It was August 12.
Today was the day of the babies' naming ceremony.
The mansion had been transformed for the special occasion.
Everything was prepared.
The family had gathered together, the decorations were beautiful, and seven tiny swings had been arranged carefully for the seven newborn girls.
Nikolai stood upstairs holding his daughters.
He was dressed in a traditional kurta.
The babies were wrapped carefully in their beautiful blankets, each one looking peaceful in his arms.
He looked toward the bedroom door.
Then Lily came out.
Lilith was breathtaking.
She wore an emerald and gold lehenga decorated with intricate details.
Around her neck was a magnificent 24K gold necklace set.
Her diamond mangalsutra rested beautifully against her chest.
On her wrist was the matching couple's bracelet she shared with Nikolai.
Nikolai looked at her.
Lilith smiled.
They held their daughters and walked downstairs together.
Everyone was already there.
The entire family had gathered.
Even the priest was waiting.
The atmosphere immediately became peaceful as everyone settled into their places.
Seven swings stood in a row.
Each swing had been prepared for one of the babies.
The girls were carefully placed inside their swings.
The priest began the prayers.
Everyone became quiet.
Mila folded her hands.
She closed her eyes and silently prayed.
The family smiled.
As the prayers continued, everyone gently pushed the swings.
The babies began giggling.
Their tiny sounds filled the room.
Sohan and Riyana held the first baby.
She was wrapped in a beautiful Strawberry Milk blanket.
The second baby was wrapped in Powder Blue.
Mr William held the third baby, who was wrapped in a Cocoa Cream blanket.
Mrs Francesca held the fourth baby, who was wrapped in Rose Beige.
Nikolai and Lily held the fifth baby, wrapped in Ruby Mist.
The sixth baby was wrapped in soft cotton Vanilla.
The seventh baby was wrapped in Blush Rose.
Mila moved closer.
She held the fifth baby for a moment and smiled at her little sister.
Sohan and Riyana leaned toward the first baby.
They whispered the name into her tiny ear.
Nikolai's parents did the same with their baby.
Nikolai smiled as he watched his daughters.
Mila also leaned toward her sisters.
She whispered their names softly into their tiny ears.
The priest smiled.
"Please tell us the names of the babies."
Sohan and Riyana stepped forward.
They smiled.
Riyana looked down at the first baby.
"Hareena."
She whispered the beautiful Bengali name.
Sohan smiled.
"Giselle."
He announced it as an American name that was soft and sweet.
Everyone clapped.
The second name had been announced.
Then it was time for the third.
Mr William stepped forward.
"Lunessa."
He smiled.
"A gentle and elegant Russian name."
Everyone applauded.
Mrs Francesca stepped forward with the fourth baby.
She gently rocked her.
"Azenari."
She announced the Mexican name.
The family cheered.
Lilith smiled as she looked at her baby girl.
"My Nani," she whispered.
Her voice trembled.
Then she smiled.
"Rhea."
She said the name.
Everyone looked toward her.
Tears slowly came down Lilith's face.
Her heart melted.
"My Nani."
The baby suddenly giggled loudly.
Lilith laughed through her tears.
She kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Nick, your baby name?"
Timur asked.
Nikolai looked down at the baby in his arms.
The little girl had dark green eyes.
He stood up along with the group.
Lilith frowned slightly.
Nikolai looked at his daughter.
Outside, thunder suddenly struck.
Lilith gasped.
Nikolai smiled.
"My strong girl's name is…"
He paused.
"Nyxara."
The room became quiet.
"Nyxara," he repeated.
Everyone bowed their heads slightly.
The baby suddenly broke into a smile.
Nikolai smiled back.
He gently kissed her forehead.
"That's a dark name, brother," Zhanna said.
Nikolai looked at her.
"Not dark."
He looked down at his daughter.
"Strength."
He paused.
"Power."
His eyes remained on Nyxara.
"A Queen is born to rule."
He smiled.
"To conquer."
His voice became deeper.
"To destroy whatever stands in her way."
He looked at the baby.
"Ruin."
He kissed her forehead again.
"Whatever she wants."
"My Nyxara."
Everyone looked at each other.
Lilith smiled.
"Tasnim."
She announced the final name.
"A beautiful Bengali name."
Everyone clapped.
Mila leaned forward and kissed Tasnim's tiny nose.
The baby moved her little lips.
Mila giggled.
The naming ceremony continued.
The prayers continued.
The family continued gently rocking the seven swings.
Seven names.
Seven girls.
Seven new stories beginning.
Hareena.
Giselle.
Lunessa.
Azenari.
Rhea.
Nyxara.
Tasnim.
Seven daughters.
Seven little angels.
And each name now belonged to them.
THE SCHOOL PROBLEM
Earlier that morning, Lilith had made a new list of everything she needed for school.
She looked through her papers carefully.
Her schedule was already becoming a problem.
Meanwhile, Nikolai had a match scheduled for that day.
Sohan and Riyana approached him.
"Nikolai."
He looked up.
"We need to talk about Lily's school."
Sohan sighed.
"She can't go from home, Nick. It's damn too tight."
Nikolai nodded.
"I know, Father."
He rubbed his forehead.
"She's still recovering from the birth, and I don't want her going through more stress."
Rafsan walked inside.
"What's up?"
Nikolai immediately showed him the schedule.
"This is Lily's semester schedule."
Rafsan read it.
His expression changed.
"TF is this?"
He looked again.
"Lily's semester schedule," Nikolai answered.
"It is fucking tight."
"No kidding," Sohan said.
Rafsan continued reading.
"And Home is far from her school."
He looked at the distance and schedule again.
Just then, Damian walked in.
"Boss."
Nikolai looked at him.
"The properties that were transferred in Lily's name are ready."
He handed over the documents.
"She just shared them among the groups."
Everyone looked through the papers.
"We checked them this week," Nikolai said.
"Yes, Boss," Damian replied.
They continued discussing the transferred properties and the school situation.
Nobody wanted Lilith overwhelmed.
She had just given birth to seven babies.
Her recovery mattered.
But her school attendance requirement remained one hundred percent.
And the schedule was becoming increasingly difficult.
THE ₽80 BILLION MATCH
Later that day, Nikolai entered an underground match worth ₽80 billion.
The crowd was loud.
The atmosphere was intense.
Nikolai stood inside the ring.
His opponent charged toward him.
Nikolai smirked.
He moved quickly.
One blow.
Then another.
Then a third.
The triple blow sent his opponent down.
The crowd erupted.
Nikolai walked away from the ring.
He was alone.
Was he?
That question wasn't even asked.
Several ladies stood in the shadows.
They followed him.
Nikolai walked outside.
People congratulated him on his seven daughters.
He sent the gifts home.
"Tsar Tsarey(King of Kings)"
A dark lady wearing a mask stepped forward.
Nikolai stopped.
He turned.
"The Queen of Nocturne demands your presence."
Nikolai chuckled.
Several people immediately pointed their guns toward the masked women.
The woman smirked.
Then she released a smoke bomb.
Smoke filled the area.
Nikolai tried to see through it.
He saw a tiny woman.
Then everything became blurry.
The smoke overwhelmed him.
His body went weak.
"W…Who?"
He whispered.
The woman smiled.
"Nighty night, Sweetie."
Nikolai fell into her arms.
The women quickly moved him into a vehicle.
The van drove away at speed.
BROTHER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED
Back at the mansion, panic erupted.
"Brother has been kidnapped!"
Yulian shouted.
"WHAT!?"
The whole family reacted.
"Papa?"
Mila looked around.
"Where is Lily?"
Aarav asked.
"She's not home."
Zhanna looked around.
"Even her group too!"
Everyone began making calls.
The babies were asleep.
Nobody wanted to wake them.
But something had happened.
Nikolai was gone.
Lilith was gone.
And nobody knew where either of them were.
THE VARYAGIN ORDER
Deep underground, Nikolai was brought into a warehouse.
The leader of the Varyagin Order, Don Bobrov, stood waiting.
The Varyagin Order had been an enemy of the Bratva for years.
Both groups had lost members during their long conflict.
Now Nikolai had been brought directly into their hands.
The doors opened.
The Supreme Matriarch walked in.
Lilith.
She was chewing gum.
Don Bobrov's eyes widened.
"She actually did it!?"
Lilith looked at him.
"Now complete the deal."
"Of course."
Don Bobrov stepped forward.
"Here is the official deal."
He handed her a box.
Lilith opened it.
Inside was a ring.
Don Bobrov looked at it.
"That is no ordinary ring."
Lilith lifted it.
"It is called the…"
𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐋
"The Varyagin Black Seal is not a piece of jewelry, a hand pendant, or an ordinary ornament."
Don Bobrov continued explaining.
"It is the ultimate territorial insignia of surrender, succession, and absolute authority."
The seal had been forged from an almost lightless black metal.
Originally, it was an enormous circular emblem designed to be placed on territorial documents, gates, walls, official buildings, vaults, weapons, vehicles, banners, and property deeds.
Its surface appeared completely black from a distance.
But under light, intricate markings emerged like scars carved into obsidian.
At its center stood the ancient Varyagin symbol.
Around it was a massive black crown formed from interlocking blades and thorn-like edges.
Behind the crown stretched a stylized black sea.
Its waves rose like enormous shadows swallowing everything beneath them.
Seven narrow points descended from the upper crest.
They represented the territories that had fallen under the new authority.
Around the outer ring was the inscription:
𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐋
Beneath it was another inscription:
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒
The most feared feature was the broken crown beneath the central emblem.
It represented the former Varyagin leadership voluntarily surrendering its territorial authority.
The broken crown was not destroyed.
It had deliberately been placed beneath the new crest.
Its meaning was simple.
Its power had been transferred.
And it had been permanently subordinated.
The seal contained no jewels.
No bright colors.
No unnecessary decoration.
Its darkness was what made it intimidating.
The only contrast came from razor-thin metallic lines that appeared almost silver-black when they caught the light.
When the seal was stamped onto a document, the impression was deep enough to leave a permanent three-dimensional mark.
It could not be mistaken for an ordinary signature.
It could not be mistaken for an ordinary family crest.
It meant only one thing.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄
Anyone familiar with the territories recognized the symbol immediately.
Seeing it on a gate meant the property now belonged to the new authority.
Seeing it on a document meant the territorial transfer had been formally sealed.
Seeing it displayed above a headquarters meant the old Varyagin command had been replaced.
The seal was deliberately designed to create fear through symbolism rather than spectacle.
It carried the reputation of a warning.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐃
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏
At the very bottom of the seal was one final inscription.
Smaller than the others.
But impossible to ignore.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒
However, when the Varyagin territories were formally handed over to the Queen of Nocturne, the enormous territorial seal was transformed into her personal symbol of succession and authority.
The central emblem was miniaturized.
Every detail was preserved.
It was forged into an exceptionally heavy black signet ring created specifically for the Queen of Nocturne.
The ring was worn on her right middle finger.
The face carried the miniature Varyagin Black Seal.
The black crown.
The dark sea.
The broken crown.
The seven descending points.
Everything was carved into nearly lightless metal.
The outer edge carried:
𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐋
The inner band contained the hidden inscription:
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐒𝐄𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒
The ring contained no gemstones.
No diamonds.
No bright decoration.
Its authority came entirely from the symbol itself.
When the Queen of Nocturne wore the seal facing outward, everyone who knew the territories immediately understood.
She was the new leader of the territories.
The former Varyagin authority had been transferred to her.
When she needed the symbol concealed, she could rotate the signet face inward toward her palm.
The ring would appear like an ordinary black band.
But the insignia would remain with her.
During formal territorial meetings, she turned the seal outward.
During negotiations, she allowed the emblem to remain visible.
And when official documents were sealed, the same symbol could be pressed into black sealing wax, creating the unmistakable three-dimensional impression of the Varyagin Black Seal.
The ring therefore became more than an accessory.
It was Lilith's permanent mark of succession.
A visible declaration that the territories had passed into her authority.
And while it could be concealed, it remained a private reminder of the power she carried.
The moment anyone saw the black seal on the Queen of Nocturne's hand, they knew exactly what it represented.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑
Lilith took the ring.
She studied it.
Then she smirked.
"We have informed all about the new leader."
Don Bobrov nodded.
"That is you."
Lilith looked at him.
"Good."She said
"The Queen of Nocturne," He said.
Don Bobrov nodded.
Meanwhile, Nikolai's body was dragged toward the van.
Lilith's phone rang.
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
A familiar voice spoke.
"Yes, love."
Lilith smiled.
"Coming."
She looked at the others.
"I went to the store to get some things for you."
She sat inside the car.
The vehicle drove away.
She remained on the phone.
"They are gone," she said.
Meanwhile, underneath Nikolai's shoe, a tiny red light began blinking.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
A Live signal had been activated.
The team received the location.
They immediately got onto their bikes and cars.
They drove off.
LILITH RETURNS HOME
Lilith arrived home.
The moment she entered, Daria rushed toward her.
"Lily!"
Lilith looked at her.
"Brother has been kidnapped."
"I am aware."
Everyone stared at her.
Lilith calmly smiled.
She sat down.
She picked up Giselle.
Then she began breastfeeding her.
"How can you be so calm?" Ethan asked.
Lilith continued feeding her daughter.
"How should he be?"
She looked toward them.
"He should be back before dinner."
Her chair automatically began rocking.
Everyone stared at her.
"Why are you so calm?" Ethan repeated.
Lilith slowly raised her hand.
The black ring was visible.
Everyone froze.
"No fucking way!"
Kenan shouted.
"That…"
Darya's eyes widened.
"The Varyagin Ring!"
Lilith smiled.
"I know."
She looked down at Giselle.
"My dearest husband is in their custody."
She remained completely calm.
"Not to worry."
She looked at everyone.
"If he isn't back before dinner, I will take dinner to them."
Everyone stared at her.
"What the hell is going on, Mhaira?" Sohan asked.
Amelia stepped forward.
"I will explain."
Everyone looked at her.
"We got a deal to kill Nikolai from the Bratva's old rival group."
She paused.
"The deal was worth ₽900 billion."
Everyone became silent.
"So Boss made a plan."
"To get revenge for Godfather's late wife and for them losing two members."
Amelia continued.
"So Nikolai told us to accept the deal and everything too."
"We did."
"Boss met with them."
"We spoke."
"And now they have handed their territories to Boss."
Amelia pointed toward Lilith.
"She now rules them."
"Each territory."
"Everything is in our group name."
"Even the shared properties they gave too."
Sohan looked at Lilith.
Everyone slowly began understanding.
"Has anyone seen Papa?" Vlada asked.
"The Bratva aren't home."
Ethan looked around.
"I noticed that."
Everyone looked at Lily.
She continued feeding her babies.
She remained completely calm.
THE REVEAL
Meanwhile, Nikolai was restrained inside the warehouse.
His mouth was bruised from the struggle.
The room was dark.
Men moved through the shadows.
Several members of the Varyagin Order were being overwhelmed by the arriving Bratva forces.
Then one of the men approached Don Bobrov.
"Boss."
Don Bobrov looked at him.
"We got pictures of his family."
Don Bobrov smiled.
"Let's see."
He took the picture.
His eyes widened.
He stared at it.
"This is impossible!"
The picture he held showed Lilith.
The Queen of Nocturne.
The Supreme Matriarch.
Don Bobrov's expression changed completely.
Nikolai looked at him.
He smirked.
"Are you sure you're ready to see?"
Don Bobrov chuckled nervously.
Nikolai's expression became colder.
The photograph remained in Don Bobrov's hand.
Then he understood.
The woman they had been dealing with was not simply a mysterious woman.
She was Lilith.
She was the Queen of Nocturne.
She was the Supreme Matriarch.
And she was Nikolai's wife.
"My darling wife."
Nikolai's eyes darkened.
"Mrs. Lilith Nikolai Devereaux."
He clenched his fists.
The restraints strained as he pulled against them.
Then the chains broke.
Nikolai rose.
The men stepped backward.
"AHHH!"
Don Bobrov stumbled away.
"No."
He looked around.
"No no no no no!"
Gunshots and shouting erupted throughout the warehouse.
The Bratva had arrived.
Nikolai wiped his mouth.
He looked at the time.
He paused.
"Almost dinner time."
One of the Bratva members answered.
"Yes, Boss."
The fight continued around them.
Then Don Bobrov felt hands on his shoulders.
A familiar voice spoke.
"Hello, Bobrov."
"Long time no see."
Don Bobrov froze.
Rurik stood behind him.
The old rivalry had finally reached its final confrontation.
The Bratva moved through the warehouse.
The Varyagin members were overwhelmed.
Alfred moved through the chaos as the conflict continued.
Rurik stared directly at Don Bobrov.
"You ripped my wife's arms."
His voice trembled with anger.
"You killed her in ways that traumatized me."
He stepped closer.
"And now I finally have my hands on you."
Rurik's expression hardened.
"Now it's my turn to show you what true hell is."
Don Bobrov begged.
"Please."
He tried to escape.
But Rurik did not let him.
The years of grief and anger had finally reached their end.
Rurik remembered how his wife had been tortured.
How she had been torn apart.
How he had lost her.
How the war had taken people he loved.
He remembered everything.
The Bratva had lost members.
The Varyagin Order had lost members.
Both groups had suffered.
And now the long war was finally coming to an end.
Rurik got onto his bike.
Nikolai remained nearby, cleaning his wounds.
Rurik started the engine.
Don Bobrov was taken away by the Bratva.
The warehouse slowly became quiet.
The Varyagin Order had fallen.
The Bratva had won the long-time war.
A war that had cost them some of their dearest people.
Nikolai looked toward the others.
"Let's go home."
They nodded.
The group began leaving.
The mansion was waiting.
The babies were waiting.
Lilith was waiting.
And dinner was waiting.
For the first time in a long time, the war between the Bratva and the Varyagin Order had finally reached its end.
And on Lilith's right middle finger rested the symbol that had changed everything.
The black seal.
The Varyagin Black Seal.
A symbol of the old order ending.
A symbol of the new authority.
A symbol that now belonged to the Queen of Nocturne.
And somewhere inside the mansion, seven tiny girls slept peacefully, completely unaware that their mother's empire had just grown by an entire territory.
Hareena.
Giselle.
Lunessa.
Azenari.
Rhea.
Nyxara.
Tasnim.
Seven daughters.
Seven names.
Seven little queens.
And their mother now carried the Black Sea on her hand.