Chapter 34 – Episode 34. Prom (4)
There are definitely places to go and places not to.
Akemilla was well aware of that fact. Here, she was well aware that she was not the one who would stand by Leopold and greet her. However, her rationality and her sensibility are different, and her reason was yelling at her that she should step away from here, but her sensibility was not.
Astrid von Mitterien is famous for being fierce, lacking in sociability, and lacking in popularity for not dealing with people below her.
Astrid von Mitterien, a human butcher famous for roaming the northern snowfields and killing barbarians as if slaughtering cows or pigs – well-wrapped and called the white leopard of the snowfield.
Akemilla, a commoner, and Astrid, who cannot match the status of her mother if she removes the label of an aristocrat.
“Know the subject, Cadet Archemilla.”
Where did the title of squad leader fly away?
But even Akemilla didn’t recognize her.
“Me too.”
Just by standing by Leopold’s side for a moment, the value of her name as Akhemilla greatly increases.
Even though she has no love for her Leopold, the value of her name weighs more than anything else in this empire. As long as she could tell that she had become one of the candidates for the Crown Princess just by standing next to him, she wouldn’t lose the slightest bit as Akhemilla.
Unknowingly, a slightly outstretched hand.
And to that hand, a thin, white hand approached and slashed it away.
A slight pain came along with her snapping sound. Akemilla wrung her hand and looked at her teeth, which had pared down her own.
Mint-colored eyes blazed with anger.
Her well-trimmed bangs and the light that shone over them gleamed and glared at her archemilla, the eyes clearly visible even on her shadowy face.
“I told you to know the subject. Further disrespect will never be forgiven. Please back off.”
At that spirit, Akemilla took a step without even realizing it.
It seems she has become a different person.
With the momentum that really seemed like he was going to bite her by the scruff of the neck, Achemilla backed away involuntarily.
Astrid stood in front of Arkemilla, and Leopold glanced at Astrid and moved her steps.
It was only after Leopold brushed past Akemilla that Astrid finally followed.
A cold chill descended on Akemilla, who was standing in a daze.
“Oh my, Emperor Leopold… No, cadet. See you again.”
A woman with purple bun hair bowed her head in her depths with a sparrow perched on her shoulder. Although she was called a cadet, the person standing in front of her was none other than the crown prince of this empire, so it was nothing to be seen as strange to her.
“Ah, cadet Emily. Sorry for the late greeting. Previously, I was greatly indebted.”
On the day Astrid broke her desk and ran out of class, it was Emily von Jorgien who helped Leopold who was searching for her.
“Thank you for remembering.”
“You must remember. Wouldn’t that be natural?”
If it wasn’t for her, she’d be getting measles in the search for Astrid. Leopold had nothing to say about that part. It was purely her own fault, and on the contrary, Astrid, who endured that much there, is amazing.
‘… I did look at it again, though.’
She had to see it again. And what followed was enough to give Astrid the idea that she had changed a lot when she woke up from her sick bed. She, of course, although she was all gone in this pair dance.
“To see Cadet Leopold so flustered thanks to Cadet Astrid is a rare experience for me. Oh, come to think of it, there was an Astrid cadet.”
It was there from before.
【Be patient! No, you can’t be angry right now! You’re wrong!]
‘… Be quiet. I’m very patient right now.’
At some point, her fists were tightly clenched. It would be fortunate if it was at least that she wasn’t trembling yet.
“Cadet Leopold also really loves his fiancée. I didn’t expect that he would go to the academy like this.”
Emily smiled lightly.
【… It’s just words from her mouth… What if I feel better at that level?]
‘Because Leopold might have thought of me that way too. Can you please stop reading my feelings? An unidentified fake Miss Asti.’
【I just feel it, what should I do? More than that, don’t be so happy to just say hello. I want why it is so simple.]
“But… There have been some strange rumors going around lately, do you know?”
“Speaking of strange rumors… ? Is it a rumor about me and Astrid’s squad leader?”
It was a first for Leopold. It’s the first time I’ve heard that it’s a strange rumor.
“Yeah, so, actually, the engagement was cancelled, and there are rumors that Cadet Leopold is also looking for the Crown Princess. Actually, she heard that Cadet Akemilla had already run for office.”
【No! Calm down! Are you trying to embarrass the crown prince?!]
‘I was fooled. Well, she’s not such a good-natured bitch.”
【I haven’t fooled anyone, so what are you talking about fooling yourself… 】
“Is that so?”
Leopold stroked his chin and was lost in thought.
Before coming to the academy, he remembered what his father, the Emperor Kreuz, had said.
– Being stubborn and not easily listening to what others say, not believing unless you see it with your own eyes, your character does not easily fall for the slanders of the vassals, and speaking straight about right and wrong makes you, the future emperor, do good. To the role of a guide. Wouldn’t it be certain that he would be the best companion for you?
Father, you are wrong… Leopold murmured to himself.
If rumors spread like this, how should Leopold respond here? A situation that cannot be affirmed or denied.
“Wow, since you can’t answer, I guess the rumors were true?”
Suddenly, a loud voice was heard.
Leopold, Astrid, and even Jorgien, who had gathered in one place, stared at the voice, and mercilessly pushed back the cadets around them, revealing the protagonist of the voice.
“Oh, Cadet Violet.”
A tall beauty with her light blue bobbed hair, lightly tanned skin, and the front of her dress undone, revealing her breastbones.
Violet de Otria, the second daughter of Baikar de Otria, the admiral of the Imperial Naval Fleet guarding the southern coast, was grinning.
“I didn’t know that such interesting rumors were circulating while I was gone. But are the rumors true? Isn’t it okay for me to run for office too?”
“… Everyone be quiet. Please be rude.”
The cold voice seemed to freeze the surroundings for an instant.
All of her except for Astrid, including Violet, who had just appeared, were staring at her at the sudden voice.
“What if you dared to stand for safety? Has the empire’s discipline become so lax that even commoners like Akemilla carelessly talk about the Crown Princess? Violet, Emily. Is the position of the Crown Princess so funny?”
【… Ha.】
A long, long sigh sounded in my head.
But Astrid didn’t even pay attention to that and continued his words.
“Among the founders who support the empire, the daughters of the Georgian and Autria families are so-“
【You say such foolish things, when His Majesty the Emperor hears it… What?】
“…”
When Astrid suddenly stopped her words, her Leopold, then her Emily, and her Violet were staring at her with her puzzled eyes.
“… After that, he grew up wonderfully… Hwa, Hwa Hwa, Princess Hwa, aiming for rain… No, I’m aiming for Leopold… No! In any case, to say that he grew up so splendidly, he is undoubtedly the red suit of this Einhafen. Isn’t that right, Cadet Leopold?”
“Uh, uh. That… It is.”
He thought Astrid’s mood had suddenly changed, but Leopold couldn’t find anything different about Astrid even when he took a quick look.
However, there is only a difference in the degree that the eyes that were fiercely shining have become somewhat docile.
*
“What’s going on? Didn’t you dance properly earlier?”
“… No big deal, no.”
It’s not a big deal.
【Why did it change at that timing! I should have fed all of those damn things one at a time!]
‘If I did, it would be a murder… What are you doing to make things right, by the way.’
Should she answer Leopold’s words, should she stop the real Astrid who was frenzied in her head? Astrid was completely out of her mind.
Without knowing how the hell things are going, in the midst of devastation, the ball is coming to an end, and it’s time to show off the closing dance with Leopold.
【I can’t even dance. What do you know how to replace?]
‘…’
【Hey, as I teach you… 】
“Now, like before. I will lead, so follow me.”
【No, just follow Her Highness’ lead.】
‘How much do you like it? ‘
A sigh came out of my mouth.
Why did it suddenly change, why did it become like this, what the hell.
Besides, there had been no change until now, and then suddenly it became like this.
First of all, I thought it was important to find out about this.
“I don’t know why people change so quickly. Astrid, today you don’t feel like you.”
“… It’s not like that.”
Actually, I had no choice but to hold it in even when the words, “This is the real Astrid and I am the fake Astrid,” Came to my throat.
The moment he said that, Leopold must have thought that Astrid had finally lost consciousness.
And the engagement and everything else happened…
‘… Is this okay?’
【Are you okay with anything? Just do it. I will bite my tongue and die on my turn.]
‘Come to think of it, why did you suddenly stop talking?’
【Because you are talking nonsense too.】
‘Do whatever you want… ‘
It wasn’t a threat, I just watched it for a while without knowing it well, but I thought that if it was the original Astrid, it would be enough.
