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I stood in front of the mirror, observing my reflection. My new body was
handsome but not strong—I needed to change that. Sighing, I turned toward the door.
Outside, a maid stood with her gaze lowered.
"My Lord, it's time for the meeting," she said.
"Lead me to the council."
"Yes, my Lord."
We walked slowly through the corridors of this grand yet neglected palace. It was clear that it had been abandoned for some time. As we proceeded, we passed a hallway lined with old portraits—generations of the Stratos family. They were once powerful rulers, controlling nameless cities, crushing opposition with ease. But their reign had not lasted forever. They crossed the limits of the power they were allowed to hold.
I needed to study their history carefully—understanding their past would help me navigate the politics of this world.
At last, we reached a massive door, seemingly crafted from the finest wood of the Summer Isles. The guards pushed it open, revealing a grand chamber lit by golden chandeliers. At the center stood an ebony table, around which sat five individuals—the same faces I had seen just hours ago at my father's funeral.
"You're late, Marco."
I turned toward the voice. It was my uncle, Edward Stratos—a man with gray hair and harsh features. Not the smartest, but not a fool either.
I walked to the head of the table and sat in the chair of the family head. "I apologize for the delay. I had some matters to think about."
Edward frowned but said nothing. Instead, I turned to my other uncle, Thomas. He was more intelligent than Edward but lacked boldness. He hadn't chosen a side yet. A man who waited to see who would win before committing. He wouldn't oppose me directly, but he wouldn't support me either—unless it benefited him.
To my left sat a massive man, nearly the size of a mountain. Siegfried, the head of the family guard. A giant of a man with a thick brown beard, bald head, and sharp eyes. He had once been my father's closest ally, but he wasn't the type to die for a sinking ship.
Beside Siegfried sat a thin, quiet man in his forties, wearing round glasses. Adrian, the family's chief accountant. Cold, logical, and completely neutral. If anyone truly understood our financial disaster, it was him.
And finally, beside me sat Fernando Stratos, the right-hand man of both my grandfather and father. He was arguably the main reason the family hadn't collapsed yet. My grandfather's younger brother, he had no children of his own, which made it likely he saw me as a grandson. He was the most trustworthy person at this table.
Adrian opened a thick ledger and spoke in a flat tone. "The situation is bad, Marco. The debts have reached a level where they can no longer be hidden. The merchants are demanding their payments, and our lands are no longer generating enough income to sustain the palace and the soldiers. If we don't act soon, we will be in serious trouble."
I looked at him. "How much time do we have?"
"Two to three months. If we do nothing, people will soon realize how weak we are. And when they do, we will lose everything."
Silence filled the room. I had expected things to be bad, but not this disastrous.
"What solutions do you propose, Adrian?"
"The first option is to take a loan from one of the major families. But that would mean losing our independence and becoming their vassals."
"And the second?"
"Declaring war on one of the mid-tier families and seizing their resources. A risky move, but it could save us."
Laughter echoed through the room.
"And you think Marco is capable of leading a war?" Edward scoffed. "He can't even manage this council."
I clenched my fists under the table but refused to react. "And what's your suggestion, dear uncle?"
"Oh, my suggestion is simple—step aside and let someone who actually knows how to lead take charge."
"You think that person is you?"
"Of course. I'm the only one here who knows how to run this family properly."
I turned to Thomas. "Does everyone agree with him?"
For a moment, silence filled the room before Thomas finally spoke. "It's true that the family is in crisis, but Marco is the rightful heir. Overturning the balance now will only bring chaos."
So Thomas was still neutral. He wouldn't back me, but he wasn't willing to risk siding with Edward either.
Then Siegfried spoke, his deep voice breaking the tension. "I support Marco."
I turned to look at him. His sharp eyes locked onto mine.
"He may be young, but he carries Stratos blood. And I see something in his eyes that I never saw in his father."
Edward raised an eyebrow in amusement. Fernando remained silent, simply observing.
I took a deep breath and placed my hands on the table. "Edward, if you truly believe you're the better leader, why don't we put that to the test?"
Edward narrowed his eyes. "How?"
"For the next month, we will each seek our own solutions to save the family. If I achieve better results than you, you will cease your attempts to take control and acknowledge me as the rightful heir."
The idea intrigued everyone—even Adrian, who rarely engaged in political matters.
Edward smirked. "Very well. Let's see if you can compete with real leaders."
I stood up slowly, looking at each of them. "This meeting is over. Prepare yourselves—Stratos will not fall so easily."
As I stepped out, my heart pounded in my chest. I wasn't here just to survive. I was here for something much greater.
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