[Silthara Palace — Malika's Chamber — Continuation]
The palace corridor became suffocatingly silent; no one moved, and no one dared breathe too loudly. Because standing beneath the lantern light, Levin had just reminded the empire the throne still belonged to Zeramet.
Meanwhile, the priests and red knights remained kneeling across the marble floor, terrified and shaking because none of them had expected the grieving consort to issue punishment so coldly and so imperially.
And before them Captain Varesh slowly stepped forward, one hand already resting upon his sword.
"As the Malika commands."
Immediately panic exploded among the priests.
"M-Malika please—!"
"We only obeyed orders—!"
"Mercy—!"
But Levin did not even look at them anymore; his blue eyes remained fixed entirely upon Slyvarakh, cold, sharp, and unmoving.
