Siraj remained silent for a long moment after hearing Lavyaa's words.
He hadn't expected her answer.
"Does my husband know... about Princess Raaya's disappearance?"
Siraj nodded slowly.
"He knows."
"And to be honest... the situation unfolded too quickly."
"It was Raaya's own decision."
"She disappeared shortly after meeting Yug."
He looked toward the floor.
"Perhaps..."
"They knew everything from the beginning."
"They may have been planning something all along."
Lavyaa lowered her eyes.
"Perhaps..."
A trace of sorrow passed across her face.
"They might."
The room fell silent once again.
After a moment, Siraj asked quietly,
"So..."
"You will return with me, won't you?"
Lavyaa didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked out through the open window.
The banners of Swarnartha fluttered proudly in the palace courtyard.
A month ago...
They had meant nothing to her.
Now...
They represented another home.
Another people.
Another responsibility.
Finally, she spoke.
"I'll ask him."
Siraj looked at her in surprise.
"I am no longer only the Princess of Navnayana."
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"I am also the Queen of Swarnartha."
"The people here look toward me now."
"I cannot simply decide for myself anymore."
Siraj sighed deeply.
"They, too, would want their queen to remain safe."
"And if you are to reclaim your place as the Imperial Princess of Navnayana..."
"You must first return safely."
Lavyaa nodded slowly.
"...I understand."
She fell into deep thought.
Siraj stepped closer and gently placed his hand on her head.
"Don't burden yourself tonight."
"Get some rest."
"No matter what happens..."
"I'll always stand beside you."
Lavyaa smiled.
"I know."
Siraj returned the smile before quietly leaving the chamber.
Yojna Bhavan
A short while later...
The council gathered inside the Yojna Bhavan, Panchavat's strategic council hall.
Only a handful of people were present.
Hrituraj.
Lavyaa.
Siraj.
Viraj.
Yug.
And Srijan.
A large map of the surrounding kingdoms lay spread across the stone table.
Small wooden markers indicated troop movements, supply routes, and suspected enemy locations.
Srijan stepped forward.
"I believe it is time everyone knows the complete truth."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"I had my suspicions long before His Majesty disappeared."
"The treaty between Swarnartha and Navnayana brought peace..."
"...but not everyone welcomed that peace."
He pointed toward several marked territories.
"Beyond our external enemies..."
"There were people within our own kingdoms who opposed reconciliation."
"They smiled inside the royal court..."
"...while sharpening blades behind our backs."
The room became silent.
Hrituraj folded his arms.
"So your suspicions were correct."
Srijan nodded.
"Unfortunately."
Hrituraj stepped forward.
"You may find this difficult to believe..."
"...but I discovered something before escaping."
Everyone looked toward him.
"The Court Advisor of Navnayana..."
"...and his closest aide..."
"...are involved."
Siraj's eyes widened.
"What?"
Hrituraj continued calmly.
"The Koshadhyaksha of Swarnartha."
"The Nyayapradhish."
"And one unknown individual..."
"They have all formed an alliance."
"Their identities became clear only after I escaped."
Viraj frowned.
"An alliance between officials from both kingdoms..."
"That should have been impossible."
"It should have."
Hrituraj replied quietly.
"But it isn't."
He reached into his robe and placed several small black stones upon the table.
The moment they touched the wood...
The atmosphere inside the hall seemed to grow heavier.
Yug's expression changed immediately.
"These..."
"...are not ordinary stones."
Hrituraj nodded.
"I recovered them from the assassins who ambushed us."
"I intended to uncover the identity of the unknown mastermind."
"But before I could continue my investigation..."
"I found myself surrounded."
"They weren't trying to capture me."
"They came to kill me."
The room fell silent.
Hrituraj continued,
"My instincts warned me moments before they attacked."
"I managed to defeat several of them."
"And these were left behind."
Siraj carefully picked one up.
Dark energy pulsed faintly beneath its surface.
His expression hardened.
"This..."
"...is forbidden magic."
Yug nodded.
"I've only heard of such objects in ancient records."
Srijan looked toward Hrituraj.
"You believe they have allied themselves with demons?"
"I do."
Hrituraj answered without hesitation.
"No ordinary kingdom possesses magic like this."
"And no loyal minister would willingly use it."
Silence settled across the council chamber.
The realization was heavier than anyone wished to admit.
This was no longer merely a political conspiracy.
It was something far more dangerous.
Siraj finally spoke.
"If demons truly stand behind this..."
"...then this war will not decide only the future of our kingdoms."
"It may decide the future of mankind itself."
No one disagreed.
After hours of discussion...
The council reached its conclusions.
Their priorities would remain unchanged.
First—
Ensure Queen Lavyaa's safety.
Second—
Discover the traitors hidden within both kingdoms.
Third—
Prepare for the inevitable war.
As everyone rose from the council table...
No one noticed that outside the palace...
The wind had begun to change.
Later That Night...
Preparations continued throughout the palace.
Soldiers sharpened their weapons.
Mages completed protective barriers.
Messengers rode in and out through the palace gates.
Midnight slowly approached.
Siraj quietly left the council hall.
He intended to visit his sister one last time before dawn.
However...
As he walked past Yug's chamber...
A lone figure stepped out.
The person was completely covered in dark armor.
Without speaking to anyone...
The mysterious figure disappeared toward the forest behind the palace.
Siraj stopped walking.
His instincts immediately awakened.
"...Suspicious."
Keeping his distance...
He silently followed.
The moonlit forest swallowed them both.