Rhea had made a mistake.

She had known it the moment she walked away from Karna, the moment she let herself believe that she could do something about what she had uncovered. The moment she let herself be seen.

Hastinapura was a city that thrived on secrets, and she had gotten too close to one that wasn't meant to be touched.

Now, someone was going to remind her of that.

It started as a feeling—a prickling at the back of her neck, a sense of being watched.

She had lived in the palace long enough to recognize when she was being followed. But tonight, the weight of the air felt different. Heavier. Dangerous.

The halls were emptier than usual, the flickering torches casting long, shifting shadows. She kept walking, forcing her breath to remain steady, forcing herself not to look over her shoulder too soon.

Because if she was being followed, she couldn't let them know that she knew.

Her path was deliberate—turning down familiar corridors, taking unexpected detours, doubling back where she could. A test.

But the presence behind her never faltered. Whoever they were, they were experienced. They weren't just watching. They were waiting.

Her heart pounded.

She needed to get somewhere public, somewhere she wouldn't simply vanish.

The servant quarters were too far. The council halls were empty this late. The temple? No, too isolated.

The courtyard.

It was still early enough that there would be guards. If she could just—

A shadow moved ahead of her.

She froze.

Too late.

The figure stepped forward from the darkness, blocking her path. Another footstep behind her.

Two.

Her pulse quickened.

This wasn't just a warning.

They weren't going to let her walk away.

The man in front of her was tall, his face hidden beneath the hood of his cloak. But she didn't need to see his face to know what he was.

Not a servant. Not a noble. An enforcer.

"Walking alone at night, little bird?" His voice was low, edged with amusement. "Not very wise."

Rhea's mind raced.

If they had been sent to kill her outright, they wouldn't be speaking. Which meant they wanted something else first.

A warning. A message.

Or worse—to know how much she had figured out.

She schooled her expression into something unimpressed, folding her arms. "You should work on your subtlety."

The man chuckled. "I'd say you should work on your caution, but..." His gaze flickered past her to the second figure behind her. "It seems a little late for that."

She forced herself to remain still. "What do you want?"

"That depends," he said lightly. "See, you've been very curious lately. Listening where you shouldn't be listening. Asking things you shouldn't be asking."

Rhea's stomach twisted.

"I hear you've been spending time with the wrong people," he continued, taking a slow step forward. "Vidura. Karna. Interesting choices."

Her fists clenched. "I speak to plenty of people."

"Ah, but it's what you've been speaking about that's the problem."

She was running out of time.

She could try to talk her way out, but these weren't court politicians she could charm or maneuver around.

She could run, but they had planned this—they had boxed her in.

Which meant her only option was the worst one.

She had to fight.

And she had to win.

The enforcer took another step forward. "Now, let's make this easy—"

She moved first.

A sharp, sudden motion, lunging to the side instead of backward, throwing herself toward the nearest escape route.

But they were faster.

A hand grabbed her arm, yanking her back. She twisted, elbow striking upward, connecting with soft flesh. A grunt of pain.

Not enough.

The second man caught her wrist, forcing it behind her back. Pain flared up her arm, but she barely registered it.

"Not a fighter, are you?" the first one mused. "Pity. It would've been fun to break you properly."

She gritted her teeth. She had one chance.

She went limp.

The moment their grip loosened just slightly, she threw her weight sideways, slamming her shoulder into the man holding her. He staggered back. Her knee came up, hard, into his stomach.

He gasped.

She spun, grabbing the hilt of his dagger before he could react.

And suddenly, the odds were different.

Rhea took a slow step back, blade now in her hand. Her breath was heavy, her heart pounding.

The man wiped his mouth, straightening. His smirk had disappeared.

"Well," he muttered. "That was rude."

Rhea kept her grip tight, lifting the dagger slightly. She had no illusions about winning a fair fight. But right now, she just needed to get away.

The two men exchanged a glance. Then the first one sighed. "I was told to deliver a warning."

She didn't let her guard drop.

"Stop asking questions," he said, brushing off his cloak. "Or next time, we won't be talking."

And just like that, they were gone.

They disappeared into the shadows, as if they had never been there at all.

Rhea didn't move for a long moment.

Her breath was still unsteady, the blade still clenched tightly in her fingers.

Her hands were shaking.

She forced herself to take a slow breath. Then another.

Then, finally, she lowered the dagger.

She had gotten too close.

Someone had sent those men.

And whoever they were, they wanted her silent.

But Rhea had never been very good at listening.

So she did the only thing she could.

She turned, gripping the stolen dagger tighter, and went to find Vidura.

Because if they wanted her to stop?

It meant she had been right.

And she wasn't done yet.