The halls of Hastinapura were always filled with movement. Warriors training. Courtiers scheming. Servants carrying whispered secrets like invisible weapons.

But today, Rhea felt it more than ever—the quiet tension weaving through the palace. A war had already begun.

Not the kind fought with swords. But the kind fought with silence, glances, and power plays.

And she had just stepped into the middle of it.

She was still reeling from her meeting with Vidura.

From the name on the parchment. From the realization that the erased heir had not been erased alone.

There was another name.

And whoever had been erased alongside them... they had been important enough to be buried completely.

Rhea needed time to think.

But Hastinapura never gave time to those without power.

Which was why she barely had a moment to breathe before she nearly collided with Bhima.

"Watch where you're going!"

The voice was loud, gruff, and unmistakable.

Rhea barely managed to stop herself from crashing into him. Bhima was built like a mountain, and hitting him would be about as useful as running into a stone wall.

She took a step back, glancing up at his face. His expression was a mix of irritation and vague amusement.

"Apologies," she said quickly.

Bhima snorted. "You're one of those palace lurkers, aren't you? Always sneaking around."

Rhea's lips twitched. "I prefer 'quiet observer.'"

"Right." Bhima crossed his arms. "And what exactly are you observing?"

Rhea knew better than to answer that honestly.

"Everything," she said vaguely.

Bhima smirked. "You sound like Yudhishthira. Always watching. Always thinking."

At the mention of Yudhishthira, Rhea glanced past Bhima.

The eldest Pandava stood further down the corridor, engaged in a quiet conversation with Kunti.

Kunti, who was watching her just as closely as Rhea was watching her.

Their gazes met.

Rhea wasn't sure what Kunti saw when she looked at her. But there was something there. A quiet calculation. A measuring.

She knew better than to hold eye contact for too long.

She turned back to Bhima and forced a smile. "I'll be more careful next time."

Bhima shrugged. "See that you do. This palace eats the careless alive."

With that, he walked away, his heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Rhea exhaled, barely allowing herself a moment of relief before another voice spoke behind her.

"You're good at dodging questions."

She turned sharply.

Arjuna.

If Bhima was a storm, Arjuna was a blade.

Where Bhima spoke bluntly, Arjuna observed. Where Bhima relied on brute strength, Arjuna wielded precision.

And right now, he was watching her with quiet, pointed curiosity.

"You've been moving differently," he said. "Looking over your shoulder more than usual."

Rhea felt her pulse quicken. Of course Arjuna would notice. He was a warrior trained in reading people, in seeing weaknesses before an opponent even realized they had one.

She needed to steer the conversation away.

"If I've been looking over my shoulder," she said lightly, "perhaps it's because people keep appearing behind me."

Arjuna raised an eyebrow. "Deflecting with humor. Interesting choice."

Rhea gave him a sharp smile. "It usually works."

Arjuna didn't return the smile.

Instead, he stepped a little closer, lowering his voice. "Stay out of things that don't concern you, Rhea."

She stiffened.

It wasn't a threat. It wasn't even an insult.

It was advice.

And somehow, that made it worse.

"Noted," she said evenly.

Arjuna studied her for a moment longer before nodding and walking away, disappearing into the halls like a shadow.

Rhea let out a slow breath.

The Pandavas were watching her.

And they weren't the only ones.

Because as soon as Arjuna disappeared, another voice spoke from behind her.

"You do realize they'll never fully trust you."

She didn't turn immediately.

She knew that voice.

Duryodhana.

She forced herself to turn around.

He stood there, arms folded, the same smirk he always wore tugging at the corner of his lips.

But his eyes—his eyes were sharp.

"They don't trust outsiders," he continued. "You should know that by now."

Rhea tilted her head. "And you do?"

Duryodhana let out a short laugh. "Trust is a fool's game. I don't expect loyalty from anyone except the ones I choose."

His words were pointed.

An invitation. A test.

He was watching, waiting to see where she would fall.

Rhea had spent her life avoiding choices like these.

She had spent her life balancing on the fine edge of neutrality.

But now, neutrality was slipping through her fingers.

And she had no idea how much longer she could hold onto it.

Author's Note:

Ohhh, Rhea. You're officially on everyone's radar now. 😏

👀 Bhima thinks she's sneaky. 👀 Kunti is evaluating her. 👀 Arjuna warns her to stay out of things. 👀 Duryodhana sees an opportunity.

🔥 Next chapter: Rhea learns exactly how dangerous it is to be caught between two sides.