Taking control of Kyre wasn't easy. First of all, I had to uncover all the moles that sent reports to the capital. Money swindles were a frequent problem as well.

It was particularly hard to keep in mind all the details that led me towards the culprits. I needed to write down what I noted before forgetting.

I used a code that popped into my mind out of nowhere.

Soon after writing down a couple of names next to suspicious transactions, I realised where those letters came from.

My Queen.

I had almost forgotten about her in all that drama.

«I will come back to you,» I whispered. «But I need to clean all of this first.»

I couldn't leave Martia the land in the condition of the previous time.

Also, I had to become better before meeting my Queen. I couldn't allow her any trace of doubt. I would have made her fall in love with me no matter what, using knowledge, physical talents, or even appearance.

But could I really change anything?

It was the second time I lost my parents. The second time Martia turned silent and gloomy.

The soldiers waiting for us outside the secret passage were there as well.

All was unfolding exactly like before.

On the bright side, it meant that I would meet my Queen again.

I still had time to become better, but many challenges were in front of me.

I needed to make myself a name, or all the people lurking around and stealing from Kyre's accounts would continue undisturbed.

Just throwing out those that I caught would have led to other swindlers taking their place.

«We need a purge,» I said to the Countess.

Surprisingly, she agreed with me.

«Firm decisions and few regrets, Xander,» she said while looking at the list of culprits. «Even if some of them are innocent and didn't steal, they kept silent and helped the crime to be committed.»

«We should give them a chance to confess.»

«That can be done. Just make it clear that you know and want to hear their point of view. Who doesn't talk will automatically renounce their defence.»

«Who would feel afraid of a teenager?» I shrugged.

I wasn't expecting any admission.

I got two. Slightly imprecise and confusing, but still free-willed admissions.

I exiled the bureaucrats that confessed and sentenced the rest of them. It was hard, finding replacements.

Unlike my first life, no one from the capital dared to come and teach me around.

However, all the movement attracted some attention in the royal Palace. I was summoned there and didn't have any choice but to go.

At least, the Countess would stay in Stoneyard and keep everything under control in my stead.

I wasn't alone in the world the second time.

I had some allies, and unpredicted encounters were still going to happen.

My second journey to the capital was official. It meant that it had to be done with proper means.

First of all, I had to be escorted by my guards. I had to use a carriage, even though I spent most of the time on horseback next to my father's Captain of knights.

That journey didn't happen in my first life, so I was unsure about what to expect. I didn't think that his majesty would all of a sudden decide that it was better to dispose of me. Maybe, he was settled on dividing Martia and me.

That changed, didn't it? My sister wasn't dispersed in the Palace but safe and sound at Stoneyard, taken care of by a relative.

My memories didn't help much till that point, so I wasn't really confident I could change my fate just like that. And I didn't want to.

What if my interference brought me far from my Queen? I would have lived the rest of my life in regret, comforted only by memories that didn't happen.

«The war against Polis will soon start,» I considered.

It would have taken five years for my Queen to convince Ethiro to sign a peace treaty. And another five before being sent to her as a contract husband.

«Yes, my Lord?» the Captain asked, surprised.

«I was thinking out loud,» I replied. «What is his majesty, the Emperor's, intention, in your opinion?»

«I have no clue, my Lord. But it has been centuries from the last time a ruler has dared to order the Lord of Kyre like this. And now, it happened twice in a few months.»

I sighed.

«His majesty will try to make me say the wrong word or make the wrong choice. He wants an excuse to behead me.»

I had to survive ten years more in Ethiro.

«If anything happens to me, send a message to Countess de Ruis. She'll know what to do.»

«We all hope it won't come to that, my Lord.»

«I hope too, but crazy people are unpredictable.»

Well, not completely unpredictable. At least to me.

The meeting was quite slow. At first, I was made to walk into the throne hall from a small door on the side. I waited my turn for a couple of hours, listening to the other subjects' pleas and shaking replies.

They were all scared to their guts. I would have been too if only I hadn't already died once.

Something as stupid as a crazy Emperor wouldn't stay on my path for too long.

In front of me, there were a couple of courtesans. Behind me, someone I recognised as Count Grahm. I remembered the rumours about his convincing the Emperor to declare war and let him manage it, all to achieve some glory. Luck was on my side, as I was exactly in front of him.

«Alexander of Kyre, Archduke of the North,» a voice announced. I took a step forward and knelt to greet the Emperor.

The first step was to survive the first few minutes. If the Emperor didn't dislike someone at a first glance, I doubt he would have sentenced them without reason. Except for a few unhappy cases like my parents.