The Name They Tried to Empty
They stopped arguing with the ledger.
They argued with me.
The shift was subtle at first, almost polite. A question passed quietly between channels, then repeated with small variations until it sounded like concern rather than accusation.
Who was Aurelia now.
Under what authority did she speak.
Who benefited from her visibility.
Cassian caught the pattern early, eyes narrowing as he compared the phrasing. "They are harmonizing language," he said quietly. "Across regions."
Lucien's jaw tightened. "They are building a story."
"Yes," I replied. "One without facts."
By midmorning, it had shape.
They did not call me a tyrant.
They did not call me a criminal.
They called me unaccountable.
