The magnificent royal assembly of Rupnagar Palace was glowing bright with light. Beneath the radiant beams of hundreds of golden lamps, every intricately carved pillar of the court shone brilliantly. Guests from distant realms, the common subjects of Rupnagar, and villagers were eagerly awaiting the evening's main highlight. On the royal stage of the palace hung a special golden curtain, behind which sat the newly appointed, supreme, and highly powerful Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Rupnagar.
Standing right in the center of the royal court was Princess Snigdha of Junagarh. Her face radiated a toxic glint of arrogance and insolence. Standing right beside her with supreme pomp was the cunning landlord's son, Jishnu. A short distance away stood Prince Prafulla and the gentle Princess Prabhasa, their faces pale with deep sorrow and humiliation. Emperor Roop-Pratap rose from his golden throne and addressed the court.
Raising his hand with solemn gravity, the Emperor spoke to the assembled crowd, "My beloved subjects gathered at Rupnagar Palace on this auspicious evening, distinguished royal families of neighboring realms, and honored guests—I offer you all my heartfelt royal greetings and welcome. I am deeply delighted by your presence. Without further delay, let us unveil the face of our new Prime Minister, through whose valor and wisdom Rupnagar is destined to reach new heights..."
Finishing his speech, the Emperor walked toward the stage with grand dignity. Just as he was about to lay his hand on the golden curtain to draw it aside, Snigdha discarded every shred of courtly etiquette and refined decorum, shrieking at the top of her lungs!
"Emperor! Have you lost your mind? Do you not possess an ounce of sense in your head?" Snigdha's foul screech instantly plunged the entire assembly into a dead silence! From common subjects to distinguished guests—everyone turned to stare at Snigdha in utter shock.
Waving her hands about like an uncivilized brute, Snigdha yelled, "I, Princess Snigdha, am here to make a grand announcement! Only after that may you proceed with your useless drama of revealing your garbage minister! I will present my invaluable proposal before everyone first. After that, you may do whatever you please! But I don't understand why you have to poke your nose in where it doesn't belong right now!"
Seeing an elderly Emperor humiliated in front of everyone in such foul language, Prafulla could no longer contain himself. Flushing red with rage, he rushed forward and tightly grabbed Snigdha's arm.
Dragging Snigdha to one side, Prafulla roared, "Snigdha! Have you truly gone mad? Do you still not know what to say where, or how to behave before whom? Is this the upbringing our deeply revered parents gave us? Do you not have a single grain of sense left in your head? How dare you hurl such disgusting words at the Emperor himself before thousands of subjects and invited guests? Is your mind in place? Go get your sanity checked first before questioning the Emperor's mind! Do you possess no basic judgment or shame whatsoever?"
Snigdha jerked her arm free from Prafulla's grip, her eyes widening as she hissed in fury. She snapped, "Shut up, Prafulla! I've heard enough of your useless blabber! If you utter another word, I will tightly bind both your hands right now and hang you upside down by your feet from the ceiling! Don't you dare try to preach to me!"
Hearing Snigdha's venomous abuse and threat made Prabhasa's heart tremble. Deeply pained and mortified, Prabhasa stepped up to stand before Snigdha.
In a polite yet firm voice, Prabhasa said, "Sister! You cannot speak such foul words to brother! Do you truly have no sense left in your head? Honestly, so many distinguished dignitaries are present here. Demeaningly insulting this elderly Emperor before everyone for no reason makes no sense! You can share your proposal later. Let us behold the face of our Prime Minister first! After that, you may do as you wish! But why must you indulge in such insolence right now, sister? Why are you dragging the honorable name of our lineage into the dust like this?"
The moment Snigdha heard Prabhasa's words, she flared up with extreme envy. She sneered with utter contempt, "Shut up, you cursed girl! Know your place like the low-born trash you are! Don't you dare talk back to me! Am I supposed to offer an explanation to a wretched face like yours for whatever I choose to do? Go stand quietly in a corner like you're supposed to! Or else I'll have you whipped right now and thrown into the dark dungeons of this palace, got it?"
Standing beside Snigdha, the cunning landlord's son Jishnu watched this entire farce and insolence, chuckling with sinister delight. He thought to himself that the more senselessly Snigdha behaved, the more alienated she would become from the Junagarh royal family—making it infinitely easier for him to bring Snigdha under his complete control!