Chapter 9: A Throne I Never Chose
"…Sit."
Her voice echoed again in the empty throne room.
Calm.
Certain.
Unavoidable.
---
My legs felt heavy.
Like something invisible was forcing me forward.
Step by step.
Closer to the throne.
---
"…This is insane."
I muttered under my breath.
"This isn't how it's supposed to go…"
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But nothing answered.
No system.
No voice.
No correction.
---
Because this wasn't a story anymore.
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I stopped in front of the throne.
Golden.
Massive.
Overwhelming.
---
"…I don't want this."
I said it again.
Not to her.
But to myself.
---
"I never wanted this."
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"…I know."
Her answer came immediately.
---
I turned toward her.
"…Then why?"
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She stepped closer.
Her eyes—
Locked onto mine.
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"…Because you should have it."
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"That's not a reason."
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"…It is."
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Silence.
Heavy.
Pressing.
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"…You said you wanted to live peacefully."
"…Yeah."
"…Then this is the safest place."
---
I froze.
---
"…What?"
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"…If you're at the top—"
She continued calmly.
"…no one can threaten you."
---
My breath caught slightly.
---
That logic…
Wasn't wrong.
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"…I'll remove everything dangerous."
She added.
"…So you don't have to worry."
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A chill ran down my spine.
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"…Everything…?"
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"…Everything."
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Her tone didn't change.
Not even a little.
---
And for the first time—
I truly understood something.
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She wasn't offering me the throne.
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She was building a world around me.
---
One where nothing could reach me.
Nothing could harm me.
Nothing could take me away from her.
---
"…That's not peace."
I said quietly.
---
Her eyes flickered slightly.
"…It is."
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"…No."
I shook my head.
"That's… control."
---
Silence.
---
For a moment—
I thought I said something wrong.
---
But then—
She stepped even closer.
---
"…If that's what it takes."
---
My heart skipped.
---
"…What?"
---
"…Then it's fine."
---
Her hand tightened around mine.
---
"…As long as you stay."
---
There was no hesitation.
No doubt.
No conflict.
---
Just certainty.
---
---
I slowly sat on the throne.
---
Not because I agreed.
Not because I wanted to.
---
But because…
Right now—
I had no other choice.
---
"…This is bad."
I whispered under my breath.
---
Everything I planned—
My escape.
My freedom.
My future—
---
All of it was slipping away.
---
And the worst part?
---
I couldn't even hate her.
---
Because I knew—
Why she was like this.
---
Because I—
Was the one who changed her.
---
---
Days passed.
---
The capital stabilized.
Faster than expected.
---
With her power—
And my position—
Everything fell into place.
---
Too easily.
---
"…Your Majesty."
The title still felt wrong.
Unfamiliar.
Heavy.
---
Reports piled up.
Decisions.
Meetings.
Endless responsibilities.
---
"…This is exactly what I didn't want."
---
But I couldn't run.
Not now.
Not anymore.
---
Because every time I tried to think about leaving—
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"…Where are you going?"
---
She would appear.
---
Always.
---
Like she already knew.
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"…Nowhere."
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"…Good."
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And just like that—
The thought would disappear.
---
---
Far beyond the capital—
In distant lands—
Another story was unfolding.
---
"…So this is where you ended up."
A woman's voice echoed.
---
The original protagonist stood silently.
Injured.
Tired.
But alive.
---
"…Who are you?" he asked.
---
She smiled.
---
"A traveler."
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But she wasn't just that.
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A warrior.
A future ally.
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And not the last.
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Because one by one—
They would come.
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A princess.
A sect master.
A disciple.
A fighter.
---
All drawn to him.
---
All choosing him.
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"…I'll take it back."
He said quietly.
---
His eyes—
Burning with determination.
---
"…Everything."
---
---
Back in the palace—
I sat on the throne.
Surrounded by power.
By safety.
By control.
---
And yet—
---
"…Why does this feel like a cage?"
---
She stood beside me.
As always.
Close.
Watching.
---
"…Because you're not used to it."
She answered.
---
"…Maybe."
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But deep down—
I knew.
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This wasn't something I would get used to.
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Because this wasn't the life I chose.
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This was the life chosen for me.
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And the one who chose it—
---
Was standing right beside me.
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I finally became safe.
But in exchange… I lost my freedom.