Soldier POV
I thought the worst was over when Chris walked past us.
But then he stopped—center stage. His voice echoed again. Calm. Cold. Godlike.
> "Before you are dismissed, you will vote."
The gathering fell into a silence so thick you could hear hearts breaking.
> "First… should the soldiers who pointed guns at me live?"
"Second… did you enjoy the reign of my wife, Amara?"
The crowd stirred—eyes wide, mouths open, gasps caught in throats.
Some looked at us—me—like we were criminals.
Others… looked at us like dead men walking.
My body locked up.
Every breath was a countdown.
Every second stretched like eternity.
Private Ruki beside me whispered shakily, "We're finished. That's it."
We stood on that stage like men already buried.
Yet somehow… this was worse.
This wasn't a trial. It was public judgment. And the executioner?
The people.
> "Vote now," Chris commanded. "Out loud."
A man from the High Council stood, cleared his throat:
> "Those soldiers… they didn't know. They followed orders."
Then, with a stiff nod,
"I vote they live."
One breath of relief.
Then another voice:
> "Ignorance is no excuse when the price is the Emperor's life."
"I vote… death."
The gasps returned. This time louder.
My vision blurred.
Sweat ran down my back like cold steel.
Then came more votes.
Some merciful.
Some merciless.
Every "death" vote was a blade to my throat.
Every "live" was like breathing through thorns.
Then came the second question.
> "Did you enjoy my wife's reign?"
That brought a different kind of chaos.
Some stood to applaud.
Others booed.
A few shouted:
> "She ruled with fear!"
"She protected us when you vanished!"
"She nearly had me executed!"
It was no longer just about us soldiers.
The room was tearing apart.
But I didn't care anymore about Amara.
I just cared about whether I'd walk out of that chamber with breath still in my lungs.
And then I made the mistake of looking up… at Chris.
He didn't blink.
Didn't smile.
Didn't flinch.
He was watching his empire tell the truth.
Watching us all squirm in the heat of our own decisions.
And I realized…
He didn't vanish.
He let the shadows speak for him.