The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 56: That B**** Again (2)

The sun had long since set behind the western mountains, and darkness had fully descended upon the academy.

“Cadet Leopold, are you there?”

The knock came suddenly. Leopold, who had just gathered some undergarments to take a bath before joining his squad for a gathering, went to open the door.

“Instructor?”

“Good timing. Cadet Leopold, could you accompany me to the instructor’s office for a moment?”

“Of course, no problem.”

Leopold whispered to Astein to start without him and followed the instructor out.

The hallway leading to the staircase was bustling with life as cadets celebrated their Friday evening freedom with lively chatter. 

Although Leopold wasn’t sure what this was about, he silently trailed behind the instructor.

Down the stairs, a right turn, and they arrived at the instructor’s office. Inside, several instructors who hadn’t yet clocked out were still immersed in their work. 

Most barely spared Leopold a glance, though a few nodded stiffly in acknowledgment, their expressions tense.

“This way, please.”

The instructor led him into the consultation room. Despite being a smaller space attached to the main office, it was equipped with soundproofing materials and magical protections, ensuring complete privacy.

“Have a seat. Would you like some tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Leopold declined politely, not wanting to spoil his appetite before the evening gathering. The instructor, seeing no need to insist, also refrained from preparing tea and sat across from Leopold on the sofa.

“First, let me make it clear—this conversation isn’t between an instructor and a cadet. From this point on.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

Leopold barely had time to process the instructor’s words before the man removed his hat, knelt on one knee, and bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

It was only then that Leopold understood. This wasn’t a mere interaction between an academy instructor and a cadet. 

This was a meeting between the staff of an imperial institution and Leopold, the Crown Prince of the Empire.

“Rise. Sit down and explain everything from the beginning.”

At Leopold’s command, the instructor straightened and returned to the sofa, though his stiff posture revealed his lingering discomfort.

“Do you remember Hellveig?”

“Hellveig… Do you mean that creature?”

The instructor seemed to be referring to the monster that had appeared unexpectedly during the outdoor training at the end of the previous week. Its name was Hellveig.

Despite being a creature that shouldn’t have appeared in that area, it had. Following the incident, the Emperor had ordered the instructors to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Recently, we found evidence that the creature had been artificially summoned.”

“Artificially summoned? What sort of evidence?”

“A reversed pentagram was discovered.”

“A summoning circle…? Isn’t that forbidden magic?”

Summoning magic capable of calling forth creatures like Hellveig was strictly prohibited. As a knight-in-training with a strong foundation in magical knowledge, Leopold was well-acquainted with summoning circles.

“Indeed, it is. The Emperor himself banned such magic due to its inherent danger and origin. However, in this case, it appears the summoning was achieved through sorcery.”

“Sorcery?”

“Yes, and it wasn’t ordinary sorcery. We suspect it was a high-level ritual intended to open a portal to the Demon Realm.”

“A ritual to open the Demon Realm’s gate? Surely that isn’t possible here.”

“Ordinarily, no. But…”

Sorcery, unlike magic, was shrouded in a different kind of mysticism. The key distinctions lay in the methods of drawing the ritual circles and the use of sacrifices to amplify their power.

“What materials were used?”

“We found no traces of sacrifices.”

“Then how can you claim the Demon Realm’s gate was opened?”

The instructor avoided Leopold’s gaze, lowering his head further as though burdened by a heavy guilt.

“Explain yourself clearly.”

Leopold’s expression hardened.

The academy was the Empire’s cradle for nurturing knights—a place where future warriors were trained not only in combat theory but also in humanities, etiquette, and various specialized disciplines. It was an institution of great importance, closely watched by the Emperor himself.

For a sorcerer, or worse, a barbarian from the far northern territories, to infiltrate such a place and summon a monster capable of threatening both Leopold’s life and the future Crown Princess’s life was nothing short of a catastrophic failure.

In some cases, such an incident could justify the execution of all the instructors present.

“There was a theft on campus recently.”

“What?”

Leopold was incredulous. Not only had someone infiltrated the academy to summon a monster, but they had also committed theft?

“What in the world is the academy’s security even doing?!”

Leopold’s anger was both natural and justified. The academy, located not far from the Empire’s capital, Persangte, had failed to prevent an intruder, leading to such dire consequences.

“My apologies, Your Highness, but allow me to report the details of the theft.”

“Go ahead.”

“Vermillion ink, cinnabar, and shadow ash were stolen.”

Vermillion ink was used to draw ritual circles in sorcery.

Cinnabar was used to punctuate the circles with focal points.

Shadow ash concealed the traces of rituals.

“…Are you saying that this means monsters could attack us again at any moment?”

“No, Your Highness, that is not the case.”

“And why not?”

If those materials were missing, it meant that the intruder could draw another circle within the academy at any time, opening the possibility of future attacks.

“The stolen materials were all counterfeit, Your Highness. They were only educational props and cannot be used in actual rituals.”

“Counterfeit, you say.”

If the stolen items were mere teaching aids, the immediate threat might be dismissed. 

However, if the intruder had already used genuine materials and sought replacements, they could have concealed sacrificial traces and potentially opened the Demon Realm’s gate.

“Has this been reported to my father?”

“Yes, Your Highness. The Emperor has been fully briefed, and we have been instructed to complete the investigation, apprehend the intruder, and await further orders.”

“…I see.”

If his father, the Emperor, Kreutz, had made that decision, Leopold had no room to object further. Yet, dissatisfaction lingered.

“So, what measures are being taken?”

“We have tripled the security forces. Invisible airborne dragon units are conducting regular patrols over the academy, and both the Silver Guard and Copper Guard have been mobilized for defense.”

“That explains the recent unease around the campus.”

“My deepest apologies.”

Leopold waved off the instructor’s repeated bowing.

They Probably Didn’t Intend to Make a Mistake

For over 20 years since the Empire’s unification, peace had reigned. It was inevitable for people to grow complacent in such an enduring calm, and these individuals were no exception.

“I understand. Since His Majesty has already decided on the punishment, it’s not my place to interfere. However, heed my words. Not just I, but…”

Leopold’s gaze turned sharp.

It wasn’t the unrestrained predatory glint often seen in Astrid’s eyes. Instead, his icy blue eyes gleamed like a viper lying in wait within the shadows, piercing directly into the instructor.

“Astrid von Miterien. The daughter of the Miterien Ducal House, which played a pivotal role in founding this Empire, and my future wife. Should anything happen to her—anything at all—”

A sudden image of Astrid sprawled on the bed, acting coquettish, flashed through Leopold’s mind.

“I won’t let it slide.”

“I will protect her with my life.”

“You had better.”

Leopold let out a long sigh, his gaze softening.

He hoped, for everyone’s sake, that this matter would be resolved quietly and without further complications.

‘She’s already fiery enough as it is. The last thing I need is for her to catch wind of this.’

“This feels like it could be quite fun…”

The scene resembled a small university outing.

Astrid, Eranya, Veracien, and Astein sat together in a cozy circle, displaying an array of snacks they’d each brought along. It felt good.

Astrid had never attended such outings, having no friends to go with, but this must be how it felt. Though small, there were snacks—and even alcohol.

The mugs they had brought to serve as drinking vessels varied in size, but that only added to the charm of the gathering.

“When’s Leopold coming?”

“He’s running a bit late. Should we start without him?”

“Let’s do that. Hey, let’s take advantage of his absence to ask—hey, Astrid!”

Eranya smacked Astrid lightly on the thigh, pulling her out of a daze.

“Wow, look at you jump! What were you thinking about so deeply?”

Though the sound of the smack was sharp, it didn’t hurt. It merely startled her. Astrid blinked at Eranya, as if waking from a trance.

“Wh-What is it?!”

“Come on, be honest. How far have you and Leopold gone?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, you went on leave together, right? And your homes are nearby, aren’t they? Being the Crown Prince and the Ducal Lady, your families must be close. Didn’t you sneak off to, y’know, do things? They say if you conceive under twin moons, you might have twins.”

“N-No, we didn’t!”

This was too direct.

“T-Twins… twins who look just like Leopold and me…”

‘W-What nonsense is she spouting?! Do that kind of thing after I leave!’

“If it’s a boy, Leopold Junior. If it’s a girl, Astrid Junior…”

‘Your sense of self-importance is off the charts! Is slapping “Junior” onto names your entire plan?!’

“Hey, say something. Astein, aren’t you curious too?”

Astein looked over, biting into a piece of gangjeong (a traditional Korean sweet). Or at least, it seemed like he was looking over.

“Nah, judging by her reaction, they haven’t even held hands.”

“We have! We’ve even hugged—”

“Oh?”

The problem was Astrid’s outburst at the suggestion that they hadn’t even held hands. She had raised her voice without realizing what she was admitting to.

When she realized, it was too late. Veracien’s eyes were wide with surprise, Astein smiled knowingly, and Eranya’s eyes gleamed with mischief, curved like crescents.

“Come on, spill it! You hugged? And then?”

“W-What do you mean, then?!”

“Even the Goddess herself takes great interest in romantic unions. There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Veracien added, sliding closer to Astrid. The scent of something vaguely familiar wafted over.

“This woman… She’s a priest, isn’t she?”

‘You mean Veracien?’

“Yes.”

Veracien was indeed a nun, which was the same thing as being a priest in this context.

‘Uh… I guess?’

“She smells just like that fortune teller from the night market. How strange…”

“Well then, Captain Astrid? Why don’t you give us the juicy details? I, Veracien, am deeply interested in matters of love.”

“Right, well said, Veracien! I’m curious too!”

“W-Well, I’m not good at that sort of thing—”

“Pfft, Astein, that’s because you’re just a country bumpkin.”

“A c-country bumpkin?!”

Amid the lively chatter, Astrid bore the brunt of their questioning. She felt like slapping her own mouth for blurting out something so costly.

Knock, knock.

Salvation came in the form of a knock at the door.

“Who is it? Leopold?” Eranya asked.

“Yes.”

Hearing his voice, Eranya shot up to open the door. Even Astrid perked up at the mention of Leopold, craning her neck to look.

“Huh? Why are you two coming in together?”

“Oh, does it seem strange? Don’t we look good together?”

The husky, calm, yet composed voice belonged to a woman. Leopold’s voice followed shortly after.

Astrid’s face hardened.

Finally, Eranya stepped aside to reveal a man and woman standing side by side.

“Switch with me.”

‘…Hold on. Bursting out now will backfire.’

“How can I hold back?! That filthy-smelling woman—!”

The woman was Violet de Autria, the second daughter of Vice Admiral Baikar de Autria of the Southern Fleet. She entered the room alongside Leopold.