The Northern Duke’s Daughter Will Never Fall

Chapter 73: Those Who Dwell Near Ink Become Blackened (4)

If Leopold had to describe his feelings at that moment, the word would be fear.

Astrid’s pale skin only accentuated the vivid redness of her flushed cheeks, and her gaze had already lost all sense of reason.

I’m doomed…!

Leopold ducked low to evade the charging Astrid and threw himself in the opposite direction, rolling across the floor several times to create some distance between them. He hoped to buy time for Astrid to regain her senses.

However, that move was a critical mistake.

Astrid’s instincts as a warrior were far sharper than Leopold’s. The moment he ducked, she had already anticipated his movements.

Just as Leopold tried to rise after his roll, Astrid pounced, slamming him against the wall and pinning his arms tightly.

“A-Astrid! Get a hold of yourself! This is a training hall!”

His arms wouldn’t budge. The once cool sensation of the wall against his back felt irrelevant now.

“Stay still… Just stay still… I’ll teach you everything…!”

“Teach me what?! Let go! Let’s talk this out! Astrid—!”

Leopold was terrified.

Astrid’s crazed eyes scared him. The way she had immobilized his arms scared him. He feared she might accidentally hurt him—or worse.

Astrid leaned in closer, her mint-green eyes inches from his. The proximity was so close that their lips could almost touch. Her unhinged gaze bore into his, and Leopold felt trapped.

“Just stay still… Just don’t move… You won’t get hurt…”

“You’re the one who’s going to get hurt, Astrid! You’ll regret this!”

“It’s fine… It’s all fine…!”

Astrid’s crimson tongue darted out, licking her own lips. It was a dire moment. Leopold wanted to scream, but the words caught in his throat.

Astrid’s tongue flicked again before lightly brushing against Leopold’s sweat-drenched cheek.

Is she… trembling?

As soon as her tongue touched his skin, Astrid shuddered. Her body quivered as she closed her eyes tightly, tears forming at the corners. Her expression was one of pure euphoria.

“As I thought… Your Highness… Even your sweat is sweet…”

“There’s no way sweat is sweet! Get off me, Astrid!”

Leopold’s desperate yell did nothing to faze her. Instead, Astrid smiled—beautiful yet dangerously seductive. 

The mix of elegance and raw sensuality in her expression left Leopold utterly flustered.

He cursed the training hall’s soundproofing, which was designed to ensure that the noise of sparring wouldn’t disturb adjacent rooms. Right now, it feels like a curse.

“Astrid—argh?!”

Astrid leaned closer again, her intentions crystal clear. There was no doubt about her determination to make this moment one for the history books.

But then, something shifted.

“Ugh… Wait… Wait… S-Side… My side… Knee… Quickly…!”

Astrid’s face contorted in sudden pain, her expression bordering on agony.

“Your Highness, please… Hit my side… with your knee… quickly…!”

Though her plea seemed nonsensical, it was clear and urgent. Without hesitation, Leopold raised his relatively free leg and drove his knee into her side with all his strength.

Thud!

Crash!

A dull impact echoed, followed by the sound of cracking. Leopold’s arms were finally free. 

The force of his knee had sent Astrid flying, her lighter frame hurtling across the room. 

She crashed into a weapons rack, toppling it, and rolled into a corner of the training hall amidst a cloud of dust.

Even as relief washed over him, Leopold felt a pang of worry.

Had he gone too far? She was still a woman, after all. Was it truly acceptable to strike her side that hard?

“Astrid, are you… all right?”

Leopold staggered to his feet, cautiously approaching her. But before closing the distance, he picked up a one-handed sword from the toppled rack.

If Astrid wasn’t back to her senses yet, he wouldn’t be able to subdue her with his bare hands alone. Even though it was just a wooden training sword, it was better than nothing.

Keeping his guard up, Leopold moved closer. The dust that had been swirling in the air began to settle, and Astrid’s figure slowly came into view.

There she was, slowly getting up.

“Wow, this is amazing,” Veracien murmured, her voice tinged with awe.

From the ventilation duct situated near the top of the training hall’s entrance, she watched the scene unfold inside with unbridled fascination.

She had gone to some lengths for this moment. For safety’s sake, she cast an enchantment on the door handle, ensuring it wouldn’t open unless a force stronger than her own magic was applied. 

Through the vent, she had released a highly concentrated arousal spell potent enough to drive even wild boars into a frenzy.

The result was beyond her expectations.

Leopold, with his magic resistance, seemed to be holding on to his reason. 

But Astrid, as Astein had mentioned, had virtually no resistance to magic. She had taken the full brunt of the spell.

Her face flushed an explosive red, Astrid seemed to have lost herself entirely.

Though Veracien was a succubus as well as the demon realm’s grand duchess, she was still a virgin. 

Witnessing such a fiery interaction between a man and a woman up close for the first time was utterly enthralling.

When Astrid licked the sweat from Leopold’s cheek, it was a sight so sensational that Veracien was certain it surpassed any spectacle she had seen in her long life.

“Wow… wow… wow… unbelievable…”

Her clenched fists were damp with sweat. It was more thrilling than any battle, gamble, or contract she had ever engaged in.

So this… this is human mating… copulation…!

“Veracien, what are you doing?”

“Eek?!”

The voice that startled her came from right beside her. Veracien’s instincts screamed that someone had approached without her noticing, and as she turned to see who it was, her surprise was answered.

Emerald green hair cascading like a waterfall—the figure belonged to Eranya, the elf.

“E-Eranya Cadet,” Veracien stammered.

“What are you doing here? Is there something interesting going on?”

“Shh! Quiet…!”

Veracien waved her hands frantically, signaling Eranya to lower her voice. 

They were on the cusp of a climactic moment, and the last thing she needed was this elf interfering.

“Is someone in there?”

Oblivious to Veracien’s urgency, Eranya stepped closer and pushed her aside. 

Though dealing with an elf would have been child’s play, Veracien knew the consequences of harming her would be bothersome. Begrudgingly, she stepped aside from the vent.

“What in the world… What are they doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Veracien retorted, her voice huffy. She was frustrated. The perfect moment, the chance to witness the climax of their interaction, had been interrupted by this infuriating elf.

Just then, the sound of something crashing down inside the training hall drew their attention.

“Whoa! Oh my gosh, is it a domestic fight?” Eranya exclaimed, wide-eyed with wonder.

Shoving Eranya aside, Veracien peeked back into the vent. By now, Leopold was already advancing toward a corner of the hall, one-handed sword in hand.

***

“Astrid, are… are you all right?”

Leopold cautiously approached Astrid, who was shaking her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. 

Though he remained vigilant and maintained a slight distance, he noticed that the light of reason had returned to her mint-green eyes.

“Y-Your Highness, I’m so sor—”

Unable to finish her sentence, Astrid abruptly dashed toward the door. 

Leopold could only stare, dumbfounded, as her retreating figure moved faster than he could react.

Crash!

The training hall’s door, which had resisted all of Leopold’s attempts to open it earlier, now shattered into splinters under the force of Astrid’s kick. 

The fragments scattered, leaving an open space where the door had once stood.

Through that gap, Astrid vanished.

“Leopold…”

Emerging from the newly created doorway, Eranya stood with a bemused expression.

“I get that you’re young and full of energy, but don’t you think you should show some restraint in a place like this?”

“…That’s not what happened.”

Leopold had no idea where to begin clearing up the misunderstanding. The words eluded him entirely.