[Lavinia’s Pov—The Next Day—Morning]
Morning arrived gently.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting the chamber in warm gold, as if the day itself wished us happiness. I stirred—but couldn’t move.
Because I was wrapped in Haldor’s arms.
Not loosely. Not accidentally. But protectively. Possessively. Like he feared the world might steal away if he loosened his hold. His breath brushed softly against my skin, steady and warm. Real.
I shifted slightly and imdiately felt it—Oh gods... my body.
I winced.
I shot a glare at the sleeping captain beside .
I never thought the shy, innocent Captain of the Imperial Knights was hiding such terrifying strength.
Then I looked at his face.
And lted instantly.
His lashes rested softly against his cheeks. His brows—always so tense in daylight—were smooth, unburdened. He looked younger like this. Gentler. Beautiful in a way that belonged only to .
I smiled without realizing it.
Carefully, I moved just a little.
His arm tightened imdiately.
"Don’t disappear," he murmured sleepily.
I froze.
"...I wasn’t planning to," I whispered back.
His eyes opened slowly, still heavy with sleep. When they focused on , they softened in a way that made my chest ache.
"Good morning," he breathed, a faint smile forming. "My dear wife."
I blinked—startled by how easily the word wrapped around .
Then I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Good morning, dear husband."
His ears turned pink instantly. He pulled closer, tucking safely against his chest.
"I never knew," he murmured, half-awake, half-dreaming, "that mornings could be this beautiful."
I stared at him.
"Haldor Valethorn," I said seriously, "are you flirting with your wife before sunrise?"
"...Yes," he admitted softly. "Is that inappropriate?"
"Very," I replied solemnly. "But continue."
He smiled—slow, warm, and completely unguarded. For a mont, we simply looked at each other. No empire. No crown. No future waiting to demand sothing from us.
Only this.
His thumb brushed gently over my cheek.
"Thank you," he whispered, "for being my morning today... and for all the mornings to co."
My chest tightened in the best way. I smiled and snuggled closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder.
The palace was awake.
The world was moving.
But inside our chamber—There was only peace.
A quiet, gentle peace that felt like ho.
***
[The Bath Chamber—Later]
Sera scrubbed my skin gently, carefully, and respectfully. Her gaze flickered over the faint red marks before she looked away with a shy smile, "Looks like the night was... rather intense, Your Highness."
I turned my head slowly. "Sera."
She imdiately lowered her eyes. "I apologize."
I laughed softly. "You should apologize for your terrible attempt at subtlety."
She chuckled, relief easing her shoulders as she continued washing my arms.
"Now," I said lazily, "I wonder when you and Rey plan to marry."
Her hands paused for just a second before resuming. She smiled faintly. "Not so soon... I am not leaving your side, Your Highness."
I tilted my head. "Why would you need to leave my side?"
She hesitated, then answered carefully, "Because as a woman and a noble woman, after marriage, I must care for my husband and child. That is... my duty."
I smirked.
"An absurd duty."
She looked up, startled.
"If I, as a woman, can rule an empire," I continued calmly, "why can’t you serve an empress?"
She stared at , silent.
"But all noble won do the sa, Your Highness," she said slowly. "Just like Lady Mairella. They leave their houses. Their positions. Their nas."
I smiled.
"Yes. And that is exactly what we are going to change."
She blinked. "Change...?"
I turned slightly in the bath, eting her eyes fully.
"I want won to rule under . I want won to lead noble houses. I want won to sit in council chambers without being called exceptions. I want won to join the armies too."
Her breath hitched.
"And," I added softly, "I will begin with you."
She stared."?"
I nodded.
"You are the only daughter of House Aurelmont, are you not?"
She nodded slowly. "Yes... but my cousin is nad as my father’s heir."
I smiled.
"And that," I said sweetly, "is precisely the problem."
Her eyes widened. "Your Highness... what do you an?"
"I an," I replied calmly, "that I will introduce a new imperial law."
She froze.
"A law where daughters may inherit equally. Where a woman’s blood is no longer lighter than a man’s."
Sera gasped. "But Your Highness—the nobles will riot—"
I smirked, "I know, that’s exactly what I want. To let the rat out of his hole, we need to bring a change. A change no man can digest."
She looked terrified. "They will accuse you of destroying tradition, your highness."
I leaned back slightly, eyes glinting.
"They will not. If I beco crown princess and next empress, why not have other noble ladies take over their house?"
I turned my gaze back to her.
"Accepting an empress was easy for them. So tell , Sera—why should accepting a female noble heir be any harder?"
She swallowed.
"I don’t know, your highness. , but right now... You’re terrifying. I feel like you’re going to stir the whole empire soon."
I smiled.
"Good. Fear is far more effective than permission."
Then, softly, "But rember this—I am not doing this only for power. I am doing this so no woman under my rule ever has to abandon her worth for a title."
Sera’s eyes shimred and smiled faintly.
"No matter what, I will stand with you," she whispered.
I reached out, touching her wrist gently.
"No," I corrected. "You will stand before others. I will stand behind you."
A queen does not always fight on the front lines.
Sotis—She changes the rules. And when Sera looked at then, I saw it.
Not just loyalty, but belief was only the surface. My real intention lay far deeper.
I am not changing the law only to save won, I thought calmly. I am changing it to draw every hidden enemy into the open.
Count Talvan.His allies.The ones who smiled at my wedding while sharpening their knives.
I wanted them to panic.
I wanted them to move.
I rose slowly from the bath, water sliding from my skin as I wrapped a towel around myself. Steam curled through the chamber like quiet secrets.
"My real plan," I murmured, half to myself, half to Sera, "is to bring every rat out of its hole."
Sera stiffened.
"Those who wish dead," I continued softly, "will not remain silent when their traditions are threatened. Especially Talvan. They will reveal themselves. And when they do—"
I smiled faintly.
"They will no longer be able to hide behind loyalty."
Sera swallowed. "You’re using reform as bait."
I turned toward her.
"No," I corrected. "I’m using justice as a mirror. Let them see their own ugliness in it."
I stepped forward, the towel secure around , my posture already returning to that familiar, dangerous calm.
"Co," I said quietly. "Before taking the throne, I also want won working under . I want their voices in my halls, their minds in my councils, and their nas in my laws."
Sera smiled faintly, hurriedly stepping beside .
"Then we must hide those marks first," she said softly, teasing gently.
"Yes, yes," I muttered with a small sigh. "Unfortunately, my husband is far too expressive."
She laughed under her breath as she reached for silk and perfu. And as she worked, carefully covering warmth with elegance, I watched my reflection in the mirror.
A crownless empress.
A smiling bride.
A woman about to rewrite an empire.
Let them whisper.
Let them doubt.
Let them plot.
Because I was no longer just stepping into the throne. I was preparing to shake the ground beneath it.
***
[Later—Hallway—Outside Lavinia’s Chamber]
As I stepped out of my chamber, silk brushing softly against marble, I saw him.
Haldor stood waiting in his captain’s uniform, posture straight, presence steady—every inch the knight the empire trusted... and the husband I had claid.
I smiled and folded my hands mock-politely. "Now tell ... am I walking with the Crown Prince or the Captain of the Imperial Knights?"
Sera peeked from behind , chuckling. "Probably neither for you, Your Highness."
I shot her a warning look.
Haldor cleared his throat, trying very hard not to smile.
"Both," he said calmly. "Since we are walking to the council chamber."
I stepped closer and ruffled his hair without rcy, "Good. Then let’s go, both of you."
He nodded, pretending dignity, while Sera struggled not to laugh.
As we began walking down the long hallway, sunlight pouring through the tall windows, I asked casually,
"Where is Marshi?"
"After your marriage," Sera replied, "Rey insisted we bring back his mate. He’s spending ti with her now."
I glanced sideways. "The sa one?"
"Yes," Sera said with a soft smile. "The sa one."
I nodded slowly."Good."
Because love deserved to return ho too.
Our footsteps echoed as we walked toward the council chamber—toward waiting nobles, fragile traditions, and rules long overdue for breaking.
We were not walking to argue.
We were walking to change sothing. And as the doors of the council chamber ca into view, I smiled faintly.
Because today...A new law would be born.
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