Isha, her earlier fear completely forgotten, bounced on the balls of her feet. "Okay, okay! King's room time now, right? Let's go see where the royal ghost resided!"
Gauri exchanged a knowing glance with the boys, and a collective chuckle escaped their lips at Isha's infectious enthusiasm. Arya, ever the tease, grinned at Gauri. "Hey, maybe we should just throw Isha in the ghost's room and lock the door. Let the king have a midnight snack."
Isha clutched Gauri's sleeve, her eyes wide with mock horror as she glared at Arya. Gauri sighed, a fond smile playing on her lips. "Arya, don't tease her. Look at Jai; he's walking so quietly, setting a good example."
"Fine, fine," Arya conceded with a dramatic roll of his eyes.
Gauri led them down another corridor, stopping before a door that was barricaded by three layers of thick red ribbon and heavy chains. She carefully untied the ribbons and unfastened the chains, allowing them to step closer. Standing before the imposing wooden door, she gently knocked. Silence. Pulling a tarnished key from her pocket, she inserted it into the lock, turned it, and slowly pushed the door open.
A wave of stale air, thick with the scent of dust and age, wafted out. The room beyond was surprisingly large and undeniably elegant. Every piece of furniture was draped in white sheets, protecting the antique pieces from the elements. Arya's breath hitched. "Wow," he breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the intricate designs on the walls and the rich patterns of the carpets. Jai echoed his sentiment, "Damn, this is beautiful."
Gauri shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You guys are acting like tourists on a sightseeing trip. Focus, remember why we're here."
Jai, oblivious to her gentle chiding, had already pulled the sheet off a massive king-sized bed. The mattress looked incredibly soft and inviting. In a moment of childlike impulsiveness, both boys were bouncing lightly on the edge of the bed, their initial awe momentarily forgotten.
"Hey! Stop!" Gauri's sharp tone cut through their playful antics. "That belonged to the king. None of you are sleeping here."
The boys froze, turning to Gauri with comically crestfallen expressions. A chorus of exaggerated whines and pleading requests followed, their childish desire to experience the royal bed overriding their initial apprehension. Gauri, after a few minutes of their persistent appeals, finally relented with a sigh. "Okay, okay, I'll think about it. Now, can we please focus?"
The boys, their spirits instantly lifted, began pulling the sheets off the remaining furniture. Gauri's attention, however, was drawn to a large, draped painting on the far wall. Slowly, her hand reached out, gently pulling the white sheet aside. For the first time since they had entered the castle, a genuine look of surprise crossed her face. "Wow," she breathed, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the canvas.
The painting depicted the king, Dev Karan Rawat, sitting regally on his golden throne. A majestic black panther sat beside him, its intelligent eyes fixed on some unseen point. The king wore his crown, and his hand rested confidently on the hilt of a sheathed sword. He was undeniably handsome, his gaze in the portrait both cold and piercing.
"My goodness," Isha whispered, staring at the painting in awe. "So handsome, isn't he?" She quickly snapped another picture with her phone.
Meanwhile, Gauri had moved towards an ornate music player in the corner of the room. She ran her hand over its dusty surface. "It's been more than ten years since this room was last opened," she murmured, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Jai continued to gaze at the portrait, a thoughtful expression on his face. "So, Gauri, this handsome fellow in the painting… who is he?"
"That's Dev Karan," Gauri replied simply, her eyes still lingering on the artwork.
"Dev," Arya repeated, a hint of admiration in his voice. "A rather dashing name, I must say."
"Yeah, but who is he?" Jai pressed, still a little confused.
Gauri turned to face him directly. "Dev Karan Rawat. The last ruler of the Rawat dynasty here in Devgiri."
Isha's eyes widened, realization dawning. "So that's it! That's why the castle was originally named Devgiri! Because it was built by Dev himself! Wow," she exclaimed, her earlier playful tone returning. "I so need his autograph!"