The imperial garden was unusually quiet that morning.
A gentle breeze moved through the trees, carrying the scent of flowers across the stone paths. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling in scattered patches across the grass and marble benches.
Beneath the shade of a large tree, Naina sat alone.
A writing board rested on her lap, and a brush moved slowly across the paper.
From a distance, she looked like nothing more than a young noblewoman enjoying a peaceful morning while composing poetry.
But the faint smile on her lips told a different story.
Naina (thinking) : "He should be coming soon."
She glanced briefly toward the garden entrance.
Then she lowered her eyes again and continued writing.
Her expression became perfectly innocent.
Footsteps soon echoed along the stone path.
Naina recognized them immediately.
She didn't look up.
Instead, she continued writing as though she hadn't noticed anything.
A moment later, Emperor Chandraveer entered the garden.
He walked alone.
For once, there were no ministers surrounding him, no officials waiting for his attention, and no nobles asking for favors.
He had come here simply to enjoy a little peace.
But after walking several steps, Chandraveer suddenly noticed someone beneath the tree.
He stopped.
Chandraveer (thinking) : "A woman?"
He looked around the garden.
There were no attendants with her.
He hadn't expected anyone else to be here.
Naina slowly lifted her eyes.
The moment she saw him, her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
Naina: "Oh!"
She quickly stood up.
Naina: "Emperor!"
She placed the writing board aside and bowed.
Naina: "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know Your Majesty would be coming here."
She stepped away from the tree.
Naina: "I'll leave the garden immediately."
Chandraveer raised a hand.
Chandraveer: "Wait."
Naina stopped.
Chandraveer: "You don't need to leave."
Naina looked at him with a slightly surprised expression.
Naina: "I don't?"
Chandraveer: "No."
He looked around the garden.
Chandraveer: "There are no restrictions on who may sit here. You were here before I arrived."
Naina: "But this is Your Majesty's garden."
Chandraveer: "It is an imperial garden, not my private chamber."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Chandraveer: "You may stay."
Naina lowered her head politely.
Naina: "If Your Majesty is certain..."
Chandraveer: "I am."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "Then... thank you."
She slowly returned to her place beneath the tree.
Chandraveer began walking past her.
Naina looked at the empty space beside her.
Naina: "Your Majesty."
Chandraveer turned.
Naina gestured toward the ground beside her.
Naina: "Would you like to sit?"
Chandraveer hesitated.
He looked at the garden around him.
Then at Naina.
Chandraveer: "Very well."
He walked over and sat beside her.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
The breeze moved through the leaves above them.
Naina lowered her eyes toward her writing board.
A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
But this time, it wasn't an innocent smile.
It was the smile of someone watching a carefully constructed plan finally begin to unfold.
Naina (thinking) : "It's all going according to the plan."
Her fingers lightly touched the edge of the paper.
Naina (thinking) : "All those days of planning..."
Her smile widened slightly.
Naina (thinking) : "All that effort."
Naina (thinking) : "All the information I gathered..."
She glanced toward Chandraveer.
Naina (thinking) : "It was worth it."
The garden around her seemed to fade.
The present disappeared.
And her memories returned to the beginning.
Weeks Earlier
Naina sat inside her chamber, surrounded by several sheets of parchment.
Names.
Schedules.
Servants.
Guards.
Locations.
Everything was written down.
She stared at the information in front of her.
Naina (thinking) : "The Emperor's public schedule is easy enough to obtain."
She picked up one parchment.
Naina (thinking) : "Court begins in the morning."
Another.
Naina (thinking) : "Meetings with ministers occupy most of his day."
Another.
Naina (thinking) : "Audiences with nobles."
She placed the parchment down.
Naina (thinking) : "But that isn't what I need."
She leaned back in her chair.
Naina (thinking) : "I don't need to know when the Emperor works."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina (thinking) : "I need to know when Chandraveer lives."
That was where her real investigation began.
The first thing Naina needed to discover was where Chandraveer went when he wanted to be alone.
She began casually speaking with palace servants.
Naina: "His Majesty seems to spend a great deal of time away from the court."
Servant: "He does."
Naina: "Where does he usually go?"
The servant thought for a moment.
Servant: "The garden, mostly."
Naina's expression remained completely casual.
Naina: "The garden?"
Servant: "Yes. Especially when he wants some peace."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "I see."
She thanked the servant and walked away.
The moment she turned the corner, her expression changed.
Naina (thinking) : "The garden."
She stopped for a moment.
Naina (thinking) : "So that's where he goes when he wants to escape everyone."
A small smile appeared.
Naina (thinking) : "Useful."
But one piece of information wasn't enough.
Naina began learning the Emperor's routine.
She watched from a distance.
She memorized the times he left the audience hall.
She noticed which corridors he preferred.
She learned when he usually ate.
She noticed which servants accompanied him.
And more importantly—
She noticed when he was alone.
One afternoon, Naina stood behind a stone pillar.
Chandraveer walked through the corridor several meters away.
Naina watched him carefully.
Naina (thinking) : "He walks faster when he's irritated."
She watched his expression.
Naina (thinking) : "And he barely acknowledges anyone when he's tired."
Chandraveer disappeared around the corner.
Naina waited.
Then quietly followed.
Another day.
Naina stood near a balcony overlooking the garden.
Below, Chandraveer sat alone.
He wasn't reading a royal document.
He wasn't meeting an official.
He wasn't discussing politics.
He was simply sitting beneath a tree.
Naina watched.
Naina (thinking) : "So this is what he does when nobody is watching."
Chandraveer leaned back against the tree.
For once, his face looked relaxed.
Naina studied him.
Naina (thinking) : "He's different when he's alone."
She memorized that too.
Then came his interests.
Naina needed to know what Chandraveer actually enjoyed.
Not what an emperor was expected to enjoy.
What he enjoyed.
So she began asking questions.
Naina: "Does His Majesty enjoy music?"
Servant: "Sometimes."
Naina: "And reading?"
Servant: "When he has time."
Naina: "What about the garden?"
Servant: "He likes it very much."
Naina: "Anything else?"
The servant shrugged.
Naina smiled politely.
Naina: "I was merely curious."
She walked away.
Naina (thinking) : "Everyone around him knows the Emperor."
She looked down at the information she had collected.
Naina (thinking) : "But very few people seem to know Chandraveer."
That distinction became increasingly important to her.
Of course, gathering information wasn't always easy.
One evening, Naina was standing behind a pillar while watching Chandraveer speak with Nayan.
She had been there for several minutes.
Then—
A voice came from behind her.
Guard: "Princess Naina?"
Naina froze.
Her heart skipped.
She slowly turned around.
A palace guard stood several steps away.
Naina (thinking) : "Damn."
Guard: "What are you doing here?"
Naina glanced toward the corridor.
Then toward the carvings on the wall.
Naina: "The carvings."
The guard stared at her.
Guard: "The carvings?"
Naina smiled.
Naina: "They're beautiful."
The guard looked at the wall.
Then back at her.
Naina maintained the same innocent expression.
After several uncomfortable seconds, the guard finally nodded.
Guard: "Of course."
He walked away.
Naina waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Only then did she breathe again.
Naina (thinking) : "That was close."
She looked toward the corridor.
Naina (thinking) : "I need to be more careful."
She smiled.
Naina (thinking) : "But I'm getting closer."
Another time, she nearly made an even worse mistake.
Chandraveer had left the garden.
Naina followed his route through a quieter section of the palace.
She turned a corner—
And suddenly saw one of his guards looking directly at her.
Naina stopped.
The guard stopped too.
For a moment, neither moved.
Naina (thinking) : "Don't panic."
The guard began walking toward her.
Naina quickly stepped toward a nearby decorative alcove.
She examined a piece of pottery.
The guard approached.
Guard: "Princess?"
Naina: "Hmm?"
Guard: "Were you looking for something?"
Naina turned toward him.
Naina: "No."
She smiled.
Naina: "I simply found this rather beautiful."
The guard looked at the pottery.
Then at Naina.
Guard: "I see."
He eventually walked away.
Naina watched him disappear.
Naina (thinking) : "One heartbeat."
She slowly exhaled.
Naina (thinking) : "That's all it would have taken."
She looked toward the corridor where Chandraveer had disappeared.
Naina (thinking) : "I was one heartbeat away from being discovered."
But she didn't stop.
The more she learned, the clearer Chandraveer's situation became.
Everyone wanted something from him.
Ministers wanted decisions.
Nobles wanted favors.
Merchants wanted privileges.
Foreign envoys wanted agreements.
Noble families wanted alliances.
And potential marriage candidates—
Wanted the Emperor himself.
Naina understood the problem immediately.
She sat alone one evening, thinking about everything she had observed.
Naina (thinking) : "Everyone comes to him because he is the Emperor."
She looked at the pile of information.
Naina (thinking) : "They speak to his position."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina (thinking) : "Not to him."
She slowly smiled.
Naina (thinking) : "Then I won't do that."
She put the parchment down.
Naina (thinking) : "I won't ask him for anything."
A pause.
Naina (thinking) : "Not at first."
Her smile became colder.
Naina (thinking) : "I'll make him believe that I'm interested in Chandraveer."
She looked toward the garden outside her window.
Naina (thinking) : "Not the Emperor."
A quiet laugh escaped her.
Naina (thinking) : "Let everyone else ask him what he can give them."
She leaned back.
Naina (thinking) : "I'll give him something they never do."
Her eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
Naina (thinking) : "The feeling that someone actually wants to know him."
Present
The garden returned.
Chandraveer was still sitting beside her.
He glanced at the writing board in Naina's hands.
Chandraveer: "Were you writing a poem?"
Naina looked down at the paper.
Naina: "I was trying to."
Chandraveer: "About the garden?"
Naina smiled softly.
Naina: "Yes."
She looked toward the flowers.
Naina: "Although I think the garden is easier to admire than it is to describe."
Chandraveer looked around.
Chandraveer: "I suppose you're right."
Naina turned toward him.
Naina: "Do you come here often?"
Chandraveer looked at her.
Chandraveer: "Sometimes."
Naina: "Then perhaps you know this garden better than I do."
Chandraveer: "Perhaps."
Naina lowered her writing board.
Naina: "Your Majesty..."
Chandraveer looked at her.
Chandraveer: "Yes?"
Naina: "May I ask you something?"
Chandraveer smiled faintly.
Chandraveer: "You already did."
Naina blinked.
Then she laughed softly.
Naina: "Then may I ask you another thing?"
Chandraveer: "Go ahead."
Naina looked toward the garden.
Naina: "Do you come here because you like gardens?"
Chandraveer looked around.
Chandraveer: "Partly."
Naina: "Partly?"
Chandraveer: "It's quiet here."
He paused.
Chandraveer: "That's probably the main reason."
Naina tilted her head slightly.
Naina: "You don't enjoy the flowers?"
Chandraveer: "I do."
Naina: "Then why did you say only 'partly'?"
Chandraveer chuckled.
Chandraveer: "Because if I said I came here only for the flowers, you'd probably think I was trying to sound poetic."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "I might have."
Chandraveer: "And I would prefer not to be accused of pretending to be a poet."
Naina laughed.
Naina: "Then I'll keep your secret."
Chandraveer: "Thank you."
Naina looked at him for a moment.
Naina (thinking) : "He's more relaxed than I expected."
She had seen him in court.
She had watched him speak with ministers.
She had seen how quickly his expression could become cold when dealing with officials.
But this version of him was different.
Naina (thinking) : "The palace sees an Emperor."
Her eyes softened slightly.
Naina (thinking) : "But this is the man behind him."
She quickly returned to her innocent expression.
Naina: "Do you come here whenever you want to escape the court?"
Chandraveer looked at her.
Chandraveer: "Sometimes."
Naina: "It must be exhausting."
Chandraveer: "What?"
Naina: "Being surrounded by people all day."
Chandraveer was quiet.
That answer had struck closer than she expected.
Chandraveer: "It can be."
Naina: "Everyone wants something from you."
Chandraveer looked at her.
For a moment, his expression changed.
Naina noticed it immediately.
Naina (thinking) : "There."
She had found something.
But she didn't push.
Instead, she smiled lightly.
Naina: "Sorry. That sounded rather serious."
Chandraveer: "No. It's true."
He looked back toward the pond.
Chandraveer: "Most people who come to me have something they want."
Naina remained silent.
Chandraveer: "A decision. A favor. Permission. Money. Land. A position."
He gave a small sigh.
Chandraveer: "Even when someone comes simply to greet me, there is usually a request waiting behind it."
Naina looked at him.
She deliberately waited several seconds before answering.
Naina: "Then I'm glad I didn't bring one."
Chandraveer turned toward her.
Naina smiled.
Naina: "I didn't come here to ask Your Majesty for anything."
Chandraveer laughed quietly.
Chandraveer: "That's refreshing."
Naina: "Perhaps that's why you haven't asked me to leave yet."
Chandraveer: "Perhaps."
They both smiled.
Naina lowered her eyes.
Inside, however, her mind was working.
Naina (thinking) : "Exactly as I expected."
Naina (thinking) : "He hates being treated like a throne instead of a person."
She looked at him again.
Naina (thinking) : "Then I'll give him the opposite."
Naina: "What do you do when you aren't Emperor?"
Chandraveer stared at her.
Chandraveer: "What?"
Naina: "When you aren't sitting in court."
She gestured toward him.
Naina: "When you aren't making decisions for the empire."
Her voice became softer.
Naina: "What do you actually enjoy?"
Chandraveer was silent for a moment.
It was a simple question.
Yet nobody seemed to ask it.
Chandraveer: "I suppose I enjoy reading."
Naina: "What kind of books?"
Chandraveer: "History."
Naina: "Only history?"
Chandraveer: "Mostly."
Naina: "Mostly?"
Chandraveer smiled.
Chandraveer: "You seem determined to find out everything about me."
Naina froze for the smallest fraction of a second.
She hadn't expected him to notice that.
But she quickly smiled.
Naina: "Perhaps I'm simply curious."
Chandraveer: "About me?"
Naina looked directly at him.
Naina: "Yes."
The answer was simple.
No hesitation.
Chandraveer looked slightly surprised.
Naina immediately continued before the moment became too serious.
Naina: "You're an interesting person."
Chandraveer: "Am I?"
Naina: "I don't know yet."
Chandraveer laughed.
Chandraveer: "Then I suppose I have some work to do."
Naina: "You do."
She smiled.
Naina (thinking) : "And you have no idea how much I've already learned."
Chandraveer: "What else do you want to know?"
Naina: "Your hobbies."
Chandraveer: "My hobbies?"
Naina nodded.
Naina: "What do you do when you have an entire day with nothing scheduled?"
Chandraveer thought for a moment.
Chandraveer: "That rarely happens."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "Imagine it does."
Chandraveer looked up toward the branches above them.
The leaves moved gently in the breeze.
Chandraveer: "I might spend some of it here."
Naina: "The garden again."
Chandraveer: "I like being somewhere peaceful."
Naina: "Anything else?"
Chandraveer: "Sometimes I practice with the sword."
Naina raised an eyebrow.
Naina: "You?"
Chandraveer looked at her.
Chandraveer: "Why do you sound surprised?"
Naina: "Because you look like someone who spends his entire day sitting on a throne."
Chandraveer laughed.
Chandraveer: "I assure you, sitting on a throne is not as comfortable as people imagine."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "I'll remember that."
Chandraveer: "Please don't tell anyone."
Naina: "Your secret is safe with me."
A short silence followed.
Naina looked toward the pond.
Then back at Chandraveer.
Naina: "Is there anything else you enjoy?"
Chandraveer: "There are many things."
Naina: "Such as?"
Chandraveer opened his mouth to answer.
But then he stopped.
His expression changed.
For the first time during their conversation, he seemed uncertain about what to say.
Naina noticed immediately.
Naina (thinking) : "What was that?"
Chandraveer looked down at his hands.
Chandraveer: "There is..."
He paused.
Chandraveer: "Someone I wish I could spend more time with."