I Became the Northern Grand Duchess
Drip.
A cold droplet fell from the ceiling, smacking the bridge of my nose.
I scowled and gripped the edge of the wooden bathtub. The water had already gone lukewarm, white steam curling up lazily.
“Argh, it’s so cold. Damn this northern hellhole.”
Exactly three years since I transmigrated.
I’d been so moved by the romance fantasy novel Monster Lady that I poured my heart into a whopping 5,700-character review about the final villainess, Evelyn de Varmark.
It was all about how things might’ve turned out if she hadn’t abandoned the empire’s one and only extraterritorial territory, Varmark, just to chase the dream of becoming emperor as some shadow royalty.
I couldn’t wrap my head around her ditching it all for the male lead. Develop it right, and she could’ve lived better than any emperor.
Full of that regret, I was about to hit “complete” when...
Jealous? Wanna do it yourself?
...a bizarre message popped up on my laptop screen. What the hell? Without a second thought, I clicked Y.
And here I was, three years deep into this mess.
This godforsaken territory was under constant monster threats, trapped in eternal winter, with impoverished locals scraping by. The imperial subsidy for running the prison camp was calibrated just enough to keep us from keeling over dead. Evelyn had adapted to it somehow.
But I’d learned firsthand that humans are creatures of adaptation—and that adaptation is pathetically miserable.
My one ray of hope? Evelyn knew everything about this world.
Screw the original plot. I dug through my mental database, zeroing in on saving the territory.
The massive mana stone vein hidden beneath the Snow Mountains in the north—no one paid it any mind. It wouldn’t be discovered for another ten years in the story, but I jumped straight on developing it.
“He who does not work, neither shall he eat.”
Mobilizing the perfect labor force—prisoners—I mined mana stones for three years straight. That flood of resources wiped out the territory’s debts in one go.
Varmark Barony, on the brink of bankruptcy, now had surpluses piling up in the warehouses.
All in just three years. But...
“What good’s money when everything’s still a dump?”
As the bathwater chilled, I hauled myself out. The north’s signature chill bit into my wet skin like knives.
Swallowing a curse, I hurriedly wrapped myself in a thick fur robe.
“...Seriously. I just want hot water on demand and a room without drafts to sleep in.”
Hot gourmet meals, the comforts of modern civilization from my memories. To chase that humble-yet-grand dream, what did I need?
Money? Sure, it’s key.
But money’s piling up now—no longer an issue.
What I really needed was...
BAM!
Right then—the bathroom door nearly splintered with a deafening crash, shaking the entire Lord’s Castle.
“...Who is it.”
Daring to wreck my rundown castle?
“Milady! Big trouble!”
Ally, my adjutant, yelled from outside, her feet stomping in panic.
“What now?!”
“A top-grade prisoner transferred from the capital is rampaging in the inspection room! The guards can’t subdue him—it’s impossible!”
“What am I supposed to do about it? You want me to fight that beast?”
“This isn’t the time!”
...This damn territory never gets a quiet day.
Sighing inwardly, I roughly swept back my wet hair and stepped out.
* * *
Underground level 1 of the Lord’s Castle: the inspection room. Every new prisoner passed through here first.
The air was colder than anywhere else, frost blanketing the straw-strewn floor. Torches flickered perilously along the walls.
As I descended the stairs, the first thing I saw was a man in ragged prisoner garb swinging a sword wildly.
BOOM!
Another explosion of sound—chains snapped, and a guard slammed into the wall like a ragdoll.
“Don’t touch me with your filthy hands!”
He menaced everyone nonstop, slashing away.
His gray-silver hair whipped like a blizzard with every move. Even caked in grime from lack of washing, it gleamed with an eerily striking sheen.
But those eyes below burned like a beast’s—bloodshot amethyst purple, unyielding hostility. Bruises mottled his exposed limbs through the tears in his clothes.
His compact muscles screamed of grueling effort endured.
Arvin von Drak.
Empire’s youngest Swordmaster. Youngest Imperial Guard Captain. First of his kind.
A laundry list of achievements—but his last was the tragic one: framed for treason to protect his lord, then discarded.
“Hah... huff...”
Exhausted at last, he gripped the stolen sword tighter, breathing raggedly. Guards backed away in terror, too scared to rush him.
“S-stay back... don’t come closer.”
He was trembling. From the cold? Rage? Betrayal’s shock? Who knew.
The only fact I knew: he was a ticking time bomb, seconds from detonating.
“Haa... Make way.”
I murmured softly, but the guards blocked me.
“Milady! It’s dangerous—please retreat!”
“He’s out of his mind! Stay back!”
“It’s fine.”
“M-Milady!”
Grumbling at my curt order, they parted. I strode through the gap.
As I reached him, his purple eyes locked on me, unleashing hostility that stung my skin.
Any normal person would’ve pissed themselves. But with no options, I didn’t flinch.
I stepped closer, meeting his gaze head-on.
“I said stay back.”
He growled, but I ignored it. All my focus was on what would appear any second.
Ability conditions met.
Gaze locked with target for 3+ seconds.
Eye of Causality opening.
The world turned black-and-white, time froze, and a blue system window materialized in the air.
Target: Arvin von Drak
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Status: Mana surge imminent / Extreme hunger / Extreme cold / Psychological breakdown
Traits: Blind loyalty (target lost) / Sword’s Blessing
Action Choices:
1. Subdue by force. (Success: 5%)
—Warning: Half the castle could be destroyed with current forces.
2. Offer warm food and bed to coax. (Success: 15%)
—Warning: High risk of attack.
3. Provoke by mentioning former lord. (Success: 75%)
—Warning: May lead to unintended results.
The Eye of Causality shows info on targets after 3+ seconds of eye contact, plus three action options with success rates.
It doesn’t reveal everything, but the probabilities never lie.
All I could do: check details, infer hidden meanings, deduce, and choose.
Thirty seconds later, the ability released naturally. I flashed a sardonic smile at him.
“You look like a wet puppy.”
“...What?”
“The empire’s mightiest swordsman, they said. Trembling and throwing a fit over a little cold.”
Arvin’s face flushed crimson. No greater insult for a knight.
“You dare...!”
“Wanna die?”
“...!”
I stepped closer, whispering low in his ear—just for him.
“Hard to accept that your lord abandoned you?”
Stepping back, I watched his pupils quake like an earthquake. The sword tip shivered in his grip.
“...No. That’s not...”
“Second Imperial Prince, Callion.”
“His Highness would never...!”
“Right now? Slicing steak with wine at a cozy palace banquet. Relieved you took his place here.”
“Shut up! Don’t insult His Highness!”
Arvin roared like he was vomiting blood, hurling his sword aside and lunging. Guards speared in to block me.
Metal clashed; he began to sob.
“Ah... aaah...”
I didn’t blink, driving the wedge home softly.
“Don’t delude yourself, Arvin. Your lord discarded you.”
I advanced again, grabbing his chin to force his gaze on me.
“When they framed you, did he defend you?”
“......”
“When they dragged you north, did he lift a finger?”
“...Lies!”
“You know better than anyone.”
Finally, strength drained from his hands. Fingers whitening on the spear slid loose.
His blazing purple eyes lost their fire, hollowing out like a doll stripped of purpose.
He crumpled to the floor without resistance, expelling ragged breaths.
Psychological subjugation: 98% success
“Uwaaaah... uwaaa...!”
Glancing at the floating system message, I looked down at the collapsed man.
Mud-caked silver hair, tear-streaked face. Pathetic sight—but a waste, really.
Above all: strong. Perfect for monster hunts.
And...
Kind of a shame.
I turned to Ally, waving lazily.
“Adjutant.”
“Y-yes, Milady!”
“Take him and wash him up.”
“Solitary cell?”
“Yes.”
I passed by the once-mightiest swordsman of the empire without a glance, collapsed on the floor.
“And feed him something warm.”