The Abused Girls

The sky dimmed as evening settled in.

After Albert danced another round with a few noble ladies, the banquet finally drew to a close.

Guests began to leave the manor in groups, whispering among themselves.

Far too many things had happened tonight.

Surely, many of them would remember this night for the rest of their lives—

especially the sight of Fú Nī Yà and Albert, whose relationship looked nothing like that of master and servant.

***

By the afternoon of the next day, Albert’s manor had become lively once more.

Knights and servants bustled about, carrying various items onto the carriages waiting along the road.

Today marked the day of departure from Saint Mir to Rusatinia, and the entire household was busy preparing for the journey.

Everything of value or utility from the manor was to be taken along, along with the gifts granted by Emperor Ulis, all carefully tallied and loaded.

In a corner of the courtyard, Fú Nī Yà stood upon a small wooden platform, dressed neatly in a maid outfit.

Below her stood over a dozen young girls, also clad in maid uniforms—though their bare arms and legs still bore traces of the scars that marred their skin.

These girls were the former slaves of the merchant Lord Kǎ Dá Lā.

Last night, after Fú Nī Yà and Albert reconciled, the prince had casually mentioned that he’d written to Kǎ Dá Lā demanding the release of the girls.

But Fú Nī Yà quickly realized that such a casual “release” was actually a crueler form of abandonment.

After all, though their lives under Kǎ Dá Lā were filled with suffering, at least they had food and shelter.

Once released with nothing, these injured and helpless girls would face a fate even worse—it wasn’t hard to imagine what awaited them.

She asked Albert to send people to investigate.

As expected, the girls—suddenly freed—had no means of survival and had been wandering the streets of Saint Mir.

Some were found lying half-dead in alleyways from hunger or untreated wounds.

The only consolation was that they had been discovered early—none had died.

Fú Nī Yà immediately brought them back to the manor and asked Albert to arrange treatment and care.

In return, her debt to Albert, which had been steadily decreasing, rose again for the first time—at her own request.

Because this matter was personal to her.

It was she who had asked Albert to order their release, and so their well-being should be her responsibility.

She did not want to rely on him too much.

Even though her debt had increased, Fú Nī Yà did not regret it.

The money was spent where it should be.

If, after their release, the girls had died even sooner than they would have under Kǎ Dá Lā’s cruelty, she would have been consumed by shame.

After bathing, changing into clean clothes, and enjoying a proper lunch at the manor, most of the rescued girls had regained some vitality.

Now they stood at the base of the platform, waiting attentively for Fú Nī Yà to speak.

A few who were still too weak rested in their rooms.

“Cough, cough!”

After two soft coughs, Fú Nī Yà glanced down at the girls’ serious faces—and suddenly felt mischievous.

Recalling a familiar line from memory, she straightened her posture and declared sternly:

“I am Fú Nī Yà, personal maid to His Highness the Fourth Prince, Albert! I’m here to guide you all. As your senior in this manor, I’ll be your best teacher. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you may ask me, and I’ll kindly explain it to you!

Now, let’s start with self-introductions. Each of you, state your place of origin and your name!”

She pointed toward the girl standing farthest to the right.

“You first!”

“Yes!”

The girl immediately responded.

“Maple Leaf Village, Schwarz City, Duchy of Schwarz, Tino Province—Annie Grace!”

“Too quiet! I can’t hear a thing!” Fú Nī Yà shouted. “Say it again! You call that voice fit for a maid!?”

“Yes!” Annie inhaled deeply and shouted with all her might.

“Maple Leaf Village, Schwarz City, Duchy of Schwarz, Tino Province—Annie Grace!!!”

“Good! That’s the spirit! Next!”

“Lowland Province, Count of Bilk Island, Port Hiron—Louise Emily!!!”

The next girl shouted just as loudly.

And so, Fú Nī Yà continued this loud “training,” one girl after another.

After a minute or two, the echoing voices became so loud that Albert, clearly irritated, strode over from behind her and brought a sharp hand chop down on her head.

“What nonsense are you up to now!?”

“Ow!” Fú Nī Yà whimpered, rubbing her head. “What do you mean nonsense? I’m just giving these new maids some proper senior guidance!”

“You’ve only been here a month. What senior?”

Albert sighed in exasperation.

After last night’s reconciliation, their relationship had returned to normal—

and such playful bickering no longer carried any real tension.

“Of course I’m a senior,” Fú Nī Yà said proudly, hands on her hips, chest puffed up—her overly conspicuous curves trembling slightly.

“Sharp tongue as ever,” Albert muttered. “Anyway, what do you plan to do with these girls? Don’t tell me you intend to keep them all as maids?”

Truthfully, Kǎ Dá Lā had a discerning eye—or rather, a rich man’s luxury of choice.

Even if he’d bought them for his perverse pleasures, his wealth allowed him to pick only the most beautiful.

In short, they were all quite attractive—certainly more than sufficient to serve as maids in Albert’s manor.

But the problem was—he simply didn’t need that many.

Counting both the ones before him and those still recovering indoors, there were over twenty girls.

Even with the manor needing extra hands to prepare for the journey to Rusatinia, ten additional maids would be more than enough.

Fú Nī Yà knew that perfectly well—yet she still spoke in a coaxing tone.

“Eh~ can’t we keep them, Albert? Even if you hired a hundred more maids, it’d hardly make a dent in your fortune, right?”

“It’s true it wouldn’t,” Albert replied, “but I can’t just hire people to sit around and eat for free. Unless you’re planning to support them yourself? It’d only add, what, another hundred thousand gold to your debt?”

“Eh—!” Fú Nī Yà’s eyes widened in protest. “How could you say something so heartless? Can you really bear to see your dear maid burdened with so much debt?”

“Yes.”

“Waaah… I misjudged you, Albert…”

She whimpered theatrically.

“Alright, alright. Drop the act. Tell me what you’re really thinking.”

“Fine.”

At his words, she immediately stopped pretending to cry and explained earnestly.

“I plan to divide them into three groups. Those who were kidnapped and wish to return home will get some money for travel. Among the rest, those who don’t want to be maids can go to Rusatinia with us, and we’ll give them land to farm. Those who want to be maids can stay and work.”

“Not bad.” Albert nodded. “Then carry on… just keep it down a little.”

“Bleh~ I won’t~”

Fú Nī Yà stuck out her tongue playfully.

Albert rolled his eyes and walked away toward the carriages, where his old butler was overseeing the inventory.

“Wǎ ěr, how’s everything going?”

“Ah, Your Highness,” the old butler said, bowing and handing him a report.

“His Majesty has granted you one million Dukale gold coins, one hundred enchanted longswords, three thousand standard longswords, fifty suits of enchanted knight armor, five hundred half-plate armors, and a knightly corps of three hundred men. In addition, there are countless supplies—grain, cloth, jewels, and other valuables. Everything is detailed here.”

“Good. I see.”

Albert nodded and began reading, unable to suppress a sigh of amazement.

This was far more generous than in his previous life—
at least three times as much.

One million Dukale coins—roughly equivalent to Rusatinia’s annual tax revenue—meant he now had a solid fund to handle crucial early affairs.

And with all those weapons, armors, and three hundred knights, he could immediately form a small military force.

Of course, not all knightly orders were equal.

Though they bore the same title, these three hundred men were mostly third or fourth-tier professionals—barely worthy to shine the boots of the Swan Knights, let alone challenge the Holy Paladins of Lohiris, who could crush them all with a single charge.

Still, it was a start.

He needed to work harder—

at the very least, he couldn’t fall behind Fú Nī Yà.

After all, in his previous life, the so-called Witch of Calamity had commanded a Death Dragon Knight Order of one hundred Death Knights and one hundred Frost Bone Dragons—each above the eighth tier.

Adventurers wept when they saw it—

and not from awe, but despair.

Returning the report to his butler, Albert decided to check the other preparations.

Just then, a fifty-man escort unit arrived at the gates, led by none other than Mitchell, the Swan Knight Order’s High Priest and Aila’s adjutant.

“Your Highness.”

After arranging his men, Mitchell approached and bowed.

“By the Captain’s order, this fifty-man escort is now under your direct command.”

“I see…”

Albert studied the unit—every member at least fourth-tier—and couldn’t help feeling envious.

This squad was composed entirely of Swan Knights.

By far, the strongest combat group currently stationed at the manor.

He wanted them. Desperately.

But for now, he couldn’t have them.

After admiring them for a while, Albert finally composed himself, reason taking hold once more.

“Why are you the one leading them? Where’s Sister Aila?”

Aila was supposed to accompany him north, which explained why this escort had been assigned under his command.

“Captain Aila, she…”

Mitchell’s expression turned awkward—

And at that very moment, a scream pierced the air from the distance.

“Hel——p——me——!”

Following that came a voice filled with chilling fury, like the cry of a vengeful spirit.

“Little——Nī——Yà——!”

“……”

Alright.

He knew where Aila was now.