Meanwhile, the village was steeped in tension.
Moments after the Prince departed, the tax collectors entered the outskirts of the village from the east.
As soon as they arrived, their men began demanding money from every house. Cries and shouts echoed from every corner. A few guards emerged—the Prince had left them behind for Princess Dhara’s safety. Seeing the chaos unfold, one guard was sent in the direction the Prince had taken to deliver the message.
The remaining guards were badly outnumbered by the force that had descended upon the village. This was no ordinary group of tax collectors—it was a battalion of thugs.
Hearing the noise, the Princess stepped outside.
A guard immediately stopped her.
“I need to see what’s happening,” she said calmly.
“Mercy, Princess. You cannot leav
