The next morning sunlight streamed through the enormous crystal windows of the Imperial Residence’s central main hall, illuminating the polished floor and the long council table at its center.
Intricate blue-and-gold patterns decorated the pillars, while the emblem of Shaktiveer Territory shone above the raised seat reserved for its ruler.
The Grand Council Hall was already occupied.
Five seats stood filled: four belonging to the Grand Elders of the territory, and one occupied by Mahaveer Rishi, the acting ruler appointed by Lady Vanshika.
Several documents, reports, and sealed files had been arranged across the table in preparation for the morning’s council meeting.
Yet one seat remained empty.
The ruler’s seat.
And everyone was waiting for its owner.
Adhira Vardhanya, The third grand elder, the youngest of the four Grand Elders.
She was wearing a beautiful sky blue and golden color combination dress, her long sleeves were lying on the table, and her blue earrings were moving with subtle air making earrings sound, her deep golden eyes fixed on the ruler seat waiting eagerly.
She has barely crossed her 30s.
She leaned back in her chair and glanced toward the grand entrance.
Her fingers drummed impatiently against the table as she imagined the peaceful residence where Lady Vanshika was probably spending her morning with Vivaan.
Adhira sighed dramatically.
“Honestly, when is our ruler going to finish playing with Vivaan?
I want to play with him too!”
Elder Reyansh Chandraketu, The first elder, the oldest among the Grand Elders.
He has passed his 2nd century and entered in his 3rd century.
He slowly lowered the report he had been reading.
His silver eyebrows drew together, and he regarded Adhira with the stern expression of someone who had heard far too many unnecessary complaints before breakfast.
“Adhira, this is a serious council meeting.
Stop behaving like a child.”
Adhira immediately straightened, offended by the accusation.
“I’m not behaving like a child!
I simply happen to appreciate spending time with an adorable child.”
Elder Reyansh adjusted the document in his hands.
“And the ruler happens to appreciate spending time with her son.
That doesn’t mean you should abandon your responsibilities to compete with her for his attention.”
Adhira stared at him.
“You’re making it sound as though I’m planning to steal him.”
Elder Reyansh gave her a long, unimpressed look.
“Should I be concerned that you have already considered the possibility?”
Before Adhira could respond, Kartik Mahakil, The fourth elder, seated beside her, leaned slightly toward her.
He has entered his 30s.
His expression had changed from its usual composed seriousness to one of unmistakable interest.
Kartik Mahakil lowered his voice, turning just enough that only Adhira would hear him clearly.
“Miss Adhira, if you have enough free time to complain about wanting to play with a child, perhaps we could use that time for something more enjoyable.
Why don’t we go on a date?”
Adhira froze.
Her head turned toward him so slowly that it seemed she was giving his words an opportunity to become less ridiculous before answering.
Unfortunately, they did not.
Before she could formulate a response, Elder Reyansh abruptly coughed into his fist.
The sound was so conspicuous that both Adhira and Kartik turned toward him.
Elder Reyansh placed his report on the table and looked between them with the weary expression of an elderly man who had just discovered that his colleagues were determined to destroy the dignity of their institution.
“Could the two of you at least wait until the meeting is over before discussing your personal affairs?”
Kartik immediately sat upright, his expression becoming solemn.
“We were discussing the efficient use of our available time.”
Elder Reyansh stared at him.
“By proposing a date?”
Kartik hesitated.
“An efficient use of time can take many forms.”
Adhira slowly covered her face with one hand.
She had known Kartik for years.
She had seen him argue with powerful Shurveers, negotiate with clan representatives, and maintain his composure during difficult council sessions.
Yet somehow, the man had decided that proposing a date during a Grand Council meeting was a sensible idea.
She leaned toward him, keeping her voice low.
“Have you finally lost your mind, old man?”
Kartik’s expression stiffened.
“Old man?
I’m not that old.”
Adhira tilted her head, looking him over with exaggerated consideration.
“Then why do you behave like someone who has already given up on finding a wife and decided to trouble younger women instead?”
Kartik’s face reddened.
“I have not given up on finding a wife!”
Adhira smiled sweetly.
“Wonderful.
Then you can begin by learning when not to propose a date.”
Elder Reyansh closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly reconsidering every decision that had led him to this council.
Across the table, Elder Aarush Agnivansh, The second elder, finally put down the military report he had been reading.
The middle-aged Grand Elder rubbed his forehead before fixing the other three with a deeply irritated stare.
“This is a council meeting.
Discuss your dates after the meeting and stop talking.”
Adhira immediately turned toward him.
“Yes, yes, Second Grand Elder Aarush.
We understand.
Some of us are simply more interested in living than spending every waking moment buried in reports.”
Elder Aarush’s eyes narrowed.
“Our responsibilities are what allow this territory to continue living peacefully.”
Adhira leaned back in her chair.
“And yet, despite all your wisdom, you still haven’t married.”
The hall fell silent.
Kartik slowly turned his head toward Adhira, looking at her as though she had just struck a match beside a storage room filled with explosive powder.
Elder Reyansh lowered his report.
Elder Aarush stared at Adhira.
For one long moment, nobody spoke.
Then Elder Aarush placed both hands flat on the table.
“Miss Adhira Vardhanya.”
Adhira immediately looked toward the ceiling.
“Yes, Grand Elder Aarush?”
“Would you care to explain why my marital status has suddenly become relevant to the governance of this territory?” Elder Aarush asked in angry mode.
Adhira folded her hands in her lap, adopting an expression of exaggerated innocence.
“It isn’t relevant.
I was merely wondering why someone who spends so much time advising others has never followed his own advice.”
Kartik pressed his lips together, struggling not to laugh.
Elder Aarush noticed.
“You find this amusing, Kartik?”
Kartik immediately straightened.
“Not at all.”
Adhira glanced at him.
“He’s lying.”
Kartik turned toward her.
“You’re the one who started this!”
“And you’re the one who proposed a date during an official council meeting.” Adhira said loudly.
“Because you said you wanted to play with Vivaan!” Kartik pointed at her.
“How does that lead to asking me on a date?” Adhira asked.
“Because—” Kartik tried to speak.
Kartik stopped.
The entire council waited.
He looked at Adhira, then at the other elders, and finally at the report in front of him, as though the answer might somehow be written among its pages.
Adhira smiled triumphantly.
“Exactly.”
Elder Reyansh let out a long sigh.
“I have attended countless council meetings.
I have negotiated disputes between powerful clans, overseen territorial development, and dealt with matters that could threaten the safety of our people.
Yet somehow, this is the most exhausting morning I have experienced in years.”
Mahaveer Rishi, The acting Ruler appointed directly by her majesty, meanwhile, had remained largely silent throughout the exchange.
The acting ruler sat with a thick file open before him, carefully examining reports concerning the territory’s districts, public affairs, and ongoing responsibilities.
He had learned that trying to stop the Grand Elders from arguing over trivial matters was often less effective than allowing them to exhaust themselves.
At least, that had been his conclusion after several weeks in office.
Mahaveer turned a page.
“Grand Elder Adhira, Grand Elder Kartik, Grand Elder Aarush, Grand Elder Reyansh.
Perhaps we could return to the documents before us.”
Adhira immediately turned toward him.
“Mahaveer, you’re always so serious.
Do you never feel like taking a break?”
Mahaveer did not look up from the file.
“I take breaks.”
“When?” Adhira asked.
Adhira frowned.
“That sounds suspiciously like something Elder Aarush would say.”
Elder Aarush folded his arms.
“At least someone here understands the meaning of responsibility.”
Kartik leaned toward Adhira again.
“Miss Adhira, I believe our date would be much more peaceful than this meeting.”
Elder Reyansh coughed again.
Elder Aarush slowly turned his head.
Mahaveer closed his eyes for a moment.
Adhira stared at Kartik in disbelief.
And then—
The grand entrance doors opened.
The conversation stopped.
Every head in the council hall turned toward the entrance.
Lady Vanshika had arrived.
She entered at an unhurried pace, her footsteps soft against the polished floor.
Her extraordinarily long midnight-blue hair flowed behind her in a smooth, dark cascade, its subtle blue sheen catching the morning sunlight.
Her familiar blue, white, and silver attire was decorated with delicate crystalline patterns, while her distinctive earrings glimmered beside her face.
Her features were as graceful and refined as ever.
The luminous quality of her complexion, the delicate curve of her lips, and the serene expression in her Cosmic Azure eyes made her appear almost unreal beneath the hall’s soft morning light.
The intricate Shaktiveer Soul Signature on her forehead glowed faintly, its crystalline blue design accented by fine golden details.
She wore the same elegant style she always did.
There was nothing extravagant about her arrival.
She had not summoned a dramatic display of Shakti, nor had she announced herself with a technique.
She had simply walked into the room.
Yet the entire council had forgotten how to behave.
Adhira’s eyes widened.
Kartik stopped breathing for a moment.
Elder Aarush’s thoughts scattered.
Elder Reyansh’s report slipped slightly in his hand.
Even Mahaveer, who had spent considerable time working under her majesty’s authority, momentarily forgot the document he had been reading.
Their attention had become completely fixed on her.
Lady Vanshika continued toward the raised platform, apparently unaware of the effect her arrival had produced.
She reached the ruler’s seat, gathered the flowing fabric of her attire with a practiced movement, and sat down gracefully.
Then she looked at the council.
“Good morning, everyone.
I hope you have—”
She paused.
Four Grand Elders and one acting ruler were staring at her.
Not one of them answered.
Lady Vanshika blinked.
She glanced from Elder Reyansh to Elder Aarush, then to Kartik and Adhira.
Finally, her gaze settled on Mahaveer, who was still holding the same open file he had been reading before she entered.
“Is something wrong?”
Nobody responded.
Lady Vanshika waited a moment longer.
The silence continued.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
“Did something happen before I arrived?”
Adhira could not even organize a coherent thought.
The only thing she could manage was to stare at Lady Vanshika, her mind occupied by one overwhelming realization.
She’s even more beautiful than she was seven years ago.
The thought seemed absurd, even to Adhira herself.
She had known Lady Vanshika for years.
She had witnessed her beauty countless times, and she had long accepted that no ordinary description could adequately capture it.
But this was different.
The familiar Lady Vanshika Beauty Phenomenon had become stronger.
Much stronger.
Adhira could barely remember why she had been waiting in the council hall.
Her earlier complaints about Vivaan, Kartik’s ridiculous proposal, and Elder Aarush’s anger had all disappeared from her immediate thoughts.
There was only Lady Vanshika.
The most beautiful woman in all existence.
And Adhira, despite being one of the most powerful and experienced figures in the territory, had completely forgotten that she was supposed to be participating in a meeting.
Lady Vanshika’s expression gradually changed from mild confusion to gentle concern.
She glanced at the council table again.
“Everyone?”
Still nothing.
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
Then she snapped her fingers.
THOOM!
An enormous pressure descended upon the council hall.
The table trembled.
Documents fluttered, and every member of the council felt the sudden weight of Lady Vanshika’s Shakti pressing down around them.
Their attention was forcibly pulled away from their wandering thoughts, and several of them struck the table with their palms as they instinctively steadied themselves.
The pressure lasted only an instant.
Then it disappeared.
Lady Vanshika lowered her hand, apparently satisfied that she had finally regained everyone’s attention.
The Grand Elders and Mahaveer blinked in quick succession.
Elder Reyansh straightened his robe.
Elder Aarush immediately checked the reports before him.
Kartik looked around as though he had just awakened from an unexpectedly vivid daydream.
Adhira shook her head twice, trying to reorganize her thoughts.
Mahaveer drew a slow breath and closed the file he had been holding.
For a few moments, the council hall remained unusually quiet.
Lady Vanshika rested one hand on the arm of her chair.
“Now that everyone is paying attention, can we begin?”
Adhira’s mind finally began to work again, although her thoughts kept returning to the same astonishing realization.
She’s even more beautiful than before.
The Lady Vanshika Beauty Phenomenon is stronger, too.
How is that even possible?
Kartik, meanwhile, had noticed Adhira’s expression.
He leaned toward her, his curiosity temporarily overcoming his embarrassment from their earlier conversation.
Kartik lowered his voice and angled his head toward Adhira, careful not to interrupt Lady Vanshika.
” Adhira, what exactly is the Lady Vanshika Beauty Phenomenon?”
Adhira slowly turned toward him.
For a moment, she looked at him as though he had asked what water was.
Then she leaned closer, speaking in a whisper.
“It’s a natural phenomenon that occurs whenever someone sees Lady Vanshika.
Because she’s the most beautiful woman in all existence, people can become completely captivated.
Their minds go blank, they lose track of what they were doing, and sometimes they even forget what they intended to say.”
Kartik’s eyebrows climbed.
Adhira continued, her expression growing increasingly serious as she explained something she had experienced many times before.
“It’s as though those moments disappear from your awareness.
You know you were thinking about something important, but when you finally recover, you may not remember what it was.
You can lose your train of thought entirely.”
Kartik glanced toward Lady Vanshika, who was arranging a few documents on the table.
“Wait.
Are you saying she used a technique on us?”
Adhira stared at him.
Then she gave him a sharp look.
“Did you sense any Shakti being used before she snapped her fingers?”
Kartik considered the question.
He remembered no unusual Shakti fluctuations before Lady Vanshika had deliberately released that enormous pressure.
The strange lapse in his attention had begun the instant he looked at her.
He slowly shook his head.
“No.”
Adhira folded her arms.
“Then why would you assume it was a technique?”
Kartik looked toward Lady Vanshika again, his expression gradually shifting from confusion to acceptance.
“Of course.
It must happen naturally.
Otherwise, there would be no difference between ordinary beauty and the beauty of the most beautiful woman in all existence.”
Adhira nodded once.
“Now you’re beginning to understand.”
Then, without the slightest warning, he smiled.
“I love her.”
Adhira froze.
Her eyes widened.
Slowly, she turned toward him with an expression of absolute disbelief.
She remembered he just proposed a date earlier but she also knows he meant admiration.
Before Kartik could say anything else, Adhira lifted her foot beneath the table and struck his shin with the heel of her sandal.
Kartik’s face twisted.
His mouth opened.
But he caught himself just before releasing the cry that had almost escaped him.
He gripped the edge of his seat, struggling to maintain his dignity while Adhira regarded him with a smile that promised further consequences if he made another foolish remark.
“Do you want to repeat that?” she whispered.
Kartik shook his head rapidly.
“Not in front of you.”
“Good.” Adhira spoke.
He straightened in his chair and stared determinedly at the report in front of him, suddenly discovering an extraordinary interest in territorial administrative procedures.
Adhira returned her attention to Lady Vanshika.
Yet the phenomenon continued to affect her, and she found herself staring again before she could stop herself.
Across the table, Elder Aarush had also begun recovering his composure.
He adjusted the sleeve of his robe and studied Lady Vanshika from a respectful distance, his thoughts considerably more measured than Kartik’s.
Indeed, Lady Vanshika is even more beautiful than before.
Elder Aarush had witnessed the Lady Vanshika Beauty Phenomenon on numerous occasions.
He knew its effects were natural, and he had never mistaken them for an ordinary technique.
But this morning had been different.
The moment Lady Vanshika entered the hall, he had forgotten the report in his hands, the meeting he was supposed to attend, and even the unfinished sentence he had been preparing to speak.
The effect had been immediate.
And the fact that it had happened without any detectable use of Shakti made it all the more astonishing.
The phenomenon has become stronger.
Strong enough to freeze even experienced Shurveer without a single deliberate technique.
Elder Aarush’s expression grew solemn.
She truly is the most beautiful woman in all existence.
He had once wondered whether anyone could resist the phenomenon entirely.
Perhaps someone sufficiently disciplined could remain unaffected.
Perhaps a powerful enough Shurveer could maintain complete control over their attention.
Yet the longer he considered the matter, the less certain he became.
Even he had been caught completely off guard.
I wonder whether I could ever escape its effects without Lady Vanshika herself deliberately using her Shakti to break the phenomenon.
The thought made him frown.
It was difficult to believe that something so powerful in its effect could occur naturally, without the structure or deliberate activation of a formal technique.
And yet he had felt no Shakti from Lady Vanshika before her snap.
The phenomenon simply happened.
Elder Aarush finally lowered his gaze to the table, forcing himself to concentrate on the council’s business.
She is our ruler.
And the title of the most beautiful woman in all existence is not merely a compliment when it comes to her.
Beside him, Elder Reyansh Chandraketu was struggling with a different problem.
The oldest Grand Elder had spent decades developing patience, discipline, and an ability to remain composed in difficult circumstances.
He had survived political disputes, territorial emergencies, and meetings that had lasted from dawn until nightfall.
None of those experiences had prepared him for the simple act of watching Lady Vanshika enter a room.
Elder Reyansh quietly adjusted his glasses, then looked down at the report he had been holding.
Lady Vanshika…
how can this be?
He had been present when the meeting was arranged.
He remembered preparing the documents, arriving at the hall, and reminding Adhira that they were attending an official council session.
He even remembered her complaining about wanting to play with Vivaan.
But the moment Lady Vanshika entered, all those thoughts had scattered.
She’s going to ask why everyone is staring at her.
How can she not realize what her beauty does to people?
Elder Reyansh glanced toward her, then quickly returned his attention to the report.
She really is the most beautiful woman in all existence.
A different concern followed.
I’ve heard that Vivaan has inherited so much from Her Majesty.
His appearance, his eyes, even the distinctive signature on his forehead.
Elder Reyansh paused.
I sincerely hope the phenomenon surrounding his beauty isn’t this powerful when it comes to other males.
He imagined an entire council of experienced officials forgetting their duties whenever the young boy walked into a room.
A weary sigh escaped him.
That would make the administration of this territory considerably more complicated.
Mahaveer Rishi, however, was occupied with a more practical question.
The acting ruler had known Lady Vanshika long enough to understand that her abilities were exceptional, but he had never presumed to understand their limits.
Her strength, her knowledge, and the peculiar effects associated with her presence had always exceeded the assumptions of those around her.
This morning had only reinforced that understanding.
Her Majesty’s beauty phenomenon is stronger than before.
Mahaveer remembered how easily the entire council had fallen silent when she entered.
No one had deliberately chosen to ignore her.
They had simply lost track of what they were doing.
He himself had been reading an important file.
Yet when Lady Vanshika appeared, he had forgotten the contents of the page before him.
And she had noticed nothing unusual until she addressed them.
Could the Eternal Art of Absolute Ascension still be strengthening her over time?
Mahaveer considered the possibility carefully.
He knew that the art was extraordinary, but he had no intention of assuming that it explained every unusual thing about Lady Vanshika.
Perhaps it contributes to her continued development.
But I shouldn’t draw a conclusion without evidence.
He closed the file and placed both hands on the table.
Whatever the explanation, one thing remained clear.
Her Majesty’s presence alone had affected every person in the hall.
And the effect had become stronger.
At the head of the table, Lady Vanshika finished arranging the documents she had been studying.
She looked around the room again, noticing that although everyone had resumed moving, several of them seemed strangely distracted.
Adhira was staring at her.
Kartik was staring at his report with a concentration that seemed almost desperate.
Elder Aarush had become unusually quiet.
Elder Reyansh was reading the same page he had already examined twice.
Mahaveer had closed his file without opening the next one.
Lady Vanshika tilted her head.
“Is there a reason everyone seems so distracted this morning?”
Nobody answered immediately.
She glanced toward Mahaveer.
“Mahaveer, I received your message.
Wasn’t there something important you needed to discuss with me?”
Mahaveer opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
For one bewildering moment, he couldn’t remember what he had intended to report.
His expression stiffened as he searched his thoughts.
What was it?
I prepared the documents.
I reviewed the reports.
I came here specifically to discuss something important with Her Majesty.
He looked at the closed file in front of him.
Nothing came to mind.
Across the table, Elder Reyansh experienced the same sudden realization.
The meeting.
He remembered that they had gathered for a reason.
He remembered preparing for it, reading the reports, and waiting for Lady Vanshika to arrive.
But the precise purpose of the meeting had slipped beyond his immediate reach.
Adhira frowned at the table, trying to remember why she had been so eager for Lady Vanshika to arrive.
Kartik glanced at her, silently hoping she remembered more than he did.
Elder Aarush looked between the others, only to discover that they all appeared equally lost.
Lady Vanshika waited patiently.
Then she asked again, her voice gentle but unmistakably curious.
“Everyone, what is the matter?
I was told this was an important council meeting.
Why have you all gathered here?”
Five pairs of eyes turned toward her.
And once again, their thoughts began to drift.
The Lady Vanshika Beauty Phenomenon had not ended.
It was still affecting them.
To Be Continued…