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Chris' POV:

The Empire had been under lockdown for a year, and I had watched every movement, every change in the tides of power. The people, the royals, and the bureaucrats—all of them had felt my weight on their shoulders, and every decision I made was a careful step to ensure that the Blackwood Empire remained secure, solid, and under my absolute control.

But as I looked over the state of the Empire—my Empire—I knew that there was still work to be done. The curfew, the lockdown, the newly formed Black Axe Men—all of it was part of a larger scheme to reassert dominance over the Empire. And now, it was time to break everything down. All the systems, all the rules. I needed to ensure every detail was clear, understood, and unyielding.

"Christiana," I said, my voice calm, controlled, but with a sense of finality that no one could ignore. "I need you to break everything down for me. Every piece of the empire's infrastructure, every law, and every change made over the last year. Details. All of them."

She stood before me, her posture straight, her expression serious but a glint of uncertainty in her eyes. Christiana, the Dictator, had always been the enforcer of my will, but tonight, she seemed... different. She hesitated for just a moment before responding.

"I understand, Father. I will have it ready for you immediately." She bowed slightly and turned to leave, but something made her pause at the door.

Her back was still turned to me as she spoke again. "But there's something else… something I need your help with. I've never asked for your help in anything before, but…"

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Christiana, my daughter and the Dictator of the Blackwood Empire, was a woman of iron will. For her to ask for my assistance in anything was a rare moment.

"What is it?" I asked, my tone softer, although my mind was still focused on the task at hand.

She turned, her face set in determination but with a hint of vulnerability that I rarely saw in her. "It's about a matter involving one of the Blackwood families. A family member has defied an order I issued earlier, and there's more to it than just the defiance. I need your help to… handle the situation. I can't do it alone."

Her eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw a slight crack in her usual façade. It was something deeper than just a family matter—it was a betrayal. A sense of urgency in her voice told me that this wasn't something we could ignore. My daughter, for the first time, was asking me for help.

"Tell me everything," I ordered, my voice stern but with a hint of curiosity.

"There's a family," she began, her tone now filled with a quiet rage, "the Valtours. One of their members has been conspiring against me—against our family—and working with non-Blackwood interests. I've been investigating this for some time, but it's deeper than I first realized. There's a network of corruption within their ranks. They've been using their influence to bypass the Empire's laws, and I'm not sure how deep it goes. I need your help to extract the truth. I can't do this alone."

I could hear the weight in her voice, the strain of trying to deal with something she hadn't expected. It was rare that Christiana didn't have control over a situation, but this one had shaken her.

I leaned back in my chair, my hands steepled in front of me as I thought. The Valtours were a powerful family in the Empire—wealthy, influential, and well-connected. If there was a betrayal within their ranks, it could shake the very foundations of our rule.

"You've done well to investigate this on your own," I said, my voice cold and calculating. "But now, we will handle it together. You're right. This is bigger than just family matters. The empire cannot afford disloyalty, not from any of our own."

Christiana nodded, a look of resolve returning to her face. "I need the full force of the Black Axe Men, Father. We'll need to strike fast, before their corruption spreads further."

I stood from my seat, moving toward the window and looking out over the empire. The city, the kingdom, everything I had built, rested on a knife's edge. The slightest misstep could lead to chaos.

"You will have the Black Axe Men," I said, turning back to her, my gaze sharp. "But we won't just deal with them swiftly. We will make an example of the Valtours. The Empire cannot afford to show weakness. I'll handle the rest."

Her eyes flickered with a mix of gratitude and respect. She wasn't used to showing weakness, but she had trusted me in this moment. "Thank you, Father."

With that, she turned to leave, but I stopped her.

"Christiana," I said, my voice serious. "There's something more we need to discuss. This empire needs to be reshaped. From the bottom up. You must ensure that the Blackwood Empire remains strong. And for that, you will need to make sure the Valtours, and anyone else who dares challenge us, are eradicated. Completely."

She nodded again, determination flashing in her eyes. "Understood."

"Good," I said, turning my attention back to the empire beyond the window. "Now go. And bring me their heads."

As she left the room, the weight of the task ahead hung over me. The Blackwood Empire had been built on strength, and I would ensure that it stayed that way. Christiana had asked for my help, but now, I would show her the depthsof power we wielded—and the price of betrayal.