Supreme Spouse System.

Chapter 538: Shadows That Guard the Throne

Shadows That Guard the Throne

The torches hissed against the cold stone walls, their flames stretching long and thin, casting restless shadows over the black granite floor. The air inside the command room felt heavier than usual—thick with smoke, exhaustion, and unspoken pressure.

"You really are trying to kill yourself with work," Johny said softly.

Black didn’t respond.

Not yet.

The papers were scattered across the table like fallen feathers, ink still wet on half of them. Reports from patrols, reconstruction updates, supply shortages, casualty counts—every line was another reminder of how hard the city had been shaken by Leon’s assault, how deep the wounds still ran.

Johny tilted his head, studying his friend, his second-in-command, the man who had followed Leon into the flames without a moment’s hesitation.

"...This the path you and I chose, huh?" he murmured. "From Now on, No turning back now."

Black finally lifted his gaze. He looked down at the papers, then at the empty chairs where the officers had been sitting earlier, then finally at the large oak doors where they had disappeared minutes ago.

When he spoke, his voice was quiet.

Firm.

Unshakable.

"There’s no turning back for any of us."

The flames flickered as if agreeing, shadows swirling like spirits waking in the cracks of the room.

Johny let out a low breath. "Didn’t think you’d say it out loud."

Black didn’t humor him with a smile. Instead, he straightened a few papers, his expression hard but tired.

Then he looked at Johny.

"Don’t slack now," Black said, tone sharp but carrying the weight of responsibility rather than anger. "Our lord gave us these positions because he believes in us. We do everything we can to make sure he never regrets that decision."

Johny blinked—twice—then nodded, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You’re right... Commander."

Black shot him a sideways look. "Don’t use that tone."

"What tone?" Johny laughed quietly. "You’re the commander. I’m the vice commander. You tell me not to slack, I don’t slack. Simple math."

"Focus, idiot," Black muttered, though there was a thin thread of fondness buried under the irritation.

Johny leaned forward, pressing both palms on the thick wooden table. "Alright. Then let’s talk about what really matters. Security."

Black nodded once. "Give your report."

Johny tapped a finger on one of the documents. "I already started setting up the incentive chain. Our men won’t be handling patrols alone anymore. I pulled in people we know—people with fast reflexes, quick thinking, and clean loyalty."

Black raised a brow. "Names?"

Johny grinned. "Three from the old barracks, two from the underground fighter rings, one of the elven scouts Leon saved two weeks ago, and a magic barrier specialist who owes us a favor."

"Huh." Black crossed his arms. "Not bad."

Johny lifted his shoulders. "You told me to find people we trust. So I did. Unless you think your standards are higher than mine?"

"Unfortunately," Black said dryly, "they are."

Johny snorted. "Wow. Heartbreaking."

Black brushed him off with a grunt and leaned over the map spread across the table. The city layout was still scorched in several districts—literal burn marks where Leon’s power had ripped through enemy soldiers and structures. Even now, the three central streets looked like claw marks carved across the city.

Johny’s expression sobered as he looked at them.

"This place is still recovering," he said. "Half the buildings are being rebuilt. The remaining half are patched up just enough not to fall over."

Black nodded, eyes trailing the darkened regions on the map. "That’s why security is our highest priority. Now that Lord Leon has taken the city... King Gary knows. King Aurelian knows. And every kingdom around us is waiting to see if we weakly collapse under pressure."

Johny clicked his tongue. "Yeah. They smell opportunity. They’ll test us, push us, maybe even send spies."

"They already did," Black said. "Three were caught last night."

Johny’s brows jumped. "Three?"

"Two from Aurelian," Black said, "one from Gary."

Johny cursed under his breath. "Damn vultures."

Black tapped the table. "That’s why we can’t afford a single mistake. Not one."

Silence stretched for a moment, filled only by the hiss of torches and the distant rumble of soldiers training in the courtyard below.

Then Johny broke it.

"You know..." he said slowly, "...I set some runes for safety."

Black’s head turned. "Runes?"

Johny nodded. "Yeah. Reinforcement runes along the main walls. Detection runes on the east and north gates. A silence rune under the balcony so no one can eavesdrop when the council talks."

Black let out a faint hum. "And the cost?"

Johny rolled his eyes. "Relax. I didn’t bankrupt us. Just used leftover materials from the mage quarter. They weren’t being used anyway."

Black’s gaze softened a bit, though his expression stayed stern. "...Good work."

Johny blinked. "Wait—you’re praising me?"

"Don’t get excited," Black said flatly.

Johny grinned, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. "You’re gonna hurt my feelings, Commander."

"Shut up."

Johny laughed, but then his face settled into something quieter, more serious.

"Listen," he said, "I know we joke around. But... I’m not blind. You’re carrying a lot. You’re trying to hold this place together while Leon handles the bigger battlefield outside."

Black didn’t deny it.

Johny’s voice lowered. "You trust him. We both trust him. That’s why we followed him. That’s why we’re standing in a city that was burning a week ago... and trying to rebuild it from the ashes."

Black looked across the command room—the maps, the torches, the empty chairs, the weight of responsibility hanging like a cloak on his shoulders.

"Yeah," he finally said. "We chose this path. We walk it. No matter how heavy it gets."

Johny nodded. "Then we keep securing the city. We build stronger walls. Stronger patrols. Stronger streets. Hell—stronger everything."

"And if they test us?" Black asked.

Johny smirked, eyes gleaming with something sharp. "Then they learn why they shouldn’t poke Leon’s territory."