**Chapter 7:The Weight of Stolen Potential**
Viktor’s face went completely pale. His hand trembled near his waist as the suffocating pressure of Duke Valerian's aura pinned him to the spot. Beneath that crushing weight, Viktor had no choice. With shaking fingers, he reached into his inner tunic and pulled out a small, silk-bound pouch sealed with a dark wax crest.
The moment it appeared, Duke Valerian flicked his wrist. A streak of black lightning snapped through the air, snatching the pouch directly into his gauntleted hand. He crushed the seal, letting a pinch of dark, iridescent powder fall into his palm.
The air around his hand turned acrid as the dark-attribute toxin reacted with the Duke's dense mana.
> [System Triggered]
> Analysis Confirmed:Phantom Root Toxin— High Purity.
>Target Reaction:Duke Valerian's hostility toward Host decreased by 40%. Intimidation pressure neutralized.
>Target Reaction:Duchess Isolde experiencing severe cognitive dissonance and guilt.
>
"You..." Duchess Isolde gasped, stepping forward as her cold demeanor shattered. "Viktor, what is the meaning of this? That is a forbidden demonic compound!"
"F-Father, Mother, listen to me!" Viktor stammered, dropping to one knee, sweat pouring down his forehead. "I didn't use it on him seven years ago! Someone gave it to me yesterday to hide! Lucien is lying—he's setting me up!"
"Quiet!" Duke Valerian’s voice hit the hall like a thunderclap. The heavy granite pillars vibrated. His piercing gaze shifted from Viktor down to me, I didn't loose my calmness, unbothered stance amidst the chaos. "Lucien. You knew was on him. You saw through a hidden poison when even my elite guards noticed nothing."
"A clogged pipe can still feel where the blockage originated, Your Grace. Whenever I tried to circular mana, my body gives out. It's like something blocking mana, your grace." I said them smoothly even my body hurting, I don't fall my composure. Stepping past the kneeling Viktor.
"I do not care for excuses or sibling rivalries. I care for results."
I stopped at the pedestal, picked up the Imperial Annulment scroll, and casually tore it down the center. The golden pieces fluttered onto Viktor's head as he knelt.
"My engagement with Princess Emilia was built on the premise of two strong houses uniting. Since she turned her back the moment I bled, the annulment is meaningless—I reject her first," I said, my voice ringing across the silent hall. "As for my 'crippled' state... the Valerian family owes me compensation for seven years of stolen potential."
Duke Valerian leaned forward, his expression unreadable, though a dangerous glint burned in his eyes. "Name your demand, Lucien."
"Three things," I said, holding up three fingers.
"First: The Aether-Cleansing Marrow from the private family vault to wash this poison from my veins."
"Second: Access to the Ancestral Library and full autonomy over my training for the next three months."
"Third: A public duel on the day of the Mid-Term Evaluation at Luminara Academy. Me versus Viktor. If I lose, you can execute me for bringing shame to the bloodline. If I win... I take his place as the recognized First Heir of the Western Border."
Duchess Isolde gasped, covering her mouth.
Viktor snapped his head up, his eyes full of rage and disbelief. "You? A D Rank trash who can't even cast a basic spell of magic wants to challenge me?!"
"I said," I looked Viktor dead in the eye, my Spatial Sense mapping out every muscle twitch in his body, "give me three months. Do not send me to the outposts. Do not lock me in the servant quarters. Give me three months at the estate's trial grounds."
Duke Valerian leaned forward, his massive hands gripping the arms of his seat. "And if you fail to reach the required standard by then?"
"Then you won't need to exile me," I replay them softly. "You can execute me yourself for defiling the Valerian crest. But if I succeed... I take my place back at Luminara Academy."
Duke Valerian didn't answer immediately. He looked at the torn imperial decree on the floor, then at the calm, terrifying certainty in my eyes.
For the first time in seven years, a cold, ruthless smile touched the corners of the Duke's lips.
"Granted," the Duke declared. "The Aether-Cleansing Marrow will be delivered to your courtyard within the hour. You have three months, Lucien. Prove to me whether you are a wolf who was muzzled... or just trash barking at the moon."
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author: hallo guys I tried“”. But it's getting my time lot.
So I'll use computer typing commas"".
Thanks guys ☺ if u like my first novel tell me.