What Power Must Protect

As the gates to the Archduchy opened up, I stepped into the bustling streets of the northern capital; a breeze brushed against my face. Livia followed closely behind with my axe and shield moving in perfect sync, making sure no unwanted attention approached us.

"I won't go far," I had said to Noah earlier, and I meant it, mostly.

He hadn't let me go without a fuss, but after I threatened him with no nightly activities, he gave in instantly, hehe.

The problem was he refused to let me go until I placed multiple kisses on his face; then he melted like butter. "You're acting like I'm heading off to war," I teased with slight annoyance.

"At least promise me that if you run into any trouble, contact me immediately!" Noah pleaded, even though I would do that anyway.

After I agreed with him, he held me for quite some time before letting go. "Why don't you just come with us if you don't want to separate?"

Noah let out a heavy sigh. "I have work that needs to be done." He gave me a pitiful look—one that everyone in my entourage clearly saw.

Well, whatever… After that, I just walked away as he stared until we were completely out of sight.

I walked down the main road, enjoying the sights and sounds. This was my first time here, and I was hoping to find out what kind of interesting products they sold.

The people here were hardier than those in the south. Faces weathered by snow, eyes alert, and hands always busy. Yet as I passed, I noticed how they stopped and bowed, even the toughest-looking merchants. Word spreads really fast.

They already knew my identity as the Archduchess.

Some called out with greetings; a few young children even ran up to offer flowers. I just smiled and accepted them graciously.

Any men who approached were quickly diverted away before ever coming into contact with me. Noah was very strict with Bors and Kellan about this. He literally told them to kill anyone who disrespected me.

We wandered through the market, past a few tailors, apothecaries, and one very loud blacksmith trying to sell metal flowers. Not something I would ever care to own.

I pointed out a few areas where public restrooms could be built in the future. "Imagine clean water here, sewers under the ground, and streets that could actually be considered acceptable." It was a lot more rugged here.

"Coldmere is going to be the cleanest and healthiest place in the world. That's my dream for this kid," I said while rubbing my belly, "also for the whole north to prosper."

Livia smiled. "You're going to be a wonderful mother."

I couldn't help but show a big smile.

As we rounded a corner past a cluster of bakers and merchants, the warm hum of daily life turned suddenly sharp.

"Ahhhhh," A scream sounded off in the distance. It was short and seemed muffled but unmistakable.

I stopped. Kellan's hand rested on my back in a protective motion while Bors gripped his axe tighter, his whole body coiled in anticipation. Livia's eyes flicked toward the sound before I could speak, her mind already calculating.

Then we heard it again, a choked sob, followed by a sickening thud of something heavy hitting flesh.

My heart dropped.

Just ahead, in a narrow alley between two vendors, a man loomed over a girl collapsed on the ground. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his hand raised once more as she curled into herself, desperate to shield against the next blow. Blood streaked down her cheek, and her nearly bare body was marked with visible bruises.

He shouted something unintelligible at her; rage ruled his face before swinging his fist down once again.

"Bor's," I commanded, my voice cold, "punch that man in the face, but don't kill him yet."

He, of course, grinned like a predator happily accepting any order to bring another pain. Especially when they deserved it!

The man didn't even see or hear this monster of brutality coming for him.

There was a meaty crack as Bor's armored fist slammed into the side of his skull. The man dropped like a sack of potatoes, hitting the ground with a grunt and staying there, out cold.

People nearby gasped, while others backed away screaming.

I ignored them and stepped forward, my eyes locked on the woman on the ground in a fetal position.

Her whole body trembled like a leaf. Many injuries could be seen as I looked her up and down. Her lip was split, her nose was bleeding, and one eye was already beginning to swell shut.

I crouched down with careful movements, not really knowing if she could be trusted. "Hello," I said softly. "It's alright now; he won't touch you again."

She flinched as I spoke to her, but when she looked up and saw who I was, her mouth fell open.

"A-Are you…?"

How could even some random person on the streets already know who I am? I was completely dumbfounded, but at the same time I didn't show any of that on my face.

"Yes," I said gently. "I'm Seraphina Velmoure, the Archduchess of this land."

She trembled trying to rise, only to flinch and press a hand to her side. I started to move, but Livia was already there, gently lifting her up. She also draped a cloak around her body.

Livia gave me a look with a stern face, like she was asking me what I was thinking.

It was like a reflex, but at the same time this could have been a setup to get me in some way, and I was just walking right into it.

I just nodded my head to Livia, showing I understood her intentions.

"What happened here?" I asked, keeping my voice calm. "Tell me everything."

She hesitated with a mixture of shame, fear, and exhaustion lingering on her expression.

Then her eyes welled up with tears.

Her shoulders trembling, she managed to sit upright with Livia's help, her torn dress hanging off one shoulder and her lips quivering.

As I looked closer at her appearance, she was no woman at all. This girl was no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. It was the makeup that made her look a lot older than she actually was.

After I took a quick look at the disgusting man still unconscious under Bor, the young girl started speaking.

"That man…" she said, voice raw and brittle, "he's my father."

What the fuck? Was my first thought, but on the other hand, I already understood how evil a father could be to his daughter. I was living proof of that.

After my expression darkened, flashes of my life before Noah rushed back, and I nodded, "Go on."

As tears streamed down her face, the young girl spoke. "He was trying to sell me to a man near the outer gate. My father said it was the only way I could start earning my keep after all the trouble I'd caused him over the years."

She then choked out some final words: "He was very adamant that I join while still being young enough because I would be worth much more money that way."

Kellan's rage was piqued as I watched his face fill with killing intent as he gazed at that man still unmoving. It's obvious the guy has a soft spot for women; that's probably why he's such a great guard to me.

"I didn't want that," she cried. "Being forced to sleep with a man day and night who would be violent and only wanted to use me. What kind of life is that?"

My jaw clenched with disgust at this trash world that seriously needs to be cleaned up.

I turned to Livia, "Is that kind of thing legal here?"

Her gaze was icy. "No… The archduke explicitly forbids all forms of slavery in his territory. If he knew… he'd burn that establishment to the ground himself."

"Then how?" I asked, not understanding. "How does something like this even begin?"

"It's rare," she admitted. "It's more common in the southern capital city, where corruption breeds faster than rats. But in Coldmere?" She shook her head. "They must've gotten bold while his grace was gone."

I exhaled through my nose and then looked back at the girl. She still clutched her ribs and winced with every breath.

"Can you show us the place your father was taking you?" I asked gently so as not to scare her. Let's see what kind of people would dare to use my territory in such a manner.

She nodded.

"Good," I replied with determination to destroy this place before the day ends.

I rose slowly, straightening my coat and brushing the dust from my skirt, "Bors."

"Yes, Archduchess," He was at attention, waiting for orders, his face vicious, already understanding my intentions.

I couldn't help but smirk, "Give that man an injury that will be very difficult to heal, and then tie him upside down off a roof. So all the people in the city can see this fool and also be recognized as one."

Bors grinned so wide, "With pleasure."

He grabbed the man like a sack of potatoes and hauled him off without a second glance, whistling a cheerful, bloodthirsty tune as he moved.

I turned back to the girl and crouched beside her.

"You're coming with us," It was a command, but one she would have to accept. "You'll be safe. We could even provide some food and shelter after the day is done."

She looked at me in utter disbelief, like someone had never offered a hand out to her.

"Can I stay with you?" She whispered.

I smiled at her question, not entirely sure how to respond. The idea of trusting some random girl just because she was young and also off the streets felt insane.

"We'll see after all this is said and done; maybe I could offer you a maid position in the Archduchy. But, to be someone by my side, I can't just agree to it without consideration of what kind of person you truly are."

Her face was grateful, but at the same time you could feel the sadness. There's no way I'm putting someone like this next to me just because she asked. I'm way too paranoid to ever consider something like that after what happened with that assassin from before.

Once the girl was safe in Livia's care, while sipping water from a nearby merchant's stand, I reached into my satchel to pull out a small sheet of shimmering parchment.

It was a gift from my overprotective husband. "If you're ever in danger," he had told me before leaving, pressing it into my hands. "Write whatever you need, fold it, and it'll reach me instantly, no matter where I am."

A magical paper connected through space, not exactly a smart phone, but it gets the job done. I smoothed it across a solid surface, drew a pen from my sleeve, and wrote…

'Noah, my darling, I found some interesting people doing bad stuff. Come and get me before I start trouble without you, kisses.'

I folded it once, whispered his name, and it disappeared into thin air with a bright light.

Livia gave me a sidelong glance. "You know that message is going to make him break into a full sprint, right?"

"Obviously," I said, without a care. "That was the point."

If I did something so dangerous without telling him first, I would probably get scolded at night. On the other hand, that wouldn't be so bad either, hehe.

We followed the girl's directions, winding through the quieter backstreets until we reached the outer district by the gate.

It wasn't hard to spot. Three women lounged near the corner of a dingy tavern, their faces powdered and their clothes far too thin for the northern cold.

One of them leaned forward to catch a passing man's arm, her voice low and sultry.

"Looking for company, sir?"

He pulled away, keeping his head down as he walked. It was as if he already knew this place spelled trouble; better to avoid it than to get too friendly with them.

The makeup really did wonders with transforming such young girls to look a lot older. There were many men lingering around with disgusting gazes on their faces.

I turned to Livia, Kellan, and Bors, who had just returned from his roof-hanging.

As if his presence had become a second nature of mine, I felt him coming.

Noah was almost here, and when he arrived, the reckoning would begin.