While the public celebrated truth the nobles faced a crisis. Their power rested on two pillars unpredictability and exclusivity. Ethan had attacked both with data transparency and logic. The more citizens understood the system the less they feared noble authority. And fear was the nobles’ greatest weapon

That night the nobles convened at Moonstone Hall an ancient circular chamber deep within the north wing of the palace. The building was known only to aristocrats. Its shimmering stone walls absorbed sound creating a chamber perfect for secrets and schemes

Dozens of nobles filled the hall. Their robes glowed with enchanted embroidery. Their mana symbols burned brighter than usual reflecting their agitation. The atmosphere was thick with tension

At the head of the chamber sat Duke Varenden his eyes cold with fury. He struck his staff against the floor silencing the murmurs

You saw what happened today Varenden growled. The people cheer for the outsider. They cheer for his rules. They cheer for limits placed on us

A noblewoman snapped. He humiliates us with his data. Since when do numbers judge nobles

Varenden continued. He wants us to pay taxes. He wants to expose our income. He wants to build a system where nobles follow rules like commoners

The room erupted with outrage. Cries of absurd impossible unacceptable filled the air

Varenden raised his hand. Quiet. We must decide our course. The guilds have already acted and failed. Their chaos only strengthened Ethan’s position. The people now see guilds as the enemy. That leaves us. We cannot let this economist rewrite the kingdom

A younger noble asked cautiously. But what can we do. We cannot oppose him publicly. The mages shield him and the people adore him now

Another noble muttered. The guild strike backfired. If we move openly we risk the same fate

Varenden stepped forward his expression sharp with calculation. Then we do not move openly. We move as nobles always have. In shadow

The nobles leaned in listening carefully

Varenden continued. We cannot attack him physically. He is under magical protection. We cannot discredit him with lies. His data proves him right. But we can isolate him. Undermine him. Turn allies into skeptics. We strike not against his reforms but against his voice

A noble asked. What do you mean isolate

Varenden explained. We spread rumors that he is planning to overthrow the crown. That he intends to replace mages and nobles with his Bureau. That he seeks power for himself

The nobles murmured approvingly. Lies were a noble tradition long before magic was discovered

Varenden added. We pressure the mages who support him. We whisper doubts into their ears. We sow fear. We create hesitation. Reforms collapse when allies are uncertain

A noblewoman smirked. And without allies he becomes just an outsider again

Varenden nodded. Precisely. And then the people will lose confidence. If they doubt him even for a moment his ideas lose strength. The Arcane Float will crumble. The tax code will stall. The Bureau will fall apart. And order will return to us

Whispers grew louder. Some nobles already imagined victory. They had never lost their grip on power before. They could not imagine a world where Ethan’s logic defeated their privilege

But one noble hesitated. A quiet elderly count whose lands had suffered under the broken system. He spoke softly. Duke Varenden perhaps Professor Ethan is not our enemy. Perhaps we need structure

The hall fell silent. Dozens of eyes turned toward him with disbelief

Varenden’s voice dropped to a dangerous tone. Count Brell are you suggesting nobles surrender power

Brell shook his head slowly. I am suggesting our current system is failing. Our lands suffer. Our people starve. Perhaps reform is not our downfall but our salvation

Varenden glared. Then you are a fool

Several nobles murmured agreement. Brell lowered his gaze. He had spoken truth but truth had no place in Moonstone Hall

Varenden slammed his staff again. We move tonight. Tomorrow whispers will spread across the capital. The economist will be painted as a threat. Trust will turn into fear. Doubt will grow. The kingdom will listen to its nobles not an outsider

Cheers echoed through the chamber. The decision was made

But Varenden was not finished. He leaned closer to his inner circle whispering words only a handful could hear

If rumors fail we use another strategy. One that ensures he cannot continue his reforms. One that removes him from the equation permanently

The nobles froze. Even they felt the weight of those words

Varenden repeated softly. Permanently

It was the first time any noble had spoken about eliminating Ethan directly. The room grew colder. Some nobles looked uneasy. Others looked satisfied. None spoke against the idea

The meeting ended with shadows stretching long across the chamber. Nobles exited silently forming networks of whisperers and spies. By dawn the entire capital would be flooded with false rumors and planted fears

As the nobles departed one thought echoed through Moonstone Hall
The kingdom would not let Ethan transform it without a fight
And that fight had just become deadly