Village Reckoning
“Hehe, it's nothing.”
“……”
Yurina smiled shyly and hurried away. The image of her face, red as a ripe apple, lingered in my mind like an afterimage. The kind of expression one might wear in front of someone they like. No, surely not?
I shook my head in horror at the sudden thought. I need to wrap this up quickly.
“Sir Agni, at dawn, request reinforcements from Viscount Volta and round up everyone in Rimen Village.”
“Understood.”
Agni nodded silently, glanced at me for a moment, then added, “…Little Duchess.”
“……”
The stubborn man who had insisted on calling me miss had finally changed his address. His expression still held a hint of defiance, though. I eyed him curiously for a second.
Agni cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped away. Acting all embarrassed. I chuckled softly and turned my head.
“……”
With so much on my mind, I overlooked Ian standing behind me, his face as dark and unchanging as ever.
* * *
Yurina's heart was still pounding. She placed a hand on her chest and felt her heartbeat stronger than usual. Ever since the little duchess, Abigail Carpoem, had come to her rescue.
The image was still vividly etched in Yurina's mind. Under the moonlight, her beautiful black hair flowing long and wild, those intense red eyes that seemed to pierce through everything. In the south, people spoke ill of the Carpoem family, likening them to monsters, but the reality was different. She was like the goddess of the night.
The red sword aura that cleaved through the beast in a single stroke danced around her. Fierce, yet fiercely restrained—the energy seemed to speak volumes about the kind of woman she was.
Yurina's cheeks flushed red again. Just thinking of the little duchess from that day made her heart tremble like this.
“Sister, are you hot?”
“Huh?”
Seri tilted her head at Yurina's flushed face. The north had grown noticeably chillier; it wasn't hot at all.
Yurina stammered in response to Seri's puzzled gaze. “No, I'm not hot. I'm fine.”
She waved it off with an awkward smile and gently stroked Seri's plump cheek. She'd put on some healthy weight lately.
Among those used as bait, Yurina was personally looking after the children. Thankfully, they were recovering quickly. It was admirable how they could smile brightly despite such horrors.
Yurina soon immersed herself in tending to them. Her holy power healed their wounds in no time. But the problem wasn't just physical scars.
They had been abandoned by their parents—or those who stood in their place—and sold as monster bait. The trauma of being brutally treated and dragged to death's door wouldn't fade easily.
Yet the children thanked the knights who saved them and smiled in Yurina's warm embrace. Truly remarkable kids.
“Lady Yurina.”
“Sir Illein.”
Yurina had set up a temporary shelter near the village to care for the children. Illein entered and checked on her.
Truth be told, the children weren't his priority—Yurina was. The one being he had to protect. If he had failed her, he would have lived in eternal shame. No, he probably would have taken his own life, unable to bear the guilt.
Illein's emerald eyes darkened.
“If only I had arrived sooner…”
“Sir, we agreed not to talk about that anymore.”
Yurina spoke as if it truly didn't matter. It had been her own stubborn decision to venture to the northern edge. But if she hadn't, she never would have met these children. Everything was according to the gods' will. She was sincerely grateful for the path laid out for her.
“Sister, I wanna go outside and play.”
“Me too!”
“Oh, me three!”
Having been confined for so long, the children hated staying cooped up. Yurina often took them on short walks nearby. They never went far—danger was too great—and stayed within the guarded perimeter.
With Illein here today, it felt safe.
“Alright, shall we all go out?”
“Yay~!”
The children swarmed her in an instant, grabbing her hands and skirt hems. Yurina turned to Illein.
“Sir Illein, will you join us?”
“Of course.”
The kids still feared the stoic Illein, clustering around Yurina alone. One might feel slighted, but Illein seemed unfazed.
The children ran and played gleefully in the open field. One tired little girl eventually buried her face in Yurina's lap and fell asleep. Yurina stroked her cheek with a bittersweet smile.
“I want to take some of these children back to the temple.”
“…Is that so.”
Most were orphans. Some, like Noah and Seri, had been abandoned by their parents. Sending them back wouldn't guarantee happiness. Northern children might fear southern temples, so she'd need to discuss it further with the little duchess.
Still, Yurina wanted to help any who wished it grow up properly at the temple.
“Mmm, Mommy…”
“……”
The girl mumbled in her sleep, tossing. Dreaming of happier times with family, perhaps. Yurina's heart grew heavier.
“Lady Yurina, we should head back now.”
“Oh, you're right?”
The bright sky was darkening. Yurina nodded at Illein's words and gently woke the sleeping child.
“Come on, time to go back.”
“Mmm, okay…”
Illein approached to gather the playing children, but they scattered laughing, thinking it was tag. Yurina caught his flustered look and giggled despite herself.
“Let's head back now.”
“The knight uncle's it now!”
“Woo~!”
It took quite a while to round them up. Unlike the still-energetic kids, Illein returned looking utterly drained.
“Hehe, did you have fun?”
“Yes!”
“Time to go back.”
The satisfied children clung to Yurina. A few even sneaked toward Illein. It was a heartwarming sight as they walked toward the village.
But as they neared, the noise grew louder. Yurina halted, holding the children's hands.
“Sir Illein.”
“Yes.”
Something had happened in Rimen Village. At Yurina's glance, Illein directed nearby holy knights to escort the children back to the shelter. Sensing the tension, they left without protest.
Yurina watched them go, then turned toward the village. She knew what the villagers had done—acting as go-betweens for hunters and slave traders, helping hide it from the knights. The whole village would face punishment.
With a tense expression, she approached the commotion.
“Please, I had no idea! I swear!”
“Me too, I wasn't involved at all!”
The village square teemed with people. Viscount Volta's knights dragged villagers away amid their resistance.
Viscount Volta, who had brought his knights at the little duchess's order, frowned. Arresting the entire village? He wanted to keep things quiet, but orders were orders.
Then a striking girl approached.
“What's going on?”
All eyes turned to her. A beautiful girl with wide eyes, surrounded by holy knights in gleaming white armor. The rumored saintess. Viscount Volta's eyes widened in surprise. Even in shabby clothes, her noble air was unmistakable. She even seemed to glow faintly with holy power.
He involuntarily held his breath at the famous figure before him.
“Ahh, Saintess! Please help us!”
A gaunt woman clutching a swaddled infant rushed toward Yurina but was stopped by Illein. Undeterred, she pleaded. Soon, other villagers being dragged away surged forward.
“Saintess! Please!”
“Have mercy on us. Sob sob.”
Yurina stared at them in shock, her gaze fixing on the emaciated woman who reached her first. Despite the cold, she wore threadbare rags full of holes. So thin, it was doubtful she could even produce milk. The baby huddled silently in her bony arms amid the chaos.
Then it clicked for Yurina. This village was so poor, they might not survive the winter. Desperation had led them down this evil path. Whether driven by the chief and elders for the village's sake or the collective will, she didn't know.
But facing these pitiful, impoverished people left her conflicted. She had thought all who defied the gods' will—like the hunters—deserved punishment. Those who sacrificed others for gain without remorse.
Yet she'd never witnessed the powerless poor resorting to crime out of necessity, turning a blind eye.
“I saw suspicious carriages come and go a few times, but that's it. My baby and I are innocent. Please…”
The woman's tears shook Yurina. When the little duchess ordered the village punished, Yurina had nodded without hesitation. She had stayed till the end at the monster habitat, witnessing the children's horrors firsthand—a memory etched into her bones forever.
Those complicit deserved punishment, she'd thought. But now, she wasn't sure what was right. Was dragging this frail woman and her helpless baby off to suffer just?
Yurina swallowed hard behind the holy knights.
“I…”
She recalled the teachings. The saintess must live for the lowliest. But were these people before her the pitiful lowly ones needing care, or criminals needing punishment? She couldn't tell.
A cold voice cut through her turmoil.
“What's all this commotion?”
The little duchess arrived at the square's center with her knights amid the uproar. Eyes that had been on the saintess now widened for a different reason.
A massive wolf at her side glared sharply, its fangs glinting. The noisy crowd fell silent.
Under the bright light, the little duchess scanned the assembly with unmatched poise.