Age: 9 Years (Aging process begins slowing—gradual growth toward the Academy arc at 15 years old.)
The foundations had been laid.
House Aldric's merchant circles had begun shifting. Lord Veylan—once a powerful figure in trade discussions—had unknowingly started losing his influence, while Gerald Fayn, Valerian's chosen alliance, began rising in prominence.
This was the first sign that Valerian's manipulation had fully taken root.
But securing a foothold was not enough.
Now, he needed to reinforce control, ensuring that trade negotiations aligned exactly with his interests and securing his growing empire's financial backing.
---
### A Strategy in Motion
Trade was the lifeblood of nobility. Without it, military campaigns crumbled, political influence weakened, and power faded into irrelevance.
Lucien understood this better than most.
His network could not thrive on whispers alone—it needed wealth, supply chains, hidden assets that ensured his influence remained untouchable even when nobility sought to challenge him.
So, the next phase of his plan required:
1. Deepening ties with merchants – ensuring their loyalty to Gerald Fayn, making them see him as their best path to success.
2. Forging hidden trade routes – securing supply chains outside noble oversight, ensuring his private wealth could expand beyond noble scrutiny.
3. Controlling pricing shifts – strategically manipulating market prices through whispers and speculation, ensuring House Silver Star gains an edge in commerce.
This was not just noble politics anymore.
This was economics, military supply, and strategic warfare through finance.
And Lucien was ready to dominate it.
---
### The Strengthening of His Alliance
Gerald Fayn, though ambitious, was still uncertain about shifting power too quickly. He feared retribution from Lord Veylan, worried that noble eyes would see his rise as a challenge rather than a natural progression.
Lucien reassured him, using his signature approach—not commands, but careful nudging, shaping perception without forcing action.
"Power is never taken in a single move," Lucien murmured, sitting across from Gerald in a private study within House Aldric's estate. "It is built slowly, ensuring that when the transition happens, no one questions it."
Gerald exhaled, contemplating the words. "And you believe my rise will be seen as inevitable rather than deliberate?"
Valerian's lips curled. "Is it not already happening?"
Gerald hesitated, realization settling in.
Lord Veylan's influence was already fracturing. The merchants were already turning toward Gerald, speaking of his sharp decisions, his ability to understand market shifts better than his predecessor.
It was inevitable.
And Gerald had not even realized that it had all been orchestrated.
---
### The Next Phase: Expansion Beyond House Aldric
Securing trade influence in House Aldric was only the first step.
Soon, Lucien needed to expand beyond a single faction, ensuring his reach extended into House Nyx's magical economy, House Varyn's military logistics, and House Ashen's intelligence networks.
Power was not meant to be confined.
And now that his ageing process was slowing, time was on his side—allowing him to refine his empire gradually, ensuring that when he reached the Academy at fifteen, he would already hold far more power than anyone could suspect.
Because manipulation was not just about winning battles in the present.
It was about shaping the world for years to come.
And soon, even the nobility itself would unknowingly be following his lead.