The ministry office had been turned into something that looked less like a place of governance and more like a training ground.
Three small puppies stood in the middle of the room, their tails wagging excitedly as they looked around curiously.
Tara stood with her arms crossed, watching them with determination.
Tara: This will prove whether they can guard the office or not.
In the corner, the messenger boy nervously adjusted the strange mask placed over his face. It was a crude mask shaped like a demon, its painted fangs and wide eyes meant to look terrifying.
He looked far less terrifying and far more confused.
Aryav sighed.
Aryav: I still don't understand why we are doing this.
Tara waved her hand impatiently.
Tara: It's simple. If an intruder breaks into the office, the puppies should react immediately.
She turned toward the messenger boy.
Tara: Now remember the plan. Kick the door open, roar like a monster, and charge inside.
The messenger boy nodded nervously.
A moment later—
BANG!
The door burst open as the messenger boy kicked it with all the strength he could gather.
Messenger Boy: RAAARGH!!
He waved his arms wildly and stomped forward like a rampaging beast.
Everyone turned to the puppies.
The puppies stared at him.
For a moment there was silence.
Then the three of them slowly waddled toward the "monster."
They sniffed his legs.
One of them wagged its tail.
Another gently rubbed its head against him.
The third happily licked his hand.
The terrifying intruder had instantly become their best friend.
Tara blinked.
Aryav rubbed his forehead.
Kavya sighed.
Kavya: At this rate… they will become friends with the intruder instead of protecting us.
Satyadhara crossed his arms confidently.
Satyadhara: That is why I am here to protect you. We do not need puppies.
He glanced down at the three puppies with a suspicious look, almost as if he feared they were trying to steal his job.
Tara walked closer and crouched beside them thoughtfully.
Tara: Puppies rely more on smell than what they see.
She pointed at the messenger boy.
Tara: They probably didn't attack because they already recognize his scent.
The messenger boy slowly removed the demon mask.
Messenger Boy: So… does that mean I don't have to roar again?
One of the puppies wagged its tail and happily barked at him.
Tara suddenly stood up with new determination.
Tara: Then we just need someone they don't recognize.
Everyone slowly turned toward Satyadhara.
Satyadhara immediately stepped back.
Satyadhara: Absolutely not.
He froze.
Satyadhara: No.
Tara: Yes.
A few moments later—
Satyadhara stood near the door wearing the ridiculous demon mask the messenger boy had worn earlier.
He looked deeply offended.
Satyadhara: If this humiliates me, I will personally throw all three of these creatures out of the office.
Tara waved her hand.
Tara: Just kick the door open and roar.
Satyadhara took a deep breath.
Then—
BANG!
The door burst open.
Satyadhara charged inside.
Satyadhara: RAAARGH!
The puppies turned toward him.
They stared for a moment.
Then all three of them ran toward him excitedly.
For a brief second everyone thought they were finally attacking.
Instead—
One puppy happily licked his leg.
Another grabbed the edge of his robe and began chewing it.
The third simply sat down on his foot and wagged its tail.
Satyadhara slowly removed the demon mask.
Satyadhara: This is unacceptable.
Kavya tried very hard not to laugh.
Aryav rubbed his forehead.
Aryav: At least they are loyal.
The failed training had left the room in silence.
Satyadhara removed the demon mask with visible irritation while the puppies continued happily wagging their tails around him.
Satyadhara: I refuse to participate in this nonsense any further.
He tossed the mask onto the table.
Aryav sighed and leaned back on his chair.
Aryav: Perhaps we should accept that these creatures are simply too friendly to guard anything.
Tara crossed her arms stubbornly.
Tara: No. They just haven't met a true intruder yet.
Before anyone could respond—
Knock.
The office door slowly opened.
A young palace maid stepped inside carrying a tray of tea cups.
Maid: Ministers, I have brought—
She stopped.
Three small puppies suddenly turned toward her.
Their ears perked up.
They did not recognize this scent.
The puppies immediately rushed toward her.
BARK! BARK! BARK!
The maid gasped.
One puppy grabbed the edge of her dress and started chewing it.
Another barked furiously at her feet.
The third jumped forward and bit her ankle—not painfully, but enough to startle her.
Maid: AAAAAH!!
She began spinning in panic, trying to shake them off.
The tea tray tilted dangerously as cups rattled loudly.
The messenger boy ducked behind a table.
Aryav jumped up.
Aryav: Careful! The tea!
But it was too late.
The maid stumbled backward dramatically.
Maid: THEY'RE ATTACKING ME!!
She tripped over her own feet and fell to the floor with a loud thud, spilling tea everywhere.
The puppies stood proudly around her.
One barked victoriously.
Another stepped onto her stomach.
The third sniffed her hair curiously.
The maid lay frozen on the ground as if she had just survived a tiger attack.
Tara stared at the scene with sparkling eyes.
Tara: See? I told you they would guard the office.
Kavya quickly rushed forward to help the maid.
Kavya: Please forgive us!
Satyadhara looked down at the puppies.
They looked back at him with innocent faces.
He sighed deeply.
Satyadhara: I regret ever allowing these creatures inside the ministry.
Meanwhile, the puppies stepped over the fallen maid as if they had just won a great battle.
Kavya repeatedly apologized to the terrified maid while gently pulling the puppies away from her.
Kavya:"I'm so sorry! They are still in training!"
The maid limped away dramatically, still holding her ankle as if she had survived a tiger attack rather than three small puppies.
The moment she disappeared down the hallway, Kavya returned to the office with the puppies trotting proudly behind her.
Inside the room, Aryav was already thinking.
Aryav:"That test does not count."
Tara raised an eyebrow.
Tara:"They attacked the intruder."
Aryav shook his head.
Aryav:"They attacked a tea maid."
Satyadhara leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
Satyadhara:"Which proves my earlier point."
Tara ignored him.
Aryav paced slowly across the room.
Aryav:"We still need more tests."
Just then the door slid open.
Malini stood at the entrance, holding a bundle of scrolls under her arm.
She looked at the scene.
The three ministers.
The scattered cushions.
And the three puppies proudly wagging their tails in the middle of the room.
Malini narrowed her eyes.
Malini:"You three have a great deal of work to do."
No one responded.
Malini continued.
Malini:"The emperor's council reports are still unfinished. The temple accounts are waiting. And the merchant dispute from yesterday—"
Aryav immediately interrupted.
Aryav:"Protection is more important."
Kavya nodded quickly.
Kavya:"Yes. Security of the office must come first."
Tara added with complete seriousness:
Tara:"Imagine if another tea maid attacks us."
Malini stared at them in complete disbelief.
She rubbed her forehead in irritation.
Malini:"Finish whatever… this is. Then return to your work."
She turned and walked away.
The moment the door closed behind her, Aryav clapped his hands once.
Aryav:"New test."
The others looked at him.
Aryav walked to the corner of the room and placed a small treat on the floor.
The puppies instantly noticed.
Their ears perked up.
Aryav pointed toward the door.
Aryav:"This time we test loyalty."
Tara crouched beside the puppies, watching them carefully.
Aryav continued explaining.
Aryav:"We place the treat in the corner."
He gestured toward the hallway.
Aryav:"And we bring in a new intruder."
Satyadhara nodded toward one of the guards outside.
A palace guard was quickly summoned and quietly briefed on the situation.
The guard looked confused.
Guard:"So… I just walk in?"
Aryav nodded.
Aryav:"Yes. Like an intruder."
The guard shrugged.
Guard:"Alright."
Inside the office, the puppies sat near the doorway.
Their noses were already twitching.
The scent of the treat filled the room.
Aryav raised a hand.
Aryav:"Begin."
The door slowly creaked open.
The guard stepped inside cautiously.
Everyone leaned forward to watch.
The puppies immediately turned their heads.
For a moment… it looked promising.
They stared directly at the guard.
Their ears stood alert.
Their bodies tensed.
Then—
All three slowly turned their heads toward the corner.
The treat.
Without hesitation, they ran toward it.
One grabbed the treat.
Another tried to steal it.
The third started licking the floor for crumbs.
Meanwhile, the guard casually walked into the room and stood in the middle.
Guard:"…Should I steal something now?"
Satyadhara sighed deeply.
Aryav closed his eyes.
Kavya shook her head.
Tara stared silently at the treat in the puppy's mouth.
Then she spoke very seriously.
Tara:"This weakness must be addressed."
The guard stood awkwardly in the middle of the room while the puppies happily fought over the treat in the corner.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Aryav slowly rubbed his forehead.
Kavya placed both hands on her hips.
Satyadhara looked at the scene as if this had personally offended him.
All three of them sighed at the same time.
The palace guard glanced between them, confused.
Guard:"…Was that good or bad?"
No one answered him.
Aryav exhaled heavily.
Aryav:"They like treats more than us."
Tara, who had been watching the puppies thoughtfully, spoke calmly.
Tara:"Anyone could fall for sweet treats."
Aryav nodded absentmindedly.
Aryav:"That is exactly the problem—"
He paused.
Something felt wrong.
Slowly, Aryav turned his head.
Behind him, Tara was sitting on the floor among the puppies.
One of the leftover treats was in her hand.
And she was quietly chewing it.
The puppies sat around her, staring up at her in complete confusion, their heads slightly tilted as if trying to understand why she was eating their treat.
Tara continued chewing slowly, her expression completely calm.
Almost satisfied.
Aryav blinked.
Satyadhara stared.
The guard looked even more confused than before.
Kavya's eyes widened.
Kavya:"Tara!"
She quickly walked over, grabbed Tara by the arm, and pulled her up.
Kavya:"That was for the puppies!"
Tara was dragged away from the corner while still chewing.
Her expression didn't change at all.
She continued gently chewing the treat with a look of quiet satisfaction.
Behind them, the three puppies watched in stunned silence, as if they had just witnessed the greatest betrayal of their short lives.
The office was unusually quiet after the earlier chaos.
Pieces of torn cloth from the maid's dress had already been cleaned up, though the memory of her dramatic collapse still lingered in everyone's minds.
The three puppies sat on the carpet in the middle of the room, wagging their tails happily as if they had just accomplished something heroic.
Satyadhara stood near the wall with his arms crossed.
Satyadhara:"These creatures cannot even guard a door properly."
Aryav sighed and leaned back on the table.
Aryav:"Perhaps we should simply accept defeat."
The messenger boy, who had been quietly watching everything from the doorway, hesitated before raising his hand.
Messenger Boy:"My lords… and lady… may I suggest something?"
Everyone turned to him.
Aryav gestured lazily.
Aryav:"At this point, even a miracle suggestion is welcome."
The boy stepped inside.
Messenger Boy:"In villages, dogs are sometimes used to find lost things."
Kavya paused.
Kavya:"Find things?"
Messenger Boy nodded.
Messenger Boy:"They sniff something first. Then they can find it again anywhere."
He pointed around the room.
Messenger Boy:"Things in the palace get lost often. Maybe the puppies could help find them."
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Tara's eyes suddenly lit up.
Tara:"That might be an incredible idea."
Aryav straightened slightly.
Aryav:"You think so?"
Tara walked toward the desk and picked up a scroll.
She placed it directly on the floor in front of the puppies.
The puppies immediately sniffed it curiously.
One poked it with its nose.
Another tried to lick the edge.
The third attempted to chew it.
Kavya quickly snatched the scroll away from its mouth.
Kavya:"No eating."
Tara calmly held up a small treat.
Tara:"When you touch this, you get this
Tara held the treat between her fingers, letting the puppies see it clearly.
The three small creatures immediately sat up with excitement, their tails wagging wildly.
Tara placed the scroll on the floor again.
Tara:"When you touch this, you get this."
The puppies stared at her for a moment.
Then one of them stepped forward and nudged the scroll with its nose.
Tara immediately gave it the treat.
Tara:"Good."
Aryav watched with curiosity.
Satyadhara watched with suspicion.
Kavya watched to make sure the scroll did not get eaten again.
Tara placed the scroll down again.
Another puppy walked forward and touched it with its paw.
Treat.
Tara nodded approvingly.
Tara:"Good."
The third puppy quickly ran forward and headbutted the scroll enthusiastically.
Treat again.
Aryav folded his arms thoughtfully.
Aryav:"They are learning bribery."
Tara calmly replied while giving another treat.
Tara:"All learning begins with bribery."
After repeating the exercise several times, the puppies now immediately touched the scroll the moment it was placed down.
Tara nodded.
Tara:"Good. Now the next step."
She picked up the scroll and rubbed it between her hands for a moment.
Aryav frowned.
Aryav:"What are you doing now?"
Tara answered simply.
Tara:"Giving it a scent."
She held the scroll close to the puppies so they could sniff it properly.
Each puppy leaned forward and sniffed deeply.
One sneezed.
Another licked Tara's hand.
The third tried to chew the wooden scroll handle.
Kavya again pulled it away just in time.
Kavya:"No eating."
Tara then walked a few steps away and placed the scroll on the floor across the room.
It was still clearly visible.
She returned and held up a treat.
Tara:"Find it."
The puppies looked around for a moment.
Then one immediately ran toward the scroll and touched it with its nose.
Treat.
The other two quickly followed and began sniffing the scroll eagerly.
More treats.
Aryav leaned forward slightly.
Aryav:"That was too easy."
Tara nodded.
Tara:"Of course."
She picked up the scroll again.
This time she walked to the side of the room and placed it behind a small wooden chest so that it was partially hidden.
Only a small edge of the scroll was visible.
She returned to the puppies.
Tara:"Find it."
The puppies began sniffing the floor.
One walked in the wrong direction and started sniffing Satyadhara's boots.
Satyadhara stepped back immediately.
Satyadhara:"I am not the target."
Another puppy wandered toward Aryav's desk and sniffed a stack of documents.
Aryav quickly grabbed the papers.
Aryav:"That is government work."
The third puppy suddenly stopped.
Its nose twitched.
It turned its head toward the chest.
Slowly it walked toward it, sniffing along the ground.
The other two followed behind.
The lead puppy reached the chest and pushed its nose behind it.
A moment later it pulled the scroll out proudly.
Tara immediately rewarded it with a treat.
Tara:"Good."
The other two puppies barked happily, demanding their share of the reward.
Kavya smiled.
Kavya:"They are actually learning."
Aryav nodded slowly.
Aryav:"This might work."
Tara then picked up another scroll from the desk.
It looked almost identical to the first.
She rubbed it between her hands as well.
Aryav noticed.
Aryav:"You are making two now."
Tara nodded.
Tara:"Yes."
She held one scroll for the puppies to sniff carefully.
After they had sniffed it thoroughly, she handed it to Aryav.
Tara:"Let them remember the smell."
Then she took the second scroll and quietly walked across the room.
She placed it in the corner behind a stack of boxes where it was completely hidden.
She returned and looked at the puppies.
Tara held up a treat again.
Tara:"Find the same smell."
The puppies sniffed the training scroll again.
Then they began searching the room.
One sniffed the carpet.
Another sniffed Kavya's sleeve.
The third sniffed the table leg.
Aryav whispered quietly.
Aryav:"Now it becomes interesting."
The puppies continued wandering around the room.
For a moment it looked like they had forgotten their task.
Then one puppy suddenly turned its head toward the far corner.
Its nose twitched again.
It slowly walked across the room.
The other two followed closely behind.
The lead puppy reached the boxes and sniffed around them carefully.
Then it stuck its nose behind the stack.
A second later it pulled out the hidden scroll.
The puppy proudly carried it back toward Tara.
Tara's eyes brightened.
Tara:"They found it."
She gave the puppy the treat immediately.
The other two puppies quickly surrounded their successful companion, hoping for rewards as well.
Aryav stared at the scroll in disbelief.
Aryav:"…That actually worked."
Satyadhara slowly nodded.
Satyadhara:"Perhaps they are not completely useless."
The messenger boy at the doorway grinned proudly.
Messenger Boy:"I told you."
Tara gently patted the puppies as their tails wagged excitedly.
Tara:"You three might become more useful than half the palace."
The puppies barked happily, completely unaware that they had just passed their first real training.
After the puppies successfully find the scroll once, Tara decides to test them again.
But this time something goes wrong.
Scene idea
Aryav hides the scroll somewhere difficult.
The puppies start searching.
But instead of finding the scroll, one puppy suddenly runs outside the office door.
Everyone panics.
They chase it.
The puppy proudly returns carrying…
a random sandal from the hallway.
Aryav sighs.
Aryav:"That is not the scroll."
Tara calmly studies the sandal.
Tara:"…But the smell is similar."
Kavya:"It stole someone's footwear."
Messenger Boy:"That belongs to the guard outside."
The guard slowly looks down at his missing sandal.