---
The tension in the room was unbearable as Empress Kai's guards raised their weapons. Chris, seeing the imminent threat to his family, didn't hesitate to act. With the snap of his fingers, the Blackwood guards reacted instantly. Weapons were drawn, but Chris wasn't about to let this situation escalate further. Instead, his eyes locked onto the Empress, his expression unyielding.
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Chris Blackwood: "Enough."
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His voice was a command, a decree that none in the room dared ignore. The Empress's guards, still poised to strike, hesitated as the full weight of Chris's authority settled over them. But Chris wasn't finished. With a single motion, he signaled for his own guards to step forward.
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Chris Blackwood: "Empress Kai, I gave you a chance, but you've just crossed a line that you'll regret."
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Before the Empress or anyone else could react, two of Chris's guards swiftly moved to her side. In one fluid motion, they seized her by the arms, their grip firm and unrelenting.
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Empress Kai: "How dare you!"
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Her voice was filled with outrage as she tried to struggle against the guards' iron hold. But it was no use. Chris's forces were well-trained, and the Empress's resistance was futile.
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Chris Blackwood: "You've had your chance, Empress. Your guards may be armed, but I control this room. And right now, you are a guest under my roof."
---
The Empress's defiance faltered, her eyes blazing with fury, but she couldn't escape. Chris's guards, each standing as a pillar of unflinching discipline, had restrained her completely. There was no room for pride, no room for any further confrontation. The message had been made clear.
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Chris Blackwood: "You will leave now, Empress. Your behavior is unforgivable."
---
Despite her position as a ruler in her own right, Empress Kai was completely powerless in this moment. Her face flushed with rage, but she couldn't fight back against the authority that radiated from Chris. He had brought this evening under control with a power and precision that only he could wield.
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Chris Blackwood: "Christiana, take control. Make sure this incident is handled as it should be. And let it be known, no one is above the law in my empire—not even an Empress."
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Christiana, standing next to her father, nodded. She stepped forward with a cold, calculating gaze, her demeanor every bit as commanding as Chris's.
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Christiana: "You heard him. Empress Kai, you will be removed from this event, and you will leave immediately."
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The Empress's guards, who had been frozen in place, made no move to intervene. The weight of the situation had settled on them too. The Blackwood forces were not to be trifled with. The guards slowly lowered their weapons, their faces filled with the stark realization that they had been outmatched from the start.
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Chris Blackwood: "You will be escorted out in disgrace, and your privileges will be revoked. You will not be welcomed again."
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With no other choice, Empress Kai was led from the ballroom, her head held high despite the humiliation. Chris's guards flanked her, ensuring she was safely escorted from the premises. The room, once filled with tension, now buzzed with hushed murmurs.
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As the doors closed behind the Empress, Christiana turned to Chris, her expression one of respect and understanding.
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Christiana: "It's done, father."
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Chris's eyes remained cold as he surveyed the room. He wasn't done making a statement.
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Chris Blackwood: "No one crosses the Blackwood family. Not here, not ever."
---
With that, he gave a single nod, and the event continued, though the guests were left with a lingering understanding of just how far Chris would go to maintain control. The message had been made clear: in the Blackwood Empire, power was absolute, and anyone who dared to defy it would pay the price.