As the night grew thicker, the fortress atop the mountain stood firm against the cold gusts of wind, its faintly glowing lamps wrapping it in a warm, golden veil.
At that same hour, Chogyal Hi'um, accompanied by the old steward, made his way toward the dining hall.
"I wonder how much he has grown!" Hi'um murmured with barely contained excitement.
"Sir Dhritiman! You have seen him, haven't you? Tell me!"
Dhritiman's lips curved with a thoughtful smile.
"The young prince… he reminds me of you when you were his age, cheerful and full of energy. But he also carries the calm and regal presence of King Desma."
He paused."As for his looks… he takes after Lady Noi, without question."
"Hearing you say that makes me even more eager to see him."
"Naturally, Your Majesty. The young prince has grown into a fine lad."
With a warm smile, Hi'um softly spoke, "It feels unreal… He must have grown so much."
The two continued silently through the corridor, their footsteps echoing faintly against the stone walls.
"Right… now that I think about it," Hi'um spoke again, breaking the silence. "What about the others? Chandra's friends? And Senior Aabir as well… I was told he came with them."
"Your Majesty, Sir Aabir did accompany the prince and his companions on their journey. But soon after their arrival, he returned to the valley to fulfill his duties. With the harvest festival approaching, he could not remain here," Dhritiman replied smoothly, hiding every trace of his earlier clash with Aabir.
"Oh." Hi'um's shoulders dropped slightly. "Staying the night wouldn't have hurt… we could have shared a few words."
"...And the children? Did they also leave with Brother Aabir?"
"No, they are staying with Prince Chandra. You may meet them shortly."
"Alright." Hi'um nodded.
"One of them happens to be Sir Aabir's sister," Dhritiman added casually.
"Huh? Brother Aabir has a sister? Since when?"
Chogyal Hi'um's face twisted in pure confusion.
Seeing this, Dhritiman continued, "Judging by her age, I believe she is Shailesh Borbaruah's daughter."
Hi'um blinked, then thought for a moment. "Really?"
His confusion faded, replaced by warm amazement.
"So Aunt Aima and Uncle finally have the child they longed for… Now I'm even more excited to meet them. Come, let's not keep them waiting."
"Just a little further, we've reached the dining hall. The children should be arriving soon as well."
After a few steps, the two men reached their destination. The guards bowed deeply as they greeted the King.
"His Highness," the maids and servants preparing for dinner bowed as Chogyal Hi'um walked in.
Hi'um nodded in acknowledgment and walked over to the table, taking a seat on a subtly carved wooden chair.
Steward Dhritiman followed close behind.
"Sir Dhritiman," Hi'um spoke in a low voice.
"Yes, my lord?" Dhritiman responded.
"What should I say when the children arrive?"
Dhritiman let out a light chuckle. "Is that truly what worries you, my lord?" he said gently. "Don't overthink it. It will come naturally."
"I know," Hi'um admitted quietly. "It's just… I haven't seen Chandra in years."
"It's alr—," just as the old man was about to speak, the sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears.
"It seems the young prince and his friends have arrived."
"Hm," Hi'um responded absently. His gaze drifted toward the source of the footsteps. Though he appeared calm on the surface, turmoil lay restless within his thoughts.
[What should I do? Should I remain seated? No... Should I go to the door?]
While Hi'um stood beside the table, Dhritiman guided the children inside.
The moment Chandra spotted his statue-like uncle, he broke into a run and threw his arms around him.
Hi'um snapped back to the present as two small arms wrapped around his waist. With a soft, warm chuckle, he rested a hand on his nephew's head and gently ruffled his hair.
"You've grown so much, Chandra. The last time I saw you, you were like a little puppy," he said with a smile. "Seems like Uncle Tenzing is training you well."
"No, not yet!" Chandra replied eagerly. "But Grandpa Tenzing said Brother Aabir will start training me properly after my birthday. Until then, he told me to focus only on meditation and basic yoga postures."
"Hmm. Uncle is right," King Hi'um said calmly. "A warrior must first tame his drifter mind and get a better understanding of his own body. Without that, training can lead to accidents."
He paused, then added gently, "We can catch up after dinner. For now, sit down and introduce me to your friends."
"Ah—right! I almost forgot!" Chandra giggled as he took his seat. "This is Ipsha, and he's Aniket," he said, gesturing toward the two sitting across from him.
"I—I am Ipsha, Your Majesty," the young girl said, standing up nervously, clearly intimidated by King Hi'um.
"Ipsha?" Dhritiman asked with mild curiosity. "Are you Lady Aima's daughter?"
"Yes!" Ipsha replied, her eyes lighting up, but also carried a hint of confusion. "Do you know my mother?"
"Of course," Hi'um answered with a gentle smile.
"Your mother and mine were close acquaintances—so close that I used to hide at Aunt Aima's house whenever… whenever I made a mistake and Mother scolded me."
As Hi'um finished, the light in his once lively eyes dimmed, if only for a moment. But then, a soft laugh grabbed his attention.
"Heheh"
It was Aniket, sitting across the table with his head down. Suddenly, he felt several gazes on him. Looking up, he saw everyone in the room staring at him. He stood up abruptly.
"S-Sir, my name is Aniket Rai," he blurted out, his head lowered as his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
Slowly, he lifted his head to steal a glance—only to find the gazes of his friends and the two noble men. They were staring at him without a single word.
Anxiously rubbing his hands behind his back, he swallowed hard.
"So...sorry, Sir Lord. It's just...that I also hide from my mother when she gets angry."
Having said that, silently, he sat back down, avoiding eye contact.
The young boy remained silent, fidgeting with his fingers as he wondered if he had done something wrong.
Just then, a laugh broke through his thoughts. Slowly, he lifted his head, again, only to see them laughing. Swiftly he hid his head under the table again, as his cheeks turned red out of embarrassment.
"Hahaha," the four of them shared a soft laugh.
Controlling his laughter, Hi'um said, "Relax a bit. It's alright; no need to be nervous."
"And you can call me Uncle, just like Chandra does. There are plenty of people here to call me Sir or My Lord," he calmly spoke in a warm voice.