The Arrest

Christiana POV

The moment Adrian stood, my patience snapped.

"Dad, you can't keep him. He is a threat."

I didn't wait for a response. I turned to the guards stationed along the walls and ordered sharply, "Seize him!"

The guards hesitated for a brief second, their eyes flickering between me and my father. I was the Dictator of the Blackwood Union, second only to Ethan in rule, but Chris—Chris was the God of the Empire. My command held weight, but his was absolute.

Still, my father remained silent, watching everything unfold without interference.

The hesitation cost them.

Adrian reacted instantly. In a blur of motion, he grabbed one of the nearest guards and twisted his arm, disarming him in seconds. A blade flashed, and before anyone could fully register it, he had pressed the cold steel against the guard's throat, using him as a human shield.

"I knew you wouldn't let me walk out of here," Adrian muttered, eyes burning with defiance as he glared at me.

I clenched my fists. "You shouldn't be here at all. You should be dead for your betrayal."

Ethan took a step forward, his voice dangerously calm. "Adrian, let him go. You're only making this worse for yourself."

Adrian smirked, though his grip on the knife didn't loosen. "Worse? I was already walking into the lion's den. You think I expected to walk out unchallenged?"

I turned to my father, who was still seated, his expression unreadable. He hadn't spoken a word since I gave the order.

"Father, why aren't you saying anything?" I demanded.

Chris finally exhaled, leaning back into his chair. His gaze was locked onto Adrian, but his voice was directed at me.

"Because I want to see how you handle it, Christiana."

The weight of his words sent a chill down my spine.

This was a test.

But I wasn't about to fail.

I took a slow step forward, my gaze never leaving Adrian's. "You're surrounded. You're outnumbered. You can't win this."

Adrian's smirk didn't fade. "Winning isn't always about fighting, Christiana. Sometimes, it's about surviving."

I could see it now—he wasn't planning to escape. He was waiting. For what, I didn't know.

My patience thinned. "Last warning, Adrian. Let him go."

But before he could respond, my father finally moved.

With a single wave of his hand, the entire room seemed to freeze. The guards immediately backed away, their weapons lowering, as if an unseen force compelled them. Even Adrian tensed, sensing the shift in power.

Chris's voice was quiet, but it carried an authority that made the air thick with tension.

"Drop the knife, Adrian."

For the first time, hesitation flickered across Adrian's face. His grip loosened slightly.

"You're still alive because I allowed it," my father continued. "But make no mistake—if you kill one of my men in my house, I will ensure you never take another breath."

Adrian slowly exhaled. Then, without another word, he released the guard and let the knife clatter to the floor.

Guards rushed forward, seizing him before he could react.

I expected my father to give the execution order. To end this rebellion for good.

But instead, he did the unthinkable.

"Take him to the Blackwood Prison," Chris commanded. "He is no longer a threat until I say otherwise."

I spun toward him, my disbelief clear. "Father! You can't be serious! After everything, you're just going to let him live?"

Chris turned his gaze toward me, his expression unreadable. "You gave an order, Christiana. And so did I. Which one do you think holds more weight?"

Silence.

My hands curled into fists, but I knew there was no arguing. My father had decided.

Adrian was led away, but as he passed, he murmured just loud enough for me to hear—"Looks like even you don't have as much power as you think."

My blood boiled, but I said nothing.

Because deep down, his words held a sliver of truth.