diff --git a/HellionChat/PluginHostFactory.cs b/HellionChat/PluginHostFactory.cs
index fd57739..ebaf6e7 100644
--- a/HellionChat/PluginHostFactory.cs
+++ b/HellionChat/PluginHostFactory.cs
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ internal static class PluginHostFactory
             sp.GetRequiredService<ILogger<Integrations.HonorificService>>(),
             sp.GetRequiredService<IFramework>()
         ));
+        services.AddSingleton(sp => new Services.TellRouterService(
+            sp.GetRequiredService<IChatGui>(),
+            sp.GetRequiredService<ILogger<Services.TellRouterService>>()
+        ));
         services.AddSingleton(sp => new Integrations.FailedTellNotifier(
             sp.GetRequiredService<ILogger<Integrations.FailedTellNotifier>>()
         ));
diff --git a/HellionChat/Services/TellRouterService.cs b/HellionChat/Services/TellRouterService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38d71e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/HellionChat/Services/TellRouterService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+using Dalamud.Game.Chat;
+using Dalamud.Plugin.Services;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+
+namespace HellionChat.Services;
+
+// Skeleton for the upcoming auto-open routing layer. Subscribes to IChatGui
+// up front so the DI graph and Plugin.cs registration stay frozen — when
+// the routing logic lands, it drops into OnChatMessage without touching
+// anything else.
+internal sealed class TellRouterService : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly IChatGui _chatGui;
+    private readonly ILogger<TellRouterService> _logger;
+
+    public TellRouterService(IChatGui chatGui, ILogger<TellRouterService> logger)
+    {
+        _chatGui = chatGui;
+        _logger = logger;
+        _chatGui.ChatMessageUnhandled += OnChatMessage;
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        _chatGui.ChatMessageUnhandled -= OnChatMessage;
+    }
+
+    private void OnChatMessage(IChatMessage message)
+    {
+        // Intentional no-op until the routing implementation lands.
+    }
+}