The rain fell like shards of glass, slicing through the night, drenching the palace grounds. The chandeliers inside barely illuminated the corridors, casting elongated shadows that seemed to crawl along the walls. The night was heavy with tension—an unnatural stillness that preceded chaos.

Aradhya walked briskly through the dim palace corridor, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. She was alone—or so she thought. Every nerve in her body tingled, a premonition she had learned to trust. The security detail was a few steps behind, giving her the illusion of freedom.