The Stuart Council Chamber was a room designed to make anyone feel small. Towering mahogany walls, dim amber lighting, and a long table that had seen a century of cold-blooded decisions. Seven men sat there, the "Elders," their faces etched with the kind of arrogance that only generations of unearned wealth could produce.
I walked in, my heels clicking rhythmically on the marble. I didn't wait for them to offer me a seat. I sat at the head of the table—my father's seat.
"Sophia, your behavior over the last twenty-four hours has been nothing short of catastrophic," the eldest, Lord Halloway, began. He slammed a folder of newspaper clippings onto the table. "Scandals at the gala. Breaking the engagement with Cross Group. Pre-market shares dropping. You're destroying the Stuart legacy for a personal grudge."
"A legacy built on my father's back, which you've all been parasitically feeding off for decades?" I countered, leaning back. "Let's be honest, Halloway. You don't care about the 'legacy.' You care about the quarterly dividends Julian promised you in exchange for my hand in marriage."
"How dare you!" Another elder, a balding man named Miller, shouted. "We are your elders! We have the power to strip you of your inheritance and appoint a new head of the conglomerate. After what you did to Julian, we are seriously considering it."
[Ding! 'Analytical Eye' scanning Targets...]
[Target: Lord Halloway. Weakness: Laundering money through offshore shell companies in the Northern Territories.]
[Target: Elder Miller. Weakness: Hidden addiction to high-stakes gambling; owes the Cross Group thirty million.]
I looked at them, and for the first time, I didn't see imposing figures of authority. I saw a group of frightened, corrupt old men. My internal monologue was no longer a frantic plea for survival—it was a hunter's calculation. You want to take my title? You don't even have the right to keep your own names.
"Go ahead," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Strip me of my inheritance. But before you cast your vote, I suggest you look at the documents I've sent to your personal tablets."
I tapped a command on my phone. Seven pings echoed through the silent chamber.
As they swiped through the files, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly. Halloway's face went from indignant red to a sickly, ashen gray. Miller's hands began to shake so violently he nearly dropped his device.
"Where... where did you get this?" Halloway stammered, his voice cracking. "This is... this is private—"
"In this world, nothing is private when you're dealing with the Duke of the North," I lied smoothly, letting the black diamond ring on my finger catch the light. I knew Klaus didn't give me this Specific information—I had it from my past life—but at this moment, blaming the fear on the "Demon Duke" was the most effective tactic.
The mention of Klaus's name was like a physical blow. The elders looked at the ring, then at me, as if they were seeing a ghost.
"The Duke... he's supporting you?" Miller whispered, his eyes wide with terror. Everyone knew Klaus's reputation. He didn't just ruin people; he erased them.
"Supporting is a mild word," I said, standing up and leaning over the table. "He's an investor in my vision. And my vision doesn't include a board of directors that sells my life to the highest bidder. You have two choices: You can sign a resolution affirming my absolute authority as the Head of the Stuart Conglomerate... or you can spend the rest of your lives explaining these documents to the Imperial Audit."
[Ding! Mass Plunder Event! 'The Council's Submission' achieved!]
[Luck Value: +1,200! Life Force: +30 Days.]
[System Notice: Host has gained 'Absolute Family Control'. New Skill Unlocked: 'Luck Detection Map'.]
Halloway looked at the others. There was no solidarity among wolves when their own necks were on the line. One by one, they bowed their heads.
"The... the resolution will be prepared immediately, Miss Stuart," Halloway whispered.
I walked out of the chamber, the air outside feeling sweeter than ever. I had just secured the fortress. But as I reached my car, a tall figure was leaning against the door, his violet eyes glowing in the twilight.
"Well done, little thief," Klaus said, his voice a low vibration. "But don't get too comfortable. Julian has gone to see the Empress. He's playing his last card: The Bloodline Decree."
My heart skipped a beat. The Bloodline Decree—a law that could override any inheritance if a male heir of the main line was found. Julian didn't have Stuart blood... unless he found the one person I had forgotten about.
"My half-brother," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a bucket of ice water.
"Exactly," Klaus said, stepping closer and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "The game just got a lot more interesting. Are you ready to hunt a ghost?"