The evening air at the Rathore Mansion carried a faint chill, a contrast to the day’s blazing desert sun. The sprawling estate, bathed in moonlight, seemed to pulse with quiet grandeur, but within its walls, Arjun Rathore was anything but calm.

Arjun sat in his father’s study, a space dominated by heavy teak furniture, ancient portraits, and the scent of leather-bound books. Across from him, Maharaj Vikram Rathore reviewed estate documents, his sharp profile illuminated by the amber glow of a flickering antique lamp.