Serpent Emperor's Bride

Chapter 245: At The Border

[Sah’Rumeh Village — Morning — Healer’s Hut]

The morning sun poured through the windows of the healer’s hut; golden rays spilled across wooden floors. Across scattered blankets, across two sleeping figures who had finally found peace after months of chaos.

Outside...the village was already awake. Children ran through the pathways. Smoke rose from stone chimneys; life continued.

Meanwhile, inside the hut...Levin remained deeply asleep, curled comfortably against Zeramet’s chest after the last day, his hair scattered across the pillow. One arm rested across the Zeramet’s waist, completely unaware of the world.

Zeramet’s eyes slowly opened for several moments...the ruler of Zahryssar simply stared at his sleeping husband, silently and warmly. His golden eyes softened; a faint smile appeared. Then his fingers brushed a hair strand away from Levin’s face, and he saw the red marks all over his body.

"My beautiful Moonflower." The words escaped him like a prayer, soft, affectionate, and dangerously fond.

Levin merely shifted closer in his sleep. The response alone nearly made Zeramet laugh.

Then—

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

The sound shattered the peaceful silence, and immediately Zeramet frowned; another knock followed, more urgent this time.

"Malik!" Iru’s voice echoed through the door as his voice sounded hurried, anxious, and almost alarmed. "Malik...Malika..."

Zeramet’s expression immediately changed because Iru never disturbed them without reason. Zeramet glanced toward Levin; his husband merely groaned, turning deeper into the blankets, clearly prepared to continue sleeping until sunset.

The sight almost made Zeramet smile again, almost. Then another knock came louder.

"Malik."

This time...the urgency was unmistakable. Zeramet carefully slid from the bed slowly, making certain not to wake Levin as his consort remained asleep, exhausted, peaceful, and unaware.

Zeramet draped a dark robe across his shoulders and fastened it loosely. Then crossed the room and opened the door.

Immediately Iru straightened and bowed. Yet Zeramet instantly noticed something unusual. Iru’s breathing was uneven, his expression tense, his eyes alert. The look of a scout who had discovered something important.

Zeramet narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"

Iru lowered his voice. "The western border."

Silence.

Zeramet’s expression hardened. "What about it?"

Iru swallowed and then answered, "House Veyrhold."

Silence, an absolute silence. The name alone froze the air. Zeramet stared, then slowly repeated, "House Veyrhold? What about it? Do not tell me Slyvarakh really attacked the Thalryn Empire?"

Iru nodded as no immediately saying, "No, Malik. While flying above the mountains this morning, I noticed a large procession approaching Qashmir. I descended closer, and I recognized their banners."

Zeramet’s golden eyes widened slightly for the first time in many months. "Duke Aren."

The realization escaped him immediately as Iru nodded. "The crest of House Veyrhold was clearly visible. The Duke himself may be among them."

Silence filled the doorway; the mountain wind swept through the village. For several moments...neither spoke, because both understood what this meant.

Levin’s father, the man who had crossed kingdoms searching for his son. The man who had challenged emperors. The man who had refused to surrender to Slyvarakh was finally close...very close, but...for wolves...he could be a target.

Then Zeramet glanced back toward the bed, toward the sleeping figure hidden beneath blankets. Levin remained completely unaware, still asleep and still peaceful.

Zeramet’s gaze softened...just slightly, and then he quietly said, "Do not tell him yet. I shall handle this matter first."

Iru blinked. "But Malik—"

"He has spent months carrying burdens." Zeramet interrupted gently, his gaze never leaving Levin. "Let him have one peaceful morning and I shall ease his burden."

Silence.

Iru stared and then slowly nodded with understanding and respect. Zeramet finally turned back, his golden eyes returning to their usual sharpness.

"Continue observing them. If it truly is Duke Aren...then I shall greet him personally."

Iru immediately bowed. "As the Malik commands."

Iru immediately placed a fist against his chest and bowed, and then Zeramet stepped into the morning sunlight and far beyond the mountains...a father unknowingly rode closer to the son he had crossed half the continent to find.

***

[At The Border — Later]

The morning winds swept across the mountains, cold, sharp, and relentless. Captain Kael stood atop the wooden watch platform overlooking the main road leading toward Sah’Rumeh Village.

Below him...wolf soldiers maintained their defensive positions. Archers stood ready; hunters patrolled the forest line. Ever since the beast attacks had intensified...nobody took chances anymore.

Nobody.

Then a knight stepped forward. "Captain."

Kael glanced toward him; the knight pointed toward the distant road. "Incoming carriage."

Immediately Kael narrowed his eyes. Far beyond the checkpoint...a black carriage emerged from the mountain mist, elegant and expensive. Built for long-distance travel. Several mounted guards surrounded it; the entire procession moved with discipline and purpose.

Kael’s instincts immediately stirred.

"Open the gates?" A soldier asked.

"No." The answer came instantly.

The village remained under lockdown; nobody entered without approval. The carriage continued forward until finally it stopped before the checkpoint. The horses snorted; the guards remained alert.

Silence settled over the border, and then the carriage door opened. A man stepped out, tall and broad-shouldered; his eyes carried the weight of countless winters.

Behind him emerged two more figures, a woman and a man, both equally dangerous. Kael immediately understood.

These were not ordinary travelers, not merchants, not nobles seeking shelter, but warriors. The kind who had survived battlefields. The kind who carried danger naturally.

His hand rested upon the hilt of his sword, then his voice echoed across the checkpoint. "State your identities."

The older man stepped forward calmly and confidently as though he had stood before kings his entire life.

"I am Duke Aren Veyrhold. The Head of House Veyrhold of the Thalryn Empire."

Several wolf soldiers exchanged glances. Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Thalryn.

The kingdom of endless snow is currently standing on the edge of war. Then something strange happened; his gaze lingered on the Duke’s face, and suddenly...he saw it: the eyes, the jawline, and the expression.

Not identical but close enough. Close enough to remind him of someone.

Levin.

Kael’s heart skipped. For a brief moment...everything connected. Then immediately he suppressed the realization; his face remained professional, expressionless, and unmoved.

The captain stepped forward as his voice remained respectful. "Forgive me, Duke Aren, but you cannot enter."

Silence.

The mountain winds swept through the checkpoint. Raviel raised an eyebrow. Zyvera folded her arms, and Duke Aren simply stared. Several long moments passed.

Then the Duke smiled. "Even after knowing who I am."

Kael nodded. "Yes."

"And yet you refuse me entry."

"Yes."

Duke Aren nodded. "May I ask why?"

Kael’s answer came immediately. "Orders."

Silence.

The Duke’s eyes sharpened. "But every empire carries enough authority for a duke to enter an empire for talks, so why deny a duke of Thalryn?"

Kael met his gaze directly without hesitation and without fear. "These are the orders of His Majesty Emperor Tharzek."

The atmosphere instantly became heavier. Several soldiers stiffened; even the wind seemed quieter. Then Duke Aren stepped forward, saying, "I apologize for arriving without notice, but I am searching for my son."

Silence.

"My missing son. The son who disappeared while carrying a child."

The words struck Kael like a hammer; his fists tightened slightly.

Levin.

There was no doubt anymore; the Duke had come for Levin. Then Aren continued. "I have crossed kingdoms searching for him. I have fought political battles searching for him, and now I have been informed he may be here."

His voice lowered dangerously. "If he is here...I will take him home."

Silence.

Kael’s jaw tightened. Inside his mind, thoughts collided violently.

If Levin left...Zeramet would leave. If Zeramet left...the village would lose its strongest protector. The beast clan would remain. Qashmir would stand alone.

No...he couldn’t allow it, not yet.

Then Kael straightened as his answer came firm and unmoving. "There are no foreign nobles within Sah’Rumeh."

Silence.

The lie tasted bitter, yet he spoke it anyway. "You have received false information."

Zyvera stepped forward, her eyes narrowed, sharp as blades, and a humorless laugh escaped her.

"False information? Captain." She folded her arms. "Our sources confirmed everything. House Veyrhold does not travel across half a continent chasing rumors. We know our Malika is here."

Her gaze locked onto his, cold and unforgiving. "And whatever reason you have for lying...it reflects poorly upon the wolves. It’s pathetic."

Silence.

The words landed heavily like a slap. Kael felt heat crawl into his face, a humiliation because deep down...he knew she was right, yet still he answered.

"You still cannot enter."

The silence deepened, and then suddenly a familiar voice echoed from behind, calm, deep, and ancient.

"I wonder...when exactly my father-in-law became an unauthorized visitor."

Silence, an absolute silence. Duke Aren froze completely as his heart skipped. The voice—he knew that voice.

He turned around, and everyone did; then they saw him. A gigantic silver serpent emerged from the morning mist, majestic, terrifying, and beautiful. Silver scales shimmered beneath the sunlight. Golden eyes watched the checkpoint calmly.

An eagle circled above him.

The soldiers immediately stepped back. Several nearly dropped their weapons because every wolf present recognized him.

Malik Zeramet.

The serpent continued forward, then golden light erupted, and his enormous body disappeared, and moments later...a tall figure stood where the serpent had been, silver hair and golden eyes.

Alive...entirely alive.

Zyvera’s eyes widened and her lips parted. "No way..."

Raviel immediately dropped to one knee, his head lowered. "I greet the Malik of Zahryssar."

Zyvera recovered moments later, then followed. "We greet the malik."

Only Duke Aren remained standing, frozen, staring and unable to process what stood before him. Because he had believed him dead and because the world had declared him dead.

Yet here he stood breathing, smiling and alive. The Duke finally found his voice, barely. "You’re alive..."

Zeramet smiled softly, warmly, and respectfully. Then he stepped forward as his golden eyes softened.

"How could I possibly die...while leaving your son alone, Father?"

Silence.

The mountain winds howled; nobody spoke and nobody moved. Because suddenly...everyone realized something, the reunion they had been waiting for...had finally begun.