Chương 10: Laying the Groundwork

Lira didn't rush. She couldn't afford to draw attention. Back in her alcove, she let the empty dust sack slump into a corner and pulled out a shallow tallow dish. With a small breath and a quiet whisper, she called the words.

"Candira fila curad." The wick caught at once. She held the folded letter over the flame. The edges curled, blackened, and crumbled inward. She did not look away as Pallan's message turned to ash. Every word was already memorized. Leaving anything behind would have been careless. She crushed the ash between her fingers and scattered it into the dust already coating the floor. Gone. Her mission remained. Collect information about unclaimed estates, indebted lords, and absent nobles who never returned to their lands.

That kind of information existed in two places. Gossip… and records. Gossip would be easy, but slow. It meant lingering in kitchens, listening to idle chatter, asking questions that might circle back to her, and having too many chances for someone to remember her interest. No. She needed something cleaner. Records, ledgers, and accounts. Which meant one place. Harwin's office. Most of the castle's bookkeepers technically served under Lord Taren, Master of Coin, a distant cousin of the king.

The title sounded impressive, but in practice, it meant very little. Taren signed documents, attended meetings when he was sober enough to stand, and spent the rest of his time chasing cards, drink, and whatever distractions the capital offered. The real work fell to Steward Harwin. With the late Lord Steward Atropos gone and Lord Taren unreliable, Harwin had become the quiet center of the castle's administration. Not a noble by birth, but close enough in manner to pass among them without too much friction.

The man was always smiling, always humming under his breath, and always watching. The general servants: maids, valets, and footmen, did not technically report to him, but his reach touched everything. Ledgers, supply chains, payments, and inventories. If it was written down and mattered, it passed through his hands. And last but not least, he tipped generously. That alone earned him loyalty. Lira had interacted with him a few times while collecting her pay. He had been polite. Pleasant, even.

Still, something about him unsettled her. He held both the coin and the quill. And Lira had learned long ago that while the quill had power, the coin ruled above all. Even so, getting into his office would not be simple. Harwin's domain was orderly, guarded by a layer of bureaucracy and routine. No one walked in without reason. His assistant, Cendric, was sharp-eyed and meticulous, the kind of man who noticed when a ledger sat a finger-width out of place. Lira would not be able to bluff her way through that door.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She needed a reason to be there. A real one. Or something close enough that no one would question it. Her gaze drifted toward her satchel, where an unused envelope remained hidden. The best lies were the ones that did not need to be defended. A secondary truth, made to look like the primary one. And for that, she needed to reforge her letter of introduction.

Celene did not have an office like Harwin's, but her quarters served the same purpose. A spacious room with a bed to the side and a desk placed deliberately to face the door. Ledgers stacked neatly. Schedules pinned in careful order. A place where she could hear complaints and decide assignments. Celene was the kindest of her superiors, even if the woman was kind of vain and superficial; she treated the more attractive maids better than the plain ones, not by much.

Still, she was more attentive to them, remembering their names, and had them work facing nobles rather than scrubbing latrines. Lira chose her timing carefully. On her day off, after bathing and changing into her cleanest set of clothes. Her hair, usually tied back in a simple knot, was brushed out and left loose over her shoulders. A small risk, but a calculated one. Presentation mattered to Celene. And unlike Hesta, Celene was gorgeous enough that she didn't take vengeance on the prettier girls.

Lira stepped inside. Celene glanced up from her work, eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to place her. Then recognition came.

"Ah, you're the one assigned to the library," she said, flipping through a ledger. Her brows lifted.

"You've been there… for six weeks?" She looked up sharply.

"Sweetheart, you should have come to me sooner. Most girls don't last more than a week before begging to be reassigned." Lira blinked, just enough hesitation to sell the confusion.

"Reassigned?" she said quietly.

"Why would I be reassigned?" Celene frowned.

"What do you mean?" Lira stepped forward and offered an envelope, the seal still intact.

"When I arrived, I gave this to Hesta," she said.

"She refused to read it and assigned me to general duties." Celene took the letter and broke the seal, her eyes scanning quickly. Inside were two documents. The first, from Lord Atropos to Lord Musgrove, outlined plans to restore the old library. A space for young nobles, where they could read and study. A quiet initiative that had never been announced. The second, from Lord Musgrove, recommending Lira. A maid trained in the handling of books and records, suitable for assisting in such a project.

Celene read both in silence. Then exhaled.

"You should have come to me sooner," she said again, more firmly this time.

"My apologies, my lady," Lira said, lowering her head.

"At first, I assumed there had been some confusion. Then I heard of Lord Atropos's passing and thought the project had been abandoned. When I was later assigned to the library, I believed the matter had been quietly resolved." Celene clicked her tongue.

"What a mess," she muttered.

"And of course Hesta is involved." Lira remained silent. Let her reach the conclusion herself.

"I've heard nothing about a restoration," Celene continued, frowning at the letter again.

"And without Atropos…" She hesitated.

"It may be best to let it go and return you to normal duties." Lira lifted her head slightly.

"I would prefer to remain in the library," she said. Celene looked up.

"It's a remarkable place," Lira continued, her tone careful, respectful.

"It deserves to be restored. And…" she paused, just enough, "everyone knows you are the one truly managing things now." The compliment landed exactly where it needed to. Celene straightened slightly.

"With Lord Atropos gone," Lira added, "it seems fitting that such a project would fall under your direction." A small smile tugged at Celene's lips.

"I suppose…" she began, already considering it.

"King Argon would appreciate this initiative." She tapped the letter against the desk, thinking.

"But funding something like this would require Harwin's approval," she added.

"Of course," Lira said quickly.

"At this stage, I would not require much: I am currently cleaning, organizing, and laying the groundwork." She let that settle before continuing.

"But, if it pleases you, you could assign me to assist in Steward Harwin's office for a time. I could familiarize myself with his processes and introduce the idea gradually." She lowered her gaze slightly.

"Our project would be better received if presented properly." Celene's smile widened.

"Our project," she repeated.

"Yes, my lady." Celene leaned back in her chair, clearly pleased.

"You would do that for me?"

"Of course," Lira said.

"I would not disappoint you." There was a pause. Then Celene nodded.

"Very well. I'll arrange it. Starting tomorrow, you'll be assigned to Harwin's office for a week." Lira dipped her head.

"Thank you, my lady." She turned to leave, then paused, as if remembering something.

"One more thing," she said, her tone careful.

"Hesta has been… attentive to my work in the library. She checks on my work frequently and orders me around." Celene waved a hand dismissively.

"Don't concern yourself with Hesta. I'll handle her." Lira allowed herself a small, grateful smile.

"Thank you." She stepped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. As she walked back through the halls, her expression remained calm. But inside, she was giddy. The library was hers. Harwin's office was within reach, and with it, the information Pallan wanted. Two birds, one stone. Lira allowed herself the faintest smile. The first step had been taken.