Alexander had learned to trust patterns the way other men trusted prayers.
Numbers, unlike people, were predictable. They didn't smile. They didn't bow. They didn't hide their intentions behind compliments.
But they could be arranged.
And that was the problem.
He'd been watching the provinces since before the inspections began. He'd seen small inconsistencies in earlier drafts of reports little gaps that suggested either incompetence or manipulation.
He'd suspected manipulation.
Now, holding the finalized summaries, he was sure.
The figures were too polished. Too even. Too aligned across districts that should not have moved in harmony.
It was like someone had pressed a ruler across the kingdom and forced it into a neat shape.
A story.
Avaloria is stable. Avaloria is thriving. Avaloria is fine.
Alexander scanned the room while Lucien read, and he noted everything that mattered.
