[Silthara Palace—Malik's Private Chamber—Nursery—One Month Later—The Next Morning]
Morning sunlight quietly poured through the enormous lattice windows; golden rays danced across the white marble floor. The fragrance of camphor incense lingered softly throughout the chamber.
Outside, the Empire of Zahryssar had already awakened. Knights changed their patrols. Servants hurried through endless hallways, but inside...time itself seemed to slow.
Upon the enormous lower diwan... Levin sat comfortably against embroidered cushions; his long blue robes had loosened around his shoulders.
As his son rested peacefully within one arm and his daughter remained nestled against the other. The twins had become far calmer over the past few days.
Tiny hands constantly reached toward their father, searching, holding and refusing to let him move too far away.
"Greedy little serpents," Levin smiled softly. "I have only two hands, and yet, you both insist on claiming one each."
