Malini stands beside the lost child near the entrance of the Entertainment District. She keeps glancing toward Govinda's establishment.
Malini: "Devi Tara is taking far too long..."
She looks toward Govinda's shop again.
Malini: "Should I go look for her...?"
She immediately looks at the little boy.
Malini: "...No."
Malini: "I can't leave this child here alone."
Malini: "What if Devi Tara comes back while I'm gone?"
She sighs.
Malini: "Please don't tell me she wandered off again..."
A familiar voice echoes from the street.
Tara: "Maliniiiiiii!!"
Malini quickly turns around.
Tara comes sprinting through the crowd while tightly hugging the paper-wrapped bottle of warming oil.
She finally reaches Malini and bends over, completely out of breath.
Tara: "Haa..."
Tara: "Haa..."
Tara: "Haa..."
Malini: "Devi Tara!"
Malini: "What happened?"
Malini: "Why were you gone for so long?"
Malini: "Why are you coming from that direction?"
Malini: "Wasn't Govinda's shop over there?"
Malini: "And why do you look so frightened?"
Tara slowly raises one finger.
Tara: "...Shhh..."
Tara: "One..."
deep breath
Tara: "...question..."
deep breath
Tara: "...at..."
deep breath
Tara: "...a..."
deep breath
Tara: "...time..."
The little boy nods seriously.
Little Boy: "That's fair."
Malini: "...Right."
Tara finally catches her breath.
She immediately grabs Malini's wrist.
Tara: "We need to leave."
Malini: "...Leave?"
Tara: "Right now."
Malini: "Why?"
Tara: "Every weird thing that could possibly happen..."
Tara: "...has happened since we entered this district!"
Malini: "...What happened?"
Tara: "I went to buy the warming oil."
Tara: "Then a merchant told me he sold the original oil for much cheaper."
Tara: "So I followed him."
Malini: "..."
Malini: "You followed a stranger?"
Tara: "I know!"
Tara: "I know!"
Tara: "Please don't judge me!"
Tara: "I was trying to save money!"
Tara: "Then..."
Tara: "A masked man suddenly burst into the shop..."
Tara: "...punched the merchant..."
Tara: "...grabbed my hand..."
Tara: "...dragged me across half of the Entertainment District..."
Tara: "...said he was an undercover officer..."
Tara: "...scolded me..."
Tara: "...and somehow..."
Tara: "...I ended up apologizing!"
Silence.
Malini: "..."
Little Boy: "..."
Malini: "...What?"
Tara: "I DON'T KNOW EITHER!!"
Tara: "Nothing made sense!"
Tara: "But I got the oil!"
She proudly raises the paper-wrapped bottle.
Tara: "...So that's nice."
Malini: "...Devi Tara..."
Tara: "Please."
Tara: "Let's just leave."
Malini: "...Alright."
Tara lets out a huge sigh of relief.
Then... she casually looks back toward the alley.
The old merchant has regained consciousness.
He's rubbing his swollen jaw while looking around the street in confusion.
Merchant: "...Where did that masked lunatic go...?"
Tara freezes.
Tara: "...Malini."
Malini: "...Yes?"
Tara: "...He's looking for me."
Malini: "...Who?"
Tara: "The merchant!"
Tara: "He survived!"
pause
Tara: "...I mean..."
Tara: "...Of course he survived..."
Tara: "...but he's definitely looking for me!"
The merchant scans the crowd, clearly trying to find the masked man.
His eyes briefly pass over Tara.
Tara: "HE SAW ME!"
Tara instantly grabs Malini's hand.
With her other hand she grabs the little boy.
Tara: "RUN!!"
Malini: "W-Wait!!"
Little Boy: "WOOOOOO!!"
Tara takes off at full speed.
Malini is practically being dragged behind her.
The little boy's feet barely touch the ground as he swings through the air laughing.
Little Boy: "This is fun!"
Malini: "I'M NOT HAVING FUN!"
Several streets later...
All three stumble out of the Entertainment District.
Tara finally lets go.
All three bend over, gasping for breath.
Tara: "Haa..."
Malini: "Haa..."
Little Boy: "Haa..."
Little Boy: "...Can we do that again?"
Malini: "...No."
Tara: "...Absolutely..."
Tara: "...not."
Tara slowly looks back toward the distant Entertainment District.
Tara: "...I'm never buying warming oil again."
Another Misunderstanding
The afternoon sun bathed the streets of Kannauj in a warm golden glow.
Tara trudged toward the Administrative Residence with several heavy shopping bags hanging from both arms.
Each step looked heavier than the last.
Behind her, the little boy had somehow discovered a new source of entertainment.
He hung from one of the shopping bags with both hands, letting his feet swing happily in the air.
The cloth handles stretched dangerously.
Tara: "...Little one."
Little Boy: "Hmm?"
Tara: "...Would you mind getting off?"
Little Boy: "Why?"
Tara: "Because between the supplies and you..."
"...I'm beginning to suspect my spine has resigned."
The boy tilted his head.
Little Boy: "But I'm helping."
Tara: "...You're helping me meet Yama a little earlier."
The little boy burst into laughter before finally letting go.
Little Boy: "Sorry."
Tara: "...Accepted."
Before they could continue—
A desperate woman's voice echoed through the street.
Woman: "Raghav!!"
The little boy's eyes widened.
Little Boy: "Mama!"
He immediately ran toward the beautifully dressed noblewoman.
She dropped to her knees and embraced him tightly.
Both began crying with relief.
Woman: "Raghav..."
"My child..."
Tara smiled.
A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders.
Tara: "...Thank goodness."
She quietly adjusted the shopping bags and prepared to leave.
Then—
The woman slowly stood.
Still holding her son.
Her grateful expression gradually disappeared.
Woman: "...Who are you?"
Tara: "Ah..."
"I found your son near the outer market."
"He had gotten lost."
"I was taking him to the Administrative Palace to report him missing."
The woman's brows furrowed.
Woman: "...The outer market?"
Tara: "Yes."
The woman looked around.
Woman: "Then why are you deep inside the Entertainment District?"
Tara froze.
"..."
"..."
"...Well..."
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
"How do I explain everything that happened..."
She quickly pointed toward the little boy.
Tara: "He can explain."
Both women looked down.
The child had already fallen asleep in his mother's arms.
Silence.
The woman hugged him tighter.
Woman: "Don't drag my child into your lies."
Tara: "W-What?!"
People nearby slowed their pace.
Curious eyes turned toward them.
Within moments...
A small crowd had gathered.
Voice: "What's happening?"
Voice: "Looks like someone stole a child."
Voice: "That young woman had him."
The whispers spread.
Voice: "The mother looks wealthy..."
Voice: "That girl looks like an ordinary traveler."
Voice: "Maybe she's a kidnapper."
Cold sweat trickled down Tara's forehead.
Tara: "Please!"
"I didn't kidnap him!"
"I was helping him!"
Woman: "Then explain why you were bringing him here."
Tara: "...I..."
"..."
"...It's..."
"...complicated..."
The murmuring only grew louder.
Voice: "She's making excuses."
Voice: "Call the guards."
Voice: "Poor child..."
Tara looked around desperately.
Tara: "H-How do I prove I didn't steal him?!"
A calm voice suddenly cut through the crowd.
???: "Please step aside."
The people instinctively moved aside.
A masked young man stepped forward.
Nayan followed closely behind.
Chandraveer silently observed everything.
The sleeping child.
The frightened mother.
The terrified Tara.
The growing crowd.
He understood enough.
Chandraveer: "I am an officer from the Administrative Palace."
"I'll handle this matter."
The noblewoman sighed in relief.
Woman: "Thank goodness!"
"Officer, arrest her immediately!"
Tara's eyes widened.
Tara: "...You?!"
Before she could say another word—
Chandraveer grabbed her wrist.
Tara: "H-Hey!"
He turned around and calmly began walking away.
Tara: "Wait!"
"I didn't do anything!"
She stumbled after him while trying to explain herself.
Tara: "Please listen!"
"It's all a misunderstanding!"
Nayan quietly picked up all of Tara's shopping bags.
Nayan: "...Again."
Several streets later...
The noise of the market finally faded.
Chandraveer stopped.
Tara immediately tried pulling her hand free.
Tara: "It's you again!"
"I swear I didn't steal anyone!"
"Please don't arrest me!"
Chandraveer sighed.
Chandraveer: "Would you stop panicking for one moment?"
He reached forward.
This time...
He held both of Tara's wrists to stop her from flailing while he spoke.
Chandraveer: "Listen to me."
"I simply—"
Tara's body suddenly froze.
Her eyes slowly dropped...
To both of her wrists.
Held.
Unable to move.
Her breathing changed.
Chandraveer: "...Minister?"
No response.
The world around Tara suddenly grew distant.
The sounds of the street became muffled.
Her heartbeat thundered inside her ears.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
Her breathing became shallow.
Tiny, fragmented images flashed across her mind.
Rough ropes.
Darkness.
A locked wooden room.
Foreign voices she couldn't understand.
Cold iron against her wrists.
Then...
Nothing.
Chandraveer: "...What is it?"
Barely above a whisper—
Tara: "...Please..."
He leaned closer.
Chandraveer: "What?"
Her breathing grew faster.
Tara: "...Please..."
"...let go..."
Still unaware of what was happening, Chandraveer kept his grip.
Chandraveer: "Calm down first."
Tara violently shook her head.
Tears began forming in the corners of her eyes.
Tara: "...Please..."
"...Please..."
"...LET GO!!"
She screamed.
Not in anger.
In pure terror.
With all her strength, she tore herself free and stumbled several steps backward before collapsing against the wall of a nearby house.
She immediately wrapped both arms around herself.
Her breathing was completely out of control.
Silence.
Even Nayan had gone still.
Chandraveer slowly lowered his hands.
His expression changed completely.
Chandraveer: "...I..."
"..."
"...I'm sorry."
Tara shut her eyes tightly.
Several long moments passed before her breathing finally slowed.
She never looked at him.
Tara: "...I..."
"...don't like..."
"...being restrained."
Nothing more.
No explanation.
No excuse.
Just that single sentence.
Chandraveer looked at his own hands.
For the first time that day...
He realized there were wounds far deeper than the ones he could see.
Neither he nor Nayan asked another question. The silence between them said enough, and whatever had frightened Tara so deeply was clearly a story for another day.
Tara remained leaning against the wall for a few more moments.
Her breathing had finally steadied.
Neither Chandraveer nor Nayan interrupted the silence.
After a long pause...
Chandraveer spoke quietly.
Chandraveer: "...Can you stand?"
Tara nodded faintly.
Tara: "...Yes."
She slowly pushed herself away from the wall.
For the first time that day...
Neither of them looked at each other.
The cheerful, chaotic atmosphere from moments ago had completely disappeared.
Chandraveer: "...You should return to the Administrative Residence."
Tara gave a tired nod.
Tara: "...I was planning to."
Tara: "I think..."
she forced out a weak smile.
"...I've had enough adventures for one day."
A small chuckle escaped Nayan.
Nayan: "...That may be the wisest decision you've made today."
Tara looked away awkwardly.
Tara: "...I don't disagree."
Just then, a well-kept carriage rolled to a stop beside them.
Its horses came to a gentle halt.
The driver climbed down and respectfully opened the carriage door.
Chandraveer: "This carriage is heading toward the Administrative Residence."
Chandraveer: "Please take it."
Tara looked at the carriage.
Then back at Chandraveer.
Tara: "...Thank you."
She quietly stepped inside.
For once...
There was no arguing.
No misunderstanding.
No panic.
Only exhaustion.
Outside...
Nayan looked down at the mountain of shopping supplies in his arms.
Nayan: "...Well."
Without another word...
He casually tossed the largest bundle into the carriage.
WHUMP!
The enormous bag landed directly in Tara's lap.
She let out a small squeak.
Tara: "...Oof!"
Nayan rolled his shoulders with visible relief.
Nayan: "Phew..."
"I was beginning to think these supplies weighed more than a war elephant."
Tara rubbed her shoulder before looking at the giant bundle now occupying nearly the entire seat.
Tara: "...A little warning would've been appreciated..."
Nayan: "...Noted."
He smiled politely.
"...For next time."
Tara immediately looked horrified.
Tara: "...There better not be a next time."
Nayan couldn't help but laugh.
Even Chandraveer's eyes softened slightly behind his mask.
He turned toward the driver.
Chandraveer: "Take her safely to the Administrative Residence."
Driver: "At once."
The carriage door closed.
The horses began moving.
As the carriage disappeared into the streets of Kannauj...
Nayan glanced sideways at Chandraveer.
Nayan: "...She's certainly... memorable."
Chandraveer watched the carriage until it vanished around the corner.
Chandraveer: "...She has an extraordinary talent..."
"...for finding trouble."
Nayan: "Or perhaps..."
"...trouble simply enjoys finding her."
For the first time since Tara's panic attack...
A faint smile appeared on Chandraveer's face.