The grand palace doors loomed before Nandini, their intricate carvings glistening under the torchlight. Her heart pounded as the guards pushed them open, revealing a vast hall beyond.
She was about to meet the king.
The soldiers led her inside, and her breath caught in her throat. The throne room was magnificent—tall marble pillars stretched toward the ceiling, detailed murals depicting battles and conquests adorned the walls, and golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the polished stone floors.
A long red carpet led up to the throne, where a man sat with quiet authority.
He was unlike any king she had ever imagined.
Dressed in regal silk robes embroidered with gold, he carried an aura of power. His strong jawline, broad shoulders, and intense dark eyes radiated confidence, but there was also a calm intelligence behind them.
As Nandini took a step forward, his piercing gaze locked onto hers.
The warrior who had captured her knelt before the throne. “Your Majesty, we found this woman in the forest. She dresses like no one we have seen, and she carries this.” He held up the golden pendant.
The king’s expression darkened at the sight of it.
“Where did you find this?” His voice was deep, steady, and commanding.
Nandini hesitated. She needed to choose her words carefully.
“I… I found it at an ancient temple,” she said truthfully. “I don’t know how I got here.”
The king narrowed his eyes. “Are you a foreign spy?”
“No!” Nandini said quickly. “I mean no harm, I swear. I am just… lost.”
The court murmured amongst themselves, exchanging suspicious glances.
The king studied her for a long moment, then turned back to the warrior. “Unbind her.”
The soldier hesitated but obeyed. The ropes around her wrists loosened, and Nandini rubbed her sore skin.
“What is your name?” the king asked.
“Nandini,” she said softly.
For a fleeting second, something flickered in his eyes. Recognition? But before she could dwell on it, he spoke again.
“You do not belong here.” His voice was quieter now, almost thoughtful. “And yet… this pendant belongs to my family. How did you come to possess it?”
Nandini’s heart skipped a beat. His family?
She glanced down at the pendant in the warrior’s hands. She had found it in the temple ruins—centuries later. If it belonged to his family, did that mean she was in his era?
“I told you,” she said slowly, “I found it in the temple ruins.”
“Ruins?” The king’s expression darkened. “That temple is sacred to my ancestors. It still stands strong, not in ruins.”
Nandini swallowed. That confirmed it. She really had travelled back in time.
The realization sent shivers down her spine.
The king watched her carefully. “You speak Sanskrit fluently, but your clothing is strange. Your presence is… unnatural.”
Nandini’s mind raced. She needed to stay safe until she could figure out a way back home.
She took a deep breath and did something she had never done before.
She folded her hands in a respectful namaste and bowed slightly.
“I swear upon the gods, I am no enemy to you, Your Majesty. I am only a traveller, lost in a place I do not understand.”
The court fell silent.
The king’s eyes remained locked onto hers.
Then, unexpectedly, he smirked.
“You are an unusual woman, Nandini,” he said, leaning forward. “And I do not trust unusual things easily.”
Her stomach dropped. Was he going to imprison her? Execute her?
But instead, he turned to his guards. “She will remain in the palace under watch until I decide what to do with her.”
Nandini exhaled in relief. She wasn’t free, but at least she wasn’t being dragged to a dungeon.
The king looked at her one last time before standing. “Until I uncover the truth… you are my guest.”
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