-: Somewhere Within the Servants' Quarters of the Palace :-

"What are you doing here? You should have called for me first," one of the servants spoke while arranging clothes inside a wooden trunk, not even bothering to turn around.

Perhaps she already recognized the owner of those footsteps.

"You need to leave the palace with Samiya," the woman standing behind her said quietly.

The servant finally paused.

"I cannot send her alone. She may be my daughter-in-law..." her voice softened slightly, "...but I have never loved her any less than Myranshi."

A brief silence settled inside the chamber.

"But in the royal court, you were opposing her," the servant replied slowly while finally turning toward her. "And now you want me to go with her?"

The woman's gaze lowered for a moment.

"Not every battle fought in the royal court reflects what rests inside the heart," she replied quietly.

Pain flickered briefly across her face before disappearing behind her calm expression.

"There are some circumstances..." she paused softly, "where silence becomes more dangerous than wrong decisions."

The servant looked at her carefully but chose not to question further.

After all-

some wounds inside the palace were never spoken aloud.

-: Before Sunrise | The Eastern Gates of Maitryashila:-

The entire palace still slept beneath the darkness of dawn.

Only the palace guards remained awake, their torches flickering against the massive stone walls of Maitryashila.

A cold wind swept across the courtyard.

And standing near the eastern gates-

dressed in plain traveler clothes-

stood Samiya.

No royal jewels.

No embroidered silks.

No symbol of royalty.

Only a simple cotton dupatta covered her head while a leather belt carrying small weapons rested around her waist.

Beside her stood the massive lion quietly, its golden eyes scanning the surroundings.

Even in disguise-

danger still walked beside her.

Samiya slowly turned back toward the palace.

Her home.

Her family.

Perhaps the only place where she was allowed to become weak.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Kunwarani sa..."

A familiar voice echoed softly behind her.

Samiya turned.

Maharaj stood there.

Alone.

No guards.

No royal presence.

Only a father who had come to bid farewell to his daughter.

Samiya immediately lowered her gaze respectfully.

"Pitaji..."

"Father"

Maharaj walked closer slowly.

For a few moments-

neither of them spoke.

Because sometimes love became too heavy for words.

His eyes silently observed her simple appearance once again.

And once again-

his heart broke.

"You truly intend to leave like this..." he whispered quietly.

Samiya smiled faintly.

"You raised me bravely, Pitaji."

A helpless laugh escaped him.

"No. I raised you stubbornly."

That finally made her laugh softly.

The sound eased something inside his chest.

Maharaj slowly extended his hand forward.

Samiya frowned slightly before placing her palm over his.

Something cold touched her skin.

A ring.

Simple silver.

Royal yet unnoticeable.

"This belonged to my Grand mother," Maharaj spoke softly. "If you are ever in danger... show this only to someone you trust with your life."

Samiya's eyes widened slightly.

"Pitaji, this is too precious-"

"So are you."

Silence.

Her eyes instantly filled with tears again.

Maharaj gently placed his hand over her head.

"Never lose your smile, mere bacche." He remind her again

This time-

Samiya could not stop herself.

She hugged him tightly.

And for a brief moment-

the mighty king of Maitryashila simply held his daughter while silently praying to every god that she would return safely.

Footsteps echoed nearby.

Swastik entered the courtyard while half-asleep.

Behind him walked Myranshi, the princess wrapped in a shawl.

The moment the princess saw Samiya-

she ran toward her instantly.

"You are leaving already?!"

"If I leave later, your Bhaisa will probably wake the entire palace trying to stop me."

"Excuse me?" Swastik looked offended. "I would stop you gracefully."

"You brought a sword."

"That is graceful for me."

Myranshi sighed tiredly.

"One day, I will understand why this family solves emotions through threats."

"Because communication is exhausting," Swastik replied immediately. "Well you are also like me Myranshi"

She pouted while looking at her brother in return he showed his tongue to her.

Even Maharaj smiled slightly.

The younger princess tightly hugged Samiya again.

"Come back quickly."

Samiya kissed her forehead gently.

"I promise."

Swastik suddenly crossed his arms dramatically.

"Before leaving, there is one important matter."

Everyone looked toward him.

He pointed at the lion.

"That creature cannot enter my room again."

Samiya blinked innocently.

"He only slept there for one night."

"He stared at me while I slept!"

"He was bonding with you."

"He looked like he was calculating my market value."

A servant nearby accidentally laughed out loud before immediately lowering his head in fear.

Even Samiya failed to hide her smile.

But slowly-

the laughter faded.

Reality returned.

The journey had truly begun.

Samiya stepped back toward her horse.

The lion walked beside her calmly.

Maharaj's hands clenched tightly behind his back as fear returned to his eyes once again.

Rajmata's words echoed endlessly inside his mind.

This path she must walk alone.

Samiya placed her foot into the stirrup before pausing.

Then slowly-

she turned back toward them one final time.

Toward her family.

Toward the people she was prepared to destroy kingdoms for.

And with unwavering determination burning inside her eyes-

she spoke softly.

"I will bring him home."

Then-

"Stop right there."

Samiya immediately tightened her grip around the horse's reins.

That voice-

familiar.

Slowly, she turned toward the person standing near the palace gates and narrowed her eyes.

"Now what do you want?" Swastik interjected sharply while glaring at the woman.

"I will go with you too, Kunwarani sa," the woman spoke firmly, determination evident upon her face.

Swastik let out a humorless laugh.

"Really? After everything that happened in the royal court, you truly believe we would allow you anywhere near her?"

A flicker of pain crossed the woman's eyes, but her expression remained calm.

"You may believe whatever you wish about me, Kunwar sa," she replied quietly, "but at this moment, my intentions are not your enemy."

"Oh, wonderful," Swastik scoffed sarcastically. "Should we celebrate this miraculous transformation?"

"Swastik," Samiya warned softly.

"No, Bha-" he stopped himself and exhaled sharply. "Kunwarani sa, you saw what happened in the court. She stood against you."

"And yet," the woman interrupted quietly, "I am standing here now."

Silence followed her words.

The cold morning wind swept through the palace gates as tension thickened between them.

Samiya observed the woman carefully.

Not her words.

Her eyes.

Because eyes revealed truths tongues often tried to hide.

"Why?" Samiya finally asked calmly.

The woman lowered her gaze briefly before answering.

"Because despite everything..." her voice softened painfully, "...I cannot watch you walk into danger alone."

Swastik crossed his arms tightly.

"And why should we trust you?"

"You should not," she replied honestly.

That answer caught everyone off guard.

"But trust is not what I am asking for." She slowly stepped forward. "I am here for my master" She murmured while looking here and there

Something inside Samiya's expression shifted slightly.

As though she understood there were truths hidden beneath those words.

Dangerous truths.

Painful ones.

But before Swastik could argue again-

Samiya spoke quietly.

"She comes with me."

"What?!" Swastik looked at her in disbelief.

"Kunwarani sa-"

"She comes with me," Samiya repeated calmly. "That is my final decision."

The woman's eyes widened slightly.

"Even after the royal court?" she asked softly.

Samiya held her gaze for a long moment before replying,

"Some battles are fought louder inside the heart than inside the royal court."

For the first time-

the woman's composure broke.

Just slightly.

And perhaps that was enough for Samiya to understand-

there was more pain hidden behind her silence than anyone knew.

without another word-

Samiya rode out of Maitryashila before sunrise.

And for the first time in years-

the palace felt empty.

-:Somewhere in the dark hall:-

"She has left the palace... along with a lion and a servant," one of the spies informed while bowing before the figure seated upon the throne.

A faint smile appeared upon the throned person's lips.

"Interesting..."

Their fingers tapped lightly against the armrest as amusement flickered within their eyes.

"So the great Kunwarani of Maitryashila truly abandoned her palace to search for him herself."

The spy remained silent with his head lowered.

The figure upon the throne slowly leaned back.

"Keep informing me about every movement she makes," he ordered calmly. "Every place she stops. Every road she takes."

After a brief pause, they added softly,

"And ensure no harm reaches her."

The spy looked up slightly in surprise.

The throned figure noticed it instantly.

"What?" a faint chuckle escaped them. "Did you truly believe I would harm her?"

His gaze drifted toward the open window beside the throne.

"No..." he murmured quietly. "Some people are far too precious to be touched by cruelty."

You may leave now.

Then his gaze shifted toward one of his most trusted men standing beside the throne.

"You will leave immediately and join her during the journey," he ordered calmly.

The man bowed his head instantly.

"But remember one thing carefully..." the throned figure continued, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful. "No matter where fate takes her..."

His eyes darkened with something unreadable.

"...make sure every road eventually leads her here."

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he looked toward the kingdom stretched beyond the palace walls.

"To the place where she truly belongs."

Author note:-

Hey peekaboos,

I am here again. So many suspense here, whom do you think left with her and on whose order. Who is the throned person here and what does that guy want from her?

Well lets see in the journey of Samiya. Where does her fate take her.