Chapter 4

It was hardwork, but her efforts were finally paying off. The maids and other workers in the manor were starting to open up to her little by little. It had been a few months and the rumors going round about the Tyrant Kyra, have been dialed down. She didn't blame them though, even she would have had a hard time believing that someone who was known to throw tantrums and bully maids just for fun would turn over a new leaf in such a short time.

The best part was that with her new relationship with everyone, she could start gathering those who would be her people and know those who would support Kion later. The most trust worthy person was the maid who was with her when she first came back. Betty; she had completely stopped her trembling now and even treated Kyra so lovingly, almost like a little sister. And after she was made to be Kyra's personal maid, she was able to hear about a lot of rumors and get information from her.

Yet, she wasn't satisfied, she needed a network outside of the Duke's estate as well. She needed to find a reliable information guild but she didn't know how she would go about it.

"Betty? I heard that there are a lot of different guilds out there. Is that true?"

"Yes, my lady. There are adventurer guilds, merchant guilds, information guilds and the most notorious mercenary guilds. A lot of commoners who have a hard time earning a living usually join the mercenary guilds as its easy to make a lot of quick money that way"

"Ohh really! Well then, what about the best information guild in the capital?"

"Well, if I really think about it, that would be the Lotus guild. They are known to be the best in the entire kingdom actually. But its very difficult to come in contact with them as they work behind the scenes. But why do you ask my lady? I hope you're not planing anything dangerous?" Betty asked looking a bit worried.

"Of course not Betty. I wouldn't dream of it. I was just curious is all, besides no one would be willing to meet a child such as myself," Kyra said as she got up.

She excused Betty and began going through her things.

She really needed to get in touch with this guild. And if there's anything she would need, it would be money and more information. She gathered all her gems and expensive jewelry. At least all the ones that a spoilt 10 year old would have. If she exchanged about half of them, she should be able to raise at least 100 or 200 gold coins. But then again, who would want to trade with a 10 year old. Her age was really a huge restriction in her plans.

Well, she would eventually be able to use magic when she turns 13 in a few years, giving her a bit more freedom but she couldn't wait till then. She had been trying to practice spells she knew from her past life, but they weren't successful.

Maybe her body hadn't developed enough to contain enough mana to let her use magic as she wanted.

She was on a stroll as usual, when she found herself near the training grounds. She decided to go have a look and maybe catch a glimpse of Kion during training. What she saw wasn't exactly what she had been expecting. One of the knights was one sidedly beating Kion in what was supposed to be a spar. She didn't care why and didn't really feel a need to step up for him. Besides, no one knew she was watching so she could easily feign ignorance. That was until one of the knights, Caleb, stopped it. She shook her head. Even in this life he was still such an upstanding knight. She then remembered something very important.

She walked towards the knights as though she hadn't been watching the whole time and asked what was going on. The Knight bullying Kion said they were just sparring and Caleb had taken it too seriously and stopped them.

"Oh right, Sir Caleb,my mother would like a word with you. Would you please follow me?" She said as she started walking away. He didn't hesitate to fall in step behind her as she led him to one of the gardens.

"My lady, I don't see any signs of the Duchess being here." he pointed out ever so obviously.

"I was watching. What you did was very commendable."

"Oh, is that so? I didn't know my lady was there the whole time."

"It's alright, sorry I lied about mother wanting to see you. I just really needed to speak to you in private without raising suspicion. There's an important task that only you could help me with Sir Caleb", she grinned.

He felt an ominous feeling but went ahead to ask for details on what she wanted him to do. She explained that she needed him to help her in exchanging her jewels and helping her get in contact with the Lotus information guild.

"My lady, may I ask why you want to have relations with that guild?"

"Oh, Sir Caleb, that's something you wouldn't understand even if I were to spend days explaining it to you. I just need you to help me do this little thing and I might consider making you my right hand man and the Captain of the knights", she said as she winked at him.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have no interest in becoming the cap-"

"Of course you do. Since you need to reach the top to be able to make enough money to take care of your little sister. And being the captain is the surest way of doing that", she said without missing a beat.

He was shocked as to how she knew that, but didn't press the matter any further. She had him follow her to her room as she got the jewels and handed them over to him. As he left after a bow, Kion appeared out of nowhere.

"What was Sir Caleb doing so close to your room Lady Kyra?"

"Kion, how many times have I told you to stop calling me a lady? Kyra is just fine. We're friends, and I don't expect my friend to address me so formally"

"Sorry my....sorry Kyra," he said as she successfully changed the topic. She couldn't have him finding out her plans. She needed him to remain in the dark and go about his normal business. Even the business of him joining the mercenary guild in a few years.

"What are you doing here Kion?" She asked with raised brow.

"I was simply on my way back from the kitchen when I noticed Sir Caleb and you, so I decided to come and inquire as to what business you two may have."

Oh shoot! She had made him bring back the unwanted topic. "Oh well, I just wanted to commend him for defending you today. I happened to see the other knights bullying you at the training grounds"

It wasn't a complete lie, and he must have been a bit embarrassed as he simply thanked her and said there was no need for her to worry. He was used to such treatment from them after the few months he had spent with them.

That night, she had a nightmare. It was about her execution, with Kion and the 2nd Prince hovering over her with a taunting look on their faces. She woke up in a cold sweat. She needed some water but there was none in her room. She took a lamp and made her way to the kitchen. As she walked, she caught a glimpse of someone moving with a light. Who could it be at this hour of the night. Curiosity got the best of her as she followed the person as quietly as she could. She stood a ways off as she watched them come in contact with someone in the outside gardens.

"Are you sure it will work?" one of the people asked in hushed tones.

"Of course it will, the poison is very effective and works slowly. So as long as he keeps drinking it, it will look like he died of a heart attack" the other person responded.

An assassination attempt? In the De Leta Duchy? She couldn't recall there ever being such a thing before. And who was the "he" this person spoke of. Could it perhaps be her father? But who would be so bold as to try assassinating one of the best magicians in the entire empire after the Master of the Mages tower. She quietly snuck away and went back to her room. She had to do something and figure out who the poison was meant for.

It had been a week after the incident that night and she had been keeping a closer eye on the Duke. He didn't show any signs of deteriorating in health. And it was getting harder and harder to find excuses to keep coming to see him.

"My lady, my lady," a maid called out to her.

"Yes, what seems to be the matter," she asked as she put the book she was reading down.

"I didn't want to bother the little miss, but I felt you would like to know. It's about the boy the young miss took in. He seems to be ill and since he is a commoner, no doctor is able to come see him."

Her eyes widened in shock. Was the poison being used on Kion? but why? and who would want to poison a 10 year old child and a commoner at that. She quickly ordered for a physician to be called and that if anyone was to ask, they should be told that she had insisted and even thrown a tantrum.

After he was checked, shockingly, the doctor said there wasn't anything in particular wrong with Kion. He simply prescribed some medicine for his fever and left. This was different from the past she knew. No one had ever tried killing Kion at this point before. Anyways, she had to find an antidote, so she set to studying to find out the kind of poison. The kind that even a physician of the Duchy couldn't detect. She spent a many late nights browsing through the library but she couldn't find anything, when something dawned on her. What if it was a magical poison? A potion. If that was the case, then surely a normal doctor wouldn't be able to detect it. So, without anyone knowing she sent Sir Caleb out to find a mage doctor.

Something else kept bothering her. She needed to catch the culprit but she didn't know how. Maybe it was one of the knights who just didn't like Kion? Or maybe it was someone from outside the estate that knew about him being and illegitimate child? Whatever the reason, she had to find this person and she came up with a plan on just how to do it. She began having all her meals with Kion. She assumed that if they were to eat from the same plate and drink the same tea, the culprit might be strained to do something more dire. And as such, she planned with Sir Caleb and some other knights and some of the maids she really trusted to be on the look out for any suspicious behaviour from any one of the other workers. It took about 2 weeks before the culprit was finally caught. He had disguised himself as one of the kitchen hands, and had been poisoning Kion's water little by little. When her plan had been in effect, he had gotten anxious and had tried to poison one of the cups they usually used together, just to be spotted by one of the maids. It was really sheer luck, but before he could be interrogated, he had committed suicide. The Duke caught wind of this and tightened the security in the Duchy, not because he cared for Kion but because someone else could easily sneak in and try poisoning his family. Kion was treated when the mage doctor came and regained his health.

It was an unexpected event but she had dealt with it. But she began to wonder, were things changing from how they were before because of her? That wouldn't make sense, since she hadn't done anything too different from before except being a bit nicer and having a few allies now. She hoped things would no't go off track anymore, and anything she didn't know about would not happen.