The pen rested next to the thick book, bound with red leather and gold edges. His delicate fingers glided carefully through the pages he had already read, returning a few times to review specific points about imperial collections, tax flows and the system of inspection of internal trade routes.
The soft morning light poured in through the side window of the library, warming the room slightly, and reflecting off the white strands of Elyandra's hair, now longer and carefully secured with a dark ribbon. His serious gaze, worthy of any aristocrat, was fixed on the text.
To his right, in absolute silence, Siris watched. As always. Attentive, but without interfering. His eyes followed the girl's movements with an almost religious dedication, hands crossed in front of her body and the calm expression of someone who would be there until the end of the world, if necessary.
"The taxes on the ports of the South region are four times higher than those of the West region. This should indicate either bribery, or negligence of enforcement. Hmph. Amateurs."
Critical thoughts flowed naturally. Elyandra didn't behave like a little girl reading her first treatise—she dissected the texts like a veteran strategist, seeing behind the words the entire system of power that sustained the empire.
Suddenly, he closed the book with a dry and deep "clac".
She rested her elbows on the table and intertwined her fingers below her chin, thoughtful. His eyes were fixed on some abstract spot on the carpet, while his mind wandered again.
"From mana control to political dominance... It's been six months since it all started. It seems little, but... my body, my habits, even my emotions... Everything has changed."
She remembered the day she could barely control the cold, the unexpected hugs from Siris, the exhausting workouts under the surveillance of her tutor, the nights when she struggled with frustration at feeling 'bent' by gestures of affection. And now there she was, reading about imperial macroeconomics as if it were a morning novel.
That's when he noticed something.
There was an unusual warmth, a presence that was too close.
As he looked up, he came face to face with Siris, absurdly close, as if he wanted to merge his foreheads. Her green eyes begged silently for some attention, as if begging for a caress or at least a little of the affection that the little girl was pouring into the books.
Elyandra subtly jumped into her chair, pulling back her head and furrowing her brows.
"What... Are you doing, Siris?
Siris blinked slowly, with a faint smile on her lips and her voice as sweet as ever.
"Just admiring a devoted girl... and extremely cute. It hurts to be ignored when you're like that, so close, you know?
"She talks as if she were a needy stuffed cat. I can't deal with that."
Elyandra turned her face in a feeble attempt to hide the slight blush that rose to her cheeks.
"I'm trying to study fiscal policies. This is important.
Siris moved even closer, resting his chin on his hands and watching like a child waiting for a piece of cake.
"That's right, and that's what makes you so amazing." A determined little girl, reading about finances while others her age are sewing flowers or rehearsing waltzes.
Siris' eyes measured her from head to toe like a child interested in a candy.
— ... Could you give me a hug? Just one?
The request was so blatantly sweet that it dismantled part of the wall that Elyandra was trying to erect in earnest. She rolled her eyes slightly, as if pondering an imperial sentence.
"Only one... You shouldn't kill anyone, right?
With a resigned—and slightly theatrical—sigh, Elyandra leaned forward and opened a brief space with her arms.
Siris didn't wait a second.
She wrapped the little one with affection, as if the whole winter was melted at that moment.
"You really are the most special little girl in this empire...
Hot-cheeked Elyandra remained quiet for a while, but inside...
"Just one more minute. Then I pretend I've been manipulated."
The warmth of the embrace still enveloped Elyandra as a shadow softly cast itself at the entrance to the library.
The silhouette was tall, with an imposing posture, and walked with the precision of someone who carried centuries of power in every step. The light of the corridor drew the outlines of a man dressed in noble military-court clothes, adorned with discreet symbols of House Valemortis. He didn't need to announce his presence.
Vaelric Valemortis, his father, had entered.
Siris noticed before Elyandra herself. Her embrace crumbling like silk in the wind, she bowed immediately with her head bowed, respectful.
"Sir...
Vaelric didn't answer. He only gave him a brief, firm look.
"Siris." Let us.
The order came low, but non-negotiable.
"Of course, sir. She said, stepping back without hesitation, though she looked one last time at Elyandra, as if leaving a treasure on trial.
The silence that followed seemed denser than air. Elyandra, still seated, turned calmly and stood more upright, her eyes fixed on her father's movements. His heart beat a little faster, but his face didn't let anything escape.
Vaelric approached the table. He picked up the book she had just closed and flipped through it with expert eyes, the pages sliding through his fingers like official documents. He read over the titles and underlinings.
— Port taxation... tax exemption flows... interprovincial collection systems... "Studying imperial finance?"
"Yes, Lord Vaelric. Elyandra replied, with the composure of someone trained to speak before kings.
The man looked up, assessing his daughter as if he were in front of a military report.
"Then tell me, little lady... If you were appointed supervisor of the trade routes in the Eastern District and found that revenue had dropped thirty-seven percent in the last two cycles, what would be your first action?
Something inside Elyandra awoke. The atmosphere around seemed to stop. It was like that tension before a decisive battle—that same feeling that ran down her spine when she was still FatalPrincess, queen of the battlefields.
She smiled slightly.
"I would request the records of incoming and outgoing goods, and cross-reference them with the data from local collectors. If the number of vessels has not changed, there is a high chance of embezzlement of funds or incomplete collection. "A response to the height must be direct," Elyandra thought. "After the analysis, I would remove the supervisors under suspicion and appoint others more aligned with imperial interests.
Vaelric flipped through a few more pages, without expressing anything, but the way his fingers slowed down suggested a genuine interest.
"What if one of those involved was appointed directly by House Sorell?"
"I would still perform the substitution. "Going back on that attitude would show weakness, so I have to have confidence in what I'm doing. Elyandra thought. "Then I would send a diplomatic letter to the House, explaining the situation in a rational way and with evidence.
"There can be no mistakes and I must be assertive, if I plan to have some degree of influence I must start by being direct and concrete, right? Lord Valemortis."
"I would add that, as a gesture of good faith, I am open to future nominations... as long as they are up to the job.
The father let out an almost inaudible sound, a cross between sigh and restrained laughter. He continued reading, but now with a more attentive twinkle in his eye.
"Last question. Let's say you took over the coffers of a poor province in the South. High crime. Diseases. Few resources. No immediate support from the Capital. What would you do?
Elyandra leaned forward slightly, her hands clasped across the table, her gaze now darker and more calculated. As a veteran strategist.
— Cut superfluous spending, call up Knights to serve as a containment force in exchange for imperial benefits, exempt local producers from taxes for three cycles to stimulate the base economy, and finally negotiate with outside merchants, offering future advantages in exchange for immediate supplies, while sending carefully worded reports to the Capital requesting logistical reinforcements. She added, almost whispering, with a glint of pride in her eyes.
Vaelric closed the book slowly, his eyes fixed on her. For a brief instant, silence reigned as if time itself was watching her.
"You're not even nine years old. But he already speaks as if he were sitting among the counselors of the throne.
Elyandra kept her gaze steady. There was no vanity in his posture, only determination.
He drew nearer, and, with a cold dignity, laid his gloved hand on his daughter's shoulder. It was not a gesture of affection, but of recognition. A silent stamp of approval.
"Keep it up, Elyandra. The world will not be kind to you. But if you learn to control it... maybe it doesn't need it to be.
Without saying anything else, Vaelric turned and walked out of the library. The sound of his boots faded in the hallway, like a chapter closing.
Behind the door, Siris peered with her eyes shining and her hands pressed to her chest, whispering to herself with an admiring smile:
"She's amazing...
Elyandra let out the air she hadn't even realized she was holding. A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
"I'm still the same. I just changed the board."
The sound of light footsteps echoed through the wide corridors of Casa Valemortis, wrapped in velvet tapestries and polished marble. The morning was already late, and Elyandra seemed lighter than air.
"♫ I'm smart and genial, peerless noblety~♫," she hummed in a soft, excited voice, her hair dancing in tandem with the bouncing steps. "♫ My daddy challenged me and I was the one who won in the end~ ♫
Siris followed her a few paces, smiling at the corner of her lips as she carried, as always, a folded blanket and a watchful gaze. The contrast between the maid's impeccable posture and the little lord's youthful cheerfulness was worthy of a living painting.
In Elyandra's mind, however, there was more than just silly rhymes.
"In my past life, I didn't even remember my parents' faces properly... I think I preferred it that way. That house was just a structure... cold, distant."
She spun once in the hallway, arms outstretched, as if to embrace the air.
"But now..."
His thought was cut short when he bumped lightly into an ornate little table. The porcelain vase, huge and evidently very expensive, swung at the top like an indecisive judge between fall and redemption.
"Ah—!"
Before panic even reached her eyes, a shadow cut the space between her and the vase.
"Be careful!" Siris exclaimed, his voice firmer than usual.
Like lightning, the maid had moved. With one arm, he held Elyandra firmly against him, with the other, he balanced the heavy vessel with an almost impossible lightness.
"You..." Elyandra blinked, surprised, looking up from below. "It was too fast...
Siris blinked back, smiling sweetly, though her heart was still hammering with fright.
"I'll take care of you in every situation..."
Before he could retort, the soft sound of footsteps echoed across the hall.
Altheria Valemortis, wrapped in a tunic embroidered in silver threads, emerged from behind a marble column. Her violet gaze went from Siris to her daughter, then to the vase that still trembled.
"What's going on here?"
Her voice was calm, but slightly curious, as if she already knew the answer and was just waiting for confirmation.
"Mom..." It was just a small ... accident. Elyandra straightened herself with dignity, trying to regain her noble bearing as if reattaching a crooked crown to her head. "But I'm fine, thanks to Siris.
Altheria nodded slowly, walking towards them. He stopped in front of his daughter and bent down to her height, adjusting a rebellious lock of her hair with an affectionate gesture.
"I'm glad you're well. But it would be nice if you avoided testing the durability of the decoration, yes?
"I promise!" Elyandra replied with a wide, almost childish smile... almost.
Siris smiled behind her hand, and Altheria rested a curious and proud look on her daughter. For a moment, the hallway seemed to glow with the subtle warmth of that instant of reconnection.
"So... I heard that you answered your father's questions correctly," Altheria said, still crouched.
"All of them!" Elyandra raised her chin proudly. "And he didn't skimp on the difficulty.
"Hm." Altheria gently squeezed her daughter's shoulder. "That's excellent. Maybe you're really ready for what's next.
Elyandra didn't answer, but her eyes shone with an ambitious flame that not even the greatest nobles in the empire would dare underestimate.