55.
"A war?"
Devasena stared at Ruti in disbelief.
The very word felt wrong within the peaceful walls of Vanga.
War.
She had grown up hearing tales of great battles, of kings clashing over borders, dynasties, and ancient grievances.
Yet those stories had always seemed distant, belonging to another age and another world.
Vanga was prosperous, secure, and beloved by its people.
Its fertile lands fed countless villages, its rivers carried trade from kingdom to kingdom, and its cities thrived beneath the protection of a capable ruler.
The thought of war touching such a place filled her with unease.
No matter how wealthy or powerful a kingdom might be, war left scars upon everyone. Fields burned. Families mourned. Innocent people paid the price for the ambitions and follies of rulers.
She lowered her gaze.
All because of her.
"King Veerendra and Crown Prince Dyumsena have taken the matter very personally."
The new voice caused both Devasena and Ruti to turn.
Shona stood near the entrance of the chamber, having entered so quietly that neither had noticed her arrival. She carried a tray of fresh flowers in her hands, though her attention was clearly fixed upon the conversation.
Ruti's eyes widened.
"Personally?" she repeated indignantly.
The maid rose to her feet at once, outrage blazing across her features.
"How could they not take it personally?" she demanded. "Rajkumari was injured because of it!"
Her voice grew sharper with every word.
"And think about what would have happened if that wicked, arrogant king had succeeded in his plan."
The flowers upon Shona's tray trembled slightly as Ruti paced the room.
"He would have stolen her from her family. From her home. From her kingdom." Her fists clenched. "Her freedom would have been taken. Her happiness destroyed. Her honour placed at the mercy of a man who clearly respects neither."
Ruti shook her head furiously.
"What kind of ruler even thinks such a thing is acceptable?"
For a moment, silence settled over the chamber.
Only the distant rumble of thunder could be heard beyond the palace walls.
Devasena listened to the anger in Ruti's voice and found herself unable to disagree. Every word was true.
Yet somehow the conversation felt suffocating.
The walls seemed closer.
The air heavier.
Everyone spoke of her as though she were the cause of the coming storm.
Not intentionally.
Never cruelly.
But every discussion returned to the same truth.
A king desired her.
An assassination had been attempted because of her.
And now kingdoms stood on the edge of war because of her.
The weight of it settled heavily upon her chest.
Devasena rose slowly from the bed and moved toward the balcony, seeking air.
Beyond the carved stone railings, dark monsoon clouds stretched across the horizon. The first drops of rain had begun to fall, scattering across palace rooftops and garden paths below.
She watched them silently.
Somewhere in Kashi, a king had chosen obsession over reason.
And now thousands of lives might be forced to suffer the consequences.
"Surely there must be another way... no?"
The words left Devasena in little more than a whisper.
Her thoughts were running in circles, searching desperately for a solution that did not involve bloodshed. War seemed too large, too terrible, too final. Surely there had to be some path that did not end with soldiers marching across kingdoms and families mourning their dead.
Yet no matter how hard she searched, none came to mind.
Lately, her mind had become a restless place.
Sleep offered no comfort either.
For several nights now, she had been haunted by the same dream.
A woman weeping.
A child reaching toward her through darkness.
Shadow and sorrow intertwined so tightly that even after waking, the feeling lingered.
The faces were never clear.
The meaning remained elusive.
Yet each time she awoke, her heart felt heavier than before.
As though some forgotten grief was trying to find its way back to her.
Devasena lowered her gaze thoughtfully. Her fingers rose to her chin, absentmindedly supporting her head as she sat near the balcony.
"Hm..." she murmured. "What happens to our royal guests now?"
Ruti immediately rolled her eyes.
"What guests?" she scoffed. "Half the procession scattered the moment news of the attack spread. Most of them have already begun their journeys home."
Her expression darkened.
"Talk about friendly relations."
"Oho, Ruti." Shona laughed softly from across the room. "And here I thought you understood politics better than that."
Ruti narrowed her eyes.
Shona continued before the maid could protest.
"This is about far more than courtesy."
She set down the tray she had been carrying and folded her arms.
"Kashi's influence reaches everywhere these days. Every court must consider how its actions will affect its relationship with Vidyut."
A faint frown crossed her features.
"Though if you ask me, the man has become like a leech. Clinging to every kingdom he can reach."
Ruti snorted in agreement.
Shona shook her head.
"Even the Crown Prince of Hastinapur has grown weary of his antics. The man seems determined to make an enemy of everyone around him."
Her expression sharpened slightly.
"Especially now."
"Now?" Devasena asked.
Shona nodded.
"Now that the family of his only sister has become involved."
The implication settled heavily between them.
Dushala.
Her children.
Her husband.
The Kuru family.
What had begun as an attack upon a single princess was rapidly becoming an insult directed toward several powerful kingdoms at once.
Devasena felt her stomach sink.
The situation was growing larger with every passing day.
Larger than Vanga.
Larger than Kashi.
And far larger than herself.
Outside, thunder rolled across the darkening sky.
The first true monsoon rain began to fall.
"Please..come fast" Devasena whispered to her self , again gazing towards her lamp , pleading , begging.....praying.