It was a sunny morning in the hilly regions of the western Himalayas.
Inside a small cliffside house, two men sat at a wooden table near the window. A folder lay open between them, its contents being read by the older of the two. After finishing, he closed it, set it aside, and took a slow sip of the tea in front of him, his gaze fixed on the mountains beyond.
"So," he said, "you made it into the IAS. Good for you."
"Yes, Dad," Raj replied. "I'll be posted in the capital first. After that… wherever they need me."
The old man gave a small nod but said nothing more, continuing to sip his tea as he took in the view.
Raj waited.
"Dad," he said finally, "I know I haven't lived up to your expectations until now. But I'll do well here. I promise I'll make you proud."
The old man set his cup down.
"Look, Raj," he said evenly, "I've never been disappointed in you. Not for a single thing. Your life is yours. You don't need to live it for my approval."
Raj opened his mouth to speak, but the old man continued.
"I've been called in for a meeting with the Prime Minister and several departments," he said, standing up. "There's a good chance we'll be entering the war soon."
He paused for a moment.
"If you can, stay away from the border districts. Try to get a posting in the capital or one of the larger cities. You're smart. I know you can manage that."
His tone was calm. Practical. Almost distant.
With that, he turned and walked back into the house.
So it was the same as always.
You never really acknowledge me—yet you still say things that sound like you care.
Raj clenched his hands, staring at the spot where his father had been sitting only moments ago.
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Royal Residence: Mahadevi Bhadra's Chambers
What… happened?Am I dead? Did the snakes get me?
Rajkumar Hamsa opened his eyes with that thought echoing in his head.
Man… where am I?This isn't my room.
He slowly turned his head, but thick curtains blocked his view. He couldn't see much—but he could hear voices outside, speaking in low, controlled tones.
"—His Majesty should be returning by tomorrow.""Is that so? And what of the investigation? Have you uncovered anything?""Mahadevi, we have received confirmation that it was indeed the Rajkumar who activated the magic. It appears to have been a concentrated beam of mana—nothing overly complex."There was a brief pause before the voice continued."We also discovered snake bodies in his chamber. The Royal Guards stationed outside have regained consciousness and were questioned. They claim they were struck from behind and rendered unconscious. As for the maid who was present…""No trace?""…None so far.""Hm."The tone shifted, sharper now."Continue the investigation. Mahamantri, issue a public statement—say it was merely a drill, and that the disturbance in the Royal District was part of guard training. Maintain full lockdown within the Royal District until this matter is resolved."She paused."As for the capital, ease the lockdown, but keep heightened security. Any suspicious activity or individuals are to be reported immediately.""As you command, Mahadevi. I will see to it at once."
The footsteps faded.
On the bed, Hamsa lay still, staring up at the ceiling.
…So I was targeted.That's bad. Really bad.
I thought being a prince would at least make me safer. Guess I was being naive.
He glanced toward the curtains.
Should I open them now… or wait?This feels awkward.But considering my current physical age, pretending to be asleep would probably be weirder.
He took a breath.
Okay. I can do this.
Slowly, carefully, Rajkumar Hamsa reached out and pulled the curtains aside.
The room fell silent.
Mahadevi Bhadra was seated beside the bed, her posture composed but tense, hands resting lightly on the desk. Her face was calm, yet her eyes told a different story. Nearby stood a man holding a stack of documents, clearly in the middle of reporting something. At the doorway, the Mahamantri had just turned back, frozen mid-step.
Attendants and guards lined the room, all standing still.
Every pair of eyes turned toward him.
"Hello."
The Rajkumar spoke in a slightly playful tone, mostly because he did not know how else to react. The moment the word left his mouth, the room froze—every pair of eyes turning toward him at once.
Mahadevi Bhadra shot up from her seat so suddenly that the inkpot tipped over. Ink spilled across the desk, the stylus clattered to the floor, and several sheets of birch bark slid down after it.
None of it mattered.
She crossed the room in a heartbeat and wrapped Hamsa in a tight embrace.
Tears slipped down her face.
"You are awake," she said, her voice trembling. "They told me you might take months… even years… to open your eyes again."
Hamsa froze.
He didn't know what to do.
This had never happened to him—not in this life, and not in the one before it. No one had ever held him like this. Not when he was sick. Not when he was afraid.
His mind raced, searching for the right response.
After a moment—longer than it should have been—he slowly raised his arms and hugged her back.
Carefully. Awkwardly.
"Mahadevi—" he started.
"No."
Her tone left no room for argument.
Hearing that, his thoughts went into a complete mess, racing as he tried to understand what had just happened—and what she had just said.
What is this… why does this feel so strange?
In my past life, no one ever acted like this with me.Sure, people worried about me. And there was that one time when things got really bad and I was rushed to the hospital. The crybabies in my friend group cried their eyes out then.
But other than that… no one ever said things like this to me.No one ever held me like this.
Like this…
I've seen things like this before.I've been around people when they were scared for someone, when they stayed close, when they acted soft and emotional in moments like this.
It just… was never directed at me.
So why does it feel different now?
Why does it feel kind of nice?
Why does it make me feel… calm?
...…
What the hell.
Why do I feel like crying?
The realization hit him all at once.
He tried to steel himself, tightening his face and clenching his fists, forcing his body to stay still. He could not lose composure—not here, not now. Crying like this would be humiliating.
But it was already too late.
The moment the thought settled, his vision blurred, and warmth gathered at the corners of his eyes.
Noticing his stubborn attempt to hold everything in, the Mahadevi spoke.
"It is alright," she said softly. "Let it all out."
Her voice was gentle—far gentler than before—as she held him close once more, her hand resting on his head, stroking his hair in slow, steady motions.
After hearing those words, the Rajkumar finally broke.
He clung to her and cried—openly, helplessly—like a child for the first time in his life, gripping her as tightly as his small body allowed. He did not try to hold back. He did not even know how.
For a while, they remained like that.
Eventually, the sobbing slowed. His grip loosened, and the Rajkumar wiped at his eyes, helped gently by the Mahadevi and a maid who approached once it seemed appropriate.
When Mahadevi Bhadra finally tried to rise and return to her seat, she felt a light resistance.
She looked down.
Hamsa was still holding her hand.
She smiled at the sight, then sat back down on the bed beside him instead and spoke calmly.
"I apologize for that," she said. "Now, you were about to say—"
She paused.
Her eyes shifted to the Mahamantri, who she though had left but stood nearby with moist eyes, making no effort to hide them.
Well… that is no surprise.He is, after all, Hamsa's great-uncle.
Seeing the boy cry like that for the first time must have shaken him.
"Mahamantri," the Mahadevi said gently, "If you wish, you may take the day off and spend time with your grand-nephews."
The Mahamantri cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed.
"That would be pleasant," he said. "Once Rajkumar Hamsa regains his strength and the physicians see fit, I would like to take him—and Rajkumar Garuda—on a short tour of the capital."
He bowed his head.
"But for now, please excuse me. I still have duties to attend to."
With that, he bowed and exited the chamber.
Just then, a figure clad entirely in black appeared—as if stepping out of empty air itself.
He knelt at once.
"Mahadevi," he said, "We have located the maid who was on duty that day. It was not a maid at all, but a man disguised to infiltrate the palace."
The Mahadevi responded as if this were routine.
The attendants stiffened in shock.The guards tensed but did not seemed shocked like the attendants.And the Rajkumar looked as if his entire understanding of reality had just collapsed.
"Very well," Mahadevi Bhadra said evenly. "Bring him in for questioning. I will be present."
"As you command."
The man rose—and vanished, just as suddenly as he had appeared.
Hamsa stared, mouth still slightly open.
Noticing his expression, the Mahadevi laughed softly.
"You may learn how to do that as well," she said. "In time."
Hamsa reacted instantly.
"Really? I can do that mo—"
He froze.
…Wow. Wow wow wow.What is wrong with me?
Did I really just call her Mother?And cling to her like that?
I'm a grown man in here. A grown man.Ugh—this is so embarrassing.
Seeing the turmoil written plainly on his face, Mahadevi Bhadra spoke again.
"You may call me Mother," she said. "I told you so myself, did I not?"
The Rajkumar tried.
"M—"
Nothing came out.
His face burned.
Seeing him struggle, she laughed—warm, unrestrained.
"You may take your time," she said. "There is no need to force it."
She rose from the bed, her expression shifting as she did—from gentle warmth to something far colder.
"Now, if you will excuse me," she said, "I have matters to attend to."
Her voice sharpened.
"I intend to discover who dared do this… and erase them."
Wow.
Is this really the same woman who just let me cry like a child?
…Whatever I do, I need to stay on her good side.
Because I don't want to even imagine what happens to the people who end up on her bad one.