The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 48: It Was an Offer That Could Be Refused

【Switch with me.】

‘What?’

【Did you not hear what that crazy woman just said? Switch with me.】

‘W-what are you going to do?’

【I’ll handle it, so switch with me. Quickly.】

Astrid was at a loss for words. This was the first time she’d ever heard the real Astrid’s voice sound like that.

Her voice, which was always cold, was now even colder, but it wasn’t just the tone—it was the weight behind it. If one had to compare, it was as if she had the resolve to tear apart the person in front of her right at that moment.

***

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Astrid’s aura had changed. She was tapping her fingers on the table with an air of unsettling calm.

Akemilla sat across from her, still wearing a polite smile as she watched her.

“Hey.”

“…Hey?”

Akemilla’s smile vanished in an instant. Her eyes widened in disbelief as Astrid addressed her without honorifics. Among nobles, it was customary to use polite speech.

Akemilla, though still a commoner, was on the verge of being granted the title of Countess. 

Regardless, even between a Grand Duke’s daughter and a future Countess, the basic decorum of nobility required them to use formal language.

“Akemilla.”

“Yes, Lady Astrid?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Excuse me, Lady Miterien, but nobles are expected to use proper language in conversation—”

But she couldn’t finish her sentence.

Crack.

Without so much as a visible strike, the table between them split cleanly in two, crumbling as it collapsed to the floor.

Astrid’s face remained as emotionless as ever as she fixed her cold gaze on Akemilla.

“Shut your mouth before I rip it open, you treacherous wretch. Your precious merchant guild or whatever it’s called—I’ll crush it all before you even get a chance to approach His Highness. Keep that in mind as you listen to what I’m about to say.”

“Y-you…”

Akemilla’s expression stiffened. Regret washed over her for coming here without any guards or weapons. 

She had made the mistake of meeting Astrid von Miterien, the Snow Leopard of the North, unarmed.

“You’re asking me to nationalize every merchant guild except for the Uraid Merchant Guild? Do you have any idea what would happen if I reported this to His Highness or the Emperor? Do you think they’d stand idly by while you try to ruin Einthafen—the empire built with their blood and sweat?”

“That’s—”

Akemilla’s voice faltered. She realized then that she had misjudged her opponent.

Nationalizing all merchant guilds while leaving only the Uraid Guild intact was the same as giving the Uraid Guild complete control of the empire’s distribution network. It was blatant monopolization.

【Astrid, calm down a little.】

‘Keep your mouth shut. This isn’t your place to interfere.’

【But you’re going too far. If you humiliate her too much—】

‘Humiliate her? Why not kill her before she can feel humiliated?’

With that, Astrid clenched her fist.

“It’s—it’s a negotiation offer!”

Astrid’s movement stopped.

Her eyes locked on Akemilla with unwavering intensity. Her gaze didn’t shift for a second, as if she were watching prey that might flee at any moment.

“So you’re saying it’s fine to gamble with the fate of the empire? And you’re offering that deal to me, a future Crown Princess of Einthafen, thinking you’ll walk away with your head still attached?”

“That’s…”

Akemilla couldn’t bring herself to speak further.

Her plan had been simple. She’d expected Astrid to choose the first option. If that failed, she’d gradually reduce her demands until she got the “profit” she had her eyes on.

But she’d underestimated Astrid.

She’d expected the socially awkward Astrid, who’d grown up on the battlefield, to be naive and easy to manipulate. But she’d misjudged her completely.

“Akemilla. You’ve underestimated me. War is nothing but a series of negotiations. You bargain with the lives of prisoners, the terms of surrender, and the fate of entire battalions. I’ve fought my way through such negotiations time and time again. Did you think you could challenge me with such a weak card?”

The air around Astrid grew colder. Frost formed in the air, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Akemilla shivered, her breath turning into visible puffs of mist. It may have been her imagination, but the oppressive presence of death seemed to tighten its grip around her.

“I overlooked you to some extent because the Uraid Guild’s elder treated me with kindness. I even tolerated your boldness in approaching the Crown Prince. But this?”

“H-Hiiik!”

When Astrid stomped the ground, the floor cracked beneath her foot. Akemilla’s eyes widened in terror as she stared at the fractured floor.

“I’ll ask you one last time, Akemilla. How did you know what I’ve been looking for? Did you dare to plant a spy near me?”

“I didn’t… I would never…”

It was absolutely not the case that Akemilla had planted a spy near Astrid.

No matter how bold Akemilla might be, she wasn’t reckless enough to do something that dangerous.

“You’ll have to die here then. Tell me, do you know what information I’m looking for?”

“I-I don’t know! I really don’t! But our guild’s intelligence network is the best in the empire—”

At that, Astrid let out a hollow laugh.

【What kind of nonsense… Is she really a merchant’s daughter?】

Only then did the false Astrid understand the situation.

At the very least, if Akemilla intended to make a deal, she should have figured out what Astrid wanted and then proposed her terms. But she hadn’t done that.

【How clueless can she be? No sense of strategy, no concept of etiquette, no common sense…】

The Astrid currently moving her body didn’t respond.

But it was clear. The rage she felt wasn’t about her own dignity being insulted.

This anger was directed at Akemilla for attempting to seize control of the heart of the Einthafen Empire—her country, her homeland.

Astrid could endure insults to herself.

She could tolerate mockery directed at her personally.

But she would not forgive any threat to Leopold, to the Emperor, or to her beloved homeland, Einthafen.

This anger burned fiercely within her.

“If you can’t give me the information I need, what were you planning to do? Do you have any countermeasures? Do you have any way to quell the rage of Astrid von Miterien? Answer me!”

Bang!

Another loud crack echoed as the floor split beneath Astrid’s foot.

Just a little more force, and the floor would collapse entirely.

“S-sor…”

“‘Sorry’ isn’t going to cut it!”

“……”

Akemilla’s instincts told her to beg for forgiveness and escape this crisis. But her pride and reason fought against it.

From a young age, she’d been taught that money controlled everything. Despite being overshadowed by her younger sister, Arexia, she’d hoped to win her father’s recognition by achieving something extraordinary—like becoming the Crown Princess or at least gaining significant influence.

So when she heard about the friction between Leopold and Astrid, she’d seen it as her chance and had made her move.

‘…Was it all a mistake?’

While Akemilla chastised herself for her recklessness, Astrid’s rage began to subside.

That was thanks to the relentless persuasion of the false Astrid.

【Come on, calm down. She’s just stupid and doesn’t know what she’s doing. She probably doesn’t even realize the full implications of what she’s said. Let’s not go too far, okay?】

‘She’s twenty. That’s old enough to know better.’

【You don’t know anything about love, either!】

‘W-why are you bringing that up now?!’

【Anyway, just back off. She’s about to cry.】

The atmosphere in the room shifted in an instant.

The murderous intent that had been suffocating Akemilla disappeared, as if it had never existed.

“Aklemilla, do you understand what you did wrong?”

There was no answer.

【That girl’s not reflecting at all, is she?】

‘Be patient.’

“I’ll overlook it this time. Just because you’re about to become a countess doesn’t mean you can act as you please. If you’re going to set conditions for negotiations, know your opponent first. Bargaining with a Grand Duke’s daughter on such flimsy terms? Ridiculous.”

A scathing rebuke.

“This time, I’ll act like I didn’t hear anything. Besides, I’ve already found the information I’m looking for. We were never in a position to make a deal anyway. Next time, make sure you have your facts straight before trying to negotiate with me. Understood?”

【But you haven’t found anything yet, right?】

‘I’ve figured out it’s sorcery. If I break the spell and lift the restriction, I can ask Leopold for help. That’s a breakthrough.’

【Hmm… Well, do what you want.】

Aklemilla’s posture slumped, half-defeated.

Seeing her like that, Astrid decided it was enough.

If she pushed any further, she’d be driving a rat into a corner—and cornered rats sometimes bite back.

Sometimes, even clueless rats would bite a cat unprovoked.

It was best to end it here.

“Now, get out. Before I change my mind.”