The grand hall of Svarṇapatha's royal palace, bathed in the golden light of an impending sunset, was filled with an electric tension. The air hummed with anticipation, for the dragon emperor's son, prince Shen Liwei, had made his intentions clear—he sought princess Revati's hand in marriage. The ambassadors had delivered the formal proposal, a letter sealed with the royal crest of the celestial kingdom. A union, they said, would bring together two mighty empires, joining their wealth, their armies, and their influence.
But what did Revati think? What did she feel?
Her heart stirred at the thought of it all. Marriage was not simply about love; it was about duty, about ensuring the prosperity of one's kingdom and family. She had always known this. The great kings and queens before her had married for alliances, for the sake of their peoples. Yet, as she sat in her father's hall that evening, with the envoys from the celestial kingdom present, she could not shake the feeling that this marriage proposal was different. It wasn't just an alliance—it was a symbol of power, of sovereignty. It was about who would hold the reins of history in their hands.
The emperor stood at the head of the court, his voice echoing through the vast hall. "princess Revati, daughter of the great Balaramdev, is no stranger to the affairs of the world. She has seen the rise and fall of kingdoms, the ebb and flow of empires. As her father, i am proud to offer her in marriage to the celestial kingdom, as a union between two of the world's greatest powers. But as her father, I also know that this decision rests with her."
Revati stood, her form tall and dignified, though inside her heart beat like a war drum. The weight of her father's words hung in the air like a cloud. There were no easy answers here, no clear path forward.
She turned to face the envoys of the celestial kingdom, the representatives of her potential future. Prince Shen Liwei was among them, his sharp eyes locked on hers as though he could read her very thoughts. His expression was inscrutable, as calm as the still waters of a lake, yet there was an undeniable intensity in the way he observed her.
Taking a deep breath, Revati spoke with a voice that was both steady and firm, yet underlined with the wisdom she had gained through years of courtly life.
"I accept the proposal, but not just for the glory of my kingdom," she began, her eyes meeting those of the prince. "I accept it because it is my duty—my duty to Svarṇapatha, to the people who look to me, and to the future that awaits. If this union shall come to pass, I will be a partner, not a mere figurehead."
The prince's lips twitched ever so slightly, a glimmer of admiration or perhaps recognition passing through his gaze. It was a subtle shift, but Revati noticed it—perhaps this marriage would be more than she had imagined.
And so, the decision was made. The betrothal would be formalized, and preparations for the royal wedding would begin. But deep inside, Revati felt the stirring of something more—something she could not yet name. Was it fear? Excitement? Or something entirely different?
Whatever it was, the winds of destiny had shifted. Svarṇapatha was on the cusp of a new chapter. And so was she.