The sage stood hidden among the trees, disbelieving what he had just witnessed. Though a guest in this palace, he could not ignore the troubling behavior he had observed. He knew he needed to investigate before taking any action — what he saw simply didn’t sit right with him.
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After half an hour of quiet waiting, he spotted Nila passing by. Her cheek was slightly swollen, her eyes looked tired, and her usual glow had faded. The sage approached her gently from behind.
“Dear young lady, pardon me — could I trouble you for a glass of water?”
The sudden voice startled Nila. She turned quickly, panic in her eyes, and found the sage standing behind a tree. A sting on her cheek reminded her of the mark she had tried to forget. Instinctively, she drew her shawl across her face and kept her distance.
“S-sorry for my manners... your sudden... voice… surprised me,” she stammered, noticing the tremble in her voice.
Get a grip, Nila. He is your guest. Do your duty properly, she scolded herself silently.
“I apologize, sir. I didn’t hear you clearly. How can I help you?”
“Humble miss, may I please have a glass of water?” 
the sage asked kindly, though his eyes missed nothing. Every gesture she made betrayed a silent pain. His heart ached to see her like this. He already knew — even if he asked, she would never speak ill of her queen. Her loyalty ran too deep.
“Of course, sir. Please wait here,” she said softly before hurrying away.
Five minutes later, Nila returned with a glass of water. She handed it to him carefully, still keeping her face covered and maintaining her distance as he drank.
“Young lady,” the sage said gently, “there’s no need to hide your cheek.”
His words struck her like a bolt. She remained silent, uncertain of how to respond. Speaking might open the door to more questions, but silence felt rude. Yet even her silence gave the sage all the answers he needed.
He could see the nervous tremble in her hands as she clasped them tightly. She wasn’t even standing properly, her lips quivered as she bit them, lost in anxious thought.
“Don’t worry, miss,” he said kindly. “I won’t ask further.”
“Pardon my rudeness, sir,” she replied, shaken out of her trance. “I’m sorry if my appearance disturbed you. The injury… it was due to my clumsiness.”
The sage smiled.
He knew the truth.
With a snap of his fingers, he gently put Nila to sleep and laid her softly beside the tree.
“Forgive me, child. I must learn the truth for myself.”
He touched her hand, and in a shimmer of light — poof — he took her form.
Sage Durva was no ordinary man. A traveler, a wise man, a mystic. He had wandered through kingdoms, forests, and ashrams, blessed with divine gifts from the gods and goddesses. One such gift was the power to enter dreams, change forms, and glimpse hidden truths.
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Now, the sage had become Nila.
“Nilaaaaa! Come here!!”
The Queen’s voice echoed through the courtyard. The sage, now disguised as Nila, followed the call.
He entered the Queen’s chamber.
And then — he understood everything.
Queen Chandra lay sprawled across her bed, gazing lovingly into the mirror. One hand toyed with her hair, the other slid lazily over her hip.
“Can’t you see my body needs care?” she purred, her voice dripping with vanity.
“Yes, Your Highness. Perhaps some jasmine tea would ease your muscles and smooth your skin,” Nila answered carefully.
“Oooh, my sweet Nila,” Chandra smirked. 
“You’re finally thinking wisely. Though you're not nearly as beautiful as I am, I do enjoy your cleverness.” Her fingers trailed slowly from her knees to her toes. “Also, prepare warm rose water. I wish to soak my feet.”
“Yes, my Queen,” said the sage in disguise, bowing respectfully before leaving the chamber.
The sage, in Nila’s form, observed everything. The Queen’s obsession with her reflection. Her complete detachment from spiritual life. Her pride and self-worship. And yet… 
the King seemed unaware of it all. How?
“My Queen, would you like to visit the village? I heard new vendors have arrived,” the sage asked, gently trying to draw her out.
“There may be new vendors,” Chandra replied with a cold smile, “but none will possess anything as beautiful as me.”
“Perhaps they’ll have items for prayer to Goddess Durga—”
“Why should I pray?” she snapped. “I am the goddess.”
The sage's heart sank.
How had the King not seen this? How had she become so lost?
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Returning to the tree, the sage gently awakened the real Nila and shifted back into his true form.
“What… happened to me?” Nila asked groggily, trying to steady herself.
“Do not worry, child,” the sage said gently. “You fainted while speaking to me. I thought it best to let you rest under the tree for a while.”
He paused, then added, “Would you kindly inform the King and Queen that I expect them at dinner this evening?”
Still disoriented, Nila nodded and went to deliver the message.
Does the King truly not see what’s happening? the sage wondered, lost in thought. Time had slipped by unnoticed.
Soon, the guards came to escort him to the dinner table.
There they sat — the King and Queen, already waiting.
The Queen was perfectly composed, dressed in elegance and poise. But something had changed in the King’s demeanor.
The sage’s mind brimmed with curiosity.
Let’s see what unfolds now.