I stared at the persistent reporter standing in the doorway, annoyance and opportunity warring in my mind.


    "Nia Langley, Havenwood Daily," she introduced herself, recovering quickly from Eamon''s crude description. "I just need fifteen minutes of your time, Mr. Knight."


    I studied her determined expression. Most reporters had given up after my repeated refusals, but this one had tenacity. Perhaps I could use that.


    "Eamon, give us the room," I said, making a quick decision.


    Eamon''s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he shrugged and left, closing the door behind him.


    "I''m not discussing the fight with Adrian Whitlock," I stated firmly as Nia took a seat across from me.


    Her face fell momentarily before her professional smile returned. "I understand. Perhaps we could talk about your ns moving forward? Your rise has been meteoric, and our readers—"


    "I have something better," I interrupted, leaning forward. "Something exclusive."


    Nia''s eyes widened, her recorder immediately appearing in her hand. "I''m listening."


    I allowed a small smile to y on my lips. The pieces were falling into ce.


    "Are you familiar with Dashiell ckthorne of the ckthorne family?" I asked.


    "Of course. One of Veridia City''s most eligible bachelors. There are rumors he''s engaged to Isabelle Ashworth."


    "Not engaged," I corrected her. "Merely an arrangement between families that hasn''t been formalized."


    Nia''s reporter instincts were clearly on high alert now. She leaned forward, her recorder inching closer to me.


    "Mr. Knight, what exactly are you telling me?"


    "I''m giving you the biggest story of your career," I said confidently. "Dashiell ckthorne and I have an agreement. Six months from now, we will duel publicly in Veridia City for the right to court Isabelle Ashworth."


    The lie flowed smoothly from my lips. There was no such agreement, but there would be—Dashiell''s pride would ensure it once this story broke.


    Nia''s jaw dropped. "You''re challenging one of Veridia City''s most powerful young masters? For Isabelle Ashworth?"


    "I''m not challenging him," I rified with deliberate precision. "The challenge has been epted. The terms are set. If he loses, he faces public humiliation and surrenders any im to Isabelle."


    "And if you lose?" Nia asked, her pen hovering over her notepad.


    I smiled coldly. "I won''t."


    "This is... this is incredible," Nia breathed, scribbling furiously. "The ckthorne family will never allow this to happen. They''ll try to—"


    "Kill me before the duel?" I finished for her. "That''s why I''m telling you this now. I want everyone in Havenwood City—no, the entire province—to know about this agreement. The more public it bes, the harder it will be for them to silence me quietly."


    Understanding dawned in Nia''s eyes. "You''re using the public as protection."


    "Consider it a service to your readers," I said. "They''ll witness the fall of an arrogant young master who believes wealth equals worth."


    Nia was practically vibrating with excitement. "Mr. Knight, would you be willing to be more specific about your intentions?"


    I looked directly at her recorder. "Six months from now, I will kill Dashiell ckthorne in front of all of Veridia City. His family''s wealth won''t save him. His connections won''t help him. And when he''s dead, the world will know that true power doesn''te from inherited privilege."


    Even Nia seemed taken aback by my bluntness. "You''re dering a death match against a ckthorne? Do you understand what you''re saying?"


    "Perfectly," I replied calmly. "And so will your readers. This isn''t just about Isabelle Ashworth. This is about showing that talent and determination can ovee generations of entitlement."


    Nia''s eyes gleamed. This was the story of a lifetime. <strong ss="in-imprint-a">This chapter first appeared on *.</strong>


    "Frame it as a ss struggle," I advised her. "The self-made man versus old money. The public loves an underdog."


    "And Isabelle Ashworth? Has she consented to being the... prize in this arrangement?"


    I smiled enigmatically. "Isabelle Ashworth will make her own choices. This duel merely ensures she''ll have the freedom to do so."


    After a few more questions, Nia stood to leave, clutching her recorder like a precious treasure.


    "Mr. Knight, this will be front-page news tomorrow," she said. "The ckthorne family wille after you with everything they have."


    "I''m counting on it," I replied. "And when they do, make sure you''re there to cover that story too."


    After she left, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. The trap was set. By tomorrow, my fabricated duel would bemon knowledge. Dashiell would have no choice but to ept or lose face. And more importantly, the ckthornes would be forced to confront me openly rather than through assassins in the dark.


    I spent the rest of the evening preparing for the journey to River North. The prospect of learning more about my father through the Enlightenment Tea filled me with anticipation. Whatever power it might bestow, I would need it for the battles ahead.


    The next morning, I awoke before dawn. As promised, Adrian Whitlock arrived just as the first light crept over the horizon.


    What I hadn''t expected was to find Eamon Greene waiting nervously in the courtyard as well.


    "What''s he doing here?" I asked Adrian, nodding toward Eamon.


    "He''sing with us," Adrian replied simply. "His onlinementary about my fighting style was... colorful. I thought he might benefit from seeing my homnd firsthand."


    Eamon''s face had gone pale. He looked at me with pleading eyes. "Liam, I didn''t think he''d see those posts! I was just analyzing his techniques for—"


    "Save it," I cut him off, unable to suppress a smile. "You''re always telling me how you want more training opportunities. Consider this one."


    "But I called his Ghost Step technique ''a parlor trick that wouldn''t fool a drunk beggar,''" Eamon whispered frantically.


    "Did you now?" I raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused. "Well, I''m sure Adrian will give you a personal demonstration."


    Eamon''s eyes widened in terror as Adrian turned to him with an unreadable expression.


    "The carriage is waiting," Adrian announced. "River North is three days'' journey. We should get started."


    As we walked toward the waiting vehicle, I observed the interesting dynamic forming between my impulsive friend and the dangerous Whitlock heir. Eamon kept a careful distance from Adrian, practically tiptoeing around him.


    I caught Adrian watching Eamon with the measured patience of a predator studying potential prey. Whatever lesson Adrian nned to teach him would certainly be memorable.


    As for me, I was willingly walking into Adrian Whitlock''s territory—a man who had nearly killed me just yesterday. Yet I felt oddly calm. The path to power was rarely safe, and the secrets of my father were worth the risk.


    I nced back at the inn onest time, spotting Nia Langley watching our departure from a window. By the time we returned from River North, my legend would be spreading throughout the province, and Dashiell ckthorne would be seething with rage in Veridia City.


    The game was changing. I was no longer reacting to threats—I was creating them on my terms.


    I climbed into the carriage, watching Adrian''s calcting eyes and Eamon''s nervous fidgeting with quiet amusement. The journey ahead would be dangerous, but danger had be my constantpanion on the path to power.