Amara stood in the throne room, arms folded behind her back, chin raised—but her heart thundered. The golden chamber shimmered with its usual magnificence, but this time, the silence felt heavier, like the empire itself was watching.
Chris sat on the elevated seat, his crown resting lightly, yet his gaze sharp as ever. He knew she wouldn't just obey this time—not when it came to Rheina.
"You called me back," he said without lifting his gaze from the report in his hand.
"I did." Amara stepped forward. Her voice was steady, but her eyes searched his. "Chris… I mean—Blackwood One—I want to revisit the matter of Rheina."
He didn't flinch. "What about it?"
"I followed your command, but something doesn't sit right with me. She was loyal. Maybe naive, yes. But disloyal? No. The punishment was too swift."
He finally looked at her. His expression wasn't angry. It was cold—controlled. "You think I'm unjust?"
"I think… you're emotional when it comes to me. And this was personal. For both of us."
He leaned forward, lacing his fingers. "She called you her mentor once. Then tried to sidestep you. Tried to curry favor directly through you, as if your authority could be bypassed. That's disloyalty."
"She didn't know better," Amara insisted. "She thought she was impressing you. Let me train her. Let me discipline her, not discard her."
Chris stood, slowly descending the steps of the dais until he stood before her. The tension between them was unspoken, fierce, but laced with something deeper—something tender.
"I trusted you to lead. She trusted you to speak for her," he said quietly. "And now you're asking me to let her back in?"
Amara took a breath. "Not back in. Not where she was. But don't crush her entirely. I believe in balance. You rule with strength, but I've always ruled with wisdom. That's why we work."
Chris was quiet for a long time.
Then he exhaled. "Fine. I'll grant a reconsideration. She doesn't return to the Executive Wing… but you may assign her to your personal squad. She reports only to you. If she fails again—"
"She won't," Amara cut in softly.
Chris nodded once. "Then this discussion is over."
As Amara turned to leave, his voice called her back.
"And Amara…" he said without looking at her, "You're right. You balance me. Just make sure you never forget which one of us rules."
She smiled faintly and bowed. "As always, my king."