The second letter arrived before breakfast.
Lord Solis barely looked up when the steward placed it on his desk. The first cancellation had irritated him, but it hadn't truly concerned him. Floods destroyed crops every year. Merchants failed to fulfill contracts all the time. It was unfortunate, nothing more.
He broke the seal and unfolded the letter.
As he read, the lines on his forehead slowly deepened.
His largest iron supplier apologized for withdrawing from their agreement. A caravan carrying the shipment had been attacked on the northern road, and the losses were too great to honor the contract.
Lord Solis let out an impatient sigh.
"Another one?"
The steward lowered his head.
"So it seems, my Lord."
Lord Solis tossed the letter onto the desk.
"Find another supplier."
"Immediately."
"Yes, my Lord." The steward bowed before quietly leaving the study.
Lord Solis leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. Grain yesterday. Iron today.
Annoying. Expensive.
But hardly unusual.
He reached for the next document waiting on his desk and quickly pushed the matter from his mind.
The eastern gate of the Solis estate had only just been opened when Kira returned.
She walked through the entrance carrying a small bundle of incense and prayer ribbons, just as any noble daughter returning from nights of atonement would. A sleepy servant greeted her with a respectful bow before taking the offerings from her hands.
"You returned early, Miss."
Kira smiled faintly.
"The temple was peaceful."
The servant nodded without suspicion.
Ever since her disgrace, Kira had begun visiting the temple more often. The family believed guilt had finally broken her pride. They assumed she spent her nights praying for forgiveness, hoping the gods might wash away the shame she had brought upon the Solis name.
No one imagined she had spent the night beneath the capital, commanding the most powerful hidden network in the Empire.
Kira returned to her room, changed into a simple dress, and dismissed her maid.
Within the hour, she was exactly what everyone expected to see.
A forgotten daughter quietly enduring her punishment.
Shortly after noon, someone knocked on her door.
Without waiting for permission, Lyra stepped inside carrying a small wooden tray. A porcelain bowl rested neatly in the center, steam still rising from the pale herbal medicine inside.
"I heard you returned from the temple this morning," Lyra said sweetly. "You must be exhausted." Kira looked at the bowl.
The faint smile on her lips never changed. She recognized the scent immediately. The herbs were expensive. The preparation was careful.
The poison itself was nearly impossible to detect unless someone already knew what to look for.
A slow poison. Not enough to kill in a day. Not enough to raise suspicion. Just enough to weaken the body week after week until illness seemed like the only explanation. Lyra noticed her hesitation and smiled with practiced concern.
"I made it myself."
"It should help you recover." Kira looked up and met her eyes.
"Thank you." She accepted the bowl with both hands.
For a brief moment, Lyra watched her closely.
Kira raised the bowl to her lips.
The bitter liquid disappeared one mouthful at a time until the bowl was completely empty. Only then did Lyra finally relax.
"I'll visit again tomorrow."
"Please do," Kira replied gently.
"I appreciate your kindness."
Satisfied, Lyra gathered the empty tray and left the room.
The door clicked shut behind her.
The pleasant smile vanished from Kira's face.
She waited.
One minute.
Then another.
Only after the footsteps outside had completely disappeared did she walk toward the open window.
She picked up a small porcelain bowl resting on the windowsill and calmly spat every mouthful of medicine into it.
The liquid settled quietly inside.
Beside the bowl sat a glass container holding a single goldfish.
Without hesitation, Kira poured the medicine into the water. For several seconds... Nothing happened. The goldfish continued swimming peacefully.
Then it twitched.
Once.
Twice.
Its body rolled onto its side before floating lifelessly against the surface.
Kira watched it in silence.
There was no anger on her face. No satisfaction. Only confirmation.
She opened the notebook hidden beneath her pillow. Most of its pages were blank. On one sheet, several names had already been written in neat handwriting. Each name belonged to someone who had quietly helped destroy her life.
Without hesitation, she added another.
Lyra Solis.
She closed the notebook.
That evening, another servant entered Lord Solis's study.
"My Lord."
"The replacement iron supplier has also declined."
Lord Solis looked up sharply.
"What?"
"They claim they no longer have enough stock." He stared at the messenger for several long moments before snatching the second letter from his hands. Without reading beyond the first few lines, he crumpled the paper and threw it into the fireplace.
The flames quickly consumed the parchment.
"Coincidence," he muttered.
"It has to be." Outside the window, another messenger was already riding toward the estate.
He carried tomorrow's letter.