Chapter 99

The empire had always known war. It had been forged in conquest, built upon the ashes of fallen civilizations, and strengthened by the iron rule of its emperor. For as long as Aeliana had lived in this world, she had known it as a place of power, of discipline, of unyielding command. It was an empire that thrived under the rule of Tharx, a force that had never been questioned-until Seraphina was born.

And now, for the first time, the empire was not celebrating a victory on the battlefield.

It was celebrating the future.

The festival stretched from the palace gates to the farthest edges of the capital, a living, breathing entity, filled with music, laughter, and color. Golden banners lined the streets, red lanterns floated above the crowds, their glow flickering like a thousand tiny stars. The smell of roasted meats and spiced wine filled the air, mingling with the scent of fresh flowers woven into garlands that adorned every doorway. The entire city pulsed with life, as if the very walls of the empire had exhaled, releasing the tension they had held for far too long.

It was a rare thing. A moment of true peace.

Aeliana stood on the grand balcony overlooking the celebration, Seraphina cradled in her arms, sleeping soundly despite the distant hum of the festival below. The baby was blissfully unaware of the significance of this night. She did not know that the people who danced in the streets, who sang and feasted in her honor, were celebrating not just her birth, but the dawn of a new dynasty.

Aeliana tightened her hold on her daughter, feeling the warmth of her small body against her chest.

Seraphina had changed everything.

Not just the empire.

Not just the people.

She had changed Tharx.

Aeliana turned her head slightly, stealing a glance at the man beside her. Tharx stood with his arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning the city, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in ceremonial robes tonight, the black and gold fabric a stark contrast against his skin. He had foregone his usual armor, choosing instead to wear the insignia of the empire embroidered onto his chest, a silent declaration that he was no longer just a warlord-he was a ruler.

But for all his power, for all his dominance, there was something different about him tonight.

He was at ease.

It was subtle, barely noticeable to anyone who did not know him as she did. But Aeliana saw it. She saw it in the way his shoulders were not as tense as they usually were, in the way his gaze did not search for hidden threats in every shadow, in the way his hands did not hover near his weapons.

For the first time, he was simply watching.

Taking in the world he had built.

The world he had never allowed himself to enjoy.

"You look happy," she teased, breaking the silence between them.

Tharx turned his head toward her, arching a brow. "Do I?"

Aeliana smirked. "For you? Yes. This is practically joy."

He scoffed, shaking his head slightly, but the corner of his mouth twitched, just barely.

Then, to her complete surprise, he smiled.

A real, genuine smile. Not the sharp-edged smirk he wore when amused, not the cold satisfaction of a victory won, but something softer, something unguarded.

Aeliana felt her breath catch.

She had never seen him smile like this before.

Slowly, Tharx reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her against his side. His gaze flickered down to Seraphina, his expression shifting into something almost reverent. "I have everything I never knew I wanted."

Aeliana stilled.

She had expected many things from him over the years. Violence. Anger. Obsession. Loyalty. But she had never expected this.

Happiness.

True, unshakable happiness.

For so long, she had believed that Tharx only saw the world in black and red, in battlefields and blood, in victory and defeat. But as he looked down at their daughter, as he held Aeliana close, she realized something.

She had changed him.

Not by force.

Not by demand.

But simply by existing in his world.

And now, he was not just a conqueror.

He was a father. A husband. A man who had something worth protecting, not just something to fight for.

Aeliana let out a slow breath, resting her forehead lightly against his shoulder.

"Strange," she murmured. "I never thought I would find happiness here."

Tharx brushed his thumb over her wrist. "And now?"

She turned her gaze back to the city, watching as the people of the empire-**their empire-**laughed, danced, celebrated beneath the glowing lanterns.

"Now," she whispered, "I cannot imagine being anywhere else."

Tharx exhaled, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her temple.

"Good," he murmured.

Because this was theirs now.

Their empire.

Their legacy.

Their future.

The sounds of the festival carried up to them, the music growing louder as more people flooded into the streets. The palace courtyard was filled with nobles, warriors, and emissaries from distant planets, all gathered to witness the celebration of the empire's heir.

For the first time, there was no tension among them. No whispers of rebellion, no lingering doubts about Seraphina's place as ruler.

Tonight, she was not a question.

She was an answered prophecy.

"Do you want to go down there?" Aeliana asked, tilting her head toward the courtyard.

Tharx smirked. "I would rather keep my sanity."

Aeliana laughed. "You sound like an old man."

"I feel like one, standing up here watching all of this."

She nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Come. Just this once, do something you wouldn't normally do."

He sighed, shaking his head, but she could see the amusement flickering in his gaze.

"Very well," he muttered. "But if a single noble irritates me, I am leaving them in the dungeon until sunrise."

Aeliana grinned. "Deal."

With Seraphina safely tucked against her chest, she took his hand, leading him down the grand staircase toward the festival below.

The moment they stepped into the courtyard, the crowd turned to them, conversations silencing, heads bowing, eyes wide with reverence.

The Emperor and his Queen had joined the celebration.

Aeliana smiled as she passed through the crowd, nodding to those who greeted her, feeling the warmth of the people's genuine joy.

For the first time, she did not feel like an outsider among them.

She was not just the woman who had once been stolen from her home.

She was not just the consort of a ruler feared across the stars.

She was their Queen.

And this was her home.

She turned to Tharx, who stood beside her, watching the celebration unfold. His hand was still in hers, warm and solid, his fingers laced with hers in a way that felt like a promise.

They had fought for this.

They had bled for this.

And now, they would rule it together.

As the music swelled around them, as the people danced and the lights of the city burned brighter than ever before, Aeliana finally let herself believe it.

This was their empire.

This was their legacy.

And this was just the beginning.