The Blackwood patriarch's study was a place the old Kira had rarely entered without summons.
From the game's storyline, she knew it was more fortress than office—its shelves lined with ledgers, its walls thick enough to silence arguments and screams alike.
Now, she had to find a way in.
At breakfast, the long dining table gleamed under the chandelier's pale light. Servants moved with quiet efficiency, setting silver platters before her and the other family members.
The patriarch sat at the head—Lord Cedric Blackwood, a man whose presence was heavier than the stone walls themselves. His dark eyes swept the table, pausing briefly on her.
Kira lowered her gaze, feigning demure obedience. The original Kira would have greeted him with smug arrogance, reminding him that she was his daughter and therefore untouchable. She was not going to make that mistake.
"Father," she began carefully, "I was wondering if I might be of use to you today."
A hush fell over the table. Even the clinking of cutlery stopped.
Lord Cedric's brow lifted.
"Use to me?"
"Yes," she said evenly. "I've been… reflecting on my duties. Perhaps I could assist you with correspondence or records. It would be a good education for me."
For a long moment, he said nothing. The silence was so sharp she could hear her own heartbeat.
Finally, he leaned back.
"Education is a fine thing," he said slowly, "but meddling where one is not prepared can be dangerous."
Her lips curved in the smallest of smiles.
"Then I suppose it is fortunate I am eager to learn."
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
"Very well," he said at last. "Come to my study after luncheon. We will see how far your eagerness takes you."
Back in her chambers, Kira allowed herself a single breath of relief. She was in.
But she also knew this was not a victory—merely the opening move. The patriarch's study was a den of secrets, and she would be walking into it under his direct watch.
She glanced at the folded note hidden beneath her pillow.
They are not your allies.
And tonight, she would find out whether that warning was truth—or bait.