The narrow pathway finally opened.
For a moment, no one moved.
Tara stepped through the last curtain of hanging vines—and froze.
Before them stood a pavilion.
It rested quietly in the middle of a wide pool of water, surrounded from all four sides like a small island hidden inside the palace grounds.
Stone walkways once connected the pavilion to the garden, but most of them were now half-covered by creeping vines and wild plants that had grown freely for years.
Soft streams of water flowed from carved stone structures placed around the pavilion. Some were shaped like lotus flowers, others like peacocks with their beaks tilted downward.
The water trickled slowly from their mouths, falling into the pool below with a gentle, echoing sound.
The entire place felt cool.
Peaceful.
Almost untouched by the rest of the palace.
Tara's eyes widened.
Tara: …Whoa.
Around the pavilion stretched a massive garden.
Tall trees leaned over the water, their branches covered with thick leaves and twisting vines that had taken over the old marble pillars. Wild flowers grew wherever they pleased, spreading color across the stone paths.
Nature had slowly reclaimed the place.
Peacocks wandered freely across the garden floor.
Squirrels ran along tree branches overhead.
Bright birds perched on the rooftops and railings of the pavilion.
Near the entrance, a few lazy palace puppies lifted their heads, watching the group with sleepy curiosity as if they had quietly taken the responsibility of guarding the place.
The messenger boy blinked in disbelief.
Messenger: W-wait…
He looked around nervously.
Messenger: Is… is this still inside the palace?
Aryav slowly stepped forward, equally stunned.
Aryav: I have served in the palace for years…
He looked around at the towering trees and the quiet water.
Aryav: …and I have never seen this place before.
Kavya brushed a strand of vine aside and stared toward the pavilion.
Kavya: Neither have I.
She crossed her arms thoughtfully.
Kavya: All the pavilions of the previous emperors and empresses are located near the center of the palace complex.
She pointed toward the distant palace walls behind them.
Kavya: But this place…
Aryav finished her thought.
Aryav: …is at the very corner of the palace.
Tara stepped onto the stone path leading toward the pavilion.
The water beside the walkway shimmered gently as leaves floated across the surface.
Tara: Whoever built this place…
She looked around the garden in quiet admiration.
Tara: …had incredible taste.
Behind her, the messenger boy nervously clutched his pile of documents.
Messenger: D-Devi Tara…
He raised the stack of scrolls with shaking hands.
Messenger: What about the documents…?
Tara glanced back at him.
Then she looked at the pavilion again.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Tara: The documents can wait a little longer.
The messenger almost collapsed.
Messenger: (;ﾟДﾟ)
Kavya sighed, though a small smile appeared on her face.
Kavya: I suppose we've already come this far.
Aryav shrugged casually.
Aryav: It would be a waste not to explore it.
The messenger stared at them in disbelief.
Messenger: You people are ministers…!
But no one was listening anymore.
One by one, they crossed the narrow stone path toward the pavilion.
Above them, birds fluttered from branch to branch.
The soft sound of falling water echoed through the quiet garden.
And for the first time in many years—
The hidden pavilion of the palace finally had visitors again.
Just as the group stepped into the clearing—
A small chorus of tiny barks suddenly echoed across the garden.
"Yip! Yip!"
Everyone stopped.
From behind a patch of bushes, a few small palace puppies came running toward them with their tails wagging wildly.
The messenger boy immediately jumped back.
Messenger: W-WHAT ARE THOSE?! (ﾟДﾟ;)
But the puppies didn't bark aggressively at all.
Instead, they ran straight toward the group with pure curiosity, sniffing their clothes and wagging their tails happily.
One of them jumped up and placed its paws on Tara's leg.
Another circled around Kavya.
The third one sat in front of Aryav and tilted its head.
Aryav blinked.
Aryav: …Are they greeting us?
Tara crouched down and picked up the puppy in front of her.
Tara: Looks like we've been officially welcomed.
The tiny puppy wagged its tail rapidly in her arms.
Kavya bent down and lifted another puppy.
Kavya: Aww… look at this one.
The puppy happily licked her cheek.
Kavya: Hey! (＞﹏＜)
Aryav sighed but eventually picked up the third puppy as well.
Aryav: I can't believe I'm doing this.
The puppy immediately curled up comfortably in his arms.
Tara laughed.
Tara: Congratulations.
She pointed at him.
Tara: You're a puppy father now.
Aryav: Absolutely not.
But he didn't put it down.
Now the three ministers continued walking through the garden—
each carrying one puppy in their arms.
The puppies looked around curiously from their elevated positions, wagging their tails as if proudly guiding the visitors through their territory.
Meanwhile, the messenger boy followed behind them with a pile of documents and a completely confused expression.
Messenger: Why are the ministers carrying dogs…? (・_・;)
Kavya looked around again at the water pavilion and the massive garden surrounding it.
Kavya: Wait a moment.
She turned toward the others.
Kavya: Aren't the pavilions of every emperor and empress located in the royal section of the palace?
She gestured toward the distant inner palace.
Kavya: The place where the king's private quarters and personal structures are located.
She looked back at the pavilion surrounded by water.
Kavya: Then what is this one doing all the way over here?
Tara, still holding the puppy, crossed her arms thoughtfully.
Tara: That's exactly what we're trying to find out.
Aryav glanced around the quiet garden.
Aryav: Also… I just realized something.
He raised an eyebrow.
Aryav: We are completely alone here.
A calm voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
Satyadhara: My lady… this place might be dangerous.
Tara looked over her shoulder.
Tara: That's exactly why you're with me.
Satyadhara stared at her for a moment.
Then he sighed.
Satyadhara: …Very well.
He continued following them.
The group slowly approached the pavilion.
Soon they reached a small wooden bridge connecting the garden to the island pavilion.
The bridge looked extremely old.
Tara stepped forward and carefully placed one foot on it.
CRRRRRK
The bridge made a loud cracking noise.
Everyone jumped back instantly.
Messenger: AAAAAH! (;ﾟДﾟ)
Aryav examined the bridge.
Aryav: The bridge looks broken and very old.
He shook his head.
Aryav: We shouldn't use it.
Tara looked at the pavilion across the water.
Tara: Then how are we supposed to go inside?
Satyadhara spoke firmly again.
Satyadhara: My lady, we shouldn't go inside the pavilion without permission anyway.
He crossed his arms.
Satyadhara: If someone finds out we entered a restricted royal structure, we might be punished.
Kavya nodded.
Kavya: He's right.
Behind them, the messenger boy nodded desperately with watery eyes.
Messenger: Please listen to them! (T_T)
Tara scratched her head while still holding the puppy.
Tara: Then what do we do?
She looked at the others.
Tara: Should we tell the palace manager about this place?
Kavya thought for a moment.
Kavya: That might be the best option.
Aryav raised a finger.
Aryav: But what if they ask why we came here in the first place?
Tara blinked.
Tara: What do you mean?
She shrugged.
Tara: We'll just say we got lost.
Aryav stared at her.
Aryav: And what if they ask…
He paused.
Aryav: How a group of ministers managed to get lost inside their own palace?
Silence fell.
The messenger slowly covered his face.
Messenger: Oh no…
Kavya closed her eyes.
Kavya: That would be extremely embarrassing.
Tara stood quietly for a moment.
Thinking.
Then she suddenly pointed at Aryav.
Tara: Then YOU explain it!
Aryav: Why me?!
The puppies barked happily in their arms as if enjoying the argument.
The group stood there quietly.
Thinking.
The puppies wagged their tails happily in the ministers' arms, completely unaware of the serious discussion happening about their fate.
Kavya gently scratched the puppy in her arms and suddenly spoke.
Kavya: If we inform the palace authorities about this place…
She hesitated.
Kavya: …will they also take away these puppies?
Tara froze.
Her face slowly turned horrified.
Tara: (;ﾟДﾟ)
She hugged the puppy in her arms protectively.
Tara: Mmm… I don't want to give up these puppies.
She rubbed her cheek against the puppy.
Tara: They're so cute…
Her eyes sparkled.
Tara: I want them to stay with me.
Aryav looked at her with a tired expression.
Aryav: They were inside the palace grounds.
He adjusted the puppy in his arms.
Aryav: Which means they are technically palace property.
Tara immediately frowned.
Tara: Well puppies aren't some national treasure.
She waved her hand dismissively.
Tara: We could probably just hide them and keep them.
Kavya looked worried.
Kavya: But…
She looked between Tara and Aryav.
Kavya: We shouldn't take unnecessary risks.
She sighed.
Kavya: We are still newly appointed ministers.
All three of them slowly fell silent.
Each one began thinking deeply.
Even the puppies looked like they're also thinking as well
Behind them, the messenger boy nervously raised his hand.
Messenger: U-Um…
Everyone looked at him.
He shrank a little under their gaze.
Messenger: W-What if…
He swallowed.
Messenger: What if you don't take them outside the palace…
He pointed toward the direction they came from.
Messenger: …but keep them in your ministry office instead?
The three ministers blinked.
Messenger: T-Technically…
He continued timidly.
Messenger: They would still be inside the palace.
He nervously rubbed his hands together.
Messenger: A-And they might even guard your office for you.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Tara's eyes lit up.
Tara: THAT'S A GREAT IDEA!
The puppy in her arms barked happily.
Kavya blinked in surprise.
Aryav slowly nodded.
Aryav: Hm…
He looked at the puppy in his arms.
Aryav: Office guards, huh.
The messenger nervously smiled, relieved that his idea didn't get him scolded.
Tara proudly lifted her puppy up.
Tara: Congratulations.
She grinned.
Tara: You three are now officially Ministry Guards.
The puppies wagged their tails energetically as if accepting their new jobs.
Meanwhile, across the quiet water—
The mysterious pavilion continued standing silently, still waiting to reveal its secrets.
Scene Shift — The Emperor's Chamber
Inside the royal palace—
The emperor Chandraveer sat behind his large wooden desk, reviewing a stack of documents under the soft light entering from the tall windows.
The room was calm and orderly.
A servant quietly entered the chamber and bowed.
Servant: Your Majesty.
Chandraveer looked up.
Chandraveer: Yes?
The servant spoke carefully.
Servant: I bring a report from the palace attendants.
Chandraveer placed the document down.
Chandraveer: What is it?
Servant: It appears that some ministers accidentally discovered an abandoned pavilion located at the far edge of the palace gardens.
Chandraveer's eyebrows slightly raised.
Servant: The pavilion is surrounded by water and appears to have been unused for many years.
For a moment—
Chandraveer remained silent.
His expression slowly shifted from neutral to curious.
Chandraveer: A hidden pavilion…
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
Chandraveer: Inside my own palace?
The servant nodded.
Chandraveer stood up.
Chandraveer: Well then.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Chandraveer: Let us go have a look at this hidden pavilion ourselves.
The servant bowed again.
Servant: As you command, Your Majesty.
Outside the chamber, guards immediately began preparing.
Scene Shift — The Hidden Pavilion
The emperor's convoy quietly moved through the palace gardens.
Tall trees cast long shadows across the stone paths as Chandraveer walked at the front, followed by Nayan, guards, and a few palace servants.
They passed through the same narrow pathways Tara and the others had taken earlier.
Through vines.
Past thick trees.
Across the quiet garden paths.
Soon—
The trees opened.
The convoy stepped into the clearing.
Everyone paused.
Before them stood the hidden pavilion.
The structure rested peacefully in the middle of the water, surrounded from all four directions like a quiet island.
Soft streams of water flowed from the old carved stone fountains into the surrounding pool.
Peacocks wandered across the grass.
Birds perched on the old wooden railings.
Fallen leaves floated slowly across the water.
For a moment, even the royal guards looked surprised.
Chandraveer slowly stepped forward, observing the place carefully.
His eyes scanned the pavilion… the water… the garden… the trees.
Chandraveer: Whom does this place belong to?
Nayan stood beside him and slightly bowed.
Nayan: We do not have any information about it yet, sir.
Chandraveer remained silent.
He continued looking around the garden.
Chandraveer: I have lived in this palace since my birth…
He looked toward the pavilion again.
Chandraveer: Yet it seems even I have not discovered everything within it.
A soft wind moved through the garden.
The leaves of the surrounding trees rustled gently.
Chandraveer slowly looked upward at the tall trees surrounding the entire area.
Then something caught his attention.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Chandraveer: These trees…
He looked around the entire garden carefully.
Chandraveer: They are placed too perfectly in order.
Nayan looked confused.
Nayan: What do you mean, sir?
He glanced at the trees.
Nayan: They look like wild trees that simply grew here on their own.
Chandraveer slowly shook his head.
Chandraveer: Look at the breed of these trees.
He gestured toward them.
Chandraveer: These trees do not naturally grow in this region.
He stepped closer to one of them and touched the bark.
Chandraveer: Someone must have planted them intentionally.
Nayan looked around again, now observing the garden more carefully.
Chandraveer continued.
Chandraveer: And notice something else.
He pointed toward different trees across the garden.
Chandraveer: They are planted in a specific pattern.
Nayan's eyes widened slightly.
Nayan: …A pattern?
Chandraveer nodded.
Chandraveer: Yes.
He slowly turned, looking around the entire garden from where they stood.
Chandraveer: The trees are positioned in a way that blocks the view of this location from the outside paths.
A moment of realization passed through Nayan's face.
Nayan: So you're saying…
He looked toward the pavilion again.
Nayan: This place was meant to be hidden?
Chandraveer folded his arms.
Chandraveer: I believe so.
Silence returned to the garden.
The quiet sound of falling water echoed again.
Chandraveer then turned toward his guards.
Chandraveer: Search the area.
His voice was calm but firm.
Chandraveer: Find a way for us to cross the water.
The guards immediately bowed.
Guard: Yes, Your Majesty.
They began spreading around the garden, examining the structures and pathways.
Meanwhile—
Chandraveer stood quietly, looking toward the old pavilion across the water.
His thoughts grew deeper.
Chandraveer: But…
His voice was softer now.
Chandraveer: Who does this pavilion belong to?
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Chandraveer: And why would someone hide it so carefully…
He paused.
Chandraveer: …that even I do not know about it?
The wind blew gently through the trees again.
The hidden pavilion stood silently across the water—
Still holding its secret.
Scene Shift — Ministry Office
The door of the ministry slowly opened.
Tara, Kavya, Aryav, Satyadhara, and the exhausted messenger boy finally returned.
Everyone quietly walked inside.
No one said anything.
They all sat down.
Silence filled the room.
Tara sat in her chair, leaning back with her arms hanging loosely.
Aryav sat beside the table staring blankly at the wall.
Kavya rested her chin on her hand, looking completely drained.
Satyadhara stood quietly near the wall as usual.
The room was suspiciously silent, as if everyone was waiting for something dramatic to happen.
Meanwhile—
The three puppies happily roamed around the office.
One was sniffing a pile of scrolls.
Another was chasing its own tail.
The third one climbed onto a cushion and rolled around.
The messenger boy sat on the floor nearby with his head hanging down.
His shoulders trembled.
Messenger: …
After a long pause, he slowly spoke.
Messenger: A-Are we…
He sniffed sadly.
Messenger: Are we going to help me now…?
Tara lazily turned her head toward him.
Tara: We are exhausted right now.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Messenger: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! (T▽T)
He collapsed onto the floor dramatically and began crying loudly.
Messenger: MY CAREER IS OVER!!
Messenger: I'M GOING TO BE FIRED!!
Messenger: I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE MINISTRY OF MINING IS!! (Ｔ□Ｔ)
The puppies stopped and stared at him in confusion.
One of them barked.
Aryav slowly rubbed his temple.
Aryav: This day keeps getting worse.
Kavya sighed.
Kavya: Perhaps tomorrow we should actually help him.
Tara leaned back in her chair.
Tara: Tomorrow sounds good.
The messenger cried even louder.
Messenger: TOMORROW?! (ﾟДﾟ;)
The puppies started barking again, excited by all the noise.
The entire office turned into chaos.