It was morning.
Princess Raatri stood by the window of her chamber, gazing steadily at the marketplace far away from the palace, visible from her window. She watched the people moving around there, but her heart was heavy—she was upset because of her harsh behavior toward Prince Susim.
After some time, Subahu's mother arrived there. She was deceitful.
"May I come in, Maharani?"
Princess Raatri turned toward her and said,
"Yes… please."
"You're here so early?"
"Yes, dear. Actually, the other women of the palace and I are going to the marketplace.
So we thought, why don't you come along with us?"
"Ever since you returned, you've been spending all your time inside the palace.
Come with us, you'll feel better."
"You are right," Raatri replied softly.
"Let's go."
All the disguised people took Princess Raatri to the marketplace.
After wandering around for a while and buying some things, suddenly chaos broke out. People started running away, leaving everything behind.
Princess Raatri couldn't understand what was happening.
Then—Prince Susim appeared.
With him came countless cruel and terrifying soldiers, who were cutting down people with their swords as they advanced.
Seeing this, Princess Raatri tried to stop Prince Susim, but he didn't listen. Instead, he used his energy to restrain her.
Enraged, Raatri tried to use her powers against them—but it had no effect.
Because none of them were real.
Prince Susim and all those soldiers were creations of the demon Subahu, formed through his dark magic.
They were all impostors.
That was why Raatri's powers had no effect on them.
And moreover, she had not yet fully learned to control her energy.
Whatever little she knew—Subahu himself had taught her.
And Subahu knew very well how much of her power she could use.
Before she could do anything more—
A massive explosion occurred.
In an instant, bodies were torn apart everywhere.
Prince Susim and his soldiers suddenly vanished.
As the smoke cleared, the marketplace was filled with dead bodies scattered all around.
Among them were also the corpses of Subahu's entire family—created by Subahu himself.
Seeing this, Princess Raatri was left speechless.
Unable to understand anything, she sat down in the middle of the marketplace, staring blankly at the bodies.
Just a short while ago, the place had been full of life—
and now, it was covered in complete silence.
After some time, Subahu arrived.
He pretended to be deeply grief-stricken.
Princess Raatri tried to console him.
But Subahu said—
"There is no need to act, Maharani.
All of this happened because of you."
"If you wanted to be free from us, you could have simply left.
Why did you need to join hands with Susim and attack our world?"
"In a single moment, you destroyed my entire world."
"And still, you have no shame—you dare to stand before me?"
"Move aside!"
He pushed her hand away.
But Raatri herself was unable to bear what had happened.
She was filled with anger toward herself.
By evening, the relatives of the dead arrived, crying as they carried away the bodies of their loved ones.
Subahu also took the bodies of his family back to the palace.
Princess Raatri stayed there in the marketplace the entire night.
She couldn't gather the courage to return to the palace.
The next morning—
The entire population of Subahu's realm gathered before him, demanding justice.
They called for the death penalty for the Maharani.
Subahu's soldiers captured Princess Raatri and brought her before the king.
The king accused her of treason and declared her punishment—death.
Princess Raatri said nothing.
She simply stood there, silently watching everything.
She believed she was responsible for all those deaths.
So she accepted all the accusations without protest.
Subahu said to her—
"Maharani, I never imagined I would see a day like this.
But thanks to you, I have been cursed to witness it."
"However, before giving any criminal the death penalty, we always hear their side."
"So, if you wish to say anything in your defense, you may."
Princess Raatri shook her head—refusing to say anything.
But this was not part of Subahu's plan.
He had no real intention of executing her.
Instead, he wanted to harden her heart—
to make her ruthless, so that she would agree to attack the seven realms as he desired.
And so that her bond with Prince Susim would not weaken his goal.
Subahu pronounced the death sentence.
The soldiers took Princess Raatri back to the same marketplace—
the place where the massacre had occurred the previous day.
In front of everyone, they were ordered to behead her.
The soldiers raised their weapons—
Just as they were about to execute her—
Someone stopped them.
And said to Subahu—
"What are you doing, Maharaj?"