The moment the Darbar ended—
Tara collapsed dramatically against one of the stone pillars outside the hall.
Tara: I thought I was going to die. (￣▽￣;)
Kavya stared at her.
Kavya: You were sitting the entire time.
Aryav folded his arms.
Aryav: Yes. The emperor was the one doing all the talking.
Tara pointed back toward the massive Darbar doors.
Tara: You didn't see his eyes!
Aryav blinked.
Aryav: His eyes?
Tara: The way he looked at me when I spoke… I thought I was about to be executed. (ﾟДﾟ;)
Kavya burst into laughter.
Kavya: You literally just gave a report about festival decorations.
Tara rubbed the back of her head.
Tara: Still terrifying. (￣▽￣")
Behind them, the great Darbar hall slowly began to empty.
Ministers walked through the vast corridors in small groups, continuing their discussions about the matters of the empire.
Servants hurried past carrying scrolls and documents.
Royal guards stood silently beside the towering pillars like statues carved from stone.
Some ministers returned to their offices.
Others walked toward the palace gardens to relax after the long court session.
Tara stretched her arms.
Tara: Anyway.
Kavya raised an eyebrow.
Kavya: Anyway?
Tara started walking away.
Tara: I have somewhere to be.
Aryav narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Aryav: You're going to the garden again, aren't you? (-_-)
Tara smiled mischievously.
Tara: Maybe. (¬‿¬)
The stone corridor soon opened into the royal gardens of the palace.
The gardens were vast and beautiful.
Lotus ponds shimmered under the warm afternoon light. Tall ashoka trees swayed gently in the breeze. Peacocks wandered freely between stone pathways while servants watered rows of blooming flowers.
At the center of the garden stood a small pavilion with a carved stone chess table.
Tara walked straight toward it.
But the seat across the board was empty.
She frowned slightly.
Tara: Huh? (・_・)
She looked around.
Still empty.
Near the entrance of the garden stood a palace guard.
Tara walked over to him.
Tara: Have you seen the chief of the military today?
The guard bowed respectfully.
Guard: My lady, the chief departed the palace this morning.
Tara blinked.
Tara: What? (・o・)
Guard: He left with a detachment of soldiers for a campaign along the western border.
Then the guard added,
Guard: Before leaving, he told us that if you came looking for him, we should inform you of his departure.
Tara sighed softly.
Tara: Of course he did… (￣ー￣;)
She looked back toward the empty chess table.
Tara: That's bad.
She slowly walked back and sat down.
Tara rested her chin on her hand.
Tara: Who am I supposed to play with now… (￣︿￣)
A few nobles walking through the garden noticed her sitting there.
One of them approached confidently.
Noble: My lady, perhaps I could—
Ten minutes later—
Tara stared blankly at the chess board.
Tara: That was the worst strategy I have ever seen. (￣ー￣)
The noble awkwardly stood up and left.
Another man sat down eagerly.
Five minutes later—
Tara sighed deeply.
Tara: You moved your queen into danger three times… (－_－)
He also left.
After that, no one else volunteered.
The garden slowly grew quieter as people began leaving for the evening.
Golden sunlight stretched long shadows across the stone pathways.
Tara sat alone at the chess table, absentmindedly moving pieces around the board.
Tara: If he were here… he would counter this move immediately.
She moved another piece.
Tara: And then I'd do this. (¬‿¬)
Suddenly—
A shadow fell across the chess board.
Tara looked up.
Standing beside the table was the emperor.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Tara: Your Majesty?! (ﾟoﾟ;)
Malini also froze beside her.
The emperor looked around the quiet garden for a moment.
Only the two of them remained at the table, with their attendants and guards standing nearby.
Then he spoke calmly.
Emperor: Could everyone give us a moment?
The words landed like thunder.
Tara froze.
Malini froze even harder.
Tara: Eh...? (・_・)
Malini's eyes widened in pure panic.
Malini: W-Wait—! Your Majesty, if Devi Tara needs assistance I can—
Before she could finish, Satyadhara calmly stepped forward.
Satyadhara: Malini.
He shook his head slightly.
Satyadhara: The emperor has given his order.
Malini's face went pale.
Malini: B-But—! (ﾟДﾟ;)
She looked at Tara with pure worry.
Malini: Devi Tara will be all alone—!
Satyadhara simply folded his hands calmly.
Satyadhara: His Majesty will ensure her safety.
Malini looked like she wanted to argue more.
But Tara quickly whispered nervously.
Tara: Malini… maybe it's okay…? (￣▽￣;)
Malini looked at her like a worried mother.
Malini: Devi Tara… if anything strange happens scream immediately…
Tara: That advice is making me more nervous… (;￣Д￣)
One by one, the guards and servants began leaving the garden.
Malini kept turning back every few steps with a terrified expression.
Finally—
The garden became completely quiet.
Now only two people remained at the chess table.
The emperor.
And Tara.
A soft breeze moved the leaves across the ground.
The emperor stood calmly for a moment.
Then he spoke.
The emperor held a small porcelain bowl in his hand.
Emperor: I forgot to give you something earlier.
Tara blinked.
Tara: Give me something? (・_・)
He gently placed the bowl on the chess table.
Inside were small colorful sweets shaped like berries—red, green, and ivory—lightly coated in sparkling sugar with tiny pistachio stems.
Tara leaned closer.
Tara: What are these? (°o°)
Emperor: A sweet from Persia.
Tara looked surprised.
Emperor: I brought them as a gift for you.
Tara blinked again.
Tara: Wasn't that the servant's job? (￣▽￣;)
The emperor shrugged slightly.
Emperor: Perhaps.
Then he added calmly.
Emperor: But I personally chose them for you.
Tara looked down at the bowl again.
She picked one up carefully.
Tara: Well… if Your Majesty insists. (^_^;)
She placed it in her mouth.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Tara: OH— (ﾟДﾟ)
The almond sweetness melted softly on her tongue.
Her entire body froze.
In her imagination, magnificent peacock feathers exploded behind her as she ascended into pure sweetness.
Tara: This is divine… (✧ω✧)
She grabbed another.
Then another.
Then three more.
The emperor watched silently.
Tara suddenly froze mid-bite.
Very slowly—
She looked up.
The emperor was still standing there.
Tara: Oh. (・_・;)
She quickly swallowed.
Tara: Thank you, Your Majesty. These are amazing. (＾▽＾)
The emperor smiled faintly.
His gaze shifted to the chess board.
Emperor: I noticed you were sitting here alone.
Tara straightened slightly.
Emperor: Why not have a game?
Tara blinked.
Tara: A… game? (・_・)
Her brain immediately erupted into panic.
If I win… is that disrespectful? (;ﾟДﾟ)
If I lose… will he think I'm stupid? (￣□￣;)
If I accidentally checkmate the emperor… am I dead? (ﾟДﾟ;)
Tara stared intensely at the board.
A deep-thinking aura surrounded her like a battlefield strategist preparing for war.
The emperor watched quietly.
Emperor: You are thinking too much.
Tara looked up.
Emperor: It is only a chess match.
He calmly sat down across from her.
Tara swallowed.
Tara: …Alright. (≖_≖ !)
She slowly moved the first piece.
The game had begun.
Tara moved a pawn forward cautiously.
The emperor responded immediately, sliding one of his pieces across the board.
Tara blinked.
Tara: That was fast. (・_・)
She studied the board and moved her knight.
The emperor answered just as quickly with his bishop.
Another move.
Then another.
Tara slowly leaned closer.
Tara: Oh… (・o・)
Her finger tapped the table lightly as she examined the board again.
Not a single careless move.
Every piece he moved quietly controlled another part of the board.
Tara's eyes narrowed slightly.
Tara: Interesting… (¬‿¬)
She moved her rook, trying to set a small trap.
The emperor paused briefly.
Then countered it smoothly.
Tara froze.
Tara: Eh? (ﾟoﾟ;)
She leaned closer, studying the board again.
Tara: You're actually good at this.
The emperor looked calm.
Emperor: I play occasionally.
Tara snorted.
Tara: Occasionally? (－_－)
A small grin appeared on her face.
Her earlier nervousness completely vanished.
Now she leaned forward with real interest.
Tara: Finally… someone fun to play against. (¬‿¬)
The emperor moved his knight.
Tara's eyes lit up.
Tara: Ohhh! (°▽°)
She immediately moved her queen.
Tara: Your move, Your Majesty.
Around them, the evening garden grew quieter.
But neither of them noticed.
Both were now completely focused on the board.
The game continued.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
The royal garden had grown quiet.
A gentle evening breeze moved through the ashoka trees, causing a few leaves to drift slowly down onto the stone pathways.
Some landed softly near the chess table.
A peacock called somewhere in the distance.
Another answered from the far side of the garden.
Squirrels ran along the branches overhead, their small chatter echoing faintly between the trees.
The lotus pond nearby shimmered as the wind brushed across the water.
Tara moved a piece across the board.
The emperor responded calmly.
Neither rushed now.
The earlier tension had disappeared.
The game had become… peaceful.
More leaves drifted down around them.
The sound of the pieces touching the stone board mixed with the quiet sounds of birds and rustling branches.
For a moment, the entire palace garden felt still.
Tara rested her chin lightly on her hand while studying the board.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Tara: This is nice. (¬‿¬)
The emperor glanced briefly at the quiet garden before returning his attention to the chess board.
Emperor: Indeed.
Another leaf slowly fell between them as the match continued.
Nearby, two figures stood a short distance away.
Malini, Tara's head servant, stood with her arms folded.
Beside her stood Nayan, the emperor's head servant.
Both of them were watching the chess match.
For several minutes neither said anything.
scene shifts to Malini and Nayan standing in the corridor standing in the support of a pillar far away from where they couldn't see Tara and Chandraveer
Then Malini sighed quietly.
Malini: When do you think this will end…? (－_－)
Nayan kept his eyes on the board.
Nayan: I have no idea. (￣ー￣)
Malini rubbed her temple slightly.
Malini: She hasn't moved from that table for an hour.
Nayan nodded slowly.
Nayan: His Majesty is not much different.
They both fell silent again.
Another breeze moved through the garden.
Leaves drifted gently down around the pavilion.
A peacock walked across the stone path nearby, completely undisturbed.
Malini looked around the garden.
Malini: It's unusually quiet today.
Nayan followed her gaze.
Normally the palace gardens were filled with nobles whispering about politics, servants rushing through pathways, and ministers discussing matters of the empire.
But now—
Only the sounds of birds, rustling leaves, and distant peacocks could be heard.
Nayan smiled faintly.
Nayan: It's peaceful.
Malini nodded.
Malini: Much nicer than the chaos inside the palace.
Behind them—
Tara suddenly leaned forward over the board.
Tara: Oh! (°o°)
Malini and Nayan both looked back at the table.
The chess match continued.
Far away from the quiet palace gardens—
Dust drifted slowly across an open plain.
The wind moved steadily through the tall grass.
A group of soldiers stood on a small ridge overlooking the distant horizon.
At the front of them stood the chief of the military.
His cloak moved gently in the wind as he looked ahead with calm confidence.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the land.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then footsteps approached from behind.
One of the soldiers bowed slightly.
Soldier: My lord, the men are ready. We should continue the march.
The chief remained silent for a brief moment longer, his gaze still fixed on the horizon.
Then he gave a small nod.
Chief: Move out.
The soldiers immediately began preparing to advance.
The wind carried the sound of armor and footsteps as the unit began marching again.
And the scene fades—
Back to the quiet royal garden.
The game had gone on for a long time.
One move after another.
The sun had slowly drifted lower in the sky.
Nearly two hours had passed.
At last, the emperor leaned back slightly and looked at the board.
Emperor: Let's end the game for today.
Tara blinked and looked up.
Emperor: It has been quite some time.
Tara looked around the garden.
The sky had turned warm orange, and the long shadows of the trees stretched across the stone paths.
She stretched her arms upward.
Tara: Aahh— (￣▽￣)
Tara: That was a good game.
The emperor gave a small nod.
Emperor: Indeed.
He reached beside the table and picked up a small wrapped box, placing it gently on the table.
Tara tilted her head.
Tara: Hm? (・_・)
Emperor: Since you seemed to enjoy them so much.
Tara opened the box.
Inside was a full pack of the Persian sweets.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Tara: Oh! (°▽°)
Emperor: I am giving you the rest.
Tara smiled brightly and picked up the box.
Tara: Thank you, Your Majesty! (^▽^)
She held the sweets carefully like treasure.
The emperor stood from the table.
Tara stood as well.
For a moment they both looked around the quiet garden.
The evening breeze moved softly through the ashoka trees, carrying a few drifting leaves across the path.
A peacock wandered slowly near the lotus pond.
The emperor began walking along the garden path.
Tara walked beside him.
For a short while, neither spoke.
Only the sounds of birds and rustling leaves filled the air.
Tara glanced around the peaceful garden.
Tara: It's unusually quiet today. (¬‿¬)
Emperor: That is rare for this palace.
Tara nodded.
Tara: Much better than listening to ministers argue for hours. (￣ー￣)
The emperor allowed himself a faint smile.
They continued walking along the stone footpath until it reached the long corridor leading back into the palace.
There, both of them stopped.
For a brief moment, the wind passed through the arches of the corridor, scattering a few leaves across the floor.
The emperor turned toward one direction of the corridor.
Tara toward the other.
Tara gave a small bow.
Tara: Farewell, Your Majesty.
Emperor: Farewell, Tara.
She smiled lightly.
Then they both turned and began walking in opposite directions.
The corridor stretched long and quiet.
Peacocks wandered slowly along the edges of the garden outside.
Leaves drifted through the open arches as the evening wind moved through the palace.
Their footsteps echoed softly as the distance between them grew.
And soon—
Both figures disappeared around separate corners of the palace.
Author note: the scene of them going to the opposite direction of eachother is an cinemtic scene in the Corridors.
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