Chapter 404: Watching from the Shadows

Chris Blackwood

The world believed I was dead.

I watched as my son stood before the kingdom, his voice steady, his presence unyielding. He had delivered his speech without hesitation, taking his place as ruler with the kind of confidence I had drilled into him since birth.

Good.

But this was just the beginning.

I leaned back in my chair, the dimly lit room concealing my presence. The hidden surveillance feeds played across the screens before me, capturing every reaction, every whisper, every calculated move made in the wake of my "death."

I wasn't surprised by how quickly Classic had adapted. He had my blood, my mind. But whether he truly understood what it meant to sit on that throne… that was yet to be seen.

Ethan's voice came through my private comm. "The kingdom is responding exactly as expected. Some of the nobles have already begun their maneuvering. The council is waiting for Classic to make a misstep."

I smirked. "Of course they are. That's the nature of power. No one truly mourns a king. They only wait to see what the next one will do."

Ethan remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "He handled the announcement well. No sign of hesitation."

"He's my son," I said simply.

I could hear the faint approval in Ethan's tone. "But he doesn't trust easily. Not even me."

I chuckled. "Nor should he."

Trust was a weakness in our world. Classic knew that. But did he understand that sometimes the best way to rule was to let people think they were trusted, only to strike when they least expected?

Time would tell.

Testing the Family

A different screen caught my attention. Christiana.

She had been silent during the announcement, but now? Now, she was deep in conversation with a group of high-ranking nobles. Her eyes were sharp, calculating.

I leaned forward slightly.

"She's moving," I murmured.

Ethan responded. "She's gathering allies. Likely weighing her options. If she suspects you're alive, she'll be the first to act."

"Let her."

I wanted to see how far she would go.

Another feed showed Skylar, standing in the shadows of the palace corridors. Unlike Christiana, she wasn't making political moves. Instead, she was watching Classic.

Her loyalty was to my son, but loyalty could be tested.

The Hidden Threats

I turned my attention to the outer feeds—those beyond the palace.

The moment a king falls, the wolves begin to move.

Enemies within and outside the kingdom would see my "death" as an opportunity. Some would come forward with condolences, pretending to be allies. Others would stay in the dark, plotting.

The Blackwood Empire wasn't just about who sat on the throne. It was about control. Influence. Fear.

I had spent years building that foundation.

Now, I would see who dared to try and tear it down.

Ethan's voice came through again. "We've already intercepted messages from certain factions. Some are watching. Others are preparing to act."

I exhaled slowly. "Let them."

I wasn't worried.

Because while they played their little games, I was watching everything.

And when the time was right… I would remind them why a Blackwood never truly dies.