"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
***
He actually noticed something was off.
Damn it. I underestimated him.
I’d been so focused on selling the pathetic act to the crowd that I forgot Lucius had been watching me for years. He knew my patterns. My tells. Every nervous tic and awkward stumble that made up the Kaelen Leone experience.
Stupid. Sloppy. Can’t afford mistakes like that.
"Different how?" I made my voice smaller. Added that little upward lilt at the end that turned statements into questions. The verbal equivalent of a dog showing its belly.
"Like you actually knew what you were doing." His smile was razor thin. The kind of look a cat gives a mouse right before it stops playing. "But that’s impossible, isn’t it? You’ve never known what you were doing."
The words were meant to sting. But I heard the real question buried underneath.
He was testing me. Poking at my performance to see if anything cracked.
I forced out a laugh that sounded hollow even to me. "You’re right. I was probably just trying not to embarrass the family more than I already have."
Self-deprecation. The original Kaelen’s favorite shield whenever big brother came swinging.
"Probably." But his eyes stayed thoughtful as I climbed the stairs. I could feel his gaze on my back all the way to the landing. Like a target painted between my shoulder blades.
He’s suspicious. Not convinced, but suspicious. Going to need to be way more careful around him.
The plot never made Lucius seem this sharp. Either the author glossed over his early characterization, or I just skimmed those Chapters. Either way, he’s a problem now.
Dinner was the usual exercise in polite hostility.
Father talked estate business. Lady Vivienne offered strategic commentary. Lucius demonstrated his growing competence in politics and finance. The conversation bounced between tenant disputes and crop yields and the delicate art of maintaining social standing while the family coffers bled dry.
I played my part. The disappointing third son. I asked someone to pass the salt. I murmured agreement when directly addressed. My mind was somewhere else entirely.
[Narrative Appraisal] turned the whole meal into a chess game I could finally see.
Father’s hand trembled when he mentioned the eastern border disputes. [Political Maneuvering] at work, figuring out how to dodge expensive military commitments.
Lady Vivienne and Lucius exchanged quick glances whenever Father brought up marriage alliances. [Alliance Building] and [Social Manipulation] coordinating their strategy right under his nose.
Lucius steered the conversation away from anything that might expose family weaknesses. [Strategic Planning] refined through years of quiet practice.
This family is a nest of vipers. And I’m supposed to survive here for another month before the Academy term starts.
Fun.
The grandfather clock chimed eleven. I mumbled something about needing to study my new class abilities and headed for my room. Father barely noticed. Lady Vivienne offered a smile that stopped well short of her eyes. Lucius watched me leave with that same thoughtful expression from the foyer.
I settled into my chair by the window and waited.
Lyra would come. She always did when I was at the estate. But tonight’s conversation was going to be different. Tonight I had answers to questions she didn’t even know to ask.
Twenty minutes later, fingernails scraped softly against the glass.
I opened the window. She slipped inside with the ease of someone who’d made this climb dozens of times. Dark hair pulled back in a simple braid. Practical for night work. Her red eyes caught the candlelight as she searched my face for clues.
"Master." She knelt beside my chair, hands clasped in her lap. Fingers perfectly still despite the tension I could read in her shoulders. "How did the ceremony proceed?"
"Better than expected." I reached for her chin and tilted her face toward the light. Her skin was warm under my fingers. Her breath caught at the contact. "But before we get into that, I want to try something."
I activated [Narrative Appraisal] and focused on the woman kneeling in front of me.
[Lyra Ashford] - [Devoted Assassin] - Level 1 - Role: [Fanatical Servant] -
Authority: 2
Skills:
[Silent Step]
[Poison Craft]
[Information Gathering]
[Blade Work]
[Absolute Loyalty]
[Fire Affinity (Dormant)]
...
Hold on.
What.
I stared at the status window floating in my vision. Read it again. Then a third time just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.
[Devoted Assassin]. [Poison Craft]. [Blade Work]. And a dormant fire affinity just sitting there waiting to be unlocked.
She’s been trained for violence, not domestic service. This whole time. And I had no idea.
Did the original Kaelen know? The novel never mentioned...
"Lyra." My voice came out with genuine admiration that made her eyes widen. "You’ve been holding out on me."
"Master?" Real confusion in her voice. She had no idea what I was talking about.
"Authority level two. Class: [Devoted Assassin]. Skills in poison craft and blade work that you’ve never mentioned." I traced my finger along her jaw. She shivered at the touch. Involuntary. Her body reacting in ways she couldn’t hide. "And a dormant fire affinity that could be very useful if we wake it up."
She stared at me. Breathing shallow and quick. I could almost see her mind working behind those red eyes.
"How could you possibly know that? System readings are private unless..." Understanding hit her. Her eyes went wide, irises catching candlelight like polished rubies. "What happened at the ceremony?"
"Something wonderful." I stood and moved to my desk where two pieces of parchment waited. I’d prepared them earlier, knowing this conversation was coming. "Want to see?"
I handed her the first document. My official academy registration. The pathetic [Chronicler] class with stats that barely qualified as mediocre. Crisp parchment, blue wax seal, everything nice and official.
Name: Kaelen Leone
Level: 1
Class: [Chronicler]
Authority: 2
Strength: D-210
Dexterity: D-200
Agility: F-170
Endurance: F-138
Magic: F-9
Skills:
[Lion’s Fist]
[Basic Sword Arts]
"This is what the world sees." I watched her red eyes scan each line. Her expression stayed neutral, but the corner of her mouth twitched downward. Disappointment, quickly smothered. She’d hoped for more.
She’d wanted me to awaken to something that would let me finally stand against everyone who’d looked down on me for years. Instead, she was staring at proof that her master was exactly as pathetic as everyone assumed.
"This is the mask I’ll wear at the Academy. The role I’ll play for anyone who cares to look."
I offered her the second sheet. This one was handwritten. No official seal. Just my own messy script spelling out the truth.
"This is what I actually am."
Her hands trembled as she took the parchment.
Here we go. First real test of trust. Let’s see how my fanatical servant handles finding out her master just became the most dangerous person in this entire kingdom.
No pressure or anything.