Kyle led Bruce and lissa down the polished halls of the Margrave's mansion, his expression calm but his senses sharpened.
His steps were steady, yet his eyes flicked toward the two walking behind him. Sothing felt off.
Their mana signatures… they were slightly muddled.
She stopped mid-step and turned, causing the pair to halt abruptly.
"Did either of you co across soone who tried to use mana on you?"
Kyle asked, her tone light but edged with authority.
lissa blinked.
"No, Young Master. Not that we noticed."
Bruce frowned.
"We were careful. Nothing felt out of place."
Kyle said nothing. Her hand reached out, a soft glow of mana coating her fingers as she pressed them lightly to Bruce's arm, then lissa's.
Their eyes widened as they felt the subtle rush of heat and pressure—then nothing.
The foreign mana dispersed like smoke in the wind.
"You didn't feel that?"
Kyle murmured, half to herself.
lissa looked stunned.
"That… was inside us?"
Bruce's jaw clenched.
"We had no idea."
Kyle's expression was unreadable, but her lips pressed into a faint line before she turned again.
"Be careful. From now on, if anything feels strange, let know imdiately."
The pair nodded as they followed her to the Margrave's office.
The office door opened before Kyle could knock, and Silvy stood on the other side. She blinked, surprised.
"What are you doing here?"
She asked. But before he could answer, her gaze slid to the unfamiliar pair behind him—lissa, in particular.
Her eyes narrowed, a question forming silently in the crease between her brows.
"These are lissa and Bruce. They're my subordinates."
Kyle said smoothly.
"Subordinates? I see… welco."
Silvy echoed, stepping aside to let them in.
lissa offered a polite nod, but her eyes didn't miss the flicker of calculation in Silvy's expression.
Inside, the office was filled with warm light and the scent of old parchnt. Margrave Ricca sat behind the desk, glancing up with a welcoming smirk when she saw Kyle.
But Silvy didn't move from Kyle's side.
In fact, she moved closer.
lissa shifted slightly, instinctively aligning herself beside Kyle.
That was when Silvy stepped directly in between them, her back practically brushing against lissa as she looped her arm through Kyle's.
Kyle raised a brow but said nothing.
lissa froze, her expression tight with confusion.
"Excuse ."
lissa said, trying to step around Silvy.
But Silvy didn't move. She looked up at Kyle with unblinking sincerity.
"I don't feel comfortable when you're this close to another woman. Please don't do that."
Silvy said, her voice calm, sweet—possessive.
lissa stared at her, completely thrown off.
"What…?"
Kyle blinked. He hadn't expected that. But Silvy's grip tightened, and her face betrayed nothing but conviction.
lissa looked toward Kyle for guidance, but he said nothing, simply watching the interaction unfold.
She stepped back, quiet frustration swirling behind her composed expression.
Bruce gave her a look of sympathy but said nothing.
Kyle gently removed Silvy's arm from his own, offering a brief pat on her head.
"Let's not get carried away, alright?"
Silvy flushed and looked away, but the satisfied tilt of her lips did not go unnoticed by lissa.
lissa clenched her fists. She didn't understand what was happening—but she knew one thing: she didn't like Silvy. Not one bit.
'Who is that bitc- I an, female and when did she get so close to Master Kyle? Looks like I need to look into this.'
The air inside the office was thick with tension. lissa stood still, her jaw tight, eyes flicking between Silvy's smug smile and Kyle's unreadable expression.
Bruce, sensing things were about to spiral, nudged her with his elbow.
"lissa."
He muttered under his breath.
She blinked, finally tearing her gaze away. Her hand unclenched, and she let out a slow breath.
Before anyone else could speak, Bruce stepped forward.
"Young Master, what did you call us here for?"
He said, turning toward Kyle with practiced calm.
Kyle's posture relaxed a little at Bruce's tily shift. She folded her arms behind her back and gave a small nod.
"Right. I was getting to that."
The Margrave leaned forward with faint interest, while Silvy, still hovering far too close to Kyle, kept her eyes on lissa.
"I believe sothing will happen in this village soon. My instincts are rarely wrong."
Kyle said, her tone calm, composed.
Margrave Ricca's eyes widened.
"And you waited until now to tell ?"
Kyle t her gaze with a light shrug.
"Things were calm until now. There was no need to raise an alarm too early."
The Margrave's expression twitched, clearly annoyed, but she held her tongue.
"Fine. But next ti, inform imdiately. I don't appreciate being left in the dark."
"Understood."
Kyle said simply.
Kyle's attention returned to Bruce and lissa.
"For now, I want you both to remain alert. Watch for anything suspicious. If anything feels even a little off, report it."
Bruce nodded firmly.
"We'll keep our eyes open."
lissa gave a short nod as well, though she didn't look away from Silvy's side for long.
That evening, just before the servants blew out the final lamps and the quiet of night settled over the mansion, Kyle gathered the four of them in the corridor near their rooms.
"The enemy is likely to move tonight. They've already made attempts to manipulate and possibly eliminate the Margrave. That ans they'll probably strike again—this ti, more directly."
Kyle said softly, voice serious.
Margrave Ricca frowned.
"You think they'll try to kill ?"
"Yes. And probably the rest of you as well."
Kyle replied.
A beat of silence followed.
Kyle continued.
"That's why I want you all to stay in your rooms. Lock your doors. No matter what you hear tonight, do not open them. I'll take care of everything."
"I can help—"
lissa started.
"I'm not sitting still either."
Silvy said, stepping forward.
"No. If I need help, I'll ask Bruce."
Kyle interrupted, raising her hand.
Both won turned toward Bruce as if he had personally offended them.
Bruce's eyes widened.
"H-Hold on—"
"He's the most experienced when it cos to mana combat. I trust him to hold the line if needed."
Kyle added.
lissa narrowed her eyes.
"Of course. Why not the silent bodyguard?"
Silvy crossed her arms.
"You can't possibly an to leave this to a man who can't even notice when he should back out of sothing."
Bruce looked between the two, panic building on his face.
"Wait—what—?"
Kyle sighed.
"This isn't a contest."
lissa turned to Kyle.
"Young Master, I'm perfectly capable—"
Silvy pushed forward.
"You just don't want near you because you're afraid I'll get hurt."
"I don't want anyone hurt. That's the point."
Kyle said flatly.
Bruce cleared his throat and stepped between the two again, raising his hands.
"Alright, that's enough. It's late. If sothing's going to happen, it'll happen soon."
Kyle nodded.
"Exactly. Everyone, return to your rooms. Stay quiet. Stay inside."
One by one, the group dispersed. lissa lingered just a mont longer before walking off, eyes still burning with frustration. Silvy left in a storm of silence.
Bruce looked to Kyle.
"You sure about this?"
"I'm sure."
Kyle said with full confidence.
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