
On Capri, a casual acquaintance had remarked that your bold conclusions sounded curiously like those of a man named Alvan. He is a dangerous political agitator, and your curiosity would be better spent on people we can receive. You step into this one-chapter preview with Alvan at the center, where choices turn on the people, promises, and pressure already in the room. His laugh acknowledged a tactic he knew, and his attention made the crowded room feel abruptly private. The chapter closes on a continuation question rather than resolving the novel's larger arc.
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