Chapter 486: The Shadow of the Throne

Ethan's POV

The tension in the council chamber was settling—until the doors swung open.

A presence heavier than the empire itself filled the room, commanding attention without a single word. Every minister straightened, every general stiffened. Classic, to his credit, didn't flinch.

Chris Blackwood had arrived.

He didn't need an announcement. The mere sight of him standing at the entrance was enough to remind everyone who truly ruled, no matter who sat on the throne.

His gaze swept across the room, pausing on Classic. Then, slowly, he stepped forward, his movements unhurried yet deliberate. The silence was suffocating.

He reached the head of the table—the seat that had once been his.

And without hesitation, he took a seat at Classic's right.

Not across. Not at the other end of the table. Right beside him.

It was a statement.

Classic remained composed, but I caught the flicker of tension in his jaw. He knew what this meant.

Chris laced his fingers together and leaned slightly forward. "Continue," he said smoothly, his voice calm yet carrying an unspoken weight.

The ministers hesitated. Some cast nervous glances at Classic, unsure of who to answer to.

Classic exhaled through his nose, then turned to them. "You heard him. Continue."

A brief pause. Then, the discussions resumed. Reports were given, strategies debated, but the atmosphere had shifted. Even when Chris said nothing, his presence shaped the room.

I sat back, watching.

Chris wasn't here to reclaim the throne. Not yet.

He was here to remind everyone—including Classic—who had never truly left it.