Chapter 44: chapter 44

The council chamber was alive with murmurs, the air thick with unease. Nobles clad in silks of muted reds and golds huddled in clusters, their whispered conversations punctuated by sharp glances toward the dais where Ranajay sat. The new king’s face betrayed little, though his grip on the armrests of his gilded chair was tight enough to pale his knuckles.Sanmayi stood at the edge of the room, her arms folded as she watched the proceedings. She had only reluctantly agreed to come. This was not her place, not her world, and the very walls of Amaravati's palace felt hostile, as though they rejected her presence. Yet here she was, summoned by the man who now wore the crown of her enemy."Sanmayi," Ranajay’s voice called out, cutting through the murmurs.All eyes turned toward her. The nobles regarded her with open suspicion, their faces a mixture of disdain and wariness. She was an outsider, a rebel, a threat.But she didn’t flinch. Straightening her back, she strode forward, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous hall.Ranajay rose from his seat, his gaze fixed on hers. “I have called this council to announce a decision that will shape the future of this kingdom.”The nobles exchanged uneasy glances, and Sanmayi felt the weight of their judgment bearing down on her.Ranajay continued, “Amaravati cannot heal its wounds if we cling to the divisions that have brought us to ruin. We must look forward, not backward. And to do so, we need voices from all sides.”He turned to her, and for a brief moment, the mask of the king slipped. There was something raw in his eyes—something vulnerable.“Sanmayi,” he said, his voice steady but quieter now, “I offer you a place by my side, not as a subject, but as an equal. As an advisor who represents the people you fought for.”The chamber erupted into chaos. Nobles shouted over one another, their protests and accusations filling the air.“She’s a rebel!” one bellowed.“She has no claim to this court!” another added.“This is treason!”Sanmayi’s pulse quickened, but she kept her expression impassive. She met Ranajay’s gaze, searching for any sign of insincerity, any hint that this was a trap. But he stood firm, his chin lifted in defiance of the storm around him.“You would place her above your own blood?” a sharp voice cut through the din.The crowd parted as Nandini entered the chamber, her gold-threaded sari shimmering in the torchlight. Her presence was like a blade, slicing through the tension and redirecting it squarely onto herself.“Princess Nandini,” Ranajay greeted her, his tone carefully neutral.“Don’t play coy with me, Ranajay,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing. “You humiliate your family, disgrace your allies, and now you seek to hand power to a woman who has fought against this kingdom? Is this your idea of leadership?”Sanmayi’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “And what would you know of leadership, Nandini? The kind that doesn’t rely on backstabbing and poison, I mean.”Nandini’s eyes flashed dangerously, but she recovered quickly, smoothing her expression into a mask of practiced poise. “I speak for the good of Amaravati,” she said sweetly, though the venom in her tone was unmistakable. “Not for petty grudges.”“Enough,” Ranajay interjected, his voice ringing with authority. “This court is not a stage for personal feuds.”Nandini folded her arms, but her gaze never left Sanmayi.Ranajay turned back to the gathered nobles. “You may question my decision, but understand this: Sanmayi has earned her place here through her strength, her conviction, and her loyalty to her people. If we are to rebuild this kingdom, we must do so together. That is my decree.”The room fell into uneasy silence. The nobles looked to one another, their expressions ranging from resigned to resentful.Ranajay stepped closer to Sanmayi, his voice lowering so only she could hear. “The decision is yours. I won’t force you to stay.”Sanmayi studied him, her mind racing. This was what she had fought for, wasn’t it? To have a voice, to stand for those who had been silenced? And yet, the thought of standing beside him, of being part of this court, felt like a betrayal of everything she had lost.“You’re asking me to be part of a system I despise,” she said quietly.“I’m asking you to help change it,” he replied, his gaze unwavering.For a moment, she said nothing. Then she nodded, a small but decisive gesture.“I’ll stay,” she said, her voice firm. “But don’t mistake this for trust. You still have much to prove, Your Majesty.”A flicker of relief crossed his face, though he quickly masked it. “Fair enough.”As the council dispersed, Nandini lingered, her expression unreadable. But as she passed Sanmayi, she leaned in just enough to whisper, “You may have his favor now, but it won’t last. Amaravati will never belong to you.”Sanmayi didn’t respond, but her jaw tightened. She would deal with Nandini in time.For now, she had a kingdom to rebuild—and a king to hold accountable.