Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the heavy doors finally creaked open. Two elderly kings stepped out of the meeting room. Viraaj Chakravarthy, the king of Aaro and the king of Jwalana, Abhiveera Kumar. their robes flowing behind them against the marble floor.
They had spent hours discussing borders and messengers, but as they walked, a young soldier stepped forward. "Your Majesty" he said to Viraaj "Princess Ira came to see you. She is waiting in the garden."
The air in the hallway suddenly turned cold. Viraaj's eyes flashed with a terrifying, protective anger at the soldier for mentioning Ira's name in front of a stranger. But Abhiveera had already heard it.
"Ira?" Abhiveera asked, his brow furrowing. a shadow passed on his feature that he immediately hided and looked at Viraaj "I thought you only had two grandchildren, your majesty. Why have I never heard of Princess Ira?"
Viraaj hesitated, his jaw tightening. Then, perhaps seeing something in the other King's eyes, he made a choice. "Would you like to meet her, your majesty? She is... unique."
Abhiveera nod slowly, something was holding him back but he dismissed it and followed Viraaj to meet this princess named.... Ira. unique... indeed, she is.
They found her in the center of the garden, sitting on a white swing surrounded by jasmine. She was weaving a necklace, her head tilted down, the sunlight catching the rare silver of her hair that flowed behind her like a water flowing from moon with its gleam.
"Ira...." Viraaj called out gently.
Ira looked up, her face lighting up with a brilliant, genuine smile to see her beloved grandfather. Her only family member who truly accepted her.
But behind Viraaj, King Abhiveera did not smile. He didn't move at all.
His legs suddenly trembled. His breath left him in a ragged, pained gasp. His eyes were wide, fixed on Ira's face with a look of pure, soul-shattering shock.
He didn't see a girl in a maroon dress. He saw a face he hadn't seen in decades. A face that should have been impossible to see again.
"Irya..." was the only thing he could think at that moment as his eyes were stuck on Ira without blinking for once.
In that moment, he felt like life is rewarding him and punishing him at the same time. Seeing her felt like a miracle but the ache in his heart made it feel like a curse.