A Nod
With just a nod, her life changed — she became the king’s wife.
A year had passed since then, and everyone in the kingdom rejoiced at Chandra being crowned queen. The villagers adored her and lovingly called her the "Angel Queen". Her humility only grew with her new role. She never treated her attendants like workers, but as friends.
It was during this time that she met a young maid named Nila. From the day they met, Nila was always by her side — assisting her in every possible way. Whether Chandra was in the palace or visiting the village, Nila followed her loyally.
Their bond grew stronger each day. Chandra shared her joys with Nila, and Nila, in return, respected her deeply — even worshipped her. To Nila, Chandra was more than a queen; she was a goddess.
Chandra had a peculiar habit: she was drawn to beautiful things — and when she liked something, she wanted to keep it close. That was her first thought when she saw Nila: "What a beautiful thing." And from that moment on, she showered Nila with kindness.
Nila, younger and a bit shorter than Chandra, had a soft, baby face, almond-brown eyes, and a pear-shaped figure. All servants wore plain white cloths — a bust wrap, pants, and a shawl draped from hip to shoulder. Their hair had to be tied in a bun, and they weren’t allowed to wear accessories.
Still, to Chandra, Nila was the most beautiful girl in the entire village — even more than herself.
Chandra often praised Nila’s beauty and would sometimes dress her in her own royal clothes and jewelry, turning Nila into her personal doll. Nila would resist at first, afraid it was against palace rules, but Chandra eventually gained the king's permission.
To Nila, these were playful gestures from a kind queen. She couldn’t imagine that behind Chandra’s graceful smile was a twisted desire slowly unfolding.
..........
One fine evening, the king returned to his chamber and found Chandra sitting silently at the bedside. Even after a year, he was still mesmerized by her beauty — and proud that such a woman was his wife. Chandra had never let her title change her. She treated villagers and servants with kindness, and her grace only deepened his love for her.
He expressed his love through constant gifts, surprises, and gentle affection. Chandra, in turn, saw him as her protector, her divine gift. She never felt worthy of being his queen — and so, she tried her best every day to embody the role perfectly.
..........
It was their second anniversary.
But Chandra couldn’t find the king anywhere in the palace. Everyone she asked either made excuses or avoided her gaze. With a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes, she returned to her room and lay on the bed.
Her pillow soaked in sorrow as her mind filled with terrible thoughts. Had the king fallen for another woman? Was she no longer beautiful to him?
As the door creaked open, she stiffened.
She faced away from it, too afraid to turn. What if he came with another woman? What if he looked at her with disgust? She recognized his footsteps — but fear held her still.
Then she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
“My angel, are you awake?”
She turned and flung herself into his arms, her body trembling. Her hands wrapped tightly around his waist as she sobbed silently against him.
“My queen… why are you crying?” he asked, alarmed.
With her cheek pressed against his chest, she whispered, “I… I thought… you hated me…”
The king looked down at her tear-streaked face, captivated yet again. Her soft, silken hair tumbled over her shoulder like a waterfall. He stroked her head and lifted her chin gently.
“Oh my queen,” he said, “you are the beauty of heaven itself. There’s no one on earth who can compare to you.” He kissed her forehead tenderly.
“I will never leave you.”
Chandra longed for more. She hoped he would press her down onto the bed, let her feel the warmth of his body — but he pulled away. He saw the longing in her eyes, and he was struggling not to give in.
“My beautiful queen, come… I have a surprise for you.”
He gave a signal to the guards, and two of them carefully wheeled something tall into the room — taller than the king himself, covered in a heavy cloth.
Chandra’s face lit up with childlike curiosity.
The king smiled, watching her excitement. “Come, my love. Uncover it.”
He reached out his hand, and Chandra gently placed hers in his. Together, they walked toward the mysterious object.
She took hold of the cloth with her left hand, while the king held her right. Slowly, she pulled the cloth away.
Her eyes widened.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
It… it was…
A mirror.