G. Kitsune
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The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 31
🕑 Added 2025-06-09 15:56:56 +0000 UTCChapter 31: Bend the Knee or Break
Before any of the prideful nobles could open their mouths, I lifted a single finger, stopping them cold.
âOh⊠before you start,â I said sweetly, tilting my head with a sly smile. âLetâs make one thing very clear.â
I casually leaned back into Noah, his presence steady and strong.
âIf even one of you utters the words âunworthyâ or suggests that you have a daughter more fitting to marry the Archduke⊠or if any woman tries to approach my husband with even a hint of intent to steal his favor.â
I paused and pointed to Bors, who now stepped forward, dragging his axe with a long, jagged gouge across the stone floor.
âYouâll be meeting his ax face first.â Gasps broke out throughout the hall. âDonât think Iâm bluffing; we already tested it recently. I can personally vouch for the sharpness.â
Noah let out a low chuckle, and a few nobles visually stepped back, trying to create space.
âSo now that weâve removed all that pointless nonsense from the conversation.â
I clapped my hands once, âLetâs hear these⊠oh, what should we call them?â I pretended to ponder and then smiled. âAh yes⊠excuses. Go on then, entertain me.â
The first noble approached with a stout appearance, red-faced with far too many rings on his fingers. His legs were visibly shaken, which brought a smirk to my face.
âIâI am the representative from House Velloran, and I mean you no disrespect, your grace. Weâre only following the old traditions, and certain bloodlines are the ones who deserve to rule. No outsider should hold or covet the position of duchess.â
âAh, there it is,â I said, rolling my eyes. âBloodlines⊠You mean those titles kept in families through inbreeding that havenât meant anything to Coldmere in generations.â
He flinched at my words.
âYour opinion means nothing to me, and I doubt Noah feels any differently.â I had a suspicion he was doing something behind me to unnerve the man, but I didnât need to look. His silent support was enough.
âNo⊠Well, you seeâŠâ
I stuck out the dagger towards him, annoyed with his inability to come up with a valid argument.
âWould you like to test your prowess against Kellanâs shield or Borâs axe? You could also just bend the knee if youâd prefer to kiss the dagger and save your pride a little bruising.
The nobleman, who introduced himself by house alone, stepped back as I noticed Noah, just to my side, placing a hand on his sword.
It didnât take too long for him to come to a decision before he staggered forward and dropped to his knees at the pedestal, pressing his lips against the blade of the dagger.
âGood boy,â I cooed, clearly looking down on him, though he couldnât do a thing about it. âFour left.â I glanced at the dagger and resisted a grimace. This thing will need to be melted down after all this. No way Iâm keeping something so filthy after itâs been kissed by so many of these revolting people.
Before the next trembling noble stepped forward, Noah leaned in, lips brushing the edge of my ear.
âYou know, Sera⊠Youâre so damn sexy when you act like this. I canât wait for tonight.â
My breath caught for just a second. I turned to face him slowly, a dangerous smile tugging at the tip of my lips. The more dominant I seem to all those around me, Iâm sure his kink of dominating me at night becomes even stronger, hehe. I welcome it, so no issues.
"Careful, dear husband⊠Keep saying things like that, and I might forget about the banquet altogether and drag you to bed instead."
His smirk deepened, and I noticed a few nobles shift awkwardly, clearly unsure whether they were watching a romance or a battlefield.
Honestly, it was both. We were obviously having a moment here, and all those in the room were irrelevant, even if they were overhearing our conversation.
âAlso,â I added aloud, raising my voice slightly so everyone could hear, âwell done with the use of âhotâ there, Noah; youâve been paying attention.â I giggled.
The room remained silent, but the tension in the air remained thick.
I turned back toward the four houses still yet to step forward. âSo...â I said brightly, now in a good mood, dagger resting loosely in my hand. âWhoâs next?â
There was a pause, then a tall, resting-bitch-face woman with graying hair and a pinched mouth stepped forward.
âMy loyalty has always been with the Archduke,â Her face was stone cold, as if trying to intimidate me. âBut to kneel to a woman with no noble lineage or background, thatâs something, the Careen house would never do.â
She crossed her arms as if she had just gotten one over on me and then continued once again, âFor someone outside of Coldmere to marry into this position feels like a betrayal of heritage.â
I couldnât help but blink a few times in astonishment at how much this woman looks down on me. Everything I just said not to bring up, she did with a face that deserved to be punched.
âAre you done?â I asked, fed up with her bullshit. She gave a nod.
I turned to Kellan, âBreak her nose.â
The woman reeled back at my words, eyes widening in disbelief that I would be so resolute in bringing her harm.
âWhat?â
âIâm feeling generous today,â I said calmly. âYou donât deserve to kiss this blade. Youâre not even worth the steel.â
Kellan stepped forward with a terrifying presence, lifted one of his massive gauntleted fists, and crackâŠ
The woman was sent into next week. After the impact, her body rolled like a ragdoll, instantly knocked out on contact. Her body slumped into a pool of her own blood. Was she dead? Who knows, but I hope at the very least she will understand I donât care about her words or the ways of the past.
âThree left,â I said, unbothered by what had just happened even a little bit. âTake note from this stupid woman; Iâm not messing around with you. Get with the times or fuck off.â
A younger man stepped forward, barely more than a boy, really. His face was pale, sweat beading on his brow.
âI-Iâll kiss the dagger. Please, I was just⊠I didnât know if this was some kind of trick.â
âIt is,â I said nonchalantly. âBut you passed.â He never gave his house's name; neither did I care to know it. My interaction with nobles in the future wonât be significant, as I would change the way things were run in the future.
This is my life now, and I refuse to live under a culture rooted in injustice. Iâm not doing this just for myself, but for everyone who has been exploited by a system that favors the powerful and silences the vulnerable. Especially the women who are denied the right to shape their own destinies, I cannot accept that.
After the young man scrambled to kiss the dagger, he quickly ran away in fear. Iâm not a cruel person, as long as you treat me with respect. They must feel the power I wield, or how will I have order in the future?
âTwo remaining,â I whispered, just loud enough for those in question to hear.
The next stepped up, walking with a swagger like he was Godâs gift to this world. I saw the way his eyes flicked to Bors, and I knew this guy was a moron.
âIâm known as one of the most handsome men in Coldmere, Hansel Durnhart. I offer my loyalty, but I simply felt it more respectful to state my intentionsâŠâ
âShut your mouth,â I said with sharpness at this idiot actually trying to flirt with me, licking his lips and winking, really?
He hesitated, and in that heartbeat, Noahâs voice cut in like a blade, âDo you wish to die?â
Bors stepped forward. The nobleman screamed, but before he could flee, two of Noahâs knights seized him.
âStrip him of his titles and lands," Noah said coldly. âThen drop him out in the snow; letâs see him survive on his own with nothing but that intellect of his.â
I couldnât help but giggle. That man probably has zero survival instincts; he wonât last more than a week.
The final one standing quickly ran up to me and bent the knee, even kissing the dagger twice. With that, everyone here has âsworn their allegianceâ to me. Anyone who had a brain in their head knew most of that was all for show, nothing more.
âThat,â I said, my voice ringing throughout the grand hall, âis how we keep the North clean.â
The room fell into silence after my words; everyone seemed too afraid to get a similar punishment for speaking out of turn. They will learn, because if they donât, their houses will become irrelevant in the North. That Noah and I will build together.
Eyes lingered on the blood now slowly drying on the floor from earlier punishments. Servants didnât dare move to clean it, not until I gave the order. The fear I was feeling from the eyes locked onto me was satisfying. But there was also hatred, and trust me, I picked up on that first.
I stepped forward once more, dagger gleaming in hand, and looked at them with the calmness of a queen. Also the cruelty of someone whoâd survived hell and came back alive.
âFor those of you who gave me your âloyaltyâ with forced smiles and counterfeit bows, I hope you realizeâŠâ
I raised the dagger while I ran my free hand's index finger across my throat. âYouâve already been marked; understand that I wonât put up with stupidity in the future, so as you like to say to those below you, know your damn place!â
With that, I turned my back to the crowd, raising my chin.
âIâm not evil, and I donât punish the innocent. But if you dare to cross me in the future, youâd best pick your poison.â
I raised my hand and gestured to my huge bodyguards, still giving off an aura that no normal person could handle.
âIt will either be Kellan, whose unbreakable wall will never falter, or Bor, who will gladly fight any of you to the death just for fun.â Finally, I point to Noah. âOf course the worst option would be my brutally cute husband, who would gladly kill any of you if I pointed.â
The room visibly shuddered.
Noah had stepped forward during my speech, watching me with his signature calm. But now he raised a hand ever so slightly, asking for the floor.
I nodded at him and stepped aside so he could take center stage. His voice rang out clear, sharp as a drawn blade.
âI lead the North, and I have always respected those who serve with honor.â His gaze swept through all those in attendance. âBut understand this: if you look down on my wife, even once, thatâs a death sentence.â
His tone didnât rise, but it was final.
âYes, I might be wrapped around her finger, I wonât deny it.â Noah said, stepping closer and wrapping an arm around me in a warm side embrace. âBut the woman standing before you, who carries my name, my crest, and my heart, gives herself to me completely and without hesitation.â
He once again looked at the eyes of all those present.
âI give her what she desires, and when you face her, you face me.â
Noah gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before he continued.
âHer vision for this land, the knowledge, extends beyond any of your narrow minds or traditions. She will lead this region with me, and together we will make Coldmere greater than the capital itself.â
He paused, letting it sink in. I couldnât help but blush at his words. Iâve of course explained some stuff about my world and how to implement it here to make this place prosper.
âSo if any of you, anyone⊠refuses her the safety, respect, and deference she deserves⊠I will erase your entire family from history.
Noah turned to me, eyes softer and lips curling with fondness.
âMy love, Seraphina, should be able to walk these cities freely, without fear. The second thatâs no longer true,â he looked back at the room, eyes sharpening. âI will no longer be kind.â
The room was still, thick with tension and reverence.
Noahâs words had struck deep, but mine would be the final seal on tonightâs memory.
I stepped forward once again; my voice rang out clear, calm, but commanding.
âSome of you may think this was cruel. That Iâm too bold, loud, or unconventional.â I smiled, but not kindly. âBut you see, Iâm not here to fit into your mold. Iâm planning to reshape it.â
My gaze swept over the crowd, watching the way they stood straighter, how even the proudest nobles dared not meet my eyes for too long.
"You claim to serve the Archduke?" Then understand thisâhis heart is mine. To protect me is the same as protecting him. Weâre bound, inseparable in purpose and loyalty."
I turned just enough to meet Noahâs gaze; what met me was a proud smile. That was enough to give me the energy to continue on with this intervention of the noble party in Coldmere.
Turning back to the hall of people who Iâm sure would rather be anywhere else; I smiled before speaking one last time.
"Let tonight be a celebration, not a warning," I said with a smile as I turned to join Noah. "Please⊠enjoy yourselves while the night is still young."
I slipped my arm around Noahâs as the music tentatively began again, heading towards the floor to dance, something Iâve grown to enjoy with the few times weâve done it together.
Let them take it all in and see that the Archduchess fears no one, especially with a force like Archduke Noah Velmoure at her back.
