Chapter 67: chapter 67

S A N M A Y I The eve of the wedding had arrived with a quiet sense of anticipation. The palace was adorned in gold and crimson, the colors of the union between Ranajay and me. The air was thick with incense, mingling with the sweet scents of flowers and fruits, as servants hurried to complete the final preparations for the grand ceremony. Yet, in the midst of all this grandeur, I could not escape the gnawing feeling that something dark and unseen was closing in around us.I had no illusions about Nandini and King Jayavikram. Their marriage had been nothing more than a calculated move to fortify their power, and they would not let it go unchallenged. As much as I had hoped for peace, I knew that their ambition was far from quelled. The whispers of rebellion, my past as a leader of the insurgents, and the union between Ranajay and me had made us a target—a symbol of defiance to the established order.That evening, I stood before the mirror in my private chambers, adjusting the layers of silk that cascaded around me. My hands were steady, but my thoughts were anything but calm. Despite Ranajay’s vow, despite his unwavering support, I could feel the storm of political intrigue closing in. Nandini would not let us have this victory without a fight, and I had no doubt that she would strike with all the venom of a woman scorned.As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, a soft knock on the door interrupted my reverie. I turned to see one of the palace guards standing in the doorway, his face tight with concern."Lady Sanmayi," he said, his voice low. "A message for you. It is urgent."The letter he handed me was sealed with a symbol I knew all too well: the insignia of the rebels. My heart quickened, and I broke the seal to read the contents. It was a warning—a plan had been set in motion to ruin my reputation. A spy had been planted within the palace, and a story would soon spread that I was conspiring with the rebels to overthrow the crown, to destroy the very kingdom that I had fought for.My mind raced as I read the letter again, the weight of the deception sinking in. Nandini’s hand was unmistakable in this, her attempt to brand me as a traitor at the very moment when I should be celebrating my union with Ranajay. It was a masterstroke, a move that could destroy not only my credibility but the fragile peace we had worked so hard to build.---The night fell heavy over Amaravati, the moon obscured by clouds that seemed to reflect the darkening of my heart. I knew that the courtiers would soon gather in the grand hall for a final celebration before the wedding. It would be the perfect time for Nandini to plant her poison, to let the whispers spread like wildfire through the palace.I could not let that happen. Not now, not when we were so close.I turned to the guard who had delivered the letter. “Go to my chambers and find Vasundhara. Tell her to meet me in the courtyard, and do it quietly.”Vasundhara was a trusted ally, one of the few who still believed in my cause, even if the rebellion had been broken. She had worked within the palace as one of the servants, a position that allowed her to hear everything and see everything without suspicion. If anyone could help me uncover the truth of this plot, it was her.---The courtyard was empty when I arrived, the moonlight now breaking free of the clouds and casting a pale glow over the stone floor. I paced nervously, but only for a moment. Soon enough, Vasundhara appeared from the shadows, her face obscured by the veil of her servant’s attire. She hurried toward me, her expression tense.“What is it, Lady Sanmayi?” she whispered, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the night.“They are coming for me, Vasundhara,” I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “I need you to find out who they are, who the spy is. I need to know who is working against me.”Vasundhara nodded, her eyes narrowing with determination. “I will find out, my lady. Do not worry. But you must be careful. They will be watching.”“I know,” I replied, my gaze hardening. “But I will not let them destroy everything we’ve fought for.”---It seemed like hours before Vasundhara returned, her face pale, but with a fire of resolve in her eyes. “I have uncovered something, my lady,” she said, her voice low, as if afraid of being overheard. “The spy is someone very close to the royal family.”I felt my blood run cold at her words. “Who?”Vasundhara’s lips curled in a bitter smile. “It is a courtier named Rajendra. He has been reporting to Queen Nandini for weeks now, feeding her false information. It is he who planted the story about your alleged ties to the rebels.”I clenched my fists, my breath coming in shallow gasps. This was the man who had been working against us from the inside. The very man who had been feeding lies to the queen to destroy me.“Where is he now?” I demanded.Vasundhara hesitated. “He is at the palace tonight, no doubt preparing to spread the rumors at the final celebration.”“Then we must act quickly,” I said, my voice firm with resolve. “We will confront him before the rumors can take hold. If we let this lie spread, it will be too late to stop.”---We made our way through the palace in silence, our footsteps muffled against the stone floors. I could feel the weight of the coming confrontation pressing down on me, but I was not afraid. I would not let Nandini’s treachery tear apart everything I had fought for. Not now, not when we had come so far.We found Rajendra in a small chamber near the banquet hall, nervously pacing as he prepared to meet with a messenger. His surprise was evident when we burst into the room, but I wasted no time with words.“Rajendra,” I said, my voice cutting through the air like a blade, “you are the one who has been spreading lies about me, aren’t you? You are the one who planted the rumors of my betrayal.”Rajendra’s face paled as he took a step back, his eyes flicking nervously between Vasundhara and me. He opened his mouth to deny it, but I raised a hand to silence him.“I know what you have been doing, and I will not let you destroy everything,” I continued, my voice steady. “You will tell the court the truth, and you will tell them now. If you don’t, I will make sure your treachery is exposed for all to see.”There was no fear in his eyes now. Only the cold recognition that he had been caught. He swallowed hard and nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat.“You… you’re right,” he muttered. “I was just following orders. Queen Nandini… she—”“I don’t want to hear it,” I interrupted. “You will go to the court tonight and tell them what you know. You will tell them the truth.”---When we returned to the banquet hall, the tension was palpable. The courtiers were already gathered, awaiting the final celebration. As Rajendra entered, his steps uncertain, the room fell into a hushed silence.Ranajay was by my side in an instant, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble. When Rajendra approached the dais, I stepped forward, my gaze fixed on him.“Rajendra has something to say,” I said, my voice strong. “He will tell you the truth about the rumors that have been circulating about me.”Rajendra looked around the room, his gaze landing on Nandini, whose eyes were filled with fury. But it was too late. The truth was already out.“I… I was wrong,” Rajendra said, his voice trembling. “I have been feeding lies to the queen, working against Lady Sanmayi. I… I’m sorry.”The court was stunned into silence, and for the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of triumph. The deception had been uncovered, and Nandini’s plot had failed.Ranajay’s hand found mine, his grip firm and reassuring. “You were right,” he whispered. “We are stronger than they know.”And in that moment, I knew that we would face whatever came next—together.