The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 32: The Ball (2)

“I-I’m sorry…!”

The cold texture of the wall pressed against her back.

With nowhere left to retreat, Eranya felt a chill run down her spine, a clear, distinct sensation of fear. There was no mistaking it — she couldn’t run away from the white beast in front of her.

“…You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

The beautiful white beast, who looked like she’d completely lost her sanity, bared her teeth, as if she might sink them into Eranya’s neck at any moment.

Her face was still burning, whether from anger or embarrassment. Either way, she looked furious.

Eranya felt as though she could see heat waves rising around Astrid. It was as if she was witnessing her last moments on earth, and her survival instincts kicked in. 

She shook her head frantically, her neck moving with the urgency of someone about to be executed.

“N-No! It’s not like that, really!”

After Leopold had closed the door earlier, Eranya had entered moments later with a bright smile. But it hadn’t taken long for that smile to disappear.

“Explain it to me. Why did you do it? I wore the dress just like you told me to. I did exactly as you said, but why would you do this to me?”

“I-It’s because… it’s frustrating! That’s right, it’s because it was frustrating!”

“What exactly was so frustrating for you?”

Astrid’s clenched fists trembled with barely contained rage, and Eranya’s survival instincts flared. 

If she answered incorrectly, she might really die. It wasn’t beyond Astrid’s strength to separate Eranya’s head from her body.

“I-I just wanted things to go well with Leopold! I thought if you wore that dress, Leopold would lose control and come running to you!”

“…And what’s so special about this dress?”

Only then did Astrid look down at the outfit she was wearing. Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned, and she shot Eranya a sharp glare.

“You said this was the latest trend from the capital. That was a lie, wasn’t it? Of course, it was a lie. It had to be.”

If a dress like this was actually trending, that country was doomed. Why had she even believed such nonsense?

“It’s a lie, right? This dress isn’t a trend in the capital, is it?”

“W-Well, it’s more like… an ‘event’ dress… you know, like something people wear on their wedding night to seduce their spouse…”

“…Why would you make me wear something like that?”

Why was she asking such an obvious question? Eranya couldn’t understand it. Wasn’t it obvious?

“So you’d get closer to Leopold, of course! And now that I’m thinking about it, it’s kind of annoying. Hey, Astrid.”

Eranya’s frustration finally boiled over.

Until a moment ago, she’d been cowering before Astrid’s fury. 

But now, to Eranya, Astrid seemed like an ungrateful wretch who didn’t appreciate her efforts.

“So what, do you hate Leopold? Is that it? Answer me, Astrid. I’ve gone out of my way to help you make things official with him, and instead of being grateful, you’re threatening me?”

“N-No, it’s not like that, sister!”

At this point, the tables had turned.

Astrid, who had seemed ready to tear Eranya apart, now found herself backing down in the face of Eranya’s onslaught.

“I’ve lived longer than you, Astrid. You keep letting Akemilla get the upper hand, so I stepped in and gave you an edge. But instead of thanking me, you’re acting like this? Did Wolfgang raise you to be this ungrateful?!”

“S-Sister, no, that’s not it…”

“Say it! Say ‘thank you for the feast’ and ‘I’m sorry for being ungrateful’ right now!”

“What?!”

Astrid’s face was one of utter disbelief.

She was the one who’d been humiliated to death, yet somehow, she was the one being forced to apologize. The situation made no sense.

“Think about it, Astrid. What will you do if Leopold ends up falling for Akemilla? Huh? Will you cry and beg me for help then?”

“W-What are you even saying right now…?”

“You’re welcome to prevent that from happening! Isn’t that something you should be thanking me for?!”

Her sheer force of will was overwhelming.

Eranya’s intensity was enough to make Astrid’s anger waver, and her logic began to feel oddly persuasive.

“Say ‘thank you’ already!”

It was strange.

It didn’t make sense. But somehow, Eranya’s words sounded convincing.

Leopold falling for Akemilla? She didn’t want that.

If that’s the case, then maybe this outcome wasn’t so bad after all? Since it lowered the chances of that happening? And wasn’t that thanks to Eranya’s efforts?

That logic seemed… right.

“T-Thank you, sister…”

Even though it felt off, Astrid thanked her anyway.

“What did you see in there?”

Even after hurrying back to his room, Leopold’s heart was still pounding. He leaned against the closed door, taking deep breaths.

‘Why did I close the door?’

Now that he thought about it, it was odd.

Instinctively, he’d closed it, but he wasn’t sure why.

Did what he see look bad?

No. If anything, it looked… very good. So good he wanted to keep looking.

Maybe that’s why. He wanted to keep looking.

“Leopold?”

“A-Astein…”

That had been a close call.

If Eranya hadn’t stopped him, Astein would’ve followed and seen everything.

‘No. Absolutely not. No way. Not a chance.’

“It’s nothing. Astrid just wanted to talk for a moment…”

“Then why did you come back so fast?”

“I just… I’m done now.”

Annoyed at Astein’s persistence, Leopold waved his hand dismissively and went into the washroom.

He turned on the cold water and splashed it on his face several times.

His face felt hot. Looking in the mirror, he saw his cheeks were flushed red.

Every time he closed his eyes, the image of Astrid’s figure flickered in his mind. No amount of cold water could erase it.

Her ample chest, her slender waist, the slight bulge of her stomach as she tugged at her dress to cover herself, and that small glimpse of…

“…Ugh.”

A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

His face was too hot.

“I’m never wearing it again. Never.”

“I’m not telling you to wear it.”

Astrid had been on the verge of tearing apart the so-called “dress” that wasn’t even a proper dress. 

But remembering that it didn’t actually belong to her and that Eranya had at least chosen it with good intentions, she neatly folded it and stored it away in a drawer.

And so, the long-awaited day of the ball arrived.

Although the dress code was free, there were instructions to refrain from wearing excessively luxurious dresses. 

Not all the cadets were nobles, and not everyone came from wealthy families. It was a measure to avoid creating feelings of discomfort or inequality. Eranya grumbled about it, but for Astrid, it was a welcome relief.

“I heard you and Leopold are dancing the first and last dance together today.”

The opening and closing dances of the ball were to be performed by Leopold and Astrid, which was exactly what was weighing on her mind.

‘How do you even dance?’

She’d never danced before.

Astrid, the “original” one, would have had no trouble. 

After all, she’d learned for 20 years. But the current Astrid wasn’t the same person. The body remained, but the mind was different.

She knew nothing about dancing. She’d seen dances in books and stories, but this was different. 

It was a formal ball, and she’d be dancing as part of a pair with Leopold. She had no idea how to handle that.

‘Should I have just let Akemilla take this?’

She was seriously considering it.

As Leopold’s fiancée, failing to perform a basic noble’s dance would be a major embarrassment.

If she messed up in front of everyone, it wouldn’t just be her who’d be humiliated. Her father, Wolfgang, would be shamed. 

It would tarnish the honor of the Miterien family. Worst of all, it could disgrace the Einthafen royal family, who had accepted her as Leopold’s future bride.

But it’s not as if she’d been idle.

She’d practiced diligently. She’d borrowed etiquette books from the library and studied the basic steps. She’d even tried practicing them alone in her room.

Still, there’s only so much you can learn on your own without a partner or music.

‘Ugh… my stomach hurts.’

Her nerves were eating away at her.

Time moved swiftly, and before she knew it, the sun had set behind the hills. The ball, which was scheduled to begin at dusk, was about to start. 

Each pair of cadets entered side by side, and naturally, Leopold and Astrid were paired together.

Knock, knock.

“Cadet Astrid, it’s time to go.”

The knock on her door was accompanied by a voice from outside. It seemed Leopold had arrived.

Astrid took a deep breath, adjusted the hem of her dress, and stepped outside.

“…Let’s go.”

Leopold’s eyes widened briefly, but he quickly composed himself and gestured for her to follow.

She wore an amber-colored, one-piece gown. The skirt was long, flowing with fine pleats, and her bare shoulders were framed by matching silk gloves. 

Her face had been delicately done up by Eranya, and the light blush on her cheeks gave her a soft, radiant glow.

“Let’s go, Cadet Leopold.”

The ballroom was set up in the same hall where the entrance ceremony had been held. While it wasn’t exactly lavish, it was large enough to accommodate the event and the accompanying banquet. Among the buildings at the academy, only the auditorium had enough space.

“Presenting Cadet Astrid von Miterien and Cadet Leopold von Einthafen!”

As they entered, the announcer called out their names loudly. It was more ceremonial than practical, but with their names being what they were, every head in the room turned toward them.

Speaking aloud to greet others at a ball was considered impolite.

Instead, everyone was already seated in their assigned places. Guests would approach each other quietly, exchange light greetings, and chat in a subdued manner. Such was the etiquette of social gatherings.

As a result, there was no uproar when Astrid and Leopold entered. Here, they weren’t a duke’s daughter or a crown prince—just cadets among cadets.

“Attention, cadets of the Royal Military Academy.”

Standing on the podium, Ortega’s voice echoed powerfully throughout the grand hall, his words reverberating against the walls.

“You have endured grueling training. Tomorrow, you will complete the graduation ceremony and officially become apprentice knights of the Royal Military Academy.”

All the cadets stood at attention, listening to the headmaster’s address. Ortega’s gaze swept over them, taking note of their upright postures and firm expressions. Satisfied, he nodded.

“That’s enough for now. The rest of my message will come tomorrow. Tonight, eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves. And to open the ball, I called forward Leopold von Einthafen and Astrid von Miterien.”

“Come on, Astrid.”

Leopold held out his hand, and Astrid placed her fingertips lightly on his palm, allowing him to escort her to the center of the ballroom.

‘It’s finally happening…’

Her mind was blank. She’d practiced, but at this moment, nothing came to mind. The only dances she’d even heard of were the waltz and the minuet, but she didn’t know the steps for either of them.

Somehow, she’d reached the center of the ballroom with Leopold.

All eyes were on them. She tensed as Leopold’s hands guided her.

“Oof.”

She stepped on his foot.

“Are you feeling unwell, Astrid?”

“N-No, I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine…”

Hearing his concerned voice, Astrid forced herself to focus. She tried to recall her practice sessions. 

How were her hands supposed to move? How did her feet need to step? Then, she felt it—Leopold’s hand on her waist. 

The heat from his palm seeped through her dress, sending a faint warmth through her skin.

“I’ll lead. Relax, Astrid.”

“Y-Yes…”

Music began to play. Leopold’s knee lightly tapped against hers.

“Half-step forward.”

She took a small, measured step forward, following his cue. His hand left her waist to briefly tug at the back of her dress, guiding her.

“Turn twice and come back.”

Her body spun away from him, two quick turns, before she found herself drawn back into his arms.

“Step back.”

His foot tapped hers lightly, and she followed.

“Good. That’s how you follow my signals.”

His soft words filled her ears, filling the blank void in her mind.

His gentle guidance, his firm but caring voice, and his precise touches led her in the dance. Slowly but surely, Astrid’s body moved with his.

Then, she heard it.

【Relax your body.】

It was a woman’s voice, soft but firm, echoing in her mind.