"But you're not," Jolthar said, understanding dawning.
"Not even remotely," Milan confirmed.
"I've spent twenty years building a network of loyal people who share my vision—not for personal power, but for what the empire could become. I've studied the weaknesses of every other claimant to the throne. I've identified the power brokers who could be swayed, the traditions that could be leveraged, and the moments of crisis that create opportunities for regime change."
