Bend the Knee or Break

Before any of the prideful nobles could open their mouths, I lifted a single finger, stopping them cold.

"Oh… before you start," I said sweetly, tilting my head with a sly smile. "Let's make one thing very clear."

I casually leaned back into Noah, his presence steady and strong.

"If even one of you utters the words 'unworthy" or suggests that you have a daughter more fitting to marry the Archduke… or if any woman tries to approach my husband with even a hint of intent to steal his favor."

I paused and pointed to Bors, who now stepped forward, dragging his axe with a long, jagged gouge across the stone floor.

"You'll be meeting his ax face first." Gasps broke out throughout the hall. "Don't think I'm bluffing; we already tested it recently. I can personally vouch for the sharpness."

Noah let out a low chuckle, and a few nobles visually stepped back, trying to create space.

"So now that we've removed all that pointless nonsense from the conversation."

I clapped my hands once, "Let's hear these… oh, what should we call them?" I pretended to ponder and then smiled. "Ah yes… excuses. Go on then, entertain me."

The first noble approached with a stout appearance, red-faced with far too many rings on his fingers. His legs were visibly shaken, which brought a smirk to my face.

"I—I am the representative from House Velloran, and I mean you no disrespect, your grace. We're only following the old traditions, and certain bloodlines are the ones who deserve to rule. No outsider should hold or covet the position of duchess."

"Ah, there it is," I said, rolling my eyes. "Bloodlines… You mean those titles kept in families through inbreeding that haven't meant anything to Coldmere in generations."

He flinched at my words.

"Your opinion means nothing to me, and I doubt Noah feels any differently." I had a suspicion he was doing something behind me to unnerve the man, but I didn't need to look. His silent support was enough.

"No… Well, you see…"

I stuck out the dagger towards him, annoyed with his inability to come up with a valid argument.

"Would you like to test your prowess against Kellan's shield or Bor's axe? You could also just bend the knee if you'd prefer to kiss the dagger and save your pride a little bruising.

The nobleman, who introduced himself by house alone, stepped back as I noticed Noah, just to my side, placing a hand on his sword.

It didn't take too long for him to come to a decision before he staggered forward and dropped to his knees at the pedestal, pressing his lips against the blade of the dagger.

"Good boy," I cooed, clearly looking down on him, though he couldn't do a thing about it. "Four left." I glanced at the dagger and resisted a grimace. This thing will need to be melted down after all this. No way I'm keeping something so filthy after it's been kissed by so many of these revolting people.

Before the next trembling noble stepped forward, Noah leaned in, lips brushing the edge of my ear.

"You know, Sera… You're so damn sexy when you act like this. I can't wait for tonight."

My breath caught for just a second. I turned to face him slowly, a dangerous smile tugging at the tip of my lips. The more dominant I seem to all those around me, I'm sure his kink of dominating me at night becomes even stronger, hehe. I welcome it, so no issues.

"Careful, dear husband… Keep saying things like that, and I might forget about the banquet altogether and drag you to bed instead."

His smirk deepened, and I noticed a few nobles shift awkwardly, clearly unsure whether they were watching a romance or a battlefield.

Honestly, it was both. We were obviously having a moment here, and all those in the room were irrelevant, even if they were overhearing our conversation.

"Also," I added aloud, raising my voice slightly so everyone could hear, "well done with the use of 'hot' there, Noah; you've been paying attention." I giggled.

The room remained silent, but the tension in the air remained thick.

I turned back toward the four houses still yet to step forward. "So..." I said brightly, now in a good mood, dagger resting loosely in my hand. "Who's next?"

There was a pause, then a tall, resting-bitch-face woman with graying hair and a pinched mouth stepped forward.

"My loyalty has always been with the Archduke," Her face was stone cold, as if trying to intimidate me. "But to kneel to a woman with no noble lineage or background, that's something, the Careen house would never do."

She crossed her arms as if she had just gotten one over on me and then continued once again, "For someone outside of Coldmere to marry into this position feels like a betrayal of heritage."

I couldn't help but blink a few times in astonishment at how much this woman looks down on me. Everything I just said not to bring up, she did with a face that deserved to be punched.

"Are you done?" I asked, fed up with her bullshit. She gave a nod.

I turned to Kellan, "Break her nose."

The woman reeled back at my words, eyes widening in disbelief that I would be so resolute in bringing her harm.

"What?"

"I'm feeling generous today," I said calmly. "You don't deserve to kiss this blade. You're not even worth the steel."

Kellan stepped forward with a terrifying presence, lifted one of his massive gauntleted fists, and crack…

The woman was sent into next week. After the impact, her body rolled like a ragdoll, instantly knocked out on contact. Her body slumped into a pool of her own blood. Was she dead? Who knows, but I hope at the very least she will understand I don't care about her words or the ways of the past.

"Three left," I said, unbothered by what had just happened even a little bit. "Take note from this stupid woman; I'm not messing around with you. Get with the times or fuck off."

A younger man stepped forward, barely more than a boy, really. His face was pale, sweat beading on his brow.

"I-I'll kiss the dagger. Please, I was just… I didn't know if this was some kind of trick."

"It is," I said nonchalantly. "But you passed." He never gave his house's name; neither did I care to know it. My interaction with nobles in the future won't be significant, as I would change the way things were run in the future.

This is my life now, and I refuse to live under a culture rooted in injustice. I'm not doing this just for myself, but for everyone who has been exploited by a system that favors the powerful and silences the vulnerable. Especially the women who are denied the right to shape their own destinies, I cannot accept that.

After the young man scrambled to kiss the dagger, he quickly ran away in fear. I'm not a cruel person, as long as you treat me with respect. They must feel the power I wield, or how will I have order in the future?

"Two remaining," I whispered, just loud enough for those in question to hear.

The next stepped up, walking with a swagger like he was God's gift to this world. I saw the way his eyes flicked to Bors, and I knew this guy was a moron.

"I'm known as one of the most handsome men in Coldmere, Hansel Durnhart. I offer my loyalty, but I simply felt it more respectful to state my intentions…"

"Shut your mouth," I said with sharpness at this idiot actually trying to flirt with me, licking his lips and winking, really?

He hesitated, and in that heartbeat, Noah's voice cut in like a blade, "Do you wish to die?"

Bors stepped forward. The nobleman screamed, but before he could flee, two of Noah's knights seized him.

"Strip him of his titles and lands," Noah said coldly. "Then drop him out in the snow; let's see him survive on his own with nothing but that intellect of his."

I couldn't help but giggle. That man probably has zero survival instincts; he won't last more than a week.

The final one standing quickly ran up to me and bent the knee, even kissing the dagger twice. With that, everyone here has 'sworn their allegiance' to me. Anyone who had a brain in their head knew most of that was all for show, nothing more.

"That," I said, my voice ringing throughout the grand hall, "is how we keep the North clean."

The room fell into silence after my words; everyone seemed too afraid to get a similar punishment for speaking out of turn. They will learn, because if they don't, their houses will become irrelevant in the North. That Noah and I will build together.

Eyes lingered on the blood now slowly drying on the floor from earlier punishments. Servants didn't dare move to clean it, not until I gave the order. The fear I was feeling from the eyes locked onto me was satisfying. But there was also hatred, and trust me, I picked up on that first.

I stepped forward once more, dagger gleaming in hand, and looked at them with the calmness of a queen. Also the cruelty of someone who'd survived hell and came back alive.

"For those of you who gave me your 'loyalty' with forced smiles and counterfeit bows, I hope you realize…"

I raised the dagger while I ran my free hand's index finger across my throat. "You've already been marked; understand that I won't put up with stupidity in the future, so as you like to say to those below you, know your damn place!"

With that, I turned my back to the crowd, raising my chin.

"I'm not evil, and I don't punish the innocent. But if you dare to cross me in the future, you'd best pick your poison."

I raised my hand and gestured to my huge bodyguards, still giving off an aura that no normal person could handle.

"It will either be Kellan, whose unbreakable wall will never falter, or Bor, who will gladly fight any of you to the death just for fun." Finally, I point to Noah. "Of course the worst option would be my brutally cute husband, who would gladly kill any of you if I pointed."

The room visibly shuddered.

Noah had stepped forward during my speech, watching me with his signature calm. But now he raised a hand ever so slightly, asking for the floor.

I nodded at him and stepped aside so he could take center stage. His voice rang out clear, sharp as a drawn blade.

"I lead the North, and I have always respected those who serve with honor." His gaze swept through all those in attendance. "But understand this: if you look down on my wife, even once, that's a death sentence."

His tone didn't rise, but it was final.

"Yes, I might be wrapped around her finger, I won't deny it." Noah said, stepping closer and wrapping an arm around me in a warm side embrace. "But the woman standing before you, who carries my name, my crest, and my heart, gives herself to me completely and without hesitation."

He once again looked at the eyes of all those present.

"I give her what she desires, and when you face her, you face me."

Noah gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he continued.

"Her vision for this land, the knowledge, extends beyond any of your narrow minds or traditions. She will lead this region with me, and together we will make Coldmere greater than the capital itself."

He paused, letting it sink in. I couldn't help but blush at his words. I've of course explained some stuff about my world and how to implement it here to make this place prosper.

"So if any of you, anyone… refuses her the safety, respect, and deference she deserves… I will erase your entire family from history.

Noah turned to me, eyes softer and lips curling with fondness.

"My love, Seraphina, should be able to walk these cities freely, without fear. The second that's no longer true," he looked back at the room, eyes sharpening. "I will no longer be kind."

The room was still, thick with tension and reverence.

Noah's words had struck deep, but mine would be the final seal on tonight's memory.

I stepped forward once again; my voice rang out clear, calm, but commanding.

"Some of you may think this was cruel. That I'm too bold, loud, or unconventional." I smiled, but not kindly. "But you see, I'm not here to fit into your mold. I'm planning to reshape it."

My gaze swept over the crowd, watching the way they stood straighter, how even the proudest nobles dared not meet my eyes for too long.

"You claim to serve the Archduke?" Then understand this—his heart is mine. To protect me is the same as protecting him. We're bound, inseparable in purpose and loyalty."

I turned just enough to meet Noah's gaze; what met me was a proud smile. That was enough to give me the energy to continue on with this intervention of the noble party in Coldmere.

Turning back to the hall of people who I'm sure would rather be anywhere else; I smiled before speaking one last time.

"Let tonight be a celebration, not a warning," I said with a smile as I turned to join Noah. "Please… enjoy yourselves while the night is still young."

I slipped my arm around Noah's as the music tentatively began again, heading towards the floor to dance, something I've grown to enjoy with the few times we've done it together.

Let them take it all in and see that the Archduchess fears no one, especially with a force like Archduke Noah Velmoure at her back.