Amara's POV
The weight of the Blackwood Empire was finally settling onto her shoulders. And, oddly enough, it felt… right.
Amara sat at the edge of the war table, her fingers tapping the cold stone surface as the room buzzed with activity. The strategists, the financial officers, the generals—each person who had once hovered around Chris, obeying his every command, now looked to her. They didn't dare question the power shift. They were too smart for that. But in the back of their minds, Amara knew they were wondering if she was truly capable.
They had no idea what she was capable of.
The map before her was alive with glowing lines—supply routes, military movements, economic balances—and at the center, an empty space where the crown had once been. It wasn't for a lack of intention; it was the calm before the storm. The calm before she made her first monumental decision.
"Amara," Chris's voice broke the silence. His tone was casual, but she could feel the weight of his words, like a storm cloud gathering. "Are you ready to move forward?"
The question was simple, but Amara knew what it meant. This wasn't just about political maneuvering or strategic alliances. This was about establishing her place, taking command of everything, and making sure no one doubted her authority—not the people, not the generals, not even the Black Axe men.
She stood and walked to the map, her fingers tracing the lines of territories that had once been weak. But not anymore.
"I'm ready," she said with quiet resolve, her gaze never leaving the map. "We need to secure every district. Take hold of the eastern territories completely. And I want full surveillance over the northern border within the next twenty-four hours."
"Done," Chris replied simply, a flicker of pride in his eyes.
He trusted her. He always had. But now, more than ever, it was clear that her decisions would define the future of the empire, not his. And she wasn't going to disappoint him.
As Amara turned back to the room, she addressed the assembly. "The Blackwood Empire will no longer wait for threats to approach our gates. We strike before they even have the chance to think of defying us. I want our influence to stretch beyond what anyone could imagine."
The officers exchanged looks, but no one dared to challenge her.
"Deploy our forces to the Eastern districts. Set up command posts in every major city. And for those who fail to execute these orders—" her voice grew steely, "—they will be replaced. We have no tolerance for incompetence."
The room was still for a moment. Then, without further hesitation, the room burst into activity. Commanders moved, strategists input data into terminals, and the gears of the empire shifted under her will.
Her fingers hovered above the map again, and with a single motion, she drew a line across the northern territory, marking it with a symbol that had once belonged to Chris. But now it was hers.
She could almost hear the whispers from the shadows, feel the undercurrent of doubt that still swirled among those who were unsure of her leadership. But she didn't need their approval. She never had.
As the hours passed, she felt herself slipping deeper into the role, her mind dancing with possibilities, strategies, and contingencies. The Empire wasn't a kingdom; it was an ever-evolving machine, one that she had the power to manipulate, twist, and control.
It wasn't just about power. It was about ensuring her survival, her family's survival, and solidifying her place in history as not just Chris Blackwood's successor but as a force in her own right.
In the back of her mind, a thought flickered—one that she had never dared to entertain before. She hadn't just taken the role as an extension of Chris's reign. She had become the Blackwood.
She would shape the Empire to her will.
Later that night, as Amara walked through the grand corridors of the Citadel, she could hear the faint whisper of footsteps behind her—someone was watching.
"You have their attention now."
She turned to find Chris standing at the end of the hall, his silhouette outlined by the dim torchlight. He said nothing, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
"I'll keep moving forward," Amara replied, her voice steady, unwavering. "For both of us."
Chris gave a slight nod of approval, but for the first time, there was something else in his gaze. It wasn't just trust anymore. It was pride.
And that was all Amara needed.
She turned and continued walking, her head high. There was no going back now. The Blackwood Empire was hers to command. And she was ready to carve her name into its very soul.