"She has advantages I don't. Name recognition. Automatic support from much of Silver Crown's upper years." Her blue eyes were cold, calculating. "Eliminating her as a threat won't be easy."
"But not impossible," Alaric said.
"No. Not impossible." Verelia leaned forward slightly. "I have my own influence. Being the Duke's daughter, connections to the royal court, significant resources. But the Glimor house is... more."
She didn't elaborate. She didn't need to.
"So the question becomes," Verelia continued, "how do we neutralize that advantage? How do we make students see past the name and recognize that competence matters more than bloodline?"
Alaric was quiet for a moment, thinking.
"You can't beat her on reputation," he said finally. "Trying to match her influence directly is a losing strategy."
"I know."
