The New Year's Invitation
Paul let out a sigh as he stared up at the dizzyingly high walls. He climbed up and down them several times a day, but after finishing grueling training, it was especially hard to scale them. No matter what, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was just an extension of the drills. But there was nothing for it. It was his own timid nature that made it impossible to refuse. In the end, Paul dragged himself up the stone steps toward the top of the wall.
“Haa.”
Even a seasoned knight couldn't help groaning involuntarily upon reaching the topmost level. And yet, she always came and went from places like this without a care, as if it were nothing. Her stamina was truly monstrous.
“Ah, Young Duchess!”
“Hm?”
The woman standing at the edge of the wall, gazing off into the distance, turned at Paul's call. Her long black hair fluttered wildly in the harsh northern wind. That jet-black hair, rare even in the north, looked like precious silk. Paul stared blankly at the silken strands for a moment, only to flinch as sharp red eyes fixed on him.
“What is it?”
“Uh, well, a messenger arrived from the ducal residence!”
“I see?”
The woman replied indifferently and leaped down from the wall. Paul gasped in horror at the sight, just as he always did.
“D-Dangerous, Young Duchess!”
There was a small watchtower at the wall's edge for monitoring monster movements, guarded in shifts by soldiers. But whenever she got bored, the Young Duchess climbed up here, chased off the soldier on duty, and glared into the forest where the monsters lived. The watchtower offered the best view for scouting far ahead, a place that terrified even the boldest. Paul could never understand how she treated it like a casual stroll.
“It's not dangerous. I won't die even if I fall.”
The Young Duchess, who had actually jumped from the top of the wall before, snorted dismissively. Even after years of serving her, Paul still found her bewildering.
Abigail Carpoem. The Young Duchess of the North. Six years ago, she had suddenly earned the duke's recognition at the Magic Festival and become his heir. Even for Paul, a knight from commoner origins, Abigail's infamous reputation had reached his ears. Beating maids, indulging in extravagance, unflinching no matter what anyone said—she was the villainess. No one had expected her to become the duke's successor.
When had she started to change? Perhaps around the time she suddenly began training with swords alongside the knights in the training grounds? Paul hadn't dared speak to her, only stealing glances, but the image of her desperately swinging the wooden sword lingered in his mind for a long time. And now, she was stronger than any knight in the north. Countless monsters had fallen to her blade. Some whispered that she resembled the duke in his prime. Every knight in the north who fought alongside her knew of the Young Duchess Abigail's prowess.
“Of course I know that, but still……”
Paul trailed off with a groan. The Young Duchess approached him with a smirk and patted his shoulder.
“Anyway, a messenger's come. Let's go.”
“Y-Yes!”
Paul hurriedly followed in her wake.
* * *
It had already been six years since I established the northernmost outpost base. Time flew by. We wiped out the hunters, reinforced their bases, and set up surveillance posts everywhere. In some places, we even built proper outposts ringed by walls to monitor monster activity.
Every spring, the monsters bred and swarmed. From spring through summer, we beat them back and helped nearby residents avoid starvation. When I first decided to build the bases, I hadn't expected such full-scale support, and every day brought fresh gratitude.
“The infinite glory of the North to you, Young Duchess Carpoem.”
As I entered the office, the waiting messenger bowed his head. We saw each other almost every month, yet he always put on this show whenever he met me.
“Cut it out, Lexi. Hand over Father's letter already.”
“Haha, yes ma'am.”
Lexi laughed heartily and pulled a small letter from his breast pocket. The duke sent me letters regularly. They mostly inquired after my well-being, mentioned minor estate matters, or touched on imperial affairs.
I read the letter from the duke with a blank expression.
“Hm……?”
My eyes widened as I read. I turned to Lexi nearby.
“Hey, what year is it now?”
“Pardon?”
Lexi looked puzzled but answered readily.
“Right, Imperial Year 1026. Time sure flies.”
“……Gasp.”
I was screwed. Somehow, I'd badly misjudged the timeline. The letter asked if I intended to attend this year's New Year's ball. With all the work pinning me down here, I'd never once attended a ball in the capital. I'd skipped my debutante entirely, fighting monsters tooth and nail instead.
But this ball was different. It marked the true start of the original story.
Why did I forget something this important?
Plunged into self-reproach, I bit my lip. Six years since possession. In my rush to avert the monster surge, I'd lived so frantically that I'd overlooked key original events. At this rate, I'd miss the event where the crown prince meets Yurina.
……Wait, no.
Wouldn't it be better not to go? Nothing good would come of the villainess showing up. Besides, I still hadn't annulled my engagement to the crown prince.
“Hah, damn it……”
The letter in my hand crumpled with a crunch.
That's right. I still hadn't broken off my engagement to that crown prince bastard. The imperial family had stubbornly rejected the duke's demands for annulment. For six whole years. I'd thought the emperor a fool easily manipulated, but he had some spine after all. Stuck at the front lines, I didn't know the details, relying only on the duke's occasional updates via letter.
“Wh-What's wrong?”
Lexi, who had delivered the letter, stared at me with wide eyes, perhaps assuming bad news. His gaze was anxious.
I shook my head vigorously.
“It's nothing.”
The New Year's ball in spring, announcing the coming-of-age of noble children, was still about a month away. No need to agonize yet.
“Did Father say anything else?”
The duke sometimes relayed sensitive matters verbally through Lexi, so I asked out of habit. Lexi's expression turned peculiar.
“Ah, well……”
“What?”
I stared, surprised he was hesitating.
Lexi's face flushed slightly.
“No, His Grace didn't say anything specific, just……”
“Just?”
A heavy sigh escaped Lexi.
“Haa, he's been giving me hell lately.”
“Huh? Why you?”
“Why do you think? I see you more often than he does.”
“Hm.”
True enough. I encountered Lexi, shuttling between the estate and here with messages, more than the duke back at the residence.
But bullying him over that?
“Did you do something wrong?”
“No, I mean. Hoo……”
Lexi sighed in frustration mid-sentence, then continued in a subtle tone.
“How about visiting the estate soon?”
“Ah, maybe.”
My last visit was last fall, before winter. Then I'd rushed off to help northernmost residents prepare for the season. Fade's people, in their harsh conditions, had taken extra time. Now, with winter ending, things had finally stabilized.
“Stopping by before spring sounds good.”
Monsters would creep out again come spring, so better to visit and see everyone before busyness hit.
“Excellent idea! And please spend plenty of time with His Grace!”
“……?”
A quick report to the duke wouldn't require extra time. I tilted my head at Lexi's overreaction.
That was when it happened.
“Lady Abigail! Big trouble!”
The office door burst open, and Jade strode in. I widened my eyes at his ominous demeanor.
“What is it?”
“Just got word from Volta. Looks like monsters are attacking the base.”
“Again?”
I frowned and stood. I'd forgotten about Fade's hardships, but Volta was no picnic either. And it was the site of the original monster surge.
“It's not even spring yet—why are there so many?”
I grumbled, grabbing my sword. Something felt off. Lately, monsters were increasing and growing fiercer—perhaps the original story's influence.
I turned to Lexi.
“I'll reply when I get back. Wait here.”
“Yes, ma'am. Be safe.”
I moved between bases so much that magical communication with the duke was tricky. The devices were delicate, needing fixed safe spots—not ideal for constant travel. Portable ones degraded over distance. So Lexi, the messenger, always had it rough.
“How many knights are at Volta now?”
“Probably about five from the Belio Knight Order.”
“Monster numbers?”
“Unknown.”
“We need to hurry.”
As I left the office, Ian, ever my shadow, drew near. Now, a mere glance conveyed my intent perfectly. I glanced at him rushing ahead to prepare my mount, then called to Pel lounging leisurely in my pendant.
Just like that, thoughts of the New Year's ball marking the original story's start vanished from my mind.
* * *
“Haaah!”
Boom!
Red mana flowed from my thrust sword. The blade, cloaked in dark crimson power, severed the arm of a monster lunging at a knight.
“Watch out!”
“S-Sorry.”
The fallen knight scrambled up.
“Grrr.”
I gripped my sword tighter, glaring at the retreating monster. Their numbers were fewer than expected, but each was tenaciously tough.
……Something's off.
I scanned the surroundings. The knights followed my orders against their assigned foes, but all looked as puzzled as I felt. The reason? The monsters' changed behavior lately.
Until now, monsters lacked reason. Their simple patterns made them easy prey. A knight like me wielding aura could pierce a charging monster's heart with one swing. But this one anticipated it and dodged back. My attack halted after merely lopping off an arm.
If not mere instinct, it was deeply unsettling.
“Form ranks! Don't let the monsters clump together!”
The knights moved in perfect unison at my command. It was hard to say monsters had gained reason yet, but grouping them risked unknown tactics. Fortunately, picking them off steadily made them waver.
“Kraaah!”
“Ngh.”
I sliced the torso of a monster covered in snake-like scales. A normal sword would have glanced off, but my aura-clad blade cut clean through. Yet the half-severed beast rolled its eyes back and charged me.