Princess Maitra sat alone in her room, surrounded by soft light and quiet silence. Her mind remembered the engagement ceremony again and again. She looked at the ring on her finger, which showed her promise to Prince Surya, but her heart felt heavy. Her mind went back to the moment she placed the ring on his finger, and saw King Tae-ha's eyes. Those sharp brown eyes held hers for a short moment, sending a message she could not understand.

Princess Maitra wondered why his look affected her so much. She thought to herself, why do I feel this way about someone I barely know?

Princess Maitra: I do not even know him, yet...

She stopped to collect her thoughts before speaking again. King Tae-ha's name left her lips in a soft whisper.

Princess Maitra: What was it about King Tae-ha's eyes that made Prince Surya's touch feel like a cage?

Suddenly she heard her own thoughts questioning her feelings. Princess Maitra, you are promised to be married, why is your heart beating fast for a stranger? Her thoughts were stopped by her own inner voice. What is wrong with me? I barely met him, and we barely spoke any words.

She walked around her room to calm her beating heart.

Princess Maitra: I am promised to Prince Surya, a kind and good husband, yet King Tae-ha's sharp look stays in my mind.

Princess Maitra stopped walking and looked out the window at the night sky.

Princess Maitra: Maybe it is because he spoke the truth during all the false ceremony words...

Her mind remembered his bold words, a marriage should be based on love, not political need. Her cheeks turned red as she whispered softly.

Princess Maitra: His words felt deep inside my heart...

Suddenly, a soft knock on her door broke the quiet.

Princess Maitra: Come in.

She spoke out, wondering who would visit at this late hour.

But there was no answer. The door stayed closed, yet she felt a strange feeling that someone was there. She walked to the door carefully and opened it slowly. The hallway was empty, lit only by dim torches. Princess Maitra's confusion turned to worry as she stepped back into her room. That is when she saw it. A small white paper on her table, where nothing was before.

Her name Princess Maitra was written on it in dark ink. Princess Maitra's hands shook as she picked up the paper and opened it. The message said:

Prince Surya's smile hides a dark truth. If you want to know the real man you promised to marry, meet me at the old temple ruins near the east gate at midnight. Come alone.

Princess Maitra's mind was confused as she read the words. Her engagement to Prince Surya suddenly felt unsafe. She thought about Prince Surya's kind face and wondered, could this hidden message be true? Her heart was beating fast with curiosity and fear. Princess Maitra pressed the paper in her hand. She sat in her room, looking at the wall as her mind went back to the paper.

She stood up, walked to the bin, and took the message back out.

Princess Maitra: Prince Surya's smile hides a dark truth. If you want to know the real man you promised to marry, meet me at the old temple ruins near the east gate at midnight. Come alone.

Her mind was full of questions and fear: What could Prince Surya be hiding? Is this message telling the truth or is it a plan to break the marriage? Who could write this and how did they enter my room without being seen? Should I ignore this?

She walked around her room, holding the message tightly in her hand.

Princess Maitra: I have two weeks until the wedding, that is not enough time to find out.

She nodded to herself, deciding to be careful.

Princess Maitra: Tomorrow, I will start finding information quietly.

She felt a little better having a plan, but she needed a trusted person to help her.

Princess Maitra: I will tell Do-hyun tomorrow.

For now, she will keep her doubts secret, even from her brothers Prince Veer and Prince Arjun, until she finds real proof. The night ended with Princess Maitra staying awake, thinking about Prince Surya's true nature.

Princess Maitra walked into the palace training ground where her royal guards were practicing. Do-hyun noticed her, stopped the fight, and came to her with a small bow.

Do-hyun: Princess, is everything safe inside the palace walls today?

Princess Maitra smiled gently at Do-hyun, then looked around carefully before moving closer. Do-hyun's eyes looked directly at hers.

Princess Maitra: Do-hyun, I need to talk to you in private. It is about Prince Surya... and my engagement.

His face became serious right away.

Do-hyun: Let us walk in the east gardens, Princess. We can talk safely there.

Princess Maitra nodded and walked beside Do-hyun toward the east gardens, speaking in a very quiet voice.

Princess Maitra: I received a strange message about Prince Surya yesterday...

Do-hyun stopped and turned to face her, concern showing on his face.

Do-hyun: What kind of message, Princess?

Princess Maitra hesitated for a moment before taking out the crushed paper from her sleeve.

Princess Maitra: It was placed in my room yesterday. Read this...

Do-hyun looked at the message carefully, his face turning serious with worry.

Do-hyun: Prince Surya's smile hides a dark truth... This is dangerous, Princess.

Princess Maitra nodded with anxiety in her eyes.

Princess Maitra: I know. That is why I needed to speak with you, Do-hyun. Do you think this could be true?

Do-hyun held his face tight with concern.

Do-hyun: We need to check this quietly, Princess. My guards saw Prince Surya meeting with his men secretly at night, but we do not know what they talked about.

Princess Maitra felt her mind full of fears, her voice quiet.

Princess Maitra: Do you think... this could be about my engagement?

Do-hyun looked serious.

Do-hyun: I do not know, Princess, but we will find out. Your brother, Prince Veer, should know about these secret meetings.

Princess Maitra spoke with a strong tone.

Princess Maitra: We will check this secretly, Do-hyun. No need to tell my brother or Mother yet... What if this is just a bad trick? It would only upset the whole family and my marriage plans.

Do-hyun nodded in agreement.

Do-hyun: Agreed, Princess. Secretly then. I will ask my most trusted guards to quietly find information about Prince Surya's secret meetings.

Princess Maitra felt glad he understood her worry, keeping her voice low.

Princess Maitra: Thank you, Do-hyun. Tonight, I also need to decide about something... The message asked me to meet them at the old temple ruins at midnight.

Do-hyun opened his eyes wide with fear.

Do-hyun: Princess, no! That is unsafe. You cannot go alone.

Princess Maitra spoke thoughtfully.

Princess Maitra: But Do-hyun, what if they tell the truth about Prince Surya? Should we not know before going ahead with the wedding?

Do-hyun thought for a moment before giving an idea.

Do-hyun: I will go with you, wearing simple clothes to hide my face. We will hear what they have to say together.

Princess Maitra nodded in agreement.

Princess Maitra: Tonight at midnight then. I will leave my room quietly.

Do-hyun spoke in a serious tone.

Do-hyun: I will wait for you near the east garden gate. Come alone from there.

Princess Maitra took a deep breath as her worry grew.

Princess Maitra: What if this is a trap, Do-hyun?

Do-hyun spoke to calm her.

Do-hyun: We will face it together, Princess.

The conversation ended, and Princess Maitra returned to her room, her heart beating fast with fear and waiting.

In the royal court, the Panditji spoke words of praise.

Panditji: Your daughter, Princess Maitra, is blessed with great destiny lines. Her kindness, intelligence, and beauty will bring good fortune to our kingdom.

Queen Devi smiled warmly.

Queen Devi: Yes, Panditji, your words since her childhood have been true. I remember one prophecy...

Queen Devi turned thoughtful before continuing.

Queen Devi: ...that she would marry a foreign king. At first, I worried it meant far away land and impossible bonds... But I thought it might be someone from a very far land. However, your prophecy also spoke of a possible marriage bond within our neighboring regions.

King Vishnu nodded.

King Vishnu: Indeed, and that is why we agreed to her engagement with Prince Surya of Kalinga Kingdom.

Queen Devi noticed Panditji's serious face.

Queen Devi: But Panditji, your face looks worried... Do you still see something troubling in our daughter's fate?

Panditji hesitated before speaking.

Panditji: Yes, Your Majesty... My new readings show a dark line tied with her destiny... It is written in the stars that Princess Maitra will become the most brave and powerful queen of a foreign land, her name written in history for long times for her wisdom, truth, and kindness.

Queen Devi looked at Panditji with confusion.

Queen Devi: But Panditji, this prophecy confuses me...

Panditji: Yes, Your Majesty... I have always wondered how this destiny fits with her engagement to Prince Surya of Kalinga Kingdom. Kalinga is barely a day's ride from our borders, hardly a foreign land as the old writings say.

King Vishnu spoke with a serious voice.

King Vishnu: Panditji, do you think there might be another path for our daughter's fate?

Panditji's face turned very serious.

Panditji: I fear there might be, Your Majesty... one that could change everything.

Queen Devi opened her eyes wide with worry.

Queen Devi: What do you mean, Panditji? Is our daughter's engagement to Prince Surya not meant to be?

Panditji: Truly, Your Majesty... my new readings show Prince Surya's heart belongs to power, not Princess Maitra.

King Vishnu's face turned dark with shock and worry.

The old temple ruins stood high before them, moonlight casting dark shapes on broken stones. Do-hyun stood close to guarding Princess Maitra, his eyes looking into the dark night.

Princess Maitra: Do you think this person will really come, Do-hyun?

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Do-hyun: They sent you a message, Princess. They must want to show something.

A hooded figure emerged from the shadows surrounding the ancient stone pillars, their face completely concealed.

Mysterious Person: Princess Maitra... welcome. I have risked much to step into the light and warn you.

Princess Maitra stepped forward, shielding her fear beneath a mantle of quiet courage.

Princess Maitra: Warn me about what? Prince Surya? Our engagement?

Mysterious Person: Prince Surya of the Kalinga Kingdom... is not the noble man he pretends to be. His heart thirsts for total power, not love. Kalinga’s true intention behind this alliance is to conquer your kingdom from within.

Do-hyun's hand instantly moved to the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing as he stepped between the stranger and the princess.

Do-hyun: What proof do you have of such a bold claim?

Mysterious Person: Ask Prince Surya about his brother's death... and the night of the Kalinga palace fire.

Before either of them could react, the hooded figure melted back into the dense shadows, vanishing into the night as if made of smoke.

Princess Maitra called out desperately into the dark, but only the rustling of leaves answered. She turned to Do-hyun, her eyes wide with bewilderment.

Princess Maitra: What does this mean? 'Ask Prince Surya about his brother's death and the night of the Kalinga palace fire'... Does he even have a brother?

Do-hyun released his grip on his weapon, his expression equally perplexed.

Do-hyun: I do not know, Princess. But clearly, this figure suspects something sinister. We cannot ignore it.

Princess Maitra: We need to know the truth. Do we have any allies or trusted sources within the Kalinga Kingdom who could tell us what truly happened that night?

Do-hyun paused, thinking quickly.

Do-hyun: Actually, Princess... one of my guards has a cousin serving directly in Kalinga's royal army. He may be willing to share what he knows.

Princess Maitra: Send for him, Do-hyun. Tonight. I must understand these words before it is too late.

Do-hyun: It will be done, Princess. I will dispatch a messenger immediately to summon him in absolute secrecy.

Princess Maitra: Hurry, Do-hyun. Every moment counts before the wedding day arrives.

Do-hyun: He will reach us by tomorrow evening, Princess. We will have our answers then.

Princess Maitra sighed, a sense of foreboding settling over her.

Princess Maitra: Tomorrow feels too late... I feel as though I am walking straight into a trap.

The cool night air grew heavier with tension as they stood among the ancient ruins, unsure of what secrets the coming day would unearth.