Chandraveer: "Someone I wish I could spend more time with."
Naina's smile remained.
But her eyes sharpened.
Naina: "Someone?"
Chandraveer nodded.
Chandraveer: "Yes."
He looked toward the flowers.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
It was a completely different smile from the ones Naina had seen earlier.
Softer.
Warmer.
Almost involuntary.
Chandraveer: "Whenever she's around me..."
He stopped.
For a moment, he seemed to realize that he was saying more than he intended.
But the words had already escaped.
Chandraveer: "...it comforts my heart for some reason."
Silence.
Naina stared at him.
Her expression remained composed.
But inside—
Something snapped.
Naina (thinking) : "She?"
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her writing board.
Naina (thinking) : "Who is she?"
Chandraveer continued looking toward the garden.
He didn't notice the sudden change in Naina's expression.
Naina's pleasant smile slowly disappeared.
Her eyes hardened.
A sharp, burning jealousy rose inside her.
Naina (thinking) : "Who is this woman?"
Her breathing became slightly heavier.
Naina (thinking) : "Who makes him look like that?"
She glanced at Chandraveer.
That gentle smile was still on his face.
Naina had spent weeks gathering information about him.
She had learned his habits.
His routines.
His interests.
His favorite places.
His moods.
She had watched him when he thought nobody was watching.
And yet—
There was something she hadn't discovered.
Someone.
Naina (thinking) : "How did I miss her?"
Her jealousy slowly turned into anger.
Naina (thinking) : "I've spent weeks watching him."
Her fingernails pressed into the wooden edge of the writing board.
Naina (thinking) : "Weeks."
She looked at him again.
Naina (thinking) : "And someone else already has a place in his heart?"
She forced herself to relax.
Her expression returned to normal.
She couldn't let him see it.
Not yet.
Naina: "Who is she?"
Chandraveer became quiet.
The warmth in his expression disappeared slightly.
He looked down.
Chandraveer: "I..."
He hesitated.
Then gave a small, sad smile.
Chandraveer: "I can't tell you."
Naina's eyes narrowed.
Naina: "You can't?"
Chandraveer shook his head.
Chandraveer: "I'm sorry."
Naina stared at him.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Inside, however, her thoughts were racing.
Naina (thinking) : "You can't tell me?"
Her jealousy burned hotter.
Naina (thinking) : "So it's serious."
She studied his expression.
There was no embarrassment in his face.
No playful hesitation.
There was something else.
Protectiveness.
Perhaps even fear.
Naina (thinking) : "You are protecting her."
She slowly smiled again.
Naina: "I understand."
Chandraveer looked at her.
Naina: "You don't have to tell me."
Her voice was gentle.
Her expression was warm.
Almost perfectly sincere.
Chandraveer: "Thank you."
Naina smiled.
Naina: "Although..."
Chandraveer: "Although?"
Naina tilted her head.
Naina: "Now I'm curious."
Chandraveer laughed softly.
Chandraveer: "I thought you said you wouldn't ask."
Naina: "I said I wouldn't demand an answer."
She smiled.
Naina: "Curiosity is different."
Chandraveer shook his head with amusement.
Chandraveer: "You really are curious."
Naina: "Very."
They both smiled.
But beneath Naina's smile was something completely different.
Naina (thinking) : "You won't tell me."
Her eyes briefly moved toward him.
Naina (thinking) : "Fine."
Her smile became slightly colder.
Naina (thinking) : "Then I'll find out myself."
She lowered her eyes toward her writing board.
Naina (thinking) : "I found your routine."
Naina (thinking) : "I found your interests."
Naina (thinking) : "I found your habits."
Her fingers slowly relaxed.
Naina (thinking) : "I'll find her too."
She looked at Chandraveer.
He was once again looking peacefully toward the garden.
Naina watched him carefully.
For the first time since she had begun her plan, she felt something she hadn't anticipated.
Not ambition.
Not greed.
Not excitement.
Jealousy.
Pure, burning jealousy.
And somewhere beneath it—
A quiet fear.
Naina (thinking) : "Whoever she is..."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina (thinking) : "...she's standing between me and what I want."
Naina looked at him again.
Her expression softened.
But this time, the sweetness in her face was forced.
Naina: "You really won't tell me?"
Chandraveer glanced toward her.
Chandraveer: "I'm afraid not."
Naina: "Not even her name?"
Chandraveer: "No."
Naina smiled faintly.
Naina: "Why?"
Chandraveer: "Because I don't think it's something I should speak about."
Naina: "But you're talking to me."
Chandraveer: "That doesn't mean I have to tell you everything."
Naina's smile tightened.
Naina: "I'm not asking as a political matter."
Chandraveer: "I know."
Naina: "Then why hide it?"
Chandraveer didn't answer.
The silence stretched between them.
Naina leaned slightly closer.
Naina: "Is she someone in the palace?"
Chandraveer looked at her.
He didn't respond.
Naina immediately noticed.
Naina (thinking) : "So she might be."
Naina: "Someone you see often?"
Chandraveer: "Naina..."
His voice was calm.
But there was a warning in it.
Naina paused.
Yet her jealousy had already begun overpowering her caution.
Naina: "Is she a noblewoman?"
Chandraveer: "That's enough."
Naina blinked.
Chandraveer looked away.
Chandraveer: "I told you I can't tell you."
Naina: "But if you care about her that much—"
Chandraveer: "Naina."
This time his voice was firmer.
Naina stopped.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Naina's fingers tightened around the writing board.
Naina (thinking) : "Why won't you tell me?"
She looked at him.
Naina (thinking) : "Who is she?"
Her frustration finally broke through her carefully controlled behavior.
Naina: "Does she know that you like her?"
Chandraveer looked at her.
His expression changed.
Naina immediately realized she had gone too far.
But she couldn't stop herself.
Naina: "Does she know what you feel?"
Chandraveer slowly stood.
Naina looked up at him.
Chandraveer: "I think we should stop here."
Naina's eyes widened slightly.
Naina: "Your Majesty..."
Chandraveer picked up his cloak.
His expression wasn't angry.
But the warmth from earlier was gone.
Chandraveer: "I'm sorry."
Naina quickly stood as well.
Naina: "No. I'm sorry."
She lowered her head.
Naina: "I shouldn't have pressed you."
Chandraveer looked at her.
For a moment, he seemed to consider saying something more.
Instead, he gave a small smile.
Chandraveer: "It's okay."
Naina raised her eyes.
Chandraveer: "It just reminded me that I have an important work to do."
Naina forced a polite smile.
Naina: "Of course."
Chandraveer nodded.
Chandraveer: "I should go."
Naina: "Then... goodbye, Your Majesty."
Chandraveer: "Goodbye, Naina."
He turned and began walking away.
Naina remained beneath the tree, watching him disappear through the garden entrance.
Her smile faded completely.
Naina (thinking) : "I pushed too far."
She stared at the path where he had disappeared.
Naina (thinking) : "But now I know something."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina (thinking) : "There really is someone."
She slowly clenched her hand.
Naina (thinking) : "And he's protecting her."
Chandraveer walked through the palace corridor.
His footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor.
Nayan followed several steps behind.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Chandraveer seemed deep in thought.
Nayan glanced at him.
Nayan: "Your Majesty?"
Chandraveer didn't answer immediately.
Then—
Chandraveer: "Nayan."
Nayan: "Yes?"
Chandraveer slowed his steps.
Chandraveer: "I want you to find out who that girl was."
Nayan raised an eyebrow.
Nayan: "The girl from the garden?"
Chandraveer: "Yes."
Nayan smiled slightly.
Nayan: "I thought you were enjoying your peaceful morning."
Chandraveer looked at him.
Chandraveer: "I was."
Nayan: "Until she appeared?"
Chandraveer sighed.
Chandraveer: "Until she appeared."
Nayan gave a small amused smile.
Nayan: "I'll find out."
Chandraveer: "Quietly."
Nayan: "Of course."
They continued walking.
Neither of them noticed the figure hidden near the far end of the corridor.
A man stood partially concealed behind a stone pillar.
He was Naina's head servant.
He had followed his mistress through the palace after she left the garden, expecting to receive instructions about the next meeting.
Instead, he had arrived just in time to hear the Emperor's order.
His eyes widened.
Head Servant (thinking) : "Find out who that girl was?"
He remained completely still.
Nayan and Chandraveer continued down the corridor.
Head Servant (thinking) : "So His Majesty has already become curious about Princess Naina."
His expression slowly changed.
This information was far more important than he had expected.
He waited until the Emperor and Nayan disappeared from sight.
Only then did he step out from behind the pillar.
Head Servant (thinking) : "I need to tell Princess Naina immediately."
He looked toward the corridor leading back toward the garden.
Then smiled faintly.
Head Servant (thinking) : "This may have gone better than she expected."
He turned and hurried away.
Meanwhile, far ahead in the palace—
Chandraveer continued walking beside Nayan, unaware that the first move in a much larger game had already been overheard.
Night had settled over the palace.
Inside Naina's private chamber, a single oil lamp burned beside the mirror, its warm flame casting soft shadows across the room.
Naina sat quietly before the mirror while her head servant stood behind her, gently combing her long hair.
The servant had already finished telling Naina everything she had overheard.
The Emperor had ordered Nayan to quietly investigate Naina.
For several moments, Naina said nothing.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror.
Her hands slowly tightened into fists.
Her jaw clenched.
Naina (thinking) : "He wants to investigate me..."
Behind her, the head servant smiled.
Head Servant: "This is a good sign, isn't it, Devi Naina?"
Naina's eyes shifted toward her reflection.
The servant continued happily.
Head Servant: "You have clearly performed a miracle."
She smiled even more proudly.
Head Servant: "The Emperor himself has become curious about you."
Naina's fingers tightened further.
Head Servant: "You have barely met him, yet you've already caught his attention."
The servant gave a small laugh.
Head Servant: "I knew your plan would work."
Naina's expression darkened.
Head Servant: "Perhaps His Majesty is already—"
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the chamber.
The head servant's body was thrown sideways, and she fell hard onto the floor.
The comb slipped from her hand.
Silence.
The servant stared at Naina in shock, one hand covering her cheek.
Naina slowly stood from her seat.
Her fists were clenched tightly.
Naina: "You stupid woman..."
The servant immediately lowered her head.
Head Servant: "D-Devi Naina..."
Naina: "How do you think this is a good sign?"
Her voice trembled with anger.
Naina stepped toward the mirror again.
Naina: "Do you even understand what I was trying to accomplish?"
The servant remained on the floor.
Head Servant: "I thought His Majesty becoming interested in you meant—"
Naina: "Interested?"
She gave a bitter laugh.
Naina: "He isn't interested."
She stared at herself in the mirror.
Naina: "He's suspicious."
The servant's expression changed.
Naina: "That is completely different."
She slowly sat back down.
Naina: "Everything I did today had a purpose."
Her eyes remained fixed on her reflection.
Naina: "I deliberately made it appear as though I had no interest in politics."
Naina: "I didn't ask him for anything."
Naina: "I didn't mention my family."
Naina: "I didn't speak about an alliance."
Her expression hardened.
Naina: "I made him believe that I was interested in him as a person."
She paused.
Naina: "Not as an Emperor."
The servant lowered her head further.
Naina: "That was the entire point."
Naina looked at her reflection.
Naina (thinking) : "I wanted him to believe I was different from every other noblewoman who approaches him."
Her fingers slowly relaxed.
Naina: "But now he has ordered someone to investigate me."
She looked toward the servant.
Naina: "What do you think will happen when they discover who I actually am?"
The servant remained silent.
Naina: "They'll find out that I'm a princess."
Naina: "They'll find out why I was sent here."
Naina: "And they'll find out that my presence is connected to a marriage alliance."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina: "Then what will Chandraveer think?"
The servant hesitated.
Naina: "He'll realize I wasn't simply interested in him."
She clenched her fist again.
Naina: "He'll realize I had a political reason for being here."
Naina: "And the moment he understands that..."
She stopped.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Naina: "...everything I built today falls apart."
The servant finally understood.
She slowly lowered herself onto her knees.
Head Servant: "Forgive me, Devi Naina."
Naina didn't even look at her.
She continued staring into the mirror.
Naina (thinking) : "I had finally made him lower his guard."
Her eyes narrowed.
Naina (thinking) : "And now I've given him a reason to raise it again."
The servant remained kneeling.
Head Servant: "I misunderstood."
Naina remained silent.
The lamp flickered.
For several seconds, only the quiet sound of the flame could be heard.
Then Naina spoke.
Naina: "I will have to get closer to the Emperor."
The servant looked up.
Naina: "But this time..."
She slowly smiled at her reflection.
Naina: "...without him noticing what I'm actually doing."
Her eyes became cold.
Naina (thinking) : "If Chandraveer is going to investigate me..."
Her smile remained.
Naina (thinking) : "...then I need to make sure he finds exactly what I want him to find."
She reached for the comb.
Naina: "Now..."
She handed it back to the servant.
Naina: "Continue."
The servant quietly obeyed.
Naina looked at herself in the mirror.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Composed.
Nothing like the furious woman who had just struck her servant.
Naina (thinking) : "I won't let one investigation ruin everything."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Naina (thinking) : "If I have to get closer to Chandraveer to control what he learns about me..."
A faint smile appeared.
Naina (thinking) : "...then that's exactly what I'll do."