Empress Chie sat upon her throne of obsidian, a shimmering cascade of silk pooling at her feet. The room was a temple to decadence, every inch gleaming with gold, mirrors, and priceless art. Yet none of these treasures could rival the commanding aura of the Empress herself. Her dark eyes were sharper than any blade, and her smile—a delicate curve—was enough to make kings tremble.

Before her knelt Marcus, a man who once believed himself powerful. A billionaire, he had conquered markets and nations, but all of it paled in the presence of Chie. Here, stripped of his wealth and his ego, he was nothing more than a servant—and he relished it.

“Speak,” she commanded, her voice as smooth as velvet but with the weight of steel. “Tell me why you are here.”

Marcus dared to lift his gaze slightly, enough to see the gleam of her diamond-studded heels. He swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the intoxicating perfume that filled the air.

“I… I’m here to surrender, Empress,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “To give you everything.”

Her laughter rang out, soft and melodic, yet laced with something dangerous. “Everything, Marcus? Men like you often claim to give me ‘everything,’ yet cling to scraps of their pride. Let me ask you this:—is your soul mine?”

He hesitated, the question rattling in his mind. Was it? Could he truly give himself entirely to her?

Chie leaned forward, her long, manicured fingers lightly gripping the armrests of her throne. “Doubt already? How disappointing. I thought a man of your stature would understand that true power comes from surrender. But perhaps I need to teach you.”

With a graceful motion, she extended her hand. “Bring me your phone.”

He fumbled, nearly dropping the sleek device as he offered it to her. She took it with a delicate grip, her expression unreadable. The screen illuminated her face as she scrolled through his accounts. One by one, she transferred his assets: his stocks, his properties, his offshore accounts. The numbers disappeared in a flash, swallowed by her empire.

“Now,” she said, placing the phone on a silver tray beside her, “look at me.”

Marcus obeyed, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, he was lost in their depths. They seemed to hold galaxies, a universe of dominance and allure.

“What do you feel?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Liberated,” he admitted, the word slipping from his lips before he could even think.

She smiled, genuinely this time, and it was more terrifying than her command. “Good. You are beginning to understand. You are no longer burdened by your wealth or your delusions of control. From this moment, Marcus, you are mine. Body, mind, and spirit.”

He bowed his head, a strange peace washing over him. He had thought giving up everything would feel like defeat, but in her presence, it felt like victory. He belonged to Empress Chie now, and for the first time in his life, he knew what true power felt like.

She rose from her throne, a goddess among mortals. “Go,” she commanded. “Earn more for me. Build an empire in my name. And remember, Marcus—you exist for one purpose only: to serve me.”

He left the room, his heart lighter, his purpose clear. Empress Chie watched him go, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. The world was full of men like Marcus, and one by one, they would kneel. For Empress Chie didn’t just take wealth—she took souls.