Mukund watched as the drama group approached, their costumes bright and colourful. They were dressed as ancient gods, and he knew that this was the perfect opportunity for him and Avanti to blend in and enter the city unnoticed.

He turned to Avanti, a determined look in his eyes. "Follow my lead," he said.

Without hesitation, Mukund stepped forward and approached the group leader. He introduced himself as a travelling performer and explained that he and Avanti were looking for work. To his relief, the leader welcomed them with open arms and invited them to join the group.

Mukund and Avanti quickly changed into the costumes provided by the group, and soon they were marching through the streets of the city alongside the other performers.

As they made their way towards the palace, Mukund's heart was pounding with excitement and fear. He knew that this was a risky plan, but it was their only chance of getting inside and finding the evidence that they needed.

Avanti walked beside him, her eyes scanning the crowd. She was nervous, but she trusted Mukund and knew he had a plan.

Mukund's heart was in his throat as they approached the palace gates. He had no idea what was waiting for them on the other side, but he knew they had to be prepared for anything.

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With a deep breath, he stepped forward and entered the palace, Avanti following close behind.

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Vedavalli sat under the blue silk awning, her eyes fixed on the stage as the drama unfolded. She watched as the actors portrayed the brave acts of the Malla warriors, her mind wandering back to the past and the stories she had heard as a child.

As the performance continued, she couldn't help but notice a new actor on stage. He was playing the role of the current king and queen, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere. But under the dark night, she couldn't quite place him.

As the actor unleashed his sword and began to perform a series of acrobatic feats, Vedavalli's heart skipped a beat. She realized with a start that the actor was none other than Prince Mukund. She couldn't believe it. How had he managed to infiltrate the palace and the performance? And how had she not recognized him immediately?

She had to wait till the performance was over, she looked over to the queen and realised queen Mahadevi had recognised him too.

As the performance came to an end, she quickly came up with a plan.

She waited until the crowd had dispersed before approaching the queen. "Your majesty, I believe you have recognized the imposter on stage, Prince Mukund," she said in a low voice. "I suggest we handle this matter quietly, without drawing attention to ourselves."

The queen nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Agreed. We cannot let this get out of hand. We must handle this matter with discretion," the queen replied.

She signalled to her guards to discreetly escort Mukund to her chambers, where they could discuss the matter privately.