Chapter 18: chapter 18

S A N M A Y I The morning the news came of Princess Nandini’s arrival, the entire court buzzed with a nervous energy that set my teeth on edge. I had long ago grown accustomed to the machinations of Amaravati’s nobles, their schemes and subtle jabs hidden behind silk veils and charming smiles. But Nandini was different—she did not cloak herself in niceties. No, she was sharp, calculating, and full of the kind of ambition that burned hot and fast.When the royal messenger had come to deliver the news, I had been standing by the courtyard, watching the soldiers train beneath the wide Amaravati sky. The sun was already high, and the heat of the day seemed to press down upon the palace with a weight all its own. The messenger had whispered into the king's ear, and though his words were spoken low, the look that passed between the two men was enough to cause an immediate stir among the court’s observers."Princess Nandini approaches with her entourage," the messenger had reported, bowing low before retreating. "She will arrive at noon, Your Majesty."The king’s face had hardened at the news. He’d only nodded curtly, but I had seen the wheels turning behind his eyes. It was clear that this was not a mere visit of courtesy. Nandini had come to Amaravati with intent, and the weight of her arrival hung heavily in the air.I had thought little of her until the moment I saw her in person. As the carriage pulled up outside the grand steps of the palace, I could not help but watch as she stepped out. Her bearing was regal, her posture perfect, her smile a shade too practiced. I knew instantly that she was no innocent maiden looking for a prince’s favor. No, she was here to claim her place—whatever the cost.Nandini had long been known as a rival, though the court had spoken little of it. She was the daughter of the king of a neighboring kingdom, and her father had long harbored ambitions to form an alliance with Amaravati through marriage. It was not uncommon for rulers to marry for power rather than love, but this arrangement felt different. It felt deliberate—too deliberate for comfort.Ranajay had not yet emerged from the inner chambers when Nandini was led through the hallways, but I was there to witness her entrance. Her eyes, sharp as daggers, swept the room, a predator sizing up the room for weaknesses. When she saw me, standing by the side with my arms folded, her smile faltered ever so slightly—just enough for me to notice. She had seen my position at the court, my marked status as a prisoner turned… something else. I would never again be the daughter of a fallen king, but in her eyes, I was a threat—a potential thorn in her side.Her eyes flickered to mine as she stepped forward, her gait graceful, her posture commanding. She didn’t acknowledge me with words, but her gaze was heavy with something I couldn’t name. Perhaps it was disdain. Or perhaps it was something far darker—competition."Ah, my dear Ranajay," she purred as she approached the throne where the prince stood, waiting with a stiff posture. “I see your father’s invitation was not without merit. I am so pleased to finally meet you.”I could hear the deliberate softness in her voice, a tone designed to placate, to charm, to secure favor. And as her eyes turned back to me, I felt a sudden chill run through me. I could almost hear the unspoken words. Who are you to stand in my way?Ranajay’s expression, as always, was one of guarded composure. But there was something in the tension of his shoulders, in the tightness of his jaw, that suggested a discomfort I could not ignore. His eyes darted to me briefly, then quickly moved back to Nandini."It is an honor to have you in Amaravati, Princess," he said, his voice steady but laced with something hard to decipher. He had greeted her with all the politeness expected of a prince, but his discomfort was palpable, a thing I could almost touch."Indeed," she replied, turning her gaze back to him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I have heard much about your kingdom, and I must say, I look forward to... getting to know it better."The words, though sweet, were heavy with implication. I knew the reason for her arrival—an alliance sealed through marriage. Ranajay had been pressured into this by his father, who, in his usual manner, cared more for the stability of the kingdom than the feelings of his son.As Nandini continued her conversation with Ranajay, I found myself seething with something I could not fully understand. Was it jealousy? Perhaps. Or was it the dawning realization that this woman, so poised and calculated, was here to challenge me in a way no one else had? Her presence, so cold and polished, made me feel small in comparison. It was not just her beauty that threatened me—it was her ambition, the single-minded way she moved in the world. She was a woman with purpose, and I was... well, I was still a prisoner in a gilded cage.I had to push the thoughts aside. I had fought too long to regain some sense of power over my own fate to let this woman derail me. Still, the knot in my chest tightened, and I found myself bracing for the inevitable clash between us.As the evening progressed, Ranajay and Nandini engaged in a series of courtly dances, speaking to one another with such ease that I could feel the growing connection between them. It was subtle, but unmistakable. His gaze lingered on her more than I liked, his tone softened by her presence. His father’s wishes, I could see, were quickly becoming his own.And then came the moment I had been dreading. Nandini, with a sly glance toward me, approached me with her usual controlled grace. There was no greeting, no formal introduction—just a look that seemed to say, I see you, and I will not be ignored."You must be the famous Sanmayi," she said, her voice like honey, though the sharpness of her words cut through the air like a knife. "The rebel princess turned... what? Concubine? Or prisoner? I do wonder, how does it feel to be so... disposable?"The words hit harder than I would have liked, though I refused to let them show. I met her gaze, unblinking, refusing to back down. I wasn’t sure whether I hated her more for her audacity or for the way she made me feel so insignificant."I may be many things, Princess," I said, keeping my voice steady, "but disposable is not one of them."She laughed, a high, musical sound that made my blood boil. "Oh, I’m sure you think that now. But it’s not often that a princess has the luxury of choice, is it?"With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, a hollow sensation in my chest. I had wanted to say more, wanted to strike back at her, but the moment was gone. She had won, if only for the moment.And yet, in the recesses of my mind, a cold thought began to form. If Ranajay were to marry her, what would become of me? Would I remain a prisoner to both the palace and my own conflicted feelings? Would I fade into the background, forgotten, or would I fight for what I had left to claim?The answer was still far from clear, but as I watched Ranajay and Nandini speak, I knew one thing for certain: the battle for Amaravati was only just beginning. And now, I was truly part of it.