The palace of Mahair stood bathed in moonlight — its white marble walls glowing softly beneath the silvery sky. The air was cool and carried the faint perfume of night-blooming jasmine that crept along the outer gardens. The palace courtyards were alive with the sound of rustling trees, and somewhere far away, a temple bell chimed gently, marking the quiet rhythm of the night.
Inside one of the royal chambers, laughter echoed faintly through the corridors. It was the room where the younger princes of Raghvendra's kingdom had been staying — warm golden light flickered from oil lamps, throwing moving shadows across carved wooden walls. Cushions were scattered across the floor, and a soft fragrance of sandalwood filled the air.
On the wide velvet bed sat Prince Vihaan, the youngest of the four brothers. His tiny hands were covered in streaks of blue and green paint, his eyes focused as he painted a small picture of a palace garden. His tongue stuck out slightly in concentration. Around him, chaos danced freely — Prince Reyansh and Prince Arish were jumping on the bed, laughing and tossing pillows at each other like little warriors in battle.
"Don't do that! Stop it, or I'll tell Bhai sa!" Vihaan shouted, holding up his paintbrush like a sword. His voice trembled between anger and desperation.
Reyansh laughed so hard he nearly fell off the bed. "Oh, there it is again — Bhai sa! Bhai sa! You always run to him whenever we tease you!"
Arish nodded, grinning wickedly. "Of course! Because only Vivaan Bhai sa can control us. Even the guards can't stop us — only him!"
Vihaan puffed up his little chest, glaring with tearful eyes. "You'll see! I'll tell him right now!"
Just then, the sound of anklets — light and quick — rang through the marble corridor outside. A flash of pink and gold passed the doorway, and the heavy wooden doors swung open.
Princess Hinaal appeared, slightly breathless, strands of hair falling across her forehead. Her long braid swung behind her, the tiny bells on her wrists jingling softly. Her bright eyes widened as she took in the scene — two princes jumping on the bed like monkeys and one little boy looking ready to cry.
She planted her hands firmly on her hips. "Arre! What's going on here?"
All three princes froze instantly.
Hinaal took a few steps forward, squinting at Reyansh and Arish. "You two! Why are you teasing him? Look at poor Vihaan — so innocent, and you're bullying him!"
Reyansh blinked in disbelief. "Did you just call us—?"
"Monkeys!" Hinaal said proudly, tilting her chin up. "Yes, I did. Because you both were jumping like monkeys! Honestly, I think these two monkeys are hungry — maybe they want bananas!"
Arish's jaw dropped. Reyansh stared at her like he'd just seen a ghost. Vihaan's laughter exploded — loud, uncontrolled, pure.
"You— you're a girl!" Arish stammered, trying to save face. "You should behave like one! We can't even say anything to you!"
Hinaal crossed her arms, her eyes gleaming with playful defiance. "Oh, because I'm a girl, you can't do anything to me? Then I guess that means I have an advantage, doesn't it?"
Her tone was teasing but confident — she stood her ground like a tiny queen defending her court.
Vihaan laughed so hard he nearly fell off the bed, wiping tears from his eyes.
"Come on, little prince!" Hinaal said suddenly, grabbing Vihaan's paint-stained hand. "Let's run before the monkeys catch us!"
Before the brothers could react, she darted out of the room, dragging Vihaan along. The sound of their laughter echoed down the corridor like silver bells.
Reyansh and Arish exchanged a look of disbelief — then charged after her. "Hey! Come back here!"
The corridors of Mahair Palace came alive with their footsteps. Torches flickered on the walls as they ran past columns and arches. The guards on duty tried to hide their smiles; it wasn't every day that princes and a princess turned the royal hallways into a playground.
Hinaal was fast — her laughter trailed like a melody. She turned a corner and sprinted toward the King's chamber, Vihaan still clinging to her hand. Without hesitation, she burst through the large doors.
Inside, the atmosphere was serious. Maharana Ranbeer sat beside Prince Vivaan and Maharaja Raghvendra. Scrolls, ink pots, and maps covered the table before them. They were discussing the recent incident with the mountain bandits, their faces calm but focused. The golden light from the lamps reflected off Vivaan's sharp young features — even at eleven, his eyes carried a quiet maturity beyond his years.
The sudden bang of the door made all three men look up.
Ranbeer immediately smiled, recognizing the sound of his daughter's anklets. "That must be my Hinaal," he said fondly.
Hinaal stood at the doorway, panting and grinning, with Vihaan half-hidden behind her and Reyansh and Arish just entering, out of breath.
Maharaja Raghvendra frowned slightly. "What is this behavior?" His voice was firm, carrying the weight of royal authority. The three princes immediately froze, bowing their heads.
Before tension could grow, Maharana Ranbeer laughed softly. "Ah, don't be too strict, my friend," he said, glancing affectionately at Hinaal. "I'm quite sure this commotion began because of her, am I right, my daughter?"
Hinaal pressed her lips together, trying to hold back a giggle — then burst out laughing. "Yes, Father! They were teasing their little brother, so I came to save him!"
Reyansh muttered, half sulking, "She called us monkeys…"
Ranbeer raised a brow. "Is that true?"
"Oh yes!" Hinaal said, standing tall. "Because they were jumping like monkeys!"
Everyone laughed, even Vivaan — a small, rare smile appearing on his lips. Vihaan ran to him and hugged his arm tightly, seeking his comfort as always. Vivaan placed a protective hand on his shoulder, his calm gaze softening the scene.
Ranbeer pulled his daughter close, smiling. "My little princess, what did I tell you about our guests?"
Hinaal sighed. "That I shouldn't misbehave with them."
"Exactly," he said, pretending to sound stern though his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Now, go and say sorry."
She pouted, her lips curving downward dramatically, and mumbled, "Sorry…" Then she raised her chin proudly. "But remember — you two are not my friends!"
Reyansh and Arish exchanged a grin. "That's fine," Reyansh said quickly. "We're not interested in being your friends either."
"Oh-ho," Ranbeer teased, stroking his beard. "So my princess doesn't want to be friends with these two brave princes. Then tell me, who do you want as your friend?"
Hinaal's gaze moved over them — first Arish, then Reyansh — before stopping on little Vihaan, who was clutching Vivaan's robe.
"Vihaan," she said confidently. "He's innocent, and I'll protect him!"
She raised her arm dramatically as if taking an oath. Her bangles jingled brightly under the lamp light.
Everyone laughed again.
Vivaan's heart softened. He looked at her — this fiery, bold girl with eyes full of mischief — and smiled in a way that felt strangely unfamiliar to him. It wasn't a smile of politeness or duty; it was pure and real. When Hinaal met his gaze, her breath caught for a moment — then she looked away quickly, cheeks flushing pink. That made his smile deepen just slightly.
As the laughter faded, Maharaja Raghvendra leaned forward, his tone turning firm again. "Then it's decided," he said. "We will act according to Prince Vivaan's strategy to capture those mountain bandits. It is strong, well-thought-out, and ensures the safety of both kingdoms."
Maharana Ranbeer nodded approvingly. "Yes. I will announce it in tomorrow's court session."
The oil lamps flickered as a soft breeze entered the room, carrying the faint scent of sandalwood and the melody of night crickets.
Ranbeer smiled warmly. "The night grows deep. Let us all rest — tomorrow will bring new dawn and new decisions."
The princes bowed respectfully. As they left, Vihaan clung to Vivaan's hand, still smiling at Hinaal, who shyly waved before being led away by her father.
And for the first time that night, Vivaan found himself replaying her laughter in his mind — a sound as bright and untamed as moonlight itself.