Chapter 418: Five Years Without a King

Ethan Carter

Five years.

Five years since the world buried Chris Blackwood.

Five years since Skylar Blackwood took control of the empire, ruling with precision and absolute authority.

Five years since Classic stepped deeper into power, carving out his own path in the shadows of his father's legacy.

And five years since I last stood in front of the man the world believed to be dead.

The world moved on.

But Chris? He never left the game.

---

The Grand Remembrance Ceremony

The capital was flooded with banners of mourning, a sea of black and gold stretching across every street.

The world was here. Leaders, nobles, and the people of the empire gathered in the Royal Plaza to honor their fallen king.

A massive portrait of Chris Blackwood stood at the heart of it all—a reminder of the man they lost.

Skylar, dressed in an elegant black gown, took center stage. Her expression was unreadable, her posture regal.

For five years, she had held everything together. But today? She had to stand in front of the world and mourn the man she had loved, the man she had ruled beside.

Classic stood beside her, a silent figure in a sharp black suit. His presence was powerful, his gaze unreadable. Five years had changed him. He was no longer the young prince living in his father's shadow.

He was becoming a ruler in his own right.

Skylar stepped forward, her voice steady.

"We gather here not just to remember a king, but a man who built this empire with his own hands."

The crowd fell into deep silence, hanging onto every word.

"For five years, we have carried his legacy forward. We have protected his vision. And though he is gone, his impact will never fade."

A perfectly crafted speech. A flawless performance.

But I watched her hands.

Fingers curled ever so slightly. A subtle tell.

Because no matter how much time passed, Skylar Blackwood never truly accepted Chris' death.

And she never would.

---

Ethan's Hidden Report

As the ceremony continued, I slipped away from the public eye, making my way through the underground passage leading to a hidden chamber.

The moment I entered, he was waiting.

Chris sat in a dimly lit room, watching the live broadcast of his own remembrance ceremony. His face was unreadable, but his eyes? They saw everything.

I placed a report in front of him. The five-year update.

Skylar ruled with strength, but she had made enemies.

Classic was growing into his own power, but he was still searching for his place.

The Prime Minister remained in his seat, but cracks were forming in his alliances.

The world still believed Chris Blackwood was dead.

But I knew better.

He was just waiting.

For the right moment.

For the right move.

For the perfect time to remind the world that a king does not die in the shadows.

Chris picked up the report, flipping through the pages without a word.

Then, for the first time in years, he smiled.

"Soon," he murmured.

And I knew—the game was about to change.