G. Kitsune
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The Soul Reborn: From Silence to Sovereignty Chapter 13
🕑 Added 2025-05-30 11:28:10 +0000 UTCChapter 13: The Price of Raising Me?
Despite the royal pressure, the stares, and the sheer weight of the moment, I smiled.
Not a fake one like most of these nobles would do. But, a genuine smile because of this impossible situation I’m currently in. Any female who read a novel, I’m sure, thought about being a princess at some point.
To think I would get thrown into such a life with royal favor, a powerful fiancé, and enemies fuming in the shadows. If this were a book, even people reading it would envy my situation. The only downside is my mind isn’t completely alright with the idea of being in a relationship with another man. But I’m starting to crack; I can’t even deny it.
As if the King could sense my thoughts, he turned towards me and said with warmth in front of everyone.
“I greatly enjoyed our conversation the other day, Lady Seraphina. Your honesty was most refreshing.” Then he twisted the dagger even further into the hearts of these people. “I favor this union deeply and believe you will do great things in the future.”
My spine straightened instinctively. To think this guy would say such words about us. So, Noah was telling the truth; this man truly does favor him for the crown. I wonder if a day will ever come when he will be sitting on top of that throne.
Beside me, Noah gave my hand a squeeze as if trying to tell me something. Oh, then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I dipped into the most awkward, unbalanced, crooked curtsy you’ve ever seen. I wasn’t used to skirts with this much weight.
“Thank you, your majesty,” I said, my voice only mildly nervous. “I’ll try not to start any wars.”
The king just laughed at my response with a big, hearty sound. He even winked at me, visible to everyone in the room.
He’s like a sweet old grandpa, I thought, watching him turn to greet someone else. A terrifying, battle-hardened, kingly grandpa who I hope stays that way for the foreseeable future.
Then the whispers came.
“To be favored by both Lord Velmoure and the King…”
“They say she’s lowborn, but now…”
“It would be very dangerous to cross someone like that…”
The words floated like smoke around me. I didn’t need to guess who was grinding their teeth behind wine glasses. My eyes slid across the room, and there they were.
My so-called family of evil demons, all three standing together, dressed to kill and looking like they wanted to approach me, great. I knew this confrontation would happen, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to accept it.
I saw Evelyne’s twitch in her jaw, the way my stepmother would clutch her goblet much too roughly, and my father’s sheer rage bleeding from his eyes.
My only response was a small smile that only got a bigger rise out of them. Eat your hearts out, bastards.
As Noah and I stepped down from the dais, a wave of congratulations rolled toward us. There was a warm greeting, gentle bows, and fake toasts saying they also endorse this marriage as if they actually cared.
It was impossible to ever take a noble at face value with how they lied as naturally as breathing. They didn’t care about me; Noah was their target, who had the true power. Too bad they didn’t even realize he listened to absolutely everything I said and their true target should have been me. Oh well.
Is it wrong of me to be this cocky even though we haven’t even known each other that long? Just look at the facts. Every single time I said something to him, he instantly put it in motion. Like the fountain, maids, and what about the fact he spent a damn fortune buying me everything I would ever need?
After a lot of ass-kissing took place, I just stayed close to Noah and watched the show. Even though I said nothing, his eyes seemed to look my way quite often, and those people around us noticed.
Then they came… The three people who I had hoped would leave before actually approaching with bad intentions. My smile was bitter as they kept approaching me. Their fake smiles were on full display for all to see, but no one cared because they were doing it as well.
I held my breath in concern for what was about to happen, and then I felt it.
Noah’s arm slid around me, forming a makeshift barrier between myself and that family, a half-embrace that meant everything.
Not too tight or aggressive, just right to show me that he was here if I needed him. It also showed those three people that I was off-limits if they were going to try anything crazy.
I swallowed the remaining panic in my throat as I stood before them, holding my chin up as high as I could. It wasn’t just because I refused to bow down to them, but I knew this action would annoy them the most. Getting looked down on by me will send them into a craze-like state.
A part of me still wanted to run because I remembered the slap, and I knew Evelyne didn’t forget about it. Then I smirked to myself. If they truly follow noble etiquette, they will have to bow down to me. I can’t wait to see this show.
My body started shaking before any words were said; it wasn’t just fear, but it was remembering the hopelessness of the situation I was in just days ago.
That muscle memory still stays with me, and it’s hard to shake off, but Noah, realizing the situation, hugged me tighter, giving me even more relief.
He leaned down, lips barely brushing my ear. “Just say the word,” his voice low and cold. “I’ll kill them right here tonight.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that comment and even started to giggle. Not just because it was funny, but because I believed he would do it.
My light laughter was like a spark in a dry forest. Evelyne’s face twisted instantly.
She didn’t miss her chance to attack.
“You think you’re better than me now, don’t you?” she spat. “An illegitimate maid’s daughter, suddenly parading around like royalty just because you got lucky enough to land the Archduke, Seraphina, do you have any shame?” Evelyne was so enraged and jealous it was pathetic. “Even the King favors you; that should be me!”
I opened my mouth to reply, but then quickly closed it, tilting my head, pretending to think.
“Well… When you put it like that, it does sound pretty good.” I couldn’t agree more with her; my smile was bright.
Noah quietly enjoyed it with light laughter while giving me the assurance with his warm body that I could say whatever I wanted and he would protect me.
Evelyne stepped forward with fury in her eyes.
“Even the maids in our house looked down on you,” she hissed. “You were nothing and are nothing. Just a commoner without our name, you should do everyone a favor and just deny the Archduke's engagement.”
That got a few low chuckles from passing nobles and the ones who liked to watch people bleed in social combat.
But I didn’t flinch. Instead, I furrowed my brow and looked at her like she had grown a second head.
“Without your last name…” I echoed her words. “But wouldn’t you also be a commoner without the Durel name?” My head tilted, not understanding her point. “I don’t understand this type of stupid logic.”
Noah coughed into his hand; Evelyne, of course, caught that and made her fume up even more. It was obvious that the cold Archduke was trying not to laugh at her.
Evelyne’s jaw dropped; she blinked multiple times as if astonished by some nobody, also known as myself, actually trying to clap back at her in public.
Seeing her face with so much rage, not many people laughed at her expense, probably afraid of getting pulled into this argument.
I took a look at Noah, and his eyes seemed to be hot, as if he was thinking of something inappropriate. Was he thinking about kissing me? I couldn’t help but wonder.
Which was a very dangerous thought because I still didn’t know if I was ready for something like that, but for now it was promising knowing he wouldn’t back down.
Watching Evelyne stew in silence was a very rewarding experience and left me feeling satisfied. The anger and desperation that was starting to form in her eyes once again was a bit threatening.
She wanted so desperately to hit me. It wasn’t just her desire but muscle memory from all those years of abuse at her hands. Then, her hand moved, swinging straight towards my face.
But, before it connected…
Snap
Noah’s hand shot up and caught her wrist with very little effort. To him, I’m sure it looked like it wasn’t even moving with Evelyne’s physical condition of a weak girl. It’s the typical strong against the weak and weak against the strong. But she’s like one of those little annoying dogs that keep barking at a bigger opponent until it gets smacked.
The entire ballroom seemed to freeze.
Then he twisted her arm, just slightly. Evelyne let out a sharp screech, stumbling back half a step as I’m sure pain shot up her arm to her shoulder.
I looked on as my soon-to-be was calm as ever, looking at me expectantly. “Go ahead, Sera,” he said smoothly. “I know you want to give her another smack.”
How could he read my mind so perfectly like that? Was it some kind of male lead sixth sense?
Either way, I wasn’t going to let this situation go without some retribution. I raised my hand and slapped Evelyne across the face for the second time in my life, a full swing that sent her tumbling backwards onto her butt.
I couldn’t help but grab my arm after the impact; this weak body still couldn’t handle such physical actions. But I didn’t even care about the pain because I would never regret giving Evelyne a taste of her own medicine.
Everyone saw her undergarments as she tumbled over from the momentum of my swing. Many gasps followed by stifled laughter filled the banquet hall. One noble even choked on their wine, spitting it out all over the floor.
The great Lady Evelyne was now red-faced and fully exposed for the world to see. Exactly the kind of humiliation someone like her deserves.
Did I feel even an ounce of guilt? Nope! I felt vindicated.
But then that bastard father and bitch of a stepmother came forward. Their masks fully dropped, their faces full of anger as their eyes were literally flaring up.
I braced for an impact, whether it was verbal, magical, or physical.
Instead of something happening, everyone in the whole building froze at that same killing intent I felt the day they barged into Noah’s estate.
The air around us thickened like a storm cloud ready to burst. I turned my head slightly to look at him, but he was very coldly staring down at my family.
Thankfully I felt nothing, but almost everyone else in the room started hunching over or was sent to the ground instantly. The two who were about to cause harm to me froze as if they were statues. I was surprised they could even do that much. This killing intent from Noah was no joke.
As I looked down at all three of them now on the floor, I couldn’t help but grin wickedly at the current state of things. Then my father actually had the audacity to speak.
“Is this… any way to treat your in-laws?” He spat, trying to salvage some dignity. “Shouldn’t you be paying our family for her hand?”
Stepmother chimed in as well. “Yes, that’s right! Where’s the dowry? What compensation do we receive for raising her?”
I stared at her stupid words dumbfounded and couldn’t help but blurt out, “Raised me?” What kind of bullshit are they spewing?
My body turned to Noah to see what his next words would be, but he was already sneering at them, which brought me great joy.
“Parents like you want money for raising her?” His voice was low and dangerous.
The room was dead silent. He stepped forward once, forcing both of them to lean back.
“I’ve heard enough of what she went through under your roof; I’ll only say this once. His eyes flashed with something that made even me flinch. “The only thing I’ll be giving you is death if you ever try to touch my fiancée with your filthy hands ever again.”
Gasps rippled through the venue at his words. He wasn’t acting like an archduke or a noble, but like a husband trying to protect what’s his.
My body couldn’t help but tremble in anticipation of this man, who keeps growing on me as time passes. It already feels like he’s given his heart to me, but am I ready to accept it?
