Serpent Emperor's Bride

Chapter 180: Towards Sah’qir Village

[Silthara Palace — The Royal Departure Courtyard — Morning]

Morning across Silthara Palace no longer carried peace. It carried movement.

Orders echoed through marble hallways while servants rushed between courtyards carrying travel silks, weapons, medicine chests, sealed parchments, and imperial banners marked with the crest of Zahryssar.

The palace itself felt awake, preparing and watching.

Outside, within the vast royal courtyard, rows of black-armored Red Knights stood assembled beside enormous desert drakes prepared for travel. Supply caravans lined the lower gates. Physicians discussed medicine supplies hurriedly.

Scouts checked water reserves repeatedly, and above all of it, imperial banners snapped violently beneath the desert wind.

At the center of the courtyard stood Zeramet, dressed fully for travel. His dark imperial robes were layered beneath black serpent-scale armor while silver ornaments rested against his shoulders like sharpened moons.

His sword hung at his side, his golden eyes colder, focused, and imperial.

Nearby, captains moved around him receiving final orders.

"The eastern route remains unstable." Varesh spoke firmly while examining the desert maps spread across the strategy stand. "We should avoid the lower canyon roads."

Zeramet nodded once as his gaze sharpened slightly. "We move through the northern dunes instead and double the night patrols."

"As you command, Malik."

Meanwhile on the upper marble staircase overlooking the courtyard, Levin finally appeared, and for one brief moment the entire courtyard seemed to still.

Silver and pale blue robes flowed elegantly around him beneath the morning light while thin gold chains rested across his waist and shoulders.

Unlike Zeramet’s heavy armor, Levin wore lighter ceremonial travel silks specially prepared for desert climates. Yet despite the softness of his appearance, authority followed him naturally and dangerously.

Behind him walked Iru, carrying sealed medicine cases, while several attendants followed with travel blankets, cooling herbs, and enough supplies to survive an imperial siege.

The moment Zeramet noticed Levin, his expression softened slightly, only slightly but enough. "You should have remained inside longer."

Levin descended the final steps calmly. "And allow you to leave without me? That sounds unlikely."

Several nearby knights immediately looked away.

Because hearing Malik and Malika argue like husbands in the middle of military preparation still felt deeply dangerous.

Zeramet stepped closer immediately; his hand instinctively rested against Levin’s abdomen, protective and checking.

Always checking now.

"Did you eat?"

Levin blinked once. "Yes."

"Properly?"

"...yes."

"Did you drink the physician’s medicine?"

Levin sighed softly. "Zer."

Nearby, Varesh immediately turned away, pretending to study the desert maps with life-threatening focus because the Malik was being a mother again.

Zeramet ignored everyone entirely. "You became dizzy yesterday."

"Only briefly."

"You nearly walked into a pillar."

"There were too many parchments."

"That is not the pillar’s fault."

Levin stared at him flatly; meanwhile, several attendants visibly trembled, trying not to laugh after hearing the Malik blame a pillar for existing incorrectly.

But among everyone gathered within the courtyard there was one serpent who did not laugh.

Physician Naram.

The physician stood slightly behind the attendants holding several medicine scrolls against his chest while quietly observing Levin.

His brows slowly furrowed as the words came quietly beneath his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

"...Was Malika always like this? Has he always been open and laughed easily? Or am I thinking too much?"

Nearby Raevhan immediately heard him. "You are definitely thinking too much."

Physician Naram exhaled softly while rubbing his forehead tiredly as his gaze returned towards Levin again. "No...it is simply strange."

Because it was strange, not the laughter itself, not the softness but the fact Levin smiled freely now, even faintly and even briefly. Before, Malika had always carried calmness like armor, beautiful, distant, and untouchable.

And now? Now he argued with Zeramet over pillars in the middle of military preparation.

Physician Naram sighed quietly. "I have seen serpents become emotionally softer while carrying an egg...perhaps this is normal."

Raevhan crossed his arms thoughtfully. "It probably is."

Then after a brief silence he added: "Though after everything that happened..." His voice lowered slightly. "... Seeing the Malika smile again is not unpleasant."

That made Physician Naram stand still briefly, because yes—perhaps that was the real reason the change unsettled everyone.

After the incident—after the loss—they had expected grief to consume Levin entirely. Instead, he had somehow returned softer, not weaker.

Never weaker.

Only more human.

Physician Naram eventually nodded slowly as his expression darkened faintly. "You are right, and after the previous incident...it is better for me to remain cautious regarding every change."

Raevhan immediately nodded as his voice remained calm. "That is not worry. That is simply the responsibility of a physician."

The older physician exhaled quietly, then finally allowed himself to relax slightly. Meanwhile, near the imperial carriage, Zeramet had already guided Levin toward the enormous black royal carriage prepared for eastern travel.

Silver serpent crests decorated the doors while protective runes glowed faintly beneath the wheels. Several desert drakes stood harnessed nearby.

Restless and impatient.

Zeramet stepped inside first before immediately turning back toward Levin, holding out his hand naturally without hesitation.

Levin placed his hand within his, and Malik guided him carefully into the carriage as though even the staircase itself might betray him.

Nearby several knights exchanged exhausted looks. "He treats the Malika like glass."

One whispered quietly; another immediately elbowed him hard. "Do you wish to die?"

Inside the carriage, Zeramet finally looked back toward the courtyard.

"Varesh."

Varesh immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Yes, Malik?"

"Check whether the High Mage is prepared for departure, and if he refuses to come..." Zeramet’s golden eyes narrowed faintly. "...drag him."

Varesh blinked once, genuinely surprised. "The High Mage is accompanying us?"

"Yes," Zeramet answered immediately. "We may require his abilities in the eastern desert."

Then after a brief silence, his voice lowered slightly. "...and perhaps this journey will help him as well."

Varesh understood immediately what Zeramet truly referred to. Arkhazunn, heartbroken and exhausted. Still carrying love that had nowhere left to go.

Varesh lowered his head quietly. "I understand, Malik."

Then he turned immediately and disappeared across the courtyard toward the palace interior. Though beneath his composed expression, something uneasy stirred inside him.

Because taking Arkhazunn into the eastern desert felt less like a journey ...and more like fate quietly tightening its grip around everyone involved.

Above them, the imperial banners of Zahryssar whipped violently beneath the desert winds, and somewhere far beyond the dunes—something ancient waited patiently for them to arrive.

***

[Beneath Zahryssar —Sarytharn City---Wine Cellar — Noon]

Far beneath the empire beneath the marble palaces, beneath noble courts, beneath temples drowning in incense and lies the underground at the wine cellar still breathed.

The Serpents’ shadow never slept. It whispered. Lanterns filled with wine cellar burned dimly against damp walls while hidden passageways twisted endlessly beneath wine cellar like veins beneath flesh.

Smugglers bargained. Assassins exchanged contracts. Information flowed faster than blood and within the deepest chamber—sat Raviel and his younger sister Zyvera.

Zyvera lounged lazily across the long velvet couch, one leg thrown over the armrest while she ate dried dates from a silver bowl carelessly. The jewels around her wrists jingled softly each time she moved.

"...the Malika still hasn’t contacted us." She popped another date into her mouth dramatically. "Rude."

Across from her Raviel leaned back against the carved chair while flipping through smuggled reports lazily.

"Hm." He did not even look up. "I agree. It appears the Malika finished using us."

Zyvera gasped immediately, overdramatically. "So we were abandoned?"

"Ghosted."

"...by royalty?"

"Tragically."

Zyvera placed one hand against her chest in betrayal as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I risked my beautiful life stealing imperial secrets for him, and this is how the palace repays loyalty?"

Raviel finally snorted softly and looked up at her Lazily. "Loyalty? You tried selling military routes to three nobles last week."

"That was business."

"That was treason."

"That too."

Silence settled briefly before Zyvera suddenly sat upright again as she pointed a date towards his suspiciously. "So...what are you planning now, brother?"

That made Raviel smile, not warmly but dangerously like a serpent finally spotting profit. Slowly he slid open the hidden drawer beneath the desk.

The moment it opened pink light spilled across the underground chamber. Zyvera nearly choked on the date in her mouth.

"...BROTHER."

Inside the drawer rested the same pink necklace, ancient, beautiful and terrifying. A massive pink diamond rested at its center while delicate silver serpent chains curled around it like sleeping fangs.

And despite resting inside darkness—the jewel glowed faintly beneath daylight leaking through the underground vents above.

Alive and almost breathing. Raviel carefully lifted it between his fingers. The pink light reflected sharply within his eyes as his smirk deepened slowly. "This...will get us inside Silthara Palace."

Zyvera immediately stood up in panic and she pointed violently towards the necklace. He voice echoed through the chamber now. "Are you insane?! Do you even understand how much that treasure is worth?! I did not nearly die stealing that thing for nothing!"

Raviel looked entirely unimpressed. "You almost die doing everything."

"That is not the point!" Zyvera marched toward him furiously, the dates forgotten completely now. "That necklace alone could buy us half the underground and Zahryssar markets!"

She lowered her voice dramatically. "We could disappear forever."

Raviel leaned back against the chair lazily then finally looked directly at her. "And then what?"

Zyvera blinked once. "What?"

"You sell the necklace." He lifted the glowing jewel slightly. "We become rich and then what?"

She frowned. "...then we remain rich?"

"For how long?" Raviel’s voice sharpened slightly now.

"A few years?"

"Ten?"

"Twenty?"

Then suddenly his smirk darkened. "But do you know what position grants wealth forever?"

The underground chamber quieted instantly. Raviel slowly rested the necklace back into the drawer, carefully and respectfully. "The Malika’s closest allies."

Zyvera stilled completely. Raviel continued softly and dangerously logical. "We get food, wealth, protection, political immunity, power."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And access to the imperial palace itself."

Zyvera swallowed faintly because unfortunately her brother was making sense.

Terrifying sense.

Raviel leaned forward now his voice dropping lower. "This necklace is not treasure anymore. It is an investment."

The pink diamond glowed softly between them as if almost listening. "You can either choose temporary luxury..."

Raviel murmured.

"...or lifetime privilege."

Zyvera stared at the necklace silently, thinking and calculating. Greed slowly battling greed inside her own mind then finally she sighed dramatically and collapsed back onto the couch.

"...I hate when you sound intelligent."

Raviel smirked triumphantly. "You mean attractive."

"You look like a starving criminal."

"That is because I am a starving criminal."

Zyvera groaned loudly into the couch cushions but deep inside she already knew that they were absolutely going to the palace and somewhere far away beneath the eastern sands—the same pink light hidden within the necklace pulsed once.

As though recognizing something awakening in the distance that neither sibling noticed.