Tara and her convoy were still on their way to the palace.
Tara:(visibly anxious, thinking to herself) What excuse should I give to the Emperor for my late arrival…? (! ￣︿￣)
Can I give him all these gifts I got my pravar to prepare for him and make him happy… so he forgives me..? (¬_¬") (glances nervously at the gifts)
Malini: Devi Tara, I do not think giving these gifts to the Emperor as an apology will work.
Tara: Huh?! How did you know I was thinking about that??
Malini:sighs softly Devi Tara, I have been with you since childhood…
Tara: You're very smart… So what can I do to avoid any punishment from the Emperor?
Malini: You should simply tell him the truth. If you lie or try to bribe him, it could end very badly.
Tara: Hm… 〈ᇂ_ᇂ |||〉
The camera shifts to Satyadhara leading the convoy.
Satyadhara: We are here… We have reached the Royal Capital… Indraprastha.
Before them rose a city dressed in celebration.
Massive stone walls guarded it from all four sides, yet today they appeared softened by garlands of marigold and mango leaves draped gracefully across the gates. Bright banners fluttered in the wind, and intricate rangoli patterns bloomed across the entrance pathways in vibrant shades of red, yellow, blue, and white.
Rows of freshly placed diyas lined the streets, patiently waiting for dusk to be lit. Golden lamps hung from balconies, and silk streamers stretched between carved sandstone pillars. The scent of jasmine, rose petals, and incense drifted through the air as merchants prepared trays of sweets and nobles supervised the final decorative touches.
Even the royal guards stood adorned with ceremonial sashes, their polished armor reflecting the golden afternoon sunlight with a festive glow.
At the center rose the palace — radiant and commanding — its domes wrapped in strings of oil lamps that would soon transform the night into a sea of stars.
Indraprastha was not only the heart of the empire today.
It was preparing to shine brighter than ever before.
And Tara had arrived on the eve of light.
The palace gates opened slowly, the heavy wooden doors groaning deeply as they parted. Tara stepped down from her chariot, her eyes lifting toward the towering entrance. Rows of imperial guards stood on either side, unmoving, their spears gleaming beneath the afternoon sun. The palace courtyard stretched vast and echoing before her.
The scene shifts to one of the Emperor's servants standing inside a chamber with him.
Servant: Maharaj, one of your ministers — Tara — has finally arrived.
Chandraveer: Hm… So she has finally arrived… I wish to speak with her myself.
Servant: As you command, Prabhu.
Tara entered the palace grounds, carefully observing the decorations and preparations.
Tara: Hmm… It looks like everything is proceeding according to the plan… Satyadhara, could you please call my two Upamantri — Deputy Ministers Aryav and Kavya?
Satyadhara: Yes, Devi.
Tara once again began examining the arrangements closely, completely unaware that the Emperor himself was approaching her.
Tara: Hm…
Malini: D-Devi Tara! T-The Emperor is coming this way!
Tara did not hear Malini and remained focused on the decorations.
Malini: Devi Tara!! (shakes her arm)
Still, Tara did not notice.
Suddenly, a deep blast of the shankha (conch shell) echoed through the marble halls, followed by the resonant call of the Ransingha.
One of the Emperor's attendants loudly proclaimed:
"Sāvadhān! Mahārāj Chandraveer approaches!"
At the sound of the announcement, everyone near the gate reacted instantly.
The younger attendants immediately dropped to their knees, foreheads nearly touching the stone floor. The elders remained standing but lowered their heads deeply in solemn respect.
A clear path formed without a single spoken command.
Moments later, the Emperor emerged.
He was not surrounded by the full grandeur of a royal procession — no ministers flanked him, no ceremonial banners trailed behind, no elaborate guard formation marched in rhythm. Only a handful of soldiers and two personal attendants followed at a measured distance.
It was enough to display authority.
But not enough for a formal appearance.
Those who understood palace protocol noticed immediately — this visit to the outer courtyard had not been planned. It had not been announced in court. It was not recorded in the royal schedule.
He had come of his own will.
And he had come for her.
All the young women nearby could not help but glance at the Emperor's striking presence and noble physique. They were visibly flustered and whispering among themselves. (/ω＼)
Tara remained where she stood, hands folded respectfully before her, her gaze lowered — yet unaware of how close he had come. The shifting silence around her did not reach her in time.
She did not bow.
The Emperor's steps gradually slowed as he stopped directly before her. The guards exchanged brief glances.
For a fleeting second, irritation flickered across his expression.
In a courtyard where even seasoned nobles bent instantly in submission, she alone remained standing — untouched by his arrival.
And he noticed.
Chandraveer (in his mind): She did not notice me? What kind of woman is this…?
Malini stood frozen in shock and fear, urgently shaking Tara back to awareness.
Malini: A-Ah! Forgive us, Maharaj! Devi Tara!! (shakes her harder)
Tara:(irritated) WHAT!? — (turns and sees him) O-oh. Oops— (⊙ˍ⊙) !
Tara immediately dropped to her knees, bowing deeply.
Tara: F-Forgive me, Emperor, for not noticing your presence!
Chandraveer (in his mind): Ugh… I would have punished anyone else for such disrespect… But… she is Tara. She has built a strong reputation among the people in such a short time.
Punishing her may not be wise. Her popularity among the people is growing rapidly… perhaps even more visible than mine.
I should use her influence to strengthen my own reputation within the empire…
The surrounding women began whispering and quietly taunting her.
Woman 1: How disrespectful…
Woman 2: How did she even obtain the position of minister? Hah.
Tara noticed their expressions and clenched her jaw in frustration.
Tara (in her mind): These women…!! I will deal with them later. (╬▔皿▔)╯
Suddenly, Chandraveer's expression softened into a gentle smile.
Chandraveer: It is fine, Tara. You are my minister. You do not need to kneel for me in such a manner. You hold an honorable position in this court.
Gasps echoed through the courtyard. No one expected such kindness from the Emperor.
Tara stood stunned and speechless.
Tara (in her mind): Wha… Is this real? I am forgiven..? Woah… I must be extremely lucky. Well… whatever happened, it turned out well for me.
Tara: Thank you very much, Maharaj.
Chandraveer: Also, I came here to ask—
Tara accidentally interrupted him.
Tara: Forgive me, Emperor. The reason for my late arrival was that I encountered trouble in a nearby town. If I had not intervened, it is possible the entire town might have been destroyed by those evils.
The surrounding courtiers, unaware of this incident, stared at her with curiosity.
Chandraveer: It is alright. I have already received information about the matter. Well done. Your bravery and dedication in protecting the people are commendable.
Tara: Thank you, Emperor.
Chandraveer: I was not going to ask about your delay. I intended to ask how the preparations for the festival and the Ganga Aarti are progressing.
Tara: O-Oh! I apologize. Yes, the preparations are going smoothly. Everything has been carefully planned and beautifully decorated.
Chandraveer: That is good to hear… (his expression darkens slightly, forming a subtle smile) I hope the arrangements are better executed than during the previous Dussehra festival… (✿◠‿◠)
Tara (in her mind): O-Oh…!! He knows what happened during Dussehra!
Tara: Y-Yes! The preparations this time are certainly much better than before!
Chandraveer: Ah. Good. And one more thing…
Tara: Yes…?
Chandraveer leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice near her ear.
Chandraveer (softly): You will stand beside me during the Ganga Aarti.
Tara looked confused, but she nodded.
Tara: O-Oh… Okay.
Seeing the Emperor so close to Tara caused another wave of gasps through the gathered crowd. Whispers began spreading instantly as imaginations ran wild.
The evening of lights had only just begun.