more useful than Veracien herself, Astein used a letter knife to open the seal.

The letter’s journey into Astein’s hands hadn’t been complicated. While Ashray was dining at a restaurant affiliated with the Uraid Merchant Guild, someone had stolen the letter from his belongings during a brief moment of inattention.

The thief was, of course, one of the guild’s informants.

The stolen letter had then been passed to Akemilla, who eventually delivered it to Astein.

“In any case, since we’ve formed an alliance, I’m doing my part. Now, let’s see what it says.”

Astein began reading the letter slowly, his expression brightening with every word. His narrow eyes glinted with barely contained joy.

“What does it say? What’s written there?”

“Nothing of concern.”

As soon as Astein finished reading, flames erupted from his fingertips, incinerating the letter. He didn’t even chant a spell—the magic sprang forth instantly, leaving no trace of the letter behind.

“By the way, now I’m curious. You mentioned a ‘mating village.’ Is there more going on beyond the Crown Prince and that simpleton—uh, Astrid?”

“There is. That kid—Astrid’s brother, or something like that.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

When Astein had been a tutor for the Miterien family, Astrid had been the only child. 

If she had a brother now, it meant either the Duke had remarried or adopted a child. 

Since Astein hadn’t heard of a remarriage, the latter seemed more likely.

“Anyway, it’s him and that Southern dark-skinned girl.”

“You mean Cadet Violet. Isn’t it a bit harsh to call her that?”

“Her skin’s dark; what do you want me to call her? Anyway, those two seem to have a thing going on.”

Astein felt irritated. Was this academy a place for education or a matchmaking ground? Both siblings seemed to be causing unnecessary drama, and it grated on him.

“By the way, Astein.”

A strange squish sound accompanied the blob-like demon being flattened under Veracien’s elbow.

“That Akemilla girl—does she have any actual use? She keeps saying things like wanting to control Einthafen’s distribution networks. Is that even possible?”

“It’s not likely. Do you think the Emperor would just sit back and watch?”

Astein chuckled, scratching the bridge of his nose.

“Then why promise her that?”

“Why not? I only promised control over the distribution network. Whether it’s for a full empire or a region reduced to 1/100th of its size, as long as I fulfill that promise, I’ve kept my word.”

“Hah… I guess I’d better take another look at the contracts.”

Veracien shook her head.

“What contracts are you talking about?”

Astein directed his squinting, laughter-filled gaze at Veracien. She glanced at him briefly before turning her attention back to the squishy blob-like demon, pressing its belly absentmindedly, as though uninterested.

“The contract I signed with you. I need to take another look at it and see if there are any sneaky clauses I might’ve overlooked.”

“A tower?”

“Yes.”

“A tower, huh…”

‘Do you have any guesses?’

【I don’t really know about towers. I’ve never been interested in that sort of thing.】

If Astrid didn’t know, it likely wasn’t a pre-existing tower.

Listening to Ashray’s detailed explanation of why he had come here, Astrid couldn’t help but find it peculiar.

A tower that had suddenly appeared—and was still growing? It raised too many questions. A tower wasn’t a living thing, after all. 

It could’ve been expanded through construction, but the surrounding conditions didn’t support that idea. 

Even if it were the work of barbarians, the area’s environment made such large-scale construction improbable.

“If you were there, Sister, we’d have hurled a boulder at it already. But since you can’t come, Father seems to be thinking of turning to magic instead.”

“Well, that might work. Magic can be useful when applied properly.”

Ashray didn’t reply. Though Astrid had spoken nonchalantly, his silence felt odd enough to make her turn and look at him.

“What’s wrong? It’s true that magic can be useful sometimes.”

“It’s just… I was wondering if you’re really the same sister who once gave a whole lecture about how only petty people use magic. Wow, love really does work wonders, doesn’t it?”

“Wha-what?!”

Astrid visibly flinched. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what Ashray was implying—it was precisely because she understood that she was even more flustered.

“Since His Highness is a Magic Knight, I suppose your views on magic have changed. Love truly is amazing.”

“Hey! Hey! Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Well, good for you, isn’t it? Wow, I’m jealous. I wonder when spring will come for me?”

“Spring came for you too, didn’t it?!”

Astrid realized she needed to change her plans. At that very moment, she resolved to cooperate fully with Violet.