Rhea moved with purpose.

Hastinapura had a way of swallowing people whole—turning them into pawns in a game they barely understood. She had spent enough time reacting to the chaos around her.

This time, she was preparing.

The arrangements were nearly done.

A house—small, unremarkable, tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city. A place no one would think to look for her. A place no one would question if she vanished into for a while.

Not an escape.

A contingency.

Because Hastinapura was not kind to those who were caught unprepared.

The streets were quiet as she made her way through the trade district, speaking to the man who had agreed to handle the purchase. A few hushed words, a coin exchanged, a nod of understanding.

She turned to leave—only to find two familiar figures standing at the edge of the marketplace.

Yudhishthira and Bhima.

The brothers had clearly just returned from some errand, their presence drawing attention in the way only the Pandavas could.

Bhima spotted her first, his brows lifting in mild surprise. "Rhea?"

She cursed internally.

Of course they would run into her now.

Still, she kept her expression neutral. "Bhima," she greeted, nodding at Yudhishthira as well.

Yudhishthira studied her, his calm gaze flickering ever so slightly toward the merchant behind her. A man who was not the kind of person she usually associated with.

But he did not ask.

Bhima, however, was less subtle. He crossed his arms, giving her an assessing look. "You're up to something."

Rhea huffed. "I'm always up to something."

Bhima smirked. "True. But this—" He glanced at the marketplace, then back at her. "—feels different."

She shrugged, casual. "Maybe I just wanted to take a walk."

Bhima snorted. "You don't walk through the markets unless you have a reason."

Yudhishthira's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, unreadable. Then, with a small nod, he gestured toward the road ahead. "Come. Let's walk together."

Rhea hesitated—but nodded.

If nothing else, it would keep Bhima from digging too deep into her affairs.

They walked through the streets, the city alive around them. The scent of fresh spices lingered in the air, merchants calling out their wares as people moved about their daily lives.

Rhea stayed between the two brothers, feeling the contrast between them.

Yudhishthira, measured and thoughtful, taking in everything with quiet observation.

Bhima, solid and unbothered, exuding the kind of ease that only came from someone who never had to doubt his own strength.

"You seem busy," Yudhishthira remarked after a moment.

Rhea glanced at him, but his face remained unreadable.

"Nothing unusual," she said smoothly. "Just... making arrangements."

Bhima arched a brow. "Arrangements for what?"

"Arrangements for when I get tired of watching all of you make terrible decisions."

Bhima let out a booming laugh, nudging her shoulder playfully. "Fair. But you do realize that even if you run away, we'll probably still drag you back into things, right?"

Rhea sighed dramatically. "I was afraid of that."

Yudhishthira, meanwhile, was watching her closely. Not with suspicion—but with understanding.

He knew.

Maybe not the full extent of it. Maybe not the why.

But he knew she was planning something.

And he did not ask.

Instead, he simply said, "It is always good to have options."

Rhea looked at him.

And for a brief moment, she saw not the noble eldest son of Pandu, but the man who had spent years in exile, who had lost everything once, and knew better than to be caught unprepared ever again.

He understood.

She nodded, the unspoken agreement passing between them.

Bhima, oblivious to the quiet exchange, stretched his arms. "Speaking of terrible decisions, we're heading back to the palace before another crisis explodes. You coming with us?"

Rhea rolled her eyes. "Do I have a choice?"

"Not really," Bhima said cheerfully.

And then—

A familiar voice joined them.

"Planning another escape, Rhea?"

She turned—and found Arjuna walking toward them, smirking.

He was dressed simply, his bow slung over his shoulder, but his gaze was sharp as ever.

Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Don't you have something better to do?"

Arjuna tilted his head, considering. "Not really."

Bhima grinned. "She's making 'arrangements,' apparently."

Arjuna's brow arched, and his gaze flickered to her. Too sharp. Too knowing.

Rhea shrugged. "A woman is allowed to make plans, isn't she?"

Arjuna smiled, slow and lazy. "Of course. I just wonder if those plans involve leaving before things get interesting."

She held his gaze. "And if they do?"

His smirk didn't waver. "Then I'd have to remind you that you never really leave this game, Rhea. You just change where you stand on the board."

She hated how right he was.

But she wasn't going to admit that.

Instead, she huffed, crossing her arms. "You're all insufferable."

Bhima clapped a heavy hand on her shoulder. "And yet, here you are."

Arjuna chuckled, falling into step beside her as they continued walking back toward the palace.

And as they moved through the city, Rhea realized something.

They had noticed what she was doing.

They had seen that she was planning something.

But none of them had stopped her.

Because they knew.

Because, in their own ways, they had done the same.