Chapter Title: An Unexpected Encounter

Chris POV

The air was heavy with the scent of fresh blooms as I walked through the royal gardens, contemplating the next phase of restructuring within the Blackwood Union. Christiana had made significant progress in consolidating power, but I knew there was more work to be done. A world that had long been governed by bloodlines and privilege was now under our command, but I couldn't afford to relax. Old alliances would die hard.

My thoughts were interrupted by a soft rustling from the direction of the ornamental hedge. I turned my head just as a woman emerged into view. She was young, perhaps in her mid-twenties, with a regal but weary posture that suggested the weight of an uncertain future. Her expression caught my attention—a mixture of uncertainty and defiance.

She wore a dress that once could have been worn by any of the noble women at court, but now, it looked like a faded remnant of a life that no longer existed. She was an ex-royal daughter, someone who had likely lost everything when the nobility fell.

I studied her silently, the recognition dawning on me. She was one of the many daughters from the family I had stripped of their titles. But I didn't expect to see her here, alone and standing before me. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was an unspoken understanding between us. She knew who I was, of course. How could she not? But the question was: why had she come?

"Your Excellency," she said, her voice polite but tinged with the unmistakable edge of someone who had been brought low. "I did not expect to meet you like this."

Her words carried a hint of curiosity, perhaps even resentment, but she did not step forward or bow. There was a tension in her stance, as if she wasn't sure whether to stand her ground or retreat.

I studied her more closely now. Her family had been among those to lose everything—their wealth, their land, and their titles. Yet, there was something in her gaze that suggested resilience, an unwillingness to let the events of the past months define her.

"What brings you here?" I asked, my voice calm but firm. I had no intention of indulging in pleasantries. The circumstances of the world had changed, and the once-powerful were no longer in a position to make demands.

She hesitated, biting her lip as though weighing her options. "I came to speak with you. There are... things I believe you should know. Things that could be important to you, Your Excellency."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think your family's downfall matters to me now?"

The words were harsh, but I wanted to gauge her reaction. She was the last of her house, a symbol of a fallen dynasty, and yet here she was, seeking an audience with me. I could feel the tension in the air as she processed my question.

Her voice softened, but her resolve was clear. "I'm not here to beg for my family's titles back or plead for mercy. That would be... futile. But I believe that there are things you don't yet know about the factions within the old regime. Things that might still pose a threat to the Blackwood Empire."

I studied her carefully, trying to see through the veil of uncertainty she wore. There was something else beneath the surface. A hidden agenda, perhaps? Or was it simply a woman who had nothing left to lose, attempting to make her mark on the world in a way that her family never could?

"I'm listening," I said, deciding to give her a chance. After all, there were few who dared to speak to me so directly, especially under these circumstances.

She seemed to gather her thoughts for a moment before speaking again. "There are remnants of old alliances—families who were loyal to the previous rulers, and not all of them have been fully neutralized. Some have quietly aligned themselves with forces outside of the Blackwood Union, trying to rebuild what they lost. They are waiting for the right moment, waiting for your rule to falter."

I considered her words carefully. It wasn't news to me that there would be dissidents still working in the shadows. It was natural after such a large-scale shift in power. What intrigued me was the fact that she, an ex-royal, was speaking with such knowledge of the situation.

"You seem to know a great deal about this," I said, my tone measured. "Perhaps too much. What's your game?"

She looked at me steadily, as though weighing the consequences of her next words. "I don't have a game, Your Excellency. I have nothing left to lose. I'm just trying to ensure my survival, as well as the survival of my people. I may not have any land or titles anymore, but I still know things. Information is power, and I think you'll find it... useful."

Her offer was clear—she was attempting to barter with information. It was a dangerous game, but it could prove valuable. The remnants of the old regime could pose a threat if they managed to regroup in secret.

I was about to respond when she added one final remark, her voice quieter, almost like a whisper.

"And there's someone inside your circle who might not be as loyal as you think."

The words struck me like a thunderbolt, and I looked at her more closely, trying to decipher if she was speaking out of fear or if she truly knew something.

"And who might that be?" I asked, my voice lowering in intensity.

She hesitated for a long moment, but finally, she met my eyes and spoke the name that would echo in my mind for days to come.

"Ethan Blackwood."

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End of Chapter