The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 41. Champagne and Mandarin Sauce Shouldn’t Be Eaten Together (3)

Champagne has a distinct aroma.

Sweet, with a hint of tartness—that’s the characteristic flavor of champagne.

The very same champagne that Astrid and Leopold had drunk was now filling the not-so-spacious guest palace with its aroma.

For some reason, there were two sets of bedding.

Just as the attendant had said, there were two sets of bedding, and Astrid lay on one of them. On top of her, Leopold was barely managing to support himself with his arms, hovering over her.

But there was no way Leopold could overpower Astrid’s grip. His face flushed red as he desperately tried to avoid touching Astrid’s chest, his arms trembling from exertion.

Escape was practically impossible. Astrid’s arms were wrapped around him like iron chains, and his muscles, strained from holding himself up, began to quiver.

“Ugh.”

With a short groan, Leopold’s arms finally gave out, and he collapsed onto Astrid. Even when he tried to push himself up again, his arms refused to straighten.

He could feel a soft, springy sensation beneath him. The plush warmth pressing against him was undeniably…

“Shut uup… I’m never, ever gonna change it… Never… Ehehe…”

“…No. Get a grip on yourself.”

As his mind started to go hazy, Leopold’s hand instinctively began to move toward Astrid’s chest. He slapped himself hard on the cheek to snap out of it.

Astrid was already fast asleep.

More importantly, to let things escalate now would be unforgivable. Doing so would be no different from… from violating her.

This was the same Astrid who had declared that she’d help him find the woman he truly loved, even if it meant breaking off their engagement.

If something were to happen now, it would be a complete disaster. Leopold knew that better than anyone.

No matter how hard he struggled, Astrid’s grip around his neck didn’t budge. Her arms were as firm as steel, and despite being pinned under his weight, she slept peacefully like a child clutching a stuffed bear.

Because of the way she held him, Leopold’s face was unavoidably close to hers, their breaths mingling in the small space between them.

“She’s… beautiful.”

A literal beauty beyond comparison.

If only she’d learn to speak more kindly, and if only she could temper that ferocity of hers.

If not for that incident 10 years ago…

If not for that, maybe…

Astrid’s lips, slightly parted, gave off a sweet fragrance, and her long eyelashes occasionally quivered. She let out the softest of sighs, smiling as if she were having a pleasant dream.

Leopold’s gaze was locked on her face. Her long lashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly, and the delicate curve of her eyes had a feline elegance. Her sharp, upturned eyes resembled those of a cat—aloof, elegant, and fierce.

Her nose was tall and straight, her nostrils neither too large nor too small. And her cheeks, still rosy from the lingering effects of alcohol, gave her a soft, warm glow.

Her lips, slightly parted, released a faint breath with a sweet aroma…

“Huh?”

Something was wrong.

Leopold’s heart, which should have been calm, suddenly began pounding uncontrollably.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Back at the academy, when he’d seen her face this close, he’d felt nothing. But now, his heart was racing like he’d run a marathon.

Her lips looked unbearably sweet, and her fluttering eyelashes had a strangely pitiful charm.

“Pull yourself together, Leopold. She’s Astrid. Astrid, who doesn’t even see you as a man. Astrid, who’s promised to help you find your true love. How can you feel this way now, as an adult, and as the Crown Prince no less?!”

If his arms had been free, he’d have pinched his own thighs until they bruised.

He knew that if he moved even a little closer, their faces would touch. But he clenched his jaw and endured.

“Endure it… Leopold, you can’t. This is Astrid…”

***

When Astrid woke, the first thing she saw was the morning sunlight streaming in.

Then came the throbbing pain of a severe headache.

“Ugh…”

Yawning wide, she stretched her arms above her head—only to feel something obstructing her movement.

“What’s this…?”

Turning her head to the side, she saw…

A golden-haired man, as handsome as a sculpture, lying asleep next to her.

“Wh—Wh-WHAAAT?!”

【Finally awake, you wretched, shameless mutt!】

A torrent of curses echoed in her mind.

“W-wait, what’s going on here?! What’s happening?! Someone explain!”

【What’s happening, you ask? The so-called “modest little kitten” who swore she’d help the prince find his true love is the same one who’s ended up in bed with him! What kind of nonsense are you up to, huh?!】

“Wait, wait! I’ve gotta think. I’ve gotta remember what happened!”

Slowly, she lifted Leopold’s head to slip her arm out from under him.

She’d dreamed of giving a boyfriend a “pillow-arm” while they slept together… and while that dream had come true, it had done so in the most twisted way possible.

She’d become the girl offering her arm as a pillow—and to a man, no less.

It wasn’t remotely satisfying.

Carefully, she slid out of bed, making sure not to wake Leopold. She tiptoed over to the table in front of her.

Outside the window, she could see the Imperial Palace’s gardens in full view. The well-manicured landscaping, the flowering trees, and the attendants sweeping away fallen petals painted a picturesque scene.

From the height, it seemed she was on the fourth floor.

“…If I jumped, I’d definitely die.”

【Stop spouting nonsense, you mangy mutt!】

If she retraced her memory, the furthest point she could recall was the champagne.

She’d been asked if she could hold her liquor, and of course, she’d confidently said she could. That’s when she’d started drinking champagne.

-One glass, two glasses, three glasses… Right, that’s when her memory started… to fade…

-“Heeey, handsome prince~ If you called me, you’ve gotta saayyy something~!”

-“You dare call me Astrid instead of ‘Sister’?! Call me Sister!”

-“Mmm… Ashray… five more minutes…”

“Kyaaa~”

Fuzzy memories started to come back.

She vaguely recalled pulling Leopold’s neck down and hugging him tightly.

Thinking about it, Leopold sleeping like that now wasn’t his own choice. It was because of her.

“I’m insane. Completely insane.”

【I screamed for you to change it, I begged for you to change it, and what?! You’re suffering because of me?! Don’t give me that crap, you mangy mutt!】

“You’re being way too harsh.”

But honestly, Astrid couldn’t deny it.

【If you’re not going to eat it, you should’ve given it to me! Why even take it if you’re not going to eat it?! Ugh, I’m so mad!】

But that’s something that could never happen.

To do such a thing to Leopold—what had she done? She’d crossed a line that couldn’t be undone.

She’d acted like a woman madly in love, throwing out every bit of dignity and restraint.

The mere thought of it made her want to curl up and disappear. Her entire body was overcome with self-loathing.

“This is bad. Real bad. I’ve completely lost it.”

If she kept this up, she’d really become a “woman.” Not just any woman, but one completely consumed by emotions.

She had to find a way to return to her original world. And until she did, she vowed never to touch alcohol again.

“Ugh.”

Hearing a groan, she snapped out of her thoughts. Leopold was stirring, slowly sitting up.

He’d been sleeping on his stomach, so one side of his cheek was red from being pressed against the pillow. Seeing it, Astrid almost burst out laughing.

【Heheh… The prince has an unexpectedly cute side, doesn’t he?】

There really was someone laughing right now.

“Awake already, Astrid?”

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused last night.”

“Wouldn’t it be proper to ask if I’m feeling alright or if my hangover’s gone?” she thought.

【That’s his way of worrying about you. He’s too shy to say it outright, so he’s going around it. You’re so dense.】

“Your head is the one that’s dense,” she muttered.

But regardless, she’d made a mistake this time.

No, it wasn’t just a mistake—it was a colossal blunder.

Putting the Crown Prince in a headlock and falling asleep like that—what on earth was she thinking?

“It’d be wise to moderate your drinking from now on.”

“Even if you hadn’t said it, I’d already decided to do so.”

She would quit drinking.

“I’m such an idiot. An absolute fool for believing I could handle alcohol.”

【Maybe they spiked your drink. There’s no way someone raised among warriors in the North would be this weak to alcohol. And it was only a pre-meal champagne…】

At this point, it would be better if she never touched alcohol again.

To get this drunk after just three glasses of pre-meal champagne—it was pathetic how weak her tolerance was.

“Let’s go. You’re probably feeling unwell, so it’s better to walk it off.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Though her stomach did feel a bit off, his words were unexpectedly welcome.