On the table lay his heavy, golden spoon, which he had used for dinner. Hirday said nothing, but in a furious burst of anger, he picked up the spoon and violently threw it across the table!
With a clang, the golden spoon crashed onto the stone floor.
Lisa and the other servants huddled in fear. No one dared to look up. This rage was the part of Hirday that he had been so carefully concealing from Queen Sunlight moments ago. Sunlight had wanted exactly this rage.
Hirday's eyes now burned like fire. He roared in a low, but terrifying voice:
"Fifth! She is counting the number! Does she think I keep a tally of weaknesses?"
He gripped the edge of the table, applying pressure.
"I am the ruler! My path is paved with Nexus Law. Does she not know there is no place for love here? Has she forgotten Alisa's fate?"
He shook his head. His voice now held deep frustration and resentment.
"She dared to behave like this with me! She wanted me to get angry? Fine, I am angry! But my anger is not for her; my anger is because she is trying to expose my weakness!"
The cat 'Shadow,' which had been quiet under Sunlight's chair, became frightened by the Maharaja's intense fury, let out a "meow," and quickly darted out from under the table, vanishing into the darkness.
Hirday stood panting for a while. Slowly, his rage began to cool. The coldness of the ruler returned to his expression.
He looked at Lisa. Lisa was almost melting into the floor with fear.
"If what you heard with your ears in this room ever leaves your mouths... you know the consequences," Hirday said sternly.
"Yes, Maharaja," Lisa whispered fearfully.
Hirday then silently turned away from the table. He did not look at the golden spoon once. He walked and stood before the wall of paintings, where the portraits of his previous Queens stood fixed.
He seemed to be looking at them and convincing himself: Sunlight is different, but she must be controlled. She must be kept loyal to the Law that he himself established in exchange for love.
He knew that Sunlight had not come merely to appease him with 'love'; she had come to share power. And that was the most dangerous thing of all. Sunlight left the dining room and went straight to her private bath. The bathhouse was vast and made of marble, with a deep tub filled with hot water. Sweet steam from fragrant oils and aromatic herbs filled the room.
Closing the door, Sunlight first took off her blue silk gown. There was no restlessness in her mind, only a kind of triumphant joy. Hirday had gotten angry, he had thrown a spoon—Sunlight had wanted exactly that. Her intention was not to insult her husband, but to find the limit of her husband's control.
She slowly stepped into the hot water. The warmth of the water brought relaxation to every nerve in her body.
Sunlight leaned her head back and closed her eyes. All the conflicts in her mind, Lisa's gossip, Ana's mysterious half-truths, and Hirday's rage—all seemed to dissolve in the steam of the hot water.
It was then that she began to hum. It was not a royal hymn, but a familiar tune she used to sing in her childhood. The tune was light and of liberation—as if a ruler was finding freedom for herself.
She began to hum:
"Humm... Mmm Mmm Mmm... Mmm Mmm Mmm..."
Her hum was soft, but it echoed off the stone walls of the bathhouse. The tune seemed to say: 'I am no longer merely bound by love, I am part of the power that is built on rage and law.'
Sunlight realized that what she had achieved today was no less than a battle victory. She had exposed Hirday. She knew that Hirday could not be ruled, but he could be challenged.
She opened her eyes while humming and smiled. This smile was the assertion of her new right over her own life. Sunlight was enjoying the warmth of the water with her eyes closed and humming softly. Her mind was completely at peace; for the first time, she had found a drop of personal serenity for herself in this cold fortress.
At that very moment, a hard knocking suddenly sounded on the heavy wooden door of the bathhouse.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The noise was so loud and unexpected that Sunlight's humming stopped. She started and opened her eyes. Her body stiffened in the water.
Lisa or any other servant waiting outside the bathhouse would not dare to knock like that. It was a military knock—urgent and forceful.
Sunlight sat in stunned silence for a moment. Questions raced through her mind: Who? And why at this time?
She quickly composed herself. She was the Queen now.
"Who is it?" Sunlight asked in a firm voice.
A grave, cold voice came from outside, which was not that of Lisa or any other servant, but that of the Maharaja's Guard Commander Rick.
"Queen Mother! I am Commander Rick. The Maharaja has sent an urgent message for you! Orders to come out immediately!"
The address "Queen Mother" and the "urgent message" made Sunlight frown. Just moments ago, she had instructed Lisa to call her only "Queen," and Hirday had told her to look at his documents without answering her question.
Sunlight understood that Hirday, after expressing his rage, was now trying to put her to the test. She had to quickly emerge from the bath and obey the military command, or her position under Nexus Law would be jeopardized.
Sunlight wasted no more time. The comfort of her body vanished, replaced by the swiftness of a warrior.
She quickly got out of the water, grabbed her silk gown, and replied to Commander Rick:
"I am coming. Wait."
Sunlight knew this urgent message was not about the realm, but Hirday's personal and military challenge—he wanted to see how quickly Sunlight could quell his anger and return to the role of a ruler. Hearing Commander Rick's hard knocking and the address "Queen Mother," Sunlight did not delay for another moment. She quickly stepped out of the hot water.
All her calm vanished, replaced by military discipline. She knew that to delay now would mean losing to Hirday's harsh logic, which would put her in the ranks of his weak predecessors.
She quickly put on her light blue silk gown on her wet body. She swiftly tossed her wet hair over her shoulders—there was no time to dry her hair now. Protecting her honor was the Queen's chief task.
Sunlight opened the door and stepped out.
Commander Rick was waiting in the corridor in a military stance. His face was as hard as stone.
Sunlight did not give him a chance to speak. She passed Rick and started walking quickly toward the hall. Lisa and the other servants were still cowering in terror.
By the time Sunlight reached the hall door, the ruler inside her was fully prepared. She adjusted the folds of her silk gown, though it was slightly wrinkled from being wet, but her face held an expression of steel-like resolve.
She saw that Hirday was still standing motionless in front of the wall of paintings. He held no documents in his hands; he was merely looking at the portraits of the past Queens, as if waiting for Sunlight's return.
Sunlight stood at the door and raised her head slightly. There was no nervousness in her voice, only the firmness of the Queen:
"May I enter, Maharaja?"
She consciously avoided the word "Husband." Hirday had challenged her, so she responded in the language of a ruler.
Hirday turned around. His eyes glanced at Sunlight's wet hair, at her silk gown—which proved that she had risen from her comfort as soon as she received the command.
There was no anger on the Maharaja's face now, but satisfaction.
"You arrived quickly, Queen," Hirday said. "I was observing whether my command was important to you, or your personal comfort."
Hirday then held out a small golden box in his hand towards Sunlight.
"This is your urgent message," Hirday said. "Your first military duty."
Sunlight stepped forward and took the golden box. She knew that whatever was inside the box, it was not love; it was a test of power. Sunlight took the golden box in her hand. It was cold and slightly heavy. She looked at Hirday, but Hirday remained silent. His gaze was sharp, as if he was carefully observing the Queen's next move.
Sunlight realized that this was not merely a gift; it was an instruction, and the Queen's reaction at this moment was crucial.
Without further hesitation, she opened the lid of the box.
Inside were two items:
A small, smooth stone: The stone looked ordinary, but engraved on it was the ancient royal seal of the Nexus Empire.
A folded parchment: which looked like a secret or military order.
Sunlight first picked up the stone. Holding it in her hand, she felt its smoothness. Then, she carefully unfolded the parchment.
Written clearly in military script was:
URGENT COMMAND: QUEEN NEXUS
SUBJECT: Destruction of Alisa's Memorial.
INSTRUCTION: You must immediately proceed to Visarin Hill on the Eastern side. There is a private memorial secretly built for Queen Alisa, which was constructed against Nexus Law. This memorial could evoke weak emotions in the populace.
DUTY: Before the end of this night, you must completely destroy this memorial with the aid of your two most trusted soldiers. No trace must be left. This is your first and final duty—to establish Law above personal sentiment.
SIGNATURE: Maharaja Hirday, Chief of Nexus.
Sunlight's face hardened instantly. This was not just a military task; it was Hirday's ultimate test of her. She had asked for the truth about Alisa's fate, and now Hirday wanted Sunlight to personally erase the last trace of that past.
Sunlight folded the parchment and tightly gripped the golden stone in her hand. She looked up and stared directly at Hirday.
"What is the meaning of this stone, Maharaja?" Sunlight asked.
Hirday slowly stepped closer.
"That stone is your proof, Queen," Hirday said. "It is the first symbol of the authority I have granted you. When you destroy the memorial, you will bury that stone under the ground. It will prove—that the last trace of Alisa's life has been covered by Law, and you are fully loyal to that Law."
Hirday came very close to Sunlight now.
"To back away from this command is to violate Nexus Law. And you know, Queen," Hirday's voice was low, "what the consequence is for one who violates the Law."
Sunlight stood firm. A fierce struggle was taking place in her mind. Not emotion, but she must act as a cold, stern ruler now. She laughed. This laugh was one of recognition and terrifying promise.
"I am ready, Maharaja. I am leaving immediately," Sunlight said. "But remember one thing, you only gave me a task of destruction. But in return, I will begin construction in your empire. This destruction will prove your loyalty to the Law over any love for me."
Sunlight turned and rapidly exited the hall with her wet hair and blue gown, the golden box in her hand serving as the symbol of her new, harsh duty. Sunlight quickly left theThis was likely a mystery of the ancient Nexus power.
Her body began to feel a strange energy under the influence of this blue magic, as if this blue glow was awakening the ruler within her.
Just then, a stern but familiar voice echoed from the staircase below—
"No, Sunlight! You cannot go!"
It was the voice of Maharaja Hirday.
Sunlight quickly turned around. Hirday was standing at the top of the stairs, his military attire slightly dishevelled. His eyes still held a trace of anger, but mixed with it was a deep anxiety and fear.
Sunlight was completely stunned. She had thought Hirday was testing her courage and loyalty. But why was he stopping her now?
"Maharaja?" Sunlight whispered.
Hirday rushed across the steps and onto the rooftop, a sense of helplessness clear on his face.
"No, Queen! I will not allow you to carry out my first command! Come back now!" Hirday was panting.
Sunlight was confused.
"But Maharaja," Sunlight said firmly, "this is your order. Destroying Alisa's memorial is my first military duty. I am loyal to the Law. Didn't you say that one who violates the Law..."
Sunlight watched in surprise as Hirday stared at her, the blue glow of the magic reflecting in his eyes. Hirday suddenly looked at the golden box in Sunlight's hand.
"That box! Have you forgotten what Alisa was before she became Queen?" Hirday's voice held the hint of a terrifying truth.
Sunlight did not fully understand why Hirday was forbidding her from executing the first military command and hinting at Alisa's past. The mysterious blue light of the magic still swirled around her.