Chapter 9: Monster Subjugation (II).
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Alarie Mansion
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Now that the monster subjugation has been approved by Duke Owyn, the noblelady has already packed her bags and is headed out to the town that her family manages called Alamana.
"Hngh." The servants were eyeing her carefully, curious to know where the young lady might be going. Her attitude towards them these past months has been... less cold and a little nicer compared from before.
One held up his gardening work to gossip with his co-worker, "I heard the young lady is going to the town because she accepted the monster subjugation quest there! It's a challenge but can she handle it?"
"Is Olivia Charlotte Alarie actually caring? I never thought I would see this day." A young woman scoffs as she starts pruning the bushes, leaves falling to the grass rather dramatically. They watched as the young noblelady waited patiently for their ride to the town.
An old woman shushes the two younglings, "Shush now, you clearly haven't seen us in action as of late. She's changed, she doesn't yell at us anymore when we try to do our jobs. Not only that, apparently I've heard that she's been handling all the finances. That's why our salary is always getting paid on time."
"Gasp! Was the young lady the reason for that? My word! Has hell been frozen?" The young man watering the plants couldn't help but be amazed and had to double check if they were talking about the same woman just now.
"You jest too much, you should appreciate that the young lady of the house is growing and learning to take some responsibility in her hands. I suppose she's taking charge for a change- I never really accepted that she's... different now." The woman who's been pruning the bushes smiles seeing that perhaps this part of the Alarie family is alright.
Sebastian humms as he holds the reins of both of their horses, it will only be going to be the two of them getting into town. The Duke has already arranged a team of knights to accompany them in subjugating the monsters, a goblin's nest is not easy to destroy and eliminate all the goblins.
They are fast in multiplying.
It would be not only a problem for the safety of the townsfolk but for their livestock and farm as well. They are known to be grifters, chaotic little gremlins that need to be put down.
"Milady, I have brought your steed." (Sebastian) hands the reins over to the young lady and couldn't help but smile after seeing her in her hunting outfit with a few light armor, engraved with it is the family seal. "Are you quite sure that you won't be needing a carriage?"
The old man got up to sit on the saddle and rested his feet on the stirrups.
"No need, Sebastian." (Olivia) believed that one bag is enough for the journey, no need to bring a suitcase after all this is a job not a vacation. She doesn't plan on staying there for long and if she needs a few more things then she can just buy it in the town. "This is enough besides a carriage would only make us go slower."
Sebastian was happy with that answer because she was right.
The villainess got up on her horse as well, elegantly with a bit of finesses and patted her partner's neck for comfort she held the reins with confidence and moved to the side facing the butler. "You'll be coming with me, yes?"
Sebastian having no choice in the matter just merely nodded, it would be safer for the young lady as well for he swore an oath that no harm shall come as long as he lives. "Under your father's orders... I will."
Olivia smiles as she turns the horse to the open gates and kicks off to lead the way, "Good, you'll only be singing praises when we get back home. Hyah!"
Sebastian smirks thinking that brats these days are getting too cocky, "Hyah!"
"Hyah!" (Olivia) who's ridden horses for a hobby was having fun feeling the wind blow in her face. Her horse was of Buolonnais breed, also known as the "White Marble Horse", is a draft horse breed. It is known for its large but elegant appearance and it fits the image with the villainess who has white hair.
Olivia named her horse Gold Stride.
"Well done Gold! Keep going!" She yelled into the wind, Gold Stride hearing the message ran even faster. The two rode like they were being chased by wolves, honestly, it made Sebastian miss his youth.
"Good form, milady! But may I remind you that this is not a race!" It's been almost thirty minutes that the two have been travelling, if they went with the carriage then they would've taken an hour to get to the town.
Olivia laughed happily feeling the most free she's been. Not only that she's out of her dress and wearing pants which is taboo for some people- she's riding a horse with huge stamina and power. "Better keep up then old man!"
Sebastian saw the young lady's silhouette reminding him of her father's youthful days.
Back when he was rebellious and rude.
That smile... that goddamn pissy and idiotic smile, they're the same.
If only the young lady was born a man he would've punched her after making a comment like that, truly rude like his father in his youth. The resemblance is uncanny.
"Why I never-?! You're just like your father!" He quickened his pace and muttered not to underestimate this old man.
They rode like the wind until they made it to their destination.
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Town of Alamana: Alarie Territory
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Stone-paved streets bustled with merchants calling out prices, children darting between stalls with sweets in hand, and musicians playing cheerful tunes that danced on the breeze.
The scent of fresh bread and roasted meats mingled in the air, inviting and warm. Bright pennants fluttered from rooftops, and flower boxes overflowed from windows, painting the town in splashes of red, yellow, and violet.
As Olivia and Sebastian rode in, their horses weary but steady, heads began to turn. Travelers were not rare in Windmere, but the pair, a young woman with wide eyes and a quiet presence, and an old butler with a spine still straight despite being forced to ride like he's ready for the angels to call his name up in the heavens.
"My word- is that the young lady of the lower branch Alarie family?" Vendors offered smiles and nods as they passed, while children pointed at the newcomers with excitement. The town didn't just open its gates- it opened its arms, as though it had been waiting for them all along.
"We've made it!" (Olivia) panted but managed to gather herself after a few stroll around the streets, satisfied to see the city doing well.
Sebastian nods, keeping it steady, despite the long and fast journey at least he was not haggard or tired with years of experience riding horses. "Indeed we have, milady."
The original villainess never cared for the people before but after her meddling months ago to help the town prosper everyone has been making sure that the young lady of the lower branch of the Alarie household is welcome and well-fed.
"Is that you, Lady Olivia?" An old woman with a basket in hand slowly gets up to her looking up, her back aches but she longs to see her savior. "M-My word I haven't seen you in months."
Olivia quickly got down to greet an elderly woman she helped in the past along the way of finding ways to bring difference, the town was needing hospitals or at least a place to be healed- for free.
Using the taxes that her family was getting from the town and a little money that she had on the side she hired specialists in making medicine and magic to help the townsfolk have their regular checkup.
"Madam Casca. How's your back? I'm glad to see you're doing well." The villainess smiles softly, meeting her kindly in the eye.
Grandmother Casca happily tells her a bit of good news, "Oh... dear with your help I have never been better at keeping my regular checkups and now... my son is doing well too. He doesn't need to worry about me so he got a job."
"That's wonderful to hear." (Olivia) was happy for her good blessings coming forth, this was the first person in the town who believed in her change. So she swore that from now on she's going to be taking care of her and the other people living here.
"Come here now, have this. I made this jam at the perfect time. A whisper in the back of my head told me that I might be getting a visitor so I made an extra, I'm glad that I listened. [Inventorium]." She takes the strawberry jam out of her inventory and presents it to Olivia.
Olivia sees the bottle of strawberry jam being offered to her and gratefully accepts it, "T-Thank you, you are too kind."
The other townsfolk excitedly chimed in and started giving her free stuff as well, thankful for the changes she has made to the town. "Lady Alarie please do take these as well."
A few more items got handed out to her, some were healing ointments meant to help your body relax, some brought out food and wine.
"Thank you for helping me open up my business, my son is no longer sick and I can keep my bakery running. Eat these so that you'll have your fill."
"T-Thank you." (Olivia) started becoming more shy as the presents started pouring onto her, she worries if she won't have enough space for all of the gifts they were giving.
"Have a few vegetables that I grew in my garden milady, thank you for fixing our water and quality problems of our crops." A young famer gave Olivia a basket full of fresh vegetables and prided himself in the new crops that he was growing. It was even more fresh and tasty compared to before.
"Fertilizers and compost help make good soil for your crops to grow, I'm glad to hear that your crops are doing well." She smiles softly to the farmer and he almost faints for such a beauty who's been helping them in these months in need- who wouldn't fall in love?
The last gift was from a little girl who raised a very poorly made teddy bear, gaining the noblelady's attention. The stitches and buttons were falling but it was clear that it was made with love.
"I-I was waiting for your next visit!" She yelled excitedly, her hands shaking as she presented the teddy bear she has kept safe for all this time.
"I... remember, you really did wait for me." (Olivia) excuses herself from the adults and kneels down, with gentle and kind eyes she points at the teddy bear. "Lanna, was this the bear that you promised to give me?"
"Mm! I fixed her up for you!" The little girl grins, you can see a set of missing teeth that made her all the more cuter.
Olivia chuckles, her hands carefully wrapped around the teddy bear's waist and admiring the clumsy stitches. A few holes have been patched by different fabric patterns but out of all the gifts, this was her favorite. "Thank you, it's... perfect."
Lanna, who knew that nobles were a status different from the commonfolk, she saw Olivia as her elder sister. She clutches onto her sleeve, pulling it impatiently. "Will you play with me today, Lady Olivia? I have missed you! You haven't visited in weeks!"
The adults clicked their tongue and pulled Lanna away from the gracious noblelady.
"Aya! Lanna you must not bother milady. She's here to do important things." As Lanna was about to cry hearing their reasoning, Olivia could only comfort the little girl.
"Sniff... but... I waited. Do I have to wait more weeks to play with big sister Olivia?" (Lanna) dries her running tears trying to stop her crying. The other townsfolk sigh, feeling a little embarrassed for the display of crying.
Olivia, who had a soft spot for children, coughs and nonchalantly tells Lanna, "...after I'm done with my work I'll play with you."
"Gasp! Okay! T-That's a promise!"
Olivia winks and that was a yes.
"Actually why are you here today, Lady Alarie?"
Olivia places all the gifts she's received in her inventory before answering the question. "As you all know our family has received a request of monster subjugation, a few monsters have been spotted nearby and not only that a goblin nest as well so this is a matter of urgency before they can multiply I have volunteered to remove that problem."
"O-Oh my goodness, the knights and adventurers have been trying but none have succeeded. The reward from the adventurer's guild is still up." The commotion started to get interesting, everyone whispered and couldn't believe that the young lady of the Alarie family had volunteered to help.
"I wanted to do something before I leave for the academy. I will accept no pay, it is my duty to help the people." Everyone around her clapped hearing her speech.
The crowd gathered around Olivia as they thanked for doing what the knights couldn't.
Madam Casca, who was a fan of strong women, pats her back proud of her for being able to attend the infamous magic academy in the west kingdom capital. "Oo, a magical academy! The fancy place! I can't believe you're going there so do be careful! Don't let anyone be mean to you!"
"Yes, ma'am." She signals for everyone to stop their clapping, she hasn't removed the problem yet so there's no need for an early celebration. "Don't thank me yet, I'll have it sorted out in a few days hopefully. In any case I have to go, please take care of yourselves then. See you around."
Sebastian crosses his arms and watches over Olivia in amazement, the people here seem to respect her more than her father. As soon as Olivia got back to Sebastian's side he couldn't help but comment on the townsfolk's attitude towards her.
"You've got yourself a little fanclub." He smirks, trying to get a reaction out of her but instead she stares at him a little tired. "I mean... it seems you've truly built a name around yourself here."
Olivia got up on her saddle and tried to force out a smile, remembering how hard it was to clear her name- to have the people of the town trust her as the new heir of the lower branch alarie family... and the fact that it might be a woman did not leave a good taste on a few people.
Stuck in its traditions... while the world is slowly changing.
Thankfully, the Alarie family is different compared to other noble families in having a military lineage where men and women can freely serve in the war, death awaits no one- not children, women or the elderly.
Many women have proven themselves to have equal footing in the Alarie family, a thousand years of lineage of history is proof of that.
"...it wasn't easy. The first time I stepped foot into town I was hit by a rotten potato and they yelled at me to go away, refusing anything that has to do with me. Before all of this colour and bustle, the city was dead and grey. People were getting sick, the taxes were so harsh... and people had a hard time getting jobs." (Olivia) gripped onto her reins a little too rough, the old villainess was partying while doing nothing- running away from her responsibility and ignoring the people that are suffering under her rule.
She can bully the heroine... for the sake of the plot.
But this she cannot tolerate, many children and elderly are dying because of their family's fault.
The crowd of people started dissipating only leaving the little girl, Lanna who was waving her hand goodbye- Olivia waves back and even she went on her way.
"I could only do much in three months. Father has forgotten his duty here, if I leave... I fear that... they'll go back to their old state. I could never sleep at night knowing I've abandoned them." By having to take on the Alarie name she has found her new sense of purpose. "The people here... I care about them a lot."
Sebastian could tell that the town matters truly towards the young lady, he never thought that Olivia had a heart to begin with. Those six months of changes were truly terrifying for a good reason.
"If that is the case milady, don't worry I'll remind Duke Owyn of his duties more often then. I'll make sure that the town of Alamana is well taken care of in your stead." (Sebastian) swears that at least to ease his new reformed lady, perhaps taking care of the town while she's away would be a good idea.
"You will?" (Olivia) lights up and thinks of Sebastian highly. "Thank you, Sebastian."
"Now then let's go to the inn before meeting with the other knights that are stationed- we can start our investigation after lunch." They headed in for an inn and planned to get lunch, Olivia being the smart girl that she is, has already formulated a plan to make the monster subjugation easy.
"Yes, sir."
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