In the ancient Hind Mahasagar, the island of Kanyak and the mainland of Kubja were ruled by a cruel Nripati. He forced the people of Kubja to toil like beasts, building a life of luxury on Kanya.

Two brave brothers from Kubja led a rebellion against the tyrant. They rallied their people, fought bravely, and brought the Nripati's reign to an end.

With the oppressor defeated, the brothers divided the realm into two territories: Kanyak, the island of beauty, and Kubja, the land of resilience. A new era dawned on Kanyakubja, one of hope and redemption, A new era of peace and freedom dawned, and the brothers' legacy lived on as heroes of the peoples

But the victory was not without its loose ends. The kins of the tyrant Nripati, who had fled during the attack, went into hiding, nursing their wounds and waiting for their chance to strike back. They vowed to reclaim their lost power.

The knock at the door broke my concentration, pulling me away from the ancient tales of Kanyak. I looked up to see Ashiyane, a woman in her 30s, standing in the doorway with a stack of books in her hands.

..."Are you planning to translate that book?"...

She asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she nodded towards the ancient text.

I hesitated, intrigued by the stories of Kanya, but my priority lay elsewhere.

..."Not right now,I need to focus on translating the records of the recent war."...

Ashiyane nodded understandingly and began to unload the books from her arms, placing the records of the war on the table. On top of the pile, she carefully positioned a slim volume - the family history of the city.

..."This might be helpful for your translation,"...

As I delved into the pages of the family history, I discovered the tale of Ida, the 12th Nripati of Kanyak. Ida, married to Abha, had a son named Akala. However, during a hunting expedition, Ida vanished into the forest. He stumbled upon a mysterious woman with striking white hair, mistaking her for a nymph. Enchanted, Ida brought her to the palace as his second wife, and she bore him four children: Rana, Guru, Vakta, and the beautiful Vatsala.

But their joy was short-lived. The children's hair, as black as coal, sparked suspicions of adultery, as it did not resemble their mother's unusual white locks. Manjarika, the white-haired woman, was imprisoned, leaving her children to suffer at the hands of their neglectful father, abusive stepmother, and cruel stepbrother. The siblings grew up fueled by anger and resentment, their childhood marred by pain and neglect.

As Vatsala turned 13, her mother Manjarika died, coughing up blood.The very next day, Ida, the 12th Nripati, passed away peacefully in his sleep, his heartbroken over the loss of his beloved Manjarika.

Despite Manjarika's betrayal, Ida loved her deeply. Her infidelity had shattered him, but he couldn't survive without her. His fragile heart gave out, unable to bear the loss of his beloved.

With their cruel stepbrother now on the throne, Vatsala's brothers knew they had to escape. They hatched a plan to flee, gather their own army, and launch a rebellion against their tyrannical sibling. Leaving Vatsala behind in the palace, they snuck onto a ship that imported goods from Kubja.

Fate, however, had other plans. A fierce storm ravaged the ocean that night, and the brothers were said to have been washed away, lost at sea. Their fate remained a mystery, leaving Vatsala alone and vulnerable in the palace.

I closed the book, unable to continue reading the tragic history of Vatsala and her family. My heart went out to the poor girl, but I couldn't afford to dwell on her story. I had a job to do. I turned my attention to the book on the recent war, a conflict that had ended nine years ago. It was a devastating conflict that was sparked by a woman. Her story was a powerful reminder that the fate of nations can sometimes depend on the fate of one person.

The woman who sparked the war was a stunning beauty, cherished by the people of Kubja. She was Nalini, the wife of Kubja's ruler, Daivya. Her captivating features included dusky skin, light brown eyes, and luscious hair that cascaded down to her hips. Her full lips, straight nose, and melodious voice only added to her allure.

The Nripati of Kanyak, consumed by his own desires, couldn't resist the temptation. He kidnapped Nalini and imprisoned her in his palace, sparking a chain of events that would inevitably lead to war.

The records provided a clear understanding of the war's events, a familiar tale of a man fighting to reclaim his love. Having grasped the context, my translation work became somewhat easier. Feeling the need for a break, I stepped out of the vast library and wandered through the palace, eventually finding myself in a breathtaking garden.

My gaze fell upon a woman adorned in white silk, sitting on the ground with jasmine flowers woven into her hair. A young boy, around 7 or 8 years old, giggled as he placed another flower in her locks.

..."Nalini!"...

A voice called out from behind. With a warm smile, she rushed towards the woman standing behind her, dressed in a red garment that draped her body and covered her head. The woman held a boy in her hand, and it became apparent that the two boys were twins.

..."Mr. Abner!"...

Ashiyane's voice echoed from the first-floor window.

..."I've brought you some Panaka, only to find you here!"...

..."I'll be right there!"...

I called out, already feeling a bit flustered. As I turned, I caught sight of the woman in a crisp white garment, her face lit up with a gentle smile as she walked towards me. She held the hand of a young child, who gazed up at her with wide, curious eyes. Her soft, melodious voice was laced with kindness as she asked, her tone hesitant yet sweet, as if unsure of interrupting.

..."The Orientalist from the West, I presume?"...

I smiled, trying to play it cool, but feeling my face heat up.

..."It seems that way,"...

I replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.

..."At this rate, Mr. Abner, I doubt you'll ever finish the translation,"...

She said, her voice dripping with dry humor. I looked down, chuckling awkwardly, feeling my embarrassment deepen. Little did I know, the evening had more surprises in store, ones that would leave me utterly speechless.

I was mid-bite when the words hit me like a ton of bricks

..."I heard you had met Lady Nalini this evening."...

My food lodged in my throat as I choked. The evening I spent with the Nripati of Kanyak, sharing a meal and conversation, was when it finally hit me. The women I had met earlier was incredibly, the same one I had read about in the records.

Nalini, the woman whose beauty had unknowingly ignited a war that had left deep scars. Nine years had passed since the Battle ended, and Kubja had claimed victory.

But as I lay awake that night, I couldn't shake off the questions: What kept her here, in this place? And what about those children, with eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories? Their faces haunted me, and I couldn't help but wonder what their lives had been like, all these years.

Nalini's anger had been simmering all morning, and as she stormed into the room, her emotions finally boiled over. The door swung open with a loud bang, causing the men gathered inside to jump in surprise. Nalini's eyes blazed with fury as she demanded,

..."Can I have a minute with my Nripati?"...

The men hastily retreated, casting nervous glances at their enraged queen. Daivya, attempting to placate Nalini, began,

..."You could have informed someone, and I would have—"...

But Nalini cut him off, her voice rising in indignation.

..."You've confined me in this palace of yours! Today is my cousin's wedding, and I'm not allowed to leave. You know how my absence would affect her, don't you?"...

Nalini's voice cracked with emotion, and for a moment, her anger gave way to hurt.

Daivya's expression turned calm, but his words only fueled Nalini's anger.

..."There's a possibility of war, Nalini. I don't want you, the queen of Kubja, to venture out of this well-protected castle and become prey to our enemies, who are waiting like vultures outside."...

Nalini's face fell, her anger momentarily replaced by despair. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the room, her long face a testament to her distress. As she walked, she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

As she made her way down the hallway, she caught snippets of conversation between the maids, who were busy cleaning the guest room. One of them whispered,

..."Women from Kanyak are indeed very beautiful. Didn't she look like an apsara, a nymph who had lost her way and entered the court of a mortal king?"...

The other maid giggled, adding,

..."Sounds like a fairytale. It would surely be a cliché ending if they both fell in love."...

The first maid nodded in agreement.

..."I won't be surprised if they do. The woman is so captivating that even I, as a woman, can't keep my eyes off her."...

Nalini's jaw clenched as she eavesdropped on the conversation. She felt a pang of jealousy, mixed with curiosity. Who was this mysterious woman from Kanyak, and what was it about her that had captured everyone's attention?

As she continued down the hallway, Nalini's thoughts were consumed by the mysterious woman. She finally found her in the library, surrounded by stacks of ancient tomes. The woman's beauty took Nalini's breath away. Her skin shone like polished bronze, her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her eyes sparkled like emeralds. Her lavender garment draped elegantly around her waist, accentuating her perfect curves.

Nalini felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed at the woman. She couldn't deny the truth in the maids' gossip. The captivating woman from the island of Kanyak was indeed a force to be reckoned with. And Nalini sensed that her presence posed a danger, one that threatened to upend Nalini's own life and reign.