The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 47: Let’s Make an Offer They Can’t Refuse

【How about seriously considering getting married before going back? It might not be a bad idea.】

‘Cut it out. Seriously.’

Even in the carriage ride back home, Astrid’s mind was a mess—not just complicated, but utterly wrecked.

Despite scouring every nook and cranny of the summoning magic and spatial magic sections of the Imperial Library, she hadn’t found a single clue.

‘Looks like it’s time to start digging through the historical records…’

She hadn’t expected to go that far, thinking she’d find something useful in the magic books. But since that approach had failed, she had no choice but to search through the records. 

Given that the records spanned from the Empire’s founding to the present day, the sheer volume was staggering.

【But there’s no guarantee you’ll find anything there either.】

‘True…’

If she went through all that and still found nothing, it would be a total disaster.

【Honestly, you should’ve gone north instead. Grab a few shamans, break a few limbs, and they’ll sing like canaries.】

‘…Why do you talk like that?’

She’d been meaning to ask. The real Astrid’s way of speaking was anything but ladylike.

To put it nicely, she sounded like a street brawler. To put it bluntly, she spoke like a thug.

Her vocabulary was filled with rough, crude words. When dealing with nobles, she made an effort to choose her words carefully, but she couldn’t seem to master the art of subtlety.

Her blunt and aggressive tone often provoked others or hurt their pride, resulting in hostility toward her.

【…I know my speech is odd.】

Clunk.

The carriage jolted, likely from hitting a small rock.

‘You’re aware, huh? Then why do you talk like that?’

【It’s not like I want to talk this way. I’m fully aware I’m supposed to sound refined, elegant, and demure, but I just… can’t. This is how I learned to speak.】

‘…Ugh.’

Astrid couldn’t blame her entirely.

If anyone was at fault, it was Wolfgang. Instead of fostering her development in a nurturing environment, he had raised her on the battlefield, making her wield weapons larger than her own body and fight alongside rough-talking soldiers.

Given that upbringing, it’s a miracle she turned out as well as she did.

【Still, I didn’t mind. I had something to look forward to everyday—reading the letters from His Highness.】

‘Letters?’

【You didn’t know? While other nobles avoided me, His Highness sent me letters regularly. Thanks to those letters, I found the strength to endure even on the battlefield.】

What?

Astrid felt a sudden, sharp sense of dissonance.

‘Where’s that letter now?’

【In my room at the northern estate.】

There were no such letters.

Astrid had searched through everything at the northern estate, even finding and reading the diary. If there had been letters, she would’ve noticed.

One thing was certain—while Astrid had been at the northern estate, she’d never seen those letters.

【Anyway, His Highness is a kind person.】

Her feelings turned complicated.

She hadn’t expected the real Astrid to harbor such strong affection for Leopold. She hadn’t realized just how deep that affection ran. 

At this point, it seemed like more than love—it was more like a vital pillar of support that had kept her going on the battlefield.

But if things continued like this…

Could the real Astrid ever win Leopold’s heart?

Astrid had her doubts. The odds were too slim. Even if she managed to win his heart completely and then returned to her original world, she feared the real Astrid would lose him and face annulment.

The thought was worrisome precisely because it wasn’t an impossibility.

Maybe it would be better if she secured the marriage first, ensuring it was an unchangeable fact, and then returned to her original world—

“Ah?!”

【What’s wrong?!】

‘N-Nothing. It’s nothing.’

Terrifying.

Her own thoughts had frightened her.

She’d just had a thought so audacious it shocked even herself.

She needed to leave. The sooner, the better.

Realistically, she had no obligation to worry about what happened to the real Astrid.

***

“Sister, you’re back?”

“Oh my, to be greeted at the door. What’s the occasion?”

Upon arriving back at the estate via the front garden path, Astrid saw Ashray waiting for her. 

He’d spent two weeks living in the capital, and it seemed he’d polished himself up a bit—he actually looked like a proper person now.

“We have a guest.”

“A guest?”

She wasn’t expecting any visitors.

【Could it be His Highness?!】

‘No way.’

She quickly dismissed the idea.

Ashray grinned slyly, scratching his head as if he’d read her mind.

“It’s not His Highness, Leopold.”

【Smack him on the back of the head for me.】

“…No one said it was.”

“I just thought you might get your hopes up.”

Ignoring the suggestion from the voice in her head, Astrid asked Ashray.

Honestly, she was curious. Who would come to visit her?

“Quit teasing me. Who is it?”

“Uh, well…”

This brat… Was he seriously about to forget?

Astrid’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?”

“Ah… the name was kinda tricky, you know? I just remember they had honey-colored hair.”

“Huh?”

【Huh?!】

Neither Astrid nor the real Astrid could help but blurt out a stunned sound at the same time.

“What brings you here?”

“I’ve been waiting for quite a while.”

“It’s Akemilla’s fault for not giving any prior notice.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

The atmosphere in the parlor was colder than icy air.

Sitting across from each other with a table between them, Astrid and Akemilla’s interaction could hardly be called pleasant.

“I’ve heard you’ve been frequenting the Imperial Library lately.”

“It’s not proper to snoop on a duke’s daughter. Did no one teach you manners? Or is it because you’re a commoner?”

“Oh my.”

Akemilla took a sip of the light brown tea before her, smiling with an air of ease.

“You keep calling me a commoner, but you’re aware that our family is set to receive a count’s title soon, aren’t you?”

‘Is that true?’

【It… it might be? I’m not sure.】

Not helpful.

Given how much money they had poured into the empire’s founding, it would be odd if they remained commoners forever.

Even if Astrid wasn’t aware of this particular development, it’s not something she could confirm on the spot, so she decided to let it go for now.

“Regardless, I’m not snooping. Word about your visits to the Imperial Library has spread throughout Persangte. It’s strange that you’re the only one who’s unaware of it.”

“What rumors, exactly?”

“That the Lady of Miterien is frequenting the library—and that she’s scouring every scrap of information on magic.”

That’s ridiculous.

It’s one thing for people to see her entering and leaving the library, but for rumors to spread about the specific content of her research was impossible.

【This arrogant little commoner… Switch with me for a second.】

‘No… If you get involved, it’ll only make things worse. Stay calm. We have to act like a proper noble lady.’

“Are you perhaps afraid of losing Prince Leopold’s affection and seeking magical means to hold onto him?”

‘Fine. I’ll switch. Just relax, okay?’

【…Forget it. You handle it.】

“Lady Akemilla, you’re not here to pick a fight with me, are you?”

“Of course not. Absolutely not.”

“Then it’s best not to provoke me. It’s not in your best interest.”

Akemilla’s smile remained in place.

But something about her grin felt unsettling—like a veiled scheme hiding just beneath the surface.

Looking at that smile, Astrid’s patience began to wear thin.

“Provoke you? I’m merely here to propose a deal.”

“Your attitude towards someone proposing a deal leaves much to be desired. As the daughter of a merchant family, you should know that antagonizing a potential partner is unwise.”

“Oh my. But I haven’t antagonized you at all. I’m merely speaking of things I’ve heard through rumors.”

Everything Akemilla said was cloaked in the guise of “rumors.”

If Astrid got angry over it, she’d look petty and hot-tempered. Akemilla was just “relaying what she’d heard,” and if Astrid lost her temper, she’d come across as a small-minded noblewoman.

On the other hand, if Astrid did nothing, she’d seem like a toothless paper tiger who didn’t react even when her honor was trampled.

“In truth, I’ve come to offer my assistance to Lady Miterien.”

“Assistance? And what do you mean by that?”

“I’m proposing a deal. I’ll help you, and in return, you’ll help me.”

What scheme was she plotting now?

Astrid felt an exhausted sigh building up within her.

“Go on. I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

Akemilla’s smile grew even brighter.

It was as if she firmly believed Astrid wouldn’t be able to refuse her offer—as if she held a card that would force Astrid’s hand.

“Judging by Lady Miterien’s expression, I’d wager you haven’t found the information you’re looking for.”

“…I won’t deny it.”

It was the truth.

“Whatever information you’re looking for, I’ll have the Uraid Merchant Guild’s intelligence network locate it for you.”

In novels, merchant guilds often had far superior intelligence networks compared to the official state networks. Given the limitations of this world’s information-gathering methods—with messengers on foot and horseback being the norm—a merchant guild with connections throughout the continent could easily surpass the empire’s official intelligence capabilities.

Astrid’s gaze fixed on Akemilla.

“Naturally, you’re not offering that information for free. What’s your price?”

“Simple.”

“Let’s hear it, then.”

“Don’t obstruct my approach to Prince Leopold. Let’s have a fair competition for him.”

【What kind of nonsense is this crazy woman spouting?!】

For the first time, Astrid and the real Astrid were in perfect agreement.

Possibly for the first time ever.

“Or, you can accept my other offer. It’s your choice.”

“And that is?”

“Once you become Crown Princess, nationalize all merchant guilds in the empire—except for the Uraid Merchant Guild.”

Akemilla lifted her teacup and sipped.

The soft sound of sipping was followed by the clink of the cup being set down on its saucer.

“Of course, you’d leave the Uraid Merchant Guild untouched.”