The Strange Street to the Wrinkled Memories

Where

"The annual scholar is the author of NRP book set, that is Adwait Arjun, scholar from Medusa street." Shravya was too happy, even knowing he would have be the one selected. All the scholars congratulated him when Shravya was still in surprise. The scholars stood back at position as the queen spoke, "Congrats scholar! Will meet for the dinner till then hop in through the palace being one among us. See you soon young man and you, young pretty lady." Shravya shook being anxious but she was overwhelming all over. She bowed following Adwait and got back to their seats. The queen left with the guards and the maidens. The librarian and her daughter was getting ready to take a leave. All of the scholars were still talking with Adwait and Shravya was chatting with Sandhya and Navya. They hugged her soon and left. Shravya walked back and stood beside Adwait. Everyone came to him praising, appreciating and congratulating. Then the other scholars were talking to each other as they were about to leave the palace. Then they would all meet again only the next year.

Adwait turned to Shravya, "All congratulated me!"
Shravya hugged him and appreciated, "Congratulations! Keep going!"
She pushed herself back suddenly realising the reality and by that time all other scholars in the court hall was staring at her in complete silence. Adwait hit his head, "Oh my!", He covered up the small crowd, "Family friend, she is too happy for me." The scholars smiled and then the scene was clear. The scholars left the palace, talking. Shravya was still awestruck. Adwait sighed as the group stepped out of the court hall door. Shravya turned to him, "Sorry!"
He asked, "That too accidentally as always, right? But why sorry, you usually just say that it happened accidentally."
Shravya marked, "I did the wrong thing here that too infront of such a group and you are an honoured member of it."
Shravya walked to the court hall door as he went behind. He muttered in an undertone, "My heart says she done the right thing in the wrong time."
Shravya turned back, "Caught!"
He held his breath and rose his eyebrow.
Shravya asked, "Why come you got too scared? I just simply told caught." She began laughing. He gestured her to follow him and walked out, covering the duplicate book in his belted cloak. They saw a guard and so he suddenly called out, "Excuse me!"
The guard replied, "Greeting scholar! Congratulations!"
He asked, "Why was the scholars meeting arranged before the full moon night?"
The guard responded, "Yesterday morning the royal priest and sage marked that the full moon night would be coming the ninth day from today. They informed that if the prince was a patriot, he would return that day to the palace when the full moon appears. The queen is in hope to cut her birthday cake with him. Then the next day is planned to be the crowning of our new king, after that the queen had planned a village feast that day marking the Natya Rajyan's values of promise, happiness and love. Highness had also welcomed proposals for the crowning prince. Majesty had planned to give another queen for Natya Rajya soon. So if all these functions will go on after the prince comes then there would be no time for the scholars meet, that's why it's held today."
He marked, "Thank you."
The guard bowed and left.
Shravya mentioned, "He explained us everything, more than our need."
Adwait replied, "That's the quality of most of the guards here."
Shravya gave a short laugh while Shravya still had questions in hold within her about herself, her home, her family, her search in the train for all the royal members including both princes, her dream, the mad prince revelation to the commander and she was inquisitive about the long disappeared prince.
Shravya woke herself up, "Now what? Replacing the book?"
"No," Adwait marked, "We have to know where the members are."
Shravya asked, "So you are going to ask someone?"
"Yes!", exclaimed Adwait, "But we will ask to different workers or they will doubt on us."
Shravya nodded, "Yet there are no chances to prove that you cannot fail to impress anyone."
Adwait smiled, thankfully.

The conversation was paused as a maiden came that way as they were walking to the right side from court hall door. The maiden was stopped by Adwait and he asked,
"Where is... I mean where can I meet the queen? I just saw her go with her guards."
The maiden replied, "The queen will be in her balcony. Her maidens would be with her but the guards are back to their works."
The maiden walked to the library, bowing.
Adwait marked as Shravya heard keenly, "There is someone in the library."
Shravya asked, "Who is it?"
"How come I get to know? Let's peep!"
"What if we get caught?"
"Will you stop peppering me?"
Shravya nodded.
They walked to the library when they met the waiter walking with a tea filled cups in a tray to the gazebo. Adwait stopped him, "Could we sit in the library?"
Shravya whispered, "Who would want to sit when we have such a big palace to wander?"
Shravya heard the man answer, "Of course scholar, you can. Do mind! There would be Adi Reshamaya having his free time."
Shravya asked, "I am new in here. May I know who is he?"
The man answered, "The commander," and left and Shravya asked Adwait, "Why did you ask him?"
He replied, "Now we know who is in the library. That worker is going to the gazebo, let's see who is in there."
Shravya nodded, "Bewitched by you!"
Adwait asked, "Compliment? Thank you!"
Shravya nodded, "Hm hm! Yes!"

They walked to the side view above the stairs when Shravya asked, "Where are we going?"
He gestured her to look at the ground where they saw the gazebo. There was an elegant and aged woman with a tiara in her hair. She was so well dressed like the queen in a gown. Adwait introduced, "The late king's mother. The royal mother, Gyanavi Pradyut Natya Rajyan. The royal father was Pradyut Natya Rajyan."
Shravya said, "Feels like she is pulling me towards her. I feel like there is a force of gravity, that pulls me to the whole palace, the royal members and..."
Adwait put on sharply, "And?"
She closed up, "And... No one!"
He knew she had something else to share but he didn't want it to be disclosed. He smiled and suddenly Adwait and Shravya heard some foot steps and there was a sweeper going through and Adwait asked, "Where is the royal sister?"
The sweeper stopped at them to answer, "This morning Pournami Ravi Natya Rajyan was released so she is roaming around the palace. Right now, I saw her in her rest area."
Adwait nodded as the sweeper walked away.

On the way, walked in an handsome lad wearing a leather shirt and a corset stiffened with hard metals covered it. On the back, was attached a shield of Natya Rajya. Above the camo pants came a belt that tightened him in it. A sword was kept in its pocket on a side of the belt. He wore strong boots with a shielded helmet like strong cap. He bowed smiling at Adwait. He smiled at the lad, blinking his eyes. For Shravya his face wasn't clear, so she asked, "Who was that?"
"Eashan. He knows me, he accompanied me last time from morning to dinner time, as I won the royal dinner," Adwait answered.

Adwait and Shravya then walked to the royal kitchen. So spacious was it with so many cooks and chefs working with so many food items, spices, vessels and more. There was so many lighted stoves burning. Adwait asked an aged woman, "Can I get a glass of water?"
She immediately turned to them, "Oh scholar! For sure."
She went and filled water in two glasses and returned to Adwait and Shravya. They thanked her and began drinking. When half of the glass was emptied, Adwait asked, "Where is miss Jyothi Rithala?"
The maiden looked at Adwait with respect, "She is in mad prince's chamber, scholar."
Shravya wanted to ask who it was because she never heard about such a member in the palace. They soon drank the water and walked out of the kitchen.
Shravya asked, "You didn't ask anyone, where is mad prince. I am eager to see that character."
Adwait relieved, "Mad prince is not in the palace that's why she is in his chamber. If we find out where mad prince had went then we will get his idea revealed about why he did say about his mother's jailing to the commander. Anyhow as mad prince is not in the palace for now, no one will be here in the palace checking every one so we can easily replace the original book with the duplicate one."
Shravya stopped him, "Before the plan, can I know who is the new character?"
Adwait looked puzzled, "Who?"
Shravya cleared, "Jyothi Rithala?"
Adwait identified, "Oh she!"
Shravya nodded.

***
Surya_SK