fix(core): preserve account context on key params and harden account detail fallback

- api_get/post/patch_object: stop treating params.key as account-bypass trigger\n- account detail: remove forced key usage, add list/cache fallback path\n- account detail: fix fallback bug that set load_error even when fallback record existed\n- sites detail: pretty-print cfg_json before save\n- docs: clarify key != bypass and add 403 troubleshooting notes

documentation/BOOTSTRAP__AI_Agent_Quickstart.md

@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@ x-aether-api-key: <PUBLIC_AE_API_SECRET_KEY>
 x-account-id: <account_id>
 ```
 
+**Do not treat `params.key` as an auth bypass.**
+Only explicit `x-no-account-id: bypass` means "drop account context".
+If `key` is present for business logic, keep `x-account-id` intact.
+
 ### Dexie queries — always use the object ID index, not `.get()`
 All `db_core` (and other module) Dexie tables define their schema with `id` as the first
 field (primary key), followed by the object's string ID (e.g. `person_id`). V3 **never**
@@ -288,6 +292,10 @@ These are real incidents — know them before you start.
    clean of data loads in private modules. See `GUIDE__SvelteKit2_Svelte5_DexieJS.md` →
    "SvelteKit Layout Hierarchy: Security and Execution Order" for the full explanation.
 
+10. **Using query `key` as a proxy for bypass stripped `x-account-id`** — this caused
+   valid account-scoped requests to lose account context and 403. `key` can be a valid
+   endpoint/business param, but it is not equivalent to `x-no-account-id: bypass`.
+
 ---
 
 ## 8. Source Layout (Quick Reference)

documentation/GUIDE__AE_API_V3_for_Frontend.md

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ Required for any non-public data (Journals, Badges, Users, etc.).
     *   **Header:** `x-no-account-id: bypass`
 3.  **Token Access**: Provide a **JWT** in the query string.
     *   **Query Param:** `?jwt=<token>`
+4.  **Important Distinction:** A query parameter named `key` is **not** an account-context bypass signal.
+  *   `key` may be used by specific endpoints/business logic, but it must **not** cause the frontend to remove `x-account-id`.
+  *   Only explicit `x-no-account-id: bypass` should strip account context.
 
 > [!CAUTION]
 > **UNSUPPORTED HEADERS:** The header `x-aether-api-token` is **NOT recognized** by the V3 API. If you send it, the backend will treat you as a guest and block access to private data.
@@ -587,3 +590,5 @@ If you receive a 403 on a valid ID:
 2.  Ensure you are sending `x-account-id` and NOT `x-aether-api-token`.
 3.  Verify the record actually belongs to the account ID you are sending.
 4.  Check if the object is marked `public_read: True` in the registry. (Posts and Archive Content allow guest access; Journals and Badges do not).
+5.  Confirm the frontend is not treating `params.key` as an implicit bypass and stripping `x-account-id`.
+6.  If list/search endpoints work but `GET /v3/crud/{obj_type}/{id}` still returns 403, this is likely endpoint-level policy (e.g., requires stronger auth like JWT) rather than a transport/header bug.

src/lib/ae_api/api_get_object.ts

@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ export const get_object = async function get_object({
     const is_valid_bypass =
         bypass_val === 'bypass' ||
         bypass_val === 'Nothing to See Here' ||
-        params['key'] ||
         bypass_val === 'direct-download';
 
     if (is_valid_bypass) {

src/lib/ae_api/api_patch_object.ts

@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ export const patch_object = async function patch_object({
     const is_valid_bypass =
         bypass_val === 'bypass' ||
         bypass_val === 'Nothing to See Here' ||
-        params['key'] ||
         bypass_val === 'direct-download';
 
     if (is_valid_bypass) {

src/lib/ae_api/api_post_object.ts

@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ export const post_object = async function post_object({
     const is_valid_bypass =
         bypass_val === 'bypass' ||
         bypass_val === 'Nothing to See Here' ||
-        params['key'] ||
         bypass_val === 'direct-download';
 
     if (is_valid_bypass) {

src/routes/core/accounts/[account_id]/+page.svelte

@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 import { page } from '$app/stores';
 import {
     load_ae_obj_id__account,
+    load_ae_obj_li__account,
     update_ae_obj__account,
     delete_ae_obj_id__account
 } from '$lib/ae_core/ae_core__account';
+import { db_core } from '$lib/ae_core/db_core';
 import { editable_fields__account } from '$lib/ae_core/ae_core__account.editable_fields';
 import { ae_api, ae_loc } from '$lib/stores/ae_stores';
 import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
@@ -24,15 +26,60 @@ let loading = $state(true);
 let saving = $state(false);
 let save_success = $state(false);
 let confirm_action = $state<string | null>(null);
+let load_error = $state<string | null>(null);
+let loaded_from_cache = $state(false);
 
 async function load_account() {
     loading = true;
-    account = await load_ae_obj_id__account({
+    load_error = null;
-        api_cfg: $ae_api,
+    loaded_from_cache = false;
-        account_id,
+    try {
-        log_lvl: 1
+        account = await load_ae_obj_id__account({
-    });
+            api_cfg: $ae_api,
-    loading = false;
+            account_id,
+            log_lvl: 1
+        });
+
+        if (!account) {
+            const account_li = await load_ae_obj_li__account({
+                api_cfg: $ae_api,
+                enabled: 'all',
+                hidden: 'all',
+                try_cache: false,
+                log_lvl: 0
+            });
+
+            const account_from_list =
+                account_li?.find((a: any) => a.account_id === account_id) ??
+                null;
+
+            if (account_from_list) {
+                account = account_from_list;
+                loaded_from_cache = true;
+            }
+
+            const cached_account = await db_core.account
+                .where('account_id')
+                .equals(account_id)
+                .first();
+
+            if (!account && cached_account) {
+                account = cached_account;
+                loaded_from_cache = true;
+            }
+
+            if (!account) {
+                load_error =
+                    'Unable to load this account. Authentication or permissions may be missing for this record.';
+            }
+        }
+    } catch (error) {
+        console.error('Failed to load account:', error);
+        load_error =
+            'Unable to load this account due to a network or API error. Please retry.';
+    } finally {
+        loading = false;
+    }
 }
 
 onMount(() => {
@@ -40,6 +87,7 @@ onMount(() => {
         goto('/core');
         return;
     }
+
     load_account();
 });
 
@@ -151,7 +199,36 @@ async function handle_delete() {
             <div class="placeholder h-full w-full animate-pulse rounded-2xl">
             </div>
         </div>
+    {:else if load_error}
+        <div
+            class="card border-error-500/30 bg-error-500/5 flex flex-col items-start gap-3 border p-6 shadow-xl">
+            <h3 class="h4 font-black text-error-600">Account Load Failed</h3>
+            <p class="text-sm opacity-80">{load_error}</p>
+            {#if !$ae_loc.jwt}
+                <p class="text-xs opacity-70">
+                    This session is using manager passcode access (no JWT). Some account-by-id API routes may require stronger auth than list views.
+                </p>
+            {/if}
+            <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2 pt-1">
+                <button
+                    class="btn btn-sm preset-filled-primary"
+                    onclick={load_account}>
+                    Retry
+                </button>
+                <a class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-surface" href="/core/accounts">
+                    Back to Accounts
+                </a>
+            </div>
+        </div>
     {:else if account}
+        {#if loaded_from_cache}
+            <div
+                class="card border-warning-500/30 bg-warning-500/5 mb-2 flex items-start gap-3 border p-4 shadow-sm">
+                <p class="text-sm opacity-80">
+                    This record loaded from local cache because direct account API access is currently restricted for this session.
+                </p>
+            </div>
+        {/if}
         <div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-6 md:grid-cols-2">
             <div
                 class="card preset-tonal-surface border-surface-500/10 space-y-4 border p-6 shadow-xl">

src/routes/core/sites/[site_id]/+page.svelte

@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ async function handle_save_site() {
         }
     });
 
-    // Ensure cfg_json is included explicitly
+    // Pretty-print cfg_json so it's human-readable in the DB (TEXT column)
-    data_kv.cfg_json = site.cfg_json;
+    data_kv.cfg_json = JSON.stringify(site.cfg_json, null, 2);
 
     await update_ae_obj__site({
         api_cfg: $ae_api,