You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

The two were quiet for a while, and their breathing gradually synchronized.

Just when Selja thought Elvia had fallen asleep, the person in her arms suddenly moved again.

Elvia adjusted her position, snuggling closer to Serian's arms to find a more comfortable spot.

Her arms wrapped around Celian's waist, tightening slightly.

“Serian.”

"Um? "

……Thank you."

The sound was faint, like the hum of a mosquito, as if it blended into the night.

Selene patted her back lightly twice with her fingers, without saying a word.

The person in my arms gradually began to breathe deeply and slowly, and their weight gradually sank down until they finally fell asleep.

Elvia slept soundly; perhaps this was the second time in a year that she had slept peacefully.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, outlining half of Elvia's face. She was asleep, her lips slightly parted, her brows completely relaxed, and her breath tickled Celian's collarbone.

Selene gave her one last look, a smile playing on her lips, and then closed her eyes.

"Good night."

............

The morning light peeked through the gaps in the curtains, and the clear, melodious chirping of birds echoed outside the window.

Selene was awakened by an itch; something was rubbing against her chin, light and cool.

She opened her eyes groggily, and all she could see was ice blue.

Elvia's head rested below her collarbone, her long hair spreading across the entire pillow, with a few strands draped over Celian's chin and neck, rising and falling slightly with her breath.

She was still asleep, her brows were relaxed, her lips were slightly parted, and her breath fell on Celian's chest, even and long.

Selene didn't move, and slowly woke up in that position. The alcohol she drank last night still had a lingering effect, and her head felt a little heavy, but not particularly uncomfortable.

She glanced down.

Elvia's arms were wrapped around her waist, and she curled up tightly in a ball, a sleeping posture that was completely out of character for her.

Empress of Winter, an eighth-tier legendary figure, and the head of the Augusta territory.

Now it nestles in my arms, like a quiet and adorable pet.

Selene reached out to brush aside the few strands of hair that were resting on her chin, but Elvia moved as soon as her fingers touched them.

She frowned slightly, mumbled an indistinct syllable, buried her face further into Celian's neck, and tightened her arms around him.

I don't want to get up.

The meaning was conveyed very clearly.

Selene's hand hovered in mid-air for two seconds before she put it back down.

...Just five more minutes of sleep.

She muttered something to herself and closed her eyes again.

However, five minutes was clearly not enough. I don't know how much time passed, but the light from the gap in the curtains changed from a line to a small patch, spreading to the foot of the bed.

When Celian opened her eyes again, the person in her arms was gone. There was a shallow indentation next to the pillow, and the blankets were partially lifted, their warmth mostly gone.

She sat up and glanced around the room. The wardrobe door was open, and the wine bottles and glasses left on the table last night had been removed. The tabletop was wiped clean.

The sound of water came from the direction of the bathroom.

Selene rubbed her eyes, and stepped barefoot onto the floor. The cool touch sobered her up considerably.

She walked to the window and drew back the curtains, revealing the morning view of Winterfell. The distant snow-capped mountains were tinged with pale gold by the rising sun, and the snow on the rooftops shone brightly.

The bathroom door behind me opened.

Selene turned her head and saw Elvia standing in the doorway, her long, wet, ice-blue hair hanging down her shoulders. She had changed into a light blue casual dress, with the neckline tied tightly.

Her face had regained its usual composure; the blush and mist from last night had completely disappeared, and her icy blue eyes had become clear and sharp again.

Her complexion had clearly improved a lot, as if all the pent-up pressure had been completely released.

The two looked at each other for a second.

"Good morning," Celian said.

"Good morning," Elvia replied.

His voice and expression seemed calm, as if nothing had happened last night.

But her gaze lingered on Celian's face for only a moment before she looked away without hesitation, gazing out the window with an unnatural and anxious look in her eyes.

Even the tips of her ears had a faint pinkish tinge.

Selene watched the whole thing unfold, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Elvia is so cute today.

"Elvia".

"……Um."

"Your collar is buttoned crooked."

Elvia glanced down.

It's not crooked.

She looked up and met Celian's smiling face with her eyes crinkling, her icy blue eyes glaring at her.

Selene was not afraid at all. She smiled and stepped forward, reaching out to help her tidy up the wet hair that had fallen on her chest, running her fingers through the hair from top to bottom.

"Just kidding."

Elvia didn't speak; she simply turned her head away, her lips pressed into a thin line, and the pink at the tips of her ears deepened slightly.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, approaching from afar and stopping at the doorway.

Knock, knock, knock—three knocks on the door, the rhythm light and familiar.

"Miss Elvia, Miss Selene is here with you, right? Breakfast is ready."

Yvette's voice came from outside the door, and there seemed to be a hint of laughter in her voice.

"By the way, may I come in? Or would you two like to have a little more time?"

Elvia stopped in her tracks.

Selene turned her head to look at the door, then glanced at Elvia's earlobe, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards a little more.

There was a two-second silence outside the door, then Yvette added another sentence.

"Hmm... I'll take it as a favor. I'll wait for you at the restaurant in ten minutes."

Footsteps sounded again, light and quick, fading away down the corridor, accompanied by a few suppressed laughs.

The room fell silent again.

Elvia stood still, closed her icy blue eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Serian, you can go downstairs now. I'm going to change my clothes."

"Didn't you just change it?"

"I suddenly don't like this outfit anymore, let's change into something else."

She turned and walked toward the wardrobe, her steps quickening considerably, as if she dared not look back at Celian's expression.

Watching the other person turn away, Celian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

I never imagined that our patriarch, the dignified eighth-tier legendary powerhouse Elvia, would have such a thin-skinned moment.

.............

Ten minutes later, at the restaurant.

When Celian came downstairs, breakfast was already laid out in the restaurant.

Thick rye bread, charred bacon, a small dish of pickled vegetables, a steaming pot of pine needle tea, and two glasses of fresh milk.

Compared to the capital, the breakfast menu hasn't changed much, but some ingredients have been replaced with special products from the North.

Yvette was already seated at the table, spreading honey on her bread.

Selene went into the restaurant first, while Elvia was still changing clothes upstairs.

Yvette raised her pink eyes slightly, looked at Selene walking towards her from the direction of the stairs, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Good morning, Miss Celian. Why is your room empty today?"

"I talked to Elvia about something, and it got quite late, so I didn't go back to my room."

"Oh, let's talk about something."

Yvette repeated it, her tone flat, but her pink eyes crinkled with laughter.

Selene pretended not to hear and sat down at the table.

Lorraine stood in the corner of the restaurant and nodded slightly when she saw Celian enter. Then, a hint of surprise appeared in her wine-red eyes.

Her focus differed from Yvette's; it was on the magical fluctuations emanating from Selene. Although they weren't being released, they could sense that they were much deeper and more concentrated than yesterday.

Third order.

Overnight, Celian broke through.

She knew that Celian had resonated with two traits, and judging from the level of this magical fluctuation, it seemed that both traits had broken through to the third tier.

Meanwhile, Eve was already seated at the dining table. Today, she had tied her long hair into a neat ponytail, and a cup of hot milk was in front of her, which she was holding in both hands to warm her hands.

Upon seeing Selene appear, her icy blue eyes sparkled, and a smile blossomed in them.

"Brother-in-law! Good morning!"

"Good morning, little Eve."

She pushed her wheelchair to Celian's right and happily took up a spot.