"He wants a record of its existence," Caius said. "Not possession. He said—" He paused, organizing it. "He said the bloodline claim predating his own by two generations is a political fact regardless of whether anyone acknowledges it, and that political facts are safer inside the official record than outside it."
The room was listening.
"He said he's not interested in a contest," Caius continued. "He's interested in whether the empire functions. And he asked what I wanted." He set the document case on the table. "Which is what you told me he would do."
"What did you tell him," Elara said.
"The truth," Caius said. "That I don't want the throne. That I want to be useful. That I know the coastal logistics networks and I understand how the eastern provinces work and I've spent a year learning how to build something functional rather than impressive." He paused. "He offered me a formal advisory role on provincial trade and eastern territories administration."
The room was quiet.
