The sound of the nagadas thundered through the courtyard, each beat reverberating in my chest like the call of destiny itself. The scent of marigold and sandalwood mingled with the faint sweetness of rosewater sprinkled across the stone floors of the palace threshold.

Above me, strings of golden lamps swayed gently in the evening breeze, their flames flickering against the deepening sky. The walls of palace, majestic and unyielding, were draped with festoons of mango leaves and silk ribbons of crimson and gold.