The Imperial Capital had long since awakened.
Golden rays of the morning sun poured over the city's tiled rooftops, painting the bustling streets with a warm glow. Shopkeepers pushed open their wooden shutters one after another, sweeping dust from their storefronts before proudly arranging the day's merchandise.
The market was already alive.
The cheerful cries of merchants rose above the constant chatter of the crowd.
"Fresh fruits! Picked this very morning!"
"Silks from the western kingdoms! Finest quality!"
"Hot honey cakes! Straight from the oven!"
The rhythmic clang of a blacksmith's hammer echoed somewhere nearby, while the aroma of roasted chestnuts, grilled meat, sweet pastries and fragrant spices drifted lazily through the streets.
Children darted between stalls, laughing as they chased one another through the sea of people.
Street performers had already begun gathering audiences.
One magician was making coins disappear into a little girl's sleeve.
A musician played a lively tune on a bamboo flute.
A puppeteer made two tiny wooden warriors duel atop a miniature stage.
And just a little further ahead...
A trained monkey wearing a tiny crimson vest stood proudly beside its owner.
Every time a customer dropped a coin into the basket...
The monkey gave an exaggerated bow.
Laughter erupted from everyone watching.
It was loud.
It was crowded.
It was chaotic.
Yet somehow...
Everything felt wonderfully alive.
A modest carriage rolled to a stop near one of the market entrances.
Before the coachman could even lower the small wooden step...
The carriage door swung open.
Tara hopped out first.
She stretched both arms above her head before taking a deep breath.
A bright smile slowly spread across her face.
Tara:
"Ahhh..."
"I've missed this place."
Her eyes wandered excitedly from stall to stall.
Everywhere she looked, something demanded her attention.
Jewelry sparkled beneath the sunlight.
Bright fabrics danced gently in the morning breeze.
Children laughed while running past carrying wooden toys.
A sweet shop displayed colorful candies stacked into tiny towers.
Then...
Her eyes landed on the little monkey.
The monkey bowed.
Tara froze.
The monkey bowed again after another customer tossed in a coin.
Tara slowly pointed toward it, her mouth hanging slightly open.
Tara:
"...Malini."
"You have to look at this."
"Tell me I'm not imagining things."
"Did that monkey just bow?"
As if hearing her...
The monkey gave another dramatic bow, placing one tiny hand over its chest.
Tara gasped.
"It did!"
"It actually did!"
"I've seen trained horses before, but never a monkey with better manners than half the officials at court."
She couldn't help laughing.
"I need to get closer."
Just as Tara was about to take a step...
A calm voice answered from behind her.
Malini stepped out of the carriage with a neatly rolled scroll tucked beneath one arm.
She didn't even bother looking toward the monkey.
Malini:
"Before you ask..."
"My answer is no."
"No, you cannot buy the monkey."
"And no, you are not bringing it home."
Tara turned around with genuine disbelief.
Tara:
"What?"
"I wasn't even thinking about buying it."
"...Okay."
"Maybe the thought crossed my mind for a tiny little second."
She held up two fingers barely an inch apart.
"But that's not what I was going to ask."
"I only wanted to pet him."
"Look at him!"
"He's wearing a tiny little vest!"
"He even bowed!"
Malini finally glanced toward the monkey.
For a brief moment...
Even she admitted to herself that it looked rather adorable.
Still...
She maintained a perfectly straight face.
Malini:
"I'll admit..."
"The vest is surprisingly well made."
"And yes..."
"He seems very polite."
She looked directly into Tara's eyes.
"But we are preparing for an expedition into the Himalayas."
"Not adopting another member of the ministry."
Tara dramatically placed a hand over her heart.
Tara:
"...Every day..."
"I lose another piece of my freedom."
"I've become a prisoner under your financial dictatorship."
Malini smiled sweetly.
"Correct."
"And thanks to that dictatorship..."
"We still have enough money to buy everything on today's shopping list."
Just then...
Satyadhara stepped down from the carriage carrying two large travel sacks over his shoulders.
He adjusted the sword hanging at his waist before scanning the unusually crowded streets.
Satyadhara:
"It seems everyone had the same idea today."
"The market is much busier than I expected."
"If possible, let's stay together."
He glanced toward Tara.
"...Especially you, Devi Tara."
Tara smiled innocently.
"What?"
"I always stay with the group."
At that exact moment...
Her attention drifted somewhere else.
A merchant nearby had just lifted a fluffy white winter hat made from thick northern wool.
Tara's eyes sparkled once again.
Without realizing it...
She had already begun walking toward the stall.
Malini looked over.
Then slowly closed her eyes.
Malini:
"...She didn't even last one minute."
The second carriage that arrived at the Imperial Market looked nothing like Tara's.
It wasn't decorated with polished carvings or embroidered banners that represented the royal court. There were no royal guards riding alongside it, nor horses adorned with golden ornaments.
It was... painfully ordinary.
Exactly the kind of carriage hundreds of commoners used every single day.
The coachman brought it to a gentle stop near the eastern entrance before hopping down to open the wooden door.
The first person to step outside was Mira.
She stretched both arms high above her head before twisting her shoulders from side to side, letting out a satisfied sigh.
A delighted smile spread across her face as she looked around the bustling marketplace.
Mira:
"Ahh..."
"This feels wonderful."
"No palace servants following me around..."
"No guards standing behind me every five steps..."
"And for once..."
She slowly spun in a circle, observing the crowd.
"...Nobody is staring at me."
"They're all too busy living their own lives."
"I could honestly get used to this."
She smiled to herself before taking another deep breath.
"It feels... refreshing."
Nayan stepped out after her, carefully adjusting the plain robes he wore today.
Even dressed as an ordinary citizen, his posture remained as straight as ever.
He smiled politely.
Nayan:
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Devi Mira."
"But may I remind you..."
"We aren't here for leisure."
He glanced toward the busy streets ahead.
"Our purpose today is to inspect the market."
"...And discreetly follow Minister Tara throughout the day."
The moment Tara's name left his mouth...
Mira's cheerful expression disappeared.
Her shoulders slumped dramatically.
She let out the longest sigh imaginable.
Mira:
"Yeah..."
"I know."
"Our very important mission."
She rolled her eyes.
"Follow Tara because my dear brother suddenly finds her interesting."
"What an incredible use of the Empire's resources."
A third figure stepped out from the carriage.
Chandraveer.
The moment both feet touched the ground...
He immediately frowned.
His eyes slowly travelled over the simple cotton clothes he had been forced to wear.
He tugged lightly at the sleeve with visible dissatisfaction.
Chandraveer:
"I dislike these clothes."
"There isn't a single thing I find appealing about them."
"The colours are dull."
"The fabric feels rough."
"And the tailoring..."
He looked genuinely offended.
"...Did whoever make these garments simply give up halfway through?"
Nayan let out a quiet sigh he had been holding in all morning.
Nayan:
"Your Majesty..."
"That is precisely why you're wearing them."
"If the clothes caught your attention..."
"They would certainly catch everyone else's as well."
"The entire purpose of today's disguise is to blend into the crowd."
He looked around at the ordinary people walking through the market.
"And I'd say you've accomplished that perfectly."
Mira looked down at her own outfit before happily smoothing the wrinkles from her sleeves.
She tilted her head.
Mira:
"What are you talking about?"
"I quite like mine."
"It's comfortable."
"I can actually walk properly."
"And more importantly..."
She grinned mischievously.
"I don't have to spend half an hour deciding which royal jewelry matches today's robes."
"I think commoners have the better deal."
Chandraveer chose not to continue the argument.
Instead...
His eyes quietly wandered across the bustling marketplace.
Rows upon rows of stalls.
Hundreds of unfamiliar faces.
Families shopping together.
Children running through the streets.
Merchants enthusiastically advertising their goods.
Somewhere in that endless sea of people...
Tara had to be nearby.
His gaze continued searching.
Left...
Right...
Then—
He spotted her.
Not far ahead.
Walking through the market alongside Malini and Satyadhara.
Before he could say anything...
A smug voice interrupted his thoughts.
Mira:
"Oh?"
She slowly followed the direction of his gaze.
"Already looking for her?"
She shot him a teasing side glance.
"I don't think we've even been here for a full minute."
Chandraveer's ears turned slightly red.
He immediately looked away.
Chandraveer:
"...Don't be ridiculous."
"I was locating the minister we're supposed to be observing."
"There is a significant difference."
Mira folded her arms.
A sly smile slowly crept across her face.
Mira:
"Mhm."
"Of course."
"The Emperor just happened to find the exact minister he wanted to 'observe' within seconds."
"What remarkable dedication."
Chandraveer rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Chandraveer:
"...Would you kindly stop talking for five minutes?"
Mira smiled even wider.
"I'll think about it."
"...No promises."
Nayan looked between the two royal siblings before quietly clearing his throat.
Nayan:
"Your Majesty..."
"I believe Minister Tara's group has started moving."
"If we're going to follow them..."
He gestured toward the crowd.
"...We should probably begin now."
Chandraveer gave one final glance toward Tara before nodding.
The three disappeared into the bustling crowd...
Their quiet mission had officially begun.
The outer district of the Imperial Market was surprisingly peaceful.
Unlike the bustling heart of the marketplace deeper within the city, the entrance was spacious enough for people to walk comfortably without constantly brushing shoulders. Most of the shops here sold larger goods—woodwork, farming tools, paintings, pottery and furniture—allowing visitors to browse without being swallowed by crowds.
Tara, Malini and Satyadhara continued walking side by side.
While Tara leisurely admired the surroundings, Malini had already unrolled the expedition shopping list.
Malini:
"So... we have already arranged enough winter blankets from the royal warehouse."
She traced her finger down the scroll.
"But we still need waterproof canvas, spare cooking utensils, medicinal herbs, climbing ropes, lamp oil, and enough dried food to last at least two weeks."
Satyadhara nodded thoughtfully.
Satyadhara:
"We should also purchase extra whetstones."
"The mountain paths are unpredictable. Our soldiers will need to sharpen their weapons regularly."
Malini made a small note on the scroll.
"That's a good point."
She continued reading.
"We'll also need tents suitable for colder climates. The regular military tents won't survive the Himalayan winds."
Satyadhara agreed.
"And perhaps thicker boots for the younger officials. Most of them have never travelled beyond the capital."
Malini chuckled softly.
"I doubt half of them have even walked farther than their own ministry."
Both of them laughed quietly.
After jotting down another note, Malini finally looked toward Tara.
Malini:
"Devi Tara, what do you think—"
Silence.
Her words stopped midway.
She blinked.
"...Devi Tara?"
No reply.
She slowly lowered the scroll.
The space beside her...
Was empty.
Malini closed her eyes.
A deep sigh escaped her lips.
Malini:
"...She's gone again."
Satyadhara didn't even look surprised.
Without saying a word, he calmly raised one hand and pointed across the street.
"There."
Malini followed the direction of his finger.
Just a short distance away, Tara stood among a small crowd gathered around a stone wall.
She hadn't wandered far...
But she had wandered.
Again.
An elderly painter stood before the enormous wall, carefully dragging his brush across its surface with slow, practiced movements.
The mural stretched almost the length of an entire building.
Gentle green hills surrounded a crystal-clear pond that reflected the evening sky like polished glass. Tall trees swayed along its banks while distant mountains faded softly into the horizon.
It was breathtaking.
Several passersby had stopped to admire it.
Yet none looked quite as captivated as Tara.
Her eyes sparkled with childlike wonder as she studied every tiny brushstroke.
The old painter noticed her almost immediately.
He smiled warmly without taking his eyes off the mural.
Old Painter:
"You don't look like someone from around here."
Tara blinked, finally returning to reality.
Tara:
"Hm?"
"I actually am."
"I was born right here in the capital."
The painter chuckled.
Old Painter:
"Is that so?"
"It's just..."
He glanced at the jewelry adorning her wrists and neck.
"You carry yourself rather elegantly."
"And those ornaments..."
"They aren't something ordinary citizens wear every day."
He looked around curiously.
"What surprises me more is that I don't see any palace guards or servants accompanying you."
Tara's eyes widened.
"...Wait."
She turned around.
"Where did Malini and Satyadhara—"
Before she could finish...
Two familiar figures arrived behind her.
Malini folded her arms.
Her expression wasn't angry.
Only tired.
Malini:
"Devi Tara..."
"If you're going to wander off..."
"At least tell us first."
Tara gave an awkward smile.
Tara:
"Sorry..."
"But can you really blame me?"
She pointed enthusiastically toward the mural.
"Look at it!"
"It's beautiful!"
Curiosity got the better of them.
Malini and Satyadhara turned toward the painting.
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Satyadhara let out a quiet whistle.
Satyadhara:
"...It truly is remarkable."
Malini nodded in agreement.
"The scenery almost feels real."
The old painter smiled proudly.
Old Painter:
"Thank you."
"I've spent nearly six months working on it."
Tara stepped a little closer to the mural.
Her eyes wandered across the painted pond.
Tara:
"Where is this place?"
"I don't think I've ever seen it before."
The old painter rested his brush inside a small bucket of water.
He smiled nostalgically.
Old Painter:
"It's a quiet pond just outside the capital."
"Not too far away..."
"But very few people ever visit it."
"I discovered it many years ago when I was still a young boy."
His gaze lingered on the painted water.
"Back then..."
"I often noticed the same young man and woman visiting that pond."
"They came almost every evening."
"They would simply sit together for hours."
"Sometimes they talked."
"Sometimes they said nothing at all."
"But somehow..."
"They always looked happier than everyone else."
A gentle smile appeared on his weathered face.
"If it weren't for those two..."
"I might never have found such a beautiful place."
"So whenever I paint that pond..."
"I can't help but remember them."
He looked back at Tara with a knowing smile.
Old Painter:
"I had planned to keep that little place a secret."
"But..."
He chuckled.
"You're still young."
"One day, when someone special enters your life..."
"You should visit it together."
"I've always believed..."
"Some places become even more beautiful when they're shared with someone you love."
For a moment...
Tara, Malini and Satyadhara simply exchanged amused glances.
A small laugh escaped Tara.
Tara:
"Hopefully that day comes eventually."
She rubbed the back of her neck with an embarrassed smile.
"Though first..."
"I suppose I'll have to find the difficult part."
"The person to bring there."
The old painter laughed heartily.
Old Painter:
"Don't worry."
"Life has a habit of introducing people when we least expect it."