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Chapter 15 - Thrones, Knives and Proposals

šŸ›ļø The Imperial Court – Red Marble Hall

The ministers sat in shadow.

A series of events, each more unexplainable than the last, now lay before them:

An untrained child countered 4th-circle spells without chant or glyph.

He stabilized a demon incursion with solo spellcode.

He returned from the foglands unscathed, carrying an unknown system fragment.

And worst of all—

> "He made no demand afterward," murmured Lord Helvar. "No title. No reward. That kind of silence is dangerous."

---

šŸ•Æļø Option 1: Marry Him

Lady Venra, head of House Cyras, leaned forward.

> "If the boy cannot be controlled, then at least bind him to blood."

> "We have daughters. Cousins. Even—" her lips twitched, "—certain royals. Match him to one of our own, and Verentis becomes a shared name."

A scroll unrolled on the table.

Ten noble daughters. Ranked by blood, beauty, and magical aptitude.

> "Lira Caelis," one advisor noted, "already follows him. With training, she could become… acceptable."

> "Or bait," someone else whispered.

---

āš”ļø Option 2: Kill Him

The General of the Eastern Front leaned on his glaive.

> "A boy who can override command spells is not a future. He's a threat."

> "No aura trail. No chant. He could assassinate a noble and no one would know who cast it."

His hand tapped the table.

> "All we need is one sanctioned 'border raid' to go wrong."

Others nodded grimly.

> "If he dies in the fog, no one will question it. He's unlicensed. No binding contracts. Technically—he doesn't even exist in the mage registry."

---

🧪 Option 3: Use Him

The Empire's Royal Alchemist leaned in next.

> "You've missed the most obvious solution."

He tapped the copy of Agent Bell's report.

> "Don't destroy him. Don't seduce him."

> "Extract him."

> "We isolate him. Offer him sanctuary. Knowledge. Let him believe he's in control."

> "And then we record everything he does. How he casts. How he overrides spell logic. What rules he breaks."

> "And when the time comes—if needed—we replicate him."

---

šŸ‘ In the Background… Bell Listens

Agent Bell, present only by projection, said nothing.

She simply watched the discussion unfold, face still, eyes unreadable.

> You don't understand what he is, she thought. He's not interested in your power plays.

> He's studying the board.

> And one day, he'll flip it.

---

🧊 Meanwhile: Achilles

In his quarters, Achilles stood by the window, reading a noble girl's formal proposal.

It smelled of lavender and strategy.

The System pulsed silently beside him:

> >>> Marriage Request: House Cyras

>>> Motive Likelihood: 87% Political

>>> Assassination Risk: Medium

Suggested Action:

ā–ø Observe

ā–ø Decline

ā–ø Reprogram social layer?

He didn't choose any of them yet.

He simply whispered:

> "They think I'll play by the rules."

Then he tore the letter in half—and dropped it into the fireplace.

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