[Malika’s Residency — Emperor’s Chamber — Continuation]

Silence crashed through the chamber the moment Sarash appeared beneath the candlelit doorway. A sword rested firmly within his hand, and for the very first time Sarash no longer looked like someone obeying the throne; he looked like someone standing against it.

And inside the chamber everyone remained frozen. Iru instinctively stepped protectively before Levin. Asha growled lowly. Even tiny Lyresaph lifted his head sharply, ready to attack instantly.

But Sarash did not move and did not raise his sword.

Instead, his exhausted eyes remained fixed entirely upon Levin, and what he saw there terrified him because Levin truly looked ready to surrender himself completely. Then finally Sarash stepped inside slowly, the chamber doors closing heavily behind him.

CLACK.

Outside, thunder roared violently again, and Sarash quietly lowered the sword in his hand before speaking, "...if the Malika remains here tonight...there will be nothing left to save tomorrow."

Levin did not answer immediately; his dead blue eyes simply remained fixed upon the storm outside.

Then softly...almost tiredly...he asked, "...have you also come to persuade me?"

Sarash visibly flinched because somehow those quiet words hurt more than accusations ever could. For several moments the white serpent prince remained silent.

Then finally he lowered himself slowly onto one knee before Levin. Immediately Iru’s eyes widened because princes of Zahryssar did not kneel easily in public. Especially not before consorts.

Yet Sarash bowed his head deeply anyway.

"...I have spent my entire life obeying monsters until Malik Zeramet claimed the throne." The chamber became still instantly afterward as Sarash’s voice sounded calm...too calm, like someone speaking from wounds far older than tonight.

"I obeyed because survival demanded obedience." His fingers tightened faintly against the floor. "I convinced myself silence was enough."

A painful smile appeared briefly across his lips afterward, then he slowly lifted his head toward Levin.

"But tonight...I realized something." Outside, the storm battered the palace windows mercilessly as Sarash’s eyes darkened painfully.

"If the Malika submits tonight...then Zahryssar will lose far more than its dignity."

Silence.

Then finally Levin looked toward him fully for the first time, and Sarash continued quietly, "...it will lose the only person who still carries Malik Zeramet’s heart within this palace."

The words struck the chamber heavily, especially Levin because nobody had spoken Zeramet’s name so openly since the funeral rites and Sarash lowered his gaze once more.

"The New Malik ordered the imperial chambers prepared beautifully tonight, and as you can see...everything is happening as he desires."

Iru visibly clenched his fists. Asha growled deeper, but Sarash continued anyway because Levin deserved truth, and his voice lowered, colder now.

"The servants have been dismissed, and the palace guards surrounding this residency...will soon be replaced by Slyvarakh’s red knights."

Immediately, the atmosphere inside the chamber froze completely because now escape was no longer merely necessary. It was urgent.

Then suddenly Levin whispered quietly:

"...why?"

Sarash slowly looked up again. "...what?"

Levin’s trembling hand rested against his stomach protectively. "Why are you helping me? Aren’t you with Slyvarakh now?"

That question silenced even the storm for a moment, and Sarash stared at Levin quietly, and perhaps for the first time in years, honesty finally surfaced inside his expression.

"...because nobody helped me."

Silence.

Then softly and painfully he continued, "And I do not wish to watch another person drown while everyone else calls it fate."

Levin’s dead eyes trembled faintly afterward, not from fear, not from grief, but because for the first time since Zeramet disappeared, someone inside Zahryssar had finally chosen to tell him that...this is not his fate.

Then suddenly outside the chamber, heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway.

CLACK.

CLACK.

CLACK.

Immediately Sarash’s expression changed. "The Malik."

Iru stiffened instantly. Asha’s fangs bared. Even Lyresaph growled lowly, and Sarash rose to his feet quickly before thrusting the sword toward Levin.

"Take it."

Levin stared at the blade silently, and Sarash’s next words came colder, sharper, and more desperate.

"Because tonight, Malika...you either escape this palace..." The footsteps outside stopped directly before the chamber doors. "...or Zahryssar will bury you alive inside it."

Silence followed afterward, heavy and dangerous. Sarash turned immediately and walked toward the chamber entrance before anyone else could react.

The doors opened sharply.

CREAKKKKK.

Outside several Red Knights stood guard across the hallway. Their armor reflected the silver coronation lanterns coldly, and the moment they saw Sarash emerge, they immediately straightened. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

But Sarash’s expression darkened instantly. "...what exactly are you all doing here?" The pressure in the hallway shifted immediately; one of the knights quickly lowered his head.

"We apologize, Prince Sarash...we were stationed here under direct orders from Malik Slyvarakh."

Sarash’s eyes narrowed faintly. Then slowly he sighed like an exhausted prince already tired of everyone surrounding him.

"Have all of you forgotten palace law entirely?" The knights visibly stiffened. "Only attendants, physicians, and assigned captains may remain outside the Malika’s private chambers."

His voice lowered, colder afterward.

"Or perhaps the newly crowned Malik has already decided imperial etiquette no longer matters."

The Red Knights immediately bowed deeper. "N-no, Your Highness—"

Sarash raised one hand impatiently, cutting them off instantly. "Enough."

Then calmly and beautifully, he stepped closer toward them.

"Follow me." The knights blinked in confusion. "I shall personally assign your proper positions throughout the residency."

Silence lingered briefly afterward. Then eventually the knights obeyed because despite Slyvarakh’s coronation, Sarash still remained imperial blood. And just like that, the prince smoothly led the Red Knights away from the chamber corridor, and the hallway outside Levin’s chamber became empty.

And inside the chamber silence swallowed everything again. Levin remained motionless for several long moments, one trembling hand gripping the sword tightly and the other protectively resting over his swollen stomach.

His thoughts spiraled endlessly. If he escaped, Zahryssar would hunt him, Slyvarakh might attack Thalryn, and war could follow.

But if he stayed... Levin slowly closed his eyes because somewhere deep inside he already knew what tonight would become.

Then suddenly Iru stepped closer, desperately; his voice trembled urgently. "Malika...this is our only chance."

Outside, the distant celebration music still echoed faintly through the palace and was cruelly cheerful.

"If we remain any longer...we will be caught."

Silence.

Then finally Levin clenched his fist tightly around the sword, and slowly he stood, carefully supporting the weight of his stomach.

"...let’s go."

Immediately relief flashed across Iru’s face.

"Yes, Malika."

Without wasting another second, Iru hurried toward the wardrobe nearby before pulling out a dark brown traveling robe.

Simple and unremarkable. Perfect for hiding. Quickly he helped Levin cover himself beneath the heavy robe. Concealing the mourning silks, the broken marriage earrings, and the imperial identity surrounding him.

Lyresaph quietly slipped inside Levin’s robes afterward, eyes alert and watching everything carefully. Ready to transform at the slightest danger.

And beneath the robe Levin quietly concealed the dagger against his side. Asha paced restlessly near the chamber doors. Fangs are slightly visible and prepared to kill anyone blocking their path. Then finally the chamber doors opened softly.

CREAKKKK.

Several attendants standing nearby immediately noticed them.

And for one terrifying moment the entire hallway froze because every servant recognized the Malika instantly. Even hidden beneath the robe, but then the attendants lowered their eyes deliberately.

Pretending not to notice and pretending blindness. One attendant quietly turned toward another and said loudly, "...we should begin preparing Malik and Malika’s ceremonial bath."

Another attendant nodded immediately. "Yes...there is still much preparation remaining tonight."

And just like that, they walked away, without exposing Levin, without stopping him, and without betraying him.

Levin’s trembling fingers tightened slightly beneath the robe afterward because even now the palace was still trying to protect him silently.

Then quickly Iru stepped ahead, keeping his voice low and urgent. "This way, Malika."

The palace corridors stretched endlessly before them, dark, beautiful, and dangerous, and beneath Levin’s robes, Lyresaph peeked outward slightly, his dragon eyes glowing faintly beneath the shadows. Ready to unleash his true form the moment danger appeared.

And far across the palace, upon the imperial throne, the newly crowned Malik still believed his grieving consort waited obediently for him.

Unaware that at this very moment the Malika of Zahryssar was already disappearing from the empire beneath the storm.

***

[Secret Passage Beneath Silthara — Later]

The storm above Zahryssar roared endlessly. Even beneath the underground tunnels the distant thunder still trembled through the ancient walls.

Raviel and Zyvera still stood before the glowing imperial barrier. The ancient protection spell flickered endlessly across the stone archway, cold, untouchable, and merciless.

Zyvera folded her arms irritably while staring at the glowing wall. "...do you think another route exists?"

Raviel sighed heavily while rubbing his forehead. "The imperial bloodline truly protects their own ass obsessively, and yet despite all these protections...the empire still somehow continues collapsing beautifully."

Zyvera snorted softly afterward. "That sounds less like criticism and more like admiration."

"It is both."

Silence lingered briefly afterward. Then finally Zyvera asked quietly, "...So what do we do now?"

Raviel remained silent, thinking deeply. The coronation drums echoed faintly through the tunnels again.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

And somehow the sound only worsened the tension further. Then suddenly both siblings froze as they heard footsteps coming from deeper within the tunnel.

Immediately their instincts sharpened; daggers slid into their hands instantly.

SHING.

Without wasting another second, both siblings disappeared into the shadows beside the tunnel walls, watching and waiting as the approaching footsteps grew closer, faster and more desperate.

Then suddenly a voice echoed softly through the darkness.

"...be careful, Malika."

Immediately, Raviel frowned, and beside him, Zyvera blinked in confusion.

"...Malika?"

Slowly and carefully the siblings peeked outward from the shadows. And there moving through the underground tunnel beneath heavy robes were two figures followed by a tiger.

Zyvera immediately squinted afterward. "...is that not the Malika’s beast?"

Raviel nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing sharply, and the moment the approaching figures noticed movement Iru instantly stepped protectively before the hooded figure beside him, dagger raised and ready to attack.

The atmosphere exploded into tension instantly, but before anyone could move, Levin slowly lifted his gaze and then carefully removed the hood covering his face, exhausted and beautifully broken.

The moment Raviel saw him, the tension inside his shoulders visibly loosened, and beside him even Zyvera sighed softly in relief.

Levin stared at them in surprise. "...what are you both doing here?"

Raviel immediately stepped forward afterward as urgency replacing humor entirely. "We do not possess much time, Malika; we must leave Zahryssar immediately, the Duke cannot wait near the borders much longer."

Levin’s dead blue eyes widened instantly afterward.

"...Father?"

But before anyone could continue, a horrifying scream suddenly echoed through the tunnels above.

"THE MALIKA IS MISSING—!!!"

Everyone froze, then another voice roared afterward:

"INFORM THE MALIK IMMEDIATELY!"

The entire palace erupted into chaos instantly; footsteps thundered overhead. Alarm bells began echoing through Silthara Palace violently.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

And Zyvera immediately grabbed Levin’s arm tightly. "We have to run."

Iru’s expression sharpened instantly. Asha growled lowly, and beneath Levin’s robe, Lyresaph’s eyes began glowing brighter, ready to unleash destruction at any moment.

Meanwhile, far above the tunnels inside the imperial throne hall, the newly crowned Malik slowly rose from his throne after hearing the alarms.

And for the very first time that night, true fury appeared inside Slyvarakh’s silver eyes because his consort was escaping, and deep beneath the empire through storm-covered tunnels and ancient forbidden paths, the Malika of Zahryssar finally began fleeing from the kingdom.