At Sea — Royal Vessel
The coastline of Mannan had disappeared behind them three days ago.
Mervil stood at the stern, watching the dark horizon.
Sendrav approached with a map.
“According to the old naval records, we should reach the outer waters in another sixteen days.”
Mervil glanced at the map.
“Show me Amaranda’s route.”
Sendrav unfolded it.
There were three marked routes.
Mervil frowned.
“She didn’t take the royal route.”
“No.”
“Then how did she reach the inner territories?”
Sendrav tapped a faded mark near the edge of the map.
“We don’t know.”
Mervil stared at it.
“Then that’s where we start.”
At the Fortress
Royal Monarch’s Office
The Queen stood by the tall windows of her office chamber, her gaze fixed on the sunlit garden below.
The flowers were in bloom, the fountains steady in their rhythm—everything precisely as it should be.
Yet her thoughts were elsewhere.
A soft knock broke the silence.
“Your Grace,” the Deputy Prime Minister said, entering with measured steps.
“The University Principal is here, along with the heads of the Tarankan and Chitta clans. They request your audience. Urgently.”
The Queen nodded once.
“Send them in.”
The three men entered together.
At a single glance from the Queen, the attendants withdrew, closing the doors behind them.
She returned to her seat.
They bowed in unison.
“Speak,” the Queen said.
The head of the Tarankan clan inhaled deeply.
“Your Majesty… the admission procedures have begun. During chart verification, we identified two students of particular concern.”
The Queen studied him calmly.
“Has your late father’s prophecy begun to manifest?”
The room stilled.
All three men stared at her.
“I recall there was to be one,” she continued evenly.
“Explain why there are two.”
The head of the Chitta clan spoke, unease evident in his voice.
“That is precisely the problem. The charts overlap. We verified them repeatedly. The stars do not contradict themselves—but they do not clarify either.”
“I observed irregularities during their later schooling,” he added.
“But this… this is unprecedented.”
The Tarankan head lowered his gaze.
“We do not know what the heavens intend.”
The principal swallowed.
“Your Majesty, if the signs hold, then a noble-born catalyst has emerged—one whose actions may invite forces long restrained.”
The Queen’s expression did not change.
“What unfolds will unfold,” she said quietly.
“Speculation will not prevent it.”
She rose.
“Proceed with the training. This matter does not leave this chamber.”
“Fear spreads faster than truth—and is far more destructive.”
They bowed and withdrew, the weight of her words following them out.
Later
Royal Dance Academy
Laughter echoed through the dance hall.
Malti waited near the gates when a familiar voice spoke behind her.
“Waiting for Nidhi?”
She turned to see Yani, smiling softly.
“Yes,” Malti replied.
“Training’s been intense.”
“You’ll adapt,” Yani said easily.
“You always do.”
“I want to be like you,” Malti said without thinking.
Yani laughed lightly.
“You don’t need to be like anyone.”
Her smile faded for a moment.
She had felt it again.
A presence.
“Let’s move inside,” she said, just as Nidhi arrived.
Hours later, as the girls rested between classes, Malti lowered her voice.
“Nidhi… where did you hear about the letter?”
“From my uncles,” Nidhi replied.
“Why?”
“My uncle Mervil was shocked I knew about it,” Malti said.
“He wouldn’t explain—just said it was with the Queen.”
Nidhi’s eyes sparkled.
“Imagine if it’s a love letter. A secret romance. A royal wedding—”
“I doubt it,” Malti interrupted gently.
“History says otherwise.”
“Only the first two monarchs of the kingdom got married.”
“After that, none,” Malti shared her different opinion.
Nidhi sighed, disappointed but still hopeful.
Around Sunset
Yani returned home.
She found her mother speaking in hushed tones with several women.
A glance passed between them—silent, knowing.
Later, alone in her bedroom, Yani freshened up and changed into comfortable home clothes.
Then, there was a knock at her door.
Yani stepped forward and opened it.
Her mother, Kaushiki, stood outside.
“How was your day, my little princess?” she asked warmly as she entered the room.
Yani sat at the edge of her bed.
Silent.
“Child, is there something bothering you?” Kaushiki asked, concern lacing her tone.
Yani shook her head.
Kaushiki walked towards her.
Yani looked into her mother’s eyes.
Then, finally, she spoke.
“Mother,” she said in a slightly tense voice, “I think I’m being followed.”
Her mother did not look surprised.
“It is not just you,” she replied.
“The entire clan is being watched.”
Yani stiffened.
“Why?”
Her mother hesitated.
“Your grandmother believes it may be linked to Queen Amaranda’s case.”
Yani’s eyes sharpened.
“Granny Amaranda was the pride of our clan. Don’t we deserve to know the truth?”
Her mother’s voice hardened.
“Some truths cost more than they give. Stay away from this.”
Yani smiled faintly and nodded—but the unease did not leave her.
The Next Day
Around 11 a.m., Yani walked towards the river to meet her friends.
“Yani!” Karuna exclaimed as she saw Yani walking towards them.
Yani paced forward, and they both hugged warmly.
Then Megh came forward and hugged her.
Arun and Seth bowed playfully.
“Good morning, Princess.”
“Please have mercy on these two peasants,” they said in unison.
Karuna and Megh burst into laughter.
Yani clicked her tongue.
She looked at the two young men with a mischievous gaze.
Her light brown-green hazel eyes sparkled.
Yani was known to be mischievous and chaotic, always pulling pranks for fun.
“Umm, let me see,” she said playfully.
Then she looked slightly upward with a thoughtful expression.
“Only if you two get me those jasmine flowers that are blooming beyond the river.”
Yani placed her condition.
Arun and Seth glanced at each other.
“Fine,” they muttered.
Then they turned.
“Just be careful. Who knows, a trap is already set,” Karuna warned playfully.
Arun and Seth stiffened.
Yani gave a playful smirk.
“But we would still suggest you go try. Who knows, given that she just came, there would be no trap,” Megh suggested otherwise.
Both Arun and Seth let out a soft exhale.
“Oh, Divine Mother, have mercy,” they both prayed before heading towards the bridge.
A while later, Seth returned with a medium-sized basket made of large leaves and twigs, filled with fragrant jasmine flowers.
Arun followed.
Yani was delighted to see one of her favourite flowers.
“I think these would be enough to prepare the homemade perfume,” Megh said.
“I told you, she wants it to prepare perfume,” Arun said to Seth.
Seth nodded in agreement.
They settled down on the grass beside the three girls.
“Yani, you still have time.”
“Apply to the university with us,” Seth urged.
Yani shook her head.
“No, I just want to be a performer and live a different life,” she declined.
“But you are the clan princess.”
“Isn’t it a rule to be a Mayaveer to become the clan head?”
“And you are in line after your mother,” Karuna said in wonder.
“Yes, but I don’t feel inclined at the moment.”
“If I ever change my mind, we’ll see.”
“Even my mom joined the university quite late, after my elder brother was born,” Yani responded casually.
The rest nodded.
“It’s just that we all could have been together,” Arun said thoughtfully.
“We are still together, and wherever I go, I will drag you four with me.”
“You like it or not,” Yani said.
Then she winked playfully.
Conversations flowed naturally.
After three hours, Yani stood.
“Let’s come back after lunch, then we will play some games,” she said.
Everyone nodded.
The group returned to the same spot around 4:30 p.m.
Yani looked a bit irritated.
“What happened? You look like you are about to slap someone,” Megh questioned.
Yani sighed.
She informed them about the conversation she had with her mother the previous evening.
“So, the rumours are true,” Arun said thoughtfully.
“In fact, I heard from a neighbour that even the Naga clan is being watched,” Seth informed them.
Yani blinked in surprise.
“Why the Nagas?” she wondered.
“I have no clue,” Seth shrugged.
“My neighbour’s cousin works for the Nagas as an attendant,” Seth added.
“Everything is a bit confusing. How do you think the royal fort is going to investigate a three-decade-old death mystery?” Karuna wondered.
“We will have to wait and watch,” Arun said.
Then suddenly, he stiffened.
“Yani, you mean to say the officials are still trailing you?” he asked.
Yani nodded.
“So now they might even trail us, as we are connected to you,” Arun assumed.
Yani widened her eyes.
“Well, after you leave, if you feel like you’re being followed, just let me know tomorrow,” she responded.
“Anyways, let’s play some sport.”
“Let them assume that we are just a bunch of friends who came out to play,” Seth said thoughtfully.
“What’s there to assume? We are indeed a bunch of friends out here to play,” Megh rebutted.
They got up and played their favourite sports at different intervals.
They enjoyed every moment—laughing, teasing, and simply being warm with one another.
As the sun dipped, they parted—each stepping unknowingly toward the paths awaiting them.
Yani lingered a moment longer.
For reasons she could not explain, the world felt as though it had already begun to shift.
Then she walked towards her mansion with steady steps, as the watch continued behind her.