[The Garden—Later—Imperial Palace—Lavinia’s POV]
Sera poured warm tea into delicate porcelain cups, steam rising softly into the air. Birds chirped from the garden trees, petals drifting lazily across stone paths. Marshi nudged his mate gently, puffing his chest like a proud fool, clearly attempting to charm her.
The atmosphere was romantic.
Peaceful.
Perfect.
Except—
"This is supposed to be family ti," Papa snapped, shooting a murderous glare at Rey, who was practically vibrating with love while staring at Sera. "I fail to understand why so many unnecessary people are present."
Rey did not even blink.
General Luke sat comfortably beside Haldor, calmly adding exactly three sugar cubes into his tea like he owned the place. Theon sulked dramatically on the other side, arms crossed, face twisted in betrayal. Ravick stared intensely at Marshi and his mate as if trying to solve the universe.
And ?
I was sitting between Haldor and Papa, wondering—
When did my romantic tea ti turn into a public gathering of chaos?
General Luke sipped his tea and smirked. "Do not forget, Your Majesty," he said lazily, "your daughter married my son. Which ans I have every right to be here as family."
Papa twitched.
Rey leaned forward with a smug grin. "And my beloved happens to be the princess’s lady-in-waiting, so I ca to see my love."
Papa’s eye twitched harder.
Theon muttered darkly, "You didn’t even give leave today ..."
Papa groaned like a man whose soul was leaving his body.
I sighed dramatically. "It’s alright, Papa. They’re right. They’re all part of our family now so—"
"NO," Papa shouted, standing halfway up from his chair. "I AM YOUR ONLY FAMILY."
The birds flew away. Marshi’s mate squawked in alarm. Everyone froze.
I stared at Papa for two seconds.
Then burst out laughing.
"Yes, yes, I get it," I said, patting his arm. "You are my only dramatic, tyrannical, emotionally attached family."
He huffed. "You were supposed to sit with ."
"I am sitting with you," I pointed out.
"But not emotionally."
I choked on my tea. Haldor tried very hard not to laugh. General Luke openly laughed. Rey covered his mouth but failed.
Theon sighed like a tragic hero. "I have been forgotten again. Ugh...I miss my wife."
Ravick finally spoke, eyes still on Marshi. "...Why does the bird bow when the female squawks?"
Marshi puffed proudly.
Papa rubbed his temples. "This empire is dood."
I leaned back in my chair, watching the chaos with a fond smile.
The tyrant emperor. The proud general. The sulking assistant of Papa. The lovesick knight. The confused strategist. The dramatic birds.
And my husband was sitting quietly beside , smiling like this madness was the most beautiful thing in the world.
I leaned closer to Haldor and whispered, "This is your fault."
He blinked. "Mine?"
"Yes. You married ."
He smiled softly. "I regret nothing."
And in that mont, surrounded by noise, laughter, and absolute nonsense—I realized sothing very important.
This wasn’t chaos.
This was family.
Papa exhaled slowly, then set his cup down with a soft clink.
"Anyway..." he said, eyes narrowing slightly, "why is that Talvan behaving so oddly these days? He was the only noble who remained loyal to us until now."
I took a slow sip of my tea.
"He was never loyal, Papa," I said calmly. "He was only patient."
Papa frowned.
"He has been waiting to strike us."
Silence rippled through the garden. I looked directly at him. "You killed his sister. And her children."
Papa did not flinch.
"He wants revenge now."
Papa’s gaze darkened. "I knew he would strike back... but after all these years?"
Ravick smirked faintly. "It seems he is not aiming for revenge alone, Your Majesty. His eyes are fixed on sothing else."
Theon scoffed. "Of course. The throne."
Papa voice turned cold.
"Seems like after my stepmother death, he convinced himself his bloodline was the rightful heir. What a magnificent delusion."
General Luke leaned forward. "But why now, Your Majesty? Why wait so long? Is he planning sothing larger?"
Rey finally spoke, his voice unusually serious. "No. He has been taking revenge since the mont Her Highness was born. It’s just that he failed every ti."
Papa’s hand tightened around his cup as he recalled every attack that happened to .
"...Don’t tell ," he said slowly, dangerously, "every assassination attempt on Lavinia until now—"
Rey nodded.
"Yes. Every single one."
The air froze.
"Marquess Everett. Caelum. The baron who spread rumors when Her Highness was four. The poison incident. The hired rcenaries at the southern gates. Every single attack was his plan, your majesty."
Papa’s smile was not a smile anymore.
"That bastard," he muttered darkly. "I should drag him out this very mont and—"
"No, Papa."
My voice cut through his. Not loud. But absolutely.
He looked at .
"Not now."
"Why?" he demanded.
"Because this ti," I said softly, "I don’t want to kill one snake."
I smiled faintly. "I want to burn the entire nest."
Every eye sharpened around .
"We don’t know how many nobles hide behind him. How many drink from his poison while pretending loyalty." I leaned forward slightly. "To drag them all out... we need patience."
Haldor nodded firmly. "I agree with Her Highness, Your Majesty. We must allow them to reveal themselves. Only then can we cleanse the empire thoroughly."
Ravick added quietly, "A slow hunt catches more prey."
Papa exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"Fine," he said finally. "Do whatever you wish."
Then his jaw tightened, eyes burning.
"But when the ti cos..." His voice dropped. "I will be the one who kills him."
I smiled calmly.
"Of course," I said sweetly. "You may execute him personally."
Papa smirked. The emperor and the future empress shared a look.
Not of rcy.
Not of hesitation.
But of absolute certainty.
Talvan thought he was hunting us. But in truth— He had already walked into our trap. And this ti... The empire would watch him fall and we will begin with his own bloodline.
Sirella Talvan.
***
[Later—Lavinia’s Chamber—Night]
As I entered my room, I stretched my arms dramatically. "God... what a long day. Why are we reconstructing roads again?"
Haldor closed the door behind us with a soft click.
"It has been six years," he said calmly. "Even stone grows tired if you ignore it long enough."
I yawned. "So do empresses."
He chuckled and stepped closer, wrapping his arms around from behind. His lips brushed gently behind my ear.
"It took you an hour to sign all those docunts," he murmured. "You deserve so appreciation."
I tilted my head slightly. "Appreciation in what form, exactly?"
"From , of course." He smiled against my skin. "Would you like a massage, Lavi?"
I looked up at him slowly, eyes narrowing playfully."What kind of massage?" I asked. "A normal massage... or a very suspiciously confident one?"
He laughed softly. "Perhaps both. If you allow it."
I turned around, slipping my arms around his waist."How did the shy captain beco this bold?" I asked teasingly. "Tell the truth—did you drink?"
I leaned closer and sniffed him dramatically.
He kissed the tip of my nose. "No," he said gently. "I just realized sothing."
I raised a brow. "Oh and what is that?"
"Showing love to your partner," he said softly, "might be the secret to a long and happy life."
I smirked. "And you plan to test that theory thoroughly?"
"Absolutely," he replied, eyes warm.
I laughed quietly and rested my forehead against his. "Oho... look at you, Crown Prince. Speaking like a poet."
"I learned from the most dangerous woman in the empire," he whispered.
I smiled, my fingers tightening gently around his coat.
"And she," I replied softly, "has absolutely no intention of letting you escape."
He held closer, resting his chin lightly on my head. And just like that, the exhaustion of the day faded.
No thrones.No politics.No conspiracies.
Only us.
Breathing together in the quiet.
"Shall we take the bath together?" he asked softly.
I blinked, surprised—then laughed under my breath.
"You really surprise every single day," I said, looking up at him. "But... I like this side of you. An open corner of your heart... just for ."
He smiled faintly, eyes warm, and wrapped his arms around more securely.
"Then shall we save the water today?" he whispered playfully.
This ti—I was the one who blushed. I leaned into his chest, hiding my face against him, and felt his quiet laughter vibrate through .
"You’re unfair," I muttered.
"And you love it," he replied gently.
I lifted my head just enough to look at him, and he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear with the softest touch.
"Thank you," he whispered, "for letting be like this with you."
I smiled, "Yeah...stop syaing thank your everyday."
He kissed my forehead, slow and tender, as if sealing a promise instead of ending a night.
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