Serpent Emperor's Bride-Chapter 108: Tea Beneath the Winter Glass

[Thalryn Empire — Imperial Palace — Evening]

The evening sky above the capital of Thalryn had already turned pale silver, the last light of the sun fading behind the frozen ridges beyond the city walls. Cold wind moved through the high towers of the imperial palace, carrying the faint scent of snow across the stone courtyards.

Along the long road leading toward the inner gate, the carriage of House Veyrhold rolled forward at a steady pace, its wheels grinding softly over the thin frost covering the ground.

Behind the carriage rode Captain Varesh and Captain Raevahn, their cloaks shifting in the northern wind, their eyes never still even for a moment.

Raevahn leaned slightly closer and muttered under his breath, "Too quiet."

Varesh did not look at him as he replied in his deep voice, "This is an imperial palace; it is never quiet... it only pretends to be."

The carriage slowed.

The great iron gates of the palace stood open, guards already lined on both sides of the path. Spears struck the stone once as the vehicle stopped in the center of the courtyard.

The door opened.

Levin stepped down.

Tonight, he wore the attire of Thalryn — the formal uniform of the Heir of Veyrhold. Dark blue layered robes trimmed with silver thread rested over his shoulders, the heavy northern fabric falling straight along his frame. No veil, no Zahryssar ornaments.

Only the crest of Veyrhold over his chest. For the first time since leaving the north, he stood here not as the consort of the Serpent Emperor but as the son of this land.

Iru stepped down beside him at once, adjusting the fur cloak over Levin’s shoulders while both captains took position instinctively at his sides, their gazes sweeping across the courtyard with silent caution.

A moment later, an imperial attendant approached quickly, stopping several steps away before bowing deeply.

"I greet the young lord of Veyrhold... and the Malika of Zahryssar." His voice carried careful respect, as if unsure which title should be spoken first as he continued, "The Emperor awaits you; he has requested your presence in the private garden for tea."

Levin gave a small nod. "Very well. Show the way."

The attendant turned immediately, and the small procession began moving through the palace halls.

Servants stepped aside. Knights lowered their heads. Whispers followed behind them like wind through dry leaves.

"That is him ..."

"He truly came ..."

"He looks thinner ..."

"They say the emperor of Zahryssar will come for him..."

Levin heard every word; his expression did not change. One hand rested lightly against the fold of his robe near his stomach for the briefest moment... then lowered again as he continued walking.

***

[Later — Imperial Palace — Private Garden]

The doors opened, and the cold vanished.

Warm air flowed gently through the imperial garden, carrying the scent of blooming winter flowers that should not have been able to grow in such a season. Glass walls surrounded the garden, holding the warmth inside while snow drifted softly outside the crystal panes.

Soft lantern light glowed among the trees. Small fountains whispered quietly. Levin stepped inside and stopped; for a moment, even Varesh and Raevahn looked around in surprise.

The attendant bowed slightly. "His Majesty will arrive shortly."

Levin nodded once. The attendant stepped back, leaving them alone in the garden. Levin’s gaze moved slowly across the place.

Nothing had changed: the same trees, the same stone path, and the same white flowers near the fountain. He walked forward without speaking, his steps slow, almost careful, as if afraid the memory would break if he moved too fast.

His fingers reached out; he touched one of the flowers gently, the petals soft beneath his hand.

"...Nothing changed," he murmured quietly.

For a moment there was only the sound of water, then—"Nothing will ever change in the future either, Malika."

The voice came from behind.

Deep.

Calm.

Familiar.

Levin turned.

The Emperor of Thalryn stood at the entrance of the garden, his long cloak resting over his shoulders, his posture still straight despite the years that had begun to show in his hair and eyes.

Beside him stood Princess Seraphine.

Her green eyes were fixed on Levin the moment he turned, wide with something that could not be called surprise... and could not be called calm.

Something deeper.

Something only she understood. Levin immediately lowered his head slightly, but before he could bow, the emperor raised his hand.

"No." His voice carried gentle authority. "Do not bow."

Levin paused.

The emperor walked closer slowly.

"You stand here as the Malika of the strongest empire in the world," he said. "If you bow to me, it would be my honor... but it would also be my shame."

Levin straightened again and inclined his head instead. "How are you, Your Majesty?"

The emperor smiled faintly, the kind of smile that belonged to a man who had ruled too long to be surprised by anything.

"I grow older, Malika." He exhaled slowly as he looked around the garden. "And it seems the time has come for me to stop being stubborn... and place the burden of this empire on younger shoulders."

His gaze shifted slightly toward the princess.

"...Soon, Thalryn will belong to Seraphine."

Levin followed the movement; his eyes met hers. Blue and green locked together for a moment that felt longer than it should.

Then his gaze dropped to her hands, and his eyes widened slightly. On her ring finger... is a blue stone ring.

The same one.

Veyrhold’s engagement ring caused his breath to pause for the smallest moment.

’She is still wearing it...?’

His eyes lifted again; her gaze had not moved. She was still looking at him, not as a princess, not as a ruler, but as the one who had once been promised to him.

The emperor spoke again, breaking the silence.

"Please." He gestured toward the table prepared beneath the glass roof. "Sit. We will talk like old times... if such a thing is still possible."

Levin lowered his eyes slightly and nodded. "As you wish."

The three of them took their seats, and though the garden was warm...the air between them was colder than the snow outside.

***

[Imperial Palace — Private Garden — Evening — Continued]

The attendant stepped forward quietly and poured the tea into thin crystal cups, the steam rising in soft white lines beneath the warm glass roof of the garden. The faint scent of northern herbs filled the air, calm and refined, yet the silence around the table felt far from peaceful.

The Emperor lifted his cup first, his eyes resting on Levin with a thoughtful expression.

"Before anything else..." he began slowly, "I must offer my congratulations."

Levin raised his gaze slightly.

"I have heard the news that has reached even the furthest provinces." The emperor’s lips curved faintly. "It seems Zahryssar has been blessed... with an heir."

Seraphine’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the edge of her cup, though her face remained perfectly composed.

Levin inclined his head. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The emperor leaned back slightly, studying him with quiet curiosity.

"When the reports first arrived, I thought them nothing more than court exaggerations."He gave a soft breath, half amused, half amazed.

"An Alpha bearing a child... it sounds like something written in the old legends, not something meant to happen in our time."

His eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in wonder.

"And yet here you sit before me, a living proof of the power of a Prime Alpha."

Levin did not react to the praise, his gaze remained calm as he answered quietly,

"It is not power, Your Majesty."

The emperor paused.

Levin continued, "It is only the consequence of the path I chose."

A brief silence followed. Then the emperor nodded slowly.

"...Even so, because of that path... this empire still stands." His voice lowered slightly, carrying more weight now. "The cold of the north has never spared us. Hunger, war, debt... we have known them all."

His eyes met Levin’s again.

"But because you went to Zahryssar... the people of Thalryn were given time to breathe again."

Seraphine lowered her gaze, listening without speaking.

The emperor continued, "The trade routes reopened. The borders stabilized. The nobles stopped preparing for war every winter."

A faint smile appeared.

"For the first time in many years... this empire remembered what warmth feels like."

Levin’s fingers moved lightly over the table, then stilled as he said quietly, "It was my duty."

The emperor looked at him.

Levin continued, "This land fed me since the day I was born, so please... do not thank me for protecting what was already mine to protect."

The emperor watched him for a long moment, then shook his head slowly.

"No." His tone became firmer. "You will be thanked, Malika, because without that sacrifice... we might not be sitting here today, drinking tea in peace."

The words lingered between them. Then the emperor exhaled and leaned back, as if deciding to move the conversation forward.

"That is precisely why..." he said, "I wish to hold a ball in your honor while you are in Thalryn."

Levin looked at him.

"A ball?"

"Yes."

The emperor nodded.

"A gathering of the court, the nobles, the generals... all of them wish to see the one who saved this empire with his own hands." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "And I would be honored... if the Serpent Emperor himself were to appear beside you."

Levin’s eyes lowered slightly.

"You do not need to do this, Your Majesty."

The emperor did not answer immediately.

Levin continued, "And as for Malik...I do not know when he will come to Thalryn... or if he will come at all."

The emperor waved his hand lightly.

"Whenever he comes, the palace of Thalryn will receive him with the respect owed to the ruler of Zahryssar." He smiled faintly. "It would be our honor to serve him."

Levin did not answer, he simply watched the emperor for several seconds in silence, too long. Long enough that the emperor’s smile faded slightly.

Levin spoke quietly.

"...Did something happen?"

The emperor froze for the smallest moment. Seraphine’s eyes lifted at once. Levin’s gaze did not move.

"You are not a man who arranges celebrations without reason," he continued, his voice remained calm, but sharp. "And you would not invite the ruler of Zahryssar without purpose."

A short silence fell over the garden.

The emperor let out a quiet breath, then chuckled softly, though the sound carried tension beneath it.

"...It seems," he said, "I still cannot hide anything from you, just like before."

Levin waited.

The emperor’s expression changed, the warmth leaving his face, replaced by the look of a ruler speaking of something far less pleasant.

"A few weeks ago... our border scouts discovered something."

Levin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Near the eastern frontier."

Seraphine’s fingers tightened again. The emperor continued, "At first we believed it to be an old ruin buried beneath the snow, but when the excavation began... we realized it was not a ruin."

A pause.

"It was a vault."

Levin did not move as he asked quietly, "A vault?"

The emperor nodded.

"Yes."

His gaze grew darker. "An ancient treasury... older than the current kingdoms."

The air in the garden seemed to grow colder. The emperor spoke slowly now. "We found weapons, relics... and gold enough to buy an army."

Levin’s expression hardened slightly. "And you are not the only one who knows."

The emperor nodded once. "Our scouts were not the first to see it."

A long silence.

Then—"The western lords have already begun gathering soldiers near the border."

Seraphine spoke for the first time, her voice calm but tight. "They believe the treasure belongs to whoever claims it first."

Levin looked at her, then back at the emperor. "And you fear war."

The emperor did not deny it. "Yes, and if war begins over that vault... Thalryn will not stand alone."

Levin’s eyes darkened. "You believe Zahryssar will be drawn into it."

The emperor held his gaze. "I believe the moment blood spills near the border... every empire will be forced to choose a side."

Silence filled the garden. The fountain whispered softly behind them. Then the emperor spoke the words he had been holding back from the beginning.

"That is why... I wish the Serpent Emperor to come here."

A pause.

"Not only for honor, but because if war begins... I would rather have Zahryssar beside us than against us, after all....No one can stand against the serpent emperor."