Chapter 476: Power in Motion

Ethan Carter – The Shadow's Watch

I walked through the hallways of the Empire's central command, my mind racing with calculations. Chris was playing his long game. Classic was hesitating, Skylar was testing her limits, and Christiana?

She was about to make her first real move.

I reached the security room, nodding at my men before stepping inside. The screens in front of me flickered with live footage—government halls, financial institutions, military checkpoints. The entire empire was under watch.

And there, on the largest screen, Christiana sat at the high council meeting, her presence commanding.

The Prime Minister was in attendance, along with key officials. They thought they still held authority. They didn't understand the shift.

I smirked. Let them learn the hard way.

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Chris Blackwood – The Crown Unshaken

London was cold, but the game was burning.

I sat in a private suite, swirling a glass of whiskey as the city's elite gathered below me. Deals were being made, alliances reinforced, and enemies unknowingly marked for destruction.

I had spent years in the shadows, watching, waiting. No more.

The Blackwood Empire was mine, and now that I was back in the open, I would remind the world why no one—not Skylar, not the Prime Minister, not even my son—could take what belonged to me.

My phone buzzed.

Ethan.

"The girl is making her move."

I chuckled. "Of course, she is."

Christiana had waited long enough to wield her power. Now, she would see what it truly meant to rule.

"Keep me updated," I ordered before hanging up.

The next phase had begun.

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Christiana Blackwood – The Dictator's First Decree

I stood at the head of the council table, the weight of my new title settling on my shoulders. The Dictator.

It wasn't just a position. It was power.

And now, it was time to use it.

The Prime Minister cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "With all due respect, Miss Blackwood—"

I raised a hand, cutting him off.

"You seem to misunderstand something." I leaned forward, my gaze sharp. "My authority is second only to the Emperor himself. You do not address me as 'Miss Blackwood.' You address me as Dictator."

A silence fell over the room.

I let it settle before continuing.

"Effective immediately, all government projects will go through my office before approval. Financial allocations, military strategies, international negotiations—I will oversee them all."

The officials exchanged uneasy glances.

"This is not up for debate," I added coldly. "This is a direct order."

Some would resist. Some would conspire. But it wouldn't matter.

Because unlike my father and my brother, I had no patience for games.