The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 45. Doubt and Affection (3)

This is the way of nobles.

Even after dinner has ended and there’s no real reason to remain together, they linger. They drink tea or nibble on light refreshments. 

They repeat conversations that feel oddly familiar, answering questions they’ve already heard. It’s a performance—killing time until it’s barely acceptable to excuse oneself.

Only after enduring this dance to its absolute limit, when the risk of being rude becomes undeniable, do they finally rise from their seats.

“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“You’re welcome to stay the night.”

Astrid stood up as Leopold rose from his seat. The sound of her silk dress brushing against the floor accompanied her movement.

Leopold’s gaze lingered briefly on her. More specifically, his eyes focused on her neatly clasped hands. 

White. Her long, pale fingers were tightly clenched into fists. For some reason, the sight of it made his left cheek throb as if it had been struck.

Unconsciously, he lifted his hand to touch his cheek.

“Your Highness, is something wrong? Are you considering staying the night after all?”

“No, no. One should sleep at home.”

“What’s with the sudden change in attitude?” Astrid muttered internally.

【He’s just worried about you, that’s all.】

“Worried? Please.”

Leopold approached the reception hall’s door, which silently opened from the outside. The servants, who’d been waiting in the hallway, pulled the door open without a sound. 

As Leopold passed through, he walked down the grand staircase that descended from the second floor to the central hall of the Miterien residence. 

Step by step, he made his way toward the entrance.

“Then, Your Highness, please take care on your way back. Our elder sister will escort you as far as the garden gate.”

“Very well, Ashray. It was good to see you today.”

“I’m glad we had the chance to meet, too, Your Highness.”

With a hearty laugh, Ashray gave a deep bow. Leopold waited for Ashray to straighten up before extending his hand toward him.

“Next year, we’ll see each other at the academy—as senior and junior.”

“Indeed, I’ll be counting on you. And in the meantime, please take care of our mischievous elder sister while she’s with you.”

“Of course, I’ll do that.”

There was no hesitation in his words. Nobody knew that he and Astrid were both looking for reasons to break off their engagement. 

No one knew of their agreement to help each other find more suitable partners. And Leopold wasn’t foolish enough to bring up such matters in this setting.

“Shall we go, Astrid?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The massive front doors of the residence swung open.

A full moon hung high in the night sky. The garden before them was vast, even larger than the residence itself. 

A wide stone path cut through the center of the garden, flanked by carefully manicured topiary trees sculpted into various shapes.

The fountains, which had spouted water all day, were silent for the night. Stone statues of koi fish, exhausted from their daytime display, now rested quietly.

The two of them walked side by side down the gravel path. No words were exchanged between them. 

It was a five-minute walk from the residence’s entrance to the front gates where the carriage awaited. Not a long distance, but not so short that the silence didn’t feel awkward.

“Astie,” Leopold called out.

“Yes?”

Not “Astrid,” but “Astie.”

The sudden shift in how he addressed her startled Astrid. Until now, he’d only called her “Astrid.” She’d known for some time that “Astie” was her nickname, but to hear it from Leopold of all people—someone so far removed from using such familiar terms—was a surprise.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

“I’m not sure. I was asleep the whole time, so I wouldn’t know.”

“That’s true. It’s a foolish question. Let me rephrase it, then.”

Their steps slowed to a halt.

Leopold tilted his head back slightly to look at the sky. The full moon hung in the night sky, a streak of dark cloud lazily stretched across it. The night was calm, with not even a breeze to move the clouds.

“Astie. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve called you that, but right now, calling you ‘Astie’ feels right.”

“Please call me whatever you like, Your Highness.”

It was her name, after all.

【His Highness… used my childhood name…】

“That’s a childhood name, not a nickname?” Astrid asked.

【Same thing.”】

“No, it’s not the same,” Astrid retorted.

“Does it bother you when I call you Astie? Your face just turned sour.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. Please call me whatever you’d like.”

“Alright.”

A faint breeze blew between them. The dry rustle of fallen leaves echoed along the garden’s stone path as they rolled with the wind.

“About last night,” Leopold said suddenly.

“…”

Last night.

It could only mean that incident—the one where she’d acted foolishly while drunk.

“I ended up seeing your face up close.”

“Is that so.”

She remembered it clearly now. Unlike before, the memory was sharp. She’d wrapped her arms around Leopold’s neck and pulled him close with all her strength. It was a scene she could no longer deny.

“Because of that, I feel I need to correct something.”

“Correct what, exactly?”

“Back at the Academy, there was a moment when I saw your face up close, just like last night. Do you remember?”

He was referring to that moment when Akemilla had caught them.

They’d been sitting side-by-side on a bench behind the Academy dormitory, facing each other. They’d both admitted that even when looking at each other’s faces, their hearts didn’t race. It was a moment where they’d each driven a knife into the other’s heart with their blunt honesty.

“I remember it well.”

“Back then, I didn’t feel even the slightest flutter in my heart for you. In other words, I felt no romantic attraction or interest toward you at all.”

【That’s impossible!】

“Please be quiet!”

Leopold had no way of knowing about the turmoil in Astrid’s mind. He continued speaking slowly, as if savoring each word.

“Seriously, be quiet. I can’t hear him!”

【…】

The voice went silent. Relieved by the sudden peace in her head, Astrid turned her gaze to Leopold.

Leopold’s eyes were fixed on her, just as before.

“But last night, when I saw you up close like that… you were truly beautiful.”

【Of course, that’s only natural!】

“Hey!”

“My heart pounded.”

“Ah.”

Astrid’s mouth fell open slightly. A small, involuntary sigh escaped her lips. This wasn’t good. This was definitely not good. They’d agreed—both of them—that falling for each other was off-limits. His heart wasn’t supposed to flutter for her.

“It’s strange. I’ve seen your face up close before, but last night, for some reason, seeing your sleeping face made my heart race.”

“I-I see.”

“I don’t understand it myself, but…”

This is bad, Astrid thought. This is really, really bad. If this continues, things will get out of hand. Yet, for some reason, even her own heart was beating a little faster. Why? Why was this happening?

“I…”

【But didn’t we agree to stay on track with our plan—wait, huh?”】

Suddenly, her vision shifted. It was like watching a TV channel change, an abrupt switch in perspective. It felt so unnatural, like watching the scene through a television screen.

“Your Highness.”

Her voice was cold, sharp as frost. It swept through the garden’s still air like a blade of ice.

【Wha-what are you doing?! And how did you take control?!】

“Shh. This is when I show him my best face.”

The “real” Astrid’s voice, unusually giddy, echoed in her mind.

It’s over, Astrid thought. It’s all over.

If the “real” Astrid says just one wrong thing—like, “I’ll try harder, so let’s stay engaged”—then it’s over. Leopold would absolutely accept that proposal.

That can’t happen. That’s not part of the plan. The whole plan to return to her original world would fall apart.

“Astie, what is this feeling?”

“I’m not sure, Your Highness. But I’m certain of one thing.”

“Certain? And what would that be?”

Astrid’s voice was as sharp and cold as frost.

The “fake” Astrid’s voice and demeanor were typically soft and gentle, but this was different. This was the “real” Astrid, and she was nothing like the other version.

【Hey! I didn’t agree to this! Why did you suddenly take over?!】

“Quiet.”

“Your Highness, are you still unsure of your own feelings?”

“What’s that supposed to mean, Astrid?”

The softness in Leopold’s eyes, the look of a man slowly falling in love, began to sharpen.

“You said you’re certain of something. Weren’t you referring to my feelings?”

His use of “Astrid” instead of “Astie” marked a subtle shift. The tender mood from moments before was gone, replaced with an edge of seriousness.

Now would be the time to backtrack or de-escalate the situation, but the “real” Astrid had no intention of doing that.

She gazed at Leopold with unwavering eyes, her posture steady and unyielding.

Her voice was firm and absolute, as if she were simply stating the obvious.

“If even you do not understand your own feelings, how could I possibly know them? Shouldn’t a man face his emotions head-on and act accordingly?”

【What on earth are you talking about?!】

“It’s obviously love! He’s going to propose to me now!”

【You idiot!】

“…Hm.”

【It’s over. We’re done for.”】

Honestly, everything was ruined. If she’d just told him, “I’ll try harder, so let’s stay engaged,” it might have solved everything. 

But now, Astrid had essentially called Leopold a fool who didn’t understand his own feelings.

Whether she’d done it intentionally or not didn’t matter. From Leopold’s perspective, she’d insulted him. And insulted nobles had every right to be angry.

At that moment, Astrid finally understood why the “real” Astrid, despite her passionate affection for Leopold, could never get closer to him.

“You’re definitely strange, Astrid,” Leopold said at last. “It’s almost as if… you’ve gone back to how you used to be.”

He gazed at her for a long moment, then turned his back to her.

His voice, firm and resolute, echoed over his shoulder.

“I’ll see you at the Academy.”

It was a clear dismissal. He wouldn’t be visiting until they both returned to the Academy.

Without so much as a backward glance, Leopold strode through the garden. He stepped into the waiting carriage, leaving Astrid behind.

Astrid watched in stunned silence, standing alone in the center of the garden.

She couldn’t hold it in any longer.

【…Are you brainless or something?】

“What?! What did I do wrong?! I was just following the methods the knights taught me! The techniques they said would definitely work!”

Astrid’s heart settled.

She still didn’t know how the “real” Astrid had suddenly taken control, but she did know one thing for certain:

Even if the “real” Astrid took over again, there was no chance she’d successfully win Leopold’s heart.