The two men were forced to kneel in front of me while both their heads were pushed into the ground. I continued kicking to my heart's content as I kept my balance thanks to Livia.
It wasn't graceful or queenly, but it felt damn good.
After my foot connected with each man twice, I looked over at Livia.
"Please kick them for me. I don't want to risk losing my balance and falling, but they still deserve more!"
She didn't hesitate. Livia was normally sweet and composed, endlessly loyal. But for these two men, her expression shifted into something vindictive as she alternated between kicking their faces and other parts of their bodies.
The level of force was honestly impressive; from what she did earlier, I wouldn't doubt her having some kind of martial arts background. She's never once shown me anything, though.
"Keep going," I muttered darkly, eyes narrow. "Harder!" These guys just had to bring me from a happy place into hell in an instant, so they're going to pay for it.
Between kicks, I looked over at Bors, who had already drawn his axe with every intention of ending both their lives as soon as we got our fill.
Livia was far more ruthless than I'd originally believed, but given her background, it made sense. She's also the closest friend I have in this world besides my husband, so I can only assume her reaction came from nearly seeing someone she cares about get hurt.
Once I felt it was enough, I moved to hug Livia. She stiffened at first and then gradually relaxed as the tension melted from her body.
Those two men begged, pleaded, and even screamed for their mothers. I felt nothing; they had tried to take away something that means the world to me. My hate for these two was even greater than that horrible birth family.
"Bors, make it painful." He gave one of his bloodthirsty grins before cutting them down, finishing with a clean decapitation in the middle of the street.
It might not have been the wisest decision to execute them so publicly. I wasn't thinking with my head, not when it came to my unborn daughter.
Obviously I was never going to throw them into jail. They deserved exactly what they got, though I probably should have handled it with more discretion.
A few minutes later, two Coldmere knights in silver armor approached, likely part of a nearby patrol. They stopped, frozen at the sight before them, but the moment their eyes found the brooch on my chest, they dropped to one knee without a word.
I turned to them with a casual tone, like two men didn't just die.
"They tried to trip a pregnant woman," I said coolly. "To run some scam on me. I could've landed on my stomach and killed my baby."
I gestured to the carnage behind me, to the remains of the two men who were now unmoving.
"They were executed," I said simply. "Call someone to clean all this garbage up." There was a large pool of blood on the ground that needed to be scrubbed.
The knights nodded in silent obedience. Not one word of protest or a single rebuttal to my actions. It was quite obvious they knew who was in charge when Noah was gone. That would be a dangerous gamble to try and confront me, but I didn't do anything wrong. Those men were guilty, and I just acted out the judgment instantly.
I must have looked fierce, judging by the worry on their faces. It wasn't until the ordeal ended that I had finally exhaled, trying to calm myself.
Turning to Livia, she had calmed down considerably as well. I guess getting all of her anger out on those bastards put her in a better mood.
"You really gave them hell," I said with gratitude. "I'm pretty confident you enjoyed that," I added.
She didn't deny it, just gave me a smirk. I reached out for Livia's hand and pulled her in for another hug. "Thank you, Livia, for saving my daughter's life." My lips touched her cheek, something I couldn't help but do.
As I cuddled with the slightly flustered personal maid, I noticed a crowd start to form around us.
It began with just a few curious onlookers, but the crowd quickly grew as more people arrived, eager to see what had just happened. The sight of two royal guards loyal to the Archduchy standing over the remains of two men made the situation impossible to ignore.
Their eyes darted to me, Livia, my men, and back again. Whispers of what happened rippled through the crowd.
Before this got out of hand with false rumors, I had to give the audience what they wanted: information.
"Kellan," I pointed to a large, flat stone not too far away. "Put me up there."
He hesitated; probably worried that was a dangerous place for a pregnant woman. But once he studied my face, he knew I had already made up my mind.
Lowering his shield to the ground, he formed a sturdy seat. With one swift motion, he lifted me high, offering the perfect boost to reach the top of the rock.
The crowd shifted, murmuring even more loudly now as I stood above them, a hand on my rounded belly and fire in my eyes.
I raised one hand, silencing everyone; surprisingly, the whole place shut their mouths. It was something I had never felt in my whole life; having such power over a crowd was thrilling.
"Please, everyone, gather around," I yelled out to all those currently here. "I wish to speak with you."
The whole crowd moved in one fluent motion towards the stone I was using as my podium. Hundreds of faces looked at me with all different types of expressions.
"I am Archduchess Seraphina Velmoure."
A gasp swept through the onlookers at my name. Even in commoner clothes, my voice carried too much authority to be ignored. I quickly dispelled the effect, showing them all my true appearance.
"What I just went through was a pathetic attempt by these two pieces of human garbage." I pointed at the now rotting corpses. "They tried to scam a pregnant woman using a pathetic trick. One trips you and the other catches… what then?" I asked. "They probably want you to feel indebted to them; well, screw that."
I narrowed my eyes, letting my disgust show, "What the hell!?"
"They could've easily killed my baby," I said, my voice rising with raw emotion, "And for what… a little fake favor? Is that all a life is worth these days?"
My eyes scanned the crowd as I let them take in my words.
"I'll say this plainly: I hate the divide between nobles and commoners."
The reaction from the crowd was predictable: many stunned faces.
"I truly do… because personally? I don't see much difference between the two. Nobles are puppets, half the time being dragged around by empty traditions and selfish family names. Commoners… You've been taught you don't have any power. That you should keep your heads down and never dream beyond your own level."
Out in this very crowd, I'm sure there are people with more promise than any noble in Coldmere.
"That's a pathetic way to live and not what I want Coldmere to be in the future."
I place a hand on my belly once again, taking in all the curious gazes as I think of my cute baby and her future.
"My husband and I have already begun laying the foundation. Soon, we will bring changes that transform daily life. Roads will be cleaner, sanitation will improve, and people will finally have access to proper healthcare. Farming will become more efficient, food more dependable, and water safe for every family. We intend to make the North the most desirable place to live in the world."
I saw hope flicker in the eyes of all those who were witnessing a moment that will probably go down in history.
"But let me be clear," I added, my voice hardened. "Scumbags like these, who endanger lives for petty gains, especially children, have no place in the future I've envisioned for Coldmere."
I pointed toward the blood-stained ground. Whatever remained of the men had already been taken away, likely to be burned to ashes. A burial was far too generous for them. No one would mourn monsters like that.
"There won't be any tolerance for it by me, and neither should you. If you see something wrong, report it. If you witness abuse, theft, corruption, or cruelty, bring it to the front gate of the archduke's fortress. If it's a real claim, I will personally send highly qualified men to handle it."
I gestured towards Kellan and Bors, who both held their heads high as they dwarfed most of the people here.
"Take care of each other, and we can all build something worth calling our home in the future. Don't let the stupid lead the desperate."
My lips parted into a huge smile, something that couldn't be helped as the crowd started roaring with cheers.
"Thank you all for listening; now go about your day."
After I finished speaking, the crowd erupted so loudly that I couldn't even hear Livia whispering right beside my ear.
"The whole street surged with applause and cries of support. Some bowed, wiping tears from their eyes."
Livia, speaking a little louder, turned and muttered into my ear. "You really know how to hold a crowd."
With a grin I replied, "It's a gift." In all honesty, though, I only developed this type of skill after meeting Noah and him unburdening my heart.
I let the roaring cheers trail behind me as my guards gently eased the crowd back, creating a clear path for Livia and me to walk through.
Kellan and Bors flanked us, their towering presence enough to keep everyone at a respectful distance. Though cautious, the people still smiled and began chanting my name with joy.
"Long live the Archduchess!" Was being chanted by so many people it felt surreal. I haven't even done anything for them yet, but only talk of what my future will look like.
I suppose they're so starved for change, they'll cling to any hope that might offer a chance to escape their likely miserable lives.
As we neared the carriage, the applause and chants grew louder. A warm flush rose to my cheeks, unaccustomed as I was to being the focus of such overwhelming praise. Even Livia, always composed, looked at me with a touch of awe.
I climbed into the carriage and offered one final, graceful wave to the crowd. Of course I did. I wasn't entirely immune to admiration and wanted to savor every last second of it. The cheers crashed around me like waves against a cliff.
The carriage offered a brief escape from the noise, though the distant shouts from the street still filtered through the windows. I sank into the plush seat, smoothed my skirt, and let out a shaky laugh.
Livia settled beside me, tilting her head. "You might have… accidentally started a movement."
I smirked, savoring the thought. "It did feel good to scream all that out." My body leaned against Livia's, eyes half-closed in relief of how all that went. "I wonder if people will actually report crimes now, instead of just letting things slide because it's too dangerous for them to get involved."
She nodded. "That was a major problem back in the southern capital. No one ever pressed charges. They just let injustice fester."
I tapped a fingertip on the window frame. "It's like that slaver ring we uncovered. In my old world, that would've sparked street protests. You'd see marches and rallies all over Coldmere. It was something extremely frowned upon: treating human beings as nothing more than livestock.
Livia frowned thoughtfully. "Here, it's all whispered rumors and hushed indignation, until today."
I smiled wryly. "What a weird thought, isn't it? There's no formal nobility back in my world. No dukes or duchesses, but there's still a massive gap between the haves and have-nots."
She glanced at me with warm eyes. "Perhaps you're the bridge between those two worlds, bringing a bit of your other life's ideals into ours."
"Maybe I'm just an outspoken archduchess with radical ideas and terrible table manners." I chuckled.
Livia cracked a smile. "Either way, I think Coldmere is about to change for the better."
I pressed a hand over my belly and grinned. "I hope so."
A few days had passed since that wild, chaotic, exhilarating day in the city. My speech had spread like wildfire, far further than I had expected.
It cast a net far wider than I could've ever imagined.
Merchants talked, farmers whispered, while mothers and soldiers, along with wandering travelers, murmured about the archduchess who defied nobility, promising a new world.
Apparently, all it takes to stir up a revolution is a furious pregnant woman standing on a rock.
Unfortunately, the progress I'd dreamed of was temporarily on hold until Noah returned. Sanitation projects, medical reforms, and the reworked infrastructure we'd been planning together had begun to stall. Without him here to enforce our vision, the nobles started dragging their heels the moment he left.
If I tried to enforce my will right now, I'm sure it would cause chaos… and I'm pregnant. I don't need that kind of headache.
They, of course, started talking about me and spreading even more vile rumors. I'd expected it, but that didn't make it any less infuriating.
Rumors spread… that I was unstable and unfit to rule. That I was nothing more than a puppet bride who had gotten lucky with a ring and a husband too indulgent for his own good.
I'd basically spat on the idea of noble superiority in public, so of course they would come for me. But, with my own phrasing, I always called Nobles puppets.
The hatred I faced from the nobility now burned even hotter, I thought bitterly, sipping tea by the window of my study. Good… Let them!
When have I ever cared about their opinions?
Just as I was about to hurl the cup against the wall, a knock came at the door. A butler stepped inside, holding a piece of enchanted parchment in both hands.
One being Noah's letter and the other would be my reply afterwards.
My heart skipped, excited to get more information on Noah's fight against the monster horde.
"A letter from the Archduke, Your Grace," I practically ripped the parchment from his fingers, clutching it like it was the only air I had left.
I opened it with shaky hands, eyes already tearing up before I even began to read.
***
My dearest Seraphina,
I received your message, and yes, I did read the part where you threatened to bring me back to life just to yell at me.
Duly noted, I will not die.
I'm sorry it took you days to get out of bed after I left. Truly, my love, I am. If it had been safe to bring you with me, I would have. But with our daughter growing inside you, your safety comes before everything else.
As for your secret, I'm proud of you. Telling Livia was a brave choice, and I trust her. I know she'll carry that truth to the grave. Her loyalty and respect for you are absolute.
Now, about the frontlines…
We've made some progress. The monster packs are unusually organized, almost as if they're being controlled, though we've found no evidence to support that theory. Their behavior clearly stems from desperation, most likely due to a lack of food.
Our scouts have pushed them back from several border outposts already. A few skirmishes have gone bloody, but we've held strong. I only wish I could be there with you instead of sleeping under the tents and waking up to the stench of sweaty men.
I miss you so much it aches. Your laugh, wild ideas, and the way you explain our life like we're living in a novel. Even the schemes you come up with out of pure boredom, I miss being a part of them.
Every night, I imagine holding you once again, hearing your voice just ramble about anything and everything until you drift off in my arms. Tell Lyra that her father is out here stopping the enemy so she can grow up in a world that's a lot safer to live in.
I'll be home as soon as possible, my love.
Always and forever only yours,
Noah
***
I pressed the letter to my chest and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth in every word. I exhaled slowly, letting the tightness in my shoulders fade just a little.
"You better come home soon," I whispered, smiling despite the tears in my eyes.
Looking down at my belly, I rubbed it gently. "You hear that, Lyra? Daddy's fighting those monsters for you. So let's stay strong for him."