Chris’s Disappointment
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The room had fallen into a tense silence after Christiana's intervention with Duke Charles. As the guests slowly resumed their conversations, Chris Blackwood stood at the far end of the room, his expression hardening. He had been pleased with how his daughter had handled the situation at first, but now that the immediate anger had subsided, a deeper disappointment began to settle in.
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Chris Blackwood: "Christiana."
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His voice was low, almost dangerous in its calmness. Christiana, who had been speaking to the staff member she had just rescued, froze at the sound of her father's voice. She had expected praise, or at the very least, acknowledgment for diffusing a potentially explosive situation with dignity and authority. But instead, Chris's words sent a cold chill through her.
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Christiana Blackwood: "Father, I handled the situation as you instructed. The Duke apologized."
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Chris Blackwood: "No. You did not handle it properly. I did not want you to waste your breath on words, Christiana. You are the heir to the Blackwood Empire, and with that comes the responsibility to enforce respect, not simply talk about it."
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Christiana's eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly masked her emotions, her usual poise returning. She had always been taught that strength lay in calm diplomacy, but now her father's tone was cutting through her like a blade.
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Chris Blackwood: "A slap was delivered, and you did nothing more than offer empty words. He should have been punished, made to understand the consequences of disrespecting a Blackwood. What you did was give him a free pass, a chance to walk away with his pride intact. That is not how we operate in this family."
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Christiana opened her mouth to argue but closed it just as quickly, realizing that there was no room for negotiation here. Her father's disappointment weighed heavily on her.
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Chris Blackwood: "You are the future of this empire. You must act decisively. This was not about the staff member—it was about sending a message to the rest of our people. To the nobles, to the staff, to anyone who dares to step out of line. No one is above the law of the Blackwood Empire."
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The guests who had gathered nearby seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere. A few exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak up. Christiana felt the weight of their gazes, and it only deepened her sense of inadequacy.
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Chris Blackwood: "This is your first test, Christiana. A man struck another in front of everyone, and you allowed him to walk away with nothing more than a few insincere words. I expected more from you. I expected you to make an example of him, to show that the Blackwoods cannot be disrespected without consequence."
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Christiana's heart sank as her father's words cut through her defenses. She had hoped to maintain control of the situation with diplomacy, but now she saw that her father was right. She had been too lenient, too compassionate. In the world of power, compassion could sometimes be seen as weakness.
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Christiana Blackwood: "I understand, Father."
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Her voice was steady, but there was an undeniable edge of frustration beneath the surface. She had always prided herself on making decisions with care, but now she understood that the Blackwood Empire wasn't just about making the right choices—it was about making the right choices quickly and with authority. There could be no room for hesitation.
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Chris Blackwood: "See that you do better next time. Handle the Duke properly. If he disrespects us again, there will be consequences. You are not to let your feelings cloud your judgment. Remember that."
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Christiana nodded, her gaze falling to the ground for a moment before she lifted it again to meet her father's eyes. She could feel the weight of his expectations pressing down on her, and though it stung, she also knew he was right. She couldn't afford to be anything less than ruthless in her pursuit of power.
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Chris Blackwood: "Good. Now, go. We have more pressing matters to attend to."
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As Christiana walked away, she felt the burning sensation of failure in her chest. Her father's harsh words echoed in her mind, and she realized that she had just learned a valuable lesson—one that would shape her future decisions. The Blackwood Empire was not built on kindness or understanding; it was built on strength, discipline, and the unwavering will to control.
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Classic's POV:
Classic had been watching the entire exchange from a distance, his thoughts turning over the conversation in his mind. Christiana's disappointment was palpable, but it was her father's fury that left the most impact. He understood now that the Blackwood family operated on a completely different set of rules—rules where kindness had no place, and authority was the only thing that mattered.
Classic could see the weight of expectation hanging over Christiana, and he couldn't help but wonder how far she would go to meet her father's demands. There was no room for failure in this empire, and Christiana, despite her position, was not exempt.
The events of the night made one thing clear: there would be no easy path to power in the Blackwood Empire. If Christiana was to succeed, she would have to rise above her emotions and make the hard decisions. Whether she liked it or not, her father's way was the only way that would ensure the survival of the Blackwood legacy.
As Classic's thoughts drifted to his own role in this empire, he realized that the game was much more complicated than he had imagined. The Blackwoods didn't just rule—they controlled everything, down to the smallest actions of their people.
And if he was to be a part of it, he would have to adapt quickly, or risk being swept aside.