Chapter 38: Silent Schemes

The room was drenched in silence, saved for the faint clink of silverware as Margot Blackthorn quietly served breakfast. She moved with a grace and efficiency that was almost unnerving, her eyes never quite meeting mine or Mayer's, but always present—observing without prying. That was how she operated now, my Aunt Margot. Always there, but never involved.

As the scent of freshly cooked bread and roasted meat filled the air, my mind was elsewhere, entirely absorbed in the pages Mayer had laid before me. Garrick Rothschild, the most influential businessman in all of Ravenhood. From the meticulously compiled report, he seemed… clean. Too clean.

My eyes scanned through the lines. His wealth, his connections, his businesses—it was all there, presented in a neat, orderly fashion. But something felt off. No one amasses that much power without stepping on more than a few toes, and those toes usually left behind traces, scars, something to betray their existence. But here? Nothing. Not even a hint of blood on his hands.

I closed the document, tapping it lightly against the wooden desk. "Mayer, tell me, do you think this looks a bit too clean?" My voice cut through the silence, causing my aunt to pause momentarily as she placed a plate in front of me. Mayer, standing across from me, nodded cautiously.

"I thought the same, young master," Mayer said, his expression stoic but tense. "Rothschild is powerful, wealthy, and connected to nearly every high-standing noble in Ravenhood. Yet... no scandals, no enemies who speak ill of him, not a single hint of wrongdoing."

"Exactly," I murmured, running my finger across the edge of the paper. "A man with that much power doesn't stay this clean. He's covering his tracks. Everything's too perfect."

Aunt Margot placed a cup of tea beside my plate. "Powerful men like Rothschild are masters of the game, Eliot. They play it well. You won't find dirt on them easily, if at all." Mayer explained.

I glanced at him briefly before returning my attention to Mayer. He was right, of course. But that only meant I had to play smarter. The way I handled Fendrel wouldn't work here, not with Garrick. Rothschild was far more dangerous, far more entrenched in the power structures of Ravenhood.

I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling for a moment. "Going after Garrick directly would be reckless. His influence spans far beyond what we can see. The nobles love him, the people adore him, and his wealth ensures that he's always well-guarded. No, we need something more than brute force..."

Mayer, ever the loyal servant, waited for my next move. He knew better than to interrupt my thoughts. I tapped my fingers on the table rhythmically, thinking. Garrick was a puzzle, one that couldn't be solved through violence alone. What I needed was leverage. Proof of his wrongdoings. Something to rip that mask of perfection from his face.

And then it hit me.

"Does he have a family?" I asked suddenly, sitting up straight. Mayer blinked, caught off guard by the shift in conversation.

"Yes, my lord. He has a daughter—Evelyn Rothschild, same age as you, if not a little younger."

A daughter. That's when the plan began to form, piece by piece, sliding into place like a well-crafted blade fitting its hilt. My smile crept slowly across my face, though it wasn't one of joy. No, this was the grin of a man who had just found his enemy's weakness.

Mayer hesitated, his brow furrowing. "You're not thinking of... doing what you did to Fendrel, are you, my lord?"

I chuckled softly. The memory of Fendrel was still fresh in both our minds—brutal, direct, and non efficient. But Garrick Rothschild was no Fendrel. "No, Mayer," I replied, my tone as smooth as silk. "It won't be that simple. In fact, it would be incredibly foolish to try the same approach with Garrick. He's too well-connected. We need evidence—something tangible. Something that can't be ignored."

Mayer still looked confused, but I saw the flicker of understanding begin to dawn in his eyes. "And you believe we can get that evidence... from his daughter?"

"Exactly," I said, my voice dropping to a low murmur as I leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "I'll get everything we need from Evelyn Rothschild."

"But how—?"

I cut him off before he could finish his question. My eyes drifted toward the window, catching my reflection in the glass. This body, Eliot Blackthorn's body, was different from Leon Winter's, but in all the right ways. Soft features, piercing eyes, an almost ethereal beauty. I wasn't some king warlord anymore, but something far more... appealing. Leon had been a conqueror with raw strength and fear. Eliot? He had a pretty face, one close a girl's. His charms should be easy.

I smirked, remembering how the ladies of my previous life flocked to me, even when I ruled as a tyrant. I had always had a way with them—manipulating, bending their wills without them even realizing it. And now, in this body, with this face, it would be even easier.

"I won't go after Garrick directly," I said, turning back to Mayer. "I'll go after his daughter. She'll be the key."

Mayer still seemed unsure, but he trusted me enough not to question further. That was good. His loyalty was unwavering, and he didn't need to understand every step of the plan. He just needed to follow.

"Where is she now?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Mayer confirmed my suspicions. "She's attending the Ironspire Academy, a prestigious swordsmanship college in the eastern part of Ravenhood. It's the only institution of its kind in the region—only for the children of the wealthiest and most influential families."

Ironspire Academy. Of course. This body's memories flickered to life, recalling the reputation of the place. Elite. Exclusive. A training ground for the next generation of nobles and warriors. It was the perfect place for someone like Evelyn Rothschild.

I leaned back, a slow smile creeping across my face as the pieces fell into place. I'd ingratiate myself into her life, win her trust, make her fall for the charm that had served me so well in my previous life. And once I had her... I'd have Garrick. Every secret, every hidden transgression, would be mine.

It was almost too easy.

Mayer watched me carefully, though he said nothing. He didn't need to. The plan was already in motion.

I looked out the window again, the corners of my lips curving upward in a smile that was anything but innocent.

Ironspire Academy, here I come.