(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

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The emotional atmosphere inside the throne hall lingered long after Devara accepted the naga immigrants into Trivenivrata.

For many among them, the feeling still had not fully settled into reality yet.

They had prepared themselves for hesitation.

For suspicion.

Perhaps even rejection spoken politely behind royal courtesy.

But instead, the young king seated before them had accepted them so naturally that several of them still looked stunned,

As though afraid the moment would suddenly vanish like a dream.

The elderly naga who had first spoken earlier slowly straightened himself with visible difficulty.

His old hands tightened around the wooden staff he carried while he carefully observed Devara once more.

There was deep gratitude in his eyes now, but also lingering caution born from years of living carefully among surface kingdoms.

"My king..."

He began again slowly.

This time his voice was steadier.

"We are grateful beyond words for your acceptance."

Behind him, the other nagas lowered their heads respectfully. Some still looked emotional while others seemed quietly overwhelmed by relief.

Then the old naga hesitated.

It was the hesitation of someone afraid that speaking honestly might ruin the kindness they had just received.

"We... do have one request."

Several royal officials standing nearby immediately became attentive again.

The old naga noticed it and quickly bowed slightly deeper.

"We do not ask for privilege. We do not ask for wealth or protection beyond what your laws already give your people."

His eyes briefly moved toward the gathered crowd behind him before returning to Devara.

"But our kind has lived hidden for generations. There are still many in Bhulok who fear nagas without even knowing us."

Some among the naga immigrants unconsciously lowered their eyes hearing those words.

It was not bitterness.

It was simply truth.

Stories about nagas had traveled through human kingdoms for centuries.

Some were respected. Some were worshipped.

But many more were feared. Parents frightened children with tales involving serpent beings.

Villages blamed unknown misfortunes on nagas hiding nearby.

Travelers spoke exaggerated stories after glimpsing even harmless serpentfolk from afar.

Fear had shaped their existence for too long.

A younger naga woman standing near the back finally spoke softly.

"We do not want the people of your kingdom to become uncomfortable because of us."

Another naga man added quietly.

"If possible... we wish to live among them normally."

"Like ordinary citizens."

The elderly naga nodded slowly.

"We will reveal our identities only if necessary."

"Otherwise, we wish to remain mingled with the people peacefully."

Then his expression softened with visible sincerity.

"The only person from whom we wish to hide nothing..."

"...is you."

The throne hall grew quieter after that.

Even several human attendants looked slightly moved hearing the honesty in the old naga’s voice.

Because there was no manipulation in it.

No political calculation.

Only trust.

Trust placed entirely in one young ruler.

Many among the nagas still looked toward Devara with the same reverence devotees carried inside temples. To them, he was not merely a king anymore. He was the one who saved their people during the fall of Sarpaasura. The one who showed them compassion when many others would have seen only danger.

And now—

The king who had given them a home.

Devara quietly exhaled through his nose before leaning slightly back against the throne.

Truthfully, he understood their concerns completely.

Trust between different peoples could not be forced overnight through royal decrees alone. Even if Trivenivrata welcomed them officially, fear and misunderstanding among ordinary citizens would still exist in some places. That was simply the nature of societies shaped by generations of stories and prejudice.

Trying to expose every naga openly immediately would only create unnecessary tension.

So instead of arguing against their wishes, Devara simply nodded calmly.

"That is your choice."

The gathered nagas immediately looked relieved hearing that.

"You do not need to reveal yourselves to anyone if you are uncomfortable doing so."

"As long as you live peacefully under the laws of this kingdom, you are citizens of Trivenivrata like everyone else."

The simplicity of those words struck them harder than any grand speech could have.

Not outsiders.

Not tolerated guests.

Citizens.

Equal beneath the kingdom’s protection.

For several moments, no one among the nagas even spoke. The realization itself seemed enough to leave many of them emotional.

But Devara was not finished.

Because while he respected their wish for privacy, he also understood something important.

Hidden communities without protection often became easy targets.

Slowly, his gaze shifted toward one of the royal guards standing near the pillars.

The guard immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"My king."

Devara’s expression became more serious now.

"Make an official announcement throughout the kingdom."

The guard straightened attentively.

"Inform the public that nagas are also citizens of Trivenivrata."

That instantly surprised several officials standing nearby.

Even the nagas themselves looked startled.

Before anyone could interrupt, Devara continued calmly.

"No individual identities are to be revealed."

"No citizen is permitted to harass, threaten, expose, or harm someone merely because they suspect them of being a naga."

His voice remained calm, but the authority within it echoed clearly through the throne hall.

"Any hostility shown toward them will be treated as hostility against citizens of this kingdom itself."

The weight of those words settled deeply.

Because this was no longer merely private acceptance.

This was royal protection.

Official protection.

The guard immediately struck his fist against his chest respectfully.

"As you command, my king."

Then he turned and hurried from the throne hall to carry out the order.

Behind him, the gathered nagas remained frozen in place.

Several among them visibly trembled.

One older naga woman quietly covered her face as tears rolled from her eyes.

A younger naga boy looked toward Devara with such disbelief that it almost hurt to see.

Because many among them had spent their entire lives preparing to survive among humans.

But never once had they imagined a kingdom where a king would publicly stand behind their right to exist peacefully.

The elderly naga slowly lowered himself fully to the ground again until his forehead touched the polished floor beneath the throne.

This time, the others followed him immediately.

Not out of fear.

But gratitude so overwhelming they no longer knew how else to express it.

And while the announcement began spreading through the streets of Trivenivrata beyond the palace walls, the kingdom quietly crossed another invisible boundary.

It was no longer becoming merely a prosperous kingdom.

It was becoming a place where people who never believed they belonged anywhere...

Were beginning to find a home.

The announcement spread across Trivenivrata faster than anyone expected.

By afternoon, royal announcers had already begun moving through the major streets, marketplaces, harbor districts, residential settlements, and trade roads accompanied by soldiers carrying the royal lion banner of the kingdom.

The loud beating of ceremonial drums echoed through the bustling city.

-DUM! -DUM!

-DUM!...

People immediately paused whatever they were doing whenever the drummers arrived.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Shopkeepers leaned out from their stalls.

Travelers stopped their carts.

Children ran toward the streets curiously.

Even merchants negotiating prices temporarily halted their arguments to listen.

Because by now, everyone knew drum announcements from the royal palace usually carried important information.

All of them were little excited as they stepped out.

One of the announcers stepped forward into the center of a crowded market square and loudly unrolled the royal decree.

"Hear the words of the royal palace!"

The crowd slowly quieted.

Then came the announcement.

"Nagas are now citizens of Trivenivrata under the protection of the crown!"

The reaction was immediate.

Shock spread visibly across the crowd.

Several people froze.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Others exchanged alarmed looks instantly.

They were really shocked by the news.

A woman carrying vegetables nearly dropped her basket.

"Nagas?"

"There are nagas inside the kingdom?"

Some people instinctively stepped away from one another as if suddenly suspicious of everyone around them.

They wanted to be very careful not to end up getting killed by a angry nagas.

A merchant hurriedly touched the protective amulet hanging around his neck.

One older man muttered nervously:

"Serpent people... living among us?"

Even some soldiers stationed nearby looked tense for a moment despite hearing the decree beforehand.

The panic started spreading quickly through whispers.

"What if they attack someone?"

"How do we even recognize them?"

"Are they dangerous?"

Children looked confused while adults began murmuring anxiously among themselves.

The announcer immediately noticed the rising fear and quickly struck the drum loudly again.

-DUM!

"Hear the full decree before panicking!"

The crowd gradually settled enough to continue listening.

The announcer then raised his voice firmly.

"These nagas entered the kingdom peacefully and with the permission of our king, Devara himself!"

That immediately slowed some of the panic.

The people trusted Devara deeply already.

His reputation among the citizens had become extraordinarily strong after everything he had done since the kingdom’s founding.

Still, uncertainty remained visible.

Seeing this, the announcer continued more carefully now, almost conversationally.

"These are not hostile nagas."

"They are good people who wish to live alongside us peacefully."

"They will not reveal themselves unnecessarily."

"If one among them reveals their identity willingly ...then it means they trusted you enough to do so."

That statement visibly softened many expressions in the crowd.

The announcer continued.

"Our king has personally given his word that they are under the kingdom’s protection and will coexist peacefully with the citizens of Trivenivrata. Therefore, the decree of the crown is clear."

"Treat them as you would any ordinary citizen of this kingdom."

"No harassment. No fearmongering. No hostility."

The crowd slowly quieted afterward.

The earlier panic did not vanish completely, but the tension began easing.

Because at the end of the day, the people trusted Devara far more than rumors or old fears.

A fruit vendor finally let out a long sigh.

-Sigh!

"If the king himself accepted them ...then perhaps they truly are different."

Another man scratched his beard thoughtfully.

-Scratch!

"Well... our king has not failed us so far."

A woman nearby nodded slowly.

-Nod!

"And he warned us personally through the decree. That means he’s confident they won’t harm us."

Gradually, the atmosphere softened further.

Some still looked nervous. Some remained cautious.

But outright hostility never truly took root.

Because Devara’s word carried enormous weight among the people now.

If he said these nagas were peaceful citizens—Then most were willing to believe him.

Nearby, hidden quietly within the crowd itself, a few disguised nagas listened to the public reaction with stunned expressions.

They had expected fear. Hatred.

Perhaps demands for expulsion.

Instead...

They saw acceptance slowly winning over panic.

Not instantly. Not perfectly. But genuinely.

And for many among them, that simple shift felt almost unbelievable.

For the first time in their lives, they were not hiding merely to survive.

They were hiding by choice...

Inside a kingdom that had already accepted them.

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(Author note:)

I hope you guys give me your opinion and idea’s.

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Don’t forget to review guys...

Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.