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The Boy's POV
The weight of the whip felt like it was chained to my soul. Every second dragged like a blade cutting deeper.
My mother's voice still echoed: "I would rather you refuse…"
Chris's voice followed like thunder: "Choose. Your mother… or your King."
My throat dried. My legs shook. My men—my first squad—were watching. Soldiers who believed in me, who followed me. If I disobeyed here, they would fall with me. If I obeyed… I would never be free of the image of striking my own blood.
I clenched the whip. My knuckles went white.
"Father Blackwood…" I forced the words, choking. "…I will never raise my hand against the woman who gave me life."
Gasps echoed through the courtyard. Even my squad stumbled back.
I dropped the whip. The sound of leather hitting stone rang like a drum of rebellion.
Chris's eyes narrowed. For a heartbeat, silence crushed everything. Then, slow… terrifying… he stepped toward me.
"You disobey me?" His voice was soft, but it carried like a blade across every throat.
My heart stopped. Still, I lifted my head. My knees wanted to give way, but I didn't. "I can fight your wars. I can bleed for Blackwood. But I will not destroy my mother."
The courtyard turned to ice. Soren's hand twitched near his blade, but he stayed still, waiting for his King's decision.
Chris stood in front of me now. His shadow fell across me, heavy, eternal. He leaned close, his words for me alone:
"You just declared where your loyalty lies."
His hand rose. I closed my eyes.
But instead of a strike, he grabbed my shoulder, squeezing so hard I thought the bone would snap.
"Good," Chris whispered. "A soldier who cannot stand for something… can never be trusted to stand for me. You passed."
My eyes shot open. Gasps broke again across the ranks.
Chris raised his voice, announcing to all:
"This boy chose loyalty not to me, but to his truth. That means one day… he will not betray me either. He has the backbone of a real Blackwood warrior."
The whip was kicked away. My mother collapsed, sobbing in relief. My chest still burned with terror, but somewhere inside, pride flickered.
Chris turned, his cloak sweeping the ground. "Release her. She is his strength. Not his weakness."
And just like that, my entire world shifted.
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