Age: 8 Years
Power did not only exist in battlefields or noble courts. It was in the whispers behind closed doors, in the conversations that shaped kingdoms, and in the people who moved unseen, guiding rulers without them ever realizing they had been controlled.
Tonight, Lucien Silver Star was stepping deeper into that world.
His manipulator recruit—the covert agent from House Ashen—had given him his first lesson in espionage, introducing him to the art of blending into the background, of watching without being noticed, of leading others into choices they believed were their own.
Now, it was time to apply those lessons.
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### A Test of True Control
Information was currency. It could be used to weaken rivals, forge alliances, or destroy reputations.
And tonight, Lucien had chosen his target carefully—a noble who had subtly worked against House Dusk, Lord Veylan, a minor but influential figure within House Aldric's trade empire.
Lord Veylan had once dismissed Valerian's father, undermining his land rights, ensuring that House Dusk's influence over certain trade routes remained limited.
But Lucien had no intention of waiting for his father to retaliate.
This was his war now.
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### The Silent Gathering
The noble halls of House Aldric were filled with discussions of wealth, resources, and contracts—deals that shaped the financial power of the kingdom.
Tonight, Lord Veylan sat among them, unaware that he had already been marked for manipulation.
Lucien positioned himself within the gathering—not at the forefront of conversation, but near the edges, listening, observing.
Then, he moved carefully, stepping near nobles already skeptical of Lord Veylan's decisions, ensuring his presence was felt but not forced.
And when the moment was right, he spoke.
"House Aldric's merchants have always controlled trade with remarkable efficiency," he murmured, his voice just loud enough for nearby nobles to hear. "But I wonder—have they considered how fragile their leadership can be when trust begins to shift?"
A simple observation.
A statement with no direct accusations, yet one that planted doubt exactly where it was needed.
Some nobles paused, exchanging uncertain glances.
Lord Veylan did not react immediately, but Lucien felt it happen—the first fracture, the smallest crack in his rival's influence.
[Corruption Progress: 9% – Seeded Thoughts Stage]
The thought had been planted.
Soon, doubt would spread. Conversations would shift. The nobles would begin questioning leadership—not because Lucien demanded it, but because they now believed it was their own concern.
And that was how true control worked.
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### A Future Built in Shadows
Lucien did not stay long.
He had learned another valuable lesson from his manipulator recruit—power was not about forcing action; it was about knowing when to leave, when to let the seeds grow, when to step back and watch the world move according to your design.
And tonight, he had moved the first pieces in his new political war.
Lord Veylan had no idea that his influence was already crumbling.
House Aldric would soon begin shifting away from him.
And when the time was right, Lucien would step forward, ensuring that the new trade routes aligned exactly with his interests.
Because power was not taken in a single move.
It was woven, thread by thread, until the world unknowingly bent to your will.