[Silthara Palace—Later]
"Mewrrrr—!"
The small sound cut through the quiet like a thread of warmth.
The cub blinked innocently, tiny paws planted on Levin's chest as Levin sat beside Zeramet upon the low divan. Its striped tail flicked once, lazily, as if it had already decided this was its place in the world.
Levin laughed under his breath, a soft sound, and steadied the cub with gentle hands. "Careful… you'll fall."
Zeramet watched the scene from the corner of his eye. First the cub. Then Levin. Then the cub again.
And then—he sighed. It was quiet, controlled and almost annoyed as he thought, 'It is only a cub, So why does it unsettle me to see it this close to him?'
Iru and the other attendants had withdrawn to a respectful distance—near enough to answer a call, far enough to leave the moment untouched. Iru's lips curved into a fond smile as he observed the strange, gentle stillness around them.
"You should name the cub, Consort," Iru said softly.
