Friday – Early Morning, Estate West Tower
I was summoned by a courier just after sunrise.
No explanation. Just a wax-stamped note with two words: "Come alone."
I dressed quickly, bypassed my new clipboard-attached handler Leif (who was probably having a meltdown), and made my way to the West Tower—a part of the estate reserved for quiet political functions and family-only negotiations.
Vincent wasn't with me.
That was the first red flag.
The second?
The door to the meeting chamber was already open.
And inside… Clara sat alone.
She wore a storm-grey blazer, her dark hair pinned up like she was presenting a quarterly assassination.
"You're late," she said smoothly, not looking up from her files.
"It's 6:03."
"In this family, three minutes late is a declaration of incompetence."
I shut the door.
"You summoned me?"
"I offered you the chance to understand what's coming."
That got my attention.
She pushed forward a folder, tied with a blue ribbon.
I untied it.
Inside?
Surveillance summaries. Estate movement charts. Meeting transcripts.
And at the bottom—my name.
Circled in red.
"These are the files I was not supposed to see," Clara said. "The kind the council keeps buried under velvet."
"And you're showing me because…?"
"Because I'm not stupid enough to let a war start without knowing who's holding which blade."
I scanned the files.
A pattern emerged.
Budgetary inconsistencies in the estate's weaponry division.
Unexplained transfers of influence between internal court factions.
Events traced to Elias, not Reginald.
"You think he's making his move?"
"I think he already did."
She closed her file with a snap.
"I don't like you, Jay. But I hate losing more."
"So, this is a temporary alliance?"
"Don't flatter yourself. This is a shared survival instinct."
She stood.
"You've been named the Second. That makes you Elias's threat."
"So why aren't you making a move yourself?"
She smiled. Just once.
"Because I'm not ready yet. But Elias is."
And then she walked out—heels like gunshots again.
Same as always.
Back Room Intel – Vincent's Insight
I found Vincent in the strategy room later.
He didn't even blink when I dropped the folder on the table.
"You knew."
"Of course."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were being tested."
"I'm tired of being tested."
He finally looked up.
"Then stop failing quietly."
I didn't answer.
He sighed, stood, and poured tea—same ritual, same calm.
"Clara is not your ally," he said. "But she is useful."
"And Elias?"
"He's no longer playing to win."
"What do you mean?"
Vincent turned to the window.
"He's playing to end the game before it reaches you."
Afternoon Interruption – A Secret Ballot
Just after lunch, a formal letter arrived.
Thin. Heavy envelope. No markings but the red estate seal.
It was a call for vote.
Not to remove Reginald.
Not to replace the heir.
But to limit the Second's access to council records.
They were trying to strip my voice before I even used it.
I went still.
Then turned to Leif.
"Who called the vote?"
"Anonymous. Backed by at least three council members. The signatures are sealed until post-session."
"What time?"
"Tonight. 10:00 PM."
I nodded once.
Countermeasure – Breaking the Seal
At 7:00 PM, I found Clara waiting in the same West Tower room.
She didn't look surprised.
"You're going to retaliate?"
"I'm going to win."
I placed a single photo on the table.
It was a candid shot of one of the signature council members—out drinking with a rival family envoy.
"You leak this," I said. "They'll back down."
"And if they don't?"
"Then we burn them both."
She actually looked impressed.
"Maybe you're not completely hopeless."
he Vote – Council Chamber, 10:00 PM
Twelve chairs.
Only ten filled tonight.
Reginald was not present.
Elias sat at the far end, cool and unreadable.
Clara and I sat together—just barely.
The vote began.
I watched as names were read aloud.
Then paused.
No majority.
Deadlocked.
A draw.
Until Clara raised her hand.
Gasps.
She stood, walked to the center, and calmly declared:
"I retract my support for the motion. The Second shall retain full access."
Elias stood slowly.
"You're choosing him?"
Clara didn't even flinch.
"I'm choosing the game."
Final Reflection – Nightfall
I returned to my room in silence.
The door shut behind me.
No applause.
No ceremony.
But the council had blinked.
Elias had lost.
And now Clara was watching me with new eyes.
I looked into the mirror.
Still me.
Still Jay.
But beneath it all… a new title had taken hold:
The Second.
The Unyielding.