Yira

Biodata

Background / History

Early Life

Yira’s father was killed by mountain clansmen while hunting when she was little. His remains were recovered during a lord’s campaign against the clans; a wolf-tooth necklace she had made for him was among his belongings. Her mother became ill after his death, leaving the family with little income 13.

Strange men subsequently began visiting their home, and her mother would send Yira outside. One visiting nobleman instead grabbed Yira and prevented her from leaving. Her mother fought him, allowing Yira to escape. When she returned that night, she found her mother dying in a pool of blood. A neighbor later recommended her to the head maid, bringing her into service at the lord’s estate. Yira said that she never went outside afterward 13.

Appointment Under Su Qin

Under the previous lord, Yira was disliked for her appearance and ostracized by the other maids. As the least favored maid, she was assigned difficult early-morning chores, including drawing water for breakfast 8.

Su Qin encountered her at the well before dawn and helped lift her bucket. He appointed her his personal maid and food taster, with responsibility for his clothes and bedding; the transfer was formally arranged with the head maid after breakfast 8 9.

Su Qin then asked Yira to identify dependable servants within three days. Her experience as an outsider made her useful in assessing the household, and some better-performing maids began seeking her favor. The existing head maid learned that Yira would succeed her, while servants not retained would move to a tailoring shop established by Su Qin 11 12. By the arrival of the newly recruited servants, Yira was explicitly serving as head maid 18.

Revenge for Her Mother

While attending Su Qin on Moonwatch Terrace, Yira disclosed her family’s history and identified her mother’s attacker as a nobleman who had entered the castle with Telang. Su Qin promised her the opportunity to kill him herself and planned to have Telang and Aila accompany her 13.

Yira subsequently left the estate with Aila and Fett. She later told Su Qin that she had killed the man by stabbing him thirty-seven times with a spear. Although she understood why his child hated her, she remained convinced that she had needed to avenge her mother 14 16. A later reference establishes that the slain man had been one of Gulltown’s administrative officials, whose position was quickly filled 24.

Religious Involvement

Yira witnessed Su Qin make six hundred gold coins disappear into his system warehouse. He described the act as spatial magic, and she resolved to keep it secret 17.

During the Dragon God ceremony, she explained the oath-taking formalities and swore faith in the Dragon God and lifelong loyalty to Su Qin. After twelve servants received miraculous skills, she worried that she and Luke had been passed over for insufficient devotion. Su Qin reassured her that he intended to obtain better miracles for them, though the wait might last several years; no subsequent miracle for Yira is documented in the supplied chapters 18.

She later offered to organize the spread of the religion. Su Qin instructed her to call it the Qilin Faith publicly, describe it as an eastern religion, and postpone wider propagation until they had more loyal followers 23.

Appearance

Yira has long, straight black hair, a well-shaped face marked by dark spots, and a figure that both Su Qin and Delia notice favorably 8 16 43.

• Facial markings: The previous lord disliked the dark spots on her face, contributing to her poor treatment within the household 8.
• Voice: Repeatedly described as pleasant and likened to an oriole’s song 8 18.
• Bearing: Initially lowers her head and avoids meeting Su Qin’s eyes directly 8 16.

Personality

Yira is initially deferential and acutely conscious of rank. Despite her affection for Su Qin, she considers the difference between their stations an impassable barrier and hopes only to see him each day. Her attachment is personal rather than financial: when he acquires six hundred gold coins, his happiness matters more to her than the money 11 17.

Her loyalty has a protective, cautious side. She rejects proposed weekly outings for the maids because outside contacts might endanger Su Qin. As she grows familiar with his temperament, she becomes more assertive about his welfare: after repeated reminders fail, she confiscates his parchment and quill and insists that he sleep 16 24.

Yira is also capable of fierce resolve without dismissing another person’s grief. After killing her mother’s attacker, she acknowledges his child’s hatred while maintaining that revenge was necessary 16.

Abilities & Skills

Household Management

Yira oversees servants and domestic arrangements while continuing to attend Su Qin personally 16 18.

• Staff assessment: Selects reliable maids and servants for retention in the castle 11 12.
• Recruitment planning: Estimates that the household needs approximately forty maids 16.
• Servant accommodation: Organizes bathing for new recruits and arranges a separate wooden cabin for a married couple 18.
• Manor logistics: Receives forty gold coins and full responsibility for the manor’s logistical duties during Su Qin’s journey to Runestone 19.
• Refugee reception: Su Qin directs survivors of a mountain-clan raid to seek her help at Gull Manor 20.
• Artisan coordination: Is instructed to urge the craftsmen to study their blueprints and later reports the completion of the smithy’s first weapons 18 26.

Personal Attendance and Discretion

• Handles Su Qin’s clothing, bedding, meals, washing, and care when he is drunk 8 16 18.
• Checks his study and secures its window after he leaves 11.
• Keeps the Qilin Guard away from the study door while Su Qin and Delia are intimate 50.

Literacy and Language Study

Yira studies reading with the former head maid in the garden pavilion during her free time 16.

• By Chapter 24, she is also learning Chinese; Su Qin addresses her in that language 24.
• The text does not identify a single confirmed Chinese teacher for her 24.

Relationships

• Su Qin — Lord and employer, toward whom she develops deep affection. He promotes her, treats her as a prospective confidante, and enables her revenge. No romantic or sexual relationship between them is established in the supplied chapters 11 13 16 17.
• Delia Royce — Future mistress of Gull Manor. Yira fears that Delia’s arrival will require her to surrender authority over domestic affairs. Delia nevertheless forms a favorable impression of her after seeing Su Qin’s spotless bedroom 43.
• Former head maid — Predecessor and reading teacher. Although initially envious of Yira’s promotion, she later teaches her in the garden pavilion 12 16.
• Aila — Accompanies Yira when she leaves the estate to carry out her revenge 13 14.
• Luke — Fellow trusted household servant. They help carry the drunken Su Qin to bed, and both are promised better miracles after being passed over during the first ceremony 16 18.

Notable Quotes

“He bled more than my mother did. His child hates me. I understand him, but I still had to take revenge!” 16

“My lord, it's too dangerous outside. Besides, if the maids come into contact with outsiders, they could pose a threat to you. Better not!” 16

“My lord, it's two hourglasses! Sleep!” 24