[ Age: 8 Years ]
The seasons passed, each one marking Lucien's steady transformation. His influence grew, his abilities sharpened, and his body strengthened under the cover of night.
He was no longer just the ignored third son. He was the architect of unseen dominion, weaving his web of control through careful manipulation and relentless pursuit of power.
The Noble Summit had been his first experiment, the initial steps into the grand game of influence. Now, as the kingdom of Maurya plunged deeper into political tension, his true rise was set into motion.
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### A World on the Brink
War was coming.
The Demon Clans along the kingdom's borders had become increasingly hostile. House Varyn called for a full-scale military response, urging the nobles to unite their forces for an impending campaign.
House Nyx, ever cautious, warned of the consequences of magical warfare, fearing that demon sorcery held secrets that humans had yet to master.
House Aldric, the merchants, weighed their options—war meant profit, but it also meant risk.
And House Ashen, as always, listened from the shadows, gathering their intelligence.
Lucien, seated quietly beside his father and elder brothers at the royal council, let the conversation unfold, observing the tension between houses, measuring their weaknesses.
Every argument, every lingering doubt, every flicker of hesitation—these were opportunities.
He had learned a valuable truth in these years of silent observation:
Power did not belong to the strongest soldiers or the wealthiest lords.
It belonged to the ones who knew how to move unseen.
And no one moved unseen better than him.
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### The First Shift in Control
Following the council, Lucien wandered the grand corridors of the royal palace, his sharp mind calculating his next move.
He had laid seeds before—within House Aldric's heir, within the young noblewoman who longed for recognition, within the very fabric of his household servants.
Now, it was time to water them.
He found the heir of House Aldric speaking with his father, Lord Rovan Aldric, the merchant king. Their conversation was heated, the boy challenging his father's decisions for the first time, his words carrying a confidence that had not existed before.
Lucien's influence was working.
He stepped forward, his presence carefully timed, his expression calculated innocence.
"Your son speaks wisely, Lord Aldric," he said softly, ensuring his voice carried the perfect balance of humility and charm. "Perhaps his ideas deserve more consideration."
The merchant king paused, narrowing his eyes at Lucien—unsure if he should dismiss him outright.
But his son?
His son looked at Lucien with newfound certainty—a quiet understanding that something about the younger noble's presence was different.
A whisper of admiration. A flicker of trust.
[Corruption Progress: 42% – Subjugation Stage]
Lucien resisted the urge to smile.
Soon, House Aldric itself would bend toward him.
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### A Hidden Pursuit Continues
At night, away from the watchful eyes of his father and brothers, Lucien continued his secret training.
His body was sharper, leaner, faster. His dagger-handling had improved, his precision growing with every silent step in the courtyard.
His magic, too, had begun to evolve—his illusions lasting longer, his ability to warp perception becoming more intricate.
Each night, each practice session, each moment spent strengthening himself in secret, brought him closer to what he truly desired.
Not survival.
Not wealth.
But absolute dominion over mind, body, and reality itself.
And soon—no one would see him coming.