Night — Tara's Quarters
The palace had grown quieter as the evening passed.
Most corridors were empty now, with only a few lamps lighting the stone walls.
Tara quietly entered her chamber.
In her hands was a small box.
She looked around carefully.
Tara: Hehe… (¬‿¬)
Just as she was about to sneak inside—
Malini's voice came from behind.
Malini: Devi Tara.
Tara jumped.
Tara: AAH! (ﾟДﾟ;)
Malini stood there with her arms crossed.
Malini: What are you hiding behind your back?
Tara: Nothing.
Malini: That is clearly a box.
Tara slowly tried to move the box further behind her.
Malini stepped closer.
Malini: Are those sweets?
Tara froze.
Malini: They are sweets.
Malini leaned slightly to peek.
Malini: These don't look like sweets from here.
Tara: Uh…
Malini: They look foreign.
Malini tilted her head suspiciously.
Malini: Who gave them to you?
Tara looked away.
Tara: I… got them randomly.
Malini slowly raised one eyebrow.
Malini: Foreign sweets don't appear randomly in the palace.
Malini leaned slightly closer with a teasing smile.
Malini: Perhaps… someone special gave them to you? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )
Tara's face instantly turned bright red.
Tara: HELL NO IT'S NOT THAT AT ALL!! (ﾟДﾟ;)
Malini blinked from the sudden shout.
Tara waved her hands in panic.
Tara: It's not like that! Not even a little!
Malini: Then who gave them?
Tara suddenly paused.
Tara: …
Tara: Oh.
Malini: Oh?
Tara suddenly nodded confidently.
Tara: Of course!
Malini: Of course what?
Tara: They must have given them to every minister!
Malini stared at her silently.
Malini: …I see.
Her expression clearly said she did not believe that explanation.
The Next Morning
Sunlight slowly entered Tara's room.
Birds chirped outside the palace walls.
Inside the room—
Tara was sleeping like a rock.
Completely buried in blankets.
Her hair looked like a tangled bush.
Malini stood beside the bed.
Malini: Devi Tara.
No response.
Malini: Devi Tara.
Still nothing.
Malini sighed.
Malini: The ministers are already working.
Tara slowly lifted her head from the pillow.
Her eyes were barely open.
Tara: five more minutes… (－_－) zzZ
Malini: You said that thirty minutes ago.
Tara slowly sat up.
Her hair exploded in every direction.
Malini stared.
Malini: …I will bring a comb.
Later — Minister Administrative Quarter
The administrative wing of the palace was already busy.
Clerks hurried through the corridors carrying scrolls.
Messengers moved between offices.
Tara walked toward her office, still slightly sleepy.
She opened the door.
Aryav and Kavya were already inside.
Both of them were staring at her with identical teasing smiles.
Tara stopped.
Tara: Why are you two smiling like that?
Aryav: Good morning, Tara.
Kavya: Sleep well?
Tara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Tara: What did you do.
Aryav leaned forward on the desk.
Aryav: Nothing.
Kavya rested her chin on her hand.
Kavya: We were just wondering something.
Tara: What?
Aryav and Kavya spoke together.
Aryav & Kavya: How were the sweets?
Tara blinked.
Then she remembered.
Tara: Oh! The foreign sweet!
Her mind immediately drifted back to the memory.
Her eyes sparkled.
Tara: It was incredible…
Her imagination started again.
Tara: Soft… sweet… warm…
Her mouth slowly started drooling.
Tara: The syrup was dripping everywhere…
Aryav and Kavya slowly looked at each other.
Tara continued dreamily.
Tara: The moment it touched my mouth… my entire body melted…
Aryav froze.
Kavya covered her mouth.
Tara continued happily.
Tara: I almost lost control—
Aryav raised his hand.
Aryav: Tara.
Tara: Hmm?
Aryav: That sounds extremely inappropriate.
Tara blinked.
She looked at their faces.
Tara: WAIT— I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SWEET!! (ﾟДﾟ;)
Kavya was trying not to laugh.
Aryav slowly crossed his arms.
Aryav: Your description suggested otherwise.
Tara buried her face in her hands.
Tara: I hate both of you… (￣□￣;)
Kavya laughed.
Aryav leaned back in his chair.
Aryav: Your description was… very detailed.
Tara sighed and then suddenly remembered something.
Tara: Wait.
Aryav: What?
Tara: Did you two also try that foreign sweet?
Aryav and Kavya looked at each other.
Then both shook their heads.
Aryav: No.
Kavya: We didn't even know you had them.
Tara looked around the room suspiciously.
Then she leaned closer to them.
Tara: Wait here.
She slowly reached into her robe and pulled out a small box.
Then she looked left.
Then right.
(・_・;)
Aryav raised an eyebrow.
Aryav: Why are you acting like a criminal?
Tara whispered dramatically.
Tara: Malini isn't letting me eat them much.
Kavya: That explains everything.
Tara carefully peeked toward the door.
Outside the office—
Malini was sitting on a bench, speaking with a palace attendant.
Tara slowly pulled her head back inside.
Tara: Coast is clear. (¬‿¬)
She placed the small box on the desk and opened it.
Inside were the bright Persian sweets, glistening with syrup.
Kavya leaned closer.
Kavya: Whoa…
Aryav's eyes widened slightly.
Aryav: What is that?
Kavya: The colors are beautiful.
The sweets shimmered slightly in the light.
Tara proudly crossed her arms.
Tara: Behold.
Tara: The greatest sweet known to mankind.
Aryav: That is a bold claim.
Tara handed them spoons.
Tara: Just try it.
Kavya carefully took a small bite.
Her eyes widened instantly.
Kavya: OH—!!
Aryav also took a bite.
Aryav froze.
Tara watched them proudly.
Aryav slowly leaned back in his chair.
Aryav: …My soul just left my body.
Kavya held her cheek dramatically.
Kavya: This is dangerous…
Tara happily took another bite.
Tara: I told you.
Suddenly all three of them froze for a moment.
Then simultaneously—
Their bodies slowly melted over the desk.
Tara: Mmmmmm… (✧ω✧)
Kavya: This should be illegal…
Aryav: I understand why you were describing it like that earlier…
Tara nodded slowly while melting.
Tara: Exactly…
After a few moments they recovered.
Tara suddenly straightened up.
Tara: Alright.
Aryav: Hmm?
Tara clapped her hands once.
Tara: I've already wasted too much time.
Tara sat properly in her chair.
Tara: I should start working on my paperwork.
Aryav looked at Kavya.
Kavya looked at Aryav.
Aryav slowly stood up.
He walked to a nearby cabinet.
Opened it.
And pulled out three large bundles of scrolls.
He walked back calmly.
Then SLAMMED them onto Tara's desk.
THUD
Tara stared at the piles.
Aryav smiled politely.
Aryav: Well.
Aryav: Here you go.
Tara looked at the mountain of paperwork.
Her soul left her body.
Tara: …
Tara slowly leaned back in her chair.
Tara: I want to resign. (￣□￣;)
Kavya burst out laughing.
Outside the room—
Malini glanced toward the office.
Malini: Why do I feel like they are doing something stupid in there…?
Scene Shift — Palace Corridor
A young palace messenger hurried through the corridors.
His arms were full of scrolls and papers.
His face looked extremely worried.
Messenger: Excuse me! Where is the Ministry of Infrastructure office?
Clerk 1 pointed down the corridor.
Clerk 1: Third hallway to the left.
The messenger nodded and ran.
A moment later he stopped another attendant.
Messenger: Sorry! Where is the Ministry of Infrastructure?
Attendant: Oh, that? Second corridor to the right.
Messenger blinked.
Messenger: …Right.
He ran again.
Then stopped a guard.
Messenger: Sir! Where is the infrastructure minister's office?
Guard: Upstairs.
Messenger: Thank you!
The messenger ran upstairs.
Then stopped another clerk.
Messenger: Infrastructure ministry?
Clerk 2: Basement.
Messenger slowly looked dead inside.
Messenger: …Of course.
Another Office
The messenger stopped in front of a large office door.
Messenger: This must be it…
He walked inside.
An attendant sat at a desk.
Messenger quickly handed over the scrolls.
Messenger: Urgent delivery!
And before anyone could stop him—
He immediately left.
The attendant blinked.
Attendant: That was fast…
He carried the documents inside to the minister.
Inside the Office
The minister looked up.
Minister: Finally.
Minister: All my construction work has been delayed waiting for these documents.
He grabbed the scrolls and opened them.
His eyes scanned the page.
He blinked.
Then slowly read again.
The entire document listed:
"Order Request: 200 silk robes, 150 ceremonial garments, 300 embroidered shawls…"
The minister stared at the page with a completely dead expression.
Minister: …
The camera slowly moves outside the office.
Attendants sit quietly at their desks.
Suddenly—
A thunderous shout explodes from inside.
Minister: WHAT THE HELL IS THISSSSS?!
All the attendants outside jump in shock.
Attendant 1: (ﾟДﾟ;)
Attendant 2: What happened?!
Scene Shift — Palace Corridor
Meanwhile—
The messenger was still running around the palace.
Messenger: Excuse me! Where is the Ministry of Mining?
Servant: Down that corridor.
Messenger: Thank you!
He ran again.
After several turns—
He stopped in front of another office.
Messenger: This must be the one…
The sign outside read Minister Administrative Office.
He walked inside.
Tara's Ministry Office
Malini was sitting near the entrance desk.
She looked up calmly.
Malini: Yes?
Messenger approached nervously.
Messenger: I… I have to deliver these documents.
He handed the scrolls to her.
Messenger: They must be given to the head minister.
Malini nodded and took them.
Malini: Of course.
She casually opened the documents to check them.
Meanwhile the messenger was already turning to leave.
Suddenly—
Malini spoke.
Malini: One moment.
The messenger froze.
Messenger: Yes…?
Malini held up the document.
Malini: These are documents for the Ministry of Mining.
Messenger nodded.
Messenger: Yes.
Malini looked at him calmly.
Malini: This is not the Ministry of Mining.
Messenger froze.
Messenger: …
Messenger: …It isn't?
Malini: Of course not.
The messenger slowly turned pale.
Messenger: …
Messenger: Oh no.
Malini looked at the messenger calmly.
Malini: This is not the Ministry of Mining.
The messenger slowly turned pale.
Messenger: …
Messenger: It… isn't?
Malini: No.
Messenger: …
Messenger: Oh no.
He quickly looked through the stack of scrolls he was carrying.
Messenger: Wait… wait…
He flipped through the documents nervously.
Messenger: If this isn't the mining office then—
His eyes widened.
Messenger: I gave the infrastructure minister the garment order documents.
Malini slowly blinked.
Malini: You did what?
The messenger grabbed his head.
Messenger: I thought it was the right office!
Malini sighed deeply.
Malini: That explains the shouting I heard earlier.
The messenger looked horrified.
Messenger: That shouting was him?!
Malini: Most likely.
The messenger panicked.
Messenger: I have to fix this!
Malini held up the mining documents.
Malini: And these need to go to the actual Ministry of Mining.
Messenger nodded frantically.
Messenger: Yes! Yes!
Malini pointed calmly toward another corridor.
Malini: Second corridor. Third office on the right.
The messenger immediately bowed.
Messenger: Thank you!
He grabbed the documents and turned to run.
Malini suddenly spoke again.
Malini: Wait.
The messenger froze mid-step.
Messenger: Y-Yes…?
Malini looked at the stack of scrolls he was carrying.
Malini: Show me the rest of the documents you are delivering.
Messenger blinked.
Messenger: The rest?
Malini: Yes.
The messenger nervously handed them over.
Malini slowly flipped through them.
Her expression slowly changed.
Malini: …
Messenger: Is something wrong…?
Malini looked up.
Malini: These documents belong to four different ministries.
Messenger went pale.
Messenger: …
Messenger: Oh no.
Malini continued flipping the pages.
Malini: Infrastructure.
Flip.
Malini: Mining.
Flip.
Malini: Treasury.
Flip.
Malini: Textile supply orders.
She closed the stack.
Malini: And you are delivering them randomly across the palace.
Messenger: I got lost… (;_;)
Malini sighed.
Malini: This will cause chaos.
Malini was still holding the stack of documents.
The messenger stood in front of her, sweating nervously.
Messenger: I… I think I made several mistakes…
Malini sighed.
Malini: That is an understatement.
At that moment—
The office door behind them opened.
Tara stepped out, holding a thick stack of papers.
She looked slightly tired.
Tara: Malini.
Malini: Yes, Devi Tara?
Tara noticed the messenger standing there.
Her face brightened.
Tara: Oh!
Tara smiled happily.
Tara: Thank goodness the messenger boy is already here.
The messenger froze.
Tara walked toward him and held out the stack of documents.
Tara: Perfect timing.
Tara: I need these delivered to the Finance Department office.
The messenger looked at the stack.
Then at Tara.
Then at the stack again.
Sweat started forming on his forehead.
Messenger: …
Messenger: Finance… department…?
Tara nodded.
Tara: Yes.
Tara: It's just down the corridor—
The messenger suddenly started sweating heavily.
Messenger: …
Messenger: …
Messenger: I…
His hands began shaking.
Tara blinked.
Tara: Are you alright?
The messenger suddenly dropped the documents he was holding.
The scrolls scattered all over the floor.
Messenger: I'M SORRY!! (ﾟДﾟ;)
He fell to his knees dramatically.
Messenger: FORGIVE ME!!
Tara jumped slightly.
Tara: What?!
The messenger was nearly crying.
Messenger: I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DO MY JOB!! (;_;)
Tara stared at him in confusion.
Tara slowly looked down at the pile of fallen scrolls on the floor.
Then back at him.
Tara: …
Tara: What happened here?
Malini calmly stepped forward.
Malini: The messenger has been delivering documents to the wrong ministries.
Tara blinked.
Malini continued.
Malini: Several of them.
Tara looked at the scattered scrolls.
She picked one up.
Tara: Mining reports…
She picked another.
Tara: Textile supply orders…
Another one.
Tara: Infrastructure documents…
Tara slowly looked back at the messenger.
The messenger was still kneeling on the floor.
Messenger: I got lost… (;﹏;)
Tara slowly sighed.
Tara rubbed her forehead.
Tara: Wonderful.
From inside the office—
Aryav's voice came.
Aryav: What happened?
Kavya peeked out from the doorway.
Kavya: Why is there a man crying on the floor?
Tara pointed at the scattered scrolls.
Tara: Administrative disaster.
Aryav walked out and looked at the documents.
Aryav: Oh.
Kavya crouched down and picked one up.
Kavya: Oh no.
Tara looked at the messenger again.
Tara: Alright.
Messenger: Am I going to be fired…?
Tara crossed her arms.
Tara: No.
The messenger slowly looked up.
Tara: But congratulations.
Messenger: …?
Tara gestured toward the documents.
Tara: You just gave us extra work for the entire morning.
Tara sighed again.
Tara: Let's go fix the palace.
The documents were finally gathered into small piles on the floor.
Tara looked at them and sighed.
Tara: Alright.
Tara: We need to return these to the correct ministries before the entire palace collapses.
The messenger nodded nervously.
Messenger: Y-Yes, Devi…
Tara stood up and brushed the dust from her clothes.
Tara: Let's go.
Aryav blinked.
Aryav: We?
Kavya also looked surprised.
Kavya: All of us?
Tara nodded.
Tara: Of course.
She pointed at the messenger.
Tara: Today we are going to teach him how to navigate the palace properly.
The messenger looked both grateful and terrified.
Messenger: Thank you… I think…
Kavya crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
Kavya: Devi Tara.
Tara: Yes?
Kavya smirked slightly.
Kavya: I hope you're not doing this just to escape your paperwork.
Tara froze for half a second.
Then she laughed awkwardly.
Tara: Haha! Of course not!
Aryav slowly looked at the massive piles of paperwork still sitting on Tara's desk.
Aryav: Interesting timing.
Tara quickly grabbed the documents they needed and pushed the rest aside.
Tara: Let's go before more ministers start screaming.
Palace Corridors
The group walked through the wide corridors of the palace.
Tara walked in front confidently.
Aryav and Kavya followed.
The messenger walked beside them holding the documents.
Tara pointed ahead.
Tara: The mining office should be somewhere in this direction.
Messenger: I think so too…
They stopped a passing clerk.
Tara: Excuse me. Where is the Ministry of Mining?
Clerk: Down the corridor, then left.
Tara nodded.
Tara: Thank you.
They walked.
Reached the end of the corridor.
Turned left.
They ended up in front of a public washroom.
Everyone stopped.
Aryav looked at the sign.
Aryav: …I believe this is not the mining office.
Kavya slowly nodded.
Kavya: Unless the miners moved operations.
Tara coughed awkwardly.
Tara: That clerk clearly gave wrong directions.
They turned around.
A little later—
They asked another attendant.
Attendant: Mining office? Oh, the opposite direction.
They followed the directions again.
After several turns—
They reached an empty courtyard.
Nothing was there except grass and a few trees.
Messenger looked around nervously.
Messenger: Are… are we sure this is the palace?
Tara scratched the back of her head.
Tara: The palace is… very large.
Aryav nodded seriously.
Aryav: Extremely large.
Kavya tried to sound confident.
Kavya: Even experienced ministers can get lost sometimes.
Messenger looked at them slowly.
Messenger: So… you also don't know where anything is?
The three ministers looked at each other.
Then laughed awkwardly.
Tara: Of course we know!
Aryav: Mostly.
Kavya: Approximately.
Messenger: …That is not reassuring.
They walked further through another corridor.
The palace slowly became quieter.
The buildings around them looked older.
Fewer servants passed by.
Finally—
They reached a place none of them recognized.
The corridor opened into a strange courtyard.
The air felt unusually quiet.
Tara stopped walking.
Aryav looked around.
Kavya frowned slightly.
Messenger whispered nervously.
Messenger: …Where are we?
Tara stared ahead.
Tara: That is an excellent question.
Tara: This path definitely wasn't here before...
Aryav looks around the tall hedges.
Aryav: Are we still inside the palace?
Kavya pushes aside some hanging vines.
Kavya: Wait… I think there's something ahead.
The group walks through the overgrown passage.
Suddenly the trees open—
And they all freeze.
Messenger: (;ﾟДﾟ)
Messenger: W-what is that…?
Tara slowly steps forward.
Tara: I… don't know.