Call Me Yurina
“L-Little Duchess.”
As I drew near, Viscount Volta bowed his head in a fluster. I had instructed him that morning to round up the entire village. Guilty or not, my plan was to haul them all in for questioning first.
Even for a small village, there were still enough people to cause a commotion, it seemed.
I gave the viscount a curt nod and glanced at the crowd of villagers.
“Hm.”
The villagers, dragged out forcibly by the knights, were crammed into the square. I knew it was a poor village, but seeing the raw poverty laid bare like this made me frown.
“Viscount Volta, I distinctly told you to treat them humanely.”
“Ah, w-well...”
The viscount floundered, at a complete loss. When word came of capturing the monster hunters we'd long lost track of—along with a request for reinforcements—he hadn't hesitated to lead his knights here himself.
And the one who'd captured those monster hunters and sent the request? Abigail Carpoem—that was me.
The sole daughter of Duke Carpoem and, just recently, the official heir to the ducal house. The imperial family hadn't acknowledged it yet, but every northerner knew: in the North, the Duke Carpoem's word was the law.
Viscount Volta would never want to get on my bad side. He'd rushed all this way, choking on dust, just to impress me.
I fixed the viscount with a steady gaze before turning away.
There were the villagers dragged out by the viscount... his knights... and then the holy knights and Yurina.
I narrowed my eyes at them.
Yurina flinched when our gazes met. I had a rough idea of what was going on. The villagers being hauled off must have clung to Yurina, who'd come to see what the fuss was about.
I knew she was the saintess, the kind-hearted heroine... but the timing couldn't have been worse. It looked like the viscount really was being heavy-handed with them.
I sighed inwardly and walked toward Yurina.
“L-Little Duchess.”
Yurina bowed her head with a dazed expression. I returned the gesture, then turned my attention to the woman standing blankly in front of her.
The woman was the perfect picture to tug at a saintess's heartstrings: ragged clothes, a gaunt frame from starvation, and an infant too weak even to whimper.
I scanned her impassively, then called to Agni Asper standing right beside me.
“Sir Agni, take this woman and her baby to the barracks and let them rest.”
“Understood.”
When Agni and my knights approached, the woman startled. But unlike the viscount's men, there was no menace in their demeanor, so she took the knight's offered hand and staggered to her feet.
“I have no intention of harming any of you,” I said calmly, addressing the villagers.
All eyes turned to me at once—it was a bit overwhelming. But I kept my composure and continued.
We couldn't afford misunderstandings, and experience had taught me it was best to clear them up quickly.
“The village head's guilt is crystal clear. He and those who aided him will face heavy punishment. But those who weren't directly involved are another matter.”
It was still too early to sort everyone out. Among the villagers, some had colluded with the head, others hadn't. Only by separating them could I decide who to punish and who to relocate.
“After this, I plan to wipe this village off the map entirely. Winter's coming soon, and from what I've seen, your stockpiles won't last you through it anyway.”
Viscount Volta's jaw dropped at the declaration of razing the village. He gaped but didn't dare object here.
I'd persuade him step by step on establishing an outpost in its place. But since things had come to this, I might as well lay it all out now.
“Those with lighter offenses will get my help resettling on better land. For that, I need your full cooperation with the interrogations.”
I added reassuringly, “Of course, no harm will come to you during questioning.”
My Bellio Knights and I were already swamped cleaning up after the hunters, and now we had Rimen Village to oversee too. I swallowed another inward sigh and wrapped up.
“I swear it on the name of Abigail Carpoem.”
A ducal heir's promise, given in their own name, carried weight. The villagers fell silent as if their mouths were sealed with honey.
They rolled their eyes, pondering briefly. As I'd suspected, the head and a few others had made the deal with the hunters on their own, claiming it was for the village.
Most villagers had been clueless—borderline idiots about it. With barely enough food for tomorrow, did they even have time to meddle in others' business?
I doubted the head had shared any of the hunters' money with them anyway. Otherwise, they wouldn't all look so ragged.
Tsk-tsking under my breath, I ordered the knights, “Take them away.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
The villagers who'd resisted earlier now moved with surprising orderliness. In that short time, they'd realized obeying me beat staying here.
I watched them shuffle along, following the knights' directions if slowly, then headed toward Yurina and the holy knights.
“That must've been quite the shock, hm?”
“Ah, y-yes.”
Poor Yurina was pale as a ghost. I got it—I'd been through my share of ordeals with pushy crowds early on. Though these villagers were downright meek compared to real troublemakers.
Probably why I'd persuaded them so easily. Satisfied, I said to her, “Sorry for the worry.”
“N-No, Little Duchess.”
Yurina waved her hands in surprise. As I approached, Illein glared daggers.
I'd never harmed her, had no plans to act like the original Abigail—why was he like this? Did he have some inferiority complex? After all, I was the one who'd saved Yurina.
Illein had shown up late and done nothing. I smirked at his glaring eyes.
“Shall we head back to your quarters? I have business there anyway—let's go together.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Yurina and I made our way to where the children were staying. Knowing the original story, the thought of them left a bitter taste in my mouth.
In the original, those kids wouldn't have survived. If things had gone as scripted, Illein—not me—would've come to rescue Yurina. But by then, it'd have been too late. He'd have saved only the heroine, Yurina.
So I'd saved the kids who were meant to die. Lost in such thoughts about them, we arrived at the quarters before I knew it.
The children, peeking out since Yurina hadn't returned, spotted us and came rushing out.
“Yurina sis!”
“Oh? It's the Little Duchess!”
The ones who recognized me hesitated at first, then mobbed us. Among them, I spotted Noah and Seri peeking out and waved.
“You kids behave while I was gone?”
“L-Little Duchess.”
Noah shuffled over, clutching Seri's hand. I smiled and ruffled their hair.
Up close, they really did look like Annie. Especially the light brown hair—Annie's was pale for a northerner too.
“Hang in there just a bit longer. I'll get you to your big sister soon.”
“Okay.”
“No more hurts anywhere?”
“We're fine.”
Seri beamed from behind Noah, her smile a dead ringer for Annie's.
“Um, thank you so much, Little Duchess.”
Noah bowed politely, putting on a mature front. That night had been chaos—rescuing the kids, then dealing with the hunters. Today added managing Rimen Village. I wouldn't catch a break until we reached the ducal seat.
“Listen well to the saintess.”
“Yes, Little Duchess.”
Noah nodded shyly with a grin. Yurina and the holy knights would protect the children. Well, Yurina wanted to care for them, and the knights were guarding her—so effectively, the knights were on child duty.
The kids would be safe with them.
“Take good care of them.”
“Of course. Don't worry.”
I didn't know what would've become of them in the original, but I didn't regret saving them. Especially not Noah and Seri—I couldn't face Annie without bringing them.
Whatever came later, for now it was a relief.
“Um, Little Duchess.”
As I finished up and turned to leave, Yurina stopped me. I looked back curiously.
She hesitated, then asked shyly, “Could I ask a favor?”
“A favor?”
She nodded slightly. Whatever it was, those sparkling eyes made it hard to refuse. I smiled awkwardly.
“What is it?”
“Well...”
After a pause, she murmured, “Would you please call me by my name?”
“...”
I was speechless for a moment. What was Abigail's relationship with Yurina in the original? Rivals fighting over the crown prince, right?
I'd expected my actions to change things... but I hadn't planned on getting that close. Now what?
“Is... that no good?”
“Ugh.”
Her eyes welled up, and it was too heartbreaking to watch. Fine—my favorite was asking me to use her name. What reason did I have to say no?
“No, it's fine. Yurina. If that's what you want, I'll call you that.”
“Thank you.”
“And call me by name too.”
For nobles to use first names meant true intimacy—trust and affection beyond rank.
Looking at her joyful face, I felt a complicated mix of emotions.
“I'm so happy! Abigail!”
“Haha, me too.”
Her eyes sparkled so intensely it was almost burdensome, but I managed an awkward smile. Getting friendly with the heroine couldn't hurt, right? By the time she fell for the crown prince, I'd be long divorced.
Yeah, no problem at all.
I soothed myself and waved to Yurina.