Washington D.C. was a city built on illusions — marble columns and glass walls that pretended at transparency.
Arthur Ashford walked past them all, utterly unimpressed.
His target wasn't in the White House or the Capitol. No, the woman he sought sat quietly in the heart of the Georgetown elite — watching her father's legacy collapse.
Target Acquired: Vivian RosenthalAge: 27Education: Harvard Law, Rhodes ScholarAffiliation: Daughter of Senator Raymond Rosenthal (Suspended pending investigation)Political Potential: Governor → President (Within 12 years)
Traits: Unshakable poise, cold rationality, suppressed resentmentWeakness: Stalled ambition, social scandal
Domain Assignment: Global Political Affairs, Intergovernmental Influence
Loyalty: 58% → 100% (Post-Vow)
Status: Heir to Power, but Starved of Stage
Arthur checked his watch.
Then knocked.
Rosenthal Estate – Midnight
Vivian opened the door herself.
Not a maid. Not a bodyguard.
She stood barefoot in black silk pants and a fitted blouse, her hair tied in a sleek bun. No makeup. No pretense.
She looked like royalty forced into survival mode.
"You're not press," she said calmly.
"No."
"You're not FBI."
"I have better suits."
A pause.
"Arthur Ashford," she muttered. "I've seen your name buried in fund transfers. Lobbying circles. Shadow donation trails."
Arthur didn't respond.
Vivian stepped aside.
"Then come in."
The Wine and the Knife
The living room was clean. Too clean. No warmth. No life. The TV played muted news of her father's embezzlement trial.
"He'll be indicted in 48 hours," Arthur said, sitting casually.
Vivian poured herself a glass of Malbec.
"I know."
"You don't seem rattled."
"I'm done mourning. I'm planning the aftermath."
Arthur smiled. "Good. Because I'm not here to rescue you. I'm here to replace him with you."
Vivian stopped mid-sip.
"What?"
He leaned forward, elbows on knees.
"You've spent your whole life as an accessory to his narrative. I'm giving you the pen. You'll own every stage, every camera, every power seat. You'll make presidents flinch."
Vivian stared at him.
"You're offering me a coup."
"I'm offering you a kingdom."
The Test
Arthur handed her a sealed envelope.
Inside: evidence of a rogue PAC tied to both her father's political enemies and media executives framing the trial.
"I leak this," she whispered, "and half the Senate goes under."
He said nothing.
Vivian's eyes burned with fury — and calculation.
"Do I make this public?"
"No," Arthur said. "You leverage it."
Vivian looked at him differently now. Not as a rich man. Not as a savior.
As an equal.
The Oath
On the estate balcony, under a pale Washington moon, Vivian extended her hand.
"No tiaras," she said.
"No thrones either," Arthur replied. "Just power."
Initiating Unbreakable Vow
Loyalty: 100% (Bound)Assigned Domain: Global Political Affairs & Influence
Vivian Rosenthal → Dame
System Update
Arthur Ashford → Duke
Vivian → Dame (Politics)Yesenia → Viscountess (Faith & Spirituality)Aurora → Countess (Aristocracy)Carmen → Marchioness (Diplomacy)Candy → Marchioness (Sports)Nora → Duchess (Underworld)Roxy → Duchess (Stock Market)Bella → Duchess (Food World)
Skill Gained: Legislative Ghost Protocol
All policies backed by the host or his women pass through international committees 63% faster.Political resistance is halved across lower-tier governments.
Vivian pulled her blazer over her shoulders later that night, already back on the phone with old enemies turned pawns.
She didn't thank Arthur.
She didn't smile.
She simply said, "I need a suit and a microphone."
Arthur handed her both.
"You'll have a stage tomorrow."
And so, the empire gained its voice in the halls of power.