Hastinapura had never been kind to those without power.

And for all their wealth, their silks, their crowns—not every woman in a royal chamber was powerful.

That, Rhea thought, was something people often forgot.

She was reminded of it now, as she stood before two women whose lives had been decided for them.

Two women who, in the eyes of the world, had risen.

One, the Yuvrani of Hastinapura. The other, Anga's Rani.

They carried their titles well.

But tonight, before their paths split—Supriya had come to her.

She found Supriya waiting for her in the courtyard garden, the moonlight catching on the soft gold embroidery of her sari.

Bhanumati stood beside her, arms crossed, watching Rhea approach with an unreadable expression.

Rhea stopped a few steps away, inclining her head slightly.

"Yuvrani. Rani of Anga."

Bhanumati arched an eyebrow. "Formalities, Rhea? That doesn't sound like you."

Supriya, however, smiled faintly. "It is still strange to hear it."

Rhea shrugged. "Strange or not, it is what you are now."

Supriya sighed. "And what do you think that means?"

Rhea considered her for a moment.

Then, simply—"That depends."

Supriya tilted her head. "On?"

"On whether you wish to be known by the title... or by your own name."

A beat of silence.

Bhanumati let out a soft scoff. "You speak like a philosopher, Rhea. Is this how you avoid answering questions?"

Rhea smirked. "Is it working?"

Bhanumati's lips twitched. "Almost."

Supriya, however, was still watching Rhea carefully.

"I sought you out because I need to understand something," she admitted. "Something I think only you can tell me."

Rhea nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

Supriya inhaled slowly. "Tell me about Karna."

Rhea wasn't surprised.

But that didn't make the question any easier to answer.

She exhaled, choosing her words carefully.

"Karna is a man who has fought for everything he has."

Supriya's expression didn't change. "So I have heard."

"No," Rhea corrected. "You have heard that he has fought. You have not heard what that means."

Supriya frowned slightly.

Rhea continued. "It means that he does not take things lightly. It means that he clings to what is his, because he was not always allowed to keep what he earned. It means that his greatest strength is also his greatest flaw."

"And what flaw is that?"

Rhea met her gaze evenly. "That he does not know how to let go."

A long silence followed.

Then, Supriya nodded slowly.

Not in surprise.

But in understanding.

As if she had already seen glimpses of it herself.

Supriya sighed. "Soon, I will leave for Anga."

Rhea inclined her head. "So I have heard."

Supriya smiled faintly. "Then you understand why I am here."

Rhea did.

This was not about fear. Not about regret.

This was about understanding the man she would soon stand beside.

And choosing what kind of Patni she would be.

She exhaled. "He is loyal to those he calls his own."

Supriya's gaze sharpened. "And will I be one of them?"

That, Rhea thought, was a question only Karna could answer.

But instead of saying that, she let her gaze flicker toward Bhanumati.

Because this was not just Supriya's concern.

This was Bhanumati's loss, too.

Rhea smiled faintly. "I suppose that depends on whether you wish to be his wife... or his ally."

Supriya blinked. "Is there a difference?"

"Yes," Rhea said simply. "A wife is given. An ally chooses."

Bhanumati let out a soft, thoughtful hum. "And which do you think Supriya will be?"

Rhea smirked slightly. "That is not my decision to make."

Supriya let out a small laugh. "No, I suppose it isn't."

But in her expression, in the way she stood a little taller, Rhea thought—

Perhaps she had already chosen.

The conversation shifted after that.

Not to Karna. Not to marriage.

But to simpler things.

To laughter that did not feel forced. To memories of childhood—of Supriya and Bhanumati sneaking away from their tutors, of stolen moments of freedom before the world had decided who they should be.

For a while, they were not Yuvrani and Rani.

Not women tied to powerful men.

They were just themselves.

And for Rhea, who had spent so many years watching the palace, watching the men who shaped this kingdom—

It was a rare kind of peace.

But as the lanterns burned low and the night stretched on, Rhea knew—

By tomorrow, everything would change.

Supriya would leave. Bhanumati would take her place at Duryodhana's side.

And the world would keep turning, as it always did.

But for now—just for this one moment—none of that mattered.