[Silthara Palace — Malika’s Private Residence — Midnight]

The midnight rain started pouring across Zahryssar as if mourning the death. Soft thunder echoed above the imperial skies while silver lanterns flickered quietly beneath the long palace corridors.

Outside Malika’s private chamber, Raevahn and Varesh remained standing guard silently, both alert, both armed, and both aware that the palace itself no longer felt safe.

For several long moments, only silence accompanied them. Then finally Raevahn spoke quietly, "You should rest for a while, Captain Varesh."

Varesh glanced toward him briefly.

"I shall continue guarding the Malika’s residence tonight."

Captain Varesh stared toward the closed chamber doors afterward. The same doors Levin had not willingly opened since Zeramet’s disappearance. Then quietly he answered, "I believe even you require rest eventually, Captain."

Raevahn exhaled softly, tired, and nodded faintly. "Indeed, but one of us must remain beside the Malika."

Silence stretched briefly again.

Then Captain Varesh nodded slowly as a tired sigh escaped him afterward. "Perhaps you are correct. I shall rest within the private courtyard nearby."

And just as he turned to leave, suddenly footsteps echoed through the corridor again. Immediately, both captains unsheathed their swords.

SHIIIIIING!!!

Imperial pheromones stirred sharply through the corridor. "Who goes there?!"

Then through the dim lantern shadows, High Mage Arkhazunn appeared calmly, robes dampened slightly by rainwater. His mage markings glowing faintly beneath his skin.

The captains immediately relaxed, returning their swords to their place. Arkhazunn walked closer while wiping his wet hands.

"I heard Malika fainted again earlier."

Captain Varesh lowered his gaze slightly. "...yes."

The high mage closed his eyes briefly afterward, and a heavy sigh escaped him, mumbling, "This is very high time for Malika."

And just then—

CREAKKK.

The chamber doors opened quietly, and Lady Arinaya stepped outside. Her robes were slightly wrinkled from remaining beside Levin’s bedside for hours.

The moment Arkhazunn saw her, he furrowed slightly. "You still have not left?"

Arinaya slowly shook her head as her voice sounded quieter than usual and exhausted. "...I could not."

Then her eyes lifted toward Arkhazunn sharply. "...did you find the Malik?"

Silence.

And immediately everyone’s expressions darkened. Arkhazunn slowly shook his head.

"...no." The rain outside suddenly sounded louder afterward as his voice lowered gravely. "I searched the western cliffs personally with other mages. The lower valleys. The ruined caverns beneath the mountains. Even the ancient serpent tunnels."

Then quietly, almost frustrated, he admitted, "But I could not find him anywhere."

Captain Varesh clenched his jaw tightly.

"Do you truly believe..." He hesitated briefly, unable to finish the sentence fully. "...that the Malik still lives?"

Immediately, Arkhazunn answered without hesitation. "I absolutely believe Malik Zeramet remains alive."

The certainty in his voice made everyone freeze slightly. Then calmly the high mage continued, "The Malika’s mate mark still exists, and...Lyresaph yet lives as well."

Raevahn furrowed immediately. "What connection does the dragon possess with this?"

Arkhazunn glanced toward him. "Lyresaph was born through the imperial mate law binding both Malik and Malika together. If either mate dies completely...Lyresaph’s life force will eventually collapse as well."

Silence followed, heavy and thoughtful because everyone there knew Lyresaph was still alive. Which meant Zeramet should be alive too.

Then quietly, Captain Varesh spoke again. "But...the imperial marriage symbol shattered tonight."

The corridor immediately turned colder again.

"Is that not considered an ominous sign?"

For several moments Arkhazunn remained silent, and then finally he exhaled softly.

"That belief is merely ancient superstition." Though strangely even he did not sound fully convinced. "Do not allow fear to consume your judgment."

Then his eyes slowly drifted toward Levin’s chamber doors, toward the grieving consort hidden behind them as his voice lowered quietly.

"Right now...our priority is finding Malik because wherever he is..." The high mage’s expression darkened further. "...I do not believe Malika can continue enduring this much longer."

And behind the closed chamber doors, the faint sound of quiet crying echoed once again through the midnight palace.

***

[Midnight — Inside the Emperor’s Chamber]

Rain continued crashing against the palace windows. The storm above Silthara had grown MORE violent now. Inside the dim imperial chamber, Levin stood silently before the enormous bronze mirror.

Half naked, draped only in Zeramet’s oversized robes. The fabric slid loosely across his shoulders, still carrying faint traces of black lotus pheromones.

But weaker now...far weaker, and that terrified him more than anything else. Levin’s eyes were swollen terribly from endless crying. Red, exhausted, and empty like someone who had not slept properly in weeks.

His trembling hand slowly lowered toward his abdomen, touching the swollen curve carefully and gently. And beneath his palm he could still faintly feel the egg, alive, warm, and fragile.

Then slowly Levin lowered his head toward Zeramet’s robes and around his body, sniffing them desperately, searching for his alpha’s scent, but the pheromones were fading little by little, like warmth slowly leaving a body.

Immediately panic flooded his expression again as his voice cracked softly. "...his pheromones are weakening...he needs to be here."

Silence answered him: only rain, only thunder, and only absence. Then his fingers slowly reached behind his neck, touching the black lotus mate mark resting there.

Still there and still warm, Levin closed his eyes tightly afterward.

"He is not dead."

The words sounded less like certainty now and more like prayer. Then suddenly his expression twisted painfully.

"You are going to become a terrible father, Zer." A weak laugh escaped him, broken and wet with tears as his fingers tightened against the robes. "I will tell our child...that you abandoned me when I needed you most."

His breathing became uneven again.

"I will ensure our child hates you...for many reasons."

Then softly and desperately, he whispered, "So you better return before it becomes too late."

And suddenly the memory returned again. Zeramet falling from the cliffs, bleeding. His enormous silver body disappearing beneath darkness.

Immediately—

Levin’s face paled completely, and his voice trembled violently now. "...But what if...he is dying somewhere alone?"

Silence.

"What if he has no one beside him?"

Then slowly something changed inside Levin’s eyes, not hope, not calm, but desperation.

And desperate people eventually stop fearing consequences. Without another word, Levin reached for his sword resting near the imperial bed. Then tightly wrapped Zeramet’s robes around himself fully like armor, and it was like the emperor himself was still embracing him.

And just like that he walked toward the chamber doors.

CREAKKKK.

The doors opened sharply. Outside, Raevahn immediately straightened in shock.

"Malika—?!"

His eyes widened further after seeing the sword, the storm outside, and Levin’s completely shattered expression.

"Where are you going?"

Levin descended the chamber steps immediately barefoot, still weak and still trembling. Yet somehow, it’s still moving forward stubbornly.

"I need to find my alpha."

Raevahn froze.

"I have to find him before he leaves me for real..."

Meanwhile, the rain outside intensified violently. Thunder shaking the palace walls. Immediately Raevahn rushed after him desperately. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Malika, please! You are already collapsing repeatedly! This storm will worsen your condition—!"

"Then do you wish for my husband to die?!" Levin suddenly turned sharply, and for the very first time, he raised his voice.

The words echoed violently throughout the private residence; even the attendants nearby visibly flinched.

"Do you understand how severely he was wounded?!" Levin’s breathing became uneven, his entire body shaking, and his voice cracked horribly.

"He was bitten near the throat...he lost too much blood..."

Then weaker and desperately, he whispered as tears spilled endlessly again afterward, "He needs help; he needs me."

And perhaps that was the most heartbreaking thing of all, not the throne, not the empire, and not even Zeramet’s disappearance but the fact that Levin still believed:

his husband needed him beside him.

Then suddenly Raevahn stepped directly in front of him, blocking the corridor. "You cannot leave the palace tonight."

Levin froze instantly.

"The storm is dangerous." Raevahn’s voice lowered desperately. "And your body cannot endure this condition."

"But what if Zer cannot endure either?" Levin shoved against him weakly and desperately as his voice shattered completely.

"I have no desire...to become his widow."

Raevahn’s expression visibly broke afterward because for the first time he realized Levin was no longer thinking rationally; he was drowning.

Then softly and carefully Raevahn reached toward Levin’s arm, not touching but blocking him.

"Please...you need rest, Malika. If you walk out now...you might put yourself and the child you’re carrying in danger. And I hope you understand after Malik Zeramet is gone...you are our only—"

SLAPPPP!!!!

The sound echoed violently across the residence. Raevahn staggered slightly sideways in shock, and Levin stood there trembling violently. Tears streaming endlessly down his face, his blue eyes completely shattered.

"He is alive...did you get it..." His voice came out broken, almost hysterical. "...How dare you talk in a way that implies he is really gone? How dare you stand in my way?"

The sword slipped slightly from his trembling fingers afterward.

"He is my husband..." Levin whispered weakly like someone already breaking apart completely. "My alpha..."

Then, quieter and more painfully, he asked as a trembling breath escaped him.

"If I do not go find him...who will?"

Rain continued roaring outside the palace windows while thunder shook the heavens above Silthara. Silence crashed heavily across the residence afterward.

Even the servants nearby lowered their heads painfully. Because none of them possessed an answer. Then suddenly Raevahn slowly lowered himself completely onto one knee before Levin.

Then both, and finally, he bowed deeply before the grieving Malika; his voice shook faintly for the first time.

"I beg you, Malika... Please... This storm is too dangerous. High Mage Arkhazunn and the other mages are already searching for the Malik."

Then slowly Raevahn lifted his gaze slightly, desperation visible inside his eyes.

"We still possess hope that he remains alive, but if something happens to you as well..." His jaw tightened. "...then Zahryssar itself will truly collapse."

Levin stood silently beneath the storm lanterns. Rain shadows trembled across Zeramet’s robes, and Raevahn continued speaking desperately.

"This empire cannot afford to lose its Mother of the Empire too."

Silence.

Then slowly...very slowly, Levin looked down at him, and somehow his blue eyes now looked emptier than death itself.

"Mother of the Empire?"

The words echoed softly and coldly. Then suddenly Levin laughed...a weak laugh. The kind of laugh people make when something inside them finally breaks completely. His fingers slowly tightened around the sword again.

"You speak of the empire...as though it had ever shown mercy to its consorts."

Raevahn froze instantly, and Levin stepped closer barefoot on the cold marble floors. His hair clings to pale skin as his voice lowers dangerously.

"Tell me, Captain Raevahn...are you referring to the same imperial law..."

Thunder exploded outside violently.

BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

"...that states once a Malik dies..." Levin’s eyes darkened further. "...the next ruler inherits the previous Malik’s consorts as property?"

The entire corridor fell silent...terribly silent, and Levin’s breathing shook again.

"And yet...not once... Not once...does that law ask the consort whether he wishes to belong to another serpent."

Raevahn visibly paled because there was no answer to give, because Levin was right. The law protected succession, bloodlines, the throne, and imperial continuity but never the heart of the consort trapped beneath it.

Tears slowly slid down Levin’s face again, quietly and endlessly.

"My husband may still be alive somewhere...and yet the empire has already begun preparing another man to enter my bed."

The words shattered something inside the corridor itself. Even the servants nearby lowered their heads in shame afterward. Because someone had finally spoken aloud the cruelty hidden beneath Zahryssar’s ancient laws.

And Levin stood there trembling beneath the storm, wrapped in the robes of a husband the empire already called dead.

Then softly and almost brokenly he whispered; a trembling breath escaped him. "...so tell me, Captain...what exactly is the Mother of the Empire supposed to protect?"

Silence answered him.

Only thunder, only grief, and only the sound of rain mourning beside a palace that had already started replacing its emperor.