The sounds of external military salutes and applause quickly faded. The black Rolls Royce slowly moved past the main gates of the royal palace. Inside the car, there was perfect silence—which blocked out all the commotion of the outside world.
Sunlight adjusted the folds of her massive gown. The diamond ornaments on her hand glittered in the car's soft light. For the first time, they had appeared in public as the Queen and King, and now they entered a moment of complete privacy.
Hirday turned to Sunlight. In his eyes, the three forms of the old teacher, lover, and ruler still existed. He gently lifted Sunlight's hand and held it in his own.
"We are alone now," Hirday whispered. "No war, no Nexus bond constraints. Only a new life, Queen Sunlight."
Sunlight rested her head gently on Hirday's shoulder. The car's gentle sway carried them forward onto the outer road. After three years of hard rule, this was their first true rest.
"Where are we going, Your Majesty?" Sunlight asked.
Hirday smiled. "Where no one can find us. Where we are just you and I, not just Queen or King."
Their royal black car then proceeded down the highway towards an unknown, but beautiful, future. Sunlight lifted her head from Maharaja Hirday's shoulder. Hirday was still holding her hand firmly. The beginning of their married life was peaceful, yet royal.
Sunlight smiled at Hirday's words, her eyes still sparkling with joy. She looked ahead, eager to know their destination.
The black Rolls Royce soon left the city's crowded area and approached a massive, high wall. Peering over the wall, Sunlight's eyes fell upon a huge, dark architectural structure.
She was astonished to see that the palace house ahead was so large that it was more magnificent and colossal than the main palace of the Nexus Empire. Its design was old, made of stone, and extremely austere.
Sunlight murmured, "This... this is not our secret palace."
Hirday smiled. "This is our new residence, my Queen. It is located in the northern part of the Nexus Empire, built in the style of centuries-old German architecture. This is my grandfather's property. It is more secure than the royal palace."
Sunlight now frowned. This was not a place for rest or a honeymoon; rather, it looked like a military fortress or a secret center of power.
"But you said we would be alone," Sunlight said, her voice containing both amusement and a slight challenge.
Hirday gently kissed her forehead. "Yes, we will be alone. Just you, me... and our military structure. A Queen must also see her empire's secret bases. Come, my new teacher. Your next lesson begins."
The car then drove through the massive gate into that immense, ancient German palace, which silently hinted at a terrifying new power.
The Fortress Unveiled
The black Rolls Royce stopped in front of the main entrance of the massive, ancient German-style palace. The doors were made of iron, proving their security.
As the car door opened, a scene unfolded before Sunlight:
Lined up in front were about twenty maids. They were dressed in clean, uniform royal attire. They were ready, heads bowed, to welcome the Queen.
Beside them, a group of stern, disciplined military personnel stood at the palace entrance. They were armed, signaling the military importance of the place.
Maharaja Hirday was the first to step out of the car, and then he extended his hand to Sunlight.
Sunlight stepped out of the car, her massive white gown and diamond ornaments illuminating the palace grounds. A silent, solemn atmosphere was created among the maids and military personnel who were watching her.
Hirday smiled softly and whispered close to Sunlight's ear: "Welcome to your new fortress, my new Queen. These twenty maids are for your personal service alone. And this military force is the foundation of our new empire."
Sunlight looked around her. This was not a honeymoon destination; this was the real center of their power—a secured military fortress. Sunlight held Maharaja Hirday's hand as she descended from the car. In that very moment, four maids from the lined-up group quickly stepped forward.
With extreme skill, almost silently, they caught hold of the long train of Sunlight's massive, glittering white gown. Their action was flawless and well-trained. They began to follow the Queen to reduce the burden of the diamond ornaments and the lavish dress.
The disciplined presence of the military on one side and the group of twenty maids on the other proved that this German palace was not just a home, but the secured fortress of a new empire.
Sunlight did not stop for a moment. The confidence of a Queen was on her face. The military guards saluted. The maids followed, holding the dress.
Hirday smiled gently, as if pleased with Sunlight's royal entry.
"Let's go, Queen," Hirday said. "Every stone of this fortress awaits a new history."
Sunlight and Hirday entered the palace interior together, passing through the massive iron doors.
Halls of Hidden History
When Sunlight and Hirday entered the palace interior through the massive iron doors, the military severity of the exterior instantly transformed into a different kind of artistry. The palace inside was ancient, solemn, and vast.
The wide corridors and large halls delighted their eyes. This architecture was different from the modern splendor of their familiar Nexus Royal Palace—it was a silent symbol of ancient power and German aristocracy.
Sunlight's eyes then went to the paintings hung on the surrounding walls. The pictures were lined up in sequence. These were not just decorations; they were the secret history of the. Nexus Empire.
First Row: Portraits of ancient Maharajas and Queens of the Nexus dynasty. Their stern, victorious faces proved how extensive the power of this dynasty was.
Next to them: Scenes of military victories. Ancient maps of various European regions and plans for military campaigns. Seeing all this, Sunlight understood that Hirday was showing her not just the empire's throne, but its military and strategic center as well.
The Most Important: A large portrait hung on the wall. It was of Queen Alisa, who, like Sunlight, used the Nexus power freely. But beside it was a small, dim picture.
Sunlight quickly moved toward that picture. It was the picture of the young teacher—who used to educate her in the royal academy. The picture was clearly hung on the wall, and the face of that teacher bore a striking resemblance to Maharaja Hirday's face.
Hirday smiled softly. "This is the secret history that I didn't teach you in the classroom. This is the journey of you, me, and this empire."
Sunlight became emotional. This palace was not just their new home; it was a witness to every step of their relationship.
The Teacher's Long Game
The walls of the vast hall were adorned with pictures of the royal dynasty and military history. Sunlight was still standing in front of the portrait of Hirday as her young teacher.
Hirday gently took Sunlight's hand and led her away from that portrait to a relatively smaller picture nearby.
That picture was old-fashioned, somewhat faded—but the subject of the picture shocked Sunlight.
Hirday smiled softly, looking at the picture.
The picture hanging on the wall was of Sunlight herself. It was not a picture of a Queen in royal attire, but a picture of a young, determined student. In her hand was still the ancient scroll of Nexus Law. The picture was painted exactly when Sunlight was undergoing her rigorous education in the royal academy—where Hirday was her teacher.
Hirday looked at his wife and said with deep emotion:
"I didn't just teach you, Queen. I observed your every step of progress. The day you first reached the pinnacle of Nexus power, I secretly commissioned this picture. I knew you would sit on my throne one day."
Sunlight stared at the picture. She understood that Hirday hadn't just bound her for the throne; he had been preparing her as the future Queen from the very beginning. His every severity was actually a teacher's ultimate training.
Sunlight looked up at Hirday. "How did you know everything so far in advance, teacher?"
Hirday kissed Sunlight's hand. "Nexus Law states that love is the highest bond. Your talent, your power, and your innocent love—I saw these three things from the start, and I knew. You were never a prisoner, Queen. You were my future's seed, which I planted with care."
Alisa's Deadly Truth
Sunlight was still gazing, which proved how long Hirday had been preparing her as the future ruler.
When Sunlight asked in a tone mixed with emotion and curiosity:
"And she was your first wife, right?"
Hirday did not smile this time. A shadow of deep sorrow fell over his face.
He took Sunlight's hand and led her to the center of the massive hall. The military guards and maids stood at a distance.
"You read Queen Alisa's diary, Queen," Hirday said calmly. "You know how strict the Nexus Law is. Yes, Alisa was my first wife."
Hirday then slowly revealed a new, harsh truth:
"Alisa was a weak binder who hated me. She wanted to use the Nexus Law to weaken me. But I wanted to protect our empire, not her. And at that time... I found you."
Sunlight now understood why Hirday had bound her so strictly. If Alisa had succeeded, the empire would have been divided.
"I didn't imprison you, Sunlight," Hirday said. "I would not let you fall into weak hands like Alisa's. I saw your talent and strength, which were worthy of the Nexus Empire. Your birthright was the sole legitimate heir of Nexus, but according to the law, your binding with me was necessary to place you on the throne. Alisa knew, so she hid that truth in the diary."
Sunlight stood still for a moment. She realized that her rebellion was not just for power; it was actually for the legitimate inheritance and stability of the Nexus Empire.
.