"Tell me everything I need to know," I said, my voice firm with determination. "Tell me how to win."


    Caspian''s eyes narrowed as he studied me. The dim bar light cast shadows across his face, making him look even more dangerous than when he''d effortlessly killed two assassins an hour ago.


    "Win?" He swirled the amber liquid in his ss. "You think this is some game you can win?"


    "I didn''t mean—"


    "Yes, you did." He cut me off sharply. "And that''s your first mistake. The Ashworth family isn''t a challenge to ovee. It''s a dynasty that''s survived for centuries by crushing anyone who threatens their interests."


    I leaned forward, undeterred. "I''m not backing down. I need to know what I''m facing."


    Caspian nodded, a hint of respect in his gesture. "Very well. Let''s start with the basics."


    He set his ss down and traced an invisible family tree on the table. "The Ashworth family appears unified to outsiders. It''s not. Michael Ashworth, the patriarch, has four sons who''ve been at each other''s throats for decades."


    "Four sons?" I repeated, trying to memorize every detail.


    "Corbin, Harrison, Marcus, and yton." He pointed to invisible spots on the table. "Corbin is the eldest and the strongest. He''s a Martial Lord with connections to every major power in Veridia City."


    My stomach tightened. I''d barely managed to defeat a Martial Knight. A Martial Lord was several realms above that.


    "Harrison is Isabelle''s father," Caspian continued. "Third in line, but he''s risen in influence because of Michael''s favoritism toward Isabelle."


    "And that creates tension," I guessed.


    "More than tension. Hatred." Caspian''s face darkened. "Corbin considers it an insult that his branch is overlooked while Michael dotes on his granddaughter."


    I took a long sip of whiskey, feeling its warmth spread through my chest. "So Isabelle is caught in the middle of a family power struggle."


    "Precisely. But she has protection." He raised one finger. "For now."


    "Michael Ashworth."


    Caspian nodded. "The old man is dying. His illness is a closely guarded secret, but his power is fading rapidly. The physicians give him six months, at most."


    The implications hit me like a physical blow. "When he dies..."


    "When he dies, the empire he built will be torn apart by his sons." Caspian''s voice remained emotionless, but his eyes flickered with something that might have been concern. "And Isabelle will be a pawn rather than a princess."


    I clenched my fists under the table. "I won''t let that happen."


    Caspian almost smiled. "Noble sentiment. But let me be clear about what you''re up against."


    He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The Ashworth family isn''t just wealthy. They control forty percent of all trade in Veridia City. They have private armies, political connections, and enough ckmail material to destroy half the city''s officials."


    My mouth went dry. "And where does Corbin stand in all this?"


    "He''s the heir apparent. When Michael dies, only a miracle would prevent him from taking control." Caspian''s eyes were cold and calcting. "And he has no love for his brother Harrison or his niece Isabelle."


    "What about the other brothers? Marcus and yton?"


    "Marcus is the second oldest. He''s cunning butcks Corbin''s strength. He''ll likely align with whoever offers him the best position." Caspian took another sip. "yton is the youngest and weakest. He''ll be lucky to survive the session."


    I absorbed this information, trying to understand the battlefield I would soon enter. "So Michael''s death will trigger an all-out war within the family."


    "Not an open war. The Ashworths never air their dirtyundry in public." Caspian''s voice dropped even lower. "But people will disappear. idents will happen. And when the dust settles, Corbin will stand alone."


    "And Isabelle?" My heart raced with fear for her. <dfn ss="story-note-vis">Fоr а bеttеr rеаding еxpеriеnсе, visit М(VLЕМРYR).</dfn>


    "That''s the most concerning part." Caspian hesitated, something I hadn''t seen him do before. "Isabelle has value beyond her bloodline. Her talents as a cultivator are extraordinary, even if they haven''t been fully developed."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The Ashworths have a rare bloodline ability. Isabelle''s potential exceeds even her grandfather''s." His expression grew grim. "Corbin knows this. He won''t kill her outright."


    "Then what will he do?" I demanded, my voice rising slightly.


    "Control her. Use her." Caspian''s eyes met mine. "Marriage is the traditional method."


    The word hung between us like a death sentence. I gripped my ss so hard I feared it might shatter.


    "So that''s why you''re here," I said finally. "To warn me about this marriage threat."


    Caspian shook his head slowly. "I''m here because I''ve watched you rise from nothing. Because against all odds, you''ve survived challenges that should have killed you ten times over."


    He leaned back, studying me with newfound interest. "Most importantly, I''m here because Isabelle believes in you. And in my centuries of service, I''ve learned to trust her judgment."


    The casual mention of "centuries" reminded me just how little I knew about this man. But that wasn''t important now.


    "What do I do?" I asked inly. "How do I protect her?"


    "Be strong enough that even Corbin Ashworth will think twice before crossing you." Caspian''s tone was matter-of-fact. "Or clever enough to outmaneuver him."


    "I''m working on the first part," I admitted. "The second seems impossible without knowing more."


    "Then I''ll tell you what you need to know." Caspian refilled our sses. "Corbin has allies. Powerful ones."


    "The ckthorne family?" I guessed, remembering rumors I''d heard.


    Caspian''s eyebrows raised slightly, the first sign of surprise I''d seen from him. "You''re better informed than I thought."


    "Not really. Just piecing things together."


    "Well, you''re correct. The ckthornes and Ashworths have been allies for generations, though it''s always been an alliance of convenience rather than loyalty." He leaned forward again. "Dashiell ckthorne is Corbin''s protégé."


    My blood ran cold at the name. Dashiell ckthorne was notorious even in Havenwood City—a young master with ruthless tendencies and immense talent.


    "Corbin has been grooming him for years," Caspian continued. "Training him personally."


    "Why would he invest in someone outside the family?"


    "Because Dashiell is the perfect tool." Caspian''s eyes darkened. "Young, ambitious, powerful, andpletely loyal to Corbin. The ckthorne family resourcesbined with Ashworth influence would make Corbin untouchable."


    I felt like I was drowning in a sea of schemes and powers far beyond myprehension. "There must be some weakness, some way to—"


    "There''s always a weakness," Caspian agreed. "But finding it requires time we don''t have. Michael Ashworth''s condition is deteriorating faster than expected."


    "How long?" I managed to ask.


    "Three months, maybe less." His blunt assessment hit me like a sledgehammer. "And Corbin is already making moves."


    "What kind of moves?"


    Caspian hesitated, then seemed to make a decision. "He''s been meeting with the ckthorne family leaders. Frequently. Behind closed doors."


    A cold dread settled in my stomach. "For what purpose?"


    "That''s the final piece of information I came to give you." Caspian''s voice became deadly serious. "Corbin Ashworth, the eldest son of the Ashworth family, has close rtions with the ckthorne family. If Michael Ashworth were to die, Corbin would most likely marry Isabelle to Dashiell ckthorne."


    The world seemed to stop. The background noise of the bar faded away. All I could hear was the pounding of my own heart.


    "That can''t happen," I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion.


    "It will happen," Caspian countered coldly, "unless you be strong enough to prevent it."


    "I''ll die before I let her be forced into that."


    "Dying is easy," he scoffed. "Living and fighting against impossible odds—that''s the real challenge."


    I took a deep breath, trying to calm the rage and fear churning inside me. "You said she''s refusing all marriage candidates."


    "For now. But once Michael is gone, her refusal won''t matter. The family council will overrule her." Caspian''s face showed a sh of genuine concern. "And Dashiell ckthorne isn''t known for his gentle treatment of women."


    My fingers dug into my palms hard enough to draw blood. The thought of Isabelle in that monster''s hands was unbearable.


    "Why are you telling me all this?" I asked finally. "What do you expect me to do?"


    "I expect you to do exactly what you''ve been doing—grow stronger, faster than anyone thought possible." Caspian stood up, cing money on the table. "But now you''ll do it with purpose and knowledge."


    I stood as well, my mind reeling with everything I''d learned. "When do we leave for Veridia City?"


    "When you''re ready." He adjusted his impable suit. "But don''t take too long. The clock is ticking."


    As he turned to leave, I called out, "Wait. There''s one more thing I need to know."


    Caspian paused, looking back at me. "Yes?"


    "Why do you care what happens to Isabelle?" I searched his face for answers. "You''re just a bodyguard."


    Something shed in his eyes—something ancient and sad. "I swore an oath to protect the Ashworth bloodline. Not just their bodies, but their happiness."


    He turned away again, his voice so quiet I barely caught his final words: "In five centuries, Isabelle is the first who truly deserves that protection."


    I watched him walk away, still processing the enormity of what I''d learned. Three months to be strong enough to challenge one of the most powerful families in the world. Three months to save Isabelle from a fate worse than death.


    My hand closed around the jade pendant at my neck, feeling its familiar warmth pulse in response to my determination.


    "I''ming, Isabelle," I whispered into the night. "And nothing—not Corbin Ashworth, not Dashiell ckthorne, not the entire world—will stop me from keeping you safe."