The royal gardens of svarṇapatha were a testament to the empire's richness and reverence for nature. Flowers of every hue bloomed in unison, their fragrances mingling in the air like offerings to the gods. Lush greenery framed the palatial grounds, where marble statues of ancient kings stood in eternal vigil over the serene landscape.
Princess Revati walked through the gardens, her steps measured and graceful as she pondered the days ahead. Her thoughts were heavy, like the fragrant jasmine that clung to her skin. The proposal from the celestial kingdom had irrevocably changed her life. She had accepted it with the full understanding that duty was her anchor, but a question remained: was she prepared for the unknown that lay beyond the gilded gates of Svarṇapatha?
She paused by a small fountain, her fingers tracing the cool marble edge as the water cascaded down in delicate streams. The sound was soothing, yet it could not drown the questions swirling in her heart. What would life be like in the celestial kingdom? What kind of man was Prince Shen Liwei? She had seen him only once—his dark eyes, his commanding presence—but what of the heart beneath that steel exterior?
Her thoughts were interrupted as a familiar voice echoed through the garden. "Your highness, you have been summoned to the council."
It was Subhakaran, her brother and the second prince of svarṇapatha. Subhakaran was tall, with an easy grace that matched his sharp wit. Though not the heir, he was revered for his intelligence and diplomacy. Often, it was Subhakaran who served as the bridge between the emperor's rule and the outside world. Where his elder brother, Rudra Pratap, was a man of action, Subhakaran was a man of thought.
Revati turned to him, her face composed, though she could see the concern in his eyes. "The councils," she murmured, as if the weight of it was a new cloak she must wear.
"Yes," Subhakaran replied, his tone gentle. "Father wishes to discuss the final details of the arrangement. The arrival of the celestial envoys has set the court in motion, and we must be ready to navigate the currents."
Revati nodded, her expression calm but distant. She had grown accustomed to her brother's insightful nature, though his words now seemed tinged with an uncertainty she hadn't seen in him before. Subhakaran had always been the rational one, the tactician. If he had doubts, it spoke to the complexity of the situation.
Together, they walked toward the royal hall, the long corridors lined with tapestries depicting the history of Svarṇapatha. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the walls seemed to hum with the whispers of the past. Once, she had felt the same reverence for the palace—its walls, its echoes, its golden floors. But now, those walls seemed to close in around her, as if they were meant to trap her in a life she had never chosen.