The imperial court had finally ended.

The massive palace hall slowly emptied as ministers bowed and withdrew in orderly lines. The atmosphere remained heavy even after the session ended.

Reports of strange incidents continued arriving daily.

Villages falling silent overnight.

Unusual disappearances.

Merchants refusing to travel north.

And whispers—

Always whispers—

About dark rituals and cursed lands.

—

The Emperor walked out of the court hall slowly, his black robes brushing against the cold marble floor.

Beside him walked his younger brother—

Prince Liang.

Unlike his usual relaxed self, even Prince Liang looked serious today.

"...The northern officials are hiding something," Prince Liang muttered quietly.

The Emperor’s eyes darkened slightly.

"I know."

"Every report contradicts the previous one."

Prince Liang folded his arms.

"Either they’re incompetent..."

"...or terrified."

Before the Emperor could reply—

Quick footsteps echoed behind them.

A familiar palace maid hurried forward and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Highness."

The Emperor looked at her calmly.

"What is it?"

The maid lowered her head.

"Her Highness the Dowager Empress requests both princes to visit her immediately."

Both brothers paused.

Then looked at each other briefly.

It was rare.

Very rare.

The Dowager Empress usually summoned them separately.

Especially recently.

Prince Liang raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Mother called both of us together?"

The maid nodded nervously.

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Emperor exchanged another glance with Prince Liang.

Something felt strange.

"...Let’s go," the Emperor finally said.

—

The two brothers walked through the palace corridors in silence.

The atmosphere around the palace had changed lately.

Even servants whispered less.

People moved carefully.

Fear lingered everywhere.

Prince Liang finally broke the silence.

"Do you think Mother heard something?"

The Emperor’s expression remained calm.

"She wouldn’t summon us like this unless it was important."

Prince Liang frowned slightly.

"...Or unless she’s worried."

That word made the Emperor’s gaze sharpen faintly.

Worried.

Their mother rarely showed worry openly.

—

Soon, they reached the Dowager Empress’s courtyard.

The guards bowed immediately and opened the doors.

The moment the brothers stepped inside—

They both stopped slightly.

Because something was... wrong.

—

The Dowager Empress sat near the window.

But unlike her usual appearance—

She was not dressed properly.

Her hair was only loosely pinned.

Her robes lacked their usual perfect arrangement.

There was no jewelry.

No carefully painted elegance.

She looked...

Tired.

Distracted.

Uneasy.

—

The Emperor frowned slightly.

"Mother?"

The Dowager Empress lifted her gaze.

The moment she saw both sons standing there—

Something in her expression broke.

She stood quickly.

Far too quickly for her dignity.

Then—

To their shock—

She walked directly toward them and hugged them both tightly.

Prince Liang froze completely.

"...Mother?"

Even the Emperor stiffened slightly.

The Dowager Empress held them tightly for several moments before finally speaking softly—

"Take care of yourselves."

Silence.

Prince Liang blinked in confusion.

"...What?"

The Emperor gently held her shoulders.

"Mother."

His voice lowered slightly.

"What happened?"

The Dowager Empress looked at both of them carefully.

As if confirming they were really there.

Alive.

Safe.

Then she sighed quietly.

"...Too many strange things are happening."

Her voice carried unease they rarely heard from her.

"I don’t like it."

Prince Liang frowned.

"What strange things?"

The Dowager Empress slowly returned to her seat.

The Emperor and Prince Liang sat across from her.

She looked exhausted.

More exhausted than either of them had ever seen.

"...Every day there are new rumors."

"Black magic."

"Disappearing people."

"Villages losing their minds."

She looked at the Emperor.

"And now someone dared attack the Empress outside the palace."

The Emperor’s expression darkened instantly.

Prince Liang leaned back slightly.

"Mother..."

"You’re overthinking."

The Dowager Empress immediately looked at him sharply.

"No."

Her voice became firmer.

"Something is wrong."

The room fell silent.

Then the Emperor spoke quietly.

"...I agree."

Prince Liang looked at him.

The Emperor’s gaze turned distant.

"The reports from every province continue getting worse."

"The people are afraid."

"Even the ministers are hiding things from me now."

His voice lowered slightly.

"My reign..."

He paused briefly.

"...has become filled with darkness."

The words shocked Prince Liang slightly.

The Emperor rarely spoke like this.

The Dowager Empress’s expression softened painfully.

"That’s why I’m afraid."

Her fingers tightened around the teacup.

"I don’t want anything happening to either of you."

Prince Liang sighed softly.

"Mother..."

He tried to sound calm.

"Maybe the north is simply becoming unstable."

The Emperor looked at him.

Prince Liang continued thoughtfully,

"Rebellions often begin with rumors."

"Fear spreads."

"People exaggerate strange things."

He shrugged lightly.

"Maybe someone is using black magic stories to control the people."

The Dowager Empress listened quietly.

But the moment he mentioned the north—

Her heartbeat suddenly skipped.

North.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

A strange coldness crept through her chest.

For just a moment—

An old memory resurfaced.

A woman.

Snow.

Blood.

A secret buried years ago.

Her breathing faltered slightly.

The Emperor noticed immediately.

"Mother?"

The Dowager Empress quickly lowered her gaze.

"...Nothing."

But her heart was beating harder now.

North.

No.

It couldn’t be related.

That woman should have disappeared long ago.

No one should know.

No one should remember.

Prince Liang frowned slightly.

"You look pale."

"I’m fine."

But she wasn’t.

Because deep inside—

Fear had already begun growing.

A fear she had hidden for many years.

The Emperor studied her carefully.

Then spoke quietly,

"...You know something."

The Dowager Empress immediately looked up.

"No."

Too quickly.

Prince Liang noticed it too.

The brothers exchanged a subtle glance.

The Emperor leaned back slightly.

"...Mother."

His voice became calm.

"But heavier."

"If there is something you know..."

"...you should tell us."

Silence filled the room again.

The Dowager Empress lowered her gaze slowly.

Her mind racing.

Should she tell them?

No.

Not yet.

Because if she was wrong—

Then speaking of it would only awaken old nightmares.

But if she was right—

Then everything happening now...

Could become far worse.

Finally she whispered quietly,

"...Just be careful."

"I feel..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"...something terrible is approaching this palace."

Outside the chamber—

A cold wind passed through the courtyard.

The lantern flames flickered violently for a brief moment.

And somewhere far away—

In the distant north—

Something stirred.

The afternoon sunlight streamed softly into the Dowager Empress’s palace hall, warming the polished floors with golden light.

The hall was unusually quiet today.

No court officials.

No concubines.

No servants lingering nearby.

Only three people remained inside.

The Dowager Empress.

The current Emperor.

And Prince Liang.

A simple lunch had been prepared on the long table between them.

Not overly luxurious.

Just warm dishes made from old palace recipes the late Emperor once enjoyed.

The Dowager Empress sat at the head of the table, quietly watching her two sons.

For a moment—

Neither brother spoke.

Prince Liang lazily leaned against his chair while the Emperor calmly poured tea.

The silence between them wasn’t hostile.

But it carried years of distance.

The Dowager Empress suddenly sighed.

"You two rarely eat with me anymore."

Prince Liang immediately grinned.

"Brother is busy ruling the empire."

The Emperor calmly replied,

"And you are busy avoiding responsibilities."

Prince Liang clicked his tongue.

"See? He starts attacking me immediately."

The Dowager Empress rolled her eyes.

"You deserve it."

Prince Liang looked wounded.

"Mother."

But she was already smiling faintly.

A real smile.

One filled with old memories.

"You know..."

Her gaze drifted slightly.

"...seeing both of you sit here like this reminds me of when you were children."

The Emperor paused slightly.

Prince Liang groaned dramatically.

"...No."

The Dowager Empress ignored him completely.

"When your father was alive..."

Her voice softened.

"...this palace was never quiet."

Prince Liang smiled faintly despite himself.

The Emperor lowered his gaze toward his tea.

The Dowager Empress continued slowly.

"Prince Liang followed your father everywhere."

The Emperor immediately nodded once.

"That part is true."

Prince Liang looked offended.

"I admired Father."

"You worshipped him," the Emperor corrected.

The Dowager Empress laughed softly.

"He truly did."

"If the late Emperor went to court, Prince Liang followed."

"If he inspected soldiers, Prince Liang followed."

"If he practiced swordsmanship..."

She shook her head.

"...Prince Liang ran behind him carrying wooden sticks pretending to be a general."

Prince Liang sighed.

"I was inspired."

"You were troublesome," the Emperor replied calmly.

The Dowager Empress laughed again.

"And every single evening..."

She looked directly at Prince Liang.

"...you returned covered in dirt."

The Emperor finally smiled faintly.

Prince Liang pointed immediately.

"Brother was worse."

"No," the Emperor replied calmly.

"You climbed walls."

"You chased horses."

"You fell into ponds."

"You once rolled down palace stairs."

Prince Liang coughed awkwardly.

"...That happened once."

"Three times," the Emperor corrected instantly.

The Dowager Empress shook her head helplessly.

"You constantly came back filthy."

"Mud on your face."

"Leaves in your hair."

"Torn robes."

"And bruises everywhere."

Prince Liang crossed his arms.

"I trained hard."

The Emperor looked unimpressed.

"You lost fights against palace dogs."

Silence.

Then the Dowager Empress burst into laughter.

Real laughter.

Warm and bright.

Prince Liang stared in betrayal.

"...Mother."

"You cried afterward," the Emperor added.

Prince Liang looked horrified.

"You remember that?!"

"You cried loudly."

The Dowager Empress wiped tears from the corner of her eyes.

"Oh heavens..."

Then her gaze softened deeply.

"And every time Prince Liang came running back covered in dirt..."

She looked toward the Emperor.

"...your elder brother waited for him."

The atmosphere changed slightly.

Softer now.

Gentler.

The Emperor’s expression quieted.

Prince Liang also stopped joking for a moment.

The Dowager Empress smiled faintly.

"Your elder brother hated seeing mess."

Prince Liang immediately groaned.

"He was terrible."

The Emperor calmly drank tea.

"You smelled like mud."

"I was a child!"

"You smelled terrible."

The Dowager Empress laughed again.

"Your elder brother used to stand near the courtyard entrance with a bucket."

Prince Liang covered his face.

"No..."

The Emperor’s lips curved slightly upward.

"Yes."

The Dowager Empress nodded proudly.

"The moment Prince Liang stepped into the palace..."

She lifted her hand slightly.

"...splash."

Prince Liang looked genuinely offended remembering it.

"He never warned me!"

The Emperor finally chuckled quietly.

"You never learned."

"You attacked me with freezing water!"

"You rolled in mud willingly."

The Dowager Empress shook her head affectionately.

"And afterward the two of you fought across the courtyard."

Prince Liang immediately pointed at the Emperor.

"He always started first."

The Emperor looked calm.

"You tackled me into flower bushes."

"You drenched me!"

"You deserved it."

Prince Liang gasped dramatically.

"Mother, listen to him."

The Dowager Empress only smiled.

For a while—

The hall filled with quiet laughter.

No politics.

No pressure.

Just old memories shared between mother and sons.

The Dowager Empress looked at them quietly.

Her eyes softened more and more.

"...Those were blissful years."

Silence slowly settled afterward.

Not awkward.

Not painful.

Only nostalgic.

The Dowager Empress looked out the window slightly.

"When your father was alive..."

"...this palace felt warm."

"You brothers argued constantly."

"But you stayed together."

The Emperor’s expression softened faintly.

Prince Liang also looked quieter now.

The Dowager Empress sighed softly.

"Then time passed."

"Your elder brother died."

"Your father passed away."

"And this palace became colder every year."

Her voice lowered slightly.

"You both stopped laughing."

Neither brother spoke immediately.

Because they knew she was right.

The Emperor became ruler.

Prince Liang became distant and careless.

And somewhere along the way—

The family they once had disappeared.

Prince Liang finally broke the silence.

"...Brother still threw water on me even after becoming Crown Prince."

The Emperor looked at him calmly.

"You still rolled in mud."

Prince Liang burst out laughing.

The Dowager Empress shook her head helplessly.

"You two truly never changed."

For the first time in years—

The Emperor smiled properly.

Small.

But genuine.

And seeing that smile—

The Dowager Empress’s eyes became slightly wet.

Because she realized something.

No matter how much time passed.

No matter how heavy the throne became.

No matter how cold the palace turned—

These were still her sons.

The boys who once ran through palace courtyards chasing each other under the sun.

The boys who fought over sweets and wooden swords.

The boys she once held in her arms.

The Dowager Empress slowly reached forward and placed food into both their bowls.

"Eat properly."

Prince Liang immediately grinned.

"Yes, Mother."

The Emperor quietly nodded.

And for that brief afternoon—

The palace no longer felt lonely.

It felt like home again.